[House Report 105-595]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
105th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 105-595
_______________________________________________________________________
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 1999
_______
June 23, 1998.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______________________________________________________________________
Mr. Walsh, from the Committee on Appropriations, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
together with
ADDITIONAL VIEWS
[To accompany H.R. 4112]
The Committee on Appropriations submits the following
report in explanation of the accompanying bill making
appropriations for the legislative branch for the fiscal year
1999, and for other purposes.
INDEX TO BILL AND REPORT
Page number
Bill Report
Summary of bill............................................
2
Highlights of bill.........................................
4
Structure of bill..........................................
7
Legislative branch wide matters............................
7
Art in the Capitol.........................................
7
Title I--Congressional operations:
House of Representatives........................... 2
8
Joint Items:
Joint Economic Committee................... 10
14
Joint Committee on Printing................ 11
14
Joint Committee on Taxation................ 11
14
Office of the Attending Physician.......... 11
14
Capitol Police Board....................... 12
14
Capitol Guide Service and Special Services
Office................................. 14
15
Office of Compliance............................... 15
16
Congressional Budget Office........................ 16
16
Architect of the Capitol (except Senate and Title
II items)...................................... 16
17
Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress 18
22
Congressional printing and binding, Government
Printing Office................................ 19
23
Title II--Other agencies:..................................
24
Botanic Garden..................................... 20
24
Library of Congress (except Congressional Research
Service)....................................... 21
25
Architect of the Capitol: Congressional Cemetery... 27
28
Architect of the Capitol: Library buildings and
grounds........................................ 27
28
Government Printing Office (except Congressional
printing and binding).......................... 30
30
General Accounting Office.......................... 32
30
Title III--General provisions.............................. 34
31
Constitutional authority...................................
31
Comparison with budget resolution..........................
31
Five-year projection of outlays............................
32
Assistance to State and local governments..................
32
Transfers of funds.........................................
32
Rescissions................................................
32
Changes in the application of existing law.................
32
Compliance with clause 3--rule XIII........................
35
Additional views...........................................
50
SUMMARY OF BILL
The bill, as recommended by the Committee, provides
appropriations for fiscal year 1999 legislative branch
operations which total $1,804,689,700. Of that amount,
$1,113,521,700 is for congressional operations and $691,168,000
is for other agencies.
A summary of the recommendations follows:
Fiscal year 1999 Amount
Congressional operations.............................. \1\ $1,113,521,7
00
Other agencies........................................ 691,168,000
-----------------
Total........................................... 1,804,689,700
\1\ Excludes Senate items, including those Senate items under the
Architect of the Capitol.
Conforming with long practice under which each body of
Congress determines its own housekeeping requirements and the
other concurs without intervention, funds for the Senate are
not included in the billas reported to the House. Current
appropriations estimates for the Senate for fiscal year 1999, including
those under the Architect of the Capitol, total $537,748,000.
A comparative summary of the bill by title and agency
follows:
SUMMARY OF THE BILL
[Note.--Excludes Senate items including those Senate items under Architect of the Capitol]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Bill compared with--
Budget estimates New budget ---------------------------------------
New budget of new (obligational) Budget estimates
Agency (obligational) (obligational) authority New budget of new
authority, fiscal authority, fiscal recommended in (obligational) (obligational)
year 1998 year 1999 bill authority, fiscal authority, fiscal
year 1998 year 1999
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TITLE I--CONGRESSIONAL OPERATIONS
House of Representatives............................ $709,008,300 $765,587,600 $734,107,700 $25,009,400 -$31,479,900
Joint items......................................... 86,710,500 97,695,000 89,070,000 2,359,500 -8,625,000
Office of Compliance................................ 2,479,000 2,286,000 2,086,000 -393,000 -200,000
Congressional Budget Office......................... 24,797,000 25,938,000 25,671,000 874,000 -267,000
Architect of the Capitol (except Senate and Title II
items)............................................. 140,135,000 166,142,000 121,434,000 -18,701,000 -44,708,000
Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress. 64,603,000 68,461,000 66,688,000 2,085,000 -1,773,000
Congressional printing and binding, Government
Printing Office.................................... 81,669,000 84,000,000 74,465,000 -7,204,000 -9,535,000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, title I--Congressional operations...... 1,109,401,800 1,210,109,600 1,113,521,700 4,119,900 -96,587,900
===================================================================================================
TITLE II--OTHER AGENCIES
Botanic Garden...................................... $3,016,000 $3,235,000 $3,032,000 $16,000 -$203,000
Library of Congress (except Congressional
Operations)........................................ 282,309,000 300,871,000 291,701,000 9,392,000 -9,170,000
Architect of the Capitol (Congressional Cemetery)... .................. .................. 1,000,000 1,000,000 1,000,000
Architect of the Capitol (Library buildings and
grounds)........................................... 11,573,000 16,139,000 11,933,000 360,000 -4,206,000
Government Printing Office (except Congressional
printing and binding).............................. 29,077,000 36,200,000 29,264,000 185,000 -6,936,000
General Accounting Office........................... 339,499,000 367,728,000 354,238,000 14,739,000 -13,490,000
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, title II--Other agencies............... 665,474,000 724,173,000 691,168,000 25,694,000 -33,005,000
===================================================================================================
Grand total, new budget, including transfers
(obligational) authority (for items
considered by House)......................... 1,774,875,800 1,934,282,600 1,804,689,700 29,813,900 -129,592,900
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
HIGHLIGHTS OF BILL
Summary of Estimates and Recommendations
Budget estimates.--The budget estimates considered by the
Committee total $1,934,282,600. By law, budget requests for the
legislative branch are transmitted to the Congress by the
Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the President without
change in the amounts submitted by the originating agency. The
1999 proposals appear on pages 391 through 396 of the
``Analytical Perspectives'' volume, and pages 15 through 42 of
the ``Appendix'' volume of the 1999 Federal Budget (H. Doc.
105-177).
Committee recommendations.--A total of $1,804,689,700 in
new budget (obligational) authority is recommended for fiscal
year 1999. The recommendation is $129,592,900 less than was
transmitted to the Congress, a decrease of 6.7 percent under
the budget request. The bill, as reported, is $555.3 million
below the 302(b) allocation established by the Committee on
Appropriations. The bill does not include Senate items. If the
Senate items were included at the level specified in the
Committee's 302(b) limits, the bill would be $17.3 million
below the amount allocated to the Subcommittee on Legislative.
The recommendations in this bill continue the effort to
insure the Legislative Branch is a full participant as the
Federal budget is brought into balance. With the enactment of
this bill, the four-year savings under the spending level
adopted in the 103rd Congress (Senate items excluded) will
total $575 million. That is the amount of accumulated savings
that has resulted from downsizing and reducing legislative
branch expenditures compared to the Legislative budget if it
had remained at the level appropriated in fiscal year 1995.
Staffing.--For the past several years, the Committee has
eliminated legislative branch jobs through the annual funding
process, has generally denied funding for net staffing
increases, or provided only those positions with very high
priority. In this bill, funding or employment ceilings for 438
full time equivalent positions (FTE's) are being eliminated
from legislative agency rolls. Since 1994, the agencies of the
legislative branch have eliminated 4,354 FTE positions. That is
about 15.7% of this branch of government that has been
downsized through efficiencies or program eliminations.
Comparison with fiscal year 1998 appropriations.--Compared
with the appropriations enacted for fiscal year 1998,
$1,774,875,800, the recommendation of $1,804,689,700 in new
budget (obligational) authority for fiscal year 1999 is an
increase of $29,813,900, or 1.68%.
Areas of major change.--The recommended amount for fiscal
year 1999 is a net increase of $29,813,900 above the level
appropriated for fiscal year 1998. This increase has several
components. The sum of $45,126,500 has been added over fiscal
year 1998 in order to pay for mandatory pay and related costs.
To meet the costs of inflation necessary to maintain the
current level of services requires $4,089,000. These costs
primarily reflect year-to-year price changes for the same
amount of services consumed. There will be a decrease of
$19,401,600 for programs, including an increase of $711,400 due
to legislation, a reduction of $10,434,000 in workload, and a
decrease of $9,679,000 for equipment, alterations and repairs.
A summary of the areas of major changes recommended by
general category follows:
AREAS OF MAJOR CHANGE: COMMITTEE BILL VERSUS FISCAL YEAR 1998 BUDGET AUTHORITY
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Program type changes
---------------------------------------------------
Mandatory pay Price level Equipment,
Item and related changes alterations, Total changes
costs Legislation Workload maintenance,
repairs, etc.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TITLE I--CONGRESSIONAL OPERATIONS
House of Representatives.......................... $22,134,000 $693,000 -$288,600 -$7,079,000 $9,640,000 $25,099,400
Joint items....................................... 2,208,500 118,000 ............... -56,000 89,000 2,359,500
Office of Compliance.............................. -86,000 -28,000 ............... -279,000 ............... -393,000
Congressional Budget Office....................... 1,137,000 62,000 ............... -20,000 -305,000 874,000
Architect of the Capitol (except Senate and Title
II items)........................................ 2,864,000 81,000 ............... 1,444,000 -23,090,000 -18,701,000
Congressional Research Service, Library of
Congress......................................... 1,759,000 326,000 ............... ............... ............... 2,085,000
Congressional printing and binding, Government
Printing Office.................................. ............... ............... ............... -7,204,000 ............... -7,204,000
TITLE II--OTHER AGENCIES
Botanic Garden.................................... 16,000 ............... ............... ............... ............... 16,000
Library of Congress (except Congressional Research
Service)......................................... 6,370,000 1,769,000 ............... -2,777,000 4,030,000 9,392,000
Architect of the Captiol (Congressional Cemetery). ............... ............... 1,000,000 ............... ............... 1,000,000
Architect of the Capitol (Library buildings and
grounds)......................................... 260,000 10,000 ............... 133,000 -43,000 360,000
Government Printing Office (except Congressional
printing and binding)............................ ............... 187,000 ............... ............... ............... 187,000
General Accounting Office......................... 8,464,000 871,000 ............... 5,404,000 ............... 14,739,000
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total....................................... 45,126,500 4,089,000 711,400 -10,434,000 -9,679,000 29,813,900
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
STRUCTURE OF THE BILL
The bill is divided into three titles:
Title I--Congressional Operations
Title I--Congressional Operations contains the
appropriations for the actual operation of the Congress.
Traditionally, Congressional Operations has included the House
of Representatives (Senate items will be added by that body),
joint items, the Office of Compliance, the Congressional Budget
Office, the Architect of the Capitol (except Senate office
buildings and Library of Congress buildings and grounds), the
Congressional Research Service, and the Congressional printing
and binding portion of the Government Printing Office.
Title II--Other Agencies
Title II--Other Agencies contains the budget for several
activities that do not provide primary support to the Congress.
For instance, the activities of the Library of Congress, except
the Congressional Research Service, are carried in this title.
This includes such Library activities as the program to provide
books for the blind and physically handicapped, the operation
of the Copyright Office (including copyright royalty
regulation) and Library services to the public and to the
government of the United States. The non-Congressional
operations of the Government Printing Office are contained in
title II, such as the depository library program, which
acquires or prints federal publications for distribution to the
libraries, and sales of government publications to the general
public. Also, although much of the workload of the General
Accounting Office is in direct support of the Congress,
including work mandated by statute orrequested by committees
and Members of Congress, the balance of that agency's workload involves
its more general legislative requirements. The nature of that work is
directed toward the improvement of the operation of the Federal
government through review and evaluation of programs and the prevention
of fraud and waste, as well as accounting and financial management
improvements. The GAO budget, therefore, is carried in title II of the
bill. The Botanic Garden and other Architect of the Capitol programs
round out the items included in title II.
Title III--General Provisions
Title III contains general provisions.
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH WIDE MATTERS
The agencies, offices, and joint items included within the
bill are reminded that budget justifications are due to the
Committee by mid-December.
ART IN THE CAPITOL
Art in the United States Capitol is an important way to
honor individuals who have made significant contributions to
the history of the United States. At this time, the artwork
(including paintings, sculptures, and artifacts) in the Capitol
severely underrepresents the accomplishments of women in our
society. The Committee supports the ongoing work of the House
Fine Arts Board, the Joint Committee on the Library, and the
Architect of the Capitol and commends the current cooperation
between these entities for their efforts to prepare a plan for
the Capitol and the House office buildings that is more fully
representative of women's contributions to American society.
TITLE I--CONGRESSIONAL OPERATIONS
The Committee bill recommends a total of $1,113,521,700 for
fiscal year 1999 for those activities in direct support of the
operations of the Congress (exclusive of the Senate), an
increase of $4,119,900 above the fiscal year 1998 level, which
is less than 4/10 of 1%. Budget estimates considered by the
Committee total $1,210,109,600, which have been reduced by
$96,587,900.
A summary of the recommendations follows:
Title I--Congressional Operations
Item Amount
House of Representatives.............................. $734,107,700
Joint items........................................... 89,070,000
Office of Compliance.................................. 2,086,000
Congressional Budget Office........................... 25,671,000
Architect of the Capitol (except Senate and Title II
items)............................................... 121,434,000
Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress... 66,688,000
Congressional printing and binding, Government
Printing Office...................................... 74,465,000
-----------------
Total............................................. 1,113,521,700
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The Committee recommends a total of $734,107,700 for the
operations of the House of Representatives during fiscal year
1999. The allowance is $31,479,900 below the appropriations
requested, and $25,099,400 above the amount appropriated for
the current fiscal year.
The following tabulation summarizes the recommendations:
House of Representatives
Item Amount
Payments to Widows and Heirs.......................... $136,700
Salaries and expenses:
House leadership offices.......................... 13,117,000
Members' representational allowances.............. 385,279,000
Committee salaries and expenses................... 109,116,000
Salaries, officers and employees.................. 89,991,000
Allowances and expenses........................... 136,468,000
-----------------
Total, Salaries and Expenses.................... 733,971,000
=================
Total, House of Representatives................. 734,107,700
Payments to Widows and Heirs of Deceased Members of Congress
1998 appropriation.................................... $270,300
1999 budget estimate.................................. 133,600
Committee Recommendation.............................. 136,700
The normal death gratuity is provided to the widow of
Steven H. Schiff, late a Representative of the State of New
Mexico.
Salaries and Expenses
1998 appropriation.................................... $708,738,000
1999 budget estimate.................................. 765,454,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 733,971,000
The appropriation for the operations of the House of
Representatives is the salaries and expenses appropriation. The
account includes the following House activities: House
leadership offices; Members' representational allowances;
committee salaries and expenses; salaries, officers and
employees; allowances and expenses; and the day care center.
The amount provided is $733,971,000, and includes a prospective
cost-of-living adjustment for staff salaries (estimated at 3.1%
for all Federal employees in the President's budget), increased
resources for committee oversight activities, and a
continuation of the investments being made in computing
resources and telecommunications, i.e., the CyberCongress
initiative.
House Leadership Offices
1998 appropriation.................................... $12,293,000
1999 budget estimate.................................. 12,689,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 13,117,000
The Committee recommends a total of $13,117,000 for the
operations of the leadership offices during fiscal year 1999.
The allocation by office follows:
House leadership offices
Item Amount
Office of the Speaker................................. $1,686,000
Office of the Majority Floor Leader................... 1,652,000
Office of the Minority Floor Leader................... 1,675,000
Office of the Majority Whip........................... 1,043,000
Office of the Minority Whip........................... 1,020,000
Speaker's Office for Legislative Floor Activities..... 397,000
Republican Steering Committee......................... 738,000
House Republican Conference........................... 1,199,000
House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee........ 1,295,000
House Democratic Caucus............................... 642,000
Nine Minority Employees............................... 1,190,000
Training and Development Program:
Majority.......................................... 290,000
Minority.......................................... 290,000
-----------------
Total........................................... 13,117,000
The increase above the budget request is required to fund a
training and program development program to be conducted by the
majority and minority for the purpose of providing Members and
staff with information useful for the conduct of official
duties.
Members' Representational Allowances
1998 appropriation.................................... $379,789,000
1999 budget estimate.................................. 412,964,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 385,279,000
A total of $385,279,000 is recommended for the
representational allowances of the Members of the House. In
recommending this amount, the Committee was provided with
estimates of $274,600,000 for clerk hire salaries, $90,764,000
for official expenses, and $19,915,000 for official mail. It
should be pointed out that these components are fungible under
regulations prescribed by the Committee on House Oversight.
Each Member has an overall consolidated allowance established
by the Committee on House Oversight from which staff salaries,
office expenses, and mail costs are drawn.
Many Members do not expend their full allowance. That is
why the Committee bill does not fully fund this account. The
frugality of those Members is already projected in the bill
presented by the Committee. Since these prospective savings are
already taken in the bill, they reduce the need for
appropriated funds and, therefore, contribute directly to the
reduction in federal spending and consequently lower the
projected deficit. If the Committee bill were to fully fund the
currently authorized Members' Representational Allowance, the
amount appropriated would have to be increased by $19.5
million.
Committee Employees
1998 appropriation.................................... $104,544,000
1999 budget estimate.................................. 110,339,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 109,116,000
Funding for the salaries and expenses of the 19 standing
committees and one permanent select committee of the House is
provided, as follows:
Standing Committees, special and select--For the salaries
and expenses of committees funded in the biennial funding
resolution, $89,743,000 is provided.
Committee on Appropriations--For the salaries and expenses
of the Committee on Appropriations (including the studies and
investigation activities authorized by section 202(b) of the
Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946), $19,373,000 is
provided.
Details of the funding resolutions approved by the House
for the 105th Congress, follow:
COMMITTEE FUNDING AUTHORIZATIONS, 105TH CONGRESS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee 1st session 2nd session Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agriculture.................................................. $3,791,039 $3,865,123 $7,656,162
Banking and Financial Services............................... 4,363,817 4,537,800 8,901,617
Budget....................................................... 4,970,000 4,970,000 9,940,000
Commerce..................................................... 7,122,959 7,412,447 14,535,406
Education and the Workforce.................................. 5,002,127 5,122,986 10,125,113
Government Reform and Oversight.............................. 11,702,573 8,317,999 20,020,572
House Oversight.............................................. 3,042,603 3,007,746 6,050,349
Intelligence................................................. 2,358,040 2,457,486 4,815,526
International Relations...................................... 5,145,358 5,223,000 10,368,358
Judiciary.................................................... 5,054,800 5,549,241 10,604,041
National Security............................................ 4,719,454 5,002,291 9,721,745
Resources.................................................... 4,800,014 5,076,536 9,876,550
Rules........................................................ 2,306,407 2,342,695 4,649,102
Science...................................................... 4,263,672 4,414,158 8,677,830
Small Business............................................... 1,936,471 1,970,470 3,906,941
Standards of Official Conduct................................ 1,276,300 1,180,000 2,456,300
Transportation and Infrastructure............................ 5,992,229 6,192,230 12,184,459
Veterans' Affairs............................................ 2,084,368 2,259,792 4,344,160
Ways and Means............................................... 5,366,700 5,670,207 11,036,907
--------------------------------------------------
Subtotal............................................... 85,298,931 84,572,207 169,871,138
Reserve Fund........................................... ............... ............... 7,900,000
--------------------------------------------------
Total.................................................. ............... ............... 177,771,138
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Since the funding resolution is done on a biennial basis
and the resolution for the 106th Congress will expire on
December 31, 2000, FY 1999 committee funding is provided to
remain available until December 31, 2000.
Salaries, Officers and Employees
1998 appropriation.................................... $84,356,000
1999 budget estimate.................................. 92,656,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 89,991,000
The Committee recommendation for the salaries and expenses
of House officers and employees of the various activities
funded through this consolidated item is $89,991,000. This
amount represents an overall decrease of $2,665,000 below the
budget request and $5,635,000 above the amount enacted in
fiscal year 1998. Staff cost-of-living increases are provided,
as are projected overtime costs.
Minor reductions are taken in the Clerk's operation to
reflect reduced needs for stenographic recording contract funds
and savings in the closed captioning contract. The Clerk is
directed to the discussion later in this report regarding
Congressional printing and binding.
The Sergeant at Arms has been funded at $3,501,000.
The Chief Administrative Officer's (CAO) budget has been
set at $57,211,000, including $23,074,000 for the net operating
costs of House Information Resources (HIR). For the net
expenses of telecommunications for the House, $7,130,000 has
been designated within the direct appropriation to HIR. For HIR
personnel, funds for 221 FTE's are provided, a reduction of 25
under the current level. It should be noted that the $6.5
million increase in the CAO budget is comprised of additional
equipment necessitated by newly elected incoming Members of
Congress ($5.2 million) and a reduction of $3 million in
estimated revenues from HIR computer user customers, offset by
personnel and other reductions. Additional telephones are being
purchased with savings in FY1998 funds. If additional savings
can be located, other deferred computer application and
telecommunication upgrades will be funded as well other high
priority needs that cannot be funded in the FY1999 bill. The
CAO is directed to consult with the Legislative Branch
Financial Manager's Council (LBFMC) regarding plans to replace
existing payroll and financial management systems. A report
from the CAO, in consultation with the LBFMC, should be
submitted to the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee
on House Oversight regarding the compatibility of such plans
and the overall objective of standardization of Legislative
Branch financial management systems.
For the Office of the Inspector General, funds for the
annual House financial audit have not been provided since it is
the intent of the Committee to use FY 1998 funds for those
purposes.
Funds for the General Counsel, Chaplain, Parliamentarian,
Law Revision Counsel (except for an additional FTE),
Legislative Counsel, Corrections Calendar Office, and Technical
Assistants in the Office of the Attending Physician are
provided as requested.
The administrative staff officers of the House (the Clerk
of the House, Sergeant at Arms, Chief Administrative Officer,
and the Inspector General) are reminded that funding levels are
provided on the basis of a certain number of full time
equivalent positions which have been justified and approved in
the appropriations request. If additional FTE's are authorized
during the fiscal year, or if reallocations of FTE's are
contemplated, the officers should determine the source of the
additional personnel funding, including the need for a
reprogramming of funds, and advise the Committee accordingly.
This is the current procedure and is designed to inform the
Committee on Appropriations of the potential impact on future
year funding needs.
Salaries, officers and employees
Item Amount
Office of the Clerk.................................. $15,365,000
Office of the Sergeant at Arms....................... 3,501,000
Office of the Chief Administrative Officer........... 57,211,000
Office of Inspector General.......................... 3,953,000
Office of General Counsel............................ 840,000
Office of the Chaplain............................... 133,000
Office of the Parliamentarian........................ 1,106,000
Parliamentarian.................................. (904,000)
Compilation of Precedents........................ (202,000)
Office of the Law Revision Counsel................... 1,912,000
Office of the Legislative Counsel.................... 4,980,000
Corrections Calendar Office.......................... 799,000
Other authorized employees........................... 191,000
------------------
Total.......................................... 89,991,000
House of Representatives Child Care Center.--The bill
provides authority for the House child care center budget, as
required by Sec. 312(d)(1) of Public Law 102-90, as presented
to the Committee by the Chief Administrative Officer. It should
be noted that tuition and other center-generated revenues fund
child care center operations.
Allowances and Expenses
1998 appropriation.................................... $127,756,000
1999 budget estimate.................................. 136,806,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 136,468,000
A total of $136,468,000 is recommended for fiscal year 1999
for allowances and expenses. This amount is $338,000 below the
budget request and $8,712,000 above the current level. These
funds include supplies, materials, administrative costs, and
Federal tort claims; the costs of official mail for the
Committees, leadership, and administrative offices; employee
benefits; and miscellaneous items. Over 97.3% of these funds
provide the employer share of retirement, health care, and
unemployment compensation payments for House employees.
The following table sets forth the various expense
categories within this appropriation:
Allowances and Expenses
Recommended 1999
Detail
Supplies, materials, administrative costs and Federal
tort claims.......................................... $2,575,000
Official mail......................................... 410,000
Government contributions.............................. 132,832,000
Miscellaneous items:
House automobiles................................. 96,000
Gratuities to beneficiaries of deceased staff..... 500,000
Interparliamentary receptions..................... 55,000
-----------------
Subtotal miscellaneous items.................... 651,000
Total, allowances and expenses.................. 136,468,000
Administrative Provisions
Section 101 removes the Architect of the Capitol from the
House of Representatives Page Board. Section 102 increases the
authorization for interparliamentary receptions from $55,000,
established twenty years ago, to $80,000. Section 103
authorizes appropriations to the Majority and Minority
Leadership for training and program development. Section 104
makes a technical correction to 2 U.S.C. 59(e)(2) regarding
Members' Representational Allowances. Section 105 authorizes an
exception to the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct
regarding the publication of certain information in the
Statement of Disbursements of the House. Section 106 authorizes
incidental non-official use of supplies and equipment under
regulations issued by the Committee on House Oversight. Section
107 authorizes the Speaker and two Leaders to expend funds
within their lump sum allowances for consultant services.
Section 108 authorizes a transit pass program for House
employees. Section 109 continues the requirement that any
amount remaining in the Members Representational Allowances
account shall be deposited in the Treasury, to be used for
deficit reduction.
JOINT ITEMS
The Committee recommends appropriations totaling
$89,070,000 for fiscal year 1999 for the various joint
committees and activities carried under this heading. The
recommendation is $8,625,000 under the amounts requested for
fiscal 1999 and an increase of $2,359,500 above the amounts
appropriated in FY1998.
The following summarizes the recommendations:
Joint Items
Item Amount
Joint Economic Committee.............................. $2,796,000
Joint Committee on Printing........................... 352,000
Joint Committee on Taxation........................... 6,018,000
Office of the Attending Physician..................... 1,383,000
Capitol Police Board.................................. 76,381,000
Capitol Guide Service and Special Services Office..... 2,110,000
Statements of appropriations.......................... 30,000
-----------------
Total........................................... 89,070,000
Joint Economic Committee
1998 appropriation.................................... $2,750,000
1999 budget estimate.................................. 2,796,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 2,796,000
The Committee has provided $2,796,000 for the Joint
Economic Committee, the amount requested.
Joint Committee on Printing
1998 appropriation.................................... $804,000
1999 budget estimate.................................. 804,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 352,000
As requested by the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Joint
Committee on Printing, the bill provides $202,000 for the
operations of the joint committee. In addition, $150,000 is
provided to the Committee on House Oversight to carry out
additional responsibilities, subject to the enactment of
authorizing legislation which devolves the jurisdiction of the
Joint Committee to the authorizing committees and other
entities.
Joint Committee on Taxation
1998 appropriation.................................... $5,815,500
1999 budget estimate.................................. 6,018,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 6,018,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $6,018,000 for
the Joint Committee on Taxation, the amount requested.
Office of the Attending Physician
1998 appropriation.................................... $1,266,000
1999 budget estimate.................................. 1,383,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 1,383,000
The Committee has approved $1,383,000 for medical supplies,
equipment, expenses, and allowances of Navy personnel detailed
to the Office of the Attending Physician.
Capitol Police Board
1998 appropriation.................................... $74,054,000
1999 budget estimate.................................. 84,469,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 76,381,000
The recommendations in the bill provide a total of
$76,381,000 for the expenses and personnel authorized for
police services throughout the Capitol buildings and grounds
during fiscal year 1999.
The following tabulates the number of FTE's and the funding
provided:
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Authorized
Items FTE's Amount
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salaries, Capitol Police on House
Payroll.............................. \1\ 596 $35,022,000
Salaries, Capitol Police on Senate
Payroll.............................. \2\ 651 37,593,000
---------------------------------
Subtotal........................ 1,247 \3\ 72,615,000
General expenses...................... ............... 3,766,000
---------------------------------
Grand total, all police services ............... 76,381,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Includes 123 civilian positions.
\2\ Includes 83 civilian positions.
\3\ Includes overtime funds of $4,000,000.
Capitol Police
Salaries
1998 appropriation.................................... $70,955,000
1999 budget estimate.................................. 76,108,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 72,615,000
The Committee recommends $72,615,000 for 1,247 full time
equivalent positions for the Capitol Police, of which
$35,022,000 and 596 FTE's are for the House rolls and
$37,593,000 and 651 FTE's are for the Senate rolls. These
amounts include $4,000,000 for overtime, equally divided
between House and Senate details. In addition, $315,000 is
provided for annualization of the FY98 pay raise; $1.2 million,
which is fenced pending approval by the appropriate
authorities, is provided for a prospective COLA in FY 1999;
$269,000 is provided for longevity increases; and $457,000 is
provided for a net increase in personnel benefits. Savings of
$422,000 are taken due to the salary lapse resulting from the
pay differential between departing members of the force and
recruits.
Capitol Police
General expenses
1998 appropriation.................................... $3,099,000
1999 budget estimate.................................. 8,361,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 3,766,000
The sum of $3,766,000 is recommended for supplies,
materials, equipment, training and other expenses of the
Capitol Police force during the next fiscal year. The budgeted
amounts for transportation of things and rent, communications
and utilities are provided. For travel, half of the requested
increaseassociated with training has been provided. For other
services, the Committee has provided a 2% increase in the costs of
goods and services plus an additional $260,000 for a hazardous
materials program.
Capitol Guide Service and Special Services Office
1998 appropriation.................................... $1,991,000
1999 budget estimate.................................. 2,195,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 2,110,000
The Committee bill provides $2,110,000 for the operation of
the Capitol Guide Service and Special Services Office during
the next fiscal year.
Statements of Appropriations
1998 appropriation.................................... $30,000
1999 budget estimate.................................. 30,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 30,000
The sum of $30,000 is included for the preparation of the
usual compilation of the statements of appropriations for the
2nd session of the 105th Congress. This publication is compiled
jointly by the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations.
OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE
Salaries and Expenses
1998 appropriation.................................... $2,479,000
1999 budget estimate.................................. 2,286,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 2,086,000
The bill provides $2,086,000 for the Office of Compliance.
The budget reduction reflects a diminution in the workload of
the Office of Compliance because much of the intensive startup
activity required since the enactment of the Congressional
Accountability Act has been accomplished. The current level of
activity does not require the same level of resources. The
funding provided supports the current staffing level, which is
two below the 19 FTE's funded for fiscal 1998. The Committee
will expect further reductions next year in the budget
formulated for FY2000. The Office of Compliance should
undertake a careful evaluation of their needs and submit a
budget plan commensurate with their current reduced program.
The normal provision for awards and settlements has been
included.
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
Salaries and Expenses
1998 appropriation.................................... $24,797,000
1999 budget estimate.................................. 25,938,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 25,671,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $25,671,000
for the Congressional Budget Office (CBO). The Committee is
mindful that CBO requires computing and telecommunications
support for their scorekeeping responsibilities, particularly
since the House Information Resources (HIR) is planning to
replace the mainframe computers now used by CBO. The Committee
and others have directed both HIR and the Library of Congress
to work out an acceptable solution to CBO's needs.
Effective October 1, 1998, CBO is directed to post on the
Internet all papers and publications produced by the Office
which can be made available to the public (without regard to
whether such papers and publications are first available to the
public before, on, or after the date of the enactment of this
Act), and an index to such papers and publications.
Not later than August 30, 1998, or the date the FY1999
Legislative Appropriations Bill Committee of Conference
convenes, whichever is earlier, the Director of CBO shall
submit to the Speaker, Majority Leader, and Minority Leader of
the House of Representatives, the Majority Leader and Minority
Leader of the Senate, the chairs and ranking minority members
of the Committee on Ways and Means and the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives, and the chairs
and ranking minority members of the Committee on Finance and
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, the following
information:
1. The estimates made by the Office of the revenue
generated by changes in Federal tax law enacted in 1978, 1981,
1986, and 1997 (including separate estimates for revenues
generated by changes in the rate of tax on capital gains), the
detailed assumptions underlying such estimates, a detailed
explanation for any discrepancies between such estimates and
the revenues actually received, and a description of the steps
taken by CBO to prevent such discrepancies in the future.
2. For each of the most recent 5 fiscal years, a detailed
explanation of the reasons for each deviation of more than
$25,000,000,000 between the estimated Federal budget deficit or
surplus and the actual budget deficit or surplus, together with
an explanation of the steps taken by the Office to prevent such
discrepancies in the future.
3. For the five most recently completed fiscal years for
which first year outlay data are available, (a) a comparison of
the first year discretionary outlay estimates for each
appropriations account enacted into law categorized under the
national defense (function 050), international affairs
(function 150), and non-defense budget classifications versus
the actual first year expenditures charged against that account
and the percentage difference between CBO estimates and actual
expenditures; (b) a listing of all accounts showing deviations
of plus or minus three percent in two or more consecutive years
or plus or minus three percent for any account greater than
$500,000,000; and (c) a case by case explanation for each
deviation exceeding $25,000,000.
4. A detailed explanation of any economic models used by
CBO in preparing estimates.
5. A detailed description of any rules, guidelines, or
protocols for the creation, dissemination, and peer review of
CBO's research and analyses (including self-initiated research
and analyses).
The Committee unequivocally supports having an impartial,
independent Congressional Budget Office staff protected from
political pressure. The Committee will utterly reject any
attempt now or in the future to use the appropriations process
to pressure the CBO to make revenue forecasts or budget policy
forecasts on any basis other than the best professional
judgment of the CBO Director and staff.
ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL
(Congressional Support Items Only)
1998 appropriation.................................... $140,135,000
1999 budget estimate.................................. 166,142,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 121,434,000
The Committee recommends a total of $121,434,000 for fiscal
year 1999 for the various operational and maintenance
activities under the jurisdiction of the Architect of the
Capitol (AOC) that are directly related to the operation of the
Congress. Excluded are Senate housekeeping items which are
traditionally left for consideration by that body, as well as
the appropriations for the Botanic Garden and the structural
and mechanical care of the Library of Congress buildings and
grounds that are contained in title II of the bill. This amount
is $44,708,000 below the amount requested, and $18,701,000
below the fiscal year 1998 appropriation.
A summary of the appropriations recommended follows:
Architect of the Capitol (Excluding Senate and Title II Items)
Item Amount
Architect of the Capitol:
Capitol buildings and grounds:
Capitol buildings salaries and expenses........... $40,347,000
Capitol grounds................................... 5,803,000
House office buildings............................ 42,139,000
Capitol Power Plant............................... 33,145,000
-----------------
Total........................................... 121,434,000
Capitol Buildings and Grounds
Capitol Buildings, Salaries and expenses.--A total of
$40,347,000 is recommended for the operation and maintenance of
the Capitol building and the electrical substations of the
Senate and House office buildings during fiscal year 1999. An
increase of $1,801,000 for staff pay costs is provided.
The Committee is aware of the significant maintenance
backlog that is increasingly difficult to address within
current budget constraints. The Architect is directed to
develop and submit to the Committee with the FY2000 budget
justification a plan that would capture the savings from
realized energy efficiencies, and proceeds in excess of costs
from the recycling program, within the entire Capitol physical
plant to be devoted exclusively to any backlog of maintenance
items.
A tabulation of the increases in the annual operating
budget and the capital budgets follows:
CAPITOL BUILDINGS
[Request versus recommendation]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amount Committee
Item requested recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal Year 1999 Operating Budget
Personnel compensation and benefits... $24,637,000 $24,491,000
Travel, rent, and communications...... 840,600 810,600
Annual maintenance, repairs, and
alterations.......................... 6,936,000 6,862,000
Supplies, materials, and equipment.... 751,400 628,400
---------------------------------
Subtotal, Operating Budget...... $33,165,000 $32,792,000
=================================
Fiscal Year 1999 Capital Budget
Replace House chamber sound
reinforcement system................. $270,000 $270,000
Conservation of wall paintings........ 200,000 160,000
Rehabilitate dome..................... \1\ 7,500,000 ...............
Replace Minton tile................... 200,000 200,000
Elevator/escalator modernization
program.............................. 400,000 400,000
Plumbing renovations.................. 400,000 400,000
Upgrade building systems, Capitol..... 500,000 500,000
Repairs to east front bronze doors.... 25,000 ...............
Analysis & renovation of outside air
intake tunnels....................... 50,000 ...............
Replace six west front lower terrace
windows.............................. 150,000 ...............
Records Management & Photography
Branch equipment..................... 57,000 ...............
Roofing repair, around House & Senate
chambers............................. 160,000 160,000
Replace windows, restore shutters &
upgrade lighting..................... 400,000 ...............
Replace electrical wiring in S215, &
stairwell by S344.................... 25,000 ...............
Provide steam humidification.......... 210,000 210,000
Replace dimming systems serving east
front offices........................ 50,000 ...............
Cleaning of historical architectural
surfaces............................. 115,000 115,000
Repair/upgrade building birdproofing.. 50,000 ...............
Install cable tray & replace corridor
ceiling, east front basement......... 150,000 ...............
Replace sheet metal equipment......... 115,000 ...............
Replace sound systems, committee &
hearing rooms........................ 120,000 120,000
Renovation of K-9 Facility, DC village 200,000 50,000
Senate chamber improvements........... 1,500,000 300,000
Install snow melt system on roof...... 250,000 250,000
Conduit, pathways & telecom closets
upgrade for computer................. 900,000 900,000
House chamber improvements............ 300,000 ...............
Upgrade the cable television system... 1,000,000 ...............
Installation of smoke detectors/fire
alarms............................... 400,000 400,000
Fire alarm system upgrade for ADA
compliance........................... 150,000 150,000
Compliance issues, South Capitol
Street warehouse..................... 50,000 50,000
Complex-wide fire & emergency
management system.................... 425,000 425,000
ADA requirements...................... 300,000 300,000
Install emergency signs & lighting.... 80,000 ...............
Emergency exit directional signs...... 25,000 25,000
Roof fall protection/Window Washer
Anchors.............................. 55,000 ...............
Provide infrastructure for security
installations........................ 1,000,000 750,000
USCP command center................... 350,000 ...............
USCP communications improvements...... 1,000,000 ...............
Capitol complex integrated security
program.............................. 475,000 ...............
Modifications to South Capitol Street
warehouse............................ 150,000 150,000
Chemical & explosive storage facility,
D.C. Village......................... 250,000 ...............
Install new door locks................ 155,000 ...............
Emergency operations for HVAC systems,
Capitol.............................. 100,000 100,000
Implementation of AOCNET.............. 400,000 400,000
Integrated Management System (IMS).... 650,000 650,000
Computer-Aided Facility Management
(CAFM)............................... 650,000 ...............
Update electrical system drawings on
CAD.................................. 60,000 60,000
CAD mechanical database............... 60,000 60,000
Scanning equipment for drawings and
photographs.......................... 95,000 ...............
---------------------------------
Subtotal, Capital Budget........ $22,177,000 $7,555,000
=================================
Total, Capitol Buildings........ $55,342,000 $40,347,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Provided in Public Law 105-174, 1998 Supplemental Appropriations and
Rescissions Act.
Capitol grounds.--The appropriation of $5,803,000 is
recommended for the care and improvement of the grounds
surrounding the Capitol, the Senate and House office buildings,
and the Capitol power plant. This amount includes $242,000 for
salary cost increases. A tabulation follows:
CAPITOL GROUNDS
[Request versus recommendation]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amount Committee
Item requested recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal Year 1999 Operating Budget
Personnel compensation and benefits... $3,920,000 $3,857,000
Annual maintenance, repairs, and
alterations.......................... 1,215,000 1,211,000
Supplies, materials, and equipment.... 178,000 145,000
---------------------------------
Subtotal, operating budget...... $5,313,000 $5,213,000
=================================
Fiscal Year 1999 Capital Budget
Parking lot improvements.............. $350,000 ...............
Refurbish Taft Memorial carillon...... 130,000 ...............
Maintenance of outdoor sculpture:
Peace and Garfield................... 25,000 $25,000
Install new irrigation and plantings,
RHOB west courtyard.................. 50,000 50,000
Renovate & restore RSOB courtyard..... 40,000 ...............
Wayfinding signage.................... 130,000 130,000
ADA Requirements...................... 25,000 25,000
ADA handicapped ramps, House & Senate
terraces............................. 500,000 300,000
Capitol square & Senate grounds
security............................. \1\ 20,000,000 ...............
CAD database development--site
utilities & grounds.................. 60,000 60,000
---------------------------------
Subtotal, capital budget........ $21,310,000 $590,000
=================================
Total, Capitol grounds.......... $26,623,000 $5,803,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Provided in Public Law 105-174, 1998 Supplemental Appropriations and
Rescissions Act.
House office buildings.--For House office buildings,
$42,139,000 is provided, including $572,000 for salary cost
increases.
The Committee is concerned about the condition of fire-
protection systems in House office buildings. During April and
May 1998, three fires in the Longworth and O'Neill Buildings
caused injury to Capitol Police Officers and raised serious
questions about the effectiveness of fire-protection systems
and fire alarms. The Committee believes these incidents may
demonstrate that, despite the expenditure of considerable sums
to improve fire safety in House office buildings, substantial
problems remain, threatening Members, employees and visitors.
The Committee directs the House Inspector General to
conduct an audit of fire-protection systems in House office
buildings and the House wing of the Capitol. The Inspector
General should utilize the services of an independent fire-
protection engineering firm, and should at a minimum, test and
evaluate the House fire-protection systems, review existing
specifications, and inspect House buildings in consultation
with the House Sergeant at Arms. The Inspector General shall
report his findings to the Committees on Appropriations and
House Oversight no later than October 8, 1998.
A tabulation follows:
HOUSE OFFICE BUILDINGS
[Request versus recommendation]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amount Committee
Item requested recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal Year 1999 Operating Budget
Personnel compensation and benefits... $26,698,000 $26,062,000
Annual maintenance, repairs, and
alterations.......................... 2,826,000 2,799,000
Supplies, materials, and equipment.... 1,518,000 1,254,000
---------------------------------
Subtotal, Operating Budget...... $31,042,000 $30,115,000
=================================
Fiscal Year 1999 Capital Budget
Install Sprinklers & Telecom Cable
Tray System, RHOB.................... $2,564,000 $2,564,000
Fire alarm system upgrade for ADA,
HOB's................................ 150,000 150,000
ADA requirements, HOB's............... 400,000 400,000
Roof fall protection.................. 140,000 ...............
Firing Range Ventilation & Egress,
RHOB................................. 50,000 50,000
Replace Fire Pump, CHOB............... 85,000 85,000
Install Emergency Fire Communication
System, LHOB......................... 120,000 120,000
Emergency exit directional signs...... 120,000 120,000
Elevator Modernization Program........ 700,000 700,000
Escalator Modernization Program, RHOB
& CHOB............................... 300,000 300,000
Garage Floor Repairs, CHOB............ 1,000,000 1,000,000
Refurbish/Replace Windows, CHOB....... 200,000 200,000
Major Elevator Equipment Improvements. 120,000 120,000
Repair Domestic Hot & Cold Water, RHOB 50,000 ...............
Repair House East & West Garages...... 50,000 ...............
Repair of Rain Leaders, CHOB.......... 85,000 ...............
Replacement of Roof, LHOB 6th & 7th
Floors............................... 3,200,000 3,200,000
Replace Existing Secondary
Distribution System, LHOB............ 130,000 130,000
Replace Windows, FHOB................. 75,000 ...............
Repair Steam Condensate Return, LHOB.. 50,000 ...............
Upgrade HVAC System, CHOB............. 80,000 ...............
Upgrade Controls for Air Handling
Units, FHOB.......................... 60,000 60,000
Upgrade RHOB--Capitol Subway.......... 100,000 ...............
Garage Floor Repairs, RHOB............ 100,000 100,000
Electrical & telecom systems
renovations, CHOB.................... 1,200,000 1,200,000
Sound Improvements, Committee Hearing
Rooms................................ 450,000 450,000
Lightning Protection System, HOB's.... 75,000 75,000
Humidification for Air Handling Units,
FHOB................................. 100,000 100,000
Conduits & Pathways for Cat 5 & Event
Room Cabling......................... 900,000 900,000
Kiosk at Delaware Ave & C St. SW for
USCP................................. 52,000 ...............
Renovations to B-43, CHOB (Finance
Office).............................. 50,000 ...............
---------------------------------
Subtotal, Capital Budget........ $12,756,000 $12,024,000
=================================
Total, House Office Buildings... $43,798,000 $42,139,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capitol Power Plant.--The Committee recommends the
appropriation of $33,145,000 for the Capitol power plant for
fiscal year 1999, plus offsetting collections of $4,000,000. An
increase of $249,000 is included for staff COLA's and other
mandatory increases. A tabulation follows:
CAPITOL POWER PLANT
[Request versus recommendation]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amount Committee
Item requested Recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal Year 1999 Operating Budget
Personnel compensation and benefits.. $5,260,000 $5,162,000
Travel, rent, utilities and
communications...................... 25,613,000 25,613,000
Annual maintenance, supplies and
materials........................... 5,754,000 5,725,000
----------------------------------
Subtotal, Operating Budget..... $36,627,000 $36,500,000
==================================
Fiscal Year 1999 Capital Budget
Replace dealkalizer resin............ $85,000 ................
Replace bladder in sump, West
Refrigeration Plant................. 75,000 $75,000
Replace valves in steam & chilled
water distribution system........... 100,000 100,000
Replace coal yard belts.............. 160,000 160,000
Optimization of operations, CPP...... 100,000 100,000
Optimization of chilled water
distribution system................. 150,000 150,000
Cogeneration facility................ 2,000,000 ................
East Plant replacement............... 5,000,000 ................
Roof Fall Protection................. 22,000 ................
Update CAD Drawings for CPP.......... 60,000 60,000
----------------------------------
Subtotal, Capital Budget....... $7,752,000 $645,000
==================================
Less: Estimated Reimbursements....... (4,000,000) (4,000,000)
----------------------------------
Total, Capitol Power Plant..... $40,379,000 $33,145,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
Congressional Research Service
1998 appropriation.................................... $64,603,000
1999 budget estimate.................................. 68,461,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 66,688,000
Salaries and expenses.--The Committee recommends
$66,688,000, including an increase of $2,588,000 for mandatory
items and $325,600 for price level increases, for fiscal year
1999 for the salaries and expenses of the Congressional
Research Service. The funding is premised on a personnel
replacement policy that will provide entry level funding for
the vacancies that will result from impending departures of
senior level personnel in the coming years.
CRS management should take immediate steps to preclude a
large retirement contingent from depleting the institutional
capabilities required of the agency. A forward looking policy
that recruits new personnel at lower entry level grades will
allow more evenly proportioned staffing grade distributions
which should alleviate the anxiety caused by the grade creep
that CRS management has allowed to develop. This policy will
also provide opportunities to current non-professional staff
throughout the Library of Congress who may aspire to and more
easily qualify for CRS professional positions. Such employees
will benefit from in-service training and on-the-job experience
and will provide a professional workforce that will help
insulate CRS from the prospects they now envision due to the
impending retirement of senior staff. Furthermore, although
both the Librarian of Congress and the Director of CRS
testified that their highest priority need is to assign staff
to areas where attrition may cause subject matter deficiencies,
CRS has been singularly unwilling to consider using current
vacancies to reallocate the number needed to these high
priority areas. The Committee will consider any reasonable
reprogramming request to mitigate these needs, but Library and
CRS management must show initiative and flexibility to solve
these problems within the resources provided.
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
Congressional Printing and Binding
1998 appropriation.................................... $81,669,000
1999 budget estimate.................................. 84,000,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 74,465,000
The Committee has included an appropriation of $74,465,000
for printing and binding of congressional documents at the
Government Printing Office for use by Congress and by-law
programs. This level of funding is predicated upon the savings
that will be generated from the installation of the direct-to-
plate technology and the FTE level at the plant. Current GPO
FTE utilization is about 100 below the current ceiling.
There has been a suggestion that the Committee provide this
funding directly to the Clerk of the House and the Secretary of
the Senate, instead of making the traditional Congressional
printing and binding appropriation to the Government Printing
Office. The Committee has not done that because, without taking
a position on the capabilities of the Senate, the House
currently does not possess the printing expertise or staffing
to undertake this important additional responsibility. There
are also major questions regarding the statutory requirements
of Title 44, which governs Congressional printing as well as
the printing regulations for the entire Federal government. It
is doubtful that the House and Senate can significantly improve
the cost-effectiveness or control of the printing program
without change to current statutes and practice. A change in
the appropriation structure, therefore, would be a major
undertaking and create unknown risk in the execution of
Congressional printing needs. So the Committee has deferred
this suggestion until its ramifications and plans for
implementation can be better understood.
It is clear, however, that an evaluation should be
undertaken of the future needs for Congressional printing.
Improvements in technology, telecommunications, and the
emergence of the Cyber-Congress have created many opportunities
for the future conduct of acquiring documents or other media to
support the operations of the House and Senate. The Committee,
therefore, directs the Clerk of the House, in consultation with
the Secretary of the Senate and the Public Printer, to evaluate
the needs of the House and Senate for document preparation and
management and other printing needs, including bills, reports,
hearings, journals, the Congressional Record, and all other
Congressional documents. The Clerk of the House and Secretary
of the Senate, in consultation with the Public Printer and
other interested parties, should ascertain the most cost-
effective program for providing printed or other media-based
publications for House and Senate uses. It may be necessary to
conduct some studies or pilot tests in making this evaluation
and the Clerk should utilize existing funds for such purposes.
Such an evaluation may recommend changes in Title 44 that would
be considered by the authorizing committees of jurisdiction.
The Clerk is directed to provide a comprehensive report to the
Committee on the progress made with this evaluation during the
FY2000 appropriation hearings. This report should also be
transmitted to the Committee on House Oversight.
A comparative summary of the recommendation by category of
work follows:
CONGRESSIONAL PRINTING AND BINDING
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Appropriation Recommended
1998 Requested 1999 1999
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Congressional Record program................................. $19,725,000 $18,820,000 ...............
Miscellaneous publications................................... 4,290,000 5,220,000 ...............
Miscellaneous printing and binding........................... 13,720,000 15,450,000 ...............
Details to Congress.......................................... 1,886,000 1,763,000 ...............
Document envelopes and document franks....................... 1,485,000 1,450,000 ...............
Business and committee calendars............................. 2,992,000 2,024,000 ...............
Bills, resolutions, and amendments........................... 12,064,000 12,810,000 ...............
Committee reports............................................ 2,924,000 3,150,000 ...............
Documents.................................................... 2,046,000 2,015,000 ...............
Hearings..................................................... 18,941,000 19,698,000 ...............
Committee prints............................................. 1,596,000 1,600,000 ...............
--------------------------------------------------
Total.................................................. 81,669,000 84,000,000 74,465,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TITLE II--OTHER AGENCIES
A total of $691,168,000 is recommended for the five
programs carried in this title of the bill. This allowance is
$33,005,000 less than requested and $25,694,000 above the
amount appropriated in fiscal year 1998.
A summary of the amounts recommended by agency follows:
Title II--Other Agencies
Item Amount
Botanic Garden........................................ $3,032,000
Library of Congress (except Congressional Research
Service)............................................. 291,701,000
Architect of the Capitol: Congressional Cemetery...... 1,000,000
Architect of the Capitol: Library buildings and
grounds.............................................. 11,933,000
Government Printing Office (except Congressional
Printing and Binding)................................ 29,264,000
General Accounting Office (net appropriation)......... 354,238,000
-----------------
Total........................................... 691,168,000
BOTANIC GARDEN
Salaries and Expenses
1998 appropriation.................................... $3,016,000
1999 budget estimate.................................. 3,235,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 3,032,000
The amount recommended for the Botanic Garden is
$3,032,000, including $16,000 for mandatory salary items. A
tabulation follows:
BOTANIC GARDEN
[Request versus recommendation]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amount Committee
Item requested recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal Year 1999 Operating Budget
Personnel compensation and benefits... $2,937,000 $2,820,000
Travel, rent, and communications...... 6,000 6,000
Annual maintenance, repairs, and
alterations.......................... 69,000 69,000
Supplies, materials, and equipment.... 157,000 137,000
---------------------------------
Subtotal, Operating Budget...... $3,169,000 $3,032,000
=================================
Fiscal Year 1999 Capital Budget
Roof fall protection.................. $16,000 ...............
Administrative building renovations &
ADA.................................. 50,000 ...............
---------------------------------
Subtotal, Capital Budget........ $66,000 ...............
=================================
Total, Botanic Garden........... $3,235,000 $3,032,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
(Except Congressional Research Service)
The Committee recommends appropriations totaling
$291,701,000 for the operations of the Library of Congress
(except the Congressional Research Service, which is carried in
title I of the bill) for fiscal year 1999. The following table
summarizes the allocation of funds by appropriation account:
Library of Congress
Item Amount
Fiscal year 1999:
Salaries and expenses............................. $227,972,000
Copyright Office.................................. 12,727,000
Books for the blind and physically handicapped.... 46,824,000
Furniture and furnishings......................... 4,178,000
-----------------
Total............................................. 291,701,000
Total Resources
The Library also receives funds from other appropriations
and sources estimated to total $223,465,000 for fiscal year
1999 including $66,688,000 for the Congressional Research
Service in title I of the bill, and $11,933,000 appropriated to
the Architect of the Capitol for the structural and mechanical
care of the Library buildings. The remainder consists of
receipts from copyright fees, the sale of catalog records and
publications, sponsors of an international database, income
from gift and trust funds, and reimbursements for services
performed for other Government agencies. Thus, a total of
$515,166,000 from all sources will be available to the Library
during the next fiscal year. Of that amount, $137,983,000
(26.8%) is for support of Congress. The balance is general
government or public service in nature, such as the Copyright
Office, the National Library Service, the Federal Research
Division, and the many services conducted for the Nation's
libraries.
The appropriations in the bill for all Library programs
will finance the level of full time equivalent positions
currently projected for fiscal year 1999, now estimated by the
Library of Congress at 4,076. In addition, there are several
hundred other positions financed through reimbursable and gift
and trust fund programs. The bill does provide an increase of
$10,241,000 in mandatory costs for the current FTE base, with
the assumption that normal salary lapse will include filling
vacancies at entry level grade levels. Thus, the Library of
Congress has received full funding for their current staffing
level.
A breakdown by source and amount of funding follows:
Total resources, Library of Congress, 1999
Item Amount
Annual appropriations:
Title I--Congressional Research Service........... $66,688,000
Title II--Library (direct)........................ 291,701,000
Architect of the Capitol, Library buildings and
grounds.............................................. 11,933,000
-----------------
Total annual appropriations (in bill)........... 370,322,000
Receipts from copyright fees, sale of catalog
records and publications, and sponsors of
international legal database......................... 28,020,000
Gift, trust and revolving funds................... 29,847,000
Reimbursement for services performed.............. 86,977,000
-----------------
Total........................................... 515,166,000
Salaries and Expenses
1998 appropriation................................... $219,635,000
1999 budget estimate................................. 232,915,000
Committee recommendation............................. 227,972,000
(Plus: Authority to spend receipts).................. (6,850,000)
------------------
Total available................................ 234,822,000
The sum of $234,822,000, including $6,850,000 in offsetting
receipts, is recommended for salaries and expenses, which is
the basic appropriation for the operation of Library programs,
a reduction of $4,943,000 under the budget request and an
increase of $8,337,000 above 1998. This level of funding
provides for 2,692 FTE's, including all necessary mandatory
costs, which is the number of FTE's projected for the current
year in the salaries and expenses program. For the American
Folklife Center, funding is provided for operation and
maintenance which is in addition to normal administrative
assistance and customary support of its core activities
provided by other Library organizations.
No new positions are provided. To the extent additional
positions are required, the Library is encouraged to fund them
through attrition or reprogramming requests. Price level
requests have been limited to 2%, subject to reallocation by
the Library for higher priorities. For the purchase of books,
$9,869,000 is provided, in addition to the collections acquired
through the copyright program, gifts, and exchange programs.
Funding to begin occupying the remote storage facility at
Fort Meade is provided, $550,700. The Library is reminded that
the Committee believes, based on comparable experience at
Harvard University and the University of Texas, that part time
student assistance will work very nicely at the new facility.
Even with a contractor operated facility, such a staffing plan
would yield a low cost operation.
The Library has submitted a document describing a spending
program for collections security. The program lacks any notion
of measurable objectives of the program, or any measures of
effectiveness that can be applied to a decision on the merits
of the program. A ``spending'' plan is not a plan that the
Committee will seriously consider. The Library must develop
measurements of the extent of the problem they are attempting
to solve and evaluate alternatives to achieving reasonable
management objectives. The Library needs to develop a serious
approach to planning in general. Investments in security,
storage buildings, space utilization, and all other perceived
needs require analysis beyond a plan to spend additional
resources. For example, the Library wants to expand the use of
storage building usage at Fort Meade. But when asked to
document exactly how much is stored in existing buildings and
future storage needs, the Library was unable to provide even
basic answers. The cost estimates that were provided regarding
future investments at the Culpeper facility were largely
discounted because they were based on incomplete analysis due
to a last minute rush to obtain the necessary authorization to
proceed with the acquisition of the property. Until the Library
acquires the necessary internal planning and analysis
capability, one not dependent solely on outside consultants
(although outside consultants can make important
contributions), management will only find reasons to justify
more resources instead of finding cost-effective methods and
alternatives to decrease costs in order to achieve or to
finance expansion of capabilities. The Integrated Library
System may become a very good example of cost-effective
planning at the Library of Congress, if the savings used to
justify the project do materialize and are actually taken.
Copyright Office
1998 appropriation................................... $11,935,000
1999 budget request.................................. 14,099,000
Committee recommendation............................. 12,727,000
(Plus: Authority to spend receipts).................. (21,170,000)
------------------
Total available................................ 33,897,000
Salaries and expenses.--A direct appropriation of
$12,727,000 is provided for the Copyright Office during fiscal
year 1999, and authority has been provided to spend up to
$21,170,000 in receipts from copyright fees and assessments to
the copyright owners fund for the costs of administering the
copyright royalty program. This funding provides all mandatory
increases and an additional six (6) FTE's, financed from
receipts.
Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
1998 appropriation.................................... $46,561,000
1999 budget estimate.................................. 48,145,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 46,824,000
Salaries and expenses.--A total of $46,824,000 is
recommended for the National Library Service for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped, an increase of $263,000 over the amount
provided in fiscal year 1998. This funding provides for
mandatory increases and $800,000 to increase the number of
talking book machines in the field by 3,766. Including funding
allowed in last year's bill, over 9,300 playback machines have
been added to this program, an increase of over 18%.
Furniture and Furnishings
1998 appropriation.................................... $4,178,000
1999 budget estimate.................................. 5,712,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 4,178,000
The bill provides a total of $4,178,000 for Library
furniture and furnishings for fiscal year 1999.
Administrative Provisions
The routine administrative provisions have been approved by
the Committee as well as a new provision authorizing the
Library to receive funds from participants in, and sponsors of,
the global legal information network (GLIN) project at the Law
Library.
ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL
Congressional Cemetery
1998 appropriation................................... .................
1999 budget estimate................................. .................
Committee Recommendation............................. $1,000,000
The bill provides funding, to be matched by privately
donated funds, to preserve and maintain historic Congressional
Cemetery. The National Trust for Historic Preservation (Trust)
cited the Cemetery in 1997 as one of America's eleven most
endangered historic places due to neglect, vandalism, theft and
deterioration from pollution. The recommended funds provide for
a grant to be made by the Architect of the Capitol to the
Trust, to be used for routine annual care and maintenance of
the cemetery; and it will be matched by donated contributions
raised by the Congressional Cemetery Association. There are
currently 78 Representatives and 14 Senators buried at the
Congressional Cemetery, as well as many other notable persons.
Pursuant to an agreement with the Architect of the Capitol and
the Cemetery Association, the Trust will invest the grant and
matching donated funds in a restricted endowment and make
distributions from the fund to the Association for routine
annual care and maintenance. The restricted endowment, as well
as the transactions made by the Association, will be subject to
audit by the General Accounting Office to assure proper use of
these funds. In fiscal year 1983, a one-time appropriation and
grant was made available to the Congressional Cemetery. It is
the Committee's intent that this fund will provide a permanent
source of funds to fully support annual, routine care and
maintenance. The Committee has presumed that the current level
of maintenance by the Department of Veterans Affairs will not
be reduced.
Library Buildings and Grounds
1998 appropriation.................................... $11,573,000
1999 budget estimate.................................. 16,139,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 11,933,000
The Committee bill provides $11,933,000 for the care and
maintenance of the Library of Congress buildings and grounds,
which is administered by the Architect of the Capitol.
Increases for staff pay costs total $260,000. A tabulation of
annual operating cost increases and the capital budget follows:
LIBRARY BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS
[Request versus recommendation]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amount Committee
requested recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal Year 1999 Operating Budget
Personnel compensation and benefits... $7,456,000 $7,417,000
Annual maintenance, repairs, and
alterations.......................... 1,505,000 1,418,000
Supplies, materials, equipment and
grounds.............................. 704,000 631,000
---------------------------------
Subtotal, Operating Budget...... $9,665,000 $9,466,000
=================================
Fiscal Year 1999 Capital Budget
Elevator/escalator modernization...... $360,000 $360,000
Replace sprinkler heads, TJB & JMMB... 100,000 100,000
Repair roof under east parking lot,
TJB.................................. 200,000 200,000
Replace deteriorated piping, TJB...... 100,000 100,000
Replace sidewalks, TJB & JAB.......... 100,000 ...............
Replace electrical snow melting
equipment, JMMB...................... 100,000 100,000
Restoration of decorative painting,
TJB & JAB............................ 100,000 100,000
Replace variable speed drives, TJB &
JAB.................................. 100,000 100,000
Conservation of Blashfield & other
murals, TJB.......................... 45,000 45,000
Replace convector controls, JMMB...... 100,000 100,000
Book stack lighting controls, TJB &
JAB.................................. 200,000 200,000
Lightning protection, JMMB............ 40,000 ...............
Screening/holding facility............ 500,000 ...............
HVAC improvements NW curtain, TJB..... 600,000 ...............
Preservations environment monitoring.. 100,000 100,000
Visitors center, TJB.................. 200,000 ...............
Copyright Deposit Facility, Ft. Meade. 500,000 ...............
ADA requirements...................... 200,000 200,000
Replace smoke detectors, JMMB......... 100,000 100,000
Fire alarm system upgrade for ADA
compliance........................... 150,000 150,000
Modify exit doors for compliance...... 100,000 100,000
Replace HVAC eliminator plates, TJB &
JAB.................................. 150,000 150,000
Emergency exit directional door signs. 62,000 62,000
Roof fall protection.................. 165,000 ...............
Compact bookstack safety review, JMMB. 200,000 ...............
Indoor security improvements--cages &
vaults............................... 50,000 ...............
Exterior security improvements........ 600,000 200,000
Install additional readers............ 652,000 ...............
Book conveyor system security......... 400,000 ...............
Upgrade building security systems..... 200,000 ...............
---------------------------------
Subtotal, Capital Budget........ $6,474,000 $2,467,000
=================================
Total, Library Buildings and
Grounds........................ $16,139,000 $11,933,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Administrative Provisions
A provision has been included that provides authority for
the Architect to make a grant to the National Trust for
Historic Preservation for the care and maintenance of
Congressional Cemetery. Another provision limits the portion of
appropriated funds that may be expended for improvements to the
National Audio Visual Conservation Center to one-third of the
amount raised for such purposes through donations.
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
(Except Congressional Printing and Binding)
Office of Superintendent of Documents
1998 appropriation.................................... $29,077,000
1999 budget estimate.................................. 30,200,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 29,264,000
The Committee recommends the appropriation of $29,264,000,
an increase of $187,000, for the salaries and expenses of the
Superintendent of Documents, a part of the Government Printing
Office. The principal component of this activity is the Federal
Depository Library Program (FDLP), which is responsible for
supplying about 1,400 designated libraries throughout the
country with federal documents.
Government Printing Office Revolving Fund
Revolving fund.--The bill includes the usual language
authorizing the operation of the revolving fund, authority to
hire or purchase automobiles, advisory councils, consultants,
and flextime. The limit on full-time equivalent employment has
been set at 3,416.
The Government Printing Office has purchased a commercial
off-the-shelf (COTS) financial software product to support its
standard general ledger accounting requirements. The Committee
directs GPO to coordinate the implementation of this COTS
product with the Legislative Branch Financial Managers Council
(LBFMC) to ensure that the new system supports the vision and
goals statement adopted by the LBFMC. In addition, the
Committee directs that the Public Printer implement the
recommendations of the recent management audit conducted by
Booz-Allen and Hamilton Inc., as appropriate. A report should
be prepared annually, coincident with the submission of the
annual budget; such report to be transmitted to the House and
Senate Committees on Appropriations, the Committee on House
Oversight, and the Senate Committee on Rules and
Administration.
The request for $6,000,000 for building equipment has not
been allowed. One of the purposes of the GPO revolving fund is
to supply the capital for such improvements, which should be
supported by revenues from GPO customers.
GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE
Salaries and Expenses
1998 appropriation................................... $339,499,000
1999 budget estimate................................. 367,728,000
Committee recommendation............................. 354,238,000
Offsetting collections............................... (2,000,000)
------------------
Total available.................................. 356,238,000
The Committee has provided $356,238,000 in direct
appropriations for the General Accounting Office, of which
$2,000,000 is in offsetting collections derived from
reimbursements for conducting financial audits of government
corporations. This level of funding will support 3,225 FTE's, a
small increase above the number currently expected to be
utilized in fiscal 1998. The Committee continues to believe
that GAO can maximize effectiveness by using consulting firms
and other experts in lieu of internal staff. Several recent
examples have demonstrated the utility of this approach, which
gives maximum flexibility to the agency and assures the
requisite expertise for Congressional customers. GAO management
has allocated only token funds to contract program evaluation
or audit work, instead giving higher priority to hiring more
internal staff. That approach loses the advantage of the
significant success of the recent downsizing effort and may
lead to another staff buildup that will create agency
inflexibility and added bureaucracy. GAO should be
concentrating on providing the professional staff with contract
management skills in addition to the highly developed
professional expertise they already possess.
TITLE III--GENERAL PROVISIONS
The customary language regarding emergency assistance for
vehicles, positions and allowances, consulting services, buy
American and the Legislative Branch Financial Managers Council
is included. There is a provision that authorizes the Architect
to enter into energy savings performance contracts with energy
service companies (ESCO's) and provisions that provide
authority to the Architect of the Capitol and the Public
Printer to establish retirement incentive programs.
CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY
Clause 2(l)(4) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of
Representatives states that:
Each report of a committee on a bill or joint resolution of
a public character shall include a statement citing the
specific powers granted to the Congress in the Constitution to
enact the law proposed by the bill or joint resolution.
The Committee on Appropriations bases its authority to
report this legislation on Clause 7 of Section 9 of Article I
of the Constitution of the United States of America, which
states:
No money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in
consequence of Appropriations made by law. * * *
Appropriations contained in this Act are made pursuant to
this specific power granted by the Constitution.
COMPARISON WITH BUDGET RESOLUTION
Section 308(a)(1)(A) of the Congressional Budget and
Impoundment Control Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-344), as amended,
requires that the report accompanying a bill providing new
budget authority contain a statement detailing how that
authority compares with the reports submitted under section
302(b) of the Act for the most recently agreed to concurrent
resolution on the budget for the fiscal year.
This information follows:
[In millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sec. 302(b) This Bill
---------------------------------------------------
Budget Budget
authority Outlays authority Outlays
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Discretionary............................................... $2,360 $2,340 $1,806 $1,798
Mandatory................................................... 94 94 77 77
---------------------------------------------------
Total................................................. $2,454 $2,434 $1,883 $1,875
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The bill provides no new spending authority as described in
section 401(c)(2) of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment
Control Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-344), as amended.
FIVE-YEAR PROJECTION OF OUTLAYS
In accordance with section 308(a)(1)(B) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-344), as amended, the
following table contains five-year projections of the outlays
associated with the budget authority provided in the
accompanying bill:
Five-year projection of outlays
Millions
Budget authority...................................... $1,883
Outlays:
1999.............................................. 1,561
2000.............................................. 167
2001.............................................. 35
2002.............................................. 9
2003.............................................. 3
ASSISTANCE TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS
In accordance with section 308(a)(1)(C) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (P.L. 93-344), as amended, the
Committee is required to report new budget authority and
outlays providing financial assistance to State and local
governments. The accompanying bill contains no funding for
State and local assistance programs.
TRANSFERS OF FUNDS
Pursuant to clause 1(b) of rule X of the House of
Representatives, the following is submitted describing the
transfers of funds recommended in the accompanying bill:
No transfers of funds are included.
RESCISSIONS
Pursuant to clause 1(b) of rule X of the House of
Representatives, the following is submitted describing the
rescissions recommended in the accompanying bill:
There are no rescissions recommended in the bill.
CHANGES IN THE APPLICATION OF EXISTING LAW
Pursuant to clause 3, rule XXI of the House of
Representatives, the following statements are submitted
describing the effect of provisions in the accompanying bill
which directly or indirectly change the application of existing
law:
1. The bill provides that certain appropriation items
remain available for more than one year where programs or
projects are continuing in nature under the provisions of
authorizing legislation but for which that legislation does not
specifically authorize such extended availability. Most of
these items have been carried in previous appropriation bills.
This authority tends to result in savings by removing the
incentive to commit funds at the end of the fiscal year.
2. The bill includes a number of provisions which place
limitations on, or which authorize or reauthorize, the use of
funds in the bill, or change or extend existing limitations,
appropriations, or authorizations, and which under some
circumstances might be construed as changing the application of
existing law.
3. There is language that allows reimbursement for service
to be used by the servicing entity.
4. The bill continues the practice of providing official
reception and representation allowances for officers and
offices of the legislative branch.
5. The bill authorizes expenses for employee awards, such
as certificates or plaques and related ceremonial
presentations, by certain agencies.
6. There is language removing the Architect of the Capitol
from the House Page Board.
7. There is language authorizing a training and development
program, the use of consultants, the incidental use of supplies
and equipment, and a technical correction to the use of Members
Representational Allowances.
8. There is language authorizing a delay until after the
end of a Congress for publishing certain information in the
Report on Disbursements; and another provision which authorizes
a transit pass program.
9. There is language which provides that amounts remaining
after payments are made from the account for Members
Representational Allowances shall be used for deficit
reduction.
10. There is language under ``Capitol Police Board, General
Expenses'' authorizing advance payments for travel by Capitol
Police personnel for training or other purposes, expenses
associated with the relocation of liaison or instructor
personnel from the Capitol Police force to and from the Federal
Law Enforcement Training Center in Glynco, Georgia, and for the
costs of basic training of police personnel.
11. The bill authorizes the transfer of funds within
``Capitol Police, Salaries'', and between ``Capitol Police,
Salaries'', and ``General Expenses'', subject to approval.
12. There is language under ``Capitol Power Plant'',
Architect of the Capitol, allowing reimbursements for chilled
water and steam provided to the Government Printing Office, the
Washington City Post Office, the Supreme Court, the Thurgood
Marshall Federal Judiciary Building, Union Station Complex and
the Folger Shakespeare Library to be credited to this
appropriation and made available for obligation.
13. There is language under ``Congressional Research
Service'' which prohibits the publication of material unless
approved by the appropriate committees, and language is
extended regarding the compensation of the Director.
14. There is language under ``Congressional printing and
binding'' restricting the use of funds appropriated to the
Government Printing Office for the permanent edition of the
Congressional Record for individual Representatives, Resident
Commissioners, or Delegates, and language providing that
appropriations recommended shall be available for the payment
of obligations incurred under appropriations for similar
purposes for preceding fiscal years, primarily due to the
unpredictability of the volume of work generated by the
Congress. Also, the FY98 bill has been amended to clarify that
a funds transfer is a limitation, and that unused funds remain
with the revolving fund.
15. There is authority to expend funds collected under the
authority of 2 U.S.C. 150, the balance to remain available
until expended.
16. There is a limitation on funding for attendance at
meetings for the Library of Congress; a limitation on top-level
management participation in compressed work schedules; and
authority to accept funds from users of an international legal
information data base.
17. There is a limitation on the number of indirect
employees that are paid from appropriated funds received by the
Library of Congress from other agencies. These funds are
generated by performing reimbursable work for these other
agencies and are used to cover general and administrative
overhead work generated by these reimbursable programs.
18. A grant, with appropriate terms and conditions, for the
care and maintenance of Congressional Cemetery, is authorized.
19. There is language establishing a 3:1 ratio for private
to public funding for an audio visual center.
20. There is language under ``Salaries and Expenses'',
Office of Superintendent of Documents, which limits travel
expenses and which authorizes the use of current appropriations
for printing certain publications for the depository library
program.
21. There is language authorizing the operation of the GPO
revolving fund, and which authorizes travel expenses for
advisory councils.
22. Under the GPO revolving fund, there is language that
provides expenses not to exceed $75,000 for attendance at
meetings.
23. The bill includes a limitation on GPO employment of not
more than 3,416 full-time equivalent work years.
24. There is a limitation on the participation of top-level
GPO management in flexible or compressed work schedules.
25. There is language relating to the General Accounting
Office authorizing the direct procurement of expert and
consultant services under 5 U.S.C. 3109, at certain rates;
authorizing the hire of one passenger motor vehicle, as
required by 31 U.S.C. 1343; authorizing the General Accounting
Office to make advance payments in foreign countries in
accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3324; and to provide certain
benefits, including rental of living quarters in foreign
countries; appropriations are authorized for administrative
expenses of any other member department or agency to finance an
appropriate share of the costs of the Joint Financial
Management Improvement Program (JFMIP); the American Consortium
on International Public Administration (ACIPA), and the
National Intergovernmental Audit Forum or a Regional
Intergovernmental Audit Forum. The ACIPA language satisfies the
requirements of P.L. 100-202.
26. In Section 301, there is language prohibiting the use
of funds in the Act 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 issued by the Committee on House Oversight and for
the Senate by the Committee on Rules and Administration.
27. Section 303 provides that whenever any office or
position not specifically established by the Legislative Pay
Act of 1929 is appropriated for herein or whenever the rate of
compensation or designation of any position appropriated for
herein is different from that specifically established for such
position by such Act, the rate of compensation and the
designation of the position, or either, appropriated for or
provided herein, shall be the permanent law with respect
thereto: Provided that the provisions herein for the various
items of official expenses of Members, officers, and committees
of the Senate and House, and clerk hire for Senators and
Members shall be the permanent law with respect thereto.
28. Section 304 requires that certain information regarding
consulting services shall be a matter of public record.
29. Section 305 is a sense of Congress provision regarding
American-made products.
30. There is a provision which authorizes legislative
branch entities to share the costs of the Legislative Branch
Financial Managers Council.
31. There is a provision that authorizes the Architect of
the Capitol to enter into energy savings performance contracts.
32. The Architect of the Capitol and the Public Printer are
authorized to conduct a retirement incentive program.
Compliance With Rule XIII, Cl. 3 (Ramseyer Rule)
In compliance with clause 3 of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no change is
proposed is shown in roman):
SECTION 311 OF THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1991
Sec. 311. (a) * * *
* * * * * * *
(e)(1) * * *
(2) The Official Mail Allowance--
(A) shall be available for postage for franked mail
sent at a first class, third class, or fourth class
rate;
(B) with respect to a Member of the House of
Representatives, shall be available, in a session of
Congress, in a total amount, as determined under
paragraph (1)(A), of not more than the product of (i) 3
times the single-piece rate applicable to first class
mail, and (ii) the number (as determined by the
Postmaster General) of addresses (other than business
possible delivery stops) in the congressional district,
as such addresses are described in section
3210(d)(7)(B) of title 39, United States Code; and
(C) with respect to any other person entitled to use
the congressional frank in the House of Representatives
(including any Member of the House of Representatives
who receives an allocation under subsection (a)(2) with
respect to duties as an elected officer of, or holder
of another position in, the House of Representatives),
shall be available, in a session of Congress, in a
total amount determined under paragraph (1)(A)[; and].
[(D) shall not be available for payment of any
nonpostage fee or charge, including any fee or charge
for express mail, express mail drop shipment, certified
mail, registered mail, return receipt, address
correction, or postal insurance.]
* * * * * * *
[(4) The Members' Representational Allowance shall be
available to a Member of the House of Representatives for the
payment of nonpostage fees and charges referred to in paragraph
(2)(D) and for postage for mail for official business sent
outside the United States.]
* * * * * * *
HOUSE RESOLUTION 1047, NINETY-FIFTH CONGRESS
That (a) * * *
(b) For payment of expenses incurred in carrying out
subsection (a) of this section, there shall be paid out of the
contingent fund of the House, until otherwise provided by law,
such sums as may be necessary but not to exceed [$55,000]
$80,000 in any calendar year. Such payments shall be made on
vouchers signed by the chairman of the Committee on Foreign
Affairs and approved by the Committee on House Administration.
* * * * * * *
SECTION 2 OF HOUSE RESOLUTION 611, NINETY-SEVENTH CONGRESS
Sec. 2. (a) The Page Board shall consist of--
(1) two Members of the House appointed by the Speaker
and one Member of the House appointed by the minority
leader; and
(2) the Clerk and the Sergeant at Arms of the House[;
and].
[(3) the Architect of the Capitol.]
* * * * * * *
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1998
* * * * * * *
TITLE I--CONGRESSIONAL OPERATIONS
* * * * * * *
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
Congressional Printing and Binding
(including transfer of funds)
For authorized printing and binding for the Congress and
the distribution of Congressional information in any format,
printing and binding for the Architect of the Capitol; expenses
necessary for preparing the semimonthly and session index to
the Congressional Record, as authorized by law (44 U.S.C. 902);
printing and binding of Government publications authorized by
law to be distributed to Members of Congress; and printing,
binding, and distribution of Government publications authorized
by law to be distributed without charge to the recipient,
[$81,669,000, of which $11,017,000 shall be derived by transfer
from the Government Printing Office revolving fund under
section 309 of title 44, United States Code: Provided,]
$70,652,000: Provided, That an additional amount of not more
than $11,017,000 may be derived by transfer from the Government
Printing Office revolving fund under section 309 of title 44,
United States Code: Provided further, 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 44 U.S.C. 906: Provided further, That this appropriation
shall be available for the payment of obligations incurred
under the appropriations for similar purposes for preceding
fiscal years.
* * * * * * *
TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE
CHAPTER 55--PAY ADMINISTRATION
* * * * * * *
SUBCHAPTER IX--SEVERANCE PAY AND BACK PAY
* * * * * * *
Sec. 5595. Severance pay
(a) For the purpose of this section--
(1) ``agency'' means--
(A) * * *
* * * * * * *
(F) the Office of the Architect of the
Capitol[, but only with respect to the United
States Senate Restaurants]; and
(2) ``employee'' means--
(A) an individual employed in or under an
agency; and
(B) an individual employed by a county
committee established under section 590h(b) of
title 16;
but does not include--
(i) * * *
* * * * * * *
(viii) an employee [of the United
States Senate Restaurants] of the
Office of the Architect of the Capitol,
who is employed on a temporary when
actually employed basis; or
* * * * * * *
----------
SECTION 310 OF THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1998
Sec. 310. (a) * * *
* * * * * * *
(b) Early Retirement.--(1) This subsection applies to an
employee [of the United States Senate Restaurants] of the
Office of the Architect of the Capitol who--
(A) voluntarily separates from service on or after
the date of enactment of this Act and before October 1,
[1999;] 1999 (or, in the case of an individual who is
not an employee of the United States Senate
Restaurants, on or after the date of the enactment of
the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1999 and
before October 1, 2001); and
* * * * * * *
(c) Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments.--(1) In this
subsection, the term ``employee'' means an employee [of the
United States Senate Restaurants] of the Office of the
Architect of the Capitol, serving without limitation, who has
been currently employed for a continuous period of at least 12
months, except that such term shall not include--
(A) * * *
* * * * * * *
(2) Notwithstanding any other provision of law, in order to
avoid or minimize the need for involuntary separations due to a
reduction in force, reorganization, transfer of function, or
other similar action affecting the agency, the Architect of the
Capitol shall establish a program under which voluntary
separation incentive payments may be offered to encourage [not
more than 50] eligible employees to separate from service
voluntarily (whether by retirement or resignation) during the
period beginning on the date of the enactment of this Act
through September 30, [1999] 1999 (or, in the case of an
individual who is not an employee of the United States Senate
Restaurants, on or after the date of the enactment of the
Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1999 and before October
1, 2001). The number of employees of the United States Senate
Restaurants to whom voluntary separation incentive payments may
be offered under the program established under the previous
sentence may not exceed 50.
* * * * * * *
(e) Retraining, Job Placement, and Counseling Services.--(1)
In this subsection, the term ``employee''--
(A) means an employee [of the United States Senate
Restaurants] of the Office of the Architect of the
Capitol; and
* * * * * * *
(3) A former employee may not participate in a program
established under this subsection, if--
(A) the former employee was separated from service
with [the United States Senate Restaurants of] the
Office of the Architect of the Capitol for more than 1
year; or
* * * * * * *
SECTION 5595 OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE
Sec. 5595. Severance pay
(a) For the purpose of this section--
(1) * * *
(2) ``employee'' means--
(A) an individual employed in or under an
agency; and
(B) an individual employed by a county
committee established under section 590h(b) of
title 16;
but does not include--
(i) * * *
* * * * * * *
(viii) an employee of the United
States Senate Restaurants of the Office
of the Architect of the Capitol, who is
employed on a temporary when actually
employed basis; [or]
(ix) an employee of the Government
Printing Office, who is employed on a
temporary when actually employed basis;
or
[(ix)] (x) such other employee as may be
excluded by regulations of the President or
such other officer or agency as he may
designate.
(b) Under regulations prescribed by the President or such
officer or agency as he may designate, an employee who--
(1) * * *
* * * * * * *
is entitled to be paid severance pay in regular pay periods by
the agency from which separated. However, the Director of the
Administrative Office of the United States may prescribe
regulations to affect the application and operation of this
section to the agencies specified in subsection (a)(1)(E) of
this section. The Architect of the Capitol may prescribe
regulations to effect the application and operation of this
section to the agency specified in subsection (a)(1)(F) of this
section. The Public Printer may prescribe regulations to effect
the application and operation of this section to the agency
specified in subsection (a)(1)(G) of this section.
* * * * * * *
COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR 1998 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES FOR 1999 PERMANENT
NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY--TRUST FUNDS
[Becomes available automatically under earlier, or ``permanent'' law without further, or annual, action by the
Congress. Thus, these amounts are not included in the accompanying bill. All amounts are in the form of
``appropriations'' unless otherwise indicated]
[In millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget estimate
New budget of new Increase (+) or
Agency and item (obligational) (obligational) decrease (-)
authority, 1998 1 authority, 1999 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Library of Congress
Gift and trust fund accounts, non-revolving............ $23 $23 .................
Cooperative Acquisitions Revolving Fund................ 3 3 .................
U.S. Capitol Preservation Commission
Trust funds............................................ 1 1 .................
Architect of the Capitol, Botanic Garden
Gifts and donations.................................... 1 8 +7
Library Buildings and Grounds, Structural and
Mechanical Care
Gifts and donations.................................... ................. 2 +2
John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and
Development
Trust funds............................................ 1 1 .................
--------------------------------------------------------
Total, Trust funds............................... 29 38 +9
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Amounts as estimated and shown in the February 1998 budget document. Some items are indefinite in amount, and
thus are subject to later reestimation.
PERMANENT NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY--FEDERAL FUNDS
[Becomes available automatically under earlier, or ``permanent'' law without further, or annual, action by the
Congress. Thus, these amounts are not included in the accompanying bill. All amounts are in the form of
``appropriations'' unless otherwise indicated]
[In millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget estimate
New budget of new Increase (+) or
Agency and item (obligational) (obligational) decrease (-)
authority, 19981 authority, 19991
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
House of Representatives
Congressional use of foreign currency.................. $2 $2 .................
International conferences and contingencies: House and
Senate expenses....................................... 1 1 .................
Compensation of Members and related administrative
expenses.............................................. 74 75 +1
Library of Congress
Payments to copyright owners (indefinite, special fund) 238 268 +30
--------------------------------------------------------
Total, Federal funds............................. 315 346 +31
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1 Amounts as estimated and shown in the February 1998 budget document. Some items are indefinite in amount, and
thus are subject to later reestimation.
ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF HON. DAVE OBEY
CBO Independence
I am deeply troubled by misguided attempts of the House
Republican leadership to use the appropriations process as a
club to pressure the Congressional Budget Office to make more
politically advantageous forecasts.
The report accompanying this bill requires the
Congressional Budget Office to assess its track record in
making key revenue, deficit, surplus, and outlay projections
used in the legislative process. This is useful information and
I support such assessments.
Regrettably, it has become obvious to all that the House
Republican leadership's intent in mandating this review is not
to exercise high-minded oversight. It is instead to be used to
wage a campaign of intimidation to ultimately force the CBO to
cook the books when estimating the cost of their election year
tax cuts.
This was made crystal clear in a June 9, 1998 letter on
this subject to the Legislative Branch Appropriations
Subcommittee chairman from the Speaker and four other members
of the House Republican leadership. This letter says in part:
We are deeply concerned about the increasing evidence
that the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) is utterly
unable to predict consistent and accurate future
revenues or even the fiscal implications of changes in
budget policy. Because of these failures, I (sic) urge
you to direct the CBO to address these shortcomings
immediately.
. . . The CBO must address this problem. If it does
not, I (sic) believe we must review the structure and
funding for the CBO in the appropriations cycle.
[Emphasis added]
The reasons behind this desperate act stem from the failure
of the House leadership to craft a coherent Budget Resolution
this year. In short, the House Republican leadership has
crafted a Budget Resolution promising a huge election year tax
cut with no way to pay for it. The plan that it originally put
forward, which called for paying for this tax cut with
additional cuts in Medicare, Medicaid, federal employee health
benefits, education, and highway construction among other
things, fell on deaf ears with the American People and had to
be withdrawn. This left the Republican leadership with a hollow
budget plan--numbers with no policy to back it up other than
the desire to have a large election year tax cut.
Since they can't find the program reductions to pay for
their tax cut, we now see the Republican leadership turning its
attention on the relatively defenseless CBO to bail them out.
They want the CBO to reverse its professional judgment and
decree that the Republican tax cut plan costs less than it
really does. If the CBO doesn't give in, they have threatened
their jobs by taking retribution in the appropriations process.
We have seen this sort of bullying tactic used by the House
Republican leadership before. Two-and-a-half years ago they
tried to bully this President into a bad budget deal by
shutting down the government. Ironically, at that time,
Republicans were insisting that the President use CBO revenue
and spending estimates because they were ``honest'' (Speaker
Gingrich), ``very real'' (Majority Whip DeLay), and had ``no
smoke and mirrors'' (Rules Committee Chairman Solomon).
Now, we learn that the House Republican leadership really
thinks the CBO ``is utterly unable to predict consistent and
accurate future revenues'' and that ``the CBO's low estimates
have been consistently wrong--and wrong by a country mile.''
(Letter to Congressman Walsh from Congressman Gingrich, Armey,
DeLay, Boehner, and Cox, June 9, 1998).
It should be highly objectionable to Members on both sides
of the aisle for the Congressional leadership to threaten CBO's
administrative budget, and therefore the jobs of its career
staff members, in order to push through a tax cut that can't be
paid for in the light of day.
If the Republican leadership succeeds in this endeavor, the
credibility and the integrity of the entire congressional
budget process is called into question.
That is why I was gratified that my proposal in full
committee to add report language expressly rejecting these
tactics was accepted on a bipartisan basis. This language
states:
The Committee unequivocally supports having an
impartial, independent Congressional Budget Office
staff protected from political pressure. The Committee
will utterly reject any attempt now or in the future to
use the appropriations process to pressure the CBO to
make revenue forecasts or budget policy forecasts on
any basis other than the best professional judgment of
the CBO Director and staff.
The Committee's considered opinion is that it will require
$25.671 million to continue the operations of the CBO unabated.
ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF HON. STENY H. HOYER, HON. JOSE E. SERRANO, HON.
ZACH WAMP, HON. VIC FAZIO, HON. FRANK WOLF, HON. JAMES P. MORAN, HON.
ROGER WICKER, HON. DAVID OBEY, HON. CHET EDWARDS, HON. JULIAN C. DIXON,
HON. NANCY PELOSI, HON. ROSA DeLAURO, HON. W.G. (BILL) HEFNER, HON.
NITA LOWEY, HON. MARCY KAPTUR, HON. DAVID PRICE, HON. JOHN MURTHA, HON.
MARTIN O. SABO, HON. ED PASTOR, HON. ALAN MOLLOHAN, AND HON. JOHN OLVER
There are many good provisions in this bill. Among the best
is Section 108, to provide Members and other employing entities
discretionary authority to offer eligible House employees
transit passes to encourage use of public transportation. This
program, permanently authorized five years ago, is used
successfully by over 31,000 employees in 139 federal agencies,
and by thousands of employees in the private sector. Here in
the Legislative Branch, the Senate, Architect of the Capitol,
and Congressional Budget Office offer this benefit, which is
paid for entirely out of existing funds and requires no
additional appropriation.
A bipartisan majority of the House has co-sponsored an
identical measure by Representative Earl Blumenauer. We believe
the House should finally implement this program so we can do
our part to ease congestion, reduce dependence on foreign oil,
and clean the air.
Steny Hoyer.
Jose E. Serrano.
Vic Fazio.
Jim Moran.
Chet Edwards.
Julian C. Dixon.
Nancy Pelosi.
Rosa L. DeLauro.
Bill Hefner.
Nita Lowey.
Allan Mollohan.
Roger F. Wicker.
Frank R. Wolf.
Marcy Kaptur.
David Price.
John Murtha.
Martin O. Sabo.
Ed Pastor.
John W. Olver.
David Obey.
Zach Wamp.