[House Report 104-74]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



104th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

 1st Session                                                     104-74
_______________________________________________________________________
 
 PROVIDING AMOUNTS FOR THE EXPENSES OF CERTAIN COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE 
         OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH CONGRESS

_______________________________________________________________________


   March 10, 1995.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be 
                                printed

                                _______


   Mr. Thomas, from the Committee on House Oversight, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                       [To accompany H. Res. 107]
  The Committee on House Oversight, to whom was referred the 
resolution (H. Res. 107) providing amounts for the expenses of 
certain committees of the House of Representatives in the One 
Hundred Fourth Congress, having considered the same, report 
favorably thereon with an amendment and recommend that the 
resolution as amended be agreed to.
  The amendment is as follows:
  Strike out all after the resolving clause and insert 
following:
SECTION 1. COMMITTEE EXPENSES FOR THE ONE HUNDRED FOURTH CONGRESS.
  (a) In General.--With respect to the One Hundred Fourth Congress, 
there shall be paid out of the applicable accounts of the House of 
Representatives, in accordance with this primary expense resolution, 
not more than the amount specified in subsection (b) for the expenses 
of each committee named in that subsection, including--
          (1) the expenses of all staff salaries;
          (2) the expenses of consultant services under section 202(i) 
        of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 
        72a(i)); and
          (3) the expenses of staff training under section 202(j) of 
        such Act (2 U.S.C. 72a(j)).
  (b) Committees and Amounts.--The committees and amounts referred to 
in subsection (a) are: Committee on Agriculture, $7,406,899; Committee 
on Banking and Financial Services, $8,645,054; Committee on the Budget, 
$9,912,000; Committee on Commerce, $13,686,823; Committee on Economic 
and Educational Opportunities, $9,621,539; Committee on Government 
Reform and Oversight, $13,520,037; Committee on House Oversight, 
$6,177,608; Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, $4,519,890; 
Committee on International Relations, $10,028,093; Committee on the 
Judiciary, $9,553,190; Committee on National Security, $9,085,743; 
Committee on Resources, $9,588,953; Committee on Rules, $4,433,817; 
Committee on Science, $8,411,326; Committee on Small Business, 
$3,791,580; Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, $1,981,150; 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, $10,878,981; Committee 
on Veterans' Affairs, $4,220,605; and Committee on Ways and Means, 
$10,219,358.
SEC. 2. FIRST SESSION LIMITATIONS.
  (a) In General.--Of the amount provided for in section 1 for each 
committee named in subsection (b), not more than the amount specified 
in such subsection shall be available for expenses incurred during the 
period beginning at noon on January 3, 1995, and ending immediately 
before noon on January 3, 1996.
  (b) Committees and Amounts.--The committees and amounts referred to 
in subsection (a) are: Committee on Agriculture, $3,866,148 (of which 
$30,000 may be used for consultant services and $1,000 may be used for 
staff training); Committee on Banking and Financial Services, 
$4,161,579; Committee on the Budget, $4,940,000; Committee on Commerce, 
$6,663,227 (of which $25,000 may be used for consultant services); 
Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities, $4,777,196 (of 
which $5,000 may be used for staff training); Committee on Government 
Reform and Oversight, $6,576,369 (of which $25,000 may be used for 
consultant services and $5,000 may be used for staff training); 
Committee on House Oversight, $3,092,920 (of which $400,000 may be used 
for consultant services and $20,000 may be used for staff training); 
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, $2,226,210 (of which $3,200 
may be used for staff training); Committee on International Relations, 
$4,953,472 (of which $10,000 may be used for consultant services); 
Committee on the Judiciary, $4,577,187 (of which $8,000 may be used for 
staff training); Committee on National Security, $4,245,134 (of which 
$40,000 may be used for consultant services and $12,000 may be used for 
staff training); Committee on Resources, $4,795,970 (of which $45,000 
may be used for consultant services and $1,000 may be used for staff 
training); Committee on Rules, $2,199,567 (of which $500 may be used 
for staff training); Committee on Science, $3,991,154 (of which $20,000 
may be used for consultant services and $15,800 may be used for staff 
training); Committee on Small Business, $1,863,290; Committee on 
Standards of Official Conduct, $1,009,450 (of which $50,000 may be used 
for consultant services and $500 may be used for staff training); 
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, $5,386,171 (of which 
$5,000 may be used for consultant services and $5,000 may be used for 
staff training); Committee on Veterans' Affairs, $2,024,500 (of which 
$10,000 may be used for staff training); and Committee on Ways and 
Means, $4,916,740.
SEC. 3. SECOND SESSION LIMITATIONS.
  (a) In General.--Of the amount provided for in section 1 for each 
committee named in subsection (b), not more than the amount specified 
in such subsection shall be available for expenses incurred during the 
period beginning at noon on January 3, 1996, and ending immediately 
before noon on January 3, 1997.
  (b) Committees and Amounts.--The committees and amounts referred to 
in subsection (a) are: Committee on Agriculture, $3,540,751 (of which 
$15,000 may be used for consultant services and $1,000 may be used for 
staff training); Committee on Banking and Financial Services, 
$4,483,475; Committee on the Budget, $4,972,000; Committee on Commerce, 
$7,023,596 (of which $25,675 may be used for consultant services); 
Committee on Economic and Educational Opportunities, $4,844,343 (of 
which $5,000 may be used for staff training); Committee on Government 
Reform and Oversight, $6,943,668 (of which $25,000 may be used for 
consultant services and $5,000 may be used for staff training); 
Committee on House Oversight, $3,084,688 (of which $130,000 may be used 
for consultant services and $22,000 may be used for staff training); 
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, $2,293,680 (of which $3,200 
may be used for staff training); Committee on International Relations, 
$5,074,621 (of which $10,000 may be used for consultant services); 
Committee on the Judiciary, $4,976,003 (of which $10,000 may be used 
for staff training); Committee on National Security, $4,840,609 (of 
which $40,000 may be used for consultant services and $15,000 may be 
used for staff training); Committee on Resources, $4,792,983 (of which 
$1,000 may be used for staff training); Committee on Rules, $2,234,250 
(of which $500 may be used for staff training); Committee on Science, 
$4,420,172 (of which $20,000 may be used for consultant services and 
$16,500 may be used for staff training); Committee on Small Business, 
$1,928,290; Committee on Standards of Official Conduct, $971,700 (of 
which $50,000 may be used for consultant services and $600 may be used 
for staff training); Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, 
$5,492,810 (of which $5,000 may be used for consultant services and 
$5,000 may be used for staff training); Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 
$2,196,105 (of which $10,000 may be used for staff training); and 
Committee on Ways and Means, $5,302,618.
SEC. 4. VOUCHERS.
  Payments under this resolution shall be made on vouchers authorized 
by the committee involved, signed by the chairman of such committee, 
and approved in the manner directed by the Committee on House 
Oversight.
SEC. 5. REGULATIONS.
  Amounts made available under this resolution shall be expended in 
accordance with regulations prescribed by the Committee on House 
Oversight.
SEC. 6. ADJUSTMENT AUTHORITY.

  The Committee on House Oversight shall have authority to make 
adjustments in amounts under section 1, if necessary to comply with an 
order of the President issued under section 254 of the Balanced Budget 
and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 or to conform to any 
reduction in appropriations for the purposes of such section 1.
                            Committee Action

  On March 8, 1995, by voice vote, a quorum being present, the 
Committee agreed to a motion to report the resolution favorably 
to the House, as amended.

                      Committee Oversight Findings

  In compliance with clause 2(l)(3)(A) of rule XI of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, the Committee states that the 
findings and recommendations of the Committee, based on 
oversight activities under clause 2(b)(1) of rule X of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives, are incorporated in the 
descriptive portions of this report.

            Statement on Budget Authority and Related Items

  The resolution does not provide new budget authority, new 
spending authority, new credit authority, or an increase or 
decrease in revenues or tax expenditures and a statement under 
clause 2(l)(3)(B) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives and section 308(a)(1) of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974 is not required.
               Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate

  In compliance with clause 2(l)(3)(C) of rule XI of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, the Committee states, with 
respect to the resolution, that the Director of the 
Congressional Budget Office did not submit a cost estimate and 
comparison under section 403 of the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974.
   Oversight Findings of Committee on Government Reform and Oversight

  The Committee states, with respect to clause 2(l)(3)(D) of 
rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, that the 
Committee on Government Reform and Oversight did not submit 
findings or recommendations based on investigations under 
clause 4(c)(2) of rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives.

                             Rollcall Votes

  In compliance with clause 2(l)(2)(B) of rule XI of the Rules 
of the House of Representatives, with respect to each rollcall 
vote on a motion to report the resolution and on any amendment 
offered to the resolution, the total number of votes cast for 
and against, and the names of those Members voting for and 
against, are as follows:

                        Committee Rollcall No. 1

  Amendment in the nature of a substitute offered by Mr. 
Boehner. The amendment provides for a 30 percent reduction in 
committee funding from the total in the One Hundred Third 
Congress.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                   Name                        Aye       No      Present
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mr. Thomas................................         X  ........  ........
Mr. Ehlers................................         X  ........  ........
Mr. Roberts...............................         X  ........  ........
Mr. Boehner...............................         X  ........  ........
Ms. Dunn..................................         X  ........  ........
Mr. Diaz-Balart...........................         X  ........  ........
Mr. Fazio.................................         X  ........  ........
                                           -----------------------------
      Total...............................         7         0         0
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                           General Discussion

    H. Res. 107, as amended, provides $155,682,646 for 
committee salaries and expenses for all standing committees of 
the House of Representatives (except the Committee on 
Appropriations) and the Permanent Select Committee on 
Intelligence for the 104th Congress. In a separate action, the 
Committee on House Oversight established franked mail 
allocations for these committees for a total of $649,483 for 
the 104th Congress. Including the franked mail allocation, the 
combined total for committee funding for the 104th Congress is 
$156,332,129. This amount represents a $67,003,290 cut from the 
103rd Congress funding level of $223,335,419, a 30% reduction. 
The authorized amount for each committee, including franked 
mail allocations, is as shown in the table on the following 
page.


                                Requests

    The sum total of all budget requests for the 104th Congress 
was $163,625,142. The amount provided by the Committee on House 
Oversight is $7,293,013 less than the sum of all amounts 
requested by committees, a 4.5% reduction.

                  Changes to Committee Funding Process

    Both the Rules of the House, adopted on January 4, 1995, 
and this Committee's revised policies changed the committee 
funding process in the 104th Congress. The Rules included two 
major changes by providing for a biennial funding process and 
consolidating the two accounts which previously funded 
committee staff salaries. In addition, the Committee has 
required that committee budgets absorb other costs not formerly 
charged to individual committees.
    In the 103rd Congress, committees were funded from three 
sources: (1) statutory budgets, (2) investigative budgets and 
(3) various other appropriation accounts. Almost 55% of these 
committee funds were not subject to an annual, public 
authorization process.
    (1) Statutory. Formerly, committees were funded on a yearly 
basis, drawing from two sources of funds for staff salaries: 
statutory and investigative. Statutory budgets, which supported 
the salaries for 30 committee employees designated as 
``statutory'', were allocated on a fiscal year basis through a 
non-public process formerly administered by the Finance Office. 
In the 103rd Congress, statutory budgets accounted for 
$112,789,500, 50.5% of committee costs.
    (2) Investigative. In contrast, investigative committee 
budgets, which totaled $101,411,630 and accounted for 45.4% of 
103rd Congress committee funds, were authorized on a calendar 
year basis through a public process consisting of hearing 
before this Committee and floor votes.
    (3) Other. In addition, committee budgets were not charged 
for several other costs in the past such as:
          detailees from Federal agencies;
          ``legislative'' office supplies;
          ``legislative'' long-distance telephone charges;
          local telephone line charges;
          HIS charges for graphics and scanning;
          franked mail costs.
These costs were paid from other House accounts and not 
attributable to individual committees. In the 103rd Congress, 
these costs accounted for $9,134,289, 4.1% of total committee 
funds. In determining the 103rd Congress total costs, the 1994 
other costs were attributed to 1993.
    Under the new process, the former statutory, investigative, 
and other funds are now consolidated in this funding resolution 
and subject to the authorization process once each Congress.

      Changes to Rules of the House Regarding the Contingent Fund

    The Rules of the House for the 104th Congress eliminated 
references to the so-called contingent fund from clause 5 of 
rule XI (regarding the primary expense resolution and any 
supplemental expense resolution) and clause 1 of rule X 
(regarding the jurisdiction of the Committee on House 
Oversight.) During the debate over the adoption of the Rules of 
the House, Mr. Thomas informed the House that:

        No change, however, is intended regarding the Committee 
        on [House] Oversight's jurisdiction over the accounts 
        that comprised the contingent fund. Similarly regarding 
        privileged reports, the Committee on [House] Oversight 
        will continue to have leave to report at any time on 
        matters of expenditure of the accounts that comprised 
        the contingent fund, such as the committee funding 
        resolution. [Congressional Record, January 4, 1995, 
        H47-8.]

H. Res. 107 provides for expenditures for committee salaries 
and expenses from the applicable accounts. One of the accounts 
that comprised the contingent fund was an account for committee 
salaries and expenses.

                           Minority Resources

    To ensure fairness to all Members, the Republicans, when 
they were in the minority, argued that all committees should 
allocate at least one-third of resources to the minority. As 
the new majority, Republicans remain committed to achieving 
that goal. The Committee is pleased that Republican chairmen 
have made substantial progress by more than doubling the number 
of committees that will allocate one-third of resources to the 
minority--from four committees in the past, to nine committees 
in the 104th Congress. In addition, under all the current 
proposed budgets, committees are either at the one-third 
standard or have increased the allocation of resources to the 
minority over that allocated in the 103rd Congress. Our goal is 
to have all committees, with the agreement of the chairman and 
ranking minority member, provide at least a one-third 
allocation of resources, for use by the minority as directed by 
the ranking minority member, as soon as practicable.