[Congressional Record Volume 150, Number 127 (Friday, October 8, 2004)]
[Senate]
[Page S10822]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




  NOTICE OF CHANGE IN REGULATIONS REGARDING SENATORIAL SUITE SELECTION

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I rise to announce that in accordance with 
Title V of the Rules of Procedure of the Senate Committee on Rules and 
Administration, the committee has updated the senate regulations on 
senatorial suite selection effective October 7, 2004.
  Based on the committee's review of the 1992 regulations which allow 
members up to 24 hours to select a Senatorial office suite, the 
Committee on Rules and Administration has concluded that its 
regulations should be updated to facilitate the speedy and smooth 
transition of assigning Senatorial office space. This update includes 
changing the allowable time for suite selection from 24 hours to eight 
hours. The Committee on Rules and Administration has also streamlined 
the process for the submission of office layout plans to the Architect 
of the Capitol. The timeframe for submitting such layouts to the 
Architect of the Capitol has been amended from two weeks to one week.
  The amended regulations, as adopted appear below:

      Committee on Rules and Administration, United States Senate

               regulations on senatorial suite selection

  Adopted by the Committee on Rules and Administration, September 20, 
          1988, Amended June 17, 1992, Amended October 7, 2004

  The following policy will be in effect for suite selection by 
Senators following the general elections in November:
  1. As in the past, seniority will determine the order of selection of 
suites.
  2. Suite selection will begin promptly after the election.
  3. The only opportunity for suite selection by each Senator will 
occur when he or she is contacted by the Rules Committee.
  4. Selection will consist of only those suites available at the time 
of contact by the Rules Committee.
  5. Senators shall inform the Rules Committee of the decision on suite 
selection within 8 business hours (9 a.m.-6 p.m. Monday through Friday) 
after contact by the Rules Committee. Failure to respond within 8 
business hours will be deemed a decision not to move, unless an 
extension beyond the 8 business hours is approved by the Chairman of 
the Rules Committee.

  6. Senators shall submit an approved office layout to the Office of 
the Architect of the Capitol within one week after a suite is assigned. 
(This action is critical because reconfiguration of partitions, 
telephones, and computer terminals are dependent upon the office 
layout.)
  7. Senators shall be expected to begin moving into the newly-assigned 
suite not later than two days after notification that the suite is 
ready for occupancy.
  8. In considering whether to move, Senators should take into 
consideration the following requirements:
  a. Modular furniture will not be moved. If a Senator with an office 
containing modular furniture selects a suite without modular furniture, 
traditional furniture will be assigned. In cases where modular 
furniture is in place, changes in suite configurations should be kept 
to a minimum.
  b. A Senator's computer equipment will move to the new suite. The 
central processing unit will be initially installed in the location 
where the previous occupant's CPU was located.
  c. If a Senator from a ``large'' state elects to move, the extra 
space due that state may not be contiguous. Committees will not be 
forced to relocate in order to provide contiguous space. The Rules 
Committee will seek to locate the extra space in a contiguous area, but 
it may not be possible with most suite choices. It should also be 
understood that the Rules Committee will not know where the extra space 
due a ``large'' state will be located until after all 100 Senators have 
selected a suite. Then and only then will it be possible for the extra 
space to be assigned.
  9. Senators from California will be assigned the two largest suites 
in the Hart Building as they become available. The choice between the 
two suites is to be made by the California Senators. These offices will 
then be permanently removed from the pool of available suites for 
assignment.
  10. Every effort will be made to expedite moves, including the 
employment of temporary staff. However, the reconfiguration of 
partitions, furniture, telephones, and computer terminals requires 
seven to ten days. It is also desirable to repaint while the suite is 
vacant.
  11. Each Senator (returning and newly-elected) will be informed of 
this policy immediately after the general election in November.

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