[Congressional Record Volume 151, Number 26 (Tuesday, March 8, 2005)]
[Senate]
[Pages S2234-S2238]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




    AMENDMENTS TO VARIOUS REGULATIONS OF THE COMMITTEE ON RULES AND 
                            ADMINISTRATION:

  Mr. LOTT. Mr. President, I would like to give notice to Members and 
staff of the Senate that the Committee on Rules and Administration 
(``Committee'') has approved amendments to four Committee regulations. 
Pursuant to Title V of the Rules of Procedure for the Committee and 
having provided advance notice of our intention to approve the 
following amendments to regulations, we hereby approve said amendments 
effective February 1, 2005.
  1. The following regulations are approved as amended:
  A. Committee Regulations for Furniture, Accessories and Special 
Allowances Policy for Senate Office Buildings, as amended by adding, 
deleting and substituting as follows:
  Delete the second sentence in item 5 which reads ``However, once 
modular is chosen for a suite, it shall remain a part of that suite 
regardless of which Senator occupies the space.''
  Under Section A in item 5, delete ``A.'' and the words ``of funding 
for this program'' and substitute ``and the order in which the request 
is received.''
  Delete Sections B and C in item 5.
  Delete item 7.
  At the end of second sentence in item 8 add the following: ``or 
through the Senate Furniture web system.''
  Under Section A in item 8 delete the words ``to be transferred to the 
intended office'' at the end of the sentence and substitute ``by the 
Committee on Rules and Administration prior the transfer.''
  At the end of first sentence in item 9 add the following: ``available 
for viewing through the Senate Furniture web system (http://
senate.aoc.gov)''
  Under Standard Furniture and Accessories, Senators' Suites--
  1. Delete ``Chairs--Ergonomic (with or without arms)''
  2. Delete ``Chairs--Folding Chairs''
  3. After ``Chairs--Conference'' add ``(with or without arms)''
  4. Delete ``Chairs--Reception'' and substitute ``Chairs--Desk (with 
or without arms)''
  5. Delete ``Chairs--Reception (without arms)''
  6. Delete ``Chairs--Secretary''
  7. Delete ``Coats--Rack''
  8. Add ``Credenza--(Conference room & Front office only)''
  9. Delete ``Desk--Secretary'' and substitute ``Desk--L-Shape''
  10. After ``Fireplace--Screens'' add ``(Russell SOB only)''
  11. After ``Fireplace--Tools'' add ``(Russell SOB only)''
  12. After ``Lighting--Ceiling (Chandelier)'' delete ``Fixtures 
(Reception and Conference Rooms in Russell SOB only, no more than 2 
total)'' and add ``in Russell SOB only, (Reception Rooms, Conference 
Rooms and Senator's Personal Office, limited to 3 total)''
  13. After ``Lighting--Floor Lamps'' add ``2 per office''
  14. Delete ``Lighting--Reading Lamps''
  15. Delete ``Magazine Rack''
  16. Delete ``Microfilm Cabinets''
  17. Delete ``Modular Furniture--Limited to Hart SOB for now)''
  18. Delete ``Partitions--Textures (i.e. wood)''
  19. After ``Refrigerator--Medium'' add ``Not to exceed 3 total''
  20. Delete ``Stand--Smoke (Ashtray)''
  21. Delete ``Tables--Folding''
  22. Delete ``Window--Venetian Blinds (2 inch, Russell and Dirksen 
SOB's only)''
  23. Delete ``Window--Mini Blinds (Hart SOB only)''
  Under Senators' Personal Offices--
  1. Delete ``(Bathroom)--(Vanity under sink)*''
  2. Delete ``(Bathroom)--(Cabinet over/next to sink)*''
  3. Delete ``Chairs--Reception'' and add ``Chairs--Side (with arms or 
without arms)''
  4. Delete ``Chairs--Reception (without arms)''
  5. After ``Chairs--Overstuffed'' add ``(Historic)''
  6. Delete ``Lighting--Reading Light''
  7. After ``Lighting--Ceiling (Chandelier)'' delete ``Fixture (Russell 
SOB only) and add ``in Russell SOB only, (Reception Rooms, Conference 
Rooms and Senator's Personal Office, limited to 3 total)''
  8. Delete ``TV Cabinet'' and add ``TV/VRC Cabinet''
  9. Delete ``VRC Cabinet''
  10. Delete ``Upholstery Fabric''
  11. Delete ``Wardrober''
  12. Delete ``Window--Curtains or Draperies''
  13. Delete ``Window--Venetian Blinds (wood or metal)''
  14. Delete ``Window--Mini Blinds''
  15. Delete ``* Standard part of building structure''
  After heading ``For Loan (for Meetings and Related'' add 
``Functions)''
  A copy of the Committee Regulations governing Furniture, Accessories 
and Special Allowances Policy for Senate Office Buildings, as amended, 
is included as Attachment A.
  B. Committee Regulations Governing Senate Travel and Travel 
Promotional Awards, as amended, by deleting paragraphs five and six in 
Section II(A)(3)(b) and related Appendix A and substituting as follows:

       Travel promotional awards (e.g. free travel, travel 
     discounts, upgrade certificates, coupons, frequent flyer 
     miles, access to carrier club facilities, and other similar 
     travel promotional items (``Travel Awards'')) obtained by a 
     Member, officer or employee of the Senate while on official 
     travel may be utilized for personal use at the discretion of 
     the Member or officer pursuant to this section. Travel Awards 
     may be retained and used at the sole discretion of the Member 
     or officer only if the Travel Awards are obtained under the 
     same terms and conditions as those offered to the general 
     public and no favorable treatment is extended on the basis of 
     the Member, officer or employee's position with the Federal 
     Government. Members, officers and employees may only retain 
     Travel Awards for personal use when such Travel Awards have 
     been obtained at no additional cost to the Federal 
     Government. It should be noted that any fees assessed in 
     connection with the use of Travel Awards shall be considered 
     a personal expense of the Member, officer or employee and 
     under no circumstances shall be paid for or reimbursed from 
     official funds. Although this paragraph permits Members, 
     officers and employees of the Senate to use Travel Awards at 
     the discretion of the Member or officer, the Committee 
     encourages the use of such Travel Awards (whenever 
     practicable) to offset the cost of future official travel.

  A copy of the Committee Regulations governing Senate travel and 
Travel Promotional Awards, as amended, is included as Attachment B.
  C. Committee Regulations for the Senate Health and Fitness Facility 
by the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, as amended, by deleting 
paragraph (d), Section 3 and substituting as follows:

       The Facility and its equipment shall be available for use 
     by all Members of the United States Senate upon the payment 
     of fees as determined by the Chairman and the Ranking Member 
     of the Committee on Rules and Administration. The Chairman 
     and Ranking Member of the Committee on Rules and 
     Administration shall notify the Secretary of the Senate of 
     the amount of any fees to be charged hereunder and direct the 
     Financial Clerk of the Senate to collect such fees from those 
     Members desiring to use the Facility.

  A copy of the Committee Regulations governing the Senate Health and 
Fitness Facility, as amended, is included as Attachment C.

[[Page S2235]]

  D. Committee Regulations governing Public Transportation Subsidy, as 
amended by deleting and substituting as follows:
  In the first sentence of Section 2, substitute ``(P.L. 105-178)'' for 
``(P.L. 105-78)''.
  In the first sentence of Section 2, substitute ``$105'' for ``$100''.
  In item (a) of Section 4, substitute ``$105'' for ``$100''.
  In the second sentence of third paragraph of Section 6, substitute 
``employee'' for ``employer''.
  In item (c) of Section 7, substitute ``$105'' for ``$100''.
  A copy of the Committee Regulations governing Public Transportation 
Subsidy, as amended, is included as Attachment D.

Attachment A--Furniture, Accessories and Special Allowances Policy for 
                        Senate Office Buildings

                     (Approved September 27, 1989)

                        (Amended June 29, 1994)

                      (Amended February 28, 2004)

       1. Pursuant to 40 U.S.C. 174c, furnishings for offices in 
     the Senate Office Buildings are supplied and maintained by 
     the Architect of the Capitol through his representative, the 
     Superintendent of the Senate Office Buildings. Matters of 
     general policy are subject to the approval of the Senate 
     Committee on Rules and Administration.
       2. Effective on the date of adoption of this policy by the 
     Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, the 
     Superintendent of the Senate Office Buildings shall undertake 
     to survey the physical quality of all furnishings presently 
     assigned to offices. Thereafter, a survey will be conducted 
     on an annual basis. Office heads, as defined in the Senate 
     Equipment Regulations, should work with the Superintendent's 
     Office to identify furnishings that do not meet an acceptable 
     level of quality.
       3. When the survey is completed, all items on the Standard 
     Furniture and Accessories list that are in disrepair will be 
     declared ``surplus'' and/or repaired. This does not preclude 
     repairs as needed irrespective of survey timing. No 
     furnishings will be delivered to an office unless they are 
     functional and in quality condition.
       4. The Superintendent's Office will maintain a full 
     inventory of all furnishings assigned to designated suites, 
     including documentation of furnishings provided from the 
     Standard Furniture and Accessories list, and items purchased 
     from the Senators' special furniture and accessory allowance.
       5. Senators with suites in the Russell or Dirksen Buildings 
     shall have the option of using traditional or modular 
     furniture to create an effective office environment. 
     [However, once modular is chosen for a suite, it shall remain 
     a part of that suite regardless of which Senator occupies the 
     space.] A Senator electing to use modular furniture in 
     Russell or Dirksen shall use the modular system in the suite 
     except for the Senator's personal office, reception room, and 
     conference room.
       [A.] Modular furniture will be offered to Senators in 
     Russell and Dirksen based upon the availability and the order 
     in which the request is received. [of funding for this 
     program.]
       [B. Modular furniture will be offered to Senators with 
     suites in the Russell and Dirksen Buildings on a seniority 
     basis until all Senators have had the opportunity to elect to 
     use modular furniture.
       [C. Senators not electing initially to use modular 
     furniture in Russell or Dirksen must wait until all other 
     Senators on the current list have been offered modular 
     furniture and have elected to accept or have declined. The 
     updated seniority list shall apply after Senate moves.]
       6. Senators in the Hart Building shall utilize modular 
     furniture as the basic system of furnishing. The actual 
     system of furniture in place in a suite in the Hart Building 
     shall remain in the same suite regardless of which Senator 
     occupies the space.
       In the Hart Building, traditional furniture may be chosen 
     for the Senator's personal office, the Chief of Staff's 
     office, the reception area and the conference room.
       [7. Modular panels shall not be provided in any private 
     offices.]
       8. Only a Senator or the designated office head of each 
     Senate office will have the authority to request furniture 
     and furnishings in an office. Such requests may be made by 
     submitting a ``Request for Service'', letter or through the 
     Senate Furniture web system. Written confirmation of a 
     telephone request to the Superintendent of the Senate Office 
     Buildings also will be accepted. Office heads should be 
     designated in writing and a file of these names will be 
     maintained by the Superintendent's Office.
       The transfer of furniture from one official office 
     inventory to another may be authorized based upon the 
     following:
       A. All furniture items to be transferred from one Senate 
     office or Committee to another Senate office or Committee 
     must be authorized by the Committee on Rules and 
     Administration prior the transfer. [to be transferred to the 
     intended office.]
       B. The Senator, Committee Chairman or designated office 
     head must agree to the release of the furniture on a Request 
     for Furniture form providing for the removal of those items 
     from their office inventory. Additional furniture intended to 
     replace the furniture proposed for transfer shall be 
     requested simultaneously on a Request for Furniture form.
       C. The Senator, Committee Chairman or designated office 
     head receiving the transferred furniture must agree to its 
     receipt on a Request for Furniture form so that the furniture 
     can be incorporated into their office inventory.
       The Superintendent shall adjust the official office 
     inventories based upon completion of the issuance or return 
     of furniture items.
       9. The Architect of the Capitol will maintain in stock an 
     inventory of the following items, referred to hereafter as 
     the Standard Furniture and Accessories list, available for 
     viewing through the Senate Furniture web system (http:///
senate.aoc.gov):


          Standard Furniture and Accessories--Senators' Suites

       Bookcase--See Shelves; Chair Mats; [Chairs--Ergonomic (with 
     or without arms); [Chairs--Folding Chairs]; Chairs--
     Conference (with or without arms); Chairs--Desk [Reception] 
     (with or without arms); [Chairs--Reception--without arms]; 
     Chairs--Executive; [Chairs--Secretary]; Coats--Tree; [Coats--
     Rack]; Credenza--(Conference room & Front office only); 
     Desk--Computer; Desk--Half size; Desk--Flat Top 
     Executive; Desk--[Secretary] L-Shape.
       Fans & Heaters; File Cabinets--Lateral 2-Drawer; File 
     Cabinets--Lateral 5-Drawer; File Cabinets--2-Drawer; File 
     Cabinets--5-Drawer; Fireplace--Screens (Russell SOB only); 
     Fireplace--Tools (Russell SOB only); Footrests--Furniture or 
     Computer; Lighting--Ceiling (Chandelier) [Fixtures (Reception 
     and Conference Rooms in Russell SOB only, no more than 2 
     total)] in Russell SOB only (Reception Rooms, Conference 
     Rooms and Senator's Personal Office, limited to 3 total); 
     Lighting--Floor Lamps (2 per office); [Lighting--Reading 
     Lamps]; Lighting--Desk/Table Lamps; [Magazine Rack]; 
     [Microfilm Cabinets]; Mirrors--(One per suite standard); 
     [Modular Furniture--(Limited to Hart SOB for now).
       [Partitions--Textured (i.e. wood)]; Partitions--Acoustical; 
     Racks--Pamphlets; Refrigerator--Medium (Not to exceed 3 
     total); Shelves--Open Shelves (Book); Shelves--Desk 
     Organizers; Shelves--Cabinets (with doors); Sofa--Love seat; 
     Sofa--Couch; [Stand--Smoke (Ashtray)]; Stand--Telephone; 
     Stand--Plant; Tables--Conference; Tables--Round; Tables--
     Computer; Tables--Coffee; Tables--End; [Tables--Folding]; 
     Tables--Other (assorted sizes); TV Stand; [Window--Venetian 
     Blinds (2-inch, Russell and Dirksen SOBs only); [Window--Mini 
     Blinds (Hart SOB only)].


                       Senators' Personal Offices

       [(Bathroom)--(Vanity-under sink*); [(Bathroom)--(Cabinet-
     over/next to sink)*]; Cabinet--Telephone; Chairs--High Back 
     (Desk); Chairs--Side [Reception]-(with arms or without arms); 
     [Chairs--Reception-without arms]; Chairs--Wingback; Chairs--
     Overstuffed (Historic); Credenza; Desk; Lighting--Table Lamp; 
     Lighting--Floor Lamp; [Lighting--Reading Light]; Lighting--
     Ceiling (Chandelier) [Fixture (Russell SOB only)] in Russell 
     SOB only, (Reception Rooms, Conference Rooms and Senator's 
     Personal Office, limited to 3 total); Lighting--Mantle 
     Fixtures (Russell SOB only); Lighting--Wall (Sconce) Fixtures 
     (Russell SOB only); Lighting--Rheostat.
       Mirror; Refrigerator--Compact; Shelves--Bookcases; 
     Shelves--Cabinet; Sofa--Love seat; Sofa--Couch; Table--
     Coffee; Table--End; TV/VCR Cabinet; [VCR Cabinet; [Upholstery 
     Fabric; [Wardrober; [Window--Curtains or Draperies; [Window--
     Venetian Blinds (wood or metal); [Window--Mini Blinds.
       [*Standard part of building structure]

       For Loan (for Meetings and Related Functions)

       Blackboards, Easels, Folding Tables, Piano (small charge 
     for tuning), Podiums, Stacking Chairs.
       10. A Special Furniture and Accessory Allowance will be 
     authorized to the Architect of the Capitol for the purpose of 
     furnishing a Senator's personal office, reception room and 
     conference room when a Senator is elected/reelected for a 
     term of office. This will be in addition to the furnishings 
     requested from the Standard Furniture and Accessories list 
     and only will be authorized during the first year of each 
     Senator's new term of office. Such amount will be determined 
     by the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration as a 
     recommendation for appropriation to the Architect of the 
     Capitol to become available for the Senator's term of office. 
     Provisions will be made for Senators to purchase through this 
     special allowance furniture and accessory items which are 
     unique to their offices and/or home state. All acquisitions 
     from this allowance will be made by the Architect of the 
     Capitol in consultation with the office head.
       11. A ``Request for Service'' or other written request for 
     furnishings will be acknowledged within five working days 
     reflecting appropriate disposition of the request. If 
     requests are made for items critical to the function of the 
     office which are not on the Standard Furniture and Accessory 
     list or are out of stock, and delivery/restock is not 
     anticipated for three months or greater, an office head may 
     submit a request in writing to the Chairman of the Senate 
     Committee on Rules and Administration. If requests are made 
     for special items, as part of the Special Furniture and 
     Accessory Allowance, appropriate information should be 
     attached from a

[[Page S2236]]

     commercial supplier or a catalogue from which the items are 
     available. If favorably acted upon by the Rules Committee, an 
     approval to purchase will be forwarded to the Architect's 
     Office.
       12. Certain furniture and accessory items may be built to 
     published plans, including typewriter racks and table 
     platforms for computer work stations, open shelves and 
     sorting racks for desks and tables, and bookshelves, in 
     accordance with a standard catalogue provided by the 
     Superintendent. An office head may submit a written 
     request for an item by identifying it from the 
     Superintendent's catalogue of sketches.
       13. Office heads may submit to the Senate Committee on 
     Rules and Administration at any time a request to add items 
     to the Standard Furniture and Accessory list. The Committee, 
     in consultation with the Architect of the Capitol, will 
     review the list annually to ensure that items continue to 
     meet the needs of Senate offices acknowledging changing 
     technology and staff environments.
       14. Furnishings secured through the Architect of the 
     Capitol from the Senators' Special Furniture and Accessory 
     Allowance may be returned at the request of the office head 
     to the Architect's inventory. They then may be purchased at a 
     depreciated price with a Senator's personal funds or as a 
     charge to the Special Furniture and Accessory Allowance. All 
     returns will be made without credit to the original 
     purchaser's Special Furniture and Accessory Allowance.
       15. The Committee on Rules and Administration, in 
     consultation with the Architect of the Capitol, will monitor 
     requests for non-standard items to preserve the architectural 
     conformity of the Senate Office Buildings.
       16. Furniture is not authorized by statute to be purchased 
     through a Senator's Official Personnel and Office Expense 
     Account. However, T.V. stands and V.C.R. stands are 
     considered accessories to equipment and may be purchased in a 
     manner consistent with the statutes and regulations governing 
     the purchase of standard and non-standard equipment.
       17. All furniture and accessories, whether chosen from the 
     Standard list or purchased from the Senators' Special 
     Furniture and Accessory Allowance, remain the property of the 
     Architect of the Capitol. Senators will be responsible for 
     any furniture stolen, lost, or otherwise unaccounted for, and 
     reimbursement for all losses will be made in an amount equal 
     to the fair market value of such furniture after applying an 
     appropriate depreciation.
       18. The implementation of this policy is subject to the 
     availability of appropriated funds to the Architect of the 
     Capitol.
       Approved: Committee on Rules and Administration.
     Christopher J. Dodd,
                                                   Ranking Member.
     Trent Lott,
     Chairman.
                                  ____


                              Attachment B

                      II. Transportation Expenses


          (a) common carrier transportation and accommodations

       Transportation includes all necessary official travel on 
     railroads, airlines, helicopters, steamboats, buses, 
     streetcars, taxicabs, and other usual means of conveyance. 
     Transportation may include fares and such expenses incidental 
     to transportation such as baggage transfer; official 
     telegraph, telephone, radio, and cable messages in connection 
     with items classed as transportation; steamer chairs, steamer 
     cushions, and steamer rugs at customary rates actually 
     charged; staterooms on steamers.


                        1. train accommodations

       (a) Sleeping-car accommodations: The lowest first class 
     sleeping accommodations available shall be allowed when night 
     travel is involved. When practicable, through sleeping 
     accommodations should be obtained in all cases where more 
     economical to the Senate.
       (b) Parlor-car and coach accommodations: One seat in a 
     sleeping or parlor car will be allowed. Where adequate coach 
     accommodations are available, coach accommodations should be 
     used to the maximum extent possible, on the basis of 
     advantage to the Senate, suitability and convenience to the 
     traveler, and nature of the business involved.


                       2. steamer accommodations

       Staterooms: First-class accommodation will be allowed when 
     stateroom is included in cost of passage or is a separate 
     charge.


                       3. airplane accommodations

       (a) First-class and air-coach accommodations: It is the 
     policy of the Senate that persons who use commercial air 
     carriers for transportation on official business shall use 
     less than first-class accommodations instead of those 
     designated first-class with due regard to efficient conduct 
     of Senate business and the travelers' convenience, safety, 
     and comfort.
       (b) Use of United States-flag air carriers: All official 
     air travel shall be performed on United States-flag air 
     carriers except where travel on other aircraft (1) is 
     essential to the official business concerned, or (2) is 
     necessary to avoid unreasonable delay, expense, or 
     inconvenience.
       When a traveler finds he/she will not use accommodations 
     which have been reserved for him/her, he/she must release 
     them within the time limits specified by the carriers. 
     Likewise, where transportation service furnished is inferior 
     to that called for by a ticket or where a journey 
     is terminated short of the destination specified, the 
     traveler must report such facts to the proper official. 
     Failure of travelers to take such action may subject them 
     to liability for any resulting losses. ``No show'' 
     charges, if incurred by Members or staff personnel in 
     connection with official Senate travel, shall not be 
     considered payable or reimbursable from the contingent 
     fund of the Senate. Senate travelers exercising proper 
     prudence can make timely cancellations when necessary in 
     order to avoid ``no show'' assessments. Service fees for 
     preparation or mailing of passenger coupons shall not be 
     reimbursable.
       In the event that a Senate traveler is denied passage on a 
     flight for which he/she held a reservation and this results 
     in a payment of any rebate, this payment shall not be 
     considered as a personal receipt by the traveler, but rather 
     as a payment to the Senate, the agency for which and at whose 
     expense the travel is being performed. Such payments shall be 
     submitted to the appropriate individual for the proper 
     disposition when the traveler submits his/her expense 
     account. Through fares, special fares, commutation fares, 
     excursion, and reduced-rate round trip fares should be used 
     for official travel when it can be determined prior to the 
     start of a trip that any such type of service is practical 
     and economical to the Senate. Round-trip tickets should be 
     secured only when, on the basis of the journey as planned, it 
     is known or can be reasonably anticipated that such tickets 
     will be utilized.
       Each Chairman, Senator, or Officer of the Senate may, at 
     his/her discretion, authorize in extenuating circumstances 
     the reimbursement of penalty fees associated with the 
     cancellation of through fares, special fares, commutation 
     fares, excursion, and reduced-rate round trip fares.
       [Discount coupons, frequent flyer mileage, or other 
     evidence of reduced fares, obtained on official travel, shall 
     be turned in to the office for which the travel was performed 
     so that they may be utilized for future official travel. 
     ``Any travel award that accrues by reason of official travel 
     of a Member, officer, or employee of the Senate shall be 
     considered the property of the office for which the travel 
     was performed and may not be converted to personal use (2 
     U.S.C. 1436(a), as amended).'' However, this shall not apply 
     to any travel awards relating to air transportation for a 
     Member of the Senate, or their spouse, son, or daughter, 
     between the Washington metropolitan area and the Home State 
     of that Member. It should be noted that any fees assessed in 
     connection with the use of travel awards for a spouse, son, 
     or daughter of a Member, shall be considered a personal 
     expense of the traveler and shall not be reimbursed from 
     official funds.
       [It is the traveler's responsibility to turn in to the 
     appropriate individual all promotional materials which would 
     provide free or reduced costs for future travel. These should 
     be integrated into the office's plans for future official 
     travel. Even in those instances when the coupons are non-
     transferable or carry an impending expiration date, and it 
     appears that the office will not be able to use them, they 
     are still Senate property and should not be converted to 
     personal use, except in the case of separating Members, 
     Officers and employees as provided in Appendix A. The 
     administrator of each office shall account for all bonuses 
     acquired for travel from official appropriated funds.]
       Travel promotional awards (e.g. free travel, travel 
     discounts, upgrade certificates, coupons, frequent flyer 
     miles, access to carrier club facilities, and other similar 
     travel promotional items (``Travel Awards'')) obtained by a 
     Member, officer or employee of the Senate while on official 
     travel may be utilized for personal use at the discretion of 
     the Member or officer pursuant to this section. Travel Awards 
     may be retained and used at the sole discretion of the Member 
     or officer only if the Travel Awards are obtained under the 
     same terms and conditions as those offered to the general 
     public and no favorable treatment is extended on the basis of 
     the Member, officer or employee's position with the Federal 
     Government. Members, officers and employees may only retain 
     Travel Awards for personal use when such Travel Awards have 
     been obtained at no additional cost to the Federal 
     Government. It should be noted that any fees assessed in 
     connection with the use of Travel Awards shall be considered 
     a personal expense of the Member, officer or employee and 
     under no circumstances shall be paid for or reimbursed from 
     official funds. Although this paragraph permits Members, 
     officers and employees of the Senate to use Travel Awards at 
     the discretion of the Member or officer, the Committee 
     encourages the use of such Travel Awards (whenever 
     practicable) to offset the cost of future official travel.
       In case a person, for his/her own convenience, travels by 
     an indirect route or interrupts travel by direct route, the 
     extra expense will be borne by the traveler. Reimbursement 
     for expenses shall be allowed only on such charges as would 
     have been incurred by the official direct route.
       Transportation by bus, streetcar, subway, or taxicab, when 
     used in connection with official travel, will be allowed as 
     an official transportation expense.
                                  ____


                              [APPENDIX A

[Purchase of Bonus Airline Mileage by Separating Members, Officers and 
                        Employees of the Senate

       [In Opinion B-24607, the General Counsel of the General 
     Accounting Office made the following determination:
       [``Frequent flyer points are usually nontransferable and of 
     no value to the government after the departure of the Member 
     or

[[Page S2237]]

     staff person. Therefore, if the Senate determines as a matter 
     of sound administration that its travel regulations should 
     provide for disposing of frequent flyer mileage in exchange 
     for payment of a reasonable sum of money from a departing 
     Member or staff person, we see no objection to such a 
     regulation.''
       [Although Senate Travel Regulations prohibit the personal 
     use of bonus mileage accrued at government expense, the 
     Senate also recognizes that when Members, Officers, and 
     employees separate from Senate service, any frequent flyer 
     mileage remaining in their name is no longer of any value to 
     the Senate. However, the Government would recoup at least 
     some of the value of the lost bonus mileage if separating 
     Members, Officers, and employees are permitted to purchase 
     such mileage upon their separation from Senate service. 
     Permitting such an exception to the general prohibition on 
     use of frequent flyer mileage would make good administrative 
     sense.
       [Therefore, Members, Officers, and employees, upon their 
     separation from Senate service, may obtain permission from 
     the Committee on Rules and Administration to convert to 
     personal use any remaining airline bonus mileage accrued in 
     their name at Senate expense, provided that the separating 
     Member, Officer, or employee reimburses the Senate a 
     reasonable sum of money for all mileage they wish to use. For 
     purposes of this provision, a ``reasonable sum of money'' 
     shall be determined by the Committee based upon: (1) the 
     number of tickets which may be obtained from the unused 
     mileage; and (2) valuation of such tickets at the applicable 
     government rate. The determination of the Committee regarding 
     reasonable reimbursement shall be final. Any funds received 
     under this policy shall be deposited in the United States 
     Treasury--Miscellaneous receipts account.]
                                  ____


                              Attachment C

Regulations for the Senate Health and Fitness Facility by the Office of 
                      the Architect of the Capitol

                       (Approved April 28, 1992)

                        (Effective May 1, 1992)

     SEC. 1. SCOPE AND APPLICABILITY.

       These regulations, promulgated by the Committee on Rules 
     and Administration under authority of Senate Resolution 286, 
     agreed to April 9, 1992, establish the policy, procedures, 
     and management authority and responsibility for the United 
     States Senate Health and Fitness Facility under the direction 
     of the Architect of the Capitol.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORIZED PARTICIPANTS.

       For purposes of these regulations, authorized participants 
     shall include Members of the United States Senate who elect 
     to use the Facility and who pay the fees in accordance with 
     Section 4 of these regulations.

     SEC. 3. SENATE HEALTH AND FITNESS FACILITY.

       1. There is hereby established the Senate Health and 
     Fitness Facility which shall be operated under the 
     supervision and management of the Architect of the Capitol, 
     subject to rules, regulations, and policies approved by the 
     Committee on Rules and Administration. Equipment of such 
     Facility shall be located in the Russell Senate Office 
     Building and the Hart Senate Office Building and at any other 
     location within the space allotted for the use of the United 
     States Senate as the Architect may determine, subject to the 
     approval of the Committee on Rules and Administration.
       2. The Facility shall consist of the Senate gym located in 
     the Russell Senate Office Building and the tennis courts 
     located in the Hart Senate Office Building, and all the 
     equipment, furnishings, and fixtures situated therein.
       3. The Facility shall continue to provide all the services 
     and equipment now provided at those existing locations and 
     such additional services, facilities and equipment as the 
     Architect may determine to provide, with the approval of 
     the Committee on Rules and Administration.
       [4. The Facility and its equipment shall be available to 
     all Members of the United States Senate upon payment of an 
     annual fee of $400.]
       The Facility and its equipment shall be available for use 
     by all Members of the United States Senate upon the payment 
     of fees as determined by the Chairman and the Ranking Member 
     of the Committee on Rules and Administration. The Chairman 
     and Ranking Member of the Committee on Rules and 
     Administration shall notify the Secretary of the Senate of 
     the amount of any fees to be charged hereunder and direct the 
     Financial Clerk of the Senate to collect such fees from those 
     Members desiring to use the Facility.

     SEC. 4. AUTHORIZATION FOR FEES.

       The provisions of Title 40 United States Code 193d, to the 
     extent they prohibit sales on Capitol grounds or in the 
     Senate office buildings, shall not be applicable to any fees 
     charged for membership or any service or activity of the 
     Facility.

     SEC. 5. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE SECRETARY OF THE SENATE.

       Members who choose to use the Facility shall notify the 
     Secretary of the Senate in writing, and authorize the 
     Secretary of the Senate to withhold the annual fee on a 
     monthly basis from their pay, or make a direct payment of the 
     annual fee to the Secretary of the Senate. The election of 
     withholding shall become effective at the beginning of a pay 
     period. The Secretary of the Senate shall notify the 
     Architect of the names of those Members whose fees are 
     withheld, or otherwise collected, and remit such payments to 
     the United States Treasury as miscellaneous receipts, unless 
     otherwise provided by law.

     SEC. 6. RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL.

       Supervision and management of the Facility are the 
     responsibility of the Architect of the Capitol, subject to 
     rules, regulations, and policies approved by the Committee on 
     Rules and Administration.

     SEC. 7. RULES.

       All rules heretofore adopted by the Committee on Rules and 
     Administration pertaining to the Senate gym and to the Senate 
     tennis courts shall continue in full force and effect as 
     rules pertaining to the Facility, until amended or modified 
     by that Committee.

     SEC. 8. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       These regulations shall take effect May 1, 1992.
                                  ____


                              Attachment D

  Chapter 2 (U.S. Senate Handbook); Appendix A--Public Transportation 
                          Subsidy Regulations

Committee on Rules and Administration, United States Senate, effective 
                             August 1, 1992

                       (Amended October 1, 2004)

     SEC. 1. POLICY.

       It is the policy of the Senate to encourage employees to 
     use public mass transportation in commuting to and from 
     Senate offices.

     SEC. 2. AUTHORITY.

       The Tax Reform Act of 1986, as amended by the 
     Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century [(P.L. 105-
     78)] (P.L. 105-178) allows employers to give employees as a 
     tax free ``de minimis fringe benefit'' transit fare media of 
     a value not exceeding [$100] $105 per month. The Fiscal Year 
     1991 Treasury-Postal Appropriations Act (Pub. L. 101-509) 
     allows Federal agencies to participate in state or local 
     government transit programs that encourage employees to use 
     public transportation.

     SEC. 3. DEFINITIONS.

       (a) Public Mass Transportation--A transportation system 
     operated by a State or local government, e.g. bus or rail 
     transit system.
       (b) Fare Media--A ticket, pass, or other device, other than 
     cash, used to pay for transportation on a public mass transit 
     system.
       (c) Office--Refers to a Senate employee's appointing 
     authority, that is, the Senator, committee chairman, elected 
     officer, or an official of the Senate who appointed the 
     employee. For purposes of these regulations, an employee in 
     the Office of the President pro tempore, Deputy President pro 
     tempore, Majority Leader, Minority Leader, Majority Whip, 
     Minority Whip, Secretary of the Conference of the Majority, 
     or Secretary of the Conference of the Minority shall be 
     considered to be an employee, whose appointing authority is 
     the Senator holding such position.
       (d) Qualified Employee--An individual employed in a Senate 
     office whose salary is disbursed by the Secretary of the 
     Senate, whose salary is within the limit set by his or her 
     appointing authority for participation in a transit program 
     under these regulations, and who is not a member of a 
     car pool or the holder of any Senate parking privilege.
       (e) Qualified program Refers to the program of a public 
     mass transportation system that encourages employees to use 
     public transportation in accordance with the requirements of 
     Pub. L. 101-509 whose participation in the Senate program in 
     accordance with these regulations has been approved by the 
     Committee on Rules and Administration.

     SEC. 4. PROGRAM REQUIREMENTS.

       (a) Each office within the Senate is authorized to provide 
     to qualified employees under its supervision a de minimis 
     fringe employment benefit of transit fare media of a value 
     not to exceed the amount authorized by statute currently not 
     to exceed [$100] $105 per month.
       (b) Each appointing authority may establish a salary limit 
     for participation in this program by his or her employees. If 
     such salary limit is established, all staff paid at or below 
     that limit, and who meet the other criteria established in 
     these regulations, must be permitted to participate in this 
     program.
       (c) For purposes of these regulations, an individual 
     employed for a partial month in an office shall be considered 
     employed for the full month in that office.
       (d) The fare media purchased by participating offices under 
     this program shall only be used by qualified employees for 
     travel to and from their official duty station.
       (e) Any fare media purchased under this program may not be 
     sold or exchanged although exchanges of Metro Card Media for 
     transportation on the Virginia Railway Express (VRE) or the 
     Maryland Transit Administration's MARC trains are 
     permissible.
       (f) In addition to any criminal liability, any person 
     misusing, selling, exchanging or obtaining or using a fare 
     media in violation of these regulations shall be required to 
     reimburse the office for the full amount of the fare media 
     involved and may be disqualified from further participation 
     in this program.

     SEC. 5. OFFICE ADMINISTRATION OF PROGRAM.

       Each office electing to participate in this program shall 
     be responsible for its administration in accordance with 
     these regulations, shall designate an individual to manage 
     its

[[Page S2238]]

     program, and may adopt rules for its participation consistent 
     with these regulations.
       An employee who wishes to participate in this program shall 
     make application with his or her office on a form which shall 
     include a certification that such person is not a member of a 
     motor pool, does not have any Senate parking privilege (or 
     has relinquished same as a condition of participation), will 
     use the fare media personally for traveling to and from his 
     or her duty station, and will not exchange or sell the fare 
     media provided under this program. The application shall 
     include the following statement:
       This certification concerns a matter within the 
     jurisdiction of an agency of the United States and making a 
     false, fictitious, or fraudulent certification may render the 
     maker subject to criminal prosecution under 18 U.S.C. 
     Sec. 1001.
       Safekeeping and distribution of fare media purchased for an 
     office is the responsibility of the program manager in that 
     office. Participating offices may not refund or replace any 
     damaged, misplaced, lost, or stolen fare media.

     SEC. 6. SENATE STATIONERY ROOM RESPONSIBILITIES.

       The only program currently available in the Washington, 
     D.C. metropolitan area at this time is Metro Pool, a program 
     established through Metro by the District of Columbia. 
     Transit benefits will be provided through Metro Pool for 
     participating offices in the Washington, D.C. area. The 
     Committee on Rules and Administration shall enter into an 
     agreement with Metro Pool for purchase of fare media by the 
     Senate Stationery Room as required by participating offices 
     on a monthly basis.
       A participating office shall purchase the fare media with 
     its authorized appropriated funds from the Senate Stationery 
     Room through its stationery account pursuant to 2 U.S.C. 
     Sec. 119.
       Each office shall present to the Senate Stationery Room 
     [two copies of] the certification referred to in section 7 of 
     these regulations. A new certification shall be submitted 
     when an [employer] employee is added to or deleted from the 
     program. The Stationery Room shall make available to the 
     Senate Rules Committee Audit Section a monthly summary of 
     office participation in this program. In addition, the 
     Stationery Room may not refund or replace any damaged, 
     misplaced, lost, or stolen fare media that has been purchased 
     through the office's stationery account.

     SEC. 7. CERTIFICATION.

       The certification required by section 6 shall be approved 
     by the appointing authority and shall include the name, and 
     social security number of each participating employee within 
     that office, and the following statements:
       (a) Each person included on the list is currently a 
     qualified employee as defined in Section 3.
       (b) No person included on the list has any current Senate 
     parking privilege and that no parking privileges will be 
     restored to any person on the list during the period for 
     which the fare media is purchased.
       (c) That each month's fare media for each participating 
     employee does not exceed the maximum dollar amount specified 
     in statute (currently [$100] $105).

     SEC. 8. OTHER PARTICIPATING PROGRAMS.

       Section 6 provides for procedures for participation by 
     Washington offices in the Metro Pool program established 
     through Metro by the District of Columbia. Additional 
     programs in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, or 
     programs offered in other locations where Members have 
     offices that meet the requirements of the law and these 
     regulations, may be used for qualified employees, subject to 
     the following requirements:
       (A) Authorization
       The public transit system shall submit information to the 
     Committee on Rules and Administration that it participates in 
     an established state or local government program to encourage 
     the use of public transportation for employees in accordance 
     with the provisions of Pub. L. 101-509 and these regulations. 
     If the program meets the requirements of the statute and 
     these regulations and is approved by the Committee on Rules 
     and Administration, any Senate office served by such transit 
     system may provide benefits to its employees pursuant to 
     these regulations.
       (B) Procedures
       (1) A qualified program operating in the Washington, D.C. 
     metropolitan area that permits purchase arrangements similar 
     to those provided by the Metro Pool program shall participate 
     in the Senate program in accordance with the procedures set 
     forth in Section 6.
       (2) A qualified program operating in the Washington, D.C. 
     metropolitan area that does not have purchase arrangements 
     similar to Metro Pool, or a qualified program located outside 
     that metropolitan area, that permits purchases directly by an 
     office, may make arrangements for purchase of media directly 
     with a participating office. Such an office may provide for 
     direct payment to that system and shall submit the 
     certification in accordance with Section 7.
       (3) In the case of a qualified program that does not permit 
     purchase arrangements as provided in paragraphs (1) or (2) 
     above, an office may provide for reimbursement to a qualified 
     employee and shall submit a certification in accordance with 
     Section 7.
       (C) Documentation
       The following documentation must accompany a voucher 
     submitted under paragraph 8(B)(2) or (3):
       (1) A copy of the Rules Committee approval, in accordance 
     with section 8(A), with the first voucher submitted for that 
     transit program, provided subsequent vouchers identify the 
     transit program.
       (2) The certification.
       (3) Proof of purchase of the fare media.
       (D) Voucher Guidance
       In the case of a Senator's state office, reimbursement for 
     payment to either a qualified transit system, or a qualified 
     employee shall be from the Senators' Official Personnel and 
     Office Expense Account (SOP & OEA) as a home state office 
     expense on a seven part voucher.
       In the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area, reimbursement 
     for payment to either a qualified transit system, or a 
     qualified employee shall be as follows:
       (1) in the case of a Senator's office from the SOP & OEA as 
     an ``other official expense'' (discretionary expense).
       (2) in the case of a Senate committee or administrative 
     office as an ``Other'' expense.

     SEC. 9. SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES.

       Any circumstances not covered under these regulations shall 
     be considered on application to the Committee on Rules and 
     Administration.

     SEC. 10. EFFECTIVE DATE.

       These regulations shall take effect on the first day of the 
     month following date of approval.

                          ____________________