[Senate Report 106-164]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]



                                                       Calendar No. 289
106th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE
 1st Session                                                    106-164

======================================================================



 
          AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURES BY COMMITTEES OF THE SENATE

                                _______
                                

               September 27, 1999.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______


    Mr. McConnell, from the Committee on Rules and Administration, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                       [To accompany S. Res. 189]

    The Committee on Rules and Administration, to which was 
referred the following Senate Resolutions: 129, 138, 139, 142, 
143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 149, 150, 151, 152, 154, 155, 156 
and 159 reports, in lieu thereof, an original resolution, 
authorizing expenditures by committees of the Senate for the 
periods October 1, 1999, through September 30, 2000, and 
October 1, 2000, through February 28, 2001, incorporating the 
provisions of the foregoing resolutions and recommends that the 
resolution be agreed to.

                          Chairman's Statement

    Since 1989, this Committee has adopted a biennial funding 
authorization for committees of the Senate. This policy has 
received strong support from the committee chairmen and ranking 
members.
    Unique circumstances, affecting the committee budget 
process faced the Senate as the 106th Congress convened, 
arising from the need to deal with Y2K computer matters before 
the close of 1999. To this end, the Senate transitioned to a 
new Financial Management System (FMIS). This system is designed 
to conform to the Federal Government's fiscal year which runs 
from October 1 through September 30. Consequently, 
modifications to the Committee funding process (in which budget 
years begin on March 1) were necessary to reflect the Federal 
fiscal year for accounting purposes.
    In order to make the transition as seamless as possible, 
the Senate agreed to S. Res. 38 on February 12, 1999, which 
authorized the Committee on Rules and Administration to report 
a continuing resolution authorizing Senate committee 
expenditures for the period March 1, 1999, through September 
30, 1999. The Rules Committee reported and the Senate passed S. 
Res. 49 which continued to fund committees at the 1998 level 
plus the January 1999 cost of living adjustment (COLA) of 3.1% 
authorized by the President pro tempore for the period March 1, 
1999 through September 30, 1999.
    On June 14, 1999, the Senate agreed to S. Res. 122 which: 
(1) required the committees of the Senate to report, no later 
than July 15, 1999, a funding resolution for the period October 
1, 1999 through February 28, 2001; and (2) authorized the Rules 
Committee to report an omnibus funding resolution for the same 
period.
    The implementation of FMIS requires that committees submit 
budgets that conform to the government's fiscal year. S. Res. 
49 funded committees for the seven-month period of March 1, 
1999 through September 30, 1999. Committee budgets must 
continue to be authorized for accounting purposes within the 
two remaining applicable government fiscal years. Thus, this 
omnibus funding resolution authorizes FY2000 beginning October 
1, 1999 and ending September 30, 2000 (12 months) and FY2001 
beginning October 1, 2000, and ending February 28, 2001 (5 
months).
    The total funding target for FY2000 and FY2001 is 100% of 
the 1998 recurring budget authority as funded by S. Res. 54, 
agreed to February 13, 1997, and as amended by P.L. 105-55, 
plus the January 1999 3.1% COLA for salaries. In addition, 
committees were allowed to budget for the January 2000 COLA at 
3.9% and the January 2001 COLA at 3.9%.
    It is the intent of the Committee on Rules and 
Administration that amounts included in the various committee 
budgets for COLAs beginning January 2000 and January and 
February of 2001 shall be used only for COLAs authorized by the 
order of the President pro tempore of the Senate pursuant to 2 
U.S.C. 60a-1.
    The Rules Committee has authorized the use of unexpended 
funds in some form since 1989. In 1991, this committee informed 
Senate committees in Senate Report 102-15, and during the 
debate of that resolution, that the policy adopted would permit 
committees to retain 50 percent of their unexpended funds as of 
February 28, 1993, to cover non-recurring needs that enhance 
efficiency in the committee. When S. Res. 71, the omnibus 
committee funding resolution for the 103d Congress, was 
considered by the Senate, it was amended to contain language 
that no committee of the Senate may carry over an unexpended 
balance beyond March 1, 1995. S. Res. 54 (105th Congress) did 
not permit committees to carry forward funds but did continue 
to provide a special reserve into which the unexpended balances 
of the committees were transferred, after obligations incurred 
during the funding period ended were paid.
    The purpose of the special reserve was to fund special, 
unanticipated, non-recurring needs of committees. Consideration 
was given only to such committees whose Chairman and Ranking 
Member submitted a request to be approved by the Chairman and 
Ranking Member of the Committee on Rules and Administration.
    In order to preserve the flexibility of the Committee to 
meet the unforeseen needs of Senate committees, this resolution 
continues the practice of making special reserve funding 
available to requesting committees. The Committee intends that 
requests for such funds will continue to be considered when 
submitted by the Chairman and Ranking Member of a committee and 
with the joint approval of the Chairman and Ranking Member of 
the Rules Committee.
    The recommendations contained in this resolution allow for 
adjustments among committees which have absorbed budget cuts of 
up to 25%, or been frozen, in the past seven years. The 
majority of committees contained in this resolution have 
standstill budgets for FY2000 plus COLAs.
    This Committee continues, however, to demonstrate the 
resolve that it has in holding down committee spending overall. 
This resolution is one that should be adopted by the full 
Senate.


                               Background

    The Committee on Rules and Administration held hearings on 
August 4, 1999, to receive testimony from chairmen and ranking 
minority members of Senate committees that reported a funding 
resolution exceeding Rules Committee guidelines. The Committee 
then held a markup on September 15, 1999, and reported an 
original resolution authorizing expenditures by committees for 
the remaining 17 months of the biennial Committee funding 
period. This ``omnibus'' funding resolution in the amount of 
$52,933,922 for the 12-month period of FY2000 (October 1, 1999 
through September 30, 2000); and $22,534,293 for the 5-month 
period of FY2001 (October 1, 2000 through February 28, 2001) 
was reported in lieu of the following resolutions which were 
reported by the Senate committees in conformance with paragraph 
9 of Rule XXVI and referred to the Rules Committee: Senate 
Resolutions 129, 138, 139, 142, 143, 144, 145, 146, 147, 148, 
149, 150, 151, 152, 154, 155, 156, and 159.
    S. Res. 49, agreed to on Feb. 24, 1999, as a continuing 
funding resolution for Senate committees for the seven-month 
period of March 1, 1999 through September 30, 1999, funded 
committees at the 1998 level, plus the 3.1% COLA authorized by 
the President pro tempore. The funding target for this FY2000-
2001 Omnibus Committee Funding Resolution is 100 percent of the 
1998 recurring budget authority which was funded in S. Res. 54, 
105th Congress, as amended by P.L. 105-55, increased by the 
3.1% COLA authorized in S. Res. 49, and adding a 3.9% COLA 
beginning in January 2000. There is also a 3.9% COLA for 
January and February 2001.
    Committees have also been put on notice that any overtime 
costs mandated by the Congressional Accountability Act must be 
absorbed within salary baselines.
    To facilitate the consideration of committee funding 
requests during this unique transition period, the Rules 
Committee allowed committees whose budget requests followed 
guidelines not be required to testify before the Rules 
Committee. The following 11 committees conformed to the 
guidelines: Banking, Budget, Commerce, Energy, Environment, 
Governmental Affairs, HELP, Judiciary, Rules, Veterans' 
Affairs, and Indian Affairs.
    The Committee on Appropriations is now funded in 
legislative branch appropriations acts pursuant to Public Law 
105-275.
    The Chairmen and Ranking Members of committees requesting 
funds in excess of these guidelines were invited to testify 
before the Rules Committee and include as part of their budget 
submission a full justification for such exception.
    Those committees included:
    Agriculture: Requested an additional $184,354 for the 
salary baseline to fund additional subcommittee staff 
positions.
    Armed Services: Requested an additional $795,468 for five 
additional staff positions. The Committee has reorganized the 
subcommittee structure and expanded their membership and 
support staff; in order to strengthen their ability to carry 
out the Committee's oversight responsibilities, they cite the 
need for a limited investigative staff; and finally, the budget 
request states that over the last few years, the Committee's 
most pressing requirements have been met with supplemental 
funding which is insufficient to meet current committee salary 
requirements on a recurring basis.
    Finance: Requested an additional $411,700 to be included in 
the salary baseline to fund four professional staff positions 
for the continuation of its oversight and investigative role 
which had been authorized and funded on a non-recurring basis 
in S. Res. 54 (105th Congress, 1st Session).
    Foreign Relations: Requested an additional $150,957 to 
accommodate the addition of a staff director's salary to the 
Committee budget and the one-third increase to the minority as 
required by Rule XXVII of the Standing Rules of the Senate. The 
former staff director of the Committee accepted only the 
minimum Senate salary.
    Small Business: Requested an additional $129,925 to provide 
funds for consultants and training expenses and to increase the 
number of full-time employees by one minority staff.
    Intelligence: Requested an additional $325,793 to increase 
the salary baseline for four positions that were funded on a 
non-recurring basis in S. Res. 54 (105th Congress, 1st 
Session); and to maintain a segregated consultant fund for 
Technical Advisory Group (TAG) expenses.
    Aging: Requested an additional $205,850 to increase the 
salary baseline for three additional staff positions in order 
to recruit and retain senior staff to continue its oversight 
and investigations program, continue work on major entitlement 
programs, continue emphasis on education on important policy 
issues of congressional staff, the policy community, and the 
general public through forums, workshops, and briefings.


    At the markup on September 15, 1999, the Rules Committee 
recommended that all committee budget requests be fully funded.

                       Cost-of-Living Adjustments

    It is the intent of the Committee on Rules and 
Administration that amounts included in the various committee 
budgets for COLAs for FY2000 and FY2001 shall be used only for 
COLAs authorized by the order of the President pro tempore of 
the Senate pursuant to section 4 of the Federal Pay 
Comparability Act of 1970 (2 U.S.C. 60a-1).
    If the President pro tempore does not authorize the COLAs 
for FY2000 and FY2001, funds authorized for that purpose by 
this resolution may not be expended. If, however, the COLA 
authorized exceeds the 3.9% budgeted in this resolution, it may 
be necessary for committees to absorb the difference.

                        Stationery Room Expenses

    Effective March 1, 1988, under the provision of Section 
2(c)(3) of S. Res. 381, agreed to February 26, 1988, expenses 
are certified and paid in the same manner as official long 
distance phone calls for Senate committees. This change has 
brought committee procedure in conformity with the 
certification and payment process now in effect for Members' 
personal offices.
    This method of payment only permits the certification of 
authorized purchases of official office supplies that would be 
in order for approval if vouchered separately.

                          Official Mail Costs

    Pursuant to section 10 of Pub. L. 101-520, 101st Congress, 
2nd Session, committees funded by this resolution were granted 
the authority to send official mail, other than franked mail, 
through the Senate post office and to have the cost of such 
mail certified to their official office expense accounts in a 
manner similar to the purchase of supplies from the Senate 
stationery store. Public Law 105-55, the 1998 Legislative 
Branch Appropriations Act, changed the manner in which official 
mail costs are paid. Beginning in October, 1998 and continuing 
for FY2000 and FY2001, committees are provided additional funds 
for official mail and the costs incurred are charged directly 
to each committee.
    The 60-day pre-election moratorium on mass mailings does 
not apply to a committee when such mass mailings are mailed 
under the frank of the chairman and relate to the normal and 
regular business of the committee.

                 Metered Charges for Copying Equipment

    To reduce paperwork and expedite payments, the Sergeant at 
Arms has requested that vouchers not be required for the 
payment of metered charges for copying equipment. Expenses 
associated with metered charges for copying equipment will be 
certified and paid in the same manner as official long distance 
phone calls for Senate committees. This change has brought 
committee procedure in conformity with the certification and 
payment process now in effect for Members' personal offices 
authorized by section 4 of Pub. L. 101-520, 101st Congress, 
second session, (2 U.S.C. 58(a), as amended).

               Senate Recording and Photographic Services

    In accordance with 2 U.S.C. 123b and the regulations 
promulgated by the Committee on Rules and Administration on 
June 17, 1992, official expenses incurred by a committee at the 
Senate Recording and Photographic Studios may be certified and 
paid in the same manner as stationery supplies purchased from 
the Senate Stationery Room. ``Official expenses'' has the 
meaning given to it by Interpretative Ruling No. 442, issued 
April 15, 1992, by the Select Committee on Ethics.

                          Printing and Binding

    Committee expenditures for printing and binding continue to 
be a substantial cost to the Senate. Such costs include both 
the costs of printing the documents, and the costs of preparing 
the manuscripts by GPO's detailed personnel. Although printing 
and binding funds are not included in individual committee 
budgets, wise use of the funds provided through Legislative 
Branch Appropriations is a serious concern to the Rules 
Committee.
    The increase in printing and binding costs observed from 
the 104th to the 105th Congress reflects the effect of an 
increase in the rates billed to Congress for document printing 
and detailed personnel. Continued efforts by committees to 
effect efficiencies in their printing operations have helped to 
offset the impact of this rate increase on overall costs.
    Overtime charges incurred by committees who have GPO detail 
printers have been reduced from $628,616 in the 102d Congress 
to $541,610 in the 105th Congress, a reduction of 14 percent. 
The cost of overtime charges is of continuing concern to this 
committee. We especially urge those committees who incur 
overtime charges on a continuing basis to evaluate their 
printing operations, with an eye to minimizing printer's 
overtime except on a temporary basis when the extraordinary 
cost can be justifiedby the need for timely delivery of the 
committee's legislative papers.
    It is the intent of this committee that Senate committees 
adhere strictly to the provisions of Title 44 governing the 
printing and binding of documents.
    A committee may not procure more than 300 copies of a 
hearing or other document germane thereto except as authorized 
by 44 U.S.C. 703. That section provides that extra copies not 
exceeding $700 in cost may be obtained upon an order of the 
Joint Committee on Printing; extra copies at a cost of $700 to 
$1,200 must be authorized by simple resolution of the Senate; 
and cost exceeding $1,200 requires approval of both houses of 
Congress upon concurrent or joint resolution. Such resolutions 
requesting printing are referred to the Committee on Rules and 
Administration.
    ``Extra copies'' means additional numbers ordered at the 
time of original printing. Reprinting a document at a later 
time must be treated as a new publication.


                           Detailed Employees

    Sections 2 through 19 of the omnibus resolution includes 
specific authorizing language on the use of detailed employees 
on either a reimbursable, or non-reimbursable, basis. This 
language, which has been included in the previous biennial 
funding resolutions, continues the practice that permits the 
detail or assignment of personnel from departments or agencies 
of the government to the staff of a committee without 
reimbursement of that person's salary. The Committee on Rules 
and Administration intends that government employees, whose pay 
is disbursed by an agency of the Federal government and who is 
detailed or assigned to a committee under a fellowship program, 
must comply with Rule 27, paragraph 4, of the Standing Rules of 
the Senate.
    In addition, S. Res. 77 (79th Congress, 1st Session) will 
continue to apply to the use by a committee of assigned or 
detailed personnel on a reimbursement basis. The prior consent 
of the Government department or agency concerned and the 
Committee on Rules and Administration will be required with 
regard to the use of all such personnel, whether on a 
reimbursable or non-reimbursable basis pursuant to Standing 
Rule XXVII paragraph 4.

                                DETAILEES
                   [March 1, 1997--February 28, 1999]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                   Period       Period
                    Agency                         Begins        Ends
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                         Committee: Agriculture

GAO...........................................     03/01/97     01/31/98
GAO...........................................     02/09/98     08/01/98
Department of Agriculture.....................     12/16/97     08/14/98
Department of Agriculture.....................     09/08/97     02/10/98

                        Committee: Appropriations

Department of Transportation, Coast Guard.....     09/15/97     02/28/98
Department of Transportation, Coast Guard.....     03/01/97     09/30/97
Department of Transportation..................     06/05/97     08/01/97
Department of Agriculture.....................     06/01/98     02/28/99
Department of Agriculture.....................     03/01/97     12/31/97
Department of Agriculture.....................     03/16/98     10/09/98
Department of the Interior....................     02/23/98     12/31/98
Department of the Interior....................     02/13/98     12/31/98
Department of Justice.........................     03/02/98     10/09/98
Department of Housing and Urban Develop.......     02/23/98     10/31/98
Department of Health and Human Services.......     02/23/98     11/23/98
Department of Health and Human Services.......     03/01/97     12/31/98
Department of Health and Human Services.......     03/01/97     02/28/99
General Accounting Office.....................     03/01/97     10/15/97
General Accounting Office.....................     01/27/98     09/30/98
Department of Labor...........................     03/01/97     12/31/98
Department of Treasury........................     03/01/97     12/31/97
Department of Treasury........................     04/21/97     12/31/97
Department of Treasury........................     03/15/98     12/31/98
Department of Defense.........................     07/01/97     10/30/97
Department of Defense, U.S. Air Force.........     03/01/97     11/14/97
Office of Management and Budget...............     03/03/97     09/05/97
General Services Administration...............     03/01/97     12/31/97
National Oceanic Atmospheric Admin............     03/03/97     12/31/97

                           Committee: Banking

FDIC..........................................     01/26/98     12/18/98
GAO...........................................     04/24/97     05/05/98
GAO...........................................     07/13/98     10/13/98
HUD...........................................     03/03/97     12/31/97
Office of Thrift Supervision..................     03/03/97     12/31/98
Farm Credit Administration....................     05/27/97     11/27/97
Department of Transportation..................     03/01/97     08/01/98

                            Committee: Budget

Department of Energy..........................     03/01/97     08/28/97

                           Committee: Commerce

Department of Energy..........................     03/03/97     03/02/98
National Science Foundation...................     06/30/97     06/28/98
Department of Transportation..................     03/10/97     07/04/97
Dept. of Transportation, U.S. Coast Guard.....     08/25/97     02/28/99
GAO...........................................     05/05/97     05/04/98

                            Committee: Energy

Department of Energy..........................     05/26/98     10/31/98
Department of Energy..........................     01/05/98     10/30/98
Department of Energy..........................     01/05/98     02/28/99
Department of the Interior....................     03/01/97     12/31/97
Department of the Interior....................     02/03/98     12/31/98
Department of Commerce........................     09/02/97     10/30/98

                         Committee: Environment

Department of Energy..........................     03/01/97     05/05/98
Department of Defense.........................     02/02/98     12/31/98
Office of Management and Budget...............     03/16/98     07/20/98
Department of Transportation..................     03/01/97     10/09/98

                           Committee: Finance

Department of the Treasury....................     11/10/97     12/31/98
Department of the Treasury, IRS...............     02/05/99     02/28/99
Department of the Treasury, IRS...............     10/13/98     11/30/98
Department of the Treasury, IRS...............     08/01/98     08/30/98
Department of the Treasury, IRS...............     12/10/98     01/31/99
Department of the Treasury....................     03/01/97     12/15/97
Department of the Treasury....................     06/24/97     12/01/97
Department of the Treasury, U.S. Customs......     12/15/98     02/28/99
Department of the Treasury....................     11/10/97     03/31/98
HHS...........................................     06/03/97     09/30/97
Department of Agriculture.....................     02/02/98     09/02/98
GAO...........................................     12/01/97     03/31/98
GAO...........................................     02/01/99     02/28/99

                      Committee: Foreign Relations

Department of Defense.........................     02/09/98     07/09/98
Department of Justice.........................     06/15/98     10/15/98
Department of State...........................     08/03/98     02/28/99
Department of State...........................     08/18/97     08/17/98

                     Committee: Governmental Affairs

Department of Justice.........................     04/29/97     10/29/97
Department of Justice.........................     04/29/97     10/29/97
Department of Justice.........................     04/29/97     10/29/97
Department of Justice.........................     04/29/97     10/29/97
Department of Justice.........................     04/29/97     10/29/97
Department of Justice.........................     04/29/97     10/29/97
Department of Justice.........................     04/29/97     10/29/97
Department of Justice.........................     04/29/97     10/29/97
GAO...........................................     04/16/97     12/31/97
GAO...........................................     05/21/97     12/31/97
GAO...........................................     09/29/97     09/29/98
GAO...........................................     02/11/98     10/30/98
GAO...........................................     10/19/98     01/01/99
GAO...........................................     10/13/98     12/13/98
HHS...........................................     06/16/97     12/16/97
HHS, Inspector General's Office...............     01/05/98     01/29/99
HHS, Inspector General's Office...............     12/07/98     02/28/99
Department of the Treasury....................     07/20/97     06/12/98
Department of the Treasury, Secret Service....     06/07/98     12/31/98
Department of Defense.........................     03/31/97     12/31/97

                            Committee: HEL&P

HHS...........................................     07/27/98     12/30/98
HHS...........................................     01/26/98     10/16/98
HHS...........................................     01/27/98     10/31/98
HHS...........................................     11/01/97     01/01/98
HHS...........................................     11/01/97     01/30/98
HHS...........................................     11/01/97     01/01/98
HHS...........................................     02/19/98     10/19/98
HHS...........................................     06/01/98     11/30/98
HHS...........................................     03/03/98     10/09/98
HHS...........................................     04/06/98     10/16/98
Department of Education.......................     03/01/97     05/31/97
Department of Education.......................     06/01/98     02/28/99
Department of Education.......................     10/17/97     11/17/97
Department of Education.......................     01/20/98     07/20/98
Department of Education.......................     02/02/98     10/30/98
Department of Education.......................     10/07/97     01/06/98
Department of Labor...........................     09/10/98     10/16/98
Department of Labor...........................     03/03/97     03/03/98
SSA...........................................     06/08/98     02/28/99
OMB...........................................     06/08/98     07/31/98

                         Committee: Intelligence

Central Intelligence Agency...................     12/09/98     12/23/98
Central Intelligence Agency...................     12/09/98     12/23/98
Central Intelligence Agency...................     12/09/98     12/23/98

                          Committee: Judiciary

Department of Justice.........................     03/16/98     10/30/98
Department of Justice.........................     04/15/98     02/28/99
Department of Justice.........................     04/06/98     10/06/98
Department of Justice.........................     02/06/98     04/22/98
Department of Justice.........................     06/01/98     02/28/99
Department of Justice.........................     07/16/97     07/15/98
Department of Justice.........................     04/14/97     12/31/97
Department of Justice.........................     05/27/97     12/31/97
Department of Justice.........................     04/17/97     06/30/97
Department of Justice.........................     03/01/97     02/24/98
Department of Justice.........................     06/16/98     02/28/99
Department of the Treasury, Secret Service....     06/01/98     12/31/98
Department of the Treasury....................     02/06/98     12/31/98
Department of the Treasury....................     02/05/98     06/05/98
National Communications System................     02/09/98     05/25/98
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission.......     06/15/98     08/03/98
Department of Defense.........................     03/12/98     11/30/98
Department of Defense.........................     02/01/98     02/28/99
Department of Defense.........................     08/29/97     11/30/97
Department of Education.......................     03/31/97     06/30/97
Department of State...........................     01/01/98     05/29/98
NASA..........................................     01/01/98     11/30/98
EEOC..........................................     03/19/98     02/15/99

                            Committee: Rules

GAO...........................................     09/07/97     09/19/97
GAO...........................................     05/30/97     07/31/97
GAO...........................................     08/25/97     09/30/97
GAO...........................................     08/25/97     09/30/97
GAO...........................................     09/08/97     09/19/97
GAO...........................................     08/25/97     09/30/97
Department of Justice.........................     06/09/97     06/27/97
Department of Justice.........................     06/09/97     06/27/97

                        Committee: Small Business

SBA...........................................     08/31/98     10/29/98
SBA...........................................     03/03/97     09/30/97
SBA...........................................     05/12/97     08/08/97
Department of Defense.........................     01/26/98     08/07/98
Department of Defense.........................     03/01/97     12/31/97

                      Committee: Veterans' Affairs

VA............................................     05/05/97     05/01/98
VA............................................     04/21/97     10/31/98
VA............................................     04/21/97     04/19/98
VA............................................     08/03/97     01/31/99
VA............................................     04/21/97     04/19/98
VA............................................     08/04/97     05/15/98
VA............................................     09/02/97     05/01/98
HHS...........................................     06/02/97     05/31/98
EPA...........................................     03/01/97     04/30/98
GAO...........................................     04/21/97     04/20/98
NASA..........................................     03/01/97     10/09/98
Department of Defense.........................     04/28/97     04/27/98
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                            Special Reserve

    This resolution establishes within the funds in the account 
``Expenses of Inquiries and Investigations'' appropriated by 
the legislative branch appropriation Act for fiscal years 2000 
and 2001, a special reserve fund. This fund is available to any 
committee funded by this resolution on the basis of special, 
unforeseen, non-recurring needs of that committee during the 
funding periods, and at the request of the Chairman and Ranking 
Member of that committee subject to the approval of the 
Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Rules and 
Administration. The amount available in this special reserve is 
based on the percentage of funds approved for special reserves 
in previous Congresses from total funds authorized for 
committees.

                Financial Management Information System

    The Committee on Rules and Administration authorized a new 
comprehensive and integrated accounting system to be 
implemented Senate-wide. This was designed to assist committees 
in budget forecasting, allocating dollars by expense category 
and office sub-categories, posting expenses incurred, 
requesting reports by expense category or office, and 
reconciling with the Disbursing Office. It is the Committee's 
intent that each committee funded by this resolution shall use 
FMIS to account for funds authorized by this resolution.

                Legislative Review by Senate Committees

    Rule XXVI, section 8b of the Standing Rules of the Senate 
requires that, in each odd-numbered year, each committee shall 
submit to the Senate, not later than March 31, a report on the 
activities of that committee during the Congress ending at noon 
on January 3 of such year.

                      Housing for Committee Staff

    It remains the policy and is expected by the Committee on 
Rules and Administration that staff paid by committee funds be 
housed in committee space.
    With the opening of the Hart Building in 1983, the 
Committee on Rules and Administration implemented the policy of 
providing 140 square feet for each budgeted full-time staff 
member as a goal. This policy has been reaffirmed and approved 
in each subsequent Congress.
    Space allocations will be based on authorized committee 
staff and detailees approved by the Committee on Rules and 
Administration.
    Due to the constraints of the renovation of the Dirksen 
Senate Office Building, the committee emphasizes that any 
additional staff authorized in FY2000 committee budgets must be 
housed in existing committee space.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Number FTE
                                           Total number      employees
                Committee                 of square feet     budgeted
                                                              FY2000
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agriculture.............................           6,173              37
Armed Services..........................           9,326              52
Banking.................................           8,709              43
Budget..................................          12,192              48
Commerce................................          11,994              70
Energy..................................           8,845              43
Environment.............................           8,620              48
Finance.................................           8,856              53
Foreign Relations.......................           9,937              51
Governmental Affairs....................          20,609             100
Health, Education, Labor & Pensions.....          19,687              73
Judiciary...............................          21,135             105
Rules...................................           5,381              25
Small Business..........................           3,711              22
Veterans' Affairs.......................           4,437              22
Aging...................................           4,160              26
Intelligence............................           9,183              32
Indian Affairs..........................           3,538             20
------------------------------------------------------------------------
The numbers for square feet include all private offices, staff/support
  offices, reception rooms, file rooms, conference rooms, ``copy'' rooms
  and ante rooms. Not included are bathrooms, secondary corridors,
  closets and hearing rooms.

                      Committee Computer Resources

    The Committee office automation requests for fiscal years 
2000 and 2001 were reduced to meet the Sergeant at Arms funding 
levels and to assist the Committee on Rules and Administration 
in managing the operating costs of these committees. Factors 
considered in making these allocations included: the current 
status of each committee's computing capacity; the age of the 
existing technology; the number of authorized committee staff 
and budgeted details; the number of computers replaced under 
the Sergeant at Arms Y2K initiative; and, previous computer 
expenditures.
    Computer resources will only be provided to staff and 
detailees as identified in the committee budget submission and 
as approved by the Committee on Rules and Administration. Any 
computer resources needed for staff or detailees not identified 
in the committee's budget submission will be at committee 
expense, to include all maintenance, service, and support.
    Committees listed below may begin working directly with the 
Sergeant at Arms and the Computer Center in implementing their 
plans, as long as the items requested meet the definition of 
standard Senate computer products.
    This funding reduction may mean that committees will not be 
able to employ the latest hardware and software as soon as they 
become available over the next two years.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                            Committee                                  FY00            FY01           Totals
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aging...........................................................          $5,200          $5,200         $10,400
Agriculture.....................................................          48,500          24,000          72,500
Armed Services..................................................          71,800          14,800          86,600
Banking.........................................................          65,250          35,750         101,000
Budget..........................................................          55,050          26,000          81,050
Commerce........................................................          87,207          71,500         158,707
Energy..........................................................          41,000          54,091          95,091
Environment.....................................................          29,036          25,374          54,410
Finance.........................................................          87,000          21,000         108,000
Foreign Relations...............................................          76,879          64,949         141,828
Governmental Affairs............................................         210,000          16,300         226,300
Health, Education, Labor & Pensions.............................         128,745          30,000         158,745
Indian Affairs..................................................          34,045          24,900          58,945
Intelligence....................................................          70,434          44,750         115,184
Judiciary.......................................................         199,000          23,200         222,200
Rules...........................................................           9,000          10,680          19,680
Small Business..................................................          52,000          15,000          67,000
Veterans' Affairs...............................................          42,978          10,333          53,311
                                                                 -----------------------------------------------
      Totals....................................................      $1,313,124        $517,827      $1,830,951
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                              Consultants

    This resolution specifies the funding that is made 
available to hire consultants, as otherwise authorized by 
statute.

                    Committee Legislative Assistance

    The Rules Committee has received inquiries regarding staff 
representatives on committees as authorized by P.L. 95-94. With 
respect to including funds for Legislative Assistance, the 
Rules Committee position is that these are funded in Members' 
personal office accounts to assist with committee duties.

                        Consideration at Markup

    The Committee carefully evaluated the needs and 
responsibilities of each committee, including both written and 
oral testimony. The recommendation of the Committee in S. Res. 
189 falls within the funds made available in the FY2000 
appropriation account.

                             Committee Vote

    The Committee on Rules and Administration ordered this 
resolution to be favorably reported by voice vote. No member 
voted no and no proxies were cast.
    Members present: Chairman McConnell, Senator Warner, 
Senator Cochran, Senator Nickles, Senator Lott, Senator 
Hutchison, Senator Dodd, Senator Byrd, and Senator Feinstein. 
Senator Helms voted ``aye'' prior to the establishment of the 
quorum.

                                  
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