[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 91 (Thursday, June 9, 2016)]
[House]
[Pages H3635-H3655]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2017
General Leave
Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I ask unanimous consent that all
Members may have 5 legislative days in which to revise and extend their
remarks and include extraneous material on H.R. 5325, and that I may
include tabular material on the same.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Is there objection to the request of the
gentleman from Georgia?
There was no objection.
The SPEAKER pro tempore. Pursuant to House Resolution 771 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. 5325.
The Chair appoints the gentleman from Louisiana (Mr. Graves) to
preside over the Committee of the Whole.
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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. 5325) making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 2017, and for other purposes, with Mr.
Graves of Louisiana in the chair.
The Clerk read the title of the bill.
The CHAIR. Pursuant to the rule, the bill is considered read the
first time.
The gentleman from Georgia (Mr. Graves) and the gentlewoman from
Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz) each will control 30 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Georgia.
Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
The overarching goal of the bill we are considering here today is to
ensure that we continue to preserve the beauty, enhance the security,
and improve the institutions of the United States Capitol complex. I am
glad to report that we have accomplished our mission, and we have done
it in a way that respects taxpayers. By making tough choices, this bill
demonstrates the great work that Congress can do even during a time of
lean budgets.
The American people will be proud to know that this bill continues to
use a zero-based budgeting approach. That means each legislative branch
agency was required to justify its budget from scratch. This practice
curbs wasteful
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spending and safeguards taxpayer dollars.
Another part of our effort to respect taxpayers was the orderly
shutdown of the Open World Leadership Center, which is outdated, and a
multimillion-dollar-a-year program that no longer will exist.
Additionally, we continue the freeze on Members' pay. Now, this was a
simple decision for me. If our constituents aren't getting a raise in
this economy, then we shouldn't either.
Now, it is also worth noting that the Capitol Dome Restoration
project is on time and it is under budget. In fact, my office has had a
little fun with this, posting pictures each day on social media of the
progress of the scaffolding coming off the dome, using the hashtag
``Free the Dome.''
We also have a family-themed bill this year. We have worked with
Members on both sides of the aisle to make certain that baby-changing
stations are available throughout all the House office buildings and in
the Capitol. Visiting the Capitol with a new baby can be difficult
enough. Young mothers and fathers traveling with their children in tow
should have the appropriate facilities available to them, and now they
will.
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Additionally, with so many mothers-to-be working for the House of
Representatives through their pregnancies, the committee wants to
ensure that these working moms have access to convenient parking.
Of course, we have also carried on the new tradition of sledding on
Capitol Hill. Again this winter, children and adults alike living in
the area can sled on the west front of the Capitol--something that,
unfortunately, was banned before we changed it last year.
Simply put, this bill makes the Capitol more inviting and accessible
to young families.
I would, of course, like to thank the ranking member for her role
throughout the process of writing this bill and all the members of our
committee for their hard work and their valuable contributions. In
seeing this bill through the committee process, a good bill was made
even better. Together, we have received and worked through more than
200 submissions from Republicans and Democrats, appropriators and
nonappropriators, many of which we have included in this legislation.
We continued conversations with Members of both the majority and the
minority up to and through full committee markup, and saw an amendment
process that incorporated proposals from both sides of the aisle,
including additional resources to better serve our constituents,
increased savings dedicated to the Historic Buildings Revitalization
Trust Fund, and support for efforts to enhance the security of the
Capitol campus.
I would also like to thank all of the staff on both sides of the
aisle who have worked on the bill this year. In particular, I am
appreciative of the hard work Liz Dawson, Tim Monahan and Shalanda
Young, and, of course, Jenny Panone who really stepped up to the plate
after we lost our good friend, Chuck Turner.
As a longtime professional staff member of this subcommittee, Chuck
has been missed this appropriations season. The appropriations family
just isn't the same without him, and I want to express my continued
sympathies to his family, his friends, and those he worked so closely
with all these years.
I would also like to thank Jason Murphy and John Donnelly in my
personal office, as well Sarah Arkin and Rosalyn Kumar from Ranking
Member Wasserman Schultz's office.
Finally, I would like to note the important contributions that
Congressman Sam Farr and Congressman Scott Rigell both have made to our
subcommittee. Their hard work and dedication has been extremely
valuable, and they will be dearly missed by our subcommittee and by
this body.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
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Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Mr. Chairman, the Legislative Branch Appropriations bill is a total
of $3.481 billion--$72 million above the fiscal year 2016 enacted bill.
I thank our full committee chairman, Mr. Rogers of Kentucky, for
understanding the challenges posed by years of cuts and providing an
allocation to begin rebuilding the capacity of Congress to do the
people's work.
Chairman Graves funded critical investments with the additional
allocation. He knows that if we were only discussing funding today, I
would be with him in protecting the good work of the subcommittee.
Specifically, I am pleased with the critical investments in the
Copyright Modernization Project and the Historic Buildings
Revitalization Trust Fund.
The bill provides the Copyright Modernization Project with a 17
percent increase. This critical funding will enable the Copyright
Office to hire the necessary staff to begin to make technological
advancements to improve the way they do business. It is unacceptable in
the year 2016 that copyright users have to make certain requests via
paper in the 21st century. That is inefficient and a drag on commerce
that is dependent on the copyright system.
There is also report language included that makes it clear that the
Library of Congress shall continue to defer to the Register of
Copyrights on all copyright-related issues. While the Copyright Office
is within the Library of Congress, it has unique functions that make it
necessary to have a strong leader that can answer to Congress and the
copyright community when issues arise. The Register of Copyrights
should have the freedom to make decisions and be responsive to the
copyright community.
I am also happy to see increased funding for the Historic Buildings
Revitalization Trust Fund. This is the same fund that we used to save
for the downpayment on the Cannon Building Restoration.
This bill provides $17 million for the fund, which is $7 million
above fiscal year 2016 funding. I thank the chairman for working with
me to sustain this important program.
We started the trust fund after the construction of the Capitol
Visitor Center. That project was over budget by fourfold, and its
management was, frankly, an embarrassment. It was an example of
ballooning government projects that pull resources away from other
worthy initiatives.
The trust fund was created to avoid the pitfalls of the CVC project
by creating a reserve of funds that can be used for future large-scale
projects. We must put on our forward-thinking caps and look 10 to 20
years down the road so that we save appropriately for large-scale
projects. This long-term thinking will ensure that our smallest
appropriations bill--the Legislative Branch Appropriations bill--does
not have to absorb such large projects to the detriment of other worthy
programs.
While there are many positives in this bill, Mr. Chairman, there are
also issues that must be addressed as we move through the process. One
particularly troublesome issue is that the report accompanying this
bill includes language seeking to influence the Library of Congress'
process to change its subject headings related to immigration.
The Library of Congress decided in March of this year to begin using
the terms ``noncitizens'' and ``unauthorized immigration'' for
cataloging purposes. They did so after being petitioned by Dartmouth
College in 2014--a petition they turned down initially--and then again
by the American Library Association earlier this year.
In January of this year, the American Library Association adopted a
resolution calling on the Library of Congress to change the heading
``illegal aliens'' to ``undocumented immigrants.''
Now, these are search terms. The Library of Congress uses subject
headings to help researchers be able to find topics based on what they
are appropriately to be called. The Library did not adopt the term
``undocumented immigrants'' but chose to begin to use the two phrases
``noncitizens'' and ``unauthorized immigration.'' These new subject
headings are still in the process of being considered, as the public
will have 60 days to comment on them.
The fact that this project is ongoing makes the inclusion of report
language even more problematic.
How can the Library of Congress be expected to go through a fair and
open comment period with this language included in the report
accompanying the appropriations bill?
My side of the aisle could have certainly pushed to have the Library
of Congress reconsider its decision after the Dartmouth petition was
turned down in 2014 because many Democrats and Republicans believe that
the term ``illegal alien'' labels a group of people based on a
misconception that an immigrant's presence in our Nation is a criminal
violation, but we allowed the process to work because the Library of
Congress is in the business of language and nomenclature and should be
free to make these decisions without political interference. Congress
should not be setting ourselves up as the word police.
Let's be clear: this puts the Library of Congress front and center on
one of our Nation's most contentious and emotional political issues.
Over the years, as ranking member, this is certainly not the first time
I find myself in disagreement with the chairman on a particular issue.
However, I have been able to work closely with the chairman of this
subcommittee to move the bill and the process forward.
And though I have been committed as always to resolving our policy
differences, the politicization of the Library of Congress in order to
perpetuate a misconception about immigrants in our country is simply an
issue on which my principles will not allow me to bend an inch.
This language is not necessary, it is not appropriate, and it
jeopardizes the work of our Nation's oldest Federal cultural
institution and the research arm of this body.
The Library of Congress makes thousands of changes to its subject
headings every year. At one time, ``Negro'' was a subject heading, but
when it became pejorative, they changed it to ``Afro American,'' and
eventually the term used today, ``African American.''
The chairman and other Republican members emphasize that they are the
Library of Congress--emphasis on Congress--and we should dictate to
them what terms they use in their subject headings.
Well, I ran for Congress, not word police. We should leave search
terms for researchers to the experts and not politicize this bill that
simply funds the legislative branch.
I am also concerned that under this bill, the Capitol Police budget
increases by $325.3 million. This would increase funding for the
Capitol Police by 5 percent, above the 8 percent increase they received
in the current fiscal year.
We value and respect the officers on staff, but I think many Members
will join me in raising a skeptical eye when they realize this bill
would add 72 new officers and bring the total number of officers to
close to 1,900.
Just as mayors and city councils across the country have to balance
law enforcement with other city services like repairing aging
infrastructure, so must Congress. In the near future, the congressional
leadership and committees of jurisdiction will need to have a serious
discussion about the appropriate size of the Capitol Police. The
officers I speak to don't complain about not having enough officers,
but, rather, about decisions on how the officers they do have are
deployed by police leadership. It is fiscally irresponsible to grow the
police at this rate.
Also, as Member and committee budgets have been cut, Congress has had
to rely on support agencies to fill the gaps in staff expertise. One of
those agencies, Mr. Chairman, is the Congressional Research Service, or
CRS.
CRS was funded in the bill at $107.9 million, $1 million above the
fiscal year 2016 enacted level. At the level included in the bill, CRS
remains $4.6 million below the fiscal year 2010 levels. According to
CRS, recent funding levels have led to a loss of 13 percent of its
purchasing power since 2010.
The $1 million increase provided by this bill will not cover
mandatory pay for CRS' current staff. CRS' budget request sought to
rebuild the agency. They asked for two defense policy staff,
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five health policy staff, three education policy staff, two budget and
appropriation staff, four technology policy staff, and two data
management and analysis staff. None of those staffs will be funded
under the bill before us, therefore, denying Congress of an unbiased
analysis of these critical policy areas.
Before concluding, Mr. Chairman, I also want to join the chairman in
acknowledging the loss of our beloved Chuck Turner. I had the privilege
of working with Chuck when I was the chairman of this committee, and he
has served both sides of the aisle with integrity, commitment, and love
of this institution. His loss was tremendous for the entire
appropriations family, and he will be greatly missed on both sides of
the aisle.
I also want to issue a big thanks to Liz Dawson, the majority clerk
and her staff, Jenny Panone and Tim Monahan. Many thanks as well to
Jason Murphy with Chairman Graves' personal office. Thank you to my
team, Shalanda Young on the committee's minority staff who has worked
tirelessly on those issues. Last, but certainly not least, thank you to
my personal staff, Rosalyn Kumar and Sarah Arkin.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as he may
consume to the gentleman from Kentucky (Mr. Rogers), the chairman of
the full Committee on Appropriations.
Mr. ROGERS of Kentucky. Mr. Chairman, I thank the gentleman for
yielding.
Mr. Chairman, I rise today to support the Legislative Branch
Appropriations bill that is before us. This is the third of the 12
bills to make it to the floor. We have passed eight of the bills
through the full committee, and 10 of them through the subcommittees.
But this bill provides the important funding that Congress needs to do
our work on behalf of the American people.
From maintaining the hallowed halls of this very building, to
providing services for our constituents, to funding the agencies that
keep us informed and in check, the $3.48 billion in this bill supports
the largest and freest democracy the world has ever known.
In total, our funding is increased slightly--$73 million above
current levels. That increase is directed to essential health and
safety improvements to aging or damaged facilities as well as to the
Capitol Police to protect Members, staff, and our visitors.
At the same time, this bill keeps the belt tight, continuing our
trajectory of trimming funding for the House of Representatives by 13.2
percent since 2011 and extending the pay freeze for Members of
Congress. The funds provided for House operations will allow Members of
Congress to continue serving the American people to the fullest extent
and representing their voices in Washington, D.C.
For the thousands and thousands of people who enter this Capitol
complex each day--be it visitors, staff, or Members themselves--safety
is of the utmost importance.
As we have seen recently, the brave men and women of the Capitol
Police force must remain vigilant and well-equipped to secure the
Capitol complex. The bill funds the Capitol Police at $391.3 million--
that is $16.3 million above current levels--to enhance security and
maintain public access to this complex.
To ensure the safety of the buildings in the Capitol complex, which,
as we know, has historic but aging facilities, the legislation provides
$551 million for the Architect of the Capitol. That includes ongoing
rehab projects as well as deferred maintenance.
In addition, the bill provides funding for the congressional support
agencies that we rely on each day to do our jobs. That includes $533
million for the Government Accountability Office, which provides
Congress with accurate reporting on how tax dollars are spent, and $629
million for the Library of Congress.
{time} 1845
Mr. Chairman, this is a good bill that targets funds to critical
operations while keeping a close eye on every tax dollar spent.
I want to thank Chairman Graves for his hard work to ensure that
every dollar in this bill helps make the people's House run efficiently
and productively. I also want to thank Ranking Member Wasserman
Schultz, and all of the subcommittee members and staff for their
efforts that brought this bill to the floor. Finally, I do want to
specify a thanks to our staff for their knowledge and expertise and
passion for this place throughout this process.
As we continue our important work on the 2017 appropriations bills, I
am proud to support good bills like this one, bills that fulfill their
mission in a responsible, targeted way.
I urge all Members to support this bill as well.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, first of all, I want to
acknowledge the presence of Chairman Graves' lovely daughter, because
it is always nice as a parent to have your children with you while you
are doing your work. So welcome to the House of Representatives.
I yield such time as she may consume to the gentlewoman from New York
(Mrs. Lowey), our ranking member of the full Appropriations Committee.
Mrs. LOWEY. Mr. Chairman, I thank Ranking Member Wasserman Schultz.
And I thank Chairman Graves and Chairman Rogers. It is a pleasure for
me to work here with all of them.
However, in the fiscal year 2017 Legislative Branch Appropriations
bill, the House majority has put its political interests first with a
process that limits amendments based on a fear of another embarrassing
failure, like the Energy and Water Appropriations bill, which the House
rejected 2 weeks ago.
The legislative branch bill contains a number of important services
that allow the public to safely visit the U.S. Capitol and for Members
to respond to the needs of their constituents. The bill would provide
modest increases for the first time in years, including more funding
for the Library of Congress, Capitol Police, Architect of the Capitol,
and the Members' Representational Allowance.
These increases are badly needed. The legislative branch bill has
remained essentially flat for several years, despite the steadily
growing needs of this institution, including staff shortages, enhanced
security, repairs to aging buildings and infrastructure, and
preservation at the Library of Congress, among others.
Unfortunately, rather than focus on these institutions' value to the
public, House Republicans went out of their way to include provisions
that ignore these issues, and instead push a partisan agenda that
wastes taxpayer dollars.
First of all, House Republicans inserted language meant to appease
the most extreme members of their conference by directing the Library
of Congress to use the term ``illegal alien'' in its subject headings
for searches rather than the Library's preferred ``noncitizens'' or
``unauthorized immigration.'' This unnecessary interference into the
routine work of the Library of Congress politicizes a change meant to
help provide the most up-to-date, thorough information.
The inclusion of such language is sadly nothing new for the
subcommittee. In the past few years, the majority has spent close to $7
million on a partisan, political Benghazi investigation; $2.3 million
defending the Defense of Marriage Act; and is now engaging in shameful,
unprecedented attacks on biomedical researchers and women's health.
Frankly, I am outraged at how the majority on the Select
Investigative Panel is conducting its business. The majority's witch
hunt of researchers, including scientists, physicians, and even
graduate students, will have real consequences that harm medical
advances, and are nothing more than a political charade and waste of
taxpayer money. Their request for information and subpoenas without any
assertion of wrongdoing are an abuse of authority, a violation of House
oversight practices, and a page out of the McCarthy-era bullying
tactics that are a stain on our legislative process. The panel should
be disbanded immediately.
It is unacceptable that we cannot move appropriation bills forward in
a bipartisan manner because Republicans would rather play partisan
politics with taxpayer dollars than deal with the pressing challenges
facing this institution and this country.
Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
Before I recognize my friend from Illinois, I have the deepest
respect for
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the ranking member of the full committee, Mrs. Lowey. I know that she
represents what she believes very well and eloquently.
But I must point out for clarification, for the Record, really what
the report language says. I think that is important. I think words are
important. I listened very intently to what was shared a minute ago
that this committee is directing the Library of Congress to use certain
words. She even used certain terms that she said we are prescribing
them to use, such as ``illegal alien'' or ``illegal immigrant.'' In
fact, this is what the committee passed in subcommittee and full
committee.
It says:
``To the extent practicable, the committee instructs the Library to
maintain certain subject headings that reflect terminology used in
title 8, United States Code.''
Now, I read it several times and I saw it in committee, but nowhere
in there do I see any specific terms used. It just says can you be
consistent with U.S. Code.
I will point out that we are Congress, and they are the Library of
Congress. We write laws, and it is important that the Library of
Congress reference and refer to the laws that we have written.
I will also note that the gentlewoman is also a Member of Congress
and has the full ability--and since the subcommittee meeting when we
had this first discussion, I have yet to see the bill she has
introduced to change any terminology in the U.S. Code. I have not seen
it. I don't know, Mr. Chairman, if you have seen it. I have not seen
it, and I look forward to seeing it.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Will the gentleman yield?
Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. I yield to the gentlewoman from Florida.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. I thank the gentleman.
Will the gentleman point out to the House of Representatives what is
referenced in the U.S. Code to which the report refers?
Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Title 8 of the U.S. Code has a lot of
terminology in there.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. What is the term that is referenced in that
section?
Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. There is not one single term that is used in
that Code. In fact, there are multiple terms. I would ask, and maybe
encourage, the gentlewoman to read that.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. I have, and it refers specifically to the term
``illegal alien.'' That is how it is referenced in the United States
Code.
Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. In addition to other terms.
Reclaiming my time, Mr. Chairman, I just want to make sure that the
committee understands that the report language just directs the Library
of Congress to be consistent with the laws of this land when they have
subject headings. That is not too much to ask.
Mr. Chairman, I yield 2 minutes to the gentleman from Illinois (Mr.
Rodney Davis), my good friend.
Mr. RODNEY DAVIS of Illinois. Mr. Chairman, I really would like to
thank Chairman Graves for his leadership on this issue.
I think the debate this evening shows us what part of the problem is
when we try and follow our Forefathers' constitutional appropriations
process to spend money wisely that the taxpayers send to Washington,
D.C., to spend it wisely on their behalf.
It is tertiary issues that bog down the debate, instead of talking
about doing what is right for the upwards of 5 million families that
tour our Capitol Grounds each and every year. It becomes a political
debate, rather than a debate on how to effectively use taxpayer dollars
to ensure that one of the most popular destinations for families,
hardworking families, to spend their money to vacation right here in
the Capitol, to make sure we spend that wisely so that they have better
facilities. That is exactly what this bill does, Mr. Chairman.
I want to, again, thank all of those who served on this subcommittee
from both sides of the aisle, because we have to get back to the vision
that our Forefathers have put forth on how we should spend money in
this House, and how we regain the power of the purse.
As I said, upwards of 5 million families from across the Nation come
see their government at work each year. I am pleased this bill contains
report language that will make it easier for families with infants and
small children to visit the Capitol, House and Senate office buildings
by implementing additional changing stations and other family-friendly
improvements throughout this Capitol Hill complex.
Mr. Chairman, I say this as the father of twin boys. Trust me,
changing stations when they were younger were very, very important. We
should make it as easy as possible for families with young children to
visit and explore Capitol Hill and our complexes. Minor improvements
and changes along these lines can make a huge difference in improving
the experience for visitors.
I look forward to working with the Architect of the Capitol in my
capacity as a member of the Committee on House Administration to
complete these important changes. I will continue to look for ways to
work in a bipartisan manner to make our Capitol family-friendly.
Mr. Chairman, I urge passage of this bill.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
I will point out that title 8 of the U.S. Code specifically
references the term ``illegal aliens.'' The purpose of referencing it
that way in this legislation is specifically so that the majority can
require the Library of Congress to continue to use the term ``illegal
alien'' in their subject heading. We are being a little too cute by
half here, and we are simply not going to let the majority get away
with it.
I will also point out that Congressman Joaquin Castro is the sponsor
of legislation that would do exactly what the chairman just suggested.
He has legislation that would change the term ``illegal alien'' in
title 8 of the U.S. Code.
Instead of dealing with a political issue in the midst of an
unrelated appropriations bill, we should allow the legislative process
to work under regular order and have that bill move through the
process.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
I want to follow up on that just for a moment.
I am glad to hear there is legislation to address their concerns. I
think that is the appropriate way. What better way to make that
legislation more applicable than to identify here in this report
language that whatever is referenced in title 8 could be used. I think
that is the right way to go forward.
But to suggest that asking the Library of Congress to use terms that
are consistent with the laws of this land that this body has voted on,
that the Senate has voted on, and that the President of the United
States has signed into law is, in some way, pejorative; words that have
been used by the Supreme Court just in recent weeks are pejorative,
inflammatory, and dehumanizing, I would suggest to the minority that
even some of the most liberal justices have used the term ``illegal
alien'' or ``illegal immigrant'' just in the last couple of weeks and
they are not racist, they are not using negative terms, they are not
dehumanizing any individual, they are using U.S. law terminology.
I can understand the disagreement with the terms, I can respect that,
but that is the law. I have yet to see or hear what their proper
terminology would be for somebody who does not abide by the laws of the
land and what that would be.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself such time as I
may consume.
I will point out that it is not a criminal act to be in the United
States as an immigrant. The suggestion in the 21st century that the
term ``illegal alien'' is an appropriate one is similar to suggesting
that we continue to use the term ``Negro.''
We evolve in this country, and it is understandable that someone who
was not a member of a group of immigrants wouldn't understand that that
term could feel pejorative. So we, as a responsible body, should evolve
as society evolves.
To continue to insist that the Library of Congress by law use a
pejorative term that they have been petitioned to change by the
American Library Association so that researchers can search for the
appropriate term
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when they are doing research is truly unbelievable. To be so committed
to racist and bigoted terms that really have no place in the
Legislative Branch Appropriations bill is outrageous.
That is why this language should have been deleted. I think it is
truly unfortunate that the majority did not have at least the courage
to allow my amendment and Congressman Castro's amendment to be made in
order so that we could have a proper debate on this subject on the
floor of the House of Representatives.
{time} 1900
I will point out and remind the chairman that my amendment that would
have done just that only was defeated in the Appropriations Committee
by one vote. So this is not a slam dunk when it comes to your side of
the aisle either. It would have been nice to give your colleagues an
opportunity to have had that discussion.
I reserve the balance of my time.
The CHAIR. Members are reminded to direct their remarks to the Chair.
Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
If I heard the ranking member correctly, she said that somebody who
is undocumented in this country, who is not from this country, is not
here illegally. I thought I heard that, and I hope I heard that
incorrectly.
I will point out that the Immigration and Nationality Act, section
237(a)(1)(b) reads, in fact--and this is law that was voted on by this
body and that was signed into law by the President of the United
States, who was elected by the people--that aliens who are present in
the U.S. in violation of immigration code are breaking the law and are
deportable. That is U.S. law. That is not the majority's opinion; that
is not a party's opinion; that is not an individual's opinion. That is
the law of this land. Now, you can disagree with those laws, and you
can disagree with the terminology, but that is the law.
That is the law, in fact, to the point that, in Arizona v. United
States, in 2012, Justice Sotomayor asked:
So how--where do they get the records that show that this
person is an illegal alien that is not authorized to be here?
Was she being racist? pejorative? demeaning? dehumanizing? I don't
think so. I don't agree with all of her decisions, but I don't believe
that that was her intent when she broached that question there.
I will point out this provision--maybe I should read it again. I will
read it again for the ranking member.
To the extent practicable, the committee instructs the
Library to maintain certain subject headings that reflect
terminology used in title VIII of the United States Code.
That is all it says. It is right here. There is nothing so demeaning
about that. This provision, in fact, was created in consultation, Mr.
Chair, with the Library of Congress. Imagine that. In working with the
Library of Congress, we were able to come up with that language.
Existing subject headings, including the term ``illegal alien,'' have
been used for years and have been enshrined in law for 100 years. This
is nothing new. Supreme Court Justices, as I have pointed out, have
used it time and time and time again.
Now, if the Library of Congress adopted the practice of responding to
every instance in which there is a perceived offensive phrase, it would
impact their ability to prioritize the quality of service they provide
to patrons every day. We are, actually, helping the Library here. We
are not telling them what words to use. We are just saying, hey, be
consistent with U.S. law. That keeps it pretty simple, I believe.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
Before we passed the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act in
the 1960s and when we had the Jim Crow laws, which were an unfortunate
stain on our history, there were plenty of people who said that the
laws that were in place were doing a favor to Negroes, which is the way
they were referred to at the time. For the chairman to suggest that we
are doing the Library of Congress a favor by requiring them to continue
to use a term that they have been petitioned to stop using, ``illegal
alien,'' is insensitive, inappropriate, outdated, and political.
This is the Legislative Branch Appropriations bill. We are supposed
to be discussing how to fund the functions of the legislative branch,
and we have just spent an extraordinary amount of time debating the
immigration debate that has been raging in this country for far too
long.
I guess I shouldn't be surprised that the majority believes that we
should continue to label people as ``illegal.'' People aren't illegal.
Acts that are committed are illegal, but people are not illegal, Mr.
Chair. That is, simply, why the American Library Association, the
umbrella policy organization for libraries across this country, has
petitioned the Library of Congress to change the use of the term
``illegal alien.''
What the majority is doing here, as I said, is setting Congress up as
the word police. Where are we going to stop? There are thousands of
subject headings that they change at the Library of Congress every
year. I can't imagine how many pages this bill will be when we start
referencing and spending time arguing over what they call each of
those. It is inappropriate; it is unacceptable; it is a complete waste
of time. It injects politics into a bill that usually and, most often,
doesn't have it.
It is unfortunate that the funding of the Planned Parenthood select
committee and that the funding of the Benghazi Select Committee have
continued to politicize a bill that should, simply, be an effort for us
to make sure that we can sustain the most significant beacon of
democracy that the world has ever seen.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
It is remarkable that we are actually spending so much time on this;
but we must point out to the constituency who is watching that we have
had 7\1/2\ years of an executive who wants to ignore our laws. We have
had 7\1/2\ years of overreach by the executive branch, of its totally
ignoring the laws that have been passed by this body, and just poking
us in the eye, saying, I don't care about the legislative branch. I
don't care about that legislative body. I don't care about the laws of
the land. In fact, I will ignore them, and I will instruct my agencies
to do something different.
Yet, I hear it again from the minority that they want to ignore the
words, the terms, the identifications, the definitions of the very laws
of this land. What message does that send to the youth of our country?
What message does that send to law-abiding citizens in our country,
that there is a party in Washington, D.C., that, for whatever reason,
wants to pick and choose which laws they want to uphold and defend, or
which laws or words or terms or definitions in the laws that they will
acknowledge or not acknowledge?
We are a Nation of laws. Whether we agree with the laws or we don't,
whether we agree with the terminology or we don't, we have all been
elected by 700,000-plus constituency districts in which we can change
those laws if we choose. This is the opportunity to do it for the
minority party if they like. In fact, throughout our laws, these terms
are used. Whether they are agreeable terms or not by the minority,
those are the words that are in our laws.
I think we can all agree that the term ``illegal alien'' does not
mean the human being is illegal. This is not an effort to demean
anyone. We don't even identify what terms the Library must use. We just
say, Hey, please be consistent with U.S. Code. That is it. The simple
fact is that immigrants, if they have entered this country illegally,
are, in fact, illegal immigrants. According to U.S. Code, U.S. laws,
they have committed a crime. It is not the job of this committee's to
create an alternate reality whatsoever. The laws are the laws.
Thankfully, the Supreme Court sees it the same way. We have Justice
Sotomayor as using the term ``illegal alien'' a half a dozen times and
the published opinion written by Justice Kennedy, and he joined the
Court's more liberal block as well, using it a number of times. It is
very consistent.
[[Page H3645]]
I recall it was, maybe, a year or two that the ranking member, on a
different occasion, disagreed with me on another term. It was
``ObamaCare.'' We were having a debate about policies, Mr. Chair, and I
used the term ``ObamaCare.'' She found it offensive, pejorative maybe,
very negative, demeaning, used in a negative light. I believe she tried
to strike my words during that time. So, if anybody is trying to be
word police in this body, maybe it is the ranking member, who has a
history of it.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Parliamentary Inquiry
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I have a parliamentary inquiry.
The CHAIR. The gentlewoman will state her parliamentary inquiry.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Is it not appropriate for the ranking member
and the chairman, when we are debating, to go through the Chair when we
are having that debate?
The CHAIR. Members are reminded to direct their remarks to the Chair.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. I would ask that you remind the chairman to do
so, please.
The CHAIR. Members have been reminded to direct their remarks to the
Chair.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I would point out that the gentleman from Georgia is absolutely
correct. I did raise that concern, and I thought it was appropriate to
raise the concern that the way the majority meant the term
``ObamaCare,'' as applied at the time, was intended to be pejorative.
Then President Obama embraced the term; so we evolved because President
Obama decided that he liked that his name would be associated with
making sure that 20 million people who now have health insurance but
who didn't before would be associated with his name.
That is all that the American Library Association and the Library of
Congress are asking with regard to the people who are labeled as
``illegal aliens.'' The gentleman from Georgia, it would be understood,
is not someone who is labeled that way, so, perhaps, it is
understandable that he would not understand why that was offensive. The
American Library Association and the Library of Congress have
recognized that the evolution beyond using a term that has been
determined to be pejorative is essential. That is called progress. That
is called tolerance.
Unfortunately, the Legislative Branch Appropriations bill, through
the reference to title VIII in the United States Code, requires, in
this bill, the Library of Congress to continue to use the term
``illegal alien.'' It is inappropriate, unfortunate, and it should be
deleted. We should have had an opportunity to debate an amendment to
have allowed that to happen.
The majority chooses to hide the fact. I mean, I wish they would have
just owned up to it. Mr. Chair, they should have just put it right up
in the bill. I don't know why they didn't. If they think it is the
right thing to do, they should have just put that term right in the
bill and spelled out that they expect the Library of Congress to
continue to use it. Hiding behind title VIII of the U.S. Code shows
that they don't have, necessarily, the courage of their convictions to
stand up for that term. Why? Because there are a whole lot of people in
this country who think it is offensive, including me and the Members of
my party.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
I am sorry this is taking so long tonight to reach the admission by
the ranking member that this term does not exist in this bill. I mean,
she just said it: Why didn't they just be more explicit? Why didn't he
just use the term? In fact, they are hiding behind U.S. Code. That is
what I just heard from the ranking member.
As Americans, we don't hide behind the U.S. Code. The U.S. Code is
our defense; it is our shield. The laws of this land are what protect
us from one from another; so to suggest that one is hiding behind it
when, in fact, we are defended by it is really amazing to hear tonight.
I am pleased to hear, though, that the ranking member has
acknowledged that nowhere in this legislation do we direct the Library
of Congress to use any term other than what is found in and is
consistent with the U.S. Code.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I yield myself such time as I may
consume.
What I suggested was that, because the majority realizes that the
term ``illegal alien'' is not something that is appropriate to continue
to use as a subject heading, if they had spelled it straight out in the
bill rather than hiding what their true intention was behind the
reference to the U.S. Code, they probably would have had to have
answered a little bit more closely to the fact that they were making
this effort.
Now we have been able to at least have this discussion, and I am
intentionally using most of my time to be able to shine a spotlight on
the fact that the majority wishes to continue to label people as
``illegal,'' wishes to continue to politicize the legislative branch
appropriations bill to inject the immigration debate into the funding
of the legislative branch, and to set themselves up as the word police
with regard to subject headings.
This is what we need our colleagues to wrap their minds around, Mr.
Chair--requiring the Library to continue to use an offensive term in
their subject headings so that researchers can't use the term that the
American Library Association has deemed more appropriate and not
offensive. Instead, they insist on continuing to use an offensive term.
{time} 1915
That is unacceptable. It is inappropriate. We are going to continue
to insist, and I will not be able to support this legislation as a
result of the insistence of the majority on labeling an entire group of
people ``illegal'' and politicizing this bill when the Library of
Congress should be allowed to let the process work that works for
thousands of other changes to their subject headings.
I will also point out, Mr. Chairman, that we do embrace evolution of
terminology here. Just in May, a few weeks ago, we finally deleted the
last vestiges of the terms ``Oriental'' and ``Negro'' from the United
States Code. So we do have a process by which we take legislation like
that that has been introduced by Congressman Joaquin Castro, and we
allow it to move through the process. That is the appropriate way that
we deal with discussion about changes in terminology in the code. We
don't do it in the legislative branch bill. And that is exactly what
the majority is doing by insisting that the Library of Congress
continue to use that offensive term ``illegal alien.''
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I recognize this has been an
exciting and tantalizing debate this evening.
Whenever the gentlewoman from Florida is ready to close, I will be
ready as well.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, how much time do I have remaining?
The CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Florida has 7 minutes remaining.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my
time to close.
I think it is unfortunate that myself and my colleagues on our side
of the aisle don't feel that we can lend our support to this
legislation for a variety of reasons. First, there has been an
overwhelming injection of politics into what should be an otherwise
solid piece of legislation in which we have done a lot of good work to
make sure that the functions of the legislative branch are able to make
sure that we can exercise our roles and responsibilities as Members of
the legislative branch.
Unfortunately, due to the funding of the select committee on Planned
Parenthood, which continues the witch hunt into an organization that
simply exists to provide millions of women access to quality health
care, in which there has been absolutely no evidence whatsoever that
there was any wrongdoing, the majority continues to insist on funding
the witch hunt that is designed to prevent women from getting access to
quality, affordable health care.
[[Page H3646]]
It also continues funding for the Select Committee on Benghazi, an
investigation in which the majority has actually admitted that they
found absolutely no wrongdoing. Yet they have not disbanded the
committee, and they continue to provide funding for it in this bill.
Lastly, as we have been able to spend a few minutes debating here on
the floor, this bill tragically sets the legislative branch up as the
word police and Members of Congress as the watchful sentries over the
uses of the terms and subject headings at the Library of Congress. I am
glad that we are really carefully protecting the card catalog in the
Library of Congress to make sure that we can continue to use offensive
terms when researchers look them up in the Library of Congress, like
``illegal alien.''
This bill makes sure that, instead of evolving, instead of moving
forward, instead of letting professionals who work in libraries decide
what terms should be used in their subject headings, Congress is going
to establish ourselves as the word police, politicize something where
we should not inject politics, and label people as ``illegal.''
Again, I will reiterate that there should have been an opportunity
for us to debate this issue separately. I am glad we have had an
opportunity to discuss it here and to expose the majority for wanting
to continue a bigoted, offensive term as the subject heading in the
Library of Congress.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I yield myself the balance of my
time to close.
We have heard a lot tonight about why the minority is opposed to this
bill. They are opposed to this bill because of what is not in it. Do
you notice that? It is because of what is not in it.
They have yet to talk about the great things, the good things, and
what this bill really is about. In fact, they are going to oppose this
bill, as they did last year, just because of things that don't exist,
that are absent.
I will point out, and I want to remind the chairman and the
committee, that this is really a good piece of legislation. It is very
family friendly, which is one of our major focuses. We have thousands
and thousands of visitors each year that come and visit this place,
this Capitol Building, this historic beacon of hope for our country and
for the world. Visitors come and visit our offices and tour the
facilities, and we want it to be family friendly, safe and secure, and
a welcoming environment. That is what this bill achieves.
It does that by providing something that is unique, something that I
was very passionate about in my days in the State of Georgia, and that
is doing zero-based budgeting, something very unique. It is not done in
all the other appropriations bills, but it is done in this one, where
every agency starts from zero and justifies each expense forward. That
is what our constituents expect.
It even does it by eliminating the Open World Center, zeroing out,
winding down, and eliminating a program that was well-intended back in
the 1980s when it was first founded. But it is time to wind it down,
move on, and use those dollars for something else, changing priorities.
That is what this committee was focused on.
It continues the Member pay freeze. As I stated earlier, when our
constituents aren't getting a raise in this economy, the Obama economy,
then I don't believe we should be getting a raise either. It eliminates
that. It freezes that.
We do this by also cutting the House budget by 13.2 percent since
Republicans took the majority. That is something we don't share enough
of. The House has taken the necessary steps to lead by example in
cutting our budgets by 13.2 percent since taking the majority in 2010.
I can't say the same about the Senate. I can't say the same about the
executive branch, nor the judicial. But we can say that about our side,
because we are leading by example.
Then it has a strong focus on constituent services. We were able to
provide additional resources for all Members, Republican and Democrat
alike, from all corners of this country and from all the territories to
make sure that they have the resources necessary to meet the needs of
their constituents, because that is really one of our number one
priorities back in our districts and from our offices here is to
provide the services to our constituency.
We have heard a lot tonight about the Library of Congress. Look, the
Library of Congress has a great history, a great heritage, and provides
a tremendous service. It has a history of providing law services to
this body and to the Senate over the years as well as constituencies
that come and do research. It does a great job.
All we have done in this bill is say, as you do your subject
headings, just make sure it is consistent with U.S. Code, be consistent
with the laws of this land. That way, those who are searching topics
are searching topics that are consistent with what is being debated in
the Supreme Court, what is being debated in other courts throughout the
country because they are using the laws of this land as they try
various cases. So why not just use terminology that is consistent with
the Code that this body and that the Senate and that a President has
signed into law at some point.
Mr. Chair, I want to commend to this body and to the committee the
Legislative Branch Appropriations bill. It is a good bill to be
supported and to be proud of and to know that you are going to be able
to take care of your constituents better. And we have got a great
family-friendly, safe, and secure environment for them to come and
visit.
I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR (Mr. Byrne). All time for general debate has
expired.
Pursuant to the rule, the bill shall be considered for amendment
under the 5-minute rule. The bill shall be considered as read.
The text of the bill is as follows:
H.R. 5325
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, 2017, and for
other purposes, namely:
TITLE I
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Salaries and Expenses
For salaries and expenses of the House of Representatives,
$1,189,050,766, as follows:
House Leadership Offices
For salaries and expenses, as authorized by law,
$22,278,891, including: Office of the Speaker, $6,645,417,
including $25,000 for official expenses of the Speaker;
Office of the Majority Floor Leader, $2,180,048, including
$10,000 for official expenses of the Majority Leader; Office
of the Minority Floor Leader, $7,114,471, including $10,000
for official expenses of the Minority Leader; Office of the
Majority Whip, including the Chief Deputy Majority Whip,
$1,886,632, including $5,000 for official expenses of the
Majority Whip; Office of the Minority Whip, including the
Chief Deputy Minority Whip, $1,459,639, including $5,000 for
official expenses of the Minority Whip; Republican
Conference, $1,505,426; Democratic Caucus, $1,487,258:
Provided, That such amount for salaries and expenses shall
remain available from January 3, 2017 until January 2, 2018.
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,
$562,632,498.
Committee Employees
Standing Committees, Special and Select
For salaries and expenses of standing committees, special
and select, authorized by House resolutions, $127,053,373:
Provided, That such amount shall remain available for such
salaries and expenses until December 31, 2018, except that
$3,150,200 of such amount shall remain available until
expended for committee room upgrading.
Committee on Appropriations
For salaries and expenses of the Committee on
Appropriations, $23,271,004, 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,
2018.
Salaries, Officers and Employees
For compensation and expenses of officers and employees, as
authorized by law, $181,487,000, including: for salaries and
expenses of the Office of the Clerk, including the positions
of the Chaplain and the Historian, and including not more
than $25,000 for official representation and reception
expenses, of which not more than $20,000 is for the Family
Room and not more than $2,000 is for the Office of the
Chaplain, $26,268,000; for
[[Page H3647]]
salaries and expenses of the Office of the Sergeant at Arms,
including the position of Superintendent of Garages and the
Office of Emergency Management, and including not more than
$3,000 for official representation and reception expenses,
$15,505,000, of which $5,618,902 shall remain available until
expended; for salaries and expenses of the Office of the
Chief Administrative Officer including not more than $3,000
for official representation and reception expenses,
$117,165,000, of which $2,120,000 shall remain available
until expended; for salaries and expenses of the Office of
the Inspector General, $4,963,000; for salaries and expenses
of the Office of the General Counsel, $1,444,000; 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, $1,999,000; for
salaries and expenses of the Office of the Law Revision
Counsel of the House, $3,167,000; for salaries and expenses
of the Office of the Legislative Counsel of the House,
$8,979,000; for salaries and expenses of the Office of
Interparliamentary Affairs, $814,000; and for other
authorized employees, $1,183,000.
Allowances and Expenses
For allowances and expenses as authorized by House
resolution or law, $272,328,000, including: supplies,
materials, administrative costs and Federal tort claims,
$3,625,000; official mail for committees, leadership offices,
and administrative offices of the House, $190,000; Government
contributions for health, retirement, Social Security, and
other applicable employee benefits, $245,334,000, to remain
available until March 31, 2018; Business Continuity and
Disaster Recovery, $16,217,000, of which $5,000,000 shall
remain available until expended; transition activities for
new Members and staff $2,084,000, to remain available until
expended; Wounded Warrior Program $2,500,000, to remain
available until expended; Office of Congressional Ethics,
$1,658,000; 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, $720,000.
Administrative Provisions
requiring amounts remaining in members' representational allowances to
be used for deficit reduction or to reduce the federal debt
Sec. 101. (a) 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 2017. Any amount remaining after all payments are
made under such allowances for fiscal year 2017 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.
delivery of bills and resolutions
Sec. 102. None of the funds made available in this Act may
be used to deliver a printed copy of a bill, joint
resolution, or resolution to the office of a Member of the
House of Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident
Commissioner to the Congress) unless the Member requests a
copy.
delivery of congressional record
Sec. 103. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used to deliver a printed copy of any version of the
Congressional Record to the office of a Member of the House
of Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident
Commissioner to the Congress).
limitation on amount available to lease vehicles
Sec. 104. None of the funds made available in this Act may
be used by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of
Representatives to make any payments from any Members'
Representational Allowance for the leasing of a vehicle,
excluding mobile district offices, in an aggregate amount
that exceeds $1,000 for the vehicle in any month.
limitation on printed copies of u.s. code to house
Sec. 105. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used to provide an aggregate number of more than 50
printed copies of any edition of the United States Code to
all offices of the House of Representatives.
delivery of reports of disbursements
Sec. 106. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used to deliver a printed copy of the report of
disbursements for the operations of the House of
Representatives under section 106 of the House of
Representatives Administrative Reform Technical Corrections
Act (2 U.S.C. 5535) to the office of a Member of the House of
Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident
Commissioner to the Congress).
delivery of daily calendar
Sec. 107. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used to deliver to the office of a Member of the House of
Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident
Commissioner to the Congress) a printed copy of the Daily
Calendar of the House of Representatives which is prepared by
the Clerk of the House of Representatives.
delivery of congressional pictorial directory
Sec. 108. None of the funds made available by this Act may
be used to deliver a printed copy of the Congressional
Pictorial Directory to the office of a Member of the House of
Representatives (including a Delegate or Resident
Commissioner to the Congress).
adjustments to compensation
Sec. 109. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no
adjustment shall be made under section 601(a) of the
Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 4501)
(relating to cost of living adjustments for Members of
Congress) during fiscal year 2017.
overseas travel to accompany members of house leadership
Sec. 110. (a) Travel Authorized.--
(1) In general.--A member of the Capitol Police may travel
outside of the United States for official duty if--
(A) that travel is with, or in preparation for, travel of a
Member of the House of Representatives who holds a position
in a House Leadership Office, including travel of the Member
as part of a congressional delegation; and
(B) the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives
gives prior approval to the travel of the member of the
Capitol Police.
(2) Definitions.--In this subsection--
(A) the term ``House Leadership office'' means an office of
the House of Representatives for which the appropriation for
salaries and expenses of the office for the year involved is
provided under the heading ``House Leadership Offices'' in
the act making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for
the fiscal year involved;
(B) the term ``Member of the House of Representatives''
includes a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress;
and
(C) the term ``United States'' means each of the several
States of the United States, the District of Columbia, and
the territories and possessions of the United States.
(b) Reimbursement From Sergeant at Arms.--
(1) In general.--From amounts made available for salaries
and expenses of the Office of the Sergeant at Arms of the
House of Representatives, the Sergeant at Arms of the House
of Representatives shall reimburse the Capitol Police for the
overtime pay, travel, and related expenses of any member of
the Capitol Police who travels under the authority of this
section.
(2) Use of amounts received.--Any amounts received by the
Capitol Police for reimbursements under paragraph (1) shall
be credited to the accounts established for the general
expenses or salaries of the Capitol Police, and shall be
available to carry out the purposes of such accounts during
the fiscal year in which the amounts are received and the
following fiscal year.
(c) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect
to fiscal year 2017 and each succeeding fiscal year.
JOINT ITEMS
For Joint Committees, as follows:
Joint Economic Committee
For salaries and expenses of the Joint Economic Committee,
$4,203,000, to be disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate.
Joint Committee on Taxation
For salaries and expenses of the Joint Committee on
Taxation, $10,095,000, 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 $1,300 per month to the Senior Medical
Officer;
(3) an allowance of $725 per month each to three medical
officers while on duty in the Office of the Attending
Physician;
(4) an allowance of $725 per month to 2 assistants and $580
per month each not to exceed 11 assistants on the basis
heretofore provided for such assistants; and
(5) $2,780,000 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, $3,838,000, to be disbursed by the Chief
Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives.
Office of Congressional Accessibility Services
Salaries and Expenses
For salaries and expenses of the Office of Congressional
Accessibility Services, $1,429,000, to be disbursed by the
Secretary of the Senate.
CAPITOL POLICE
Salaries
For salaries of employees of the Capitol Police, including
overtime, hazardous duty pay, and Government contributions
for health, retirement, social security, professional
liability insurance, and other applicable employee benefits,
$325,300,000 of which
[[Page H3648]]
overtime shall not exceed $35,305,000 unless the Committee on
Appropriations of the House and Senate are notified, 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 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, $66,000,000, 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 2017 shall be
paid by the Secretary of Homeland Security from funds
available to the Department of Homeland Security.
Administrative Provision
authority to dispose of forfeited and abandoned property and to accept
surplus or obsolete property offered by other federal agencies
Sec. 1001. (a) Section 1003(a) of the Legislative Branch
Appropriations Act, 2003 (2 U.S.C. 1906(a)) is amended by
striking ``surplus or obsolete property of the Capitol
Police'' and inserting the following: ``surplus or obsolete
property of the Capitol Police, and property which is in the
possession of the Capitol Police because it has been
disposed, forfeited, voluntarily abandoned, or unclaimed,''.
(b) Upon notifying the Committees of Appropriations of the
House of Representatives and Senate, the United States
Capitol Police may accept surplus or obsolete property
offered by another Federal department, agency, or office.
(c) This section and the amendment made by this section
shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2017 and each
succeeding fiscal year.
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), $3,959,000, of which $450,000
shall remain available until September 30, 2018: Provided,
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.
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
Salaries and Expenses
For salaries and expenses necessary for operation of the
Congressional Budget Office, including not more than $6,000
to be expended on the certification of the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office in connection with official
representation and reception expenses, $46,500,000.
Administrative Provision
establishment of senior level positions
Sec. 1101. (a) Notwithstanding the fourth sentence of
section 201(b) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment
Control Act of 1974 (2 U.S.C. 601(b)), the Director of the
Congressional Budget Office may establish and fix the
compensation of senior level positions in the Congressional
Budget Office to meet critical scientific, technical,
professional, or executive needs of the Office.
(b) Limitation on Compensation.--The annual rate of pay for
any position established under this section may not exceed
the annual rate of pay for level II of the Executive
Schedule.
(c) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect
to fiscal year 2017 and each succeeding fiscal year.
ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL
Capital Construction and Operations
For salaries for the Architect of the Capitol, and other
personal services, at rates of pay provided by law; for all
necessary expenses for surveys and studies, construction,
operation, and general and administrative support in
connection with facilities and activities under the care of
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, $88,542,234, of which $5,268,000 shall remain
available until September 30, 2021.
Capitol Building
For all necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and
operation of the Capitol, $33,005,499, of which $9,005,499
shall remain available until September 30, 2021.
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, $12,826,000, of which
$2,946,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2021.
House Office Buildings
For all necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and
operation of the House office buildings, $187,481,000, of
which $61,404,000 shall remain available until September 30,
2021, and of which $62,000,000 shall remain available until
expended for the restoration and renovation of the Cannon
House Office Building.
In addition, for a payment to the House Historic Buildings
Revitalization Trust Fund, $17,000,000, to remain available
until expended.
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, 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 plants in any of
such buildings; heating the Government Publishing 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, $104,480,000, of which $27,339,000
shall remain available until September 30, 2021: Provided,
That not more than $9,000,000 of the funds credited or to be
reimbursed to this appropriation as herein provided shall be
available for obligation during fiscal year 2017.
Library Buildings and Grounds
For all necessary expenses for the mechanical and
structural maintenance, care and operation of the Library
buildings and grounds, $47,080,000, of which $22,137,000
shall remain available until September 30, 2021.
Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds and Security
For all necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and
operation of buildings, grounds and security enhancements of
the United States Capitol Police, wherever located, the
Alternate Computing Facility, and Architect of the Capitol
security operations, $26,697,000, of which $9,164,000 shall
remain available until September 30, 2021.
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, $14,067,000; of which $4,054,000 shall remain
available until September 30, 2021: Provided, 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 of the Capitol or a duly authorized
designee.
Capitol Visitor Center
For all necessary expenses for the operation of the Capitol
Visitor Center, $20,557,000.
Administrative Provisions
no bonuses for contractors behind schedule or over budget
Sec. 1201. None of the funds made available in this Act
for the Architect of the Capitol may be used to make
incentive or award payments to contractors for work on
contracts or programs for which the contractor is behind
schedule or over budget, unless the Architect of the Capitol,
or agency-employed designee, determines that any such
deviations are due to unforeseeable events, government-driven
scope changes, or are not significant within the overall
scope of the project and/or program.
scrims
Sec. 1202. None of the funds made available by this Act
may be used for scrims containing photographs of building
facades during restoration or construction projects performed
by the Architect of the Capitol.
working capital fund
Sec. 1203. (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established
in the Treasury of the United States a working capital fund
(hereafter in this section referred to as the ``Fund'') for
the Architect of the Capitol.
(b) Availability of Amounts.--Amounts in the Fund shall be
available to the Architect of the Capitol for such common
agency services, activities, and equipment, such as
construction, capital repairs, renovations, rehabilitation,
maintenance of real property, and similar agency expenses, on
a reimbursable basis within the Architect of the Capitol as
the Architect determines to be appropriate, efficient, and
economical.
(c) Contents.--The capital of the Fund consists of--
(1) amounts appropriated to the Fund;
(2) the reasonable value of stocks of supplies, equipment,
and other assets and inventories on order that the Architect
transfers
[[Page H3649]]
to the fund, less related liabilities and unpaid obligations;
(3) receipts from the sale or exchange of property held in
the Fund;
(4) all miscellaneous receipts compensating the Architect
of the Capitol for loss or damage to any Government property
under the Architect's jurisdiction or care, including but not
limited to the United States Botanic Garden;
(5) reimbursements pursuant to subsection (d); and
(6) amounts transferred to the Fund pursuant to subsection
(e).
(d) Reimbursement.--The Fund shall be reimbursed from
available accounts of the Architect of the Capitol for
supplies, materials, services, and related expenses, at rates
which will approximate the full cost of operations,
including--
(1) accrual of employee leave and benefits;
(2) depreciation of plant, property, and equipment; and
(3) overhead.
(e) Transfers From Other Accounts.--The Architect is
authorized to transfer amounts from other available Architect
of the Capitol accounts to the Fund in this and each
succeeding fiscal year as the Architect determines to be
appropriate, efficient, and economical, subject to the
approval of the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate,
the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives, or both (as the case may be), in accordance
with section 306 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations
Act, 1997 (2 U.S.C. 1862).
(f) Continuing Availability of Funds.--Amounts in the Fund
are available without regard to fiscal year limitation.
(g) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect
to fiscal year 2017 and each succeeding fiscal year.
authority for a house office buildings shuttle
Sec. 1204. (a) The proviso in the item relating to
``Capitol Grounds'' in title VI of the Legislative Branch
Appropriations Act, 1977 (90 Stat. 1453; 2 U.S.C. 2163) is
amended by striking ``appropriated under this heading'' and
inserting ``appropriated for any available account of the
Architect of the Capitol''.
(b) The amendment made by subsection (a) shall apply with
respect to fiscal year 2017 and each succeeding fiscal year.
use of expired funds for unemployment compensation payments
Sec. 1205. (a) Available balances of expired Architect of
the Capitol appropriations shall be available to the
Architect of the Capitol for reimbursing the Secretary of
Labor for any amounts paid with respect to unemployment
compensation payments for former employees of the Architect
of the Capitol, not withstanding any other provision of law,
without regard to the fiscal year for which the obligation to
make such payments is incurred.
(b) This section shall apply with respect to fiscal year
2017 and each succeeding fiscal year.
flag office revolving fund
Sec. 1206. (a) Establishment.--There is established in the
Treasury of the United States a revolving fund to be known as
the ``Flag Office Revolving Fund'' (in this section referred
to as the ``Fund'') for services provided by the Flag Office
of the Architect of the Capitol (in this section referred to
as the ``Flag Office'').
(b) Deposit of Fees.--The Architect of the Capitol shall
deposit any fees charged for services described in subsection
(a) into the Fund.
(c) Contents of Fund.--The Fund shall consist of the
following amounts:
(1) Amounts deposited by the Architect of the Capitol under
subsection (b).
(2) Any other amounts received by the Architect of the
Capitol which are attributable to services provided by the
Flag Office.
(3) Such other amounts as may be appropriated under law.
(d) Use of Amounts in Fund.--Amounts in the Fund shall be
available for disbursement by the Architect of the Capitol,
without fiscal year limitation, for expenses in connection
with the services provided by the Flag Office, including--
(1) supplies, inventories, equipment, and other expenses;
and
(2) the reimbursement of any applicable appropriations
account for amounts used from such appropriations account to
pay the salaries of employees of the Flag Office.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
Salaries and Expenses
For all 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, $449,971,000, of which not more than $6,000,000
shall be derived from collections credited to this
appropriation during fiscal year 2017, 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
2017 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, 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, $8,444,000 shall remain available until
expended for the digital collections and educational
curricula program: Provided further, That of the total
amount appropriated, $1,300,000 shall remain available until
expended for upgrade of the Legislative Branch Financial
Management System: Provided further, That of the total amount
appropriated, $4,039,000 shall remain available until
September 30, 2019 to complete the first of three phases of
the shelving replacement in the Law Library's collection
storage areas: Provided further, That of the total amount
appropriated, $24,000,000 shall remain available until
September 30, 2019 to migrate the Library's Primary Computing
Facility (PCF) in the James Madison Building to an alternate
PCF.
Copyright Office
salaries and expenses
For all necessary expenses of the Copyright Office,
$68,827,000, of which not more than $31,269,000, to remain
available until expended, shall be derived from collections
credited to this appropriation during fiscal year 2017 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
$5,929,000 shall be derived from collections during fiscal
year 2017 under sections 111(d)(2), 119(b)(3), 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 $37,198,000:
Provided further, That $4,531,000 shall be derived from prior
year unobligated balances: 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 $6,500 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, with the exception of the costs of
salaries and benefits for the Copyright Royalty Judges and
staff under section 802(e).
Congressional Research Service
salaries and expenses
For all 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, $107,945,000:
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 all necessary expenses to carry out the Act of March 3,
1931 (chapter 400; 46 Stat. 1487; 2 U.S.C. 135a),
$50,248,000: Provided, That of the total amount appropriated,
$650,000 shall be available to contract to provide newspapers
to blind and physically handicapped residents at no cost to
the individual.
Administrative Provisions
reimbursable and revolving fund activities
Sec. 1301. (a) In General.--For fiscal year 2017, the
obligational authority of the Library of Congress for the
activities described in subsection (b) may not exceed
$188,188,000.
(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.
[[Page H3650]]
library of congress national collection stewardship fund
Sec. 1302. (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established
in the Treasury of the United States, as an account for the
Librarian of Congress, the ``Library of Congress National
Collection Stewardship Fund'' (hereafter in this section
referred to as the ``Fund'').
(b) Contents of Fund.--The Fund shall consist of the
following amounts:
(1) Such amounts as may be transferred by the Librarian
from available amounts appropriated for any fiscal year for
the Library of Congress under the heading ``Salaries and
Expenses''.
(2) Such amounts as may be appropriated to the Fund under
law.
(c) Use of Amounts.--Amounts in the Fund may be used by the
Librarian as follows:
(1) The Librarian may use amounts directly for the purpose
of preparing collection materials of the Library of Congress
for long-term storage.
(2) The Librarian may transfer amounts to the Architect of
the Capitol for the purpose of designing, constructing,
altering, upgrading, and equipping collections preservation
and storage facilities for the Library of Congress, or for
the purpose of acquiring real property by lease for the
preservation and storage of Library of Congress collections
in accordance with section 1102 of the Legislative Branch
Appropriations Act, 2009 (2 U.S.C. 1823a).
(d) Continuing Availability of Funds.--Any amounts in the
Fund shall remain available until expended.
(e) Annual Report.--Not later than 180 days after the end
of each fiscal year, the Librarian shall submit a joint
report on the Fund to the Joint Committee on the Library and
the Committees on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives and Senate.
(f) Initial 5-Year Plan.--Not later than 6 months after the
date of the enactment of this Act, the Librarian shall submit
to the Joint Committee on the Library and the Committees on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and Senate a
report providing a plan for expenditures from the Fund for
the first 5 fiscal years of the Fund's operation.
(g) Effective Date.--This section shall apply with respect
to fiscal year 2017 and each succeeding fiscal year.
film preservation programs
Sec. 1303. (a) National Film Preservation Board.--
(1) Reauthorization.--Section 112 of the National Film
Preservation Act of 1996 (2 U.S.C. 179v) is amended by
striking ``through fiscal year 2016'' and inserting ``through
fiscal year 2026''.
(2) Effective date.--The amendment made by paragraph (1)
shall take effect as if included in the enactment of the
National Film Preservation Act of 1996.
(b) National Film Preservation Foundation.--Section
151711(a)(1)(C) of title 36, United States Code, is amended
by striking ``through 2016'' and inserting ``through 2026''.
sound recording preservation programs
Sec. 1304. (a) National Recording Preservation Board.--
Section 133 of the National Recording Preservation Act of
2000 (2 U.S.C. 1743) is amended by striking ``through fiscal
year 2016'' and inserting ``through fiscal year 2026''.
(b) National Recording Preservation Foundation.--
(1) Authorization of appropriations.--Section 152411(a) of
title 36, United States Code, is amended by striking
``through fiscal year 2016'' and inserting ``through fiscal
year 2026''.
(2) Number of members of board of directors.--Section
152403(b)(2)(A) of such title is amended by striking ``nine
directors'' and inserting ``12 directors''.
GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
Congressional Publishing
(including transfer of funds)
For authorized publishing of congressional information and
the distribution of congressional information in any format;
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); publishing of
Government publications authorized by law to be distributed
to Members of Congress; and publishing, and distribution of
Government publications authorized by law to be distributed
without charge to the recipient, $79,736,000: 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 Publishing Office Business
Operations 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:
Provided further, That notwithstanding sections 901, 902, and
906 of title 44, United States Code, this appropriation may
be used to prepare indexes to the Congressional Record on
only a monthly and session basis.
Public Information Programs of the Superintendent of Documents
salaries and expenses
(including transfer of funds)
For expenses of the public information programs 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,
$29,500,000: 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 2015 and 2016 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 Publishing Office
Business Operations 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 Publishing Office Business Operations Revolving Fund
For payment to the Government Publishing Office Business
Operations Revolving Fund, $7,832,000, to remain available
until expended, for information technology development and
facilities repair: Provided, That the Government Publishing
Office is hereby authorized to make such expenditures, within
the limits of funds available and in accordance with 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 Publishing Office
Business Operations Revolving Fund: Provided further, That
not more than $7,500 may be expended on the certification of
the Director of the Government Publishing Office in
connection with official representation and reception
expenses: Provided further, That the Business Operations
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 Director of the Government
Publishing Office shall be deemed necessary to carry out the
provisions of title 44, United States Code: Provided further,
That the Business Operations 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 activities financed through the Business Operations
Revolving Fund may provide information in any format:
Provided further, That the Business Operations Revolving Fund
and the funds provided under the heading ``Public Information
Programs of the Superintendent of Documents'' may not be used
for contracted security services at Government Publishing
Office's passport facility in the District of Columbia.
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, $533,100,000: Provided, That,
in addition, $23,350,000 of payments received under sections
782, 791, 3521, and 9105 of title 31, United States Code,
shall be available without fiscal year limitation: 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
[[Page H3651]]
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), $1,000,000.
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
maintenance and care of private vehicles
Sec. 201. 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.
fiscal year limitation
Sec. 202. No part of the funds appropriated in this Act
shall remain available for obligation beyond fiscal year 2017
unless expressly so provided in this Act.
rates of compensation and designation
Sec. 203. 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.
consulting services
Sec. 204. 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.
costs of lbfmc
Sec. 205. 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.
limitation on transfers
Sec. 206. 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.
guided tours of the capitol
Sec. 207. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), none of
the funds made available to the Architect of the Capitol in
this Act may be used to eliminate or restrict guided tours of
the United States Capitol which are led by employees and
interns of offices of Members of Congress and other offices
of the House of Representatives and Senate.
(b) At the direction of the Capitol Police Board, or at the
direction of the Architect of the Capitol with the approval
of the Capitol Police Board, guided tours of the United
States Capitol which are led by employees and interns
described in subsection (a) may be suspended temporarily or
otherwise subject to restriction for security or related
reasons to the same extent as guided tours of the United
States Capitol which are led by the Architect of the Capitol.
computer network activity
Sec. 208. (a) None of the funds made available in this Act
may be used to maintain or establish a computer network
unless such network blocks the viewing, downloading, and
exchanging of pornography.
(b) Nothing in subsection (a) shall limit the use of funds
necessary for any Federal, State, tribal, or local law
enforcement agency or any other entity to carry out criminal
or Congressional investigations, prosecution, or adjudication
activities.
spending reduction account
Sec. 209. The amount by which the applicable allocation of
new budget authority made by the Committee on Appropriations
of the House of Representatives under section 302(b) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, excluding Senate items,
exceeds the amount of proposed new budget authority is $0.
This Act may be cited as the ``Legislative Branch
Appropriations Act, 2017''.
The Acting CHAIR. No amendment to the bill shall be in order except
those printed in House Report 114-611. Each such amendment may be
offered only in the order printed in the report, by a Member designated
in the report, shall be considered read, shall be 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 order to consider amendment No. 1 printed in House Report
114-611.
Amendment No. 2 Offered by Mr. Ellison
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 2
printed in House Report 114-611.
Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Chair, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 4, line 22, after the first dollar amount, insert
``(reduced by $1,000,000) (increased by $1,000,000)''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 771, the gentleman
from Minnesota (Mr. Ellison) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Minnesota.
Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Chairman, we can raise living standards for working
families across this country if we use Federal dollars to create good
jobs.
My amendment would reprogram funds to create an office of good jobs
within the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer. This office
would help ensure that the House's procurement and contracting
decisions encourage the creation of decently paid jobs, support
collective bargaining rights, and encourage responsible employment
practices. Our amendment does nothing to alter existing procurement,
debarment, or contracting processes.
Right now, the U.S. Government is America's leading low-wage job
creator, funding over 2 million poverty jobs through contracts, loans,
and grants in corporate America. That is more than the total number of
low-wage workers employed by Walmart and McDonald's combined.
Mr. Chairman, at this point, the Federal Government is leading the
race to the bottom through its processes and its failure to capitalize
on the procurement process. U.S. contract workers earn so little that
nearly 40 percent use public assistance programs like food stamps and
Section 8 to feed their families.
In other words, Mr. Chairman, because these jobs are paid so low that
are funded by the Federal contracts, Uncle Sam has to subsidize these
people, working people, because they are not getting paid enough by the
Federal contractors that employ them.
To add insult to injury, many of these low-wage U.S. contract workers
are driven deeper into poverty because their employers steal their
wages and break other Federal labor laws. Treating the people who work
with us here at the Capitol with dignity and respect is absolutely
essential.
It is intended that the appropriation for the Office of the Chief
Administrative Officer be used to establish an Office of Good Jobs
aimed at ensuring that the Chief Administrative Officer's procurement
decisions encourage the creation of decently paid jobs, collective
bargaining rights, and responsible employment practices. The office's
structure shall be substantially similar to the Centers for Faith-Based
and Neighborhood Partnerships located within the Department of
Education, Department of Housing and Urban Development, Department of
Homeland Security, Department of Health and Human Services, Department
of Labor, Department of Agriculture, Department of Commerce, Department
of Veterans Affairs, Department of State, Small Business
Administration, Environmental Protection Agency, Corporation for
National and Community Service, and U.S. Agency for International
Development.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I rise in opposition to the
amendment.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I know Mr. Ellison is well-intended
in
[[Page H3652]]
his amendment. In fact, his amendment was offered during the House
debate on the Energy and Water Appropriations bill just recently, and
it was rejected by an overwhelming majority on a bipartisan basis. In
fact, the vote was 174-245. I know his intentions are well-meaning, and
he speaks well of the topic, but this amendment is no more appropriate
in this context than it was previously. It ignores the fact that
Congress operates an entirely different procurement system than other
Federal agencies.
The House has an established procurement process that is in place to
ensure that all procurements are executed in a fair and a competitive
manner. The function of this amendment would only add additional time
to an already sound procurement process.
I oppose the amendment.
I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1 minute to the gentlewoman from
Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz).
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chair, I support my colleague's amendment.
The aim of this amendment is to create an office of good jobs for the
House within the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer. This
office would help ensure that the House makes contracting and
employment decisions, encouraging the creation of decently paid jobs,
implementation of fair labor practices, and responsible employment
practices.
As the legislative branch, we ought to be setting an example for the
Nation when it comes to contracting decisions. Members of Congress who
are committed to creating good-paying jobs and supporting workers have
a chance with this amendment to see those values reflected right where
we work.
This office will help guide the legislative branch in making
responsible contracting and employment decisions and do right by the
countless men and women who help us perform the people's business each
and every day.
I urge my colleagues to support the amendment by voting ``yes.''
Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Chairman, how much time do I have remaining?
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman from Minnesota has 2 minutes
remaining.
Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I think this is a great example
to show the openness of this process. In fact, this amendment was
offered recently with the Energy and Water Appropriations bill and is
applicable to be offered even here today. While I rise in opposition to
the gentleman's amendment, I think it is just a good example of
bipartisanship and this open process, of an orderly structured process
to get our job done here.
However, this amendment doesn't achieve what we would hope it would,
and that is why I have to rise in opposition.
I mean, it is clear that vendors that do business with the House are
already reviewed against the GSA's excluding parties list, which
includes businesses that are then precluded from doing business with
the Federal Government for and, among other things, violating
employees' legal employment rights.
{time} 1930
As written, this amendment fails to do really much of anything. It
has no legislative effect. It fails to define what the office should
examine, where in the House of Representatives organizational structure
the office would reside, and what recourse, if any, a Member would have
if he or she disagreed with a finding of the office.
Again, with that, I have to oppose the gentleman's amendment.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Chairman, it is long past time, given this economy
that we have, for the Congress of the United States to prioritize good
jobs. The fact is that, if we have an agency, an office of good jobs
making sure that everyone who we do business with is making sure that
workers are paid fairly, that they get every penny that they earn, and
that we are making sure that we prioritize good employers over the bad
ones, this is exactly what we should be doing. We live in a time of 40
years of wage stagnation, and the Federal Government is deeply
implicated in this wage stagnation. The Federal Government, the U.S.
Congress should do something about it.
Mr. Chairman, let me tell you about a friend of mine named Vee. Vee
has been a catering worker here at the House of Representatives for 27
years. She is 67 years old. She says she has next to nothing for
retirement. She jokes that she will be working until half an hour
before her funeral. In Vee's own words: We aren't looking for a
handout; we are looking for a hand up.
No one who works for decades should be left without a secure
retirement. Retirement insecurity isn't the only trouble she and her
colleagues face. Some of them don't get healthcare benefits from their
employer. Of the 50 catering workers serving Members and visitors to
the Hill, only about half have access to year-round health care.
We need to make it clear to current and future contractors that we
want them to put taxpayers' dollars in their contracts to use, taking
care of Americans who are working for them. This will help raise living
standards for all workers.
Let me tell you this, Mr. Chairman, when we see the Federal
Government and we see State governments make good jobs the issue, the
private sector falls in line. We have seen the Gap, even Walmart,
talking about raising issues. Why? Because President Obama signed an
executive order to say that anyone who works for a Federal contractor
has to get paid at least $10.10 an hour. That kind of leadership is
what makes the Federal Government not the leader in the race to the
bottom but the leader in the race to the top.
Vote ``yes'' on my amendment.
I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I am grateful for the
gentleman's time tonight and taking time on this late evening to
express his passion and zeal for workers all across this country.
However, with that, because of his amendment and, as I mentioned, the
impact that it, in effect, really wouldn't have, I would have to oppose
the gentleman's amendment.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Minnesota (Mr. Ellison).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the noes
appeared to have it.
Mr. ELLISON. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentleman from Minnesota
will be postponed.
Amendment No. 3 Offered by Mr. Blumenauer
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 3
printed in House Report 114-611.
Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 17, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $100,000) (increased by $100,000)''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 771, the gentleman
from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Oregon.
Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Chairman, there is a bike share revolution that
is spreading across America. Over 70 systems are now operating in 104
cities, including, next month, my hometown of Portland, Oregon.
Atlanta's system opened today. This is an opportunity to provide the
bicycle in a more convenient form, where people can rent by the half
hour, by the hour, by the day.
We find that research shows that the bike share is safer than regular
bicycles. There have been no fatalities recorded in more than 35
million trips around the country so far. It is cheaper. It is a
healthier form of transit. Low-cost memberships are available for low-
income populations, for example, in Washington, D.C., and Philadelphia
and Chicago.
The Nation's Capital is a model for bike share. Launched in 2010,
there are now over 350 stations around the D.C. area. Daily ridership
is over 9,000. Bike share members report annual savings
[[Page H3653]]
of $700 to $800 a year due to riding the bike share.
My amendment suggests that it is time for the Architect of the
Capitol to have the Capitol Grounds included in this process, requiring
a feasibility study on the installation and operation of bike share
stations on the Capitol Grounds.
Right now, the nearest station to House Office Buildings is at the
bottom of Capitol Hill, between the busy Independence Avenue and
freeway on-ramps. It is not convenient to our staff. It is not
convenient to the millions of visitors that come to Capitol Hill every
year. Thinking for a moment about the problems we have got now with the
Metro maintenance, every person that takes a bike share is one more
person who is not on the road ahead of you or crowded into overcrowded
facilities.
I respectfully suggest that this amendment be adopted, that we have
$100,000 within the Architect of the Capitol's budget to undertake this
feasibility study to improve the quality of life, the health, and
mobility in and around this vital area of our Nation's Capital. It is
unfortunate that this intense area of activity is underserved. This
amendment would help remedy that.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I ask unanimous consent to claim
the time in opposition.
The Acting CHAIR. Is there objection to the request of the gentleman
from Georgia?
There was no objection.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman is recognized for 5 minutes.
Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I don't claim the time in
opposition to speak against it. In fact, I am supportive of the
gentleman's amendment, and I appreciate him bringing this forward. As a
cyclist myself, I can tell you, I understand the importance of making
sure, on a campus such as this or in a town such as this or an area
such as this, that there is plenty of availability, and the bike share
facilities and locations are certainly around here, but we understand
that there are some absences or vacancies in spaces near to this
campus.
Saying all that, I do respect the Sergeant at Arms and the Capitol
Police and some of their concerns that they have expressed, and I would
hope that, as the Architect moves forward with a study such as this,
that they would take those considerations into effect as well as they
put their study together.
I thank the gentleman for his amendment.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Chairman, I yield 1\1/2\ minutes to the gentleman
from Virginia (Mr. Beyer).
Mr. BEYER. Mr. Chairman, I rise in strong support of the Blumenauer
amendment to request a feasibility study on the installation and
operation of Capital Bikeshare stations on the Capitol Grounds. I would
like to thank Mr. Blumenauer for his bike-partisan leadership over the
years and for his work on this issue specifically. His passion for
cycling is known to and appreciated by so many of us.
Mr. Chairman, Capital Bikeshare opened in 2010 in the District of
Columbia and in Arlington, Virginia, which I am proud to represent.
Since then, the system has grown steadily to include more than 350
stations. It has changed the way many people in this region travel. The
U.S. Capitol receives millions of visitors every year, and millions
more visit our offices to talk about their issues and concerns. These
people are friends, families, and constituents. There are also guests
of the United States from all over the world. Capital Bikeshare has
been successful precisely because many of these visitors want to see
our city up close, from the seat of a bicycle.
Expanding this very successful program to the Capitol Grounds is a
great way to give tourists, local commuters, and our staffs an
excellent transportation alternative, not to mention the benefits the
bicycle has on the environment, individual health, and traffic
congestion.
This need is especially great right now as the D.C.'s Metrorail
system undergoes extensive, prolonged maintenance. This puts a real
strain on all the other modes of transportation in the city.
Capital Bikeshare is beloved by D.C. residents and visitors alike,
and we should be setting a strong example by supporting the program and
welcoming stations in the place where we work, right here on the
Capitol Grounds.
Mr. Chair, I thank Mr. Blumenauer for his leadership and urge my
colleagues to support the amendment.
Mr. BLUMENAUER. Mr. Chair, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Oregon (Mr. Blumenauer).
The amendment was agreed to.
Amendment No. 4 Offered by Mr. Welch
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 4
printed in House Report 114-611.
Mr. WELCH. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
Page 17, line 6, after the dollar amount, insert ``(reduced
by $500,000)''.
Page 17, line 11, after the dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $250,000)''.
Page 17, line 23, after the first dollar amount, insert
``(increased by $250,000)''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 771, the gentleman
from Vermont (Mr. Welch) and a Member opposed each will control 5
minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentleman from Vermont.
Mr. WELCH. Mr. Speaker, I am delighted to be here presenting this
amendment. My cosponsor of this amendment, Jaime Herrera Beutler, is
unable to be here, but it is relevant. She had a baby 2 weeks ago--this
is not her first child--and she is a breastfeeding mother.
This amendment is about creating the potential for the House Office
Buildings and this Capitol to come into compliance with the General
Services Administration guidelines for having breastfeeding stations
available for women who need them. There are 7,000 women who work here.
There are thousands of women who visit on a regular basis, and we don't
have the stations that the women who visit the Capitol, work in the
Capitol, work in the House Office Buildings, or visit need to be here
in order to take care of their infant children.
It is just amazing to me. Jaime Herrera Beutler is someone we all
admire. She can't be here--she wishes she was--but she is a big
advocate of this. What this amendment would do is not cost new money,
but it would allow a shift in money, $500,000, from the capital
construction and operations account to the Capitol Building and House
Office Building accounts, appropriating $250,000 each.
The fact is, why wouldn't we want to be in compliance with the GSA
requirements as to the access to the breastfeeding stations for mothers
who work and visit here?
Mr. Chair, my hope is that there will be broad bipartisan support to
do something that I think all of us know needs to be done.
Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Will the gentleman yield?
Mr. WELCH. I yield to the gentleman from Georgia.
Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank the gentleman
for his thoughtful amendment. We are prepared to accept it, support it.
Mr. WELCH. Mr. Chairman, I yield such time as she may consume to the
gentlewoman from Florida (Ms. Wasserman Schultz), the ranking member of
the committee.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I join the chairman in
supporting the gentleman's amendment. This amendment would add
approximately 30 lactation rooms to the Capitol complex. Working
mothers rely on these rooms--and I can speak from experience--to ensure
that they can continue to work while breastfeeding their children.
This amendment rightfully recognizes that Congress must lead by
example to ensure that women can be both moms and leaders in their
field. In fact, my own office right now is serving as a lactation room,
and that is because one of my wonderful staff is a nursing mom.
While I am happy to do that, it is our responsibility to maintain an
environment where all of our employees feel comfortable, including
working mothers. Our staff deserves to feel welcome
[[Page H3654]]
and secure when they are ready to return to work. We should be doing
everything we can to encourage working moms to return to the workplace,
and it must start here on Capitol Hill.
As we all know, the offices in which we work are inadequate for moms
to pump. Our staff is many to an office with open-air cubicles. Having
lactation rooms is mandatory, essential, if we want to keep talented
women in the workplace.
I want to thank the gentleman for offering this amendment. I urge its
support and appreciate the chairman's support.
Mr. WELCH. Mr. Chairman, I want to thank Chairman Graves. I
appreciate his support of this amendment. I also want to thank the
ranking member for her support. I also thank my cosponsors,
Congresswoman Matsui and Congresswoman Frankel, but I especially want
to thank and congratulate Congresswoman Herrera Beutler.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. MATSUI. Mr. Chair, I want to thank Congressman Welch for his
leadership on this common sense amendment.
Working mothers are driving our economy forward. Two out of every
three women are the sole or equal breadwinner in their households. Many
of these women are juggling the responsibilities of caring for their
children and supporting their family.
Having workplaces that accommodate the needs of our hard working
American mothers makes our economy stronger. Businesses across the
country have made important improvements in their work place standards
for women. And the Federal government has too. In fact, the General
Services Administration now requires that federal buildings have
lactation stations for breastfeeding mothers.
But here in the U.S. Capitol we are not living up to these
standards--at the expense of the thousands of women who work in the
Capitol and the millions of women who pass through these grounds every
day. We need to make working mothers' ability to contribute to our
economy easier, not harder.
This amendment simply brings the House of Representatives into
compliance with existing laws already on the books and would not
require any new funding. It is a common sense step forward for working
mothers.
Our Capitol is a symbol of our democracy and should set the highest
example for the American people. I urge my colleagues to support this
amendment which makes our Capitol more welcoming to all.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Vermont (Mr. Welch).
The amendment was agreed to.
{time} 1945
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 5
printed in House Report 114-611.
Amendment No. 6 Offered by Mrs. Blackburn
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 6
printed in House Report 114-611.
Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Chairman, I have an amendment at the desk.
The Acting CHAIR. The Clerk will designate the amendment.
The text of the amendment is as follows:
At the end of the bill (before the short title), insert the
following:
Sec. __. (a) Each amount made available by this Act is
hereby reduced by 1 percent.
(b) The reduction in subsection (a) shall not apply with
respect to--
(1) accounts under the heading ``Capitol Police'';
(2) ``Architect of the Capitol--Capitol Police Buildings,
Grounds and Security''; or
(3) the amount provided for salaries and expenses of the
Office of the Sergeant at Arms under the heading ``House of
Representatives--Salaries, Officers and Employees''.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to House Resolution 771, the gentlewoman
from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn) and a Member opposed each will control
5 minutes.
The Chair recognizes the gentlewoman from Tennessee.
Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Chairman, I want to begin by thanking the
committee for the hard work that they have put into this bill and for
the way the House has approved reducing our budget over the last
several years. If every department of the Federal Government were to be
as active as we were in reducing our spending, our budget would be in
better shape.
This bill provides a net total of $3.482 billion in fiscal year 2017
base discretionary budget authority. That is $153 million below the
President's budget request, $73 million above the enacted 2016 level,
and $140 million above the level proposed by the Appropriations
Committee for fiscal year 2016.
However, I think there is more work that needs to be done. And thus,
as I do for most of our appropriations bills, I am here with my 1
percent across-the-board spending reduction amendment.
It would reduce discretionary budget authority by $31 million and
outlays by $28 million. It exempts the Capitol Police, the Architect of
the Capitol, Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds and Security, and the
Sergeant at Arms.
I am certainly aware that there is opposition to doing the penny-on-
a-dollar cut. I have heard many times that cuts like this are damaging
and we shouldn't do them, but I think that cutting an extra penny on
every dollar not only goes to putting us on a better track, it helps to
preserve our Nation's sovereignty for future generations.
When we have $19.2 trillion in debt, our constituents are saying:
What are you going to do about this?
Well, here is an action that we can take: making a penny-on-a-dollar
cut and saving ourselves some more money--$31 million--that will help
to send the right message that, again, we are going to cut a little bit
more, just as the families in our districts are doing.
Mr. Chair, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I rise in opposition.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentlewoman from Florida is recognized for 5
minutes.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I strongly oppose this
amendment, as it takes a meat-ax approach to cutting this bill by $31
million with an across-the-board cut of 1 percent.
The amendment exempts the Capitol Police and its buildings, as well
as the Sergeant at Arms. It does not exempt our staff, including the
offerer's own staff because it would cut the Members' Representational
Allowance. It would also cut the Congressional Research Service, the
Government Accountability Office, the Congressional Budget Office,
committees of Congress, and the Office of Compliance.
The Legislative Branch bill, Mr. Chairman, has been flat for 3 years.
And this bill finally provides a modest overall increase of 2.1
percent, but because we have not kept up with inflation, each year we
are buying less and less for our dollar. The Congressional Research
Service, for example, is still below FY 2010 levels and reports it has
lost 13 percent of its purchasing power.
We can't continue to do more with less. There is a reason the
perception of Congress is damaged. We are damaging our ability to write
and analyze legislation and have serious debates because we take the
politically expedient route, like the across-the-board cuts, because
they play well during town halls. But if we bothered to explain the
brain drain within the halls of Congress and the need to boost funding
for staff to do oversight, I have the belief that our constituents
would understand that.
If Members want a strong legislative branch to ensure oversight of
the executive, this amendment should be defeated.
The cut to the MRA is one of the most egregious that would result
from this amendment. I happen to think my staff contributes to the
well-being of my constituents and are worth every penny we can afford
to pay them after years of cuts to the MRA. The MRA is $97 million less
than it was in fiscal year 2010. This amendment would cut $5.6 million
more.
Mr. Chairman, you get the government you pay for, and I fear that
this amendment would do nothing more than hurt the service we are able
to provide to our constituents.
I urge defeat of the amendment.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Chairman, I will have to say that people do like
across-the-board cuts. Indeed, many governors, Republican and Democrat
alike, use these. From coast-to-coast, they have used these. And our
constituents like them.
Take a look at the December 2012 POLITICO-George Washington
University Battleground Tracking Poll. It shows 75 percent approve of
them. January 2013, The Hill, 6-in-10 approve. Look at what happened in
Oklahoma in December: a 3 percent across-the-board cut. In March, they
did a 4 percent across-the-board cut.
[[Page H3655]]
Why is it that our governors do these?
They work. Department heads like to be able to go in there and find a
way to cut a little bit more in that budget and still meet the needs
that the people have said they want to see their government meet.
We have $19.3 trillion in debt. We are working to get the cost of
government down, but we have to do a little bit more. This is a way to
engage rank-and-file Federal employees and to say to them: It is time
for us to get our fiscal house in order.
A penny on the dollar is what our constituents are doing. We should
do likewise. It is what our States are doing, because they can't crank
the printing press. They can't go borrow money. They can't have more of
our debt that is owned by China and Japan and OPEC and the entities
that own our debt. They have to have balanced budget amendments. When I
was in the Tennessee State Senate, we didn't go home until we had the
budget in balance.
So I would encourage support of this amendment. It is a penny out of
a dollar. It is another $31 million in savings.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, as I said, this bill has already
taken hit after hit. We are far below the levels that we were at in
2010. We have employees who deserve to be assured that we have enough
respect for their professionalism that we are going to adequately fund
their ability to do their jobs, which is to represent our constituents.
This amendment takes, as I said, a meat-ax approach rather than what
the chairman and I worked together to do, which is to develop the
substantive portions of this bill related to the funding of the
legislative branch in a precisionlike way.
It doesn't make sense. I have never heard of polling that actually
asks generic questions of constituents on whether they like or dislike
across-the-board cuts. I am not sure what the purpose of electing
Members of Congress is if we are going to just make indiscriminate,
across-the-board decisions rather than use our brains and build
consensus around the decisions that we make.
That is the type of approach that this amendment would take, and it
is inappropriate. We need to make sure that we are adequately funding
the legislative branch functions so that we can represent our
constituents effectively.
Mr. Chairman, I reserve the balance of my time.
Mrs. BLACKBURN. Mr. Chairman, the American people think they have
taken hit after hit. And they have taken it right in the wallet. They
are sick and tired of this. They feel like this economy has taken a
meat-ax approach to their well-being. What they want to see is
leadership that will work to get our spending habits under control here
in Washington.
This is a great opportunity to lead by example and to say: A penny on
the dollar, we are going to do it for the children and for future
generations.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, the American people are
appreciative and understand that we have been through 75 straight
months of private sector job growth, that we have added 20 million
people who didn't have health insurance before and who are now able to
go to the doctor when they are sick, that we have cut the deficit by
nearly three-quarters, and that we have made progress. And we need to
continue to build on that progress and help more Americans have an
opportunity to reach the middle class.
All of those things were accomplished through funding the legislative
branch. And we need to appropriately fund it, adequately fund it, so we
can effectively represent our constituents.
I urge defeat of this ill-advised amendment.
Mr. Chairman, I yield back the balance of my time.
The Acting CHAIR. The question is on the amendment offered by the
gentlewoman from Tennessee (Mrs. Blackburn).
The question was taken; and the Acting Chair announced that the ayes
appeared to have it.
Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ. Mr. Chairman, I demand a recorded vote.
The Acting CHAIR. Pursuant to clause 6 of rule XVIII, further
proceedings on the amendment offered by the gentlewoman from Tennessee
will be postponed.
The Acting CHAIR. It is now in order to consider amendment No. 7
printed in House Report 114-611.
Parliamentary Inquiry
Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I have a parliamentary inquiry.
The Acting CHAIR. The gentleman will state his parliamentary inquiry.
Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Could the Chair inform the committee of what
the intentions are tonight, about how many amendments we would move
forward and how many for tomorrow?
The Acting CHAIR. The Chair has just announced that amendment No. 7
is now in order.
Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chair, I have an additional parliamentary
inquiry.
The Acting CHAIR. The Chair would be prepared to entertain a motion
to rise.
Mr. GRAVES of Georgia. Mr. Chairman, I move that the Committee do now
rise.
The motion was agreed to.
Accordingly, the Committee rose; and the Speaker pro tempore (Mr.
Amodei) having assumed the chair, Mr. Byrne, Acting Chair 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. 5325)
making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 2017, and for other purposes, had come to no
resolution thereon.
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