[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 71 (Wednesday, June 7, 2006)]
[House]
[Pages H3434-H3445]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2007
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 849 and rule
XVIII, the Chair declares the House in the Committee of the Whole House
on the State of the Union for the consideration of the bill, H.R. 5521.
The Chair designates the gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Linder) as
Chairman of the Committee of the Whole, and requests the gentleman from
Arkansas (Mr. Boozman) to assume the chair temporarily.
{time} 1256
In the Committee of the Whole
Accordingly, the House resolved itself into the Committee of the
Whole House on the State of the Union for the consideration of the bill
(H.R. 5521) making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes, with Mr.
Boozman (Acting Chairman) in the chair.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The Acting CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered
read the first time.
The gentleman from California (Mr. Lewis) and the gentleman from
Wisconsin (Mr. Obey) each will control 30 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from California.
Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
The bill that we bring before you today is the legislative branch
bill that funds the activities of the House. The bill includes
approximately $3 billion, excluding the Senate items, an increase of
about 3.6 percent over FY 2006.
We worked very closely with Mr. Obey and his staff in developing this
bill. I want to thank the committee members on both sides of the aisle,
as well as our very fine staff for the work they have done.
While the bill is very small in size, it is the fundamental oil that
allows the legislative branch to carry out its important
responsibilities relative to our Nation's legislative and governmental
interests here in Washington.
The bill represents a $224 million reduction, or 6.9 percent below
the request. There will be no further reduction in the current
workforce. All personnel cost-of-living increases and all
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of their pay-related costs are provided. The Capitol Visitor Center is
funded at the cost-to-complete level of $25.6 million. This amount
reflects the GAO's latest estimate, and the Architect has concurred
with the estimate. An additional $20.5 million is included for project
fit-out and operations, essentially getting the place ready to go. The
bill establishes an Inspector General in the Architect of the Capitol's
Office. The IG will audit and report semiannually on management and
operations of the AOC.
We expect to complete this bill today and move forward from there to
the foreign operations bill.
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Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. OBEY. Mr. Chairman, my views on this bill are well known, as well
as the provisions in it. I think the report speaks for itself.
Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman from
California, Mr. Thompson, for his hard work and leadership on
electronic-waste generated by the legislative branch. The Committee
shares his concern and has included language in its report to ensure
that Member offices are made aware that the House has regulations
regarding the disposal of unwanted electronic equipment and for the
Chief Administrative Officer to develop user friendly guidelines and
procedures for Member offices. In addition, the Committee will request
that each legislative branch agency provide information to the
Committee regarding its disposal policy for electronic equipment and
work to address this issue in conference.
Mr. OBEY. I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my
time.
The Acting CHAIRMAN. All time for general debate has expired.
Pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered read for amendment under
the 5-minute rule.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 5521
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the
following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the
Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the Legislative
Branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2007, and for
other purposes, namely:
TITLE I--LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Salaries and Expenses
For salaries and expenses of the House of Representatives,
$1,137,806,000, as follows:
house leadership offices
For salaries and expenses, as authorized by law,
$21,092,000, including: Office of the Speaker, $2,930,000,
including $25,000 for official expenses of the Speaker;
Office of the Majority Floor Leader, $2,213,000, including
$10,000 for official expenses of the Majority Leader; Office
of the Minority Floor Leader, $3,072,000, including $10,000
for official expenses of the Minority Leader; Office of the
Majority Whip, including the Chief Deputy Majority Whip,
$1,921,000, including $5,000 for official expenses of the
Majority Whip; Office of the Minority Whip, including the
Chief Deputy Minority Whip, $1,458,000, including $5,000 for
official expenses of the Minority Whip; Speaker's Office for
Legislative Floor Activities, $491,000; Republican Steering
Committee, $924,000; Republican Conference, $1,699,000;
Republican Policy Committee, $407,000; Democratic Steering
and Policy Committee, $2,194,000; Democratic Caucus,
$836,000; nine minority employees, $1,473,000; training and
program development--majority, $290,000; training and program
development--minority, $290,000; Cloakroom Personnel--
majority, $447,000; and Cloakroom Personnel--minority,
$447,000.
Members' Representational Allowances Including Members' Clerk Hire,
Official Expenses of Members, and Official Mail
For Members' representational allowances, including
Members' clerk hire, official expenses, and official mail,
$557,796,000.
Committee Employees
Standing Committees, Special and Select
For salaries and expenses of standing committees, special
and select, authorized by House resolutions, $124,851,000:
Provided, That such amount shall remain available for such
salaries and expenses until December 31, 2008.
Committee on Appropriations
For salaries and expenses of the Committee on
Appropriations, $26,497,000, including studies and
examinations of executive agencies and temporary personal
services for such committee, to be expended in accordance
with section 202(b) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of
1946 and to be available for reimbursement to agencies for
services performed: Provided, That such amount shall remain
available for such salaries and expenses until December 31,
2008.
Salaries, Officers and Employees
For compensation and expenses of officers and employees, as
authorized by law, $159,581,000, including: for salaries and
expenses of the Office of the Clerk, including not more than
$13,000, of which not more than $10,000 is for the Family
Room, for official representation and reception expenses,
$21,505,000; for salaries and expenses of the Office of the
Sergeant at Arms, including the position of Superintendent of
Garages, and including not more than $3,000 for official
representation and reception expenses, $6,240,000; for
salaries and expenses of the Office of the Chief
Administrative Officer, $109,301,000, of which $4,996,000
shall remain available until expended; for salaries and
expenses of the Office of the Inspector General, $4,204,000;
for salaries and expenses of the Office of Emergency
Planning, Preparedness and Operations, $3,997,000, to remain
available until expended; for salaries and expenses of the
Office of General Counsel, $959,000; for the Office of the
Chaplain, $164,000; for salaries and expenses of the Office
of the Parliamentarian, including the Parliamentarian, $2,000
for preparing the Digest of Rules, and not more than $1,000
for official representation and reception expenses,
$1,762,000; for salaries and expenses of the Office of the
Law Revision Counsel of the House, $2,521,000; for salaries
and expenses of the Office of the Legislative Counsel of the
House, $7,406,000; for salaries and expenses of the Office of
Interparliamentary Affairs, $737,000; for other authorized
employees, $285,000; and for salaries and expenses of the
Office of the Historian, $500,000.
Allowances and Expenses
For allowances and expenses as authorized by House
resolution or law, $247,989,000, including: supplies,
materials, administrative costs and Federal tort claims,
$4,554,000; official mail for committees, leadership offices,
and administrative offices of the House, $410,000; Government
contributions for health, retirement, Social Security, and
other applicable employee benefits, $217,253,000; supplies,
materials, and other costs relating to the House portion of
expenses for the Capitol Visitor Center, $3,410,000, to
remain available until expended; Business Continuity and
Disaster Recovery, $21,659,000, of which $5,300,000 shall
remain available until expended; and miscellaneous items
including purchase, exchange, maintenance, repair and
operation of House motor vehicles, interparliamentary
receptions, and gratuities to heirs of deceased employees of
the House, $703,000.
Child Care Center
For salaries and expenses of the House of Representatives
Child Care Center, such amounts as are deposited in the
account established by section 312(d)(1) of the Legislative
Branch Appropriations Act, 1992 (2 U.S.C. 2112), subject to
the level specified in the budget of the Center, as submitted
to the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives.
Administrative Provisions
Sec. 101. (a) Requiring Amounts Remaining in Members'
Representational Allowances To Be Used for Deficit Reduction
or To Reduce the Federal Debt.--Notwithstanding any other
provision of law, any amounts appropriated under this Act for
``HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES--Salaries and Expenses--Members'
Representational Allowances'' shall be available only for
fiscal year 2007. Any amount remaining after all payments are
made under such allowances for fiscal year 2007 shall be
deposited in the Treasury and used for deficit reduction (or,
if there is no Federal budget deficit after all such payments
have been made, for reducing the Federal debt, in such manner
as the Secretary of the Treasury considers appropriate).
(b) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration of
the House of Representatives shall have authority to
prescribe regulations to carry out this section.
(c) Definition.--As used in this section, the term ``Member
of the House of Representatives'' means a Representative in,
or a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.
Sec. 102. Lump-Sum Allowance.--(a) The aggregate amount
otherwise authorized to be appropriated for a fiscal year for
the lump-sum allowance for each of the following offices
shall be increased as follows:
(1) The allowance for the Office of the Speaker is
increased by $75,000.
(2) The allowance for the Office of the Majority Floor
Leader is increased by $75,000.
(3) The allowance for the Office of the Minority Floor
Leader is increased by $75,000.
(4) The allowance for the Office of the Majority Whip is
increased by $75,000.
(5) The allowance for the Office of the Minority Whip is
increased by $75,000.
(6) The allowance for the Democratic Steering and Policy
Committee is increased by $200,000.
(7) The allowance for the Republican Conference is
increased by $110,000.
(8) The allowance for the Republican Policy Committee is
increased by $90,000.
(b) This section shall apply with respect to fiscal year
2007 and each succeeding fiscal year.
Sec. 103. Acting Chief Administrative Officer.--(a) In case
of the death, resignation, separation from office, or
disability of the Chief Administrative Officer of the House
of Representatives, the duties of the Chief Administrative
Officer may be carried out by a subordinate employee of the
Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (as designated by
the Chief Administrative Officer) until a Chief
Administrative Officer is appointed or an individual is
appointed to act as the Chief Administrative Officer by the
Speaker of the House of Representatives under section 208(a)
of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 75a-
1(a)).
(b)(1) Section 7 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations
Act, 1943 (2 U.S.C. 75a), is repealed.
(2) Section 208(b) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of
1946 (2 U.S.C. 75a-1(a)) is amended by striking ``involved;''
and all that follows and inserting ``involved.''.
Sec. 104. Contract for Exercise Facility.--(a) Section
103(a) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2005
(Public Law 108-447; 118 Stat. 3175), is amended by striking
``private entity'' and inserting ``public or private
entity''.
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(b) The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect
as if included in the enactment of the Legislative Branch
Appropriations Act, 2005.
Sec. 105. Discounted Membership.--(a) If the Architect of
the Capitol and the Chief Administrative Officer of the House
of Representatives agree to permit employees of the Office of
the Architect of the Capitol to receive discounted
memberships in a private exercise facility which has entered
into a contract with the House to provide employees of the
House with discounted memberships in the facility, the
Architect may use amounts made available in a fiscal year for
``General Administration'' to make payments under the
contract.
(b) This section shall apply with respect to fiscal year
2007 and each succeeding fiscal year.
Sec. 106. Membership in Exercise Facility.--In addition to
individuals whose pay is disbursed by the Chief
Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives,
membership in the exercise facility established for employees
of the House (as described in section 103(a) of the
Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2005) shall be
available to such other categories of individuals as may be
approved by the Committee on House Administration.
Sec. 107. Media Support Services.--(a) The responsibilities
of positions under the House Press Gallery, the House
Periodical Press Gallery, and the House Radio and Television
Correspondents' Gallery shall include providing media support
services with respect to the presidential nominating
conventions of the national committees of political parties.
(b) The Standing Committee of Correspondents may enter into
agreements with national committees of political parties
under which the committees and persons authorized by the
committees may reimburse employees for necessary expenses
incurred in carrying out the responsibilities described in
subsection (a) and employees may accept such reimbursement.
(c) The terms and conditions under which employees exercise
responsibilities under subsection (a), and the terms and
conditions of any agreement entered into under subsection
(b), shall be subject to the approval of the Chief
Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives.
(d) In this section, the terms ``national committee'' and
``political party'' have the meaning given such terms in
section 301 of the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 (2
U.S.C. 431).
JOINT ITEMS
For Joint Committees, as follows:
Joint Economic Committee
For salaries and expenses of the Joint Economic Committee,
$4,370,000, to be disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate.
Joint Committee on Taxation
For salaries and expenses of the Joint Committee on
Taxation, $9,082,000, to be disbursed by the Chief
Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives.
For other joint items, as follows:
Office of the Attending Physician
For medical supplies, equipment, and contingent expenses of
the emergency rooms, and for the Attending Physician and his
assistants, including: (1) an allowance of $2,175 per month
to the Attending Physician; (2) an allowance of $725 per
month each to four medical officers while on duty in the
Office of the Attending Physician; (3) an allowance of $725
per month to two assistants and $580 per month each not to
exceed 11 assistants on the basis heretofore provided for
such assistants; and (4) $1,920,000 for reimbursement to the
Department of the Navy for expenses incurred for staff and
equipment assigned to the Office of the Attending Physician,
which shall be advanced and credited to the applicable
appropriation or appropriations from which such salaries,
allowances, and other expenses are payable and shall be
available for all the purposes thereof, $2,652,000, to be
disbursed by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of
Representatives.
Capitol Guide Service and Special Services Office
For salaries and expenses of the Capitol Guide Service and
Special Services Office, $8,490,000, to be disbursed by the
Secretary of the Senate.
Statements of Appropriations
For the preparation, under the direction of the Committees
on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of
Representatives, of the statements for the second session of
the 109th Congress, showing appropriations made, indefinite
appropriations, and contracts authorized, together with a
chronological history of the regular appropriations bills as
required by law, $30,000, to be paid to the persons
designated by the chairmen of such committees to supervise
the work.
CAPITOL POLICE
Salaries
For salaries of employees of the Capitol Police, including
overtime, hazardous duty pay differential, and Government
contributions for health, retirement, social security,
professional liability insurance, and other applicable
employee benefits, $220,600,000, to be disbursed by the Chief
of the Capitol Police or his designee.
General Expenses
For necessary expenses of the Capitol Police, including
motor vehicles, communications and other equipment, security
equipment and installation, uniforms, weapons, supplies,
materials, training, medical services, forensic services,
stenographic services, personal and professional services,
the employee assistance program, the awards program, postage,
communication services, travel, travel advances, relocation
of instructor and liaison personnel for the Federal Law
Enforcement Training Center, and not more than $5,000 to be
expended on the certification of the Chief of the Capitol
Police in connection with official representation and
reception expenses, $38,500,000, to be disbursed by the Chief
of the Capitol Police or his designee: Provided, That,
notwithstanding any other provision of law, the cost of basic
training for the Capitol Police at the Federal Law
Enforcement Training Center for fiscal year 2007 shall be
paid by the Secretary of Homeland Security from funds
available to the Department of Homeland Security.
Administrative Provisions
(including transfer of funds)
Sec. 1001. Transfer Authority.--Amounts appropriated for
fiscal year 2007 for the Capitol Police may be transferred
between the headings ``salaries'' and ``general expenses''
upon the approval of the Committees on Appropriations of the
Senate and the House of Representatives.
Sec. 1002. Student Loan Reimbursement.--Section 908(c) of
the Emergency Supplemental Act, 2002 (2 U.S.C. 1926(c)) is
amended by striking ``$40,000'' and inserting ``$60,000''.
Sec. 1003. Advance Payments.--During fiscal year 2007 and
each succeeding fiscal year, the Chief of the United States
Capitol Police may make payments in advance for obligations
of the Capitol Police for subscription services if the Chief
determines it to be more prompt, efficient, or economical to
do so.
OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE
Salaries and Expenses
For salaries and expenses of the Office of Compliance, as
authorized by section 305 of the Congressional Accountability
Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1385), $3,149,000, of which $780,000
shall remain available until September 30, 2008: Provided,
That the Executive Director of the Office of Compliance may,
within the limits of available appropriations, dispose of
surplus or obsolete personal property by interagency
transfer, donation, or discarding: Provided further, That not
more than $500 may be expended on the certification of the
Executive Director of the Office of Compliance in connection
with official representation and reception expenses.
Administrative Provision
Sec. 1101. Lump-Sum Payments.--(a) The Executive Director
of the Office of Compliance shall have the authority to make
lump-sum payments to reward exceptional performance by an
employee or a group of employees.
(b) Subsection (a) shall apply with respect to fiscal years
beginning after September 30, 2006.
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
Salaries and Expenses
For salaries and expenses necessary for operation of the
Congressional Budget Office, including not more than $3,000
to be expended on the certification of the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office in connection with official
representation and reception expenses, $36,329,000.
ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL
General Administration
For salaries for the Architect of the Capitol, and other
personal services, at rates of pay provided by law; for
surveys and studies in connection with activities under the
care of the Architect of the Capitol; for all necessary
expenses for the general and administrative support of the
operations under the Architect of the Capitol including the
Botanic Garden; electrical substations of the Capitol, Senate
and House office buildings, and other facilities under the
jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol; including
furnishings and office equipment; including not more than
$5,000 for official reception and representation expenses, to
be expended as the Architect of the Capitol may approve; for
purchase or exchange, maintenance, and operation of a
passenger motor vehicle, $89,413,000, of which $5,000,000
shall remain available until September 30, 2011.
Capitol Building
For all necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and
operation of the Capitol, $22,396,000, of which $5,965,000
shall remain available until September 30, 2011.
Capitol Grounds
For all necessary expenses for care and improvement of
grounds surrounding the Capitol, the Senate and House office
buildings, and the Capitol Power Plant, $7,806,000.
House Office Buildings
For all necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and
operation of the House office buildings, $61,383,000, of
which $19,805,000 shall remain available until September 30,
2011.
Capitol Power Plant
For all necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and
operation of the Capitol Power Plant; lighting, heating,
power (including the purchase of electrical energy) and water
and sewer services for the Capitol, the Capitol Visitor
Center, Senate and House office buildings, Library of
Congress buildings, and the grounds about the same, Botanic
Garden, Senate garage, and air conditioning refrigeration not
supplied from
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plants in any of such buildings; heating the Government
Printing Office and Washington City Post Office, and heating
and chilled water for air conditioning for the Supreme Court
Building, the Union Station complex, the Thurgood Marshall
Federal Judiciary Building and the Folger Shakespeare
Library, expenses for which shall be advanced or reimbursed
upon request of the Architect of the Capitol and amounts so
received shall be deposited into the Treasury to the credit
of this appropriation, $79,327,000, of which $1,434,000 shall
remain available until September 30, 2011: Provided, That not
more than $8,000,000 of the funds credited or to be
reimbursed to this appropriation as herein provided shall be
available for obligation during fiscal year 2007.
Library Buildings and Grounds
For all necessary expenses for the mechanical and
structural maintenance, care and operation of the Library
buildings and grounds, $36,401,000, of which $12,971,000
shall remain available until September 30, 2011.
Capitol Police Buildings and Grounds
For all necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and
operation of buildings and grounds of the United States
Capitol Police, $11,621,000, of which $2,000,000 shall remain
available until September 30, 2011.
Botanic Garden
For all necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and
operation of the Botanic Garden and the nurseries, buildings,
grounds, and collections; and purchase and exchange,
maintenance, repair, and operation of a passenger motor
vehicle; all under the direction of the Joint Committee on
the Library, $8,612,000: Provided, That this appropriation
shall not be available for construction of the National
Garden: Provided further, That of the amount made available
under this heading, the Architect may obligate and expend
such sums as may be necessary for the maintenance, care and
operation of the National Garden established under section
307E of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1989 (2
U.S.C. 2146), upon vouchers approved by the Architect or a
duly authorized designee.
Capitol Visitor Center
For an additional amount for the Capitol Visitor Center
project, $25,600,000 to remain available until expended, and
in addition, $20,575,000 for the Capitol Visitor Center
operation costs of which $1,000,000 shall remain available
until September 30, 2011: Provided, That the Architect of the
Capitol may not obligate any of the funds which are made
available for the Capitol Visitor Center project without an
obligation plan approved by the Committees on Appropriations
of the Senate and House of Representatives.
Administrative Provisions
Sec. 1201. Rosa Parks Statue.--(a) Section 1(a) of Public
Law 109-116 (2 U.S.C. 2131a note) is amended by adding at the
end the following new sentence: ``The Joint Committee may
authorize the Architect of the Capitol to enter into the
agreement required under this subsection on its behalf, under
such terms and conditions as the Joint Committee may
require.''.
(b) The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect
as if included in the enactment of Public Law 109-116.
Sec. 1202. Statutory Positions.--(a) Section 1203(e) of the
Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2003 (2 U.S.C.
1805(e)) is amended by striking paragraph (3).
(b) Section 108(a) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations
Act, 1991 (2 U.S.C. 1849(a)) is amended by striking ``12
positions'' and inserting ``15 positions''.
(c) The amendments made by this Act shall apply with
respect to pay periods beginning on or after the date of the
enactment of this Act, except that any individual who was
appointed to a position described in section 1203(e)(3) of
the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2003 (as in effect
prior to the enactment of subsection (a)) who holds that
position on the day before the date of the enactment of this
Act shall be deemed to have been appointed to a position
described in section 108(a) of the Legislative Branch
Appropriations Act, 1991 (as amended by subsection (b)).
Sec. 1203. Travel and Transportation.--(a) Section 5721(1)
of title 5, United States Code, is amended--
(1) by redesignating subparagraphs (G) and (H) as
subparagraphs (H) and (I); and
(2) by inserting after subparagraph (F) the following new
subparagraph:
``(G) the Architect of the Capitol;''.
(b) Section 521(1)(B) of the National Energy Conservation
Policy Act (42 U.S.C. 8241(1)(A)(B)) is amended by striking
``(B) through (H)'' and inserting ``(B) through (I)''.
Sec. 1204. Leasing Authority.--(a) Section 1102(b) of the
Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2004 (2 U.S.C.
1822(b)) is amended--
(1) in paragraph (1), by striking ``Committee on Rules and
Administration'' and inserting ``Committees on Appropriations
and Rules and Administration'';
(2) in paragraph (2), by striking ``the House Office
Building Commission'' and inserting ``the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the House
Office Building Commission''; and
(3) in paragraph (3), by striking the period at the end and
inserting ``, for space to be leased for any other entity
under subsection (a).''.
(b) The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect
as if included in the enactment of the Legislative Branch
Appropriations Act, 2004.
Sec. 1205. Advance Payments.--During fiscal year 2007 and
each succeeding fiscal year, the Architect of the Capitol may
make payments in advance for obligations of the Office of the
Architect of the Capitol for subscription services if the
Architect determines it to be more prompt, efficient, or
economical to do so.
Sec. 1206. (a) Establishment of Office.--There is
established in the Office of the Architect of the Capitol the
Office of the Inspector General, headed by the Inspector
General of the Office of the Architect of the Capitol
(hereafter in this section referred to as the ``Inspector
General'').
(b) Inspector General.--
(1) Appointment.--The Inspector General shall be appointed
by the Architect of the Capitol, in consultation with the
Committee on House Administration of the House of
Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration
of the Senate, and shall be appointed without regard to
political affiliation and solely on the basis of integrity
and demonstrated ability in accounting, auditing, financial
analysis, law, management analysis, public administration, or
investigations.
(2) Term of service.--The Inspector General shall serve for
a term of 5 years, and an individual serving as Inspector
General may be reappointed for not more than 2 additional
terms.
(3) Removal.--The Inspector General may be removed from
office prior to the expiration of his term only by the
Architect of the Capitol. Upon such removal, the Architect
shall promptly communicate the reasons for the removal in
writing to the Committee on House Administration of the House
of Representatives and the Committee on Rules and
Administration of the Senate.
(4) Salary.--The Inspector General shall be paid at an
annual rate equal to $1,500 less than the annual rate of pay
in effect for the Architect of the Capitol.
(c) Duties.--
(1) Applicability of duties of inspector general of
executive branch establishment.--The Inspector General shall
carry out the same duties and responsibilities with respect
to the Architect of the Capitol as an Inspector General of an
establishment carries out with respect to an establishment
under section 4 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5
U.S.C. App. 4), under the same terms and conditions which
apply under such section.
(2) Semiannual reports.--The Inspector General shall
prepare and submit semiannual reports summarizing the
activities of the Office of the Inspector General in the same
manner, and in accordance with the same deadlines, terms, and
conditions, as an Inspector General of an establishment under
section 5 of the Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App.
5). For purposes of applying section 5 of such Act to the
Inspector General, the Architect of the Capitol shall be
considered the head of the establishment.
(3) Investigations of complaints of employees.--
(A) Authority.--The Inspector General may receive and
investigate complaints or information from an employee of the
Office of the Architect of the Capitol concerning the
possible existence of an activity constituting a violation of
law, rules, or regulations, or mismanagement, gross waste of
funds, abuse of authority, or a substantial and specific
danger to the public health and safety.
(B) Nondisclosure.--The Inspector General shall not, after
receipt of a complaint or information from an employee,
disclose the identity of the employee without the consent of
the employee, unless the Inspector General determines such
disclosure is unavoidable during the course of the
investigation.
(C) Prohibiting retaliation.--An employee of the Office of
the Architect of the Capitol who has authority to take,
direct others to take, recommend, or approve any personnel
action, shall not, with respect to such authority, take or
threaten to take any action against any employee as a
reprisal for making a complaint or disclosing information to
the Inspector General, unless the complaint was made or the
information disclosed with the knowledge that it was false or
with willful disregard for its truth or falsity.
(4) Independence in carrying out duties.--Neither the
Architect of the Capitol nor any other employee of the Office
of the Architect of the Capitol may prevent or prohibit the
Inspector General from carrying out any of the duties or
responsibilities assigned to the Inspector General under this
section.
(d) Powers.--
(1) In general.--The Inspector General may exercise the
same authorities with respect to the Architect of the Capitol
as an Inspector General of an establishment may exercise with
respect to an establishment under section 6(a) of the
Inspector General Act of 1978 (5 U.S.C. App. 6(a)), other
than paragraphs (7) and (8) of such section.
(2) Staff.--
(A) In general.--The Inspector General may appoint and fix
the pay of such personnel as the Inspector General considers
appropriate. Such personnel may be appointed without regard
to the provisions of title 5, United States Code, regarding
appointments in the competitive service, and may be paid
without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter
III of chapter 53 of such title relating to classification
and General Schedule pay rates, except that no personnel
[[Page H3443]]
of the Office (other than the Inspector General) may be paid
at an annual rate greater than $500 less than the annual rate
of pay of the Inspector General under subsection (b)(4).
(B) Experts and consultants.--The Inspector General may
procure temporary and intermittent services under section
3109 of title 5, United States Code, at rates not to exceed
the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay for
level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of such
title.
(C) Independence in appointing staff.--No individual may
carry out any of the duties or responsibilities of the Office
unless the individual is appointed by the Inspector General,
or provides services procured by the Inspector General,
pursuant to this paragraph. Nothing in this subparagraph may
be construed to prohibit the Inspector General from entering
into a contract or other arrangement for the provision of
services under this section.
(D) Applicability of architect of the capitol personnel
rules.--None of the regulations governing the appointment and
pay of employees of the Office of the Architect of the
Capitol shall apply with respect to the appointment and
compensation of the personnel of the Office, except to the
extent agreed to by the Inspector General. Nothing in the
previous sentence may be construed to affect subparagraphs
(A) through (C).
(3) Equipment and supplies.--The Architect of the Capitol
shall provide the Office with appropriate and adequate office
space, together with such equipment, supplies, and
communications facilities and services as may be necessary
for the operation of the Office, and shall provide necessary
maintenance services for such office space and the equipment
and facilities located therein.
(e) Transfer of Functions.--
(1) Transfer.--To the extent that any office or entity in
the Office of the Architect of the Capitol prior to the
appointment of the first Inspector General under this section
carried out any of the duties and responsibilities assigned
to the Inspector General under this section, the functions of
such office or entity shall be transferred to the Office upon
the appointment of the first Inspector General under this
section.
(2) No reduction in pay or benefits.--The transfer of the
functions of an office or entity to the Office under
paragraph (1) may not result in a reduction in the pay or
benefits of any employee of the office or entity, except to
the extent required under subsection (d)(2)(A).
(f) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect on the
date of the enactment of this Act.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
Salaries and Expenses
For necessary expenses of the Library of Congress not
otherwise provided for, including development and maintenance
of the Library's catalogs; custody and custodial care of the
Library buildings; special clothing; cleaning, laundering and
repair of uniforms; preservation of motion pictures in the
custody of the Library; operation and maintenance of the
American Folklife Center in the Library; preparation and
distribution of catalog records and other publications of the
Library; hire or purchase of one passenger motor vehicle; and
expenses of the Library of Congress Trust Fund Board not
properly chargeable to the income of any trust fund held by
the Board, $396,022,000, of which not more than $6,000,000
shall be derived from collections credited to this
appropriation during fiscal year 2007, and shall remain
available until expended, under the Act of June 28, 1902
(chapter 1301; 32 Stat. 480; 2 U.S.C. 150) and not more than
$350,000 shall be derived from collections during fiscal year
2007 and shall remain available until expended for the
development and maintenance of an international legal
information database and activities related thereto:
Provided, That the Library of Congress may not obligate or
expend any funds derived from collections under the Act of
June 28, 1902, in excess of the amount authorized for
obligation or expenditure in appropriations Acts: Provided
further, That the total amount available for obligation shall
be reduced by the amount by which collections are less than
$6,350,000: Provided further, That of the total amount
appropriated, $14,509,000 shall remain available until
expended for the partial acquisition of books, periodicals,
newspapers, and all other materials including subscriptions
for bibliographic services for the Library, including $40,000
to be available solely for the purchase, when specifically
approved by the Librarian, of special and unique materials
for additions to the collections: Provided further, That of
the total amount appropriated, not more than $12,000 may be
expended, on the certification of the Librarian of Congress,
in connection with official representation and reception
expenses for the Overseas Field Offices: Provided further,
That of the total amount appropriated, $5,954,000 is
available for the digital collections and educational
curricula program, of which $4,010,000 shall remain available
until expended: Provided further, That of the total amount
appropriated, $600,000 shall remain available until expended,
and shall be transferred to the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial
Commission for carrying out the purposes of Public Law 106-
173, of which $10,000 may be used for official representation
and reception expenses of the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial
Commission: Provided further, That of the total amount
appropriated, $11,029,000 shall remain available until
expended for partial support of the National Audio-Visual
Conservation Center.
Copyright Office
Salaries and Expenses
For necessary expenses of the Copyright Office,
$59,044,000, of which not more than $29,335,000, to remain
available until expended, shall be derived from collections
credited to this appropriation during fiscal year 2007 under
section 708(d) of title 17, United States Code: Provided,
That the Copyright Office may not obligate or expend any
funds derived from collections under such section, in excess
of the amount authorized for obligation or expenditure in
appropriations Acts: Provided further, That not more than
$5,640,000 shall be derived from collections during fiscal
year 2007 under sections 111(d)(2), 119(b)(2), 803(e), 1005,
and 1316 of such title: Provided further, That the total
amount available for obligation shall be reduced by the
amount by which collections are less than $34,975,000:
Provided further, That not more than $100,000 of the amount
appropriated is available for the maintenance of an
``International Copyright Institute'' in the Copyright Office
of the Library of Congress for the purpose of training
nationals of developing countries in intellectual property
laws and policies: Provided further, That not more than
$4,250 may be expended, on the certification of the Librarian
of Congress, in connection with official representation and
reception expenses for activities of the International
Copyright Institute and for copyright delegations, visitors,
and seminars: Provided further, That notwithstanding any
provision of chapter 8 of title 17, United States Code, any
amounts made available under this heading which are
attributable to royalty fees and payments received by the
Copyright Office pursuant to sections 111, 119, and chapter
10 of such title may be used for the costs incurred in the
administration of the Copyright Royalty Judges program.
Congressional Research Service
salaries and expenses
For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of
section 203 of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2
U.S.C. 166) and to revise and extend the Annotated
Constitution of the United States of America, $102,462,000:
Provided, That no part of such amount may be used to pay any
salary or expense in connection with any publication, or
preparation of material therefor (except the Digest of Public
General Bills), to be issued by the Library of Congress
unless such publication has obtained prior approval of either
the Committee on House Administration of the House of
Representatives or the Committee on Rules and Administration
of the Senate.
Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
salaries and expenses
For salaries and expenses to carry out the Act of March 3,
1931 (chapter 400; 46 Stat. 1487; 2 U.S.C. 135a),
$53,974,000, of which $15,673,000 shall remain available
until expended.
Administrative Provisions
Sec. 1301. Incentive Awards Program.--Of the amounts
appropriated to the Library of Congress in this Act, not more
than $5,000 may be expended, on the certification of the
Librarian of Congress, in connection with official
representation and reception expenses for the incentive
awards program.
Sec. 1302. Reimbursable and Revolving Fund Activities. (a)
In General.--For fiscal year 2007, the obligational authority
of the Library of Congress for the activities described in
subsection (b) may not exceed $111,078,000.
(b) Activities.--The activities referred to in subsection
(a) are reimbursable and revolving fund activities that are
funded from sources other than appropriations to the Library
in appropriations Acts for the legislative branch.
(c) Transfer of Funds.--During fiscal year 2007, the
Librarian of Congress may temporarily transfer funds
appropriated in this Act, under the heading ``LIBRARY OF
CONGRESS'' under the subheading ``Salaries and Expenses'' to
the revolving fund for the FEDLINK Program and the Federal
Research Program established under section 103 of the Library
of Congress Fiscal Operations Improvement Act of 2000 (Public
Law 106-481; 2 U.S.C. 182c): Provided, That the total amount
of such transfers may not exceed $1,900,000: Provided
further, That the appropriate revolving fund account shall
reimburse the Library for any amounts transferred to it
before the period of availability of the Library
appropriation expires.
Sec. 1303. United States Diplomatic Facilities.--Funds made
available for the Library of Congress under this Act are
available for transfer to the Department of State as
remittance for a fee charged by the Department for fiscal
year 2007 for the maintenance, upgrade, or construction of
United States diplomatic facilities only to the extent that
the amount of the fee so charged is equal to or less than the
unreimbursed value of the services provided during fiscal
year 2007 to the Library of Congress on State Department
diplomatic facilities.
Sec. 1304. Audit Requirement.--Section 207(e) of the
Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1998 (2 U.S.C. 182(e))
is amended to read as follows:
``(e) Audit.--The revolving fund shall be subject to audit
by the Comptroller General at the Comptroller General's
discretion.''.
[[Page H3444]]
Sec. 1305. Transfer Authority.--Amounts appropriated for
fiscal year 2007 for the Library of Congress may be
transferred between any of the headings for which the amounts
are appropriated upon the approval of the Committees on
Appropriations of the Senate and House of Representatives.
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
Congressional Printing and Binding
(including transfer of funds)
For authorized printing and binding for the Congress and
the distribution of Congressional information in any format;
printing and binding for the Architect of the Capitol;
expenses necessary for preparing the semimonthly and session
index to the Congressional Record, as authorized by law
(section 902 of title 44, United States Code); printing and
binding of Government publications authorized by law to be
distributed to Members of Congress; and printing, binding,
and distribution of Government publications authorized by law
to be distributed without charge to the recipient,
$95,233,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall not be
available for paper copies of the permanent edition of the
Congressional Record for individual Representatives, Resident
Commissioners or Delegates authorized under section 906 of
title 44, United States Code: Provided further, That this
appropriation shall be available for the payment of
obligations incurred under the appropriations for similar
purposes for preceding fiscal years: Provided further, That
notwithstanding the 2-year limitation under section 718 of
title 44, United States Code, none of the funds appropriated
or made available under this Act or any other Act for
printing and binding and related services provided to
Congress under chapter 7 of title 44, United States Code, may
be expended to print a document, report, or publication after
the 27-month period beginning on the date that such document,
report, or publication is authorized by Congress to be
printed, unless Congress reauthorizes such printing in
accordance with section 718 of title 44, United States Code:
Provided further, That any unobligated or unexpended balances
in this account or accounts for similar purposes for
preceding fiscal years may be transferred to the Government
Printing Office revolving fund for carrying out the purposes
of this heading, subject to the approval of the Committees on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and Senate.
Office of Superintendent of Documents
salaries and expenses
(including transfer of funds)
For expenses of the Office of Superintendent of Documents
necessary to provide for the cataloging and indexing of
Government publications and their distribution to the public,
Members of Congress, other Government agencies, and
designated depository and international exchange libraries as
authorized by law, $35,287,000: Provided, That amounts of not
more than $2,000,000 from current year appropriations are
authorized for producing and disseminating Congressional
serial sets and other related publications for fiscal years
2005 and 2006 to depository and other designated libraries:
Provided further, That any unobligated or unexpended balances
in this account or accounts for similar purposes for
preceding fiscal years may be transferred to the Government
Printing Office revolving fund for carrying out the purposes
of this heading, subject to the approval of the Committees on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and Senate.
Government Printing Office Revolving Fund
The Government Printing Office may make such expenditures,
within the limits of funds available and in accord with the
law, and to make such contracts and commitments without
regard to fiscal year limitations as provided by section 9104
of title 31, United States Code, as may be necessary in
carrying out the programs and purposes set forth in the
budget for the current fiscal year for the Government
Printing Office revolving fund: Provided, That not more than
$5,000 may be expended on the certification of the Public
Printer in connection with official representation and
reception expenses: Provided further, That the revolving fund
shall be available for the hire or purchase of not more than
12 passenger motor vehicles: Provided further, That
expenditures in connection with travel expenses of the
advisory councils to the Public Printer shall be deemed
necessary to carry out the provisions of title 44, United
States Code: Provided further, That the revolving fund shall
be available for temporary or intermittent services under
section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but at rates
for individuals not more than the daily equivalent of the
annual rate of basic pay for level V of the Executive
Schedule under section 5316 of such title: Provided further,
That the revolving fund and the funds provided under the
headings ``Office of Superintendent of Documents'' and
``salaries and expenses'' together may not be available for
the full-time equivalent employment of more than 2,621
workyears (or such other number of workyears as the Public
Printer may request, subject to the approval of the
Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives
and Senate): Provided further, That activities financed
through the revolving fund may provide information in any
format: Provided further, That not more than $10,000 may be
expended from the revolving fund in support of the activities
of the Benjamin Franklin Tercentenary Commission established
by Public Law 107-202.
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE
Salaries and Expenses
For necessary expenses of the Government Accountability
Office, including not more than $12,500 to be expended on the
certification of the Comptroller General of the United States
in connection with official representation and reception
expenses; temporary or intermittent services under section
3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but at rates for
individuals not more than the daily equivalent of the annual
rate of basic pay for level IV of the Executive Schedule
under section 5315 of such title; hire of one passenger motor
vehicle; advance payments in foreign countries in accordance
with section 3324 of title 31, United States Code; benefits
comparable to those payable under sections 901(5), (6), and
(8) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4081(5),
(6), and (8)); and under regulations prescribed by the
Comptroller General of the United States, rental of living
quarters in foreign countries, $488,234,000: Provided, That
not more than $4,980,000 of payments received under section
782 of title 31, United States Code, shall be available for
use in fiscal year 2007: Provided further, That not more than
$2,005,000 of reimbursements received under section 9105 of
title 31, United States Code, shall be available for use in
fiscal year 2007: Provided further, That this appropriation
and appropriations for administrative expenses of any other
department or agency which is a member of the National
Intergovernmental Audit Forum or a Regional Intergovernmental
Audit Forum shall be available to finance an appropriate
share of either Forum's costs as determined by the respective
Forum, including necessary travel expenses of non-Federal
participants: Provided further, That payments hereunder to
the Forum may be credited as reimbursements to any
appropriation from which costs involved are initially
financed.
OPEN WORLD LEADERSHIP CENTER TRUST FUND
For a payment to the Open World Leadership Center Trust
Fund for financing activities of the Open World Leadership
Center under section 313 of the Legislative Branch
Appropriations Act, 2001 (2 U.S.C. 1151), $13,400,000.
John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development
For payment to the John C. Stennis Center for Public
Service Development Trust Fund established under section 116
of the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and
Development Act (2 U.S.C. 1105), $430,000.
TITLE II--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 201. Maintenance and Care of Private Vehicles.--No
part of the funds appropriated in this Act shall be used for
the maintenance or care of private vehicles, except for
emergency assistance and cleaning as may be provided under
regulations relating to parking facilities for the House of
Representatives issued by the Committee on House
Administration and for the Senate issued by the Committee on
Rules and Administration.
Sec. 202. Fiscal Year Limitation.--No part of the funds
appropriated in this Act shall remain available for
obligation beyond fiscal year 2007 unless expressly so
provided in this Act.
Sec. 203. Rates of Compensation and Designation.--Whenever
in this Act any office or position not specifically
established by the Legislative Pay Act of 1929 (46 Stat. 32
et seq.) is appropriated for or the rate of compensation or
designation of any office or position appropriated for is
different from that specifically established by such Act, the
rate of compensation and the designation in this Act shall be
the permanent law with respect thereto: Provided, That the
provisions in this Act for the various items of official
expenses of Members, officers, and committees of the Senate
and House of Representatives, and clerk hire for Senators and
Members of the House of Representatives shall be the
permanent law with respect thereto.
Sec. 204. Consulting Services.--The expenditure of any
appropriation under this Act for any consulting service
through procurement contract, under section 3109 of title 5,
United States Code, shall be limited to those contracts where
such expenditures are a matter of public record and available
for public inspection, except where otherwise provided under
existing law, or under existing Executive order issued under
existing law.
Sec. 205. Awards and Settlements.--Such sums as may be
necessary are appropriated to the account described in
subsection (a) of section 415 of the Congressional
Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1415(a)) to pay awards
and settlements as authorized under such subsection.
Sec. 206. Costs of LBFMC.--Amounts available for
administrative expenses of any legislative branch entity
which participates in the Legislative Branch Financial
Managers Council (LBFMC) established by charter on March 26,
1996, shall be available to finance an appropriate share of
LBFMC costs as determined by the LBFMC, except that the total
LBFMC costs to be shared among all participating legislative
branch entities (in such allocations among the entities as
the entities may determine) may not exceed $2,000.
Sec. 207. Landscape Maintenance.--The Architect of the
Capitol, in consultation with the District of Columbia, is
authorized
[[Page H3445]]
to maintain and improve the landscape features, excluding
streets and sidewalks, in the irregular shaped grassy areas
bounded by Washington Avenue, SW on the northeast, Second
Street SW on the west, Square 582 on the south, and the
beginning of the I-395 tunnel on the southeast.
Sec. 208. Limitation on Transfers.--None of the funds made
available in this Act may be transferred to any department,
agency, or instrumentality of the United States Government,
except pursuant to a transfer made by, or transfer authority
provided in, this Act or any other appropriation Act.
Sec. 209. None of the funds made available in this Act may
be used to establish or operate a smoking area in the
cafeteria and public dining areas of the Rayburn House Office
Building.
Sec. 210. For fiscal year 2007 only, all authorities
previously exercised by the Architect of the Capitol,
including but not limited to the execution and supervision of
contracts; and the hiring, supervising, training, and
compensation of employees, shall be vested in the Comptroller
General of the United States or his designee: Provided, That
this delegation of authority shall terminate with the
confirmation of a new Architect of the Capitol.
This Act may be cited as the ``Legislative Branch
Appropriations Act, 2007''.
The Acting CHAIRMAN. No amendment to the bill shall be in order
except those printed in House Report 109-487. Each amendment may be
offered only in the order printed in the report, may be offered only by
a Member designated in the report, shall be considered read, debatable
for the time specified in the report, equally divided and controlled by
the proponent and an opponent, shall not be subject to amendment, and
shall not be subject to a demand for division of the question.
It is now in order to consider amendment No. 1 printed in House
Report 109-487.
It is now in order to consider amendment No. 2 printed in House
Report 109-487.
{time} 1300
It is now in order to consider amendment No. 3 printed in House
Report 109-487.
It is now in order to consider amendment No. 4 printed in House
Report 109-487.
Amendment No. 4 Offered by Mr. Baird
Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Chairman, I offer an amendment.
The Acting CHAIRMAN. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Amendment No. 4 offered by Mr. Baird:
Page 13, line 13, insert after the dollar amount the
following: ``(increased by $2,400,000)''.
Page 36, line 3, insert after the dollar amount the
following: ``(decreased by $2,400,000)''.
The Acting CHAIRMAN. Pursuant to House Resolution 849, the gentleman
from Washington (Mr. Baird) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Washington.
Mr. BAIRD. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I may consume.
It is my understanding that my respective chairman and ranking member
have some concerns about the amendment, and I intend to withdraw it,
therefore. However, I would like to speak to it briefly, if I may.
Many of us who have served here for a number of years still find
ourselves, unfortunately, lost when we travel in the basement of this
building or some of the other office buildings. That is a frustrating
and sometimes humorous experience for us under normal circumstances,
but in an emergency situation it could be a matter of life and death.
I am aware that there are firms that specialize in the electronic
mapping of facilities precisely such as this for the purpose of helping
first responders respond more quickly and ably in the event of an
emergency. Indeed, schools throughout my State have been mapped in such
a way, as is our capital complex in Washington State today.
What I am asking for with this amendment is the diversion of $2.4
million that is currently allocated towards the House Printing Office
in order that the Architect of the Capitol could invest in an
electronic mapping system to provide this function.
Let me describe briefly what can happen with these electronic mapping
systems. Essentially, rather than relying on the Architect of the
Capitol to have a bunch of hard copy blueprints that would be
presumably folded out in a time of crisis, the entire complex would be
mapped in an electronic form such that the information about the
complex could be downloaded and available on laptops, PDAs or other
electronic means. This could include response plans, hazardous
materials locations, and paths of egress or ingress.
Imagine had Flight 93 hit this Capitol, the chaos and the smoke and
the toxic fumes that would have engulfed this building, we could easily
have had Members of Congress, staff, members of the public trapped in
unaccessible locations that the first responders would not even know
how to reach.
What we are asking for today is that we invest in a system that will
make it possible for our first responders, our Capitol Police,
firefighters from on grounds or off grounds to respond promptly,
efficiently to save lives and to restore order as needed.
This is a relatively small investment for what could one day be a
profound and important life-saving measure. I would encourage my good
friends, the chairman and ranking member, to work with me in the future
on this measure.
Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, will the gentleman yield?
Mr. BAIRD. I yield to the gentleman from California.
Mr. LEWIS of California. Mr. Chairman, Mr. Obey and I have both
understood for years that if you wander through the Rayburn Building
and do not get lost, you have been here too long. With that, I think
you have a very good proposal.
Mr. BAIRD. I thank the gentleman, and hope that we might be able to
work on this in the future.
Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to withdraw my amendment.
The Acting CHAIRMAN. Without objection, the amendment is withdrawn.
There was no objection.
The Acting CHAIRMAN. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 5
printed in House Report 109-487.
It is now in order to consider amendment No. 6 printed in House
Report 109-487.
It is now in order to consider amendment No. 7 printed in House
Report 109-487.
The CHAIRMAN. There being no further amendments, under the rule, the
Committee rises.
Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr.
Boozman) having assumed the chair, Mr. Linder, Chairman of the
Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union, reported that
that Committee, having had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5521)
making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 2007, and for other purposes, pursuant to House
Resolution 849, he reported the bill back to the House.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Under the rule, the previous question is
ordered.
The question is on the engrossment and third reading of the bill.
The bill was ordered to be engrossed and read a third time, and was
read the third time.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. The question is on the passage of the bill.
Pursuant to clause 10 of rule XX, the yeas and nays are ordered.
Pursuant to clause 8 of rule XX, further proceedings on this question
will be postponed.
____________________