[Senate Report 106-38]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]





                                                        Calendar No. 81
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
106th Congress                                                   Report
  1st Session                      SENATE                        106-38
_______________________________________________________________________




 
              CONGRESSIONAL AWARD ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1999

                               __________

                              R E P O R T

                                 of the

                   COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

                          UNITED STATES SENATE

                              to accompany

                                 S. 380

               TO REAUTHORIZE THE CONGRESSIONAL AWARD ACT




                 March 26, 1999.--Ordered to be printed
   Filed under authority of the order of the Senate of March 25, 1999

                               --------

                    U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE                    
69-010                     WASHINGTON : 1999




                   COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS

                   FRED THOMPSON, Tennessee, Chairman

WILLIAM V. ROTH, Jr., Delaware       JOSEPH I. LIEBERMAN, Connecticut
TED STEVENS, Alaska                  CARL LEVIN, Michigan
SUSAN M. COLLINS, Maine              DANIEL K. AKAKA, Hawaii
GEORGE V. VOINOVICH, Ohio            RICHARD J. DURBIN, Illinois
PETE V. DOMENICI, New Mexico         ROBERT G. TORRICELLI, New Jersey
THAD COCHRAN, Mississippi            MAX CLELAND, Georgia
ARLEN SPECTER, Pennsylvania          JOHN EDWARDS, North Carolina
JUDD GREGG, New Hampshire

             Hannah S. Sistare, Staff Director and Counsel
                       Johanna L. Hardy, Counsel
      Joyce A. Rechtschaffen, Minority Staff Director and Counsel
                       Lynn L. Baker, Chief Clerk



                            C O N T E N T S

                              ----------                              
                                                                   Page
   I. Purpose and Summary........................................     1
  II. Background.................................................     1
 III. Legislative History........................................     3
  IV. Section-by-Section Analysis................................     3
   V. Estimated Cost of Legislation..............................     4
  VI. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact............................     5
 VII. Changes in Existing Law....................................     5



                                                        Calendar No. 81

106th Congress                                                   Report
  1st Session                    SENATE                          106-38

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



              CONGRESSIONAL AWARD ACT AMENDMENTS OF 1999
                                _______
                                

                 March 26, 1999.--Ordered to be printed

   Filed under authority of the order of the Senate of March 25, 1999

                                _______


Mr. Thompson, from the Committee on Governmental Affairs, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany S. 380]

                         I. Purpose and Summary

    The purpose of S. 380, the Congressional Award Act 
Amendments of 1999, is to reauthorize the Congressional Award 
Act, change the annual reporting date, and make changes to the 
membership requirements of the board of directors.

                             II. Background

    In 1979, Public Law 96-114, the Congressional Award Act, 
established the Congressional Award Foundation and its Board of 
Directors. It was the result of work done by both Republicans 
and Democrats. The effort was led by Senator Malcolm Wallop (R-
WY) and Representative James J. Howard (D-NJ).
    The Foundation was set up by Congress during the Carter 
Administration to administer the Congressional Award to youth 
who achieve certain goals in various areas such as public 
service, physical fitness, and expedition. The Congressional 
Award is a non-competitive award whereby youth, with the 
guidance of a mentor, establish their own goals and work to 
achieve them. Upon completion of their goals, the youth are 
presented with either a bronze, silver, or gold medal based 
upon their age group. Last year, over 1,000 youth entered into 
the program and approximately 400 youth finished the program 
and received awards. The awards are given during ceremonies 
hosted by the Foundation. At the ceremonies, the awards are 
often presented to the youth by Senators and Members of 
Congress from their respective states.
    The Foundation is a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization that 
receives no federal funds but was created and implemented by 
Congress. As a non-profit organization, the Foundation raises 
its own funds to pay for its operating expenses including 
publications, salaries, supplies, and hosting the awards 
ceremonies. The Foundation's annual operating budget usually 
falls between $350,000 and $600,000. Further, the youth who are 
recognized by the Foundation are awarded medals that are 
produced by the U.S. Mint.
    The Majority and Minority leaders of both houses select the 
board of directors that operate the Foundation. Since its 
inception, it has always been jointly supported by both 
Republicans and Democrats. The Congressional Award Act is due 
to expire October 1, 1999. It was previously reauthorized by 
Public Law 104-208.

                            Reauthorization

    S. 380 reauthorizes the Congressional Award Act through 
October 1, 2004. The following outlines the reauthorization 
history of the Congressional Award Act:
    In 1979, Congress passed H.R. 2196, the Congressional Award 
Act, which became Public Law 96-114. Public Law 96-114 
established the Congressional Award Board to administer the 
congressional award program for a 6-year period. The Act was 
then reauthorized for a 3-year period by Public Law 99-161, the 
Congressional Award Amendments of 1985. Public Law 100-674, the 
Congressional Award Act Amendments of 1988, reauthorized the 
Act for a 2-year period contingent upon the Board complying 
with the established reporting requirements. Public Law 101-
525, the Congressional Award Amendments of 1990, extended the 
Act for an additional 2-year period. Public Law 102-457, the 
Congressional Award Act Amendments of 1992, extended the Act 
for a 3-year period. More recently, Public Law 104-208 extended 
the Act for a 3-year period through October 1, 1999.

                            Annual Reporting

    S. 380 changes the annual reporting date of the Board from 
April 1 to June 1. The purpose of making this change is to 
conform the Act to what is currently done by the Board. Because 
the Comptroller General's audit report on the Foundation is not 
complete until May 15 of each year, the Board has had to 
provide interim reports on April 1 and wait until after the 
audit report to submit its official annual report. This 
amendment to the Act simply authorizes the Board to do what is 
essentially currently practiced.
    The original bill which became Public Law 96-114, required 
the Board to submit a report to Congress by March 1 of each 
year summarizing the activities of the program. Over the years, 
the reauthorization laws made amendments to the reporting 
requirement by expanding what the annual report should include, 
changing the reporting date, and requiring the Comptroller 
General to do an annual audit of the program. In 1985, Public 
Law 99-161 required the Comptroller General to audit and 
evaluate the Board at least biennially. In 1990, Public Law 
101-525 changed the Comptroller General audit to an annual 
report instead of a biennial report. Public Law 101-525 also 
changed the deadline for the Board's annual report to April 1 
instead of March 1.

                            Board Membership

    Since its inception in 1979, the Board has undergone a 
number of changes. For example, in 1983, Public Law 98-33 
expanded the number of Board members from its original number 
of 17 members to 33 members. It also set 2-year term limits. 
Since then, reauthorization bills have periodically changed the 
number of board members, the term limits, and the board 
membership requirements.
    S. 380 makes two changes to the membership requirements of 
the board of directors. The first relates to the fact that the 
Majority Leader of the Senate and the Minority Leader of the 
House each choose six board members, one of which must be a 
``member of the Congressional Award Association.'' The 
amendment substitutes ``recipient of the Congressional Award'' 
for ``member of the Congressional Award Association.'' The 
purpose of the change is to conform the Act to what has been 
done in practice. The Congressional Award Association was to be 
an entity made up of Congressional Award recipients. The 
Association was never formed. Instead, the members of the board 
have been picked from Congressional Award recipients instead of 
members of an Association.
    The second change relates to the fact that the Minority 
Leader of the Senate and the Speaker of the House each choose 
six board members, one of which must be ``a representative of a 
local Congressional Award Council.'' The amendment substitutes 
``a local Congressional Award program volunteer'' for ``a 
representative of a local Congressional Award Council.'' This 
change was done to allow for more participation at the local 
level, to give the Minority Leader of the Senate and the 
Speaker of the House more of a selection, and to allow local 
communities which do not have a local Congressional Award 
Council to participate.

                        III. Legislative History

    S. 380 was introduced in the Senate by Senator Larry Craig
(R-ID) on February 4, 1999 for himself and Senators Baucus, 
Frist, Thompson, Brownback, Helms, Enzi, Thomas, Sessions, 
Allard, Crapo, Ashcroft, Burns, Inhofe, Cochran, Lott, Gregg, 
Murkowski, Daschle, Dodd, Inouye, Akaka, Lieberman, Levin, 
Boxer, Kerrey, Johnson, and Edwards. S. 380 was referred to the 
Committee on Governmental Affairs on that same day.
    The Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs considered S. 
380 on March 4, 1999. The Committee voted to order the bill 
reported by voice vote.

                    IV. Section-by-Section Analysis

    Section 1, paragraph (a) changes the annual reporting date 
from April 1 to June 1.
    Section 1, paragraph (b) changes the membership 
requirements of the board by substituting ``recipient of the 
Congressional Award'' for ``member of the Congressional Award 
Association'' and substitutes ``a local Congressional Award 
program volunteer'' for ``re representative of a local 
Congressional Award Council.''
    Section 1, paragraph (c) extends the monitoring by the 
Comptroller General of the fiscal controls and fund accounting 
procedures through 2004.
    Section 1, paragraph (d) reauthorizes the Act through 
October 1, 2004.

                    V. Estimated Cost of Legislation

                                     U.S. Congress,
                               Congressional Budget Office,
                                    Washington, DC, March 12, 1999.
Hon. Fred D. Thompson,
Chairman, Committee on Governmental Affairs,
U.S. Senate, Washington, DC.
    Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has 
prepared the enclosed cost estimate for S. 380, a bill to 
reauthorize the Congressional Award Act.
    If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be 
pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is John R. 
Righter.
            Sincerely,
                                          Barry B. Anderson
                                    (For Dan L. Crippen, Director).
    Enclosure.

S. 380--A bill to reauthorize the Congressional Award Act

    S. 380 would reauthorize the Congressional Award Act for 
fiscal years 2000 through 2004. CBO estimates that implementing 
S. 380 would cost less than $500,000 a year in appropriated 
funds. In addition, by requiring the U.S. Mint to design and 
strike medals at the request of the Congressional Award Board, 
S. 380 would increase direct spending by less than $500,000 a 
year. Consequently, pay-as-you-go procedures would apply to the 
bill. S. 380 contains no intergovernmental or private-sector 
mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and 
would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments.
    The Congressional Award Program recognizes excellence in 
public service and personal development among young people. The 
program is overseen by the Congressional Award Board, a 
nonprofit organization that receives no federal funding. Under 
S. 380, the board could continue to receive in-kind services 
from the federal government. These services include free office 
space in the Ford House Office Building, including maintenance 
and utilities, and the performance of an annual audit by the 
General Accounting Office. CBO estimates that the board's 
continued use of such services would cost less than $500,000 a 
year in appropriated funds.
    The young people recognized by the Congressional Award 
Program are awarded medals produced by the U.S. Mint. The Mint 
finances the cost of these medals through its public enterprise 
fund, a mandatory account. Based on information from the board 
and the Mint, CBO estimates that reauthorizing the program 
would increase direct spending by less than $500,000 in each of 
fiscal years 2000 through 2004.
    The CBO staff contact is John R. Righter. This estimate was 
approved by Robert A. Sunshine, Deputy Assistant Director for 
Budget Analysis.

                  VI. Evaluation of Regulatory Impact

    Pursuant to the requirements of paragraph 11(b) of rule 
XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate, the Committee has 
considered the regulatory impact of this bill. The enactment of 
this legislation will not have a significant regulatory impact.

                      VII. Changes in Existing Law

    In compliance with paragraph 12 of rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate, 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 and existing law, in which no 
change is proposed, is shown in roman):

                           UNITED STATES CODE

                         TITLE 2, THE CONGRESS

                CHAPTER 19--CONGRESSIONAL AWARD PROGRAM

Sec. 802. Congressional Award Program

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


    (e) Annual Reporting Requirements. The Board shall prepare 
and submit an annual report to the Congress before [April 1] 
June 1 of each year summarizing the activities of the 
Congressional Award Program during the previous year and making 
appropriate recommendation. Any minority views and 
recommendations of members of the Board shall be included in 
such reports. The annual report shall contain the following 
items: * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


Sec. 803. Membership of the Board

    (a) Membership; composition; appointment criteria; 
derivation of appointment.
          (1) The Board shall consist of 25 members, as 
        follows:
                  (A) Six members appointed by the majority 
                leader of the Senate, 1 of whom shall be a 
                [member of the Congressional Award Association] 
                recipient of the Congressional Award.
                  (B) Six Members appointed by the minority 
                leader of the Senate, 1 of whom shall be a 
                [representation of a local Congressional Award 
                Council] local Congressional Award program 
                volunteer.
                  (C) Six members appointed by the Speaker of 
                the House of Representatives, 1 of whom shall 
                be a representative of a [local Congressional 
                Award Council] local Congressional Award 
                program volunteer.
                  (D) Six members appointed by the minority 
                leader of the House of Representatives, 1 of 
                whom shall be a [member of the Congressional 
                Award Association] recipient of the 
                Congressional Award.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


Sec. 804. Director of program; status; appointment and term; removal; 
                    functions

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


    (c)(1) The Director shall, in consultation with the Board, 
ensure that appropriate procedures for fiscal control and fund 
accounting are established for the financial operations of the 
Congressional Award Program, and that such operations are 
administered by personnel with expertise in accounting and 
financial management. Such personnel may be retained under 
contract. * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

    (2)(A) The Comptroller General of the United States shall 
determine, for calendar years 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 1997, 
[and 1998] 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, and 2004, 
whether the Director has substantially complied with paragraph 
(1). * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


Sec. 808. Termination

    The Board shall terminate [October 1, 1999] October 1, 
2004.

                                
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