[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 130 (Tuesday, October 17, 2000)]
[House]
[Pages H10015-H10017]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




     LIBRARY OF CONGRESS FISCAL OPERATIONS IMPROVEMENT ACT OF 2000

  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I move to suspend the rules and pass the 
bill (H.R. 5410) to establish revolving funds for the operation of 
certain programs and activities of the Library of Congress, and for 
other purposes, as amended.
  The Clerk read as follows:

                               H.R. 5410

       Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of 
     the United States of America in Congress assembled,

     SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.

       This Act may be cited as the ``Library of Congress Fiscal 
     Operations Improvement Act of 2000''.

              TITLE I--LIBRARY OF CONGRESS REVOLVING FUNDS

     SEC. 101. REVOLVING FUND FOR AUDIO AND VIDEO DUPLICATION 
                   SERVICES ASSOCIATED WITH AUDIOVISUAL 
                   CONSERVATION CENTER.

       (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established in the 
     Treasury a revolving fund for audio and video duplication and 
     delivery services provided by the Librarian of Congress 
     (hereafter in this Act referred to as the ``Librarian'') 
     which are associated with the national audiovisual 
     conservation center established under the Act entitled ``An 
     Act to authorize acquisition of certain real property for the 
     Library of Congress, and for other purposes'', approved 
     December 15, 1997 (Public Law 105-144; 2 U.S.C. 141 note).
       (b) Fees for Services.--The Librarian may charge a fee for 
     providing services described in subsection (a), and shall 
     deposit any such fees charged into the revolving fund under 
     this section.
       (c) Contents of Fund.--
       (1) In general.--The revolving fund under this section 
     shall consist of the following amounts:
       (A) Amounts deposited by the Librarian under subsection 
     (b).
       (B) Any other amounts received by the Librarian which are 
     attributable to the services described in subsection (a).
       (C) Amounts deposited by the Librarian under paragraph (2).
       (D) Such other amounts as may be appropriated under law.
       (2) Deposit of funds during transition.--The Librarian 
     shall transfer to the revolving fund under this section the 
     following:
       (A) Any obligated, unexpended balances existing as of the 
     date of the transfer which are attributable to the services 
     described in subsection (a).
       (B) An amount equal to the difference as of such date 
     between--
       (i) the total value of the supplies, inventories, 
     equipment, gift fund balances, and other assets attributable 
     to such services; and
       (ii) the total value of the liabilities attributable to 
     such services.
       (d) Use of Amounts in Fund.--Amounts in the revolving fund 
     under this section shall be available to the Librarian, in 
     amounts specified in appropriations Acts and without fiscal 
     year limitation, to carry out the services described in 
     subsection (a).

     SEC. 102. REVOLVING FUND FOR GIFT SHOP, DECIMAL 
                   CLASSIFICATION, PHOTO DUPLICATION, AND RELATED 
                   SERVICES.

       (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established in the 
     Treasury a revolving fund for the following programs and 
     activities of the Librarian:
       (1) Decimal classification development.

[[Page H10016]]

       (2) The operation of a gift shop or other sales of items 
     associated with collections, exhibits, performances, and 
     special events of the Library of Congress.
       (3) Document reproduction and microfilming services.
       (b) Individual Accounting Requirement.--A separate account 
     shall be maintained in the revolving fund under this section 
     with respect to the programs and activities described in each 
     of the paragraphs of subsection (a).
       (c) Fees for Services.--The Librarian may charge a fee for 
     services under any of the programs and activities described 
     in subsection (a), and shall deposit any such fees charged 
     into the account of the revolving fund under this section for 
     such program or activity.
       (d) Contents of Accounts in Fund.--
       (1) In general.--Each account of the revolving fund under 
     this section shall consist of the following amounts:
       (A) Amounts deposited by the Librarian under subsection 
     (c).
       (B) Any other amounts received by the Librarian which are 
     attributable to the programs and activities covered by such 
     account.
       (C) Amounts deposited by the Librarian under paragraph (2).
       (D) Such other amounts as may be appropriated under law.
       (2) Deposit of funds during transition.--The Librarian 
     shall transfer to each account of the revolving fund under 
     this section the following:
       (A) Any obligated, unexpended balances existing as of the 
     date of the transfer which are attributable to the programs 
     and activities covered by such account.
       (B) An amount equal to the difference as of such date 
     between--
       (i) the total value of the supplies, inventories, 
     equipment, gift fund balances, and other assets attributable 
     to such programs and activities; and
       (ii) the total value of the liabilities attributable to 
     such programs and activities.
       (e) Use of Amounts.--Amounts in the accounts of the 
     revolving fund under this section shall be available to the 
     Librarian, in amounts specified in appropriations Acts and 
     without fiscal year limitation, to carry out the programs and 
     activities covered by such accounts.

     SEC. 103. REVOLVING FUND FOR FEDLINK PROGRAM AND FEDERAL 
                   RESEARCH PROGRAM.

       (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established in the 
     Treasury a revolving fund for the Federal Library and 
     Information Network program (hereafter in this Act referred 
     to as the ``FEDLINK program'') of the Library of Congress (as 
     described in subsection (f)(1)) and the Federal Research 
     program of the Library of Congress (as described in 
     subsection (f)(2)).
       (b) Individual Accounting Requirement.--A separate account 
     shall be maintained in the revolving fund under this section 
     with respect to the programs described in subsection (a).
       (c) Fees for Services.--
       (1) In general.--The Librarian may charge a fee for 
     services under the FEDLINK program and the Federal Research 
     program, and shall deposit any such fees charged into the 
     account of the revolving fund under this section for such 
     program.
       (2) Advances of funds.--Participants in the FEDLINK program 
     and the Federal Research program shall pay for products and 
     services of the program by advance of funds--
       (A) if the Librarian determines that amounts in the 
     Revolving Fund are otherwise insufficient to cover the costs 
     of providing such products and services; or
       (B) upon agreement between participants and the Librarian.
       (d) Contents of Fund.--
       (1) In general.--Each account of the revolving fund under 
     this section shall consist of the following amounts:
       (A) Amounts deposited by the Librarian under subsection 
     (c).
       (B) Any other amounts received by the Librarian which are 
     attributable to the program covered by such account.
       (C) Amounts deposited by the Librarian under paragraph (2).
       (D) Such other amounts as may be appropriated under law.
       (2) Deposit of funds during transition.--Notwithstanding 
     section 1535(d) of title 31, United States Code, the 
     Librarian shall transfer to the appropriate account of the 
     revolving fund under this section the following:
       (A) Any obligated, unexpended balances existing as of the 
     date of the transfer which are attributable to the FEDLINK 
     program or the Federal Research program.
       (B) An amount equal to the difference as of such date 
     between--
       (i) the total value of the supplies, inventories, 
     equipment, gift fund balances, and other assets attributable 
     to such program; and
       (ii) the total value of the liabilities attributable to 
     such program.
       (e) Use of Amounts in Fund.--Amounts in the accounts of the 
     revolving fund under this section shall be available to the 
     Librarian, in amounts specified in appropriations Acts and 
     without fiscal year limitation, to carry out the program 
     covered by each such account.
       (f) Programs Described.--
       (1) FEDLINK.--In this section, the ``FEDLINK program'' is 
     the program of the Library of Congress under which the 
     Librarian provides the following services on behalf of 
     participating Federal libraries, Federal information centers, 
     other entities of the Federal government, and the District of 
     Columbia:
       (A) The procurement of commercial information services, 
     publications in any format, and library support services.
       (B) Related accounting services.
       (C) Related education, information, and support services.
       (2) Federal research program.--In this section, the 
     ``Federal Research program'' is the program of the Library of 
     Congress under which the Librarian provides research reports, 
     translations, and analytical studies for entities of the 
     Federal Government and the District of Columbia (other than 
     any program of the Congressional Research Service).

     SEC. 104. AUDITS BY COMPTROLLER GENERAL.

       Each of the revolving funds established under this title 
     shall be subject to audit by the Comptroller General at the 
     Comptroller General's discretion.

     SEC. 105. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       The provisions of this title shall apply with respect to 
     fiscal year 2002 and each succeeding fiscal year.

             TITLE II--LIBRARY OF CONGRESS TRUST FUND BOARD

     SEC. 201. REVISIONS TO MEMBERSHIP AND OPERATION OF LIBRARY OF 
                   CONGRESS TRUST FUND BOARD.

       (a) Addition of Vice Chair of Joint Committee on the 
     Library as Board Member.--Section 1 of the Act entitled ``An 
     Act to create a Library of Congress Trust Fund Board, and for 
     other purposes'', approved March 3, 1925 (2 U.S.C. 154), is 
     amended in the first sentence of the first paragraph by 
     inserting ``and the vice chair'' after ``chairman''.
       (b) Quorum Requirement.--Section 1 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 
     154) is amended in the second sentence of the first paragraph 
     by striking ``Nine'' and inserting ``Seven''.
       (c) Temporary Extension of Board Member Term.--Section 1 of 
     such Act (2 U.S.C. 154) is amended in the first paragraph by 
     inserting after the first sentence the following: ``Upon 
     request of the chair of the Board, any member whose term has 
     expired may continue to serve on the Trust Fund Board until 
     the earlier of the date on which such member's successor is 
     appointed or the expiration of the 1-year period which begins 
     on the date such member's term expires.''.

     SEC. 202. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       The amendments made by this title shall take effect on the 
     date of the enactment of this Act.

  The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to the rule, the gentleman from 
California (Mr. Thomas) and the gentleman from Virginia (Mr. Scott) 
each will control 20 minutes.
  The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas).
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  H.R. 5410 is a bill to allow the Library of Congress to create three 
revolving funds so that the monies garnered from various activities 
could be retained by the library to be reinvested in those areas.
  One of the revolving funds is a gift shop fund, the other is a 
Federal library and information network program for products and 
services yielded under that structure.
  I would tell the gentleman from Virginia that, because of the recent 
locating of the audio-video conservation center in Culpeper, Virginia, 
a major acquisition for the Library of Congress in a facility designed 
for other purposes but perfect for protecting films and audio, that any 
funds derived from audio-video duplicating will be allowed to be placed 
in a revolving fund based upon this legislation.
  Mr. Speaker, I reserve the balance of my time.
  Mr. SCOTT. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
  Mr. Speaker, I would state that we have no objection to the passage 
of the legislation. We would particularly encourage the gentleman from 
California to locate other Federal facilities in the Commonwealth of 
Virginia, and we urge the passage of this bill.
  Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I yield back 
the balance of my time.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I yield myself such time as I may consume 
just to note that I did thank the gentleman from Virginia for his 
assistance, and I will gladly and laudatorily praise him for his 
assistance, but he will have to work to get additional facilities.
  The one that we have is an excellent one and it is going to serve the 
Nation well in preserving the very volatile audio and video treasures 
of this country.
  Mr. HOYER. Mr. Speaker, I urge support for the motion.
  This bill resembles one that I introduced in April. It will resolve 
the sole remaining issue

[[Page H10017]]

raised in the annual audit of Library financial operations by giving 
the Library statutory authority to operate its gift revolving funds.
  The bill creates three revolving funds, one to support the Library's 
audio-visual duplication and delivery services; a second to support its 
gift shop, decimal cataloging and photo duplication services; and a 
third to support ``FEDLINK,'' the program that acquires library 
materials for other agencies, and the Federal Research Division, which 
conducts research for other agencies.
  Enactment of this measure will result in significant savings to the 
Library and its customers by improving financial management of these 
programs. The Library estimates that FEDLINK's agency customers will 
collectively save over $1.3 million annually through administrative 
efficiencies and increased vendor discounts.
  In addition, the bill adds the vice-chair of the Joint Committee on 
the Library to the trust fund board, to ensure representation from both 
Houses. Finally, to facilitate the work of the Library's trust fund 
board, the bill adjusts its quorum requirement. It also permits the 
board chairman to request that members whose terms have expired 
continue to serve for up to a year, or until their successors are 
qualified, whichever comes first.
  Mr. Speaker, this is a good-housekeeping bill that will save money 
for the Library and its customers while resolving auditors' concerns. I 
urge an ``aye'' vote.
  Mr. THOMAS. Mr. Speaker, I have no further requests for time, and I 
yield back the balance of my time.
  The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the motion offered by the 
gentleman from California (Mr. Thomas) that the House suspend the rules 
and pass the bill, H.R. 5410, as amended.
  The question was taken; and (two-thirds having voted in favor 
thereof) the rules were suspended and the bill, as amended, was passed.
  A motion to reconsider was laid on the table.

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