[House Report 110-924]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]




                                                 Union Calendar No. 597

110th Congress                                                   Report
 2d Session             HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES                110-924
_______________________________________________________________________

                        REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES

                                 of the

                   COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION

                                 of the

                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

                               during the

                       ONE HUNDRED TENTH CONGRESS

             


 December 29, 2008.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on 
            the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                 ------
                       U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
79-006                        WASHINGTON : 2008






                          LETTER OF SUBMITTAL

                              ----------                              

                          House of Representatives,
                         Committee on House Administration,
                                 Washington, DC, December 29, 2008.
Hon. Lorraine Miller,
Clerk of the House of Representatives,
Washington, DC.
    Dear Ms. Miller: Pursuant to clause 1(d) of Rule XI of the 
Rules of the House of Representatives, I hereby submit to the 
House a report on the activities of the Committee on House 
Administration for the 110th Congress.
            Sincerely,
                                           Robert A. Brady,
                                                         Chairman. 


                                                 Union Calendar No. 597
110th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 2d Session                                                     110-924

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



 
   REPORT ON THE ACTIVITIES OF THE COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION 
                       DURING THE 110TH CONGRESS

                                _______
                                

 December 29, 2008.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on 
            the State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Brady, from the Committee on House Administration, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                              Introduction

    In the 110th Congress, the Committee on House 
Administration undertook to increase Member oversight of the 
activities of the legislative branch agencies, with an emphasis 
on providing public information regarding matters within the 
Committee's responsibility, and ensuring bipartisan 
participation in all aspects of House oversight. The Committee 
strove to reinvigorate its role in oversight of the officers of 
the House, the Architect of the Capitol, the U.S. Capitol 
Police, and others. In addition, the Committee re-dedicated 
itself to ensuring that House policies promote effective 
legislation by serving the needs of Members and offering 
appropriate support to the thousands of staffers who make it 
possible to operate the House of Representatives. In the area 
of election law, the Committee has also conducted vigorous 
oversight to support the rights of all American citizens to 
vote, and to ensure their votes are counted.
    The Committee suffered an unfortunate blow near the 
beginning of the Congress, when Chairwoman Juanita Millender-
McDonald passed away on April 22, 2007, following a long 
illness. Chairman Robert A. Brady took the reins of the 
Committee in May 2007, and has worked to expand upon her legacy 
of service to the Members of Congress, oversight of the 
legislative branch, and efforts to ensure the enfranchisement 
of all Americans.

         REORGANIZATION OF THE COMMITTEE FOR THE 110TH CONGRESS

    The Committee on House Administration, the smallest 
standing committee in the Chamber, has consisted of 9 Members 
since 1997. In the 110th Congress, the House retained the 
Committee's former size and two-to-one party ratio, and did not 
make any changes in the Committee's diverse areas of 
jurisdiction. The House elected Rep. Juanita Millender-McDonald 
of California as chairwoman of the Committee on House 
Administration on Jan. 4, 2007, making her one the first 
African-American women to chair any House committee (the late 
Rep. Stephanie Tubbs Jones was simultaneously elected to chair 
the Committee on Standards of Official Conduct). Rep. 
Millender-McDonald had served on the Committee since 2003 and 
as Ranking Minority Member in the 109th Congress. Rep. Vernon 
J. Ehlers of Michigan, who had previously been elected chairman 
for the final eleven months of the 109th Congress, became the 
new Ranking Minority Member. Other returning majority Members 
were Representatives Robert A. Brady of Pennsylvania and Zoe 
Lofgren of California. The other three majority Members, Reps. 
Michael E. Capuano of Massachusetts, Charles A. Gonzalez of 
Texas and Susan A. Davis of California, and two minority 
Members, Reps. Daniel E. Lungren and Kevin McCarthy, both of 
California, joined as Members of the Committee for the first 
time.
    At the organizational meeting of the Committee on February 
16, 2007, Chairwoman Millender-McDonald appointed Rep. Brady as 
Vice Chair of the Committee. The Committee adopted modified 
committee rules for the 110th Congress (Committee Resolution 
1), which created the Subcommittee on Elections, chaired by 
Rep. Lofgren with Rep. McCarthy as Ranking Minority Member, and 
the Subcommittee on Capitol Security, chaired by Rep. Brady 
with Rep. Lungren as Ranking Minority Member. Tracking the two-
to-one party ratio of the full committee, which was unchanged 
since the 105th Congress, the Elections subcommittee was given 
a 4-2 party ratio and the Capital Security subcommittee a 2-1 
ratio, assuring each Member a seat on a subcommittee. Members 
were then elected to the subcommittees based upon the 
recommendations of the respective party caucuses (Committee 
Resolution 2).
    The Committee believes that an organizational structure 
that includes subcommittees enhances its ability to focus more 
intensively on major policy issues, to conduct additional 
hearings and necessary oversight, and to provide greater 
opportunities for all Members to contribute to Committee 
business and share in the workload. This is a critical 
consideration because the Committee has only 9 members. The 
ability of all Members to participate, and to specialize in 
certain policy areas, also potentially enhances the Committee's 
ability to craft necessary legislation on some of the more 
specialized areas in its jurisdiction.
    On March 23, 2007, Chairwoman Millender-McDonald, pursuant 
to committee rules, appointed the Task Force on the Contested 
Election in the 13th Congressional District of Florida, chaired 
by Rep. Gonzalez, to address the pending election contest in 
that district. Rep. Lofgren was added to the task force 
immediately; Rep. McCarthy was appointed by Acting Chairman 
Brady on April 25, 2007, following a recommendation from Rep. 
Ehlers on April 16.
    Chairwoman Millender-McDonald presided over hearings and 
the Committee markup of the biennial committee funding 
resolution for the House for the 110th Congress, which was 
reported on March 5, 2007. The funding resolution passed the 
House on March 8. Upon Chairwoman Millender-McDonald's passing, 
pursuant to clause 2(d) of rule XI, Vice Chairman Brady acted 
as chairman of the committee pending his election by the House 
as permanent chairman on May 24, 2007. He then appointed Rep. 
Lofgren as Vice Chair of the committee. The membership roster 
of the full committee for the 110th Congress was completed with 
the election of Rep. Artur Davis of Alabama as the sixth 
majority member on May 2, 2007, and he was subsequently elected 
to fill the vacancy on the Subcommittee on Elections left by 
Rep. Millender-McDonald. In a later modification of the 
subcommittee structure, two majority members switched rankings 
as Rep. Capuano was elected to replace Chairman Brady as 
Chairman of the Subcommittee on Capitol Security on April 2, 
2008.

                               Oversight


                           COMMITTEE FUNDING

    The Committee on House Administration processes the 
resolution by which standing and select committees of the House 
(except the Committee on Appropriations) are authorized 
operating funds each Congress. During the first three months of 
each new Congress, House Rule X, clause 7, authorizes House 
committees to continue operations based on their funding 
authorizations from the preceding session. This continuing 
authorization allows committees to operate until the House 
adopts a primary expense resolution.
    The funding process begins when each House committee 
introduces a House resolution seeking operating funds for the 
Congress. After all committee expense resolutions have been 
introduced, the Committee combines the resolutions into a 
single, omnibus primary expense resolution. After reviewing 
committee budget submissions, the Committee recommends to the 
full House an appropriate allocation of the available funds. H. 
Res. 202, introduced on February 28, 2007, by Chairwoman 
Millender-McDonald and Ranking Member Ehlers, constituted the 
omnibus primary expense resolution incorporating the amounts 
requested by the committees ($287,969,121 over two years). A 
correction to one committee's second session request reduced 
the above total to $284,569,121.
    The Committee conducted a hearing on February 28, 2007, and 
on March 1, 2007, agreed to an amendment in the nature of a 
substitute, and ordered H. Res. 202 favorably reported to the 
House (H. Rpt. 110-29). Unfortunately, when the 109th Congress 
adjourned sine die, it had left the fiscal 2007 appropriations 
process unfinished, leading to the enactment of a year-long 
continuing resolution for many federal accounts, including the 
House. This situation greatly limited the Committee's options 
in the authorization process for the 110th Congress. Under 
these circumstances, and with the limited resources available, 
the Committee was only able to recommend across-the-board 
inflationary adjustments of 2.64% for personnel expenses, and 
2.2% for operating expenses in the first session, and 3.0% for 
personnel expenses, and 2.4% for operating expenses in the 
second session. Without additional appropriations, no further 
adjustments could be made.
    The Committee's amended resolution authorized a total of 
$276,509,023 over the two years of the 110th Congress, more 
than $10 million less than requested by the House committees. 
The lone panel to receive an amount larger than its initial 
request ($500,000 for 2007), the Armed Services Committee, was 
a special case because of its responsibility to oversee 
America's military policy in Iraq and around the world. The 
amounts authorized for each committee were as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            1st Session        2nd Session        110th Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Agriculture............................................         $5,910,765         $6,084,541        $11,995,306
Armed Services.........................................          7,203,581          7,415,366         14,618,946
The Budget.............................................          6,169,343          6,350,721         12,520,064
Education and Labor....................................          7,989,475          8,224,365         16,213,840
Energy and Commerce....................................         10,375,603         10,680,646         21,056,249
Financial Services.....................................          7,977,303          8,211,835         16,189,138
Foreign Affairs........................................          8,569,776          8,821,728         17,391,504
Homeland Security......................................          8,105,057          8,343,346         16,448,403
House Administration...................................          5,033,242          5,181,219         10,214,461
Select Intelligence....................................          5,157,724          5,309,361         10,467,084
The Judiciary..........................................          8,055,250          8,292,074         16,347,324
Natural Resources......................................          7,533,355          7,754,836         15,288,192
Oversight and Government Reform........................         10,644,994         10,957,956         21,602,950
Rules..................................................          3,376,815          3,476,093          6,852,908
Science and Technology.................................          6,387,984          6,575,791         12,963,775
Small Business.........................................          2,939,758          3,026,187          5,965,945
Standards of Official Conduct..........................          2,460,915          2,533,266          4,994,181
Transportation and Infrastructure......................          9,491,374          9,770,421         19,261,795
Veterans' Affairs......................................          3,486,916          3,589,431          7,076,347
Ways and Means.........................................          9,382,384          9,658,226         19,040,609
                                                        --------------------------------------------------------
    Grand Total........................................        136,251,613        140,257,410        276,509,023
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Committee also continued a fairness principle known as 
the ``1/3 rule,'' consistent with policy and practice for more 
than two decades, anticipating the allocation of 1/3 of each 
committee's funding for use by the minority. While this 
fairness principle is well established, each committee 
implemented the principle in a manner consistent with its own 
operating practices and procedures. Each ranking minority 
member was asked during the Committee hearing whether he or she 
was being treated fairly, and with only one exception, which 
was later addressed to the satisfaction of the ranking minority 
member, all committee minorities appeared to be satisfied. As 
chairs and ranking members change from Congress to Congress, 
the Committee expects that the fairness principle will continue 
to address the needs of the minority.
    The resolution was adopted by the full House with an 
amendment that, inter alia, created and funded a new Select 
Committee on Global Warming and Energy Independence for the 
110th Congress.

                  MEMBERS' REPRESENTATIONAL ALLOWANCE

    The Committee has jurisdiction over the use of 
appropriations from the accounts of the U.S. House of 
Representatives for the Members' Representational Allowance as 
well as official travel by Members and staff, and compensation, 
retirement and other benefits of Member office employees. A 
Member's Representational Allowance (MRA) is the annual 
authorization made to each Member of the House to obligate U.S. 
Treasury funds not to exceed a certain amount. These funds may 
be used by the Member to pay ordinary and necessary business 
expenses incurred by the Member and his or her congressional 
office employees in support of the conduct of the Member's 
official and representational duties on behalf of the district 
from which the Member is elected. The annual MRA is available 
for one Legislative Year, i.e., January 3 of one year through 
January 2 of the following year.
    The MRA is made up of three primary expense components: 
personnel compensation, official expenses, and official 
(franked) mail expenses. The amount of the MRA varies from 
Member to Member based on the distance of a Member's district 
from Washington, D.C., the cost of federal office space serving 
a Member's district, and the number of U.S. Postal Service 
Private Delivery Stops in a Member's district. The use of funds 
in any expense category is not limited by the amount factored 
into a corresponding expense component, e.g., a Member may 
spend more or less than the amount of the personnel component 
to compensate his or her staff. Each Member has complete 
discretion in budgeting the total amount of his or her MRA as 
he or she determines to support the operation of his or her 
Washington, D.C., congressional and district offices, 
consistent with applicable federal law and House Rules and 
regulations.
    Federal law authorizes the Committee, by order of the 
Committee, to fix and adjust the amounts, terms, and conditions 
of, and other matters relating to the MRA (including all 
aspects of official mail) by reason of:
          1. A change in the price of materials, services, or 
        office space;
          2. A technological change or other improvement in 
        office equipment; or
          3. An increase in rates of pay under the General 
        Schedule, e.g., a comparability and/or locality wage 
        adjustment.
    On March 27, 2007, the Committee authorized the following 
adjustments to the 2007 MRA:
          1. An increase in the amount of funds factored into 
        the MRA for personnel compensation totaling $10,973;
          2. An increase of $691 to fund the increased cost of 
        the House Transit Benefit Program (an entitlement 
        program), as well as a 2.2% inflation adjustment to the 
        official expenses component; and
          3. An adjustment to the official mail component to 
        reflect any increase or decrease in the number of 
        private postal delivery stops in a Member's district.
    The average MRA for 2007 was $1,357,733.
    In January 2008, the Committee authorized the following 
adjustments to the 2008 MRA:
          1. An increase in the amount of funds factored into 
        the MRA for personnel compensation totaling $32,727; 
        and
          2. Due to changes in the price of materials and 
        services, an increase of $4,500 to the base 
        subcomponent of the official expenses component.
    The average MRA for 2008 was $1,394,960.
    During the 110th Congress, the regulations promulgated by 
the Committee governing the use of the MRA were amended to 
reflect revisions required pursuant to changes in federal law, 
House Rules, and/or Committee regulations as follows:
     Effective February 1, 2007, the maximum per-mile 
reimbursement rate for official business travel via a 
personally owned or leased automobile was increased to $0.485.
     Effective May 2, 2007, the regulations governing 
official business travel via commercial or privately owned 
aircraft were revised to reflect the requirements of House 
Resolution 363.
     Effective December 20, 2007, pursuant to the 
provisions of Pub. L. 110-140, the regulations governing the 
long-term lease of a light- or medium-duty or passenger vehicle 
to be used for official business travel, the lease and 
operating costs of which will submitted for payment from the 
MRA, were amended to require that such vehicle must be selected 
from the list of vehicles designated by the Environmental 
Protection Agency as ``low greenhouse gas emitting vehicles.''
     Effective January 1, 2008, the maximum allowable 
gross annual salary rate for an employee on the staff of a 
Member office was increased to $163,795 (Speaker's 2008 Pay 
Order).
     Effective March 19, 2008, the maximum per-mile 
reimbursement rate for official business travel via a 
personally owned or leased automobile was increased to $0.505.
     On and effective April 2, 2008, the Committee 
established an Alternate Ride Home Program for all House 
offices. This program authorizes Members (as well as all other 
employing authorities of the House) to reimburse an employee 
for an alternate means of transportation if that employee 
regularly commutes to work by other than a vehicle of the 
employee that has been issued a House parking permit, when the 
employing authority certifies that the employee had to work 
longer than normal working hours and the usual means of 
transportation was not available.
     Effective July 24, 2008, pursuant to the 
provisions of Pub. L. 110-28, the Committee authorized an 
increase in the Minimum Wage Rate from $5.15 to $6.55 per hour.
     Effective August 1, 2008, the maximum per-mile 
reimbursement rates for official business travel via a 
personally owned/leased vehicles were increased as follows:
          Automobile--not to exceed $0.585 per mile
          Motorcycle--not to exceed $0.585 per mile
          Airplane--not to exceed $1.26 per mile.
     At its meeting on September 25, 2008, the 
Committee adopted a change requiring the quarterly reporting 
and publication in the Statement of Disbursements by the House 
of the total number and cost of mass communications distributed 
by each Member during the reporting period, regardless of 
media, as well as the average number and cost of mass 
communications distributed to households in the Member's 
district. This regulation mirrors the reporting requirement 
applicable to mass mailings, as required by 2 U.S.C. 
Sec. 59h(b). This reporting requirement is effective January 3, 
2009.
     On and effective September 30, 2008, the Committee 
adopted an amendment to the regulations governing Member web 
sites authorizing Members to establish, in addition to their 
primary official web site located in the House.gov domain, 
secondary web sites to be located in third party domains and/or 
to post official communications content on third party sites.
    Throughout the 110th Congress, the Committee's majority and 
minority offices of Member and Committee Services provided 
ready and reliable information, advice, and training on the 
appropriate use of official funds and resources. During the 
110th Congress, these offices, in the aggregate, responded to 
an average of 300 phone calls per week, or more than 8,000 
calls during the two-year period, from Members and staff. 
Committee staff also participated in the District/State 
Institutes sponsored by the Congressional Research Service over 
the course of the 110th Congress, presenting training sessions 
addressing the use of official resources.

House staff employment

    The Committee spent considerable time during the 110th 
Congress reviewing the terms of employment and benefits offered 
to House staff and other employees of legislative branch 
agencies supporting the House. With long working hours dictated 
by the needs of the House, and staff salaries limited by the 
Speaker's Pay Order, the Committee believes it is important to 
ensure that the House offers adequate benefits to compensate 
its employees for their efforts, and to recruit and retain the 
best people. Working with the Chief Administrative Officer, the 
Committee reviewed an array of measures that might best serve 
House staff; some new policies were implemented, and others 
will be taken up in the 111th Congress.
    The Chief Administrative Officer provided the Committee 
with reviews of the benefits offered to House employees 
relative to private employers of comparable size, the executive 
branch, and other legislative branch employing authorities. 
Based upon these reviews and other research, the Committee 
adopted numerous policies to improve working conditions for 
House employees; for example, the transit benefit and student 
loan repayment program were increased in accordance with 
increases in the general federal limits, a policy was developed 
to allow employees reimbursement for an ``alternate ride home'' 
(generally by taxi) when they have to work late due to the 
exigencies of the House, and a House resolution, 
H. Res. 1207, was adopted allowing employees to receive their 
pay receipts electronically. In addition, the Committee passed 
a resolution giving military liaisons working in House offices 
access to the House staff gym. Another legislative initiative 
to give the Committee authority to change the timing of staff 
paychecks from once per month to twice per month or biweekly 
passed the House, but ultimately was not enacted; the Committee 
expects to pursue this initiative again in the 111th Congress, 
in addition to other employee benefit proposals.

                OFFICERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

    One of the key responsibilities of the Committee is 
oversight of the Officers of the House, whose organizations 
serve primary roles in the operation of the legislative process 
and implementing changes for the institution.

                           Clerk of the House

    The Committee's oversight of the Clerk's office reflected 
her office's importance to the House. Her primary duties 
involve the legislative operations of the House, but she is 
also responsible for other areas, including many House 
publications and for operating the House page program under the 
direction of the Page Board. During the session, it became 
clear to the Committee that the Clerk spent a large portion of 
her time monitoring the House pages, and the Committee approved 
her proposal to establish a new position of deputy clerk to 
direct operations of the page program.
    The Clerk and the Committee devoted considerable attention 
to the House's electronic voting system (EVS), which dates to 
the early 1970s. The EVS must be modified or replaced due to 
antiquated hard- and software, a challenge because of the 
limitations of the current EVS and the physical placement of 
its key display board above the House Press Gallery. The 
Committee authorized travel by Clerk and Committee staff to 
Topeka, Kan., and elsewhere in order to examine electronic 
voting systems used by other legislative bodies.
    The Committee also approved of steps taken by the Clerk to 
establish safeguards to prevent errors in the enrollment 
process, including a request for staff support from the 
Government Printing Office (which has no operational role in 
the enrollment of legislation). The Committee anticipates 
continued efforts in the coming year to improve coordination of 
House and Senate legislative materials and to reduce the 
potential for errors.
    In early 2007, the Committee worked with the Clerk to 
complete the House publication, Women in Congress, 1917-2006, 
which the House authorized in 2001 to update an earlier work. 
In 2008, the Committee again oversaw the Clerk's efforts on 
Black Americans in Congress, 1870-2006, also authorized by the 
House in 2001. A massive undertaking in each case, the Clerk's 
Office of History and Preservation (OHP) deserves the 
Committee's thanks for its efforts. The Committee held a public 
forum to accompany the publication of each of these volumes, 
which contain portraits and biographical profiles on each 
Member, historical images, essays, and comprehensive 
statistical data. In addition, OHP created a web site to 
accompany each volume. In addition to Member profiles, the 
Women in Congress site, http://womenincongress.house.gov, 
includes information about the career of Rep. Nancy Pelosi of 
California, the first woman to be elected Speaker of the House, 
a listing of educational resources, and the opportunity to view 
various historical artifacts from the House Collection related 
to the history of women in Congress. The Black Americans in 
Congress site, http://BAiC.house.gov, also includes photographs 
and descriptions of historical artifacts from the House 
Collection, as well as a list of related educational and 
reference resources. OHP is working on two additional 
publications authorized by the Committee: a new edition of 
Hispanic Americans in Congress, and a new publication to be 
entitled Asian and Pacific Islander-Americans in Congress. The 
Committee will continue its careful oversight of OHP's work and 
looks forward to developing a closer working relationship with 
OHP staff.
    The Committee also worked with the Clerk in an examination 
of the largely unheralded role of slave labor in the 
construction of the Capitol. The Committee held a hearing on 
November 7, 2007, at which the House's slave-labor task force, 
coordinated by the Clerk, and others presented historical 
information on this important topic. Certain recommendations of 
the task force have already been adopted by the Congress, 
including naming the central hall of the CVC ``Emancipation 
Hall''; others will be completed in the coming year.
    The Committee discussed with the Clerk's office key 
improvements in operations related to the coming of the next 
(111th) Congress, including the many activities related to 
orientation for freshman Members and providing stationery, 
preparation of key publications related to the convening of a 
new session (e.g., the Congressional Pictorial Directory), 
counting the 2008 electoral college votes, and other matters.
    The Committee also consulted when necessary with the 
Clerk's Office of the House Employment Counsel (OHEC), which 
provides legal advice to Member offices on employment matters. 
In addition to individual day-to-day employment situations, the 
Committee sought advice from OHEC regarding the Office of 
Compliance's proposed veterans' preference regulations.
    With the opening of the CVC and the reorganization of the 
Capitol Guide Service, under Pub. L. 110-437 the Clerk joined 
the board overseeing the Office of Congressional Accessibility 
Services. Her service on the Congressional Accessibility 
Services Board will ensure appropriate coordination between 
OHEC and the new Accessibility Services office. The Committee 
anticipates that this will be an area requiring increased 
oversight in the 111th Congress, as the Board works with the 
office to embark on its enhanced role in service to both 
houses.

                            Sergeant at Arms

    The Committee takes very seriously the Sergeant at Arms' 
(HSAA) responsibility for House security. Although many issues 
related to House security are not appropriate subjects for 
public hearings, the Committee and its Subcommittee on Capitol 
Security received several private briefings from the HSAA. In 
addition, the bipartisan Committee staff met with the Sergeant 
at Arms and his staff virtually every week throughout the 
session to discuss matters of concern to HSAA and the 
Committee.
    As always, the Committee focused heavily upon protection of 
the House's physical plant, comprised primarily of the House 
wing of the Capitol; the House office buildings, including the 
House's sundry parking facilities; the surrounding streets; and 
other support facilities on Capitol Hill and elsewhere. The 
Capitol and office buildings are both a workplace and tourist 
destination for millions of Americans and others from around 
the world, presenting a complicated safety and security 
challenge.
    The Committee devoted significant attention to working with 
the HSAA, the Architect of the Capitol (through his 
Superintendent of the House Office Buildings), and the Capitol 
Police to improve safety in the office buildings, especially 
with respect to emergency evacuations. Upon recommendation from 
the Committee, the Speaker of the House designated the HSAA as 
the lead entity for coordinating evacuation procedures in House 
buildings. The Committee also approved the HSAA Senior 
Management Expansion/Reorganization Plan in order for HSAA to 
better manage emergency evacuation planning and operations.
    Under the Committee's oversight, the HSAA took on a lead 
role in a cross-jurisdictional approach to addressing the 
House's safety concerns. This emphasis has led to installation 
of improved signage, enhanced training for employees, and 
identification of a need for improved communications with 
evacuated employees. Committee staff oversaw evacuation drills 
and tabletop exercises conducted by the HSAA, and the Committee 
approved plans for conducting more frequent evacuation drills, 
both announced and unannounced. The Committee plans to continue 
its work in this key area in the next session. (See also the 
discussion of the Hallway Policy under the Architect of the 
Capitol.)
    The Committee worked closely with the HSAA in the 
development of legislation (Pub. L. 110-437) providing for 
governance and operation of the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC), 
which opened to the public in December 2008. The CVC, the 
largest addition ever made to the Capitol, was originally 
conceived to improve safety and security for Members, staff and 
visitors, in addition to improving visitor convenience. The 
bipartisan Committee staff spent countless hours on this 
subject (discussed in greater detail below under the Architect 
of the Capitol).
    The Committee also spent considerable time and attention 
overseeing and providing policy direction for the HSAA in his 
role as the House's representative on the Capitol Police Board. 
The Board is a bicameral entity created by law, consisting of 
the HSAA, the Senate Sergeant at Arms, and the Architect of the 
Capitol. The Board oversees and provides policy direction to 
the U.S. Capitol Police, who protect both houses. The Committee 
consulted regularly with the HSAA regarding policies adopted by 
the Board.

                      Chief Administrative Officer

    The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) of the House has 
wide-ranging responsibility to support operations of the House 
generally, and specific responsibilities in support of Member 
and committee operations. From issuing paychecks to tracking 
inventory to processing expenses to providing information 
technology, the CAO's office is intertwined with every aspect 
of day-to-day operations. The Committee devoted significant 
time to oversight of the CAO--reviewing and approving all 
policy changes, personnel actions and major contracts, as well 
as conducting bipartisan staff meetings to monitor all aspects 
of CAO operations.
    A major contract affecting all those who work in and visit 
the House of Representatives provides food service operations 
in the House office buildings and the House side of the 
Capitol. During 2007, the CAO had the opportunity to exercise 
an option and retain Restaurant Associates, the food service 
provider selected to run the restaurant in the Capitol Visitor 
Center. The Committee determined that in exercising this 
option, the CAO would be able to provide improved quality and 
service in food operations. In addition, the CAO negotiated 
contract provisions that would assist with the ``Green the 
Capitol Initiative,'' by reducing waste and composting most 
trash, including biodegradable containers, while also acquiring 
many organic and locally grown foods. The Committee has 
continued to oversee the CAO's contractual relationship with 
Restaurant Associates, ensuring fair treatment of employees 
transferred to the new provider and smooth operations of each 
of the restaurant facilities.
    Another major CAO initiative supported by the Committee is 
the ``Wounded Warrior'' fellowship program. Chairman Brady was 
particularly instrumental in establishing this program to 
provide employment opportunities for wounded or disabled 
veterans within the House. House offices identify potential 
positions in Member, committee or leadership offices in 
Washington, D.C., or in district offices nationwide. Positions 
are filled by veterans with a 30 percent or greater service 
connected disability rating from either a military Physical 
Evaluation Board or the Department of Veterans Affairs. 
Wherever possible, those selected for the program are given the 
opportunity to transition into full-time employment, but full-
time employment is not guaranteed at the conclusion of the two-
year fellowship.
    During the 110th Congress, the Committee closely observed 
the CAO's contributions to the security of House operations, 
including security of mail deliveries and continuity of 
operations in the event of an emergency. In addition to 
receiving regular reports on these operations, Committee staff 
have visited CAO facilities and overseen practical exercises 
intended to ensure that House operations can be maintained in 
any eventuality.
    The Committee has also devoted considerable time to 
overseeing the operations of the CAO's Finance Office and its 
efforts to ensure accurate, timely financial data while 
offering maximum flexibility to Members for their office 
management. The CAO has undertaken a major initiative to 
upgrade the central accounting system for the House, and the 
Committee, with the assistance of the House Inspector General, 
has monitored closely the CAO's progress in the acquisition and 
implementation of this system. The transition into the new 
system was postponed from the 110th Congress into the 111th, 
and the Committee will continue to oversee the CAO's efforts. 
Once established, this ``Atlas'' financial system should prove 
more user-friendly, offering greater transparency and improved 
financial reporting to all users.
    Computer services to House offices are coordinated, and 
partially provided, by the CAO's office of House Information 
Resources. The Committee's oversight of this aspect of CAO 
operations is discussed more fully in the Technology section 
below.

Inspector General

    House Rules creating the office of Inspector General (IG) 
give the Committee general responsibility for oversight and 
policy direction of the work of that office. In order to 
promote bipartisanship and secure the IG's independence, the 
Committee and Committee staff oversee the IG's work in a 
bipartisan manner; generally, bipartisan staff meet with the IG 
each week.
    Under the Committee's direction in the 110th Congress, the 
IG's work has expanded to provide more management advisory 
services as well as audits of the work of the Officers of the 
House. These services have assisted the Committee tremendously 
in supervising many of the activities of the Officers, from 
development of a new House accounting system to securing the 
information systems of the Sergeant at Arms to ``greening'' the 
Capitol. In addition, the Committee believes that these 
services have assisted the Officers in their efforts to support 
the House of Representatives.
    In addition to these management advisory services, the 
Committee has overseen the IG's conduct of more traditional 
audits and investigations of the House of Representatives, 
receiving numerous reports from the IG throughout the Congress. 
The House accounts maintained by the CAO received a clean 
opinion from the outside audit firm contracted by the IG for 
both FY06 and FY07. One notable investigation authorized by the 
Committee in the 110th Congress led to the criminal conviction 
of an employee who had embezzled funds. It also led to a 
further IG assessment of the risks posed by the House's 
existing system of shared employees. The IG's findings on this 
issue were disclosed in a public hearing on May 21, 2008, and 
the Committee adopted new regulations to reduce the risks of 
financial loss and information security breaches in the House's 
use of shared employees.
    The work of the IG's office can be quantified in terms of 
dollars saved through both efficiencies implemented and 
problems avoided. However, to quantify the work of the IG would 
oversimplify the crucial role this office plays in optimizing 
the use of tax dollars to run the House, a large institution 
with a complex organizational structure. The IG's office 
regularly assists the Committee by providing expertise that 
assists in reconciling conflicting views regarding the 
appropriate course of action in House management.

``Honor the Fallen''

    In 2006, at the direction of the House Office Building 
Commission, the Committee established a memorial to honor the 
men and women of America's Armed Services who have lost their 
lives in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi 
Freedom. This memorial, ``Honor the Fallen,'' was dedicated on 
June 27, 2006. The Memorial is located on the East and South 
walls of the First Floor Foyer of the Rayburn House Office 
Building, immediately adjacent to the visitors' entrance. This 
location provides a stately venue that is easily accessible to 
the public.
    The Memorial consists of a wall mounted display that lists 
the name of each of the fallen within the year and month in 
which he or she died (or in which his or her death was 
confirmed), in alphabetical order. The names, in gold 
lettering, are displayed on marbled ``congressional'' blue 
placards. The placards are mounted in a wood frame made of 
American walnut and decorated with the American patriot five-
pointed stars, a recurring architectural element throughout the 
U.S. Capitol and the congressional office buildings. The 
placards were designed by Cari Knowles, a graphic artist on the 
staff of the CAO; the frame was designed by Douglas Morey, a 
carpenter on the staff of the Superintendent of the House 
Office Buildings.
    The Committee is responsible for updating the Memorial. In 
the 110th Congress, as of October 15, 2008, 1,478 new names had 
been added to the Memorial, bringing the total number displayed 
to 4,756. During the second session of the 110th Congress, the 
Committee initiated a study of ways in which the experience of 
visitors to the Memorial might be enhanced. One proposal would 
direct publication of a pamphlet for distribution to visitors 
at the Memorial site describing the Memorial and its purpose. 
In addition, the Committee is considering the installation at 
the site of an electronic searchable directory, which would 
provide information about the men and women honored by the 
Memorial and a means to readily identify the location of their 
names. The Committee anticipates taking further action on these 
proposals in the 111th Congress.

``Green the Capitol'' Initiative

    On March 1, 2007, Speaker Pelosi, Majority Leader Hoyer, 
and Committee Chairwoman Juanita Millender-McDonald directed 
the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to undertake a new 
initiative to ``green'' the Capitol and House office buildings. 
This request supplemented the existing mandate in the Energy 
Policy Act of 2005 (Pub. L. 109-58), for the Architect of the 
Capitol to meet the energy performance standards required of 
other federal buildings.
    On April 19, 2007, the CAO submitted a preliminary report 
on efforts that would reduce the environmental impacts 
associated with the operations of the House building complex.
    The recommendations in the CAO's preliminary report 
included:
     Operate the House in a carbon-neutral manner
     Shift to 100 percent renewable electric power
     Aggressively improve energy efficiency
     Adopt sustainable business practices
     Continue leadership on sustainability issues
     Purchase offsets to ensure carbon-neutral 
operations.
The final report in June 2007 expanded upon these 
recommendations and provided detailed plans for implementing 
them. The CAO provided a six-month progress report and 
checklist in December 2007. In addition, the CAO established a 
website in support of Greening, where these materials can be 
found.
    Since taking over the Committee, Chairman Brady has 
overseen progress on the Green the Capitol Initiative. The 
Committee approved the final contract with the House's new 
restaurant services provider, Restaurant Associates, which 
requires many ``green'' operations including such features as 
replacing Styrofoam and plastic with 100% compostable items, 
establishing a composting operation for restaurant waste, and 
using more organic locally grown products. In addition, 
substantial energy savings have been seen by substituting 
compact fluorescent light bulbs for incandescent bulbs in most 
House light fixtures, by centralization of computer servers, 
and other miscellaneous measures.
    The Architect of the Capitol's mandate under the Energy 
Policy Act of 2005 was expanded under the Energy Independence 
and Security Act of 2007 (Pub. L. 110-140), which set an energy 
use reduction goal for the Capitol complex of three percent per 
year. To achieve that goal, the Architect has initiated an 
Energy Services Performance Contract, through which a 
contractor will undertake energy conservation measures 
throughout the Capitol complex, paid entirely out of the energy 
savings achieved. The Committee has also overseen a further 
initiative requested by the Speaker: the Architect, with advice 
from the CAO and the Department of Energy, has almost completed 
installation of improved meters and public displays showing all 
energy use in the House buildings, allowing accurate 
measurement of energy savings. The Committee further supervised 
other greening measures by the Architect, including expansion 
of House recycling services.
    In an effort to augment House Greening efforts, the 
Committee also reported H.R. 6474. This legislation would 
authorize the CAO to carry out a series of demonstration 
projects that promote the use of innovative technologies in 
reducing energy consumption and promoting energy efficiency and 
cost savings in the House. Demonstration projects would develop 
and commercialize technologies that expand the production of 
renewable fuels, which in turn reduces our dependence on oil, 
and confronts the global climate change challenge. The House 
would provide leadership and encourage new products by piloting 
technologies in the beta testing phase. This should include new 
technologies that can generate power off the grid. Although the 
legislation did not pass the House, the Committee anticipates 
moving additional measures to implement new technologies and 
further Greening goals in the coming years.

Technology

    The Committee has placed a high priority on monitoring the 
technology that supports Member office and House operations, 
believing that broader technology improvements and greater 
investments by the House can provide substantial productivity 
gains, cost savings, and enhanced security. House Information 
Resources (HIR), within the office of the CAO, is at the center 
of the House's technology revolution, but is by no means the 
only entity supplying technology services to the House. 
However, HIR does ensure that the House's technology 
implementation is continuously monitored and upgraded to take 
advantage of improved and developing technology.
    The Committee adopts the policies under which HIR provides 
access and operates the facilities of an advanced institutional 
computer and communications network available to more than 
12,000 users. House offices use approximately 14,000 desktop, 
laptop, and other types of office computers, both on the 
Capitol Hill campus and around the country. Thousands of 
servers, large and small, support individual congressional 
offices, publication facilities, voice and communications, data 
storage, and the full range of administrative services within 
the House. Extensive backup facilities ensure business 
continuity. All these resources are linked by a network 
provided by HIR and private communications vendors. The network 
links nearly a thousand district offices, more than twenty 
standing committees, Leadership offices, House Officer support 
functions, and numerous other Hill offices. In promoting the 
use of technology in the House, the Committee receives regular 
briefings on developments and oversees HIR's implementation of 
computer services.
    In addition, the Committee oversees many other areas of 
technology support to the House, from the electronic voting 
system to cell phone antennae to streaming internet video of 
committee proceedings House-wide. In an effort to extend the 
reach of wireless communications devices within the House and 
the newly opened Capitol Visitor Center, the Committee approved 
a transfer and expansion of wireless antennae throughout the 
House campus and the Visitor Center. In response to Member-
reported problems with dead zones, a campus-wide facility 
survey was completed and action taken to expand coverage. By 
working with a private sector consortium of wireless providers, 
the expansion has cost taxpayers nothing while improving Member 
service.
    The Committee and HIR have saved more taxpayer dollars on 
technology support to Member offices by way of blanket purchase 
agreements with two major vendors of computer equipment. By 
entering into blanket purchase agreements, the growing needs of 
the House will be met in the most economical manner available 
in the marketplace. The Committee and the CAO have also begun a 
series of Member office support services and training under the 
title of ``Work smarter, not harder.'' The training series has 
provided employee access to information about technology 
efficiencies already in place in congressional offices, many of 
which are unused or overlooked because of a lack of training. 
With the substantial annual turnover in House staff, the 
Committee expects this training series to be repeated yearly, 
and expects that Member offices will benefit from productivity 
gains as a result.
    Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi has placed a high 
priority on increasing openness in the House and providing 
public access to public meetings. In order to provide public 
access and transparency to committee proceedings through the 
House, the Committee approved numerous technology upgrades and 
worked with the CAO and Architect of the Capitol to prioritize 
installation of these upgrades in committee hearing rooms. This 
allows the full range of broadcast-quality digital signals and 
streaming internet video to be accessed--in real time--by 
anyone, anywhere, and for all proceedings to be recorded in 
various formats for archival purposes. The advances during the 
110th Congress have been an order of magnitude greater than in 
prior Congresses.
    Another technology area of importance to the Committee and 
to Congressional offices is the use of the internet and web 
sites to gather and provide information relevant to the 
legislative and representational duties of Members. In addition 
to the official House web sites established by most 
congressional offices, the Committee expanded the opportunity 
for Members to communicate with constituents through social 
networking and other sites. In October 2008, the Committee 
approved a policy allowing for the engagement and maintenance 
of an unlimited number of unofficial web presences. This policy 
allows Members to place official information where the 
constituents reside in the virtual world, such as Facebook, 
YouTube, etc.
    The Committee and the CAO are exploring new technology with 
respect to wireless communications devices for everyday use and 
to enhance security communications. While this area of 
technology is evolving at lightning speed, the Committee must 
determine how to deploy the technology efficiently and provide 
cost-effective support for Members in Washington, D.C., and in 
each of their congressional districts. Committee action to 
approve such advances is expected at the end of the 110th and 
beginning of the 111th Congress.
    The importance of technological support for continuity of 
operations in case of an emergency is an area of considerable 
concern to the Committee. Essential functions, services, and 
important communications capabilities must be available to 
Members when the day-to-day operations of the House are 
disrupted for any reason. The Committee has overseen various 
continuity exercises, but is also working with the CAO, the 
Architect of the Capitol and the House IG to identify any 
possible areas of systems failure and correct them. This effort 
will continue in the 111th Congress.

New Member Orientation

    The Committee is responsible for coordinating the 
orientation program for newly elected Members, as well as 
travel for Members-elect from their districts to Washington, 
D.C., to attend and participate in the organizational meetings 
of the Democratic Caucus and the Republican Conference. The 
orientation program and the organizational meetings are held 
during the period between the election and the convening of the 
new Congress. The orientation program for the new Members-elect 
to the 111th Congress, as well as the organizational meetings 
of the Caucus and Conference, took place during the period 
November 16 through December 11, 2008. In addition, the 
Committee arranges the presentation, in cooperation with the 
Congressional Research Service of the Library of Congress, of 
the Legislative Issue Seminar for new Members, which will be 
presented in January 2009.
    Fifty-two new Members-elect, the principal majority and 
minority party candidates for election from the 4th District of 
California and the 15th District of Ohio (elections that had 
not yet been decided on the start date of the program), and the 
Delegate-elect from the Northern Mariana Islands, whose 
election was decided during the course of the program, were 
invited to attend all or part of the 2008 New Member 
Orientation program. Each new Member-elect and invited 
candidate was authorized to designate an aide to accompany him 
or her to the orientation program. In addition to substantive 
presentations on the rules governing membership in the House 
and practical guidance on setting up a congressional office, 
the Members-elect received individual counseling on office set-
up and information technology.
    The Committee's further responsibilities in the transition 
to the new Congress include the compilation of the Directory of 
Nominees for Election to the U.S. House of Representatives in 
the ensuing Congress; printing and production of the Pictorial 
Directory of the New Members-elect to said Congress; 
presentation of the bipartisan administrative orientation 
program; printing, production, and distribution of program 
communications and materials; oversight of the New and 
Departing Member Service Centers; and oversight of the 
regulations and procedures applicable to outfitting a 
Washington, D.C., congressional office, as well as procuring 
and outfitting district office space. The Committee 
accomplished each of these responsibilities, starting before 
the election and continuing throughout the New Member 
Orientation period.

Architect of the Capitol

    In addition to House-specific support operations, the 
Committee also oversees the legislative branch agencies that 
provide services to both houses of Congress. The Architect of 
the Capitol (AOC) serves as the facilities manager for the 
Congress, constructing and maintaining the U.S. Capitol and all 
of the other buildings in the Capitol complex. Certain 
decisions regarding management of the House office buildings 
and the House side of the Capitol lie within the hands of the 
House Office Building Commission, but the Committee supervises 
AOC implementation of all programs. In the 110th Congress, the 
Committee received regular reports on the actions of the AOC's 
Superintendent of House Office Buildings, but also reviewed all 
other AOC activities affecting the Capitol campus as a whole.
    Bipartisan Committee staff met with the House 
Superintendent on a biweekly basis throughout the 110th 
Congress. They received myriad progress updates on office 
upgrades, hearing room upgrades and other facility 
improvements. The Committee worked with the AOC to expand 
accessibility of House facilities, take advantage of expanded 
capacity in the House television system and improve signage in 
House buildings. In 2008, the Committee joined the 
Superintendent in celebrating the 100th anniversary of the 
Cannon House Office Building with a celebration and display in 
the Cannon Caucus Room. With the retirement of the House 
Superintendent and installation of a new Superintendent at the 
end of the 110th Congress, the Committee hopes to continue this 
strong working relationship into the 111th.
    In many ways the most visible activity of the AOC in the 
110th Congress was the completion and opening of the Capitol 
Visitor Center (CVC), a new facility offering safety, amenities 
and educational opportunities to the millions of visitors to 
the U.S. Capitol each year. The Committee was deeply involved 
in overseeing the completion and opening of this largest-ever 
addition to the Capitol. Three Members of the Committee 
(Chairman Brady, Ranking Member Ehlers and Rep. Capuano) had 
designated appointments on the Capitol Preservation Commission, 
designated by law to oversee construction of the CVC. In 
addition, the Committee was given joint responsibility, 
together with the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, 
over operations of the CVC--first through designation by the 
joint Leadership and later by statute in Pub. L. 110-437. 
Throughout the 110th Congress, the Capitol Preservation 
Commission and the Committee made multiple decisions regarding 
every detail of the opening and operations of the CVC. Initial 
operations following the opening day on December 2, 2008 have 
been productive, but the Committee will maintain an aggressive 
review of operations throughout the 111th Congress, as the 
AOC's CVC staff and congressional overseers continue to pilot 
the new operations of this unprecedented facility.
    The Committee also devoted considerable attention in the 
110th Congress to life safety impacts of AOC operations and the 
House buildings. The Committee convened meetings of the many 
legislative agencies involved in emergency evacuations and 
determined that changes to the physical plant as well as 
operations were necessary. The Committee supported the AOC's 
projects, in coordination with the Sergeant at Arms and the 
Office of Compliance, to add a new emergency exit to the 
Longworth House Office Building and plan enclosures that would 
increase the safety of stairwells in the Cannon and Longworth 
House Office Buildings without detracting from the historic 
architecture of the buildings. In addition, with the support of 
the AOC and various safety agencies, the Committee revived a 
2005 recommendation that had never been implemented, to remove 
obstructions from the hallways of the House office buildings. 
The ``Hallway Policy'' was adopted by the House Office Building 
Commission on April 17, 2008, upon the recommendation of the 
Committee, and the AOC has worked successfully with the CAO to 
eliminate these hazards.
    At the beginning of the 110th Congress, the AOC's office 
struggled with the challenge of eliminating workplace hazard 
for employees who maintain the steam tunnels serving Capitol 
Hill. The AOC settled this complaint with a commitment to 
eliminate asbestos and reduce heat hazards in the tunnels; for 
the last eighteen months, the Committee has been monitoring the 
AOC's progress on implementing this settlement.
    The term of Architect of the Capitol Alan Hantman ended on 
February 4, 2007. While the AOC's Chief Operating Officer, 
Stephen T. Ayers, has served ably as Acting Architect, the 
appointment of a new Architect was delayed throughout the 110th 
Congress. Under the statute outlining procedures for selection 
of the Architect, Chairman Brady and Ranking Member Ehlers 
served on a commission of Members designated to forward 
candidate names to the President. Although the commission 
forwarded three candidates, complex circumstances prevented 
final selection and confirmation of the Architect. The 
Committee anticipates completion of the appointment process in 
the 111th Congress, but in the meantime is reviewing whether 
the process is simply broken and requires new legislation.

Library of Congress

    The Committee has maintained diligent oversight over the 
Library of Congress throughout the 110th Congress. In addition 
to oversight hearings and legislative action, bipartisan 
Committee staff met weekly with the staff of the Library, and 
toured various Library facilities. Chairman Brady also served 
in his role as ex officio member of the Library of Congress 
Trust Fund Board, attending meetings and acting on various 
trust fund management matters.
    The 110th Congress saw the opening of a major new facility 
for the Library: the Packard Campus of the National Audio-
Visual Conservation Center in Culpeper, Virginia. This new 
facility, constructed largely through private contributions, 
offers the Library state-of-the-art storage areas that meet the 
needs of various audio collections and visual media. The 
Committee reviewed the Library's progress toward opening the 
new building, and will continue to review the Library's use of 
the facility.
    The Committee conducted two oversight hearings on the 
Library of Congress in the 110th Congress: One on the potential 
merger of the Library of Congress Police and U.S. Capitol 
Police, and one on other issues related to Library management. 
(The police merger hearing is discussed at greater length under 
U.S. Capitol Police below.)
    On October 24th, 2007, the Committee held a hearing on 
``Current Issues in Library Management.'' Witnesses discussed 
the progress and challenges in inventorying and cataloguing the 
massive and complex collections held by the Library. The 
Committee learned that the Library has enormous difficulty 
maintaining a true inventory of its holdings, but the 
challenges vary among the various collections. Progress has 
been made toward inventorying the general collection, but this 
task is still only 20% complete. This is an issue of 
significant concern to the Committee, and the Committee will 
continue to monitor the Library's progress in the coming years.
    In addition, the hearing addressed issues surrounding 
maintenance of the Law Library of Congress. Private interests 
have expressed a willingness to provide financial support for 
the Library to support more rapid cataloguing and specialty 
Library functions, but they seek an appropriate funding 
mechanism to ensure that support will go where it is intended. 
The findings from this oversight hearing led directly to the 
introduction of H.R. 6589, the Charles H.W. Meehan Law Library 
Improvement and Modernization Act. The Committee reported this 
legislation to the House in the waning days of the 110th 
Congress, and will likely seek its enactment in the 111th.
    The Committee also achieved enactment of the Library of 
Congress Sound Recording and Film Preservation Programs 
Reauthorization Act of 2008 (Pub. L. 110-336), reauthorizing 
these programs through FY2016. The Committee achieved House 
passage of H.R. 998, the Civil Rights History Project Act of 
2008, which would authorize a joint program between the Library 
and the Smithsonian's National Museum of African American 
History to collect and preserve audio and video recordings of 
the personal testimonials of individuals who participated in 
the U.S. Civil Rights movement. The Committee anticipates 
further action on this proposal in the 111th Congress.

Congressional Research Service

    The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is an extension of 
congressional staff (House and Senate) that resides within the 
Library of Congress. CRS provides Senators and Representatives 
with in-depth analyses of issues in an objective, non-partisan, 
professional, and timely manner. Its experts deliver 
congressional testimony, provide expertise to committees in 
analyzing impact of laws and policies, conduct research and 
synthesize information on federal programs and data, and 
perform myriad other functions essential to the proper and 
efficient operation of the Congress.
    In overseeing the use of staffing resources within the 
House, the Committee considered the role played by CRS in 
supporting the Congress and the House. The Committee examined 
the CRS budget request for FY2009, and noted that it included 
only mandatory pay increases and price-level increases, the 
bare minimum necessary to sustain CRS's current level of 
services. At this level, the Congress should anticipate an 
eventual erosion of CRS services. Further study is needed, but 
enhancing CRS's non-partisan expertise could prove an efficient 
and cost-effective way of delivering essential information and 
analytic services at a time when the House's oversight and 
analytic capacities are severely constrained by both funds and 
office space.
    Over the years CRS has withstood increasing pressure from 
within the Library's budget, competing with the national focus 
and public programs that the Library undertakes. The Committee 
found that while CRS did not seek any funds for new initiatives 
or program growth, CRS suffers an accumulated shortfall for 
funding its 705 FTEs at the beginning of FY2008. Since nearly 
90 percent of the CRS budget is consumed by staff pay and 
benefits, CRS was forced to reduce its workforce by 30 FTEs in 
its operating plan for FY2008, reaching its lowest level in 33 
years.
    Although current law directs the Librarian to grant CRS 
complete research independence and the maximum practicable 
administrative independence, the fact that CRS submits its 
budget to the Librarian for review has precluded the direct 
dialogue that once ensured that Congress clearly understood the 
impact of its funding decisions on CRS services. Maintaining 
CRS's relationship with the Library offers very real benefits, 
but restoring CRS's independent budget authority would not 
damage that relationship, and would return to the original 
concept of CRS as an extension of Congressional staff. With 
pressures on the budget, and increasingly competing priorities, 
the Committee is considering whether this is an appropriate 
time to restore Congress' ability to hear directly from CRS 
regarding its budget needs and the issues it faces in serving 
all Members and Committees.

U.S. Capitol Police

    Reflecting the Committee's serious interest in the security 
of the House and Capitol complex, the Committee devoted a great 
deal of its time to the U.S. Capitol Police (USCP). To enhance 
and streamline its own work, the Committee began the session by 
creating a Subcommittee on Capitol Security. Committee and 
subcommittee activity took the form of regular, detailed 
oversight meetings, briefings, and hearings. The Committee also 
developed and reported legislation related to the USCP.
    Given the sensitive nature of Capitol security issues, the 
Committee and Subcommittee held several private briefings with 
USCP leadership. In addition, bipartisan Committee staff met 
almost weekly with USCP leadership for briefings on operational 
matters. Regular briefings and ad-hoc meetings addressed 
management and administrative issues, including personnel 
policies, long-term strategic planning and agency progress 
implementing management recommendations by the Government 
Accountability Office (GAO). In addition, Committee staff 
toured USCP training facilities and observed USCP practice 
exercises on the Capitol campus.
    Upon organizing in 2007, the Committee made legislation to 
complete the merger of the Library of Congress Police with the 
USCP a top priority. Congress had in 2003 provided for the 
merger subject to further legislation. However, for a variety 
of reasons, the effort had languished during the preceding four 
years. With the Committee's strong encouragement, the two 
agencies developed an implementation plan and a draft of 
legislation necessary to accomplish it. The full Committee held 
a hearing on June 27, 2007, at which Library and USCP 
leadership and the union representing the Library's police 
force endorsed the draft. The Committee perfected the agencies' 
legislation, reported it to the House with an amendment, and 
the measure ultimately became law in January 2008 (the U.S. 
Capitol Police--Library of Congress Police Merger 
Implementation Act of 2007, Pub. L. 110-178). At the close of 
the session, the merger process was underway with the benefits 
of the merger envisioned in 2003 already becoming apparent.
    The Capitol Security Subcommittee held a public hearing on 
May 1, 2008, on the administration and management of the USCP. 
The Chief of Police, GAO, and the Chairman of the USCP Labor 
Committee discussed management issues and the USCP progress 
toward closing past recommendations of the GAO that had 
accumulated over several years. Although not all 
recommendations had been closed, the GAO testified that the 
USCP had made significant progress recently in response to the 
recommendations. Following this hearing, the Subcommittee 
obtained a further review from GAO of the ELS labor management 
study obtained by the USCP. The Subcommittee will continue to 
monitor the USCP's progress on the remaining matters raised by 
the GAO in the 111th Congress.
    On June 18, 2008, the Capitol Security Subcommittee held a 
hearing to explore upgrades for the agency's radio 
communications. In addition to the Chief of Police, outside 
witnesses provided unanimous support for a substantial 
investment in a new radio system for the USCP. The Committee 
continues to monitor USCP progress on the acquisition of such a 
system.
    In 2008, the Committee recommended another measure to the 
House. Since 2001, the Congress had enacted numerous individual 
provisions affecting the administration of the USCP, many of 
them substantive requirements added to appropriations acts. 
Many of these individual provisions conflicted with other laws, 
were duplicative or caused other administrative problems for 
the agency. Chairmen Brady and Capuano introduced legislation 
together with Ranking Member Ehlers on May 5, 2008 (H.R. 5972, 
the United States Capitol Police Administrative Technical 
Corrections Act of 2008), to make technical changes to existing 
laws and thereby streamline USCP administration. The Committee 
reported the bill (H. Rept. 110-679) and the House passed it 
with an amendment on June 4, 2008. Although enactment was not 
completed in the 110th Congress, the Committee intends to 
pursue enactment of this important legislation early in the 
111th Congress.
    As an administrative matter the Committee (along with its 
Senate counterpart, the Committee on Rules and Administration), 
is required by law to approve of certain personnel actions 
taken by the Chief of Police, and the Committee discharged this 
responsibility in a timely manner throughout the 110th 
Congress. In addition, the Committee approved a USCP 
reorganization plan creating a ``Mission Assurance Bureau.''

Office of Compliance

    The Committee provides oversight for the House of the 
Office of Compliance (OOC), an agency managed by an independent 
board under the terms of the Congressional Accountability Act 
(CAA) (Pub. L. 104-1) to administer compliance with that law. 
The CAA, as amended, imposes on the legislative branch agencies 
the mandates of the following twelve civil rights, labor and 
workplace safety laws:
          Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967
          Americans With Disabilities Act of 1990
          Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964
          Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988
          Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938
          Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993
          Chapter 71 of the Federal Services Labor-Management 
        Relations Act
          Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970
          Rehabilitation Act of 1973
          Uniformed Service Members Employment and Reemployment 
        Rights under Chapter 43, Title 38 of the U.S. Code
          Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act of 
        1989, and
          Veterans Employment Opportunities Act.
    Since the OOC is intended to be an independent entity and 
its day-to-day operations are overseen by the OOC board, the 
Committee's oversight of the OOC more limited than for other 
legislative branch agencies, often addressing organizational 
matters that require congressional action.
    One aspect of the OOC's work that requires congressional 
oversight is the adoption of regulations implementing the CAA. 
The OOC drafts regulations and submits them to the Congress for 
approval. Near the end of the Congress, the OOC brought to the 
Committee proposed regulations implementing the requirements of 
the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act 
of 1994. The Committee began a review of these regulations, 
along with an earlier set of proposed regulations under the 
Veterans Employment Opportunities Act. While action was not 
completed on either of the sets of regulations during the 110th 
Congress, the Committee anticipates action on each during the 
111th Congress.
    During the 110th Congress, when the OOC had a vacancy in 
the position of Executive Director, the OOC Board brought to 
the Committee's attention the provisions of the CAA which 
prohibited promoting an in-house candidate. Upon review of the 
statute, the Committee agreed that the Board's choice to 
promote someone from within the agency was appropriate, and 
obtained passage of legislation (Pub. L. 110-164) allowing for 
internal promotion and advancement in the OOC's executive 
staff.
    The OOC has been operating in office space borrowed from 
the Library of Congress, and is in need of more suitable space 
to conduct operations and board meetings, and work with 
complainants. The Committee is seeking a way to provide the 
needed facilities for the OOC in the near future when renovated 
federally owned space can be renovated. That pursuit will 
continue in the 111th Congress.

Smithsonian Institution

    Since the Smithsonian Institution is a permanent trust 
entity of the federal government, it does not require enactment 
of regular authorizing legislation (except for certain 
construction projects) and obtains federal funds directly 
through the appropriations process. The Committee acts as the 
principal House legislative and oversight panel for the 
Smithsonian, and shares oversight of the planning and 
construction of new Smithsonian facilities with the Committee 
on Transportation and Infrastructure. Since the Smithsonian 
Museum of African American History and Culture was created in 
2003, no new major legislative initiative has been considered 
by the Committee.
    Shortly after the 110th Congress convened, a series of 
interlocking scandals, resignations and administrative 
upheavals suddenly hit the Smithsonian, generating a torrent of 
congressional inquiries and continuous negative press coverage. 
These events precipitated an historic revamping of the 
Smithsonian's governance structure, the beginning of the 
dismantling of its insular culture in a move toward greater 
transparency, and the replacement of senior management 
personnel. The Committee conducted a wide range of oversight of 
these changes, including consultation with the House Members 
who serve as Smithsonian regents, private briefings, staff 
meetings and public hearings. In each context, the Committee 
cautioned the Board of Regents that its efforts at internal 
transformation in the aftermath of these changes could not 
become an excuse for altering core policies of free access by 
the American public to Smithsonian museums, retreating from 
commitments to continue its unique scientific research 
projects, or neglecting the safety of the visiting public in 
its sometimes decrepit and underfunded facilities.
    Early in the first session, the Committee focused on the 
controversies surrounding travel, salaries and administrative 
practices involving former Secretary Lawrence Small, who 
resigned in March 2007; former Deputy Secretary Sheila Burke; 
Richard West, former director of the National Museum of the 
American Indian; Pilar O'Leary, former director of the 
Smithsonian Latino Center; and former Smithsonian Business 
Ventures CEO Gary Beer. The Committee gave strong support to 
the Independent Review Committee, an outside panel appointed by 
the Board of Regents early in 2007 with a no-holds-barred 
mandate to issue reform recommendations, and to a broad series 
of recommendations by the Board's Governance Committee. 
Chairman Brady called for the dismissal of Smithsonian 
executives who had violated sound business and administrative 
practices.
    On August 1, 2007, the Committee held a hearing on ``The 
Smithsonian in Transition,'' as the Board was beginning to 
implement some of its initial reforms, which focused primarily 
on the new governance structure and included testimony by 
Acting Secretary Dr. Christian Samper, Inspector General A. 
Sprightley Ryan, congressional regent Rep. Doris Matsui and the 
Hon. Charles Bowsher, chairman of the Independent Review 
Committee. Members voiced general satisfaction with the 
Institution's quick efforts to forge a new direction and 
encouraged an expedited search process for a new permanent 
secretary.
    In previous Congresses, the Committee routinely urged House 
passage under suspension of the rules and without formal 
committee action the recommendations of the Board of Regents to 
fill nine positions as citizen regents of the Smithsonian. 
Since the Board of Regents as a part-time body had been 
primarily responsible for lax internal oversight, the Committee 
decided in this Congress no longer to give citizen regent 
candidates proposed by the Board automatic approval for 
appointments (or reappointments). The Committee instituted a 
practice of meeting informally with candidates for the nine 
citizen regent positions before allowing a vote by the House on 
whether to appoint them by joint resolution.
    During the 110th Congress, the Committee brought to the 
Floor and secured passage under suspension of the rules of 
three joint resolutions appointing citizen regents of the 
Smithsonian Institution: S.J. Res. 7 (Roger Sant), Pub. L. 110-
119; S.J. Res. 8 (Patricia Q. Stonesifer), Pub. L. 110-155; and 
S.J. Res. 25 (John W. McCarter, Jr.), Pub. L. 110-197; and each 
such measure became law. Appointed to new six-year terms in the 
110th Congress were Roger Sant, who was later named as the 
first Chair of the Board of Regents under its new governance 
structure; Patricia Q. Stonesifer, who will succeed him in that 
position in 2009; and new candidate John W. McCarter, Jr. In 
addition, in July 2008 the new Smithsonian Secretary, G. Wayne 
Clough, took office after the conclusion of a lengthy search 
process. His selection, as a distinguished academic figure with 
substantial experience in fund-raising which could help to meet 
the Institution's needs beyond the levels of funding that 
Congress might provide, was well received by Committee members.
    The Committee was briefed periodically as the Smithsonian 
continued planning for the Museum of African American History 
and Culture. Toward the end of the Congress, a selection 
process to narrow a list down to five to seven finalists for 
the position of architect, which would be followed by a design 
competition, was underway. Ground-breaking is still anticipated 
to be more than three years away. In addition, throughout the 
Congress the Committee monitored the status of the Arts and 
Industries Building. Smithsonian management issued a ``request 
for qualifications'' to determine whether there was outside 
interest in rehabilitating the building for a private use 
consistent with the Smithsonian's mission, but ultimately 
decided to retain the building for the Smithsonian's own use 
and raise the funds for its restoration.
    The Smithsonian Inspector General provided regular 
briefings on ongoing investigations and final results of 
investigative reports. Chairman Brady requested an audit of 
Smithsonian Networks by the Inspector General, as a follow-up 
to the investigation of the Institution's controversial secret 
contract with Showtime, which had been revealed publicly in 
2006.
    The Committee received staff reports following oversight 
trips to the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute (STRI) in 
Panama, the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center (SERC) in 
Maryland, and the Smithsonian Conservation and Research Center 
(CRC) in Virginia, which stressed the need to continue their 
unique areas of scientific research and to rehabilitate the 
physical infrastructure where appropriate. As a result, the 
Committee considered several construction projects proposed by 
the Smithsonian, including two at STRI and SERC. In its report 
on H.R. 6627, the Smithsonian Institution Facilities 
Authorization Act of 2008 introduced by Transportation 
Committee Chairman Oberstar and Chairman Brady (H. Rpt. 110-
842, part 1), the Committee criticized the Smithsonian for 
initiating planning and design activities without proper 
advance authorization from Congress. The Committee on September 
11, 2008 reported H.R. 6627, and the House on September 17, 
2008 passed it; as the bill was not enacted before final 
adjournment of the 110th Congress, the Committee anticipates 
renewed efforts to authorize these projects in the 111th 
Congress.

Elections

    The Committee and its Subcommittee on Elections conducted 
oversight of the administration of federal elections and 
campaign finance throughout the 110th Congress. The Committee 
sought to achieve the overarching goal of full enfranchisement 
for all Americans as it oversaw activities at both the state 
and federal level, and in anticipation of the presidential 
election of 2008.
    The Committee held numerous hearings designed to highlight 
potential problems election officials might face in 
administering the 2008 elections. At these hearings, the 
Committee and the Subcommittee on Elections endeavored to 
represent a wide range of diverse viewpoints and stakeholders 
in our electoral process--from election officials from state 
and local jurisdictions, to representatives from Federal 
agencies, to advocacy groups and individual voters. To call 
attention to pre-election preparations, the Subcommittee on 
Elections held a hearing on the importance of poll workers and 
the best practices used by states to recruit and train poll 
workers. The Subcommittee on Elections also explored through 
hearings the accuracy and completeness of state computerized 
voter registration databases and safeguards that could be put 
in place to ensure that eligible voters are not wrongfully 
removed from the voter rolls. In addition, the Subcommittee on 
Elections examined states' effectiveness in implementing 
Section 7 of the National Voter Registration Act (NVRA), and 
the difficulties state public assistance agencies face in 
implementing voter registration.
    As the presidential primary season progressed, the 
Committee held a hearing to highlight problems that had 
reportedly occurred over the course of the primary season. 
Throughout 2008, the Subcommittee on Elections further explored 
the efforts of state and local jurisdictions to prepare for 
Election Day emergencies and other contingencies such as high 
turnout at the polls. To address the problem of Election Day 
malfunctions, the Committee reported H.R. 5803, a bill that 
would direct the Election Assistance Commission to make grants 
to state and local jurisdictions to provide backup paper 
ballots in the event of voting machine failure or in other 
emergency situations.
    In addition, the Committee and the Subcommittee explored at 
length in several hearings methods by which election officials 
could expand opportunities for Americans to register to vote 
and cast their votes in future elections. The Subcommittee 
explored the value and potential liabilities of expanding state 
programs, allowing voters to vote by mail and by absentee 
ballot, and permitting same-day or Election Day registration. 
As a result of these hearings, the Committee marked up and 
favorably reported H.R. 281, which would amend the Help America 
Vote Act of 2002 to expand the opportunities of voters to vote 
as absentees.
    The Committee is as committed to protecting voter 
enfranchisement as it is to expanding it. Accordingly, the 
Committee held a field hearing in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania--
one of the birthplaces of American freedom--to expose barriers 
voters face when casting their ballots. The hearing focused on 
deceptive practices and voter intimidation, the deterrent 
effect of mandatory voter identification laws and voter caging 
efforts, and the effect of strict voter registration deadlines 
and practices.
    The Committee has also recognized that certain voters face 
unique challenges in exercising their right to vote and has 
held hearings to cast light on those particular problems of 
military and overseas voters and college students. In holding 
these hearings, the Committee has sought both to expose strict 
registration and identification requirements burdening these 
voters and to highlight best practices adopted by state and 
local jurisdictions to assist these often overlooked citizens. 
The Committee has worked in a bipartisan manner to pass through 
the House H. Con. Res 388, calling on the Department of Defense 
and the Federal Voting Assistance Program to assist military 
and overseas citizens with the voting process. The Committee 
also achieved House passage of H.R. 6625, which would require 
the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to permit designation of 
Veterans' Administration facilities as voter registration 
agencies, ensuring the rights of wounded military veterans to 
register to vote and participate fully in the electoral 
process.
    The United States Election Assistance Commission (EAC) is 
an independent bipartisan commission created by the Help 
America Vote Act of 2002 (HAVA). It is charged with (1) 
administering payments to states and developing guidance to 
meet HAVA requirements, (2) implementing election 
administration improvements, (3) adopting voluntary voting 
system guidelines, (4) accrediting voting system test 
laboratories and certifying voting equipment, and (5) serving 
as a national clearinghouse and resource of information 
regarding election administration. Originally established to 
serve as an independent bipartisan agency, the EAC has been 
publicly criticized by the Committee and others for its failure 
to adopt and follow strategic plans and policies, its 
shortcomings in following federal administrative law, and the 
lack of transparency in its operations and decision making 
processes.
    During the 110th Congress, the Subcommittee on Elections 
held a series of oversight hearings and staff meetings with the 
EAC to focus on the EAC's standards, management, and 
procedures. The Committee and Subcommittee have followed what 
the EAC has done to improve its policies and procedures as a 
first step to improve EAC process and management. Thus far, the 
Committee has found that the EAC is: Publicly acknowledging the 
problems the Commission has faced; addressing a number of these 
concerns; and becoming more proactive in reporting its 
activities to Congress. Without congressional oversight, the 
EAC might not have made progress in correcting these 
deficiencies.
    The 2006 election revealed that some paperless voting 
systems in use throughout the country produced abnormal or 
questionable results that could not be audited or independently 
verified. Although paperless touch screen voting systems have 
been considered generally easy to use and, if properly 
equipped, accessible to voters with disability and language 
assistance needs, their only output is a digital readout that 
relies on the accuracy of the electronic software. The results 
cannot be manually recounted. As a consequence, many of these 
paperless touch screen voting systems have been found 
inadequately equipped to demonstrate voter intent independently 
during a recount or audit.
    In order to increase public confidence, promote 
transparency, and ensure the accessibility and accuracy of 
these voting systems in the 2008 election cycle, the Committee 
held multiple hearings and considered numerous legislative 
proposals aimed at supplementing paperless jurisdictions' 
efforts to invest in voting systems that are equipped with an 
independent paper copy of each vote that can be verified by the 
voter, reimbursing paperless jurisdictions for reasonable costs 
associated with converting to paper ballot voting systems, 
supporting jurisdictions that choose to adopt additional 
safeguards such as manually auditing and/or conducting hand 
counts of the 2008 general election, and authorizing funding 
for an accessibility study of existing voting system 
technology.
    The Committee also hosted a voting machine forum on March 
15, 2007, to provide Members and staff the opportunity to learn 
about current and future voting system technology. Further, the 
Committee commissioned the GAO to investigate whether the EAC 
has developed an effective approach to testing and certifying 
voting systems as well as determine whether the EAC has defined 
an effective approach for developing and implementing a voting 
system certification program for accrediting laboratories that 
test voting systems. Both the voting system certification and 
lab accreditation programs were found to lack clear definition 
and implementation standards.
    While legislation dealing specifically with voting system 
transparency, accessibility, security, and accuracy did not 
reach the President's desk in the 110th Congress, the Committee 
will continue to explore ways in which to address the expressed 
concerns of citizens, organizations, government officials, and 
vendors in the future.
    In addition to its role in oversight of election 
administration, the Committee on House Administration has the 
specific responsibility to review election contests on behalf 
of the House. During the 110th Congress, a contest of the 2006 
election in the 13th District of Florida required significant 
review, which was conducted largely by the Task Force 
established for that purpose in March 2007. The principal issue 
raised by the contestant was whether the voting machines used 
in Sarasota County, Fla., had malfunctioned, leading to a large 
undervote.
    Since the Task Force lacked the technical expertise to 
determine whether the machines malfunctioned, it asked the GAO 
to investigate whether the voting machines used in Sarasota 
contributed to the unusually high number of undervotes. The GAO 
later advised that it obtained sufficient assurance that the 
touch screen voting system used in Sarasota's 2006 general 
election did not contribute to the large undervote, nor result 
in abnormal functioning of Sarasota County's voting machines. 
As this was the central question posed by the contestant, the 
Task Force recommended dismissal of the contest; a resolution 
dismissing the contest was reported by the Committee and 
adopted by the House.
    In addition to dismissing the election contest in Florida's 
13th District, the Committee recommended dismissal of three 
other election contests questioning the results of the 5th, 
21st, and 24th Florida Districts because the claims asserted in 
these contests proved to be no more than unsupported 
speculation and did not cast sufficient doubt on the results of 
the elections to merit further investigation. All three 
resolutions of dismissal were adopted by the House. Beyond the 
Florida contests, the 4th Louisiana District contest was also 
dismissed upon the recommendation of the Committee, which 
determined that, as a general matter, challenges to the 
qualifications of a member-elect to serve in the Congress are 
not a proper subject for a contest brought under the Federal 
Contested Elections Act.

Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards (Franking Commission)

    The Franking Commission, established by Public Law 93-191, 
is composed of six Members appointed by the Speaker of the 
House: three from the majority, and three from the minority. 
The Speaker designates as Chairman of the Franking Commission 
one of the Members appointed to the Commission, who must also 
be a Member of the Committee on House Administration. In the 
110th Congress, the Commission was chaired by Rep. Capuano, 
with Rep. Ehlers serving as Ranking Member, and joined by 
Commission Members Rep. Brad Sherman of California, Rep. Artur 
Davis, Rep. Tom Price of Georgia and Rep. Kevin McCarthy.
    By law, House Rule and regulation, the jurisdiction and 
related functions of the Franking Commission are:
    1. To prescribe regulations governing the proper use of the 
franking privilege by those entitled to use the privilege in 
connection with the mailing or contemplated mailing of franked 
mail under 39 U.S.C. sections 3210, 3211, 3212, 3213(2), 3218, 
3219 or in connection with the operation of section 3215; in 
connection with any other Federal law (other than any law which 
imposes any criminal penalty), or in connection with any Rule 
of the U.S. House of Representatives relating to franked mail 
(2 U.S.C. 501(d)).
    2. Upon the request of any person entitled to use the 
franking privilege and other official communication resources, 
to provide guidance, assistance, advice, and counsel, through 
Advisory Opinions or consultations, in connection with the 
distribution or contemplated distribution of franked mail or 
official communications regarding the application and/or 
compliance with applicable Federal statutes and House Rules and 
regulations. The staff assigned to the Commission is delegated 
authority by the Commission to perform advisory and counseling 
functions, subject to review by the Commission. (2 U.S.C. 
501(d), House Rule XXIV clause 4, and the Regulations of the 
Committee on House Administration).
    3. To investigate, decide, and dispose of complaints 
regarding the misuse of the franking privilege (2 U.S.C. 
501(e)).
    Federal law authorizes the Franking Commission, in 
performing its duties and functions, to use such personnel, 
office space, equipment, and facilities of, and obtain such 
other assistance from, the Committee on House Administration. 
The Committee must supply support to the Commission sufficient 
to enable the Commission to perform its duties and functions 
efficiently and effectively.
    In the 110th Congress, the Committee provided the following 
assistance to the Franking Commission:
          The services of 7 employees, 4 to the 
        majority and 3 to the minority;
          Office space and equipment; and
          Procurement of contract services to replicate 
        the existing Franked Mail Tracking System (FMTS) into a 
        new BMC Remedy based FMTS module with a new Custom 
        Tracking System. These services were provided during 
        the period June-December 2007.
    As of December 15, 2008, the Franking Commission had 
reviewed, considered, and approved 12,560 requests for Advisory 
Opinions during the 110th Congress. In addition, the Commission 
received one complaint alleging the misuse of the franking 
privilege, Public Citizen v. Roskam. The Franking Commission 
determined that there was no substantial reason to believe that 
a violation had occurred as alleged in this complaint and the 
complaint was dismissed pursuant to Rule 3 of the Rules of 
Practice in Proceedings before the Franking Commission.
    Effective January 3, 1996, all communications required to 
receive an Advisory Opinion from the Franking Commission are 
subject to full public disclosure. Communications that require 
an Advisory Opinion prior to distribution, publication, 
dissemination, etc. include mass mailings, mass communications 
(regardless of medium), and communications for which a third 
party production or printing expense will be incurred. A mass 
mailing or communication is considered to be any communication 
of substantially identical content initiated by a Member, i.e., 
unsolicited, that will be distributed to 500 or more 
individuals, i.e., read, seen, or heard by 500 or more 
individuals. Advisory Opinions are made available for review 
and duplication by the public through the Legislative Resource 
Center operated by the Clerk. The Commission is responsible for 
monitoring requests to review advisory opinions files at the 
Legislative Resource Center to ensure that the applicable 
public disclosure requirement is fully complied with. In 
addition, it is the practice of the Commission to provide 
notice to a Member whenever his or her public disclosure file 
has been reviewed in whole or in part.
    In the 110th Congress, the Commission also initiated a 
comprehensive review of the regulations governing the use of 
the frank and other communications resources by Members, 
committees, and Officers of the House. (Most of the statutes 
and regulations governing the use of the frank by the House of 
Representatives date back to 1974. In addition, most of the 
content regulations adopted by the Committee on House 
Administration, which generally require that the content and 
distribution of all official communications, regardless of 
medium, be in compliance with the content and distribution 
regulations governing the frank, date back to the early 1990s.) 
Informal discussions among Commission Members identified areas 
to be reviewed. The areas identified included the application 
of current law and regulations to the current communications 
environment, in particular to e-communications; funding of the 
franking privilege; requirements and procedures applicable to 
accounting for the frank; and public disclosure requirements 
and procedures.
    Pursuant to these discussions, the Franking Commission 
approved the following procedure regarding the use of 
Templates:
    To expedite the review and advice process with regard to 
announcements of recurring official events, a Member may, at 
any time over the course of a Legislative Year (January 3 of 
one year through January 2 of the following year) submit a 
request for an Advisory Opinion regarding the frankability of 
such a communication Template. Once an Advisory Opinion has 
been issued deeming the Template to be in compliance, the 
Member may use the Template and the corresponding Advisory 
Opinion to distribute like communications for the remainder of 
the corresponding Legislative Year.
    This procedure eliminates the requirement that a Member 
submit an individual request for an Advisory Opinion each time 
he or she plans to distribute an announcement that is identical 
to a previously approved announcement except for the date, 
time, and location of the event. However, in lieu thereof, the 
Member is required to provide notice to the Franking Commission 
whenever the Template is used; upon receipt of such 
notification, the Franking Commission will provide a copy of 
the notice to the Legislative Resource Center to be included in 
the Member's public disclosure file.
    The primary purpose of such a Template must be to give 
notice of an official event that is being hosted/sponsored 
exclusively by the Member, announcing the date, time and 
location of the event and notice of the availability of ADA 
accommodations.
    Examples of recurring official events include but are not 
limited to town hall meetings (actual, virtual, telephone, 
etc.) and community/neighborhood office hours.
    Examples of announcements of such events include but are 
not limited to e-mail, automated telephone calls and public 
service announcements, qualifying advertisements (newspaper, 
periodical, radio/TV, web banner, post-it ads, etc.), and 
posters and flyers.
    The authority to use an approved Template shall expire at 
the end of the Legislative Year in which the corresponding 
Advisory Opinion was issued.
    This procedure is effective January 3, 2009.
    The Franking Commission also forwarded the following 
recommendations to the Committee on House Administration for 
review and consideration:
    1. In April 2008, a recommendation that consideration be 
given to amending the regulation requiring that official House 
web sites be located exclusively in the House.gov domain to 
allow such sites to be posted in third party domains and to 
allow House offices to post official content on third party 
sites.
    2. In September 2008, in anticipation of the implementation 
of the Template procedure described above, a recommendation 
that consideration be given to amending the quarterly mass mail 
report requirement to include the reporting of all mass 
communications, regardless of media, distributed by each Member 
in the reporting period.
In the 111th Congress, it is anticipated that the Franking 
Commission will continue to review House Rules and regulations 
governing the use of the frank and other communications 
resources.

Joint Committee on Printing and Government Printing Office

    By law, the Government Printing Office (GPO) is the federal 
government's principal printer, and by House rule, the 
Committee has oversight jurisdiction of the agency. In 
addition, by law, the Chairman of the Committee and his 
counterpart on the Senate Rules and Administration Committee 
serve with four Senators and four Representatives on a Joint 
Committee on Printing (JCP), which exercises certain authority 
over federal printing policy generally, administration of the 
GPO, and over congressional printing, including the form and 
format of the Congressional Record. At the Joint Committee's 
organizational meeting on April 18, 2007, Chairman Brady was 
selected as JCP Chairman, exercising JCP's authority on behalf 
of the JCP as necessary and appropriate.
    Under the federal law, GPO employees have the right to 
bargain collectively over terms and conditions of employment, 
including wage levels, subject to JCP approval of the resulting 
contracts. The Chairman devoted much time to monitoring labor 
negotiations underway during the session between the Public 
Printer and various bargaining units. Indeed, at the JCP 
organizational meeting the Chairman approved a GPO contract 
with a bargaining unit represented by the American Federation 
of Government Employees (655 workers). Subsequently during the 
session, after protracted negotiations, the Public Printer 
signed, and the JCP approved, new contracts with the Columbia 
Typographical Union/Communications Workers of America (187 
employees), the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers 
(58 workers), and the International Association of Machinists 
(IAM & AW) (24 workers). As the session ended, negotiations 
continued with the bargaining unit represented by the Fraternal 
Order of Police (FOP) (approx. 50 workers).
    In addition to monitoring the progress of labor 
negotiations and approving new labor contracts, the JCP 
authorized the establishment and outfitting of a secure 
facility at the Stennis Space Center in Mississippi for 
production of passport documents for the U.S. Department of 
State. Before the Mississippi facility became operational in 
April 2008, all U.S. passport blanks issued by the State 
Department came from the GPO's operations on North Capitol 
Street in Washington, D.C. The State Department and others, 
including the JCP, considered it prudent to create an alternate 
production center to assure passport availability in the event 
of a disruption in Washington. The JCP approved the proposed 
facility in August 2007 and operations began on-schedule, 
alleviating the need for round-the-clock production at the 
Washington, D.C., facility.
    Each year the JCP reviews and approves GPO's capital 
spending plan for the coming fiscal year. The fiscal 2008 
submission indicated GPO's continuing intention to rely on 
contract security rather than an expansion of the GPO sworn 
police force, raising serious concerns among JCP members. 
Similar concern was reflected in the fiscal 2007 Legislative 
Branch Appropriations Act, which included a provision 
forbidding GPO from using funds to employ contract security for 
passport production in the District Columbia. To address the 
underlying question of the appropriate size of the GPO security 
force, the Chairs of the JCP and the House Appropriations 
Subcommittee on Legislative Branch in February 2008 jointly 
asked the GAO to examine GPO security needs and make 
recommendations to the agency and both panels. When the 110th 
Congress adjourned, the GAO examination had not been completed.
    In September 2007, the JCP received a request from the 
Public Printer for approval to designate the federal regional 
depository libraries operated by the University of Kansas and 
the University of Nebraska as a ``shared'' regional depository 
library, in an effort to pool resources and achieve savings in 
their operation of the program. Chapter 19 of Title 44, U.S. 
Code, provides for designation by Senators of up to two 
depository libraries in each state to operate as ``regional'' 
depository libraries. Because chapter 19 does not explicitly 
establish a ``shared'' regional depository status, the JCP 
sought the opinion of the American Law Division of the 
Congressional Research Service on whether JCP could establish 
this new ``shared'' status. The CRS opined in the negative; the 
JCP found the opinion persuasive and declined the Public 
Printer's request in February 2008. At the same time, however, 
the JCP directed the Public Printer to conduct a thorough study 
of the Federal Depository Library Program and make such 
recommendations for legislative changes to chapter 19 as he may 
consider appropriate, taking into account the views of all 
stakeholders in the study process. By the end of the 110th 
Congress, the JCP had not received the Public Printer's 
recommendations.
    Finally, the JCP oversaw the final stages of publication 
and distribution of congressional documents authorized by law 
or by the Congress, including memorial tributes for deceased 
members of Congress; memorial tributes to the late President 
Gerald R. Ford and ``Lady Bird'' (Mrs. Lyndon B.) Johnson; new 
editions of Our Flag, The Annotated Constitution of the United 
States, How Our Laws are Made, and a reprint of the so-called 
``Pocket Constitution''; and other documents, with the 
Committee on House Administration considering the necessary 
resolutions in each case. As noted above, the JCP worked with 
the Clerk of the House, Lorraine C. Miller, to oversee 
publication and distribution of Women in Congress, 1917-2006, 
and Black Americans in Congress, 1870-2006, both handsome 
volumes authorized in 2001 and completed during the 110th 
Congress.

Joint Committee on the Library

    The Joint Committee on the Library (JCL) is a joint 
committee of the Congress devoted to the affairs and 
administration of the Library of Congress. There are five 
members of each house on the committee; membership consists of 
the chairman and four Members of the Senate Committee on Rules 
and Administration, the chairman and three Members of the 
Committee on House Administration and the chairman of the House 
Committee on Appropriations or his designee. The Committee has 
oversight of the operations of the Library of Congress, as well 
as management of the congressional art collection (including 
the contributions of two statues from each state to the 
Statuary Hall Collection) and the United States Botanic Garden, 
but does not have legislative authority. The committee was 
chaired in the 110th Congress by Sen. Dianne Feinstein of 
California, with Chairman Brady serving as the vice chair. 
Other members included Reps. Lofgren, Ehlers, Lungren and Rep. 
Debbie Wasserman Schultz of Florida; and Sens. Christopher J. 
Dodd of Connecticut, Charles E. Schumer of New York, Robert F. 
Bennett of Utah and Ted Stevens of Alaska.
    In addition to routine administrative matters relating to 
the administration of the Botanic Garden and management of art 
in the Capitol, the JCL also approved on July 31, 2008, a major 
relocation plan for the statues in the Statuary Hall 
Collection. This new plan for organization of the statues 
provided for the incorporation of several statues into the new 
Capitol Visitor Center and also established a new collection of 
statues from the original thirteen colonies to be arranged in 
the Crypt of the Capitol.
    During the 110th Congress, the JCL approved two statues for 
installation in the Capitol and moved forward on the creation 
and acceptance of two others. Statues of former President 
Ronald Reagan and Sojourner Truth have been approved and will 
be placed in the Capitol in the near future. A new statue of 
Helen Keller will also join the Statuary Hall collection; the 
model has been approved and the final statue is almost ready 
for acceptance. A proposal from the State of Michigan for a 
statue of former President Gerald Ford to be added to the 
Statuary Hall Collection has been approved in concept and 
should move forward in the 111th Congress.

House Fine Arts Board

    The House Fine Arts Board comprises the five Members of the 
House who sit on the Joint Committee on the Library. In the 
110th Congress, the Board was chaired by Chairman Brady, and 
also included Reps. Lofgren, Ehlers, Lungren and Rep. Debbie 
Wasserman Schultz of Florida.
    One of the principal activities of the Board is to review 
and accept portraits of Committee chairs into the House 
Collection. Six portraits were accepted in the 110th Congress:
          James Nussle, Committee on the Budget
          Eligio (Kika) de la Garza, Committee on Agriculture 
        [previously on loan to the House Collection and donated 
        in the 110th Congress]
          Thomas Davis, Committee on Government Reform
          Robert Goodlatte, Committee on Agriculture
          Joe Barton, Committee on Energy and Commerce
          James Oberstar, Committee on Transportation and 
        Infrastructure.
In addition, the Board authorized organization of portrait fund 
committees for:
          Duncan Hunter, Committee on Armed Services
          Jerry Lewis, Committee on Appropriations
          Donald Manzullo, Committee on Small Business
          Howard ``Buck'' McKeon, Committee on Education and 
        the Workforce
          Charles Rangel, Committee on Ways and Means.
    In 2002, the House Fine Arts Board directed the Clerk of 
the House to develop a program to enhance the House Fine Arts 
Collection to include additional works of art representing 
historically important Members of the House. Between 2002 and 
August 2007, the collection was expanded to include portraits 
of:
           John Quincy Adams--diplomat, sixth President 
        of the United States and U.S. Representative from 
        Massachusetts (1831-1848);
           James Madison--Founding Father, U.S. 
        Representative from Virginia (1789-1797) and fourth 
        President of the United States;
           Abraham Lincoln--U.S. Representative from 
        Illinois (1847-1849) and sixteenth President of the 
        United States;
           Jeannette Rankin, Montana--first woman to 
        serve as a Representative in the U.S. Congress (1917-
        1919; subsequently served a second term--1941-1943)
           Joseph H. Rainey, South Carolina (1869-
        1879)--first African American to serve as a 
        Representative in the U.S. Congress; and
           Romualdo Pacheco, California (1877-1883)--
        first Hispanic American to serve as a Representative in 
        the U.S. Congress.
On November 7, 2007, the Committee, in cooperation with the 
House Fine Arts Board, sponsored the unveiling of the seventh 
portrait to be commissioned under this program, the official 
portrait of Rep. Dalip Singh Saund of California, the first 
Asian American to serve as a U.S. Representative in the 
Congress (1957-1963).
    The unveiling ceremony was moderated by the Honorable Mike 
Honda, California, Chairman of the Congressional Asian and 
Pacific Islander Caucus. Remarks were presented by members of 
the Committee and the Fine Arts Board, members of the 
Congressional Asian and Pacific Islander Caucus and the 
Congressional Caucus on India and Indian Americans, the artist, 
and a member of the late Representative Saund's family. The 
event was attended by the Speaker, Members of Congress, 
representatives of the Asian American and Indian American 
communities, and twelve descendants of the late Representative 
Saund (September 20, 1899-April 22, 1973).

                   Legislative and Oversight Hearings


First Session

    The Committee met on February 28, 2007 to consider 
testimony on H. Res. 202, the Committee Funding Resolution. The 
Committee heard testimony from the chairmen and ranking 
minority members of the following House committees concerning 
their proposed budgets for the 110th Congress:
          The Committee on Foreign Affairs
          The Committee on Judiciary
          The Committee on Financial Services
          The Committee on Homeland Security
          The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure
          The Committee on Armed Services
          The Committee on Education and Workforce
          The Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
          The Committee on Rules
          The Committee on Ways and Means
          The Committee on Small Business
          The Committee on Veterans' Affairs
          The Committee on Energy and Commerce
          The Committee on Agriculture
          The Committee on Science and Technology
          The Committee on the Budget
          The Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence
          The Committee on Standards of Official Conduct
          The Committee on Natural Resources
    The Subcommittee on Elections met on March 15, 2007 to 
receive testimony in the first in a three-part series of 
hearings on Election Reform. The subject of the hearing was 
Machines and Software. The hearing covered issues including, 
but not limited to, machines, disability access, open source 
code and commercial off-the-shelf software. Witnesses included:
            Panel 1:
          Hon. Eric Clark--Secretary of State, State of 
        Mississippi
          Diane Cordry Golden, Ph.D.--Director, Missouri 
        Assistive Technology
          Ted Selker, Ph.D.--Director, Voting Technology 
        Project, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
          Kelly Pierce--Disability Specialist, Cook County (IL) 
        State's Attorney Office
            Panel 2:
          Brit Williams, Ph.D.--Professor of Computer Science 
        and Information Systems, Kennesaw State University
          David Wagner, Ph.D.--Associate Professor, University 
        of California, Berkeley
          Brian Behlendorf--Founder and Chief Technology 
        Officer, CollabNet
          Hugh J. Gallagher--Managing Director, Election System 
        Acquisition and Management Services, Inc.
          Matt Zimmerman--Staff Attorney, Electronic Frontier 
        Foundation
    The Subcommittee on Elections met on March 20, 2007 to 
receive testimony in the second in a series of hearings on 
Election Reform. The subject of the hearing was Auditing the 
Vote. The hearing covered issues including, but not limited to, 
the auditing of Federal elections. Witnesses included:
            Panel 1:
          Ion Sancho--Supervisor of Elections, Leon County (FL)
          Matt Damschroder--Director, Franklin County (OH) 
        Board of Elections
            Panel 2:
          Candice Hoke--Director, Cleveland State University 
        Center for Election Integrity
          R. Doug Lewis--Executive Director, National 
        Association of Election Officials
          Lawrence Norden--Counsel, Brennan Center for Justice
          Tammy Patrick--Federal Compliance Officer, Maricopa 
        County (AZ) Elections Department
          Pamela Smith--President, Verified Voter
    The Subcommittee on Elections met on March 23, 2007 to 
receive testimony in the last of a series of hearings on 
Election Reform. The subject of the hearing was H.R. 811. The 
hearing covered issues including, but not limited to, H.R. 811, 
a bill that would require that all voting equipment produce a 
paper ballot that can be verified by the voter and that serves 
as the official ballot in any recount or audit. Witnesses 
included:
            Panel 1:
          Hon. Rush Holt (bill sponsor)
          Hon. Tom Petri (bill sponsor)
            Panel 2:
          Hon. Charlie Crist--Governor of Florida
          Hon. Debra Bowen--Secretary of State of California
          Hon. Chris Nelson--Secretary of State of South Dakota
            Panel 3:
          Tanya Clay House--Director of Public Policy, People 
        for the American Way
          George Gilbert--Director of Elections, Guilford 
        County
          Edward Felten, Ph.D.--Professor of Computer Science 
        and Public Affairs, Princeton University
          Don Norris, Ph.D--Professor of Public Policy, 
        University of Maryland, Baltimore County
            Panel 4:
          Noel Runyan--President, Personal Data Systems
          Dr. Harold Snider--Access for the Handicapped, Inc.
          Warren Stewart--Policy Director, VoteTrustUSA
          Hon. Gail W. Mahoney--Commissioner, Jackson County, 
        Michigan; Chair, National Association of Counties
    The Committee met on March 29, 2007 to receive a report 
from Ms. Lofgren, Chairwoman of the Subcommittee on Elections, 
regarding Election Reform hearing held in the Subcommittee to 
date.
    The Task Force on the Contested Election in the 13th 
Congressional District of Florida met on May 2, 2007. The Task 
Force approved a motion to adopt the Government Accountability 
Office work plan.
    The Committee met on May 3, 2007 to discuss the status of 
the upcoming markup of H.R. 811.
    The Task Force on the Contested Election in the 13th 
Congressional District of Florida met on June 14, 2007. The 
Task Force discussed the status of the Government 
Accountability Office work plan. The following staff from the 
Government Accountability Office were available to answer 
questions:
          Dr. Naba Barkakati--Senior Level Technologist, GAO
          Gloria Jarmon--Managing Director, Congressional 
        Relations, GAO
          Jan Montgomery--General Counsel, GAO
    The Committee met on June 27, 2007 to hear testimony on the 
implementation of the U.S. Capitol Police-Library of Congress 
Police merger. The hearing provided the Committee with an 
opportunity to hear from the agencies to be merged. Witnesses 
included:
          Phillip D. Morse, Sr.--Chief of Police, U.S. Capitol 
        Police
          Jo Ann Jenkins--Chief Operating Officer, Library of 
        Congress
          Hon. Wilson Livingood--Sergeant at Arms, U.S. House 
        of Representatives
          Officer Michael Hutchins--Library of Congress 
        Fraternal Order of Police
    The Committee met on August 1, 2007 to hear testimony on 
the ``Smithsonian in transition.'' The hearing covered issues 
including, but not limited to, reports from the Independent 
Review Committee and the Governance Committee that recommended 
several major reforms to the Institution. Witnesses included:
            Panel 1:
          Hon. Doris Matsui--U.S. Representative; Member, Board 
        of Regents, Smithsonian Institution; Member, Governance 
        and Nominating Committee
          The Honorable Charles Bowsher--Chairman, Independent 
        Review Committee
            Panel 2:
          Dr. Christian Samper--Acting Secretary, Smithsonian 
        Institution
          A. Sprightley Ryan--Inspector General, Smithsonian 
        Institution
    The Subcommittee on Elections met on August 2, 2007 to hear 
testimony from the Election Assistance Commission. The hearing 
covered issues including, but not limited to, the standards, 
management and procedures of the U.S. Election Assistance 
Commission. Witnesses included:
            Panel 1:
          Hon. Donetta Davidson--Chair, Election Assistance 
        Commission
          Hon. Rosemary Rodriguez--Vice-Chair, Election 
        Assistance Commission
            Panel 2:
          Jon Greenbaum--Voting Rights Project Director, 
        Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law
          David Super--Professor of Law, University of Maryland 
        School of Law
          Robert Montjoy--Professor, University of New Orleans
    The Task Force on the Contested Election in the 13th 
Congressional District of Florida met on June 14, 2007. The 
Task Force discussed the status of the Government 
Accountability Office investigation into the contested election 
in the 13th Congressional District of Florida. The Task Force 
received updates from the following:
          Dr. Naba Barkakati--Senior Level Technologist, GAO
          Gloria Jarmon--Managing Director, Congressional 
        Relations, GAO
          Jan Montgomery--General Counsel, GAO
    The Task Force on the Contested Election in the 13th 
Congressional District of Florida met on October 2, 2007. The 
Task Force discussed the status of the Government 
Accountability Office investigation into the contested election 
in the 13th Congressional District of Florida. The Task Force 
received updates from the following:
          Dr. Naba Barkakati--Senior Level Technologist, GAO
          Gloria Jarmon--Managing Director, Congressional 
        Relations, GAO
          Jan Montgomery--General Counsel, GAO
    The Subcommittee on Elections met on October 3, 2007 to 
hear testimony on the importance of poll workers. The hearing 
covered issues including, but not limited to, the right to vote 
and access the polls. Witnesses included:
          Hon. Michael Mauro--Secretary of State, Iowa
          Lance Gough--Executive Director, Chicago Board of 
        Election Commissioners
          Helen Purcell--Recorder, Maricopa County
          Jennifer Collins-Foley--President, the Pollworker 
        Institute
    On October 5, 2007, the Committee held a field hearing in 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to receive testimony on impediments 
to voter enfranchisement. Issues discussed included, but were 
not limited to, the right to vote and access to the polls. 
Witnesses included:
            Panel 1:
          Thomas Weaver--Deputy Secretary of State, 
        Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
          Margaret M. Tartaglione--Chairwoman, Philadelphia 
        City Commissioners
          Edgar A. Howard--Commissioner, Philadelphia City 
        Commissioners
          Carol Ann Campbell--Councilmember, Philadelphia
            Panel 2:
          J. Whyatt Mondesire--President, NAACP Philadelphia 
        Chapter
          Zach Stahlberg--President, Committee on Seventy
          Roberto Santiago--Director, Council of Spanish 
        Speaking Organizations
    The Subcommittee on Elections met on October 16, 2007 to 
hear testimony on expanding and improving opportunities to vote 
by mail or absentee. The hearing covered issues related to 
Absentee Voting and Vote by Mail (VBM). Witnesses included:
            Panel 1:
          The Honorable Susan Davis--U.S. Representative
            Panel 2:
          Ruth Goldway--Commissioner, Postal Regulatory 
        Commission
          Deborah L. Markowitz--Secretary of State, Vermont
          Joseph Holland--Clerk, Santa Barbara County
          Jonathan Bechtle--Director and Legal Analyst, 
        Citizenship and Governance Center, Evergreen Freedom 
        Foundation
    The Committee met on October 17, 2007 to hear testimony on 
the Capitol Visitor Center and the visitor experience. The 
hearing covered issues including, but not limited to, security 
at the CVC and the future of tours at the CVC and the Capitol. 
Witnesses included:
          Terrie S. Rouse--CEO for Visitor Services, Capitol 
        Visitor Center
          Thomas L. Stevens--Director of Visitor Services, U.S. 
        Capitol Guide Service
          Phillip D. Morse, Sr.--Chief of Police, U.S. Capitol 
        Police
    The Subcommittee on Elections met on October 22, 2007. This 
was a continuation of the original hearing on the same subject 
that commenced on October 16, 2007, at which time 
Representative Kevin McCarthy (Subcommittee on Elections 
Ranking Member) submitted a letter on behalf of the minority 
Subcommittee Members, requesting that pursuant to House Rule XI 
clause (2)(j)(1), the minority be granted a minority day of 
hearing on matters relating to expanding and improving 
opportunities to vote by mail or absentee. Witnesses included:
            Panel 3:
          John Fortier--American Enterprise Institute
          Tom Harrison--Former Texas Elections Director
    The Subcommittee on Elections met on October 23, 2007 to 
hear testimony on voter registration and list maintenance. The 
hearing covered issues including, but not limited to, methods 
state and local jurisdictions have employed to ensure their 
computerized voter registration databases are accurate and up 
to date. Witnesses included:
            Panel 1:
          Hon. Chris Nelson--Secretary of State, South Dakota
          Larry Leake--Chairman, North Carolina State Board of 
        Elections
          Patricia Hollarn--Supervisor of Elections, Okaloosa 
        County
          Jackie Harris--General Registrar, Fairfax County
            Panel 2:
          Deborah Goldberg--Director of Democracy Program, 
        Brennan Center for Justice, NYU School of Law
          Spencer Overton--Professor, The George Washington 
        University Law School
          Kristen Clarke--Co-Director, Political Participation 
        Group NAACP Legal Defense Fund, Inc.
          Robert Driscoll--Partner, Alston & Bird, LLP
    The Committee met on October 24, 2007 to hear testimony on 
the Library of Congress and current issues in Library 
management. The hearing covered issues including, but not 
limited to, inventory of the collections, cataloging, and the 
status of the Law Library. Witnesses included:
            Panel 1:
          Dr. James H. Billington--Librarian of Congress, 
        Library of Congress (accompanied by Dr. Deanna Marcum, 
        Associate Librarian for Library Services, and Dr. 
        Rubens Medina, Librarian.
            Panel 2:
          Hon. Bill Orton--Former U.S. Representative
          Ann Fessenden--Circuit Librarian, U.S. Courts Library 
        8th Circuit; President, American Association of Law 
        Libraries
          Tedson Meyers, Esq.--Chair, American Bar Association, 
        Standing Committee on the Law Library of Congress
            Panel 3:
          James R. Rettig--President-Elect, American Library 
        Association
          Karl W. Schornagel--Inspector General, Library of 
        Congress
    The Committee met on November 7, 2007 to hear testimony on 
the Construction of the United States Capitol building and the 
contributions of slave labor. The Committee received 
recommendations from the Slave Labor Task Force on how to move 
forward and secure a befitting memorial. The panels of 
historians and experts also provided further insight into the 
contribution of African-American slaves during the building of 
the U.S. Capitol. Witnesses included:
            Panel 1:
          Hon. John Lewis--U.S. Representative
          Hon. Blanche Lincoln--U.S. Senator
          Hon. J.C. Watts--Former Representative
          Dr. Bettye Gardner--Professor, Association for the 
        Study of African-American Life and History, Coppin 
        University
          Currie Ballard--Task Force Member
          Sarah Davidson--Task Force Member
            Panel 2:
          Lonnie Bunch--Director, National Museum of African-
        American History and Culture, Smithsonian Institution
          William C. Allen--Architectural Historian, Office of 
        the Architect of the Capitol
          Felicia Bell--U.S. Capitol Historical Society
    The Subcommittee on Elections met on November 9, 2007 to 
hear testimony on Election Day registration and provisional 
voting. The hearing covered issues including, but not limited 
to, the pros and cons of Election Day registration and 
provisional voting, and panels provided a state and local view 
of how these issues affect voter participation and 
administration. Witnesses included:
            Panel 1:
          Hon. Keith Ellison--U.S. Representative
          Hon. Steve King--U.S. Representative
            Panel 2:
          Hon. Mark Ritchie--Secretary of State, Minnesota
          Hon. Tim Moore--North Carolina State Representative
          Neil Albrecht--Assistant Director, City of Milwaukee 
        Election Commission
            Panel 3:
          Daniel P. Tokaji--Assistant Professor of Law, The 
        Moritz College of Law
          Jan E. Leighley--Professor, University of Arizona
          Mary Kiffmeyer--Former Secretary of State, Minnesota
          Miles Rappaport--President, Demos
    The Subcommittee on Elections met on November 16, 2007. 
This was a continuation of the original hearing on the same 
subject that commenced on October 23, 2007, at which time 
Representative Kevin McCarthy (Subcommittee on Elections 
Ranking Member) submitted a letter on behalf of the minority 
Subcommittee Members, requesting that pursuant to House Rule XI 
clause (2)(j)(1), the minority be granted a minority day of 
hearing on matters relating to voter registration and list 
maintenance. Witnesses included:
            Panel 3:
          Scott Leiendecker--Republican Director of Elections, 
        St. Louis Board of Elections
          Edward A. O'Neal--Former Member, Norfolk Electoral 
        Board
          Charles H. Bell, Jr.--Attorney, Bell, McAndrews & 
        Hiltachk, LLP
          Cleta Mitchell--Election Attorney, Foley and Lardner, 
        LLP
            Panel 4:
          Joseph Rich--Former Chief, Department of Justice 
        Voting Rights Section
          J. Gerald Hebert--Former Acting Chief, Deputy Chief, 
        and Special Litigation Counsel, Department of Justice 
        Voting Rights Section
          Elizabeth Westfall--Deputy Director of Voter 
        Protection, The Advancement Project
    The Subcommittee on Elections met on December 6, 2007 to 
hear testimony on the use of robocalls in federal campaigns. 
The hearing covered issues including, but not limited to, the 
nature of the problem with abusive robocalls and how states, 
private organizations and the federal government can work 
together to strike a proper balance among First Amendment 
interests, residential privacy, and meaningful participation in 
the electoral process. Witnesses included:
            Panel 1:
          Hon. Melissa Bean--U.S. Representative
          Hon. Jason Altmire--U.S. Representative
          Hon. Virginia Foxx--U.S. Representative
            Panel 2:
          Hon. Steve Carter--Attorney General, Indiana
          John F. Cooney--Partner, Venable LLP
          William Raney--Partner, Copilevitz and Canter, LLC
          Rodney Smith--Founder, Tele-Town Hall LLC
          Dr. Karyn Hollis--Associate Professor, Villanova 
        University

Second Session

    The Task Force on the Contested Election in the 13th 
Congressional District of Florida met on February 8, 2008. The 
Task Force discussed the final report of the Government 
Accountability Office investigation into the contested election 
in the 13th congressional district of Florida. The Task Force 
passed a motion dismissing the election contest in that 
district. The Task Force received the final report from the 
following:
          Dr. Naba Barkakati--Senior Level Technologist, GAO
    The Subcommittee on Elections met on March 12, 2008 to hear 
testimony on the Election Assistance Commission. The hearing 
covered issues including, but not limited to, the Inspector 
General's report on a review of the circumstances surrounding 
the voting fraud and voter intimidation research project. 
Witnesses included:
            Panel 1:
          Curtis Crider--Inspector General, Election Assistance 
        Commission
            Panel 2:
          Hon. Rosemary Rodriguez--Chairwoman, Election 
        Assistance Commission
          Hon. Caroline Hunter--Vice-Chair, Election Assistance 
        Commission
          Hon. Gracia Hillman--Commissioner, Election 
        Assistance Commission
          Hon. Donetta Davidson--Commissioner, Election 
        Assistance Commission
    The Subcommittee on Elections met on April 1, 2008 to hear 
testimony on the National Voting Rights Act, Section 7, and the 
challenges public assistance agencies face. Witnesses included:
            Panel 1:
          Johnnie McLean--Chief Deputy Director, North Carolina 
        State Board of Elections
          Catherine Truss--Departmental Specialist, Michigan 
        Department of Human Services
            Panel 2:
          Lisa Danetz--Senior Counsel, DEMOS
          Michael Slater--Deputy Director, Project Vote
          Dr. David B. Muhlhausen--Senior Policy Analyst, 
        Heritage Foundation
    The Committee met on April 9, 2008 to hear testimony on the 
2008 Presidential primaries and caucuses. The hearing covered 
issues including, but not limited to, hotlines that can be used 
to inform voters of polling locations, hotlines that can take 
complaints in real time, and how prepared state and local 
officials are for the upcoming general election. Witnesses 
included:
            Panel 1:
          Tom Joyner--Radio Host, Tom Joyner Morning Show
          Greg Moore--Executive Director, NAACP National Voter 
        Fund
          John Bonifaz--Legal Director, Voter Action
          Cecilia Martinez--Executive Director, The Reform 
        Institute
          Ken Smukler--InfoVoter Technologies
            Panel 2:
          April Pye--Interim Director, Fulton County (GA) 
        Registration and Elections
          Alisha Alexander--Elections Administrator, Prince 
        George's (MD) County Board of Elections
          Linda Weedon--Deputy Director, Maricopa County (AZ) 
        Elections
    The Committee met on April 15, 2008 to hear testimony on 
military and overseas voting. The hearing covered issues 
including, but not limited to, H.R. 5673, the Military Voting 
Protection Act, H.R. 4237, the Overseas Voting Practical 
Amendments Act, and UOCAVA. Witnesses included:
            Panel 1:
          Hon. Kevin McCarthy--U.S. Representative
          Hon. Carolyn Maloney--U.S. Representative
            Panel 2:
          Hon. Michael Dominguez--Principal Deputy Under 
        Secretary of Defense for Personnel and Readiness, 
        Department of Defense
          Hon. Beth Chapman--Secretary of State, Alabama
            Panel 3:
          Susan Dzieduszycka-Suinat--President, Overseas Vote 
        Foundation
          Kimball Brace--President, Election Data Services, 
        Inc.
    The Subcommittee on Capitol Security met on May 1, 2008 to 
hear testimony on the administration and management of the 
United States Capitol Police. The hearing covered issues 
including, but not limited to, matters pertaining to recent 
recommendations by the Government Accountability Office. 
Witnesses included:
            Panel 1:
          Phillip D. Morse, Sr.--Chief of Police, United States 
        Capitol Police
            Panel 2:
          Richard M. Stana--Director, Homeland Security and 
        Justice, United States Government Accountability Office
          Matthew Tighe--Chairman, U.S. Capitol Police Labor 
        Committee
    The Subcommittee on Elections met on May 14, 2008 to hear 
testimony on election contingency plans. The hearing covered 
issues including, but not limited to, current preparations in 
place by State and local governments in the event of an 
emergency on Election Day, and what role the Federal government 
should play in preparing and responding to such an emergency. 
Witnesses included:
            Panel 1:
          Thomas Wilkey--Former Executive Director, New York 
        Board of Elections
          Laurel Beatty--Director of Legislative Affairs, 
        Office of the Ohio Secretary of State
          Dawn K. Roberts--Assistant Secretary of State, 
        Florida Department of State
            Panel 2:
          Hon. Rosemary Rodriguez--Chairwoman, U.S. Election 
        Assistance Commission
          Kevin J. Kennedy--Director, Wisconsin Government 
        Accountability Board
    The Committee met on May 21, 2008 to hear testimony on the 
assessment of administrative compliance with internal controls 
within the House of Representatives. The hearing covered issues 
including, but not limited to, shared employees and the final 
Inspector General's report on shared employees. Witnesses 
included:
          James J. Cornell--Inspector General, United States 
        House of Representatives
          Hon. Daniel P. Beard--Chief Administrative Officer, 
        United States House of Representatives
    The Subcommittee on Capitol Security met on June 18, 2008 
to hear testimony on the United States Capitol Police radio 
upgrades. The hearing covered issues including, but not limited 
to, the need to upgrade the U.S. Capitol Police radio system in 
order to work more effectively with other law enforcement 
agencies. Witnesses included:
            Panel 1:
          Phillip D. Morse, Sr.--Chief of Police, United States 
        Capitol Police
            Panel 2:
          Cmdr. James Crane--Commander, Special Operations 
        Division, Metropolitan Police Department (appeared on 
        behalf of Chief Cathy L. Lanier, Chief of Police, 
        Metropolitan Police Department, who was called to an 
        emergency in the District minutes before the hearing 
        commenced).
          David G. Boyd, Ph.D--Director, Command, Control and 
        Interoperability Science and Technology, U.S. 
        Department of Homeland Security
          Steve Souder--Director, Department of Public Safety 
        Communications, Fairfax County, VA
    The Subcommittee on Elections, along with the Committee on 
Judiciary, Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and 
Civil Liberties, met on September 24, 2008 in the Judiciary 
Committee Hearing Room to hear testimony on federal, state and 
local efforts to prepare for the 2008 general election. 
Witnesses included:
            Panel 1:
          Hon. Pedro Cortes--Secretary of the Commonwealth, 
        Pennsylvania
          David Farrell--Deputy Assistant Secretary of State, 
        Office of the Ohio Secretary of State
          Rokey Suleman--General Registrar, Fairfax County (VA) 
        Office of Elections
          Doug Lewis--Executive Director, Election Center
            Panel 2:
          Hon. Grace Becker--Acting Assistant Attorney General 
        for Civil Rights Division, Department of Justice
          Paul Hancock--Partner, Kirkpatrick & Lockhart Preston 
        Gates and Ellis, LLP
          Karen K. Narasaki--Executive Director, Asian American 
        Justice Center
          Bryan O'Leary--Public Policy Consultant, Crowell 
        Moring
          James Terry--Chief Public Advocate, Consumer Rights 
        League
          Jocelyn Benson--Assistant Professor of Law, Wayne 
        State University
          Kristin Clarke--Assistant Counsel, NAACP Legal 
        Defense Fund
    The Committee met on September 25, 2008 to hear testimony 
on how to ensure the rights of college students to vote. The 
hearing covered issues including, but not limited to, 
difficulties facing college students when they attempt to 
register and vote in the districts where they are domiciled 
during their school year. Witnesses included:
            Panel 1:
          Hon. Jan Schakowsky--U.S. Representative
            Panel 2:
          Sheri Iachetta--Registrar, City of Charlottesville, 
        Virginia
          Neil Albrecht--Assistant Director, City of Milwaukee 
        (WI) Election Commission
          Marvin Krislov--President, Oberlin College
          Catherine McLaughlin--Executive Director, Institute 
        of Politics, Harvard University
            Panel 3:
          Sujatha Jahagirdar--Program Director, Student PIRG's 
        New Voters Project
          Matthew Segal--Executive Director, Student 
        Association for Voter Empowerment
          Lauren Burdette--Student, University of Pennsylvania
          Jacqueline Vi--Student, American University

                           Legislative Action


First Session

    The Committee met on February 16, 2007 for organizational 
purposes for the 110th Congress. The following actions were 
taken:
    Adopted Committee Rules for the 110th Congress.
    Agreed to a Committee Resolution appointing the majority 
and minority members of the Subcommittee on Elections and the 
Subcommittee on Capitol Security.
    Agreed to a Committee Resolution approving a Committee 
Oversight Plan.
    The Committee held a mark-up of H. Res. 202 providing for 
the expenses of certain committees of the House of 
Representatives in the One Hundred Tenth Congress, on March 1, 
2007. The Committee reported H. Res. 202 as amended favorably 
to the House.
    The Committee held a meeting and markup on May 8, 2007 on 
H.R. 811, the Voter Confidence and Increased Accessibility Act 
of 2007. The Committee reported H.R. 811 as amended favorably 
to the House. The Committee also took the following actions:
    Reported favorably, by voice vote, four original 
resolutions--H. Res. 459, dismissing the election contest 
relating to the office of Representative from the Twenty-First 
Congressional District of Florida; H. Res. 461, dismissing the 
election contest relating to the office of Representative from 
the twenty-fourth Congressional District of Florida; H. Res 
462, dismissing the election contest relating to the office of 
Representative from the Fourth Congressional District of 
Louisiana; H. Res. 463, dismissing the election contest 
relating to the office of Representative from the Fifth 
Congressional District of Florida.
    Agreed to a committee resolution approving franked mail 
allowances for the standing and select committees of the House 
for the 110th Congress.
    The Committee met on June 27, 2007. The following actions 
were taken:
    Announcement of the appointment of Rep. Lofgren as Vice-
Chairwoman of the Committee on House Administration.
    Announcement of the Speaker's Appointment of six members to 
the Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards
    Agreed to a resolution electing Rep. Artur Davis to fill 
the vacancy on the Subcommittee on Elections.
    The Committee held a mark-up of H.R. 3690, U.S. Capitol 
Police and Library of Congress Police Merger Implementation Act 
of 2007, on November 7, 2007. The Committee reported H.R. 3690 
as amended favorably to the House.

Second Session

    The Committee met on February 12, 2008. The following 
actions were taken: The Committee considered the report of the 
Task Force for the contested election in the 13th Congressional 
District of Florida. The Committee moved to pass an original 
resolution, H. Res. 989, dismissing the election contest 
relating to the office of the Representative from the 
Thirteenth Congressional District of Florida. Markup of H.R. 
5159, Capitol Visitor Center Act of 2008. The Committee 
reported H.R. 5159 as amended favorably to the House.
    The Committee met on April 2, 2008 and held a markup of 
several measures and took the following actions:
    Markup of H.R. 5493, to provide that the usual day for 
paying salaries in or under the House of Representatives may be 
established by regulations of the Committee on House 
Administration. The Committee ordered reported H.R. 5493 
favorably to the House.
    Markup of H. Res. 1068, to permit membership in the 
exercise facility established for employees who are assigned to 
official duty at the House of Representatives, and for other 
purposes. The Committee reported H. Res. 1068 as amended 
favorably to the House.
    Markup of H.R. 5036, Emergency Assistance Secure Elections 
Act of 2008. The Committee reported H.R. 5036 as amended 
favorably to the House.
    Markup of H.R. 281, Universal Right to Vote by Mail Act of 
2007. The Committee reported H.R. 281 as amended favorably to 
the House.
    Markup of H.R. 3032, to amend the Federal Election Campaign 
Act of 1971 to permit candidates for election for Federal 
office to designate an individual who will be authorized to 
disburse funds of the authorized campaign committees of the 
candidate in the event of the death of the candidate. The 
Committee reported (amended) H.R. 3032 favorably to the House.
    Agreed to an amendment to Regulations Governing the Use of 
Official Funds: Alternate Ride Home.
    Agreed to a committee resolution modifying the majority 
membership of the Subcommittee on Capitol Security.
    The Committee met on May 7, 2008 to mark up several bills. 
The following actions were taken:
    Markup of H.R. 5803, to direct the Election Assistance 
Commission to establish a program to make grants to 
participating States and units of Local government which will 
administer the regularly scheduled general election for Federal 
office held in November 2008 for carrying out a program to make 
backup paper ballots available in the case of the failure of a 
voting system or voting equipment in the election or some other 
emergency situation, and for other purposes. The Committee 
reported H.R. 5803 favorably to the House.
    Markup of H.R. 5893, Library of Congress Sound Recording 
and Film Preservation Programs Reauthorization Act of 2008. The 
Committee reported H.R. 5893 as amended favorably to the House.
    Markup of H.R. 5972, United States Capitol Police 
Administrative Technical Corrections Act of 2008. The Committee 
reported H.R. 5972 favorably to the House.
    The Committee met on July 30, 2008 and held a markup of 
several measures. The following actions were taken:
    Markup of H.R. 6339, Federal Employees Deserve to Volunteer 
on the Elections Act of 2008. The Committee reported (amended) 
H.R. 6339 favorably to the House.
    Markup of H.R. 6474, to authorize the Chief Administrative 
Officer of the House of Representatives to carry out a series 
of demonstration projects to promote the use of innovative 
technologies in reducing energy consumption and promoting 
energy efficiency and cost savings in the House of 
Representatives. The committee reported H.R. 6474 favorably to 
the House.
    Markup of H.R. 6475, Daniel Webster Congressional Clerkship 
Act of 2008. The Committee reported H.R. 6475 favorably to the 
House.
    Markup of H.R. 6589, the Charles H.W. Meehan Law Library 
Improvement and Modernization Act. The Committee reported 
(amended) H.R. 6589 favorably to the House.
    Markup of H.R. 998, Civil Rights History Project Act of 
2007. The Committee reported (amended) H.R. 998 favorably to 
the House.
    Markup of H.R. 6625, Veterans Voting Support Act. The 
Committee reported (amended) H.R. 6625 favorably to the House.
    Markup of H.R. 6627, Smithsonian Institution Facilities 
Authorization Act of 2008. The Committee reported H.R. 6627 
favorably to the House.
    Markup of H.R. 6608, to provide for the replacement of lost 
income for employees of the House of Representatives who are 
members of a reserve component of the armed forces who are on 
active duty for a period of more than 30 days, and for other 
purposes. The Committee reported H.R. 6608 favorably to the 
House.
    Markup of H. Res. 1207, Directing the Chief Administrative 
Officer of the House of Representatives to provide individuals 
whose pay is disbursed by the Chief Administrative Officer by 
electronic funds transfer with the option of receiving receipts 
of pay and withholdings electronically. The Committee reported 
(amended) H. Res. 1207 favorably to the House.
    Agreed to a committee resolution amending regulations 
pertaining to shared employees.
    Agreed to a committee resolution amending the regulations 
for Student Loan Repayment.
    The Committee met on September 25, 2008. The following 
actions were taken:
    Agreed to a committee resolution to provide the Committee 
on House Administration with interim authority for the time 
period between the first and second sessions of Congress.
    Agreed to an amendment to regulations regarding mass 
communications and mass mailings.
                               Appendix I

       COMMITTEE RESOLUTIONS (INCLUDING COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT PLAN)

First Session
    The Committee met on February 16, 2007 and adopted the 
following resolutions:

                       COMMITTEE RESOLUTION 110-1

    Resolved, that the rules of the Committee on House 
Administration for the 110th Congress are hereby adopted, as 
follows:

                              Rules of the

                   Committee on House Administration

                       One Hundred Tenth Congress

                               RULE NO. 1

General provisions
    (a) The Rules of the House are the rules of the Committee 
so far as applicable, except that a motion to recess from day 
to day is a privileged motion in the Committee. Each 
subcommittee of the committee is a part of the committee and is 
subject to the authority and direction of the chair and to its 
rules as far as applicable.
    (b) The Committee is authorized at any time to conduct such 
investigations and studies as it may consider necessary or 
appropriate in the exercise of its responsibilities under House 
Rule X and, subject to the adoption of expense resolutions as 
required by House Rule X, clause 6, to incur expenses 
(including travel expenses) in connection therewith.
    (c) The Committee is authorized to have printed and bound 
testimony and other data presented at hearings held by the 
Committee, and to make such information available to the 
public. All costs of stenographic services and transcripts in 
connection with any meeting or hearing of the Committee shall 
be paid from the appropriate House account.
    (d) The Committee shall submit to the House, not later than 
January 2 of each odd-numbered year, a report on the activities 
of the committee under House Rules X and XI during the Congress 
ending at noon on January 3 of such year.
    (e) The Committee's rules shall be published in the 
Congressional Record not later than 30 days after the Committee 
is elected in each odd-numbered year.

                               RULE NO. 2

Regular and special meetings
    (a) The regular meeting date of the Committee on House 
Administration shall be the second Wednesday of every month 
when the House is in session in accordance with Clause 2(b) of 
House Rule XI. Additional meetings may be called by the Chair 
of the Committee as she or he may deem necessary or at the 
request of a majority of the members of the Committee in 
accordance with Clause 2(c) of House Rule XI. The determination 
of the business to be considered at each meeting shall be made 
by the Chair subject to Clause 2(c) of House Rule XI. A 
regularly scheduled meeting may be dispensed with if, in the 
judgment of the Chair, there is no need for the meeting.
    (b) If the Chair is not present at any meeting of the 
Committee, or at the discretion of the Chair, the Vice Chair of 
the Committee shall preside at the meeting. If the Chair and 
Vice Chair of the Committee are not present at any meeting of 
the Committee, the ranking member of the majority party who is 
present shall preside at the meeting.

                               RULE NO. 3

Open meetings
    As required by Clause 2(g), of House Rule XI, each meeting 
for the transaction of business, including the markup of 
legislation of the Committee shall be open to the public except 
when the Committee in open session and with a quorum present 
determines by record vote that all or part of the remainder of 
the meeting on that day shall be closed to the public because 
disclosure of matters to be considered would endanger national 
security, would compromise sensitive law enforcement 
information, or would tend to defame, degrade or incriminate 
any person, or otherwise would violate any law or rule of the 
House: Provided, however, that no person other than members of 
the Committee, and such congressional staff and such other 
persons as the Committee may authorize, shall be present in any 
business or markup session which has been closed to the public.

                               RULE NO. 4

Records and rollcalls
    (a)(1) A record vote shall be held if requested by any 
member of the Committee.
    (a)(2) The result of each record vote in any meeting of the 
Committee shall be made available for inspection by the public 
at reasonable times at the Committee offices, including a 
description of the amendment, motion, order or other 
proposition; the name of each member voting for and against; 
and the members present but not voting.
    (b)(1) Subject to subparagraph (2), the Chair may postpone 
further proceedings when a record vote is ordered on the 
question of approving any measure or matter or adopting an 
amendment. The Chair may resume proceedings on a postponed 
request at any time.
    (2) In exercising postponement authority under subparagraph 
(1), the Chair shall take all reasonable steps necessary to 
notify members on the resumption of proceedings on any 
postponed record vote.
    (3) When proceedings resume on a postponed question, 
notwithstanding any intervening order for the previous 
question, an underlying proposition shall remain subject to 
further debate or amendment to the same extent as when the 
question was postponed.
    (c) All Committee and subcommittee hearings, records, data, 
charts, and files shall be kept separate and distinct from the 
congressional office records of the member serving as Chair; 
and such records shall be the property of the House and all 
members of the House shall have access thereto.
    (d) House records of the Committee which are at the 
National Archives shall be made available pursuant to House 
Rule VII. The Chair shall notify the ranking minority member of 
any decision to withhold a record pursuant to the rule, and 
shall present the matter to the Committee upon written request 
of any Committee member.
    (e) To the maximum extent feasible, the Committee shall 
make its publications available in electronic form.

                               RULE NO. 5

Proxies
    No vote by any member in the Committee may be cast by 
proxy.

                               RULE NO. 6

Power to sit and act; Subpoena power
    (a) For the purpose of carrying out any of its functions 
and duties under House Rules X and XI, the Committee or any 
subcommittee thereof is authorized (subject to subparagraph 
(b)(1) of this paragraph)--
          (1) to sit and act at such times and places within 
        the United States, whether the House is in session, has 
        recessed, or has adjourned, and to hold such hearings; 
        and
          (2) to require, by subpoena or otherwise, the 
        attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the 
        production of such books, records, correspondence, 
        memorandums, papers, documents and other materials as 
        it deems necessary, including materials in electronic 
        form. The Chair, or any member designated by the Chair, 
        may administer oaths to any witness.
    (b)(1) A subpoena may be authorized and issued by the 
Committee or subcommittee in the conduct of any investigation 
or series of investigations or activities, only when authorized 
by a majority of the members voting, a majority being present. 
The power to authorize and issue subpoenas under subparagraph 
(a)(2) may be delegated to the Chair pursuant to such rules and 
under such limitations as the Committee may prescribe. 
Authorized subpoenas shall be signed by the Chair or by any 
member designated by the Committee, and may be served by any 
person designated by the Chair or such member.
    (2) Compliance with any subpoena issued by the Committee or 
a subcommittee may be enforced only as authorized or directed 
by the House.

                               RULE NO. 7

Quorums
    No measure or recommendation shall be reported to the House 
unless a majority of the Committee is actually present. For the 
purposes of taking any action other than reporting any measure, 
issuance of a subpoena, closing meetings, promulgating 
Committee orders, or changing the rules of the Committee, one-
third of the members of the Committee shall constitute a 
quorum. For purposes of taking testimony and receiving 
evidence, two members shall constitute a quorum.

                               RULE NO. 8

Amendments
    Any amendment offered to any pending legislation before the 
Committee or a subcommittee must be made available in written 
form when requested by any member of the Committee. If such 
amendment is not available in written form when requested, the 
Chair will allow an appropriate period of time for the 
provision thereof.

                               RULE NO. 9

Hearing procedures
    (a) The Chair, in the case of hearings to be conducted by 
the Committee, and the appropriate subcommittee chair, in the 
case of hearings to be conducted by a subcommittee, shall make 
public announcement of the date, place, and subject matter of 
any hearing to be conducted on any measure or matter at least 
one (1) week before the commencement of that hearing. If the 
Chair, with the concurrence of the ranking minority member, 
determines that there is good cause to begin the hearing 
sooner, or if the Committee so determines by majority vote, a 
quorum being present, the Chair shall make the announcement at 
the earliest possible date. The clerk of the Committee shall 
promptly notify the Daily Digest Clerk of the Congressional 
Record as soon as possible after such public announcement is 
made.
    (b) Unless excused by the Chair, each witness who is to 
appear before the Committee or a subcommittee shall file with 
the clerk of the Committee, at least 48 hours in advance of his 
or her appearance, a written statement of his or her proposed 
testimony and shall limit his or her oral presentation to a 
summary of his or her statement.
    (c) When any hearing is conducted by the Committee upon any 
measure or matter, the minority party members on the Committee 
shall be entitled, upon request to the Chair by a majority of 
those minority members before the completion of such hearing, 
to call witnesses selected by the minority to testify with 
respect to that measure or matter during at least one day of 
hearings thereon.
    (d) All other members of the Committee may have the 
privilege of sitting with any subcommittee during its hearings 
or deliberations and may participate in such hearings or 
deliberations, but no member who is not a member of the 
subcommittee shall count for a quorum or offer any motion or 
amendment or vote on any matter before the subcommittee.
    (e) Committee or subcommittee members may question 
witnesses only when they have been recognized by the Chair for 
that purpose, and only for a 5-minute period until all members 
present have had an opportunity to question a witness. The 5-
minute period for questioning a witness by any one member can 
be extended as provided by House Rules. The questioning of a 
witness in Committee or subcommittee hearings shall be 
initiated by the Chair, followed by the ranking minority member 
and all other members alternating between the majority and 
minority. In recognizing members to question witnesses in this 
fashion, the Chair shall take into consideration the ratio of 
the majority to minority members present and shall establish 
the order of recognition for questioning in such a manner as 
not to disadvantage the members of the majority. The Chair may 
accomplish this by recognizing two majority members for each 
minority member recognized.
    (f) The following additional rules shall apply to hearings 
of the Committee or a subcommittee, as applicable:
    (1) The Chair at a hearing shall announce in an opening 
statement the subject of the investigation.
    (2) A copy of the Committee rules and this clause shall be 
made available to each witness as provided by clause 2(k)(2) of 
Rule XI.
    (3) Witnesses at hearings may be accompanied by their own 
counsel for the purpose of advising them concerning their 
constitutional rights.
    (4) The Chair may punish breaches of order and decorum, and 
of professional ethics on the part of counsel, by censure and 
exclusion from the hearings; and the Committee may cite the 
offender to the House for contempt.
    (5) If the Committee determines that evidence or testimony 
at a hearing may tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate any 
person, it shall--
          (A) afford such person an opportunity voluntarily to 
        appear as a witness;
          (B) receive such evidence or testimony in executive 
        session; and
          (C) receive and dispose of requests from such person 
        to subpoena additional witnesses.
    (6) Except as provided in subparagraph (f)(5), the Chair 
shall receive and the Committee shall dispose of requests to 
subpoena additional witnesses.
    (7) No evidence or testimony taken in executive session may 
be released or used in public sessions without the consent of 
the Committee.
    (8) In the discretion of the Committee, witnesses may 
submit brief and pertinent sworn statements in writing for 
inclusion in the record. The Committee is the sole judge of the 
pertinence of testimony and evidence adduced at its hearing.
    (9) A witness may obtain a transcript copy of his testimony 
given at a public session or, if given at an executive session, 
when authorized by the Committee.

                              RULE NO. 10

Procedures for reporting measures or matters

    (a)(1) It shall be the duty of the Chair to report or cause 
to be reported promptly to the House any measure approved by 
the Committee and to take or cause to be taken necessary steps 
to bring the matter to a vote.
    (2) In any event, the report of the Committee on a measure 
which has been approved by the Committee shall be filed within 
7 calendar days (exclusive of days on which the House is not in 
session) after the day on which there has been filed with the 
clerk of the Committee a written request, signed by a majority 
of the members of the Committee, for the reporting of that 
measure. Upon the filing of any such request, the clerk of the 
Committee shall transmit immediately to the Chair notice of the 
filing of that request.
    (b)(1) No measure or recommendation shall be reported to 
the House unless a majority of the Committee is actually 
present.
    (2) With respect to each record vote on a motion to report 
any measure or matter of a public character, and on any 
amendment offered to the measure or matter, the total number of 
votes cast for and against, and the names of those members 
voting for and against, shall be included in the Committee 
report on the measure or matter.
    (c) The report of the Committee on a measure or matter 
which has been approved by the Committee shall include the 
matters required by Clause 3(c) of Rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House.
    (d) Each report of the Committee on each bill or joint 
resolution of a public character reported by the Committee 
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.
    (e) If, at the time any measure or matter is ordered 
reported by the Committee, any member of the Committee gives 
notice of intention to file supplemental, minority, or 
additional views, that member shall be entitled to not less 
than two additional calendar days after the day of such notice, 
commencing on the day on which the measure or matter(s) was 
approved, excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays, in 
which to file such views, in writing and signed by that member, 
with the clerk of the Committee. All such views so filed by one 
or more members of the Committee shall be included within, and 
shall be a part of, the report filed by the Committee with 
respect to that measure or matter. The report of the Committee 
upon that measure or matter shall be printed in a single volume 
which--
          (1) shall include all supplemental, minority, or 
        additional views, in the form submitted, by the time of 
        the filing of the report, and
          (2) shall bear upon its cover a recital that any such 
        supplemental, minority, or additional views (and any 
        material submitted under subparagraph (c)) are included 
        as part of the report. This subparagraph does not 
        preclude--
          (A) the immediate filing or printing of a Committee 
        report unless timely request for the opportunity to 
        file supplemental, minority, or additional views has 
        been made as provided by paragraph (c); or
          (B) the filing of any supplemental report upon any 
        measure or matter which may be required for the 
        correction of any technical error in a previous report 
        made by the Committee upon that measure or matter.
          (3) shall, when appropriate, contain the documents 
        required by Clause 3(e) of Rule XIII of the Rules of 
        the House.
    (f) The Chair, following consultation with the ranking 
minority member, is directed to offer a motion under clause 1 
of Rule XXII of the Rules of the House, relating to going to 
conference with the Senate, whenever the Chair considers it 
appropriate.
    (g) If hearings have been held on any such measure or 
matter so reported, the Committee shall make every reasonable 
effort to have such hearings published and available to the 
members of the House prior to the consideration of such measure 
or matter in the House.
    (h) The Chair may designate any majority member of the 
Committee to act as ``floor manager'' of a bill or resolution 
during its consideration in the House.

                              RULE NO. 11

Committee oversight

    The Committee shall conduct oversight of matters within the 
jurisdiction of the Committee in accordance with House Rule X, 
clause 2 and clause 4. Not later than February 15 of the first 
session of a Congress, the Committee shall, in a meeting that 
is open to the public and with a quorum present, adopt its 
oversight plan for that Congress in accordance with House Rule 
X, clause 2(d).

                              RULE NO. 12

Review of continuing programs; Budget Act provisions

    (a) The Committee shall, in its consideration of all bills 
and joint resolutions of a public character within its 
jurisdiction, ensure that appropriation for continuing programs 
and activities of the Federal Government will be made annually 
to the maximum extent feasible and consistent with the nature, 
requirement, and objectives of the programs and activities 
involved. For the purposes of this paragraph a Government 
agency includes the organizational units of government listed 
in Clause 4(e) of Rule X of House Rules.
    (b) The Committee shall review, from time to time, each 
continuing program within its jurisdiction for which 
appropriations are not made annually in order to ascertain 
whether such program could be modified so that appropriations 
therefore would be made annually.
    (c) The Committee shall, on or before February 25 of each 
year, submit to the Committee on the Budget (1) its views and 
estimates with respect to all matters to be set forth in the 
concurrent resolution on the budget for the ensuing fiscal year 
which are within its jurisdiction or functions, and (2) an 
estimate of the total amounts of new budget authority, and 
budget outlays resulting there from, to be provided or 
authorized in all bills and resolutions within its jurisdiction 
which it intends to be effective during that fiscal year.
    (d) As soon as practicable after a concurrent resolution on 
the budget for any fiscal year is agreed to, the Committee 
(after consulting with the appropriate committee or committees 
of the Senate) shall subdivide any allocation made to it in the 
joint explanatory statement accompanying the conference report 
on such resolution, and promptly report such subdivisions to 
the House, in the manner provided by section 302 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
    (e) Whenever the Committee is directed in a concurrent 
resolution on the budget to determine and recommend changes in 
laws, bills, or resolutions under the reconciliation process it 
shall promptly make such determination and recommendations, and 
report a reconciliation bill or resolution (or both) to the 
House or submit such recommendations to the Committee on the 
Budget, in accordance with the Congressional Budget Act of 
1974.

                              RULE NO. 13

Broadcasting of committee hearings and meetings

    Whenever any hearing or meeting conducted by the Committee 
is open to the public, those proceedings shall be open to 
coverage by television, radio, and still photography, as 
provided in Clause 4 of House Rule XI, subject to the 
limitations therein. Operation and use of any Committee 
Internet broadcast system shall be fair and nonpartisan and in 
accordance with Clause 4(b) of rule XI and all other applicable 
rules of the Committee and the House.

                              RULE NO. 14

Committee and subcommittee staff

    The staff of the Committee on House Administration shall be 
appointed as follows:
          A. The staff shall be appointed by the Chair or her 
        or his designee except as provided in paragraph (B), 
        and may be removed by the Chair and shall work under 
        the general supervision and direction of the Chair;
          B. All staff provided to the minority party members 
        of the Committee shall be appointed by the ranking 
        member or her or his designee, and may be removed, by 
        the ranking minority member of the Committee, and shall 
        work under the general supervision and direction of 
        such member;
          C. The Chair shall fix the compensation of all staff 
        of the Committee, after consultation with the ranking 
        minority member regarding any minority party staff, 
        within the budget approved for such purposes for the 
        Committee.

                              RULE NO. 15

Travel of members and staff

    (a) Consistent with the primary expense resolution and such 
additional expense resolutions as may have been approved, the 
provisions of this rule shall govern travel of Committee 
members and staff. Travel for any member or any staff member 
shall be paid only upon the prior authorization of the Chair or 
her or his designee. Travel may be authorized by the Chair for 
any member and any staff member in connection with the 
attendance at hearings conducted by the Committee and meetings, 
conferences, and investigations which involve activities or 
subject matter under the general jurisdiction of the Committee. 
Before such authorization is given there shall be submitted to 
the Chair in writing the following:
          (1) The purpose of the travel;
          (2) The dates during which the travel will occur;
          (3) The locations to be visited and the length of 
        time to be spent in each; and
          (4) The names of members and staff seeking 
        authorization.
    (b)(1) In the case of travel outside the United States of 
members and staff of the Committee for the purpose of 
conducting hearings, investigations, studies, or attending 
meetings and conferences involving activities or subject matter 
under the legislative assignment of the committee, prior 
authorization must be obtained from the Chair. Before such 
authorization is given, there shall be submitted to the Chair, 
in writing, a request for such authorization. Each request, 
which shall be filed in a manner that allows for a reasonable 
period of time for review before such travel is scheduled to 
begin, shall include the following:
          (A) the purpose of the travel;
          (B) the dates during which the travel will occur;
          (C) the names of the countries to be visited and the 
        length of time to be spent in each;
          (D) an agenda of anticipated activities for each 
        country for which travel is authorized together with a 
        description of the purpose to be served and the areas 
        of committee jurisdiction involved; and
          (E) the names of members and staff for whom 
        authorization is sought.
    (2) At the conclusion of any hearing, investigation, study, 
meeting or conference for which travel outside the United 
States has been authorized pursuant to this rule, members and 
staff attending meetings or conferences shall submit a written 
report to the Chair covering the activities and other pertinent 
observations or information gained as a result of such travel.
    (c) Members and staff of the Committee performing 
authorized travel on official business shall be governed by 
applicable laws, resolutions, or regulations of the House and 
of the Committee on House Administration pertaining to such 
travel.

                              RULE NO. 16

Number and jurisdiction of subcommittees

    (a) There shall be two standing subcommittees, with party 
ratios of members as indicated. Subcommittees shall have 
jurisdictions as stated by these rules, may conduct oversight 
over such subject matter, and may consider such legislation as 
may be referred to them by the Chair. The names and 
jurisdiction of the subcommittees shall be:
          (1) Subcommittee on Capitol Security--(2/1). Matters 
        pertaining to operations and security of the Congress, 
        and of the Capitol complex including the House wing of 
        the Capitol, the House Office Buildings, the Library of 
        Congress, and other policies and facilities supporting 
        congressional operations; the U.S. Capitol Police.
          (2) Subcommittee on Elections--(4/2). Matters 
        pertaining to the Federal Election Campaign Act, the 
        Federal Contested Elections Act, the Help America Vote 
        Act, the National Voter Registration Act, the Uniformed 
        and Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act, the Federal 
        Voting Assistance Program, the Bipartisan Campaign 
        Reform Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act 
        (accessibility for voters with disabilities), the 
        Federal Elections Commission (FEC), the Elections 
        Assistance Commission (EAC), and other election related 
        issues.
    (b) The Chair may establish and appoint members to serve on 
task forces of the Committee, to perform specific functions for 
limited periods of time, as she or he deems appropriate.

                              RULE NO. 17

Referral of legislation to subcommittees

    The Chair may refer legislation or other matters to a 
subcommittee, or subcommittees, as she or he considers 
appropriate. The Chair may discharge any subcommittee of any 
matter referred to it.

                              RULE NO. 18

Powers and duties of subcommittees

    Each subcommittee is authorized to meet, hold hearings, 
receive evidence and report to the full committee on all 
matters referred to it. No subcommittee shall meet during any 
Committee meeting.

                              RULE NO. 19

Other procedures and regulations

    The Chair may establish such other procedures and take such 
actions as may be necessary to carry out the foregoing rules or 
to facilitate the effective operation of the committee.

                              RULE NO. 20

Designation of Clerk of the Committee

    For the purposes of these rules and the Rules of the House 
of Representatives, the staff director of the Committee shall 
act as the clerk of the Committee.

                       COMMITTEE RESOLUTION 110-2

    Resolved, that the following named Members are hereby 
elected as chairs and members of the subcommittees of the 
Committee:

                       Subcommittee on Elections


                  Zoe Lofgren, California, Chairwoman


               Kevin McCarthy, California, Ranking Member

Charles A. Gonzalez, Texas          Vernon J. Ehlers, Michigan
Susan Davis, California
Juanita Millender-McDonald, 
California

                    Subcommittee on Capitol Security


                Robert A. Brady, Pennsylvania, Chairman


             Daniel E. Lungren, California, Ranking Member

Michael E. Capuano, Massachusetts

                       COMMITTEE RESOLUTION 110-3

    Resolved, that the Oversight Plan of the Committee on House 
Administration for the 110th Congress, as required pursuant to 
clause 2(d)(1) of Rule X, is hereby adopted, as follows:

                   Committee on House Administration


                     110th Congress Oversight Plan


Member Services

     Oversee Members' allowance amounts, including 
structure and regulations.
     Provide guidance and outreach to congressional 
offices to ensure compliance with Committee regulations.
     Review and propose regulatory changes to the 
Members' Congressional Handbook, a set of regulations governing 
the expenditure of Members' Representational Allowances.
     Review and propose changes to the Guide to 
Outfitting and Maintaining an Office of the U.S. House of 
Representatives, a set of regulations governing the 
acquisition, transfer, and disposal of furnishings, equipment, 
software, and related services.
     Evaluate the formulas that authorize the Members' 
Representational Allowances and consider proposals for change 
to ensure that all Members have adequate resources for 
representing their constituents.
     Oversee the processing of vouchers and direct 
payments, including those for payroll.
     Formulate and execute orientation program for new 
Members after each congressional election.

Committee Funding and Oversight

     Review Monthly Reports on committee activities and 
expenditures.
     Review Committees' Congressional Handbook 
regulations governing expenditure of committee funds and update 
regulations as needed.
     Review Primary and any Secondary Expense 
Resolutions and approve authorization of committee-funding 
levels in committee and by House Resolution.
     Review Committees' Franking expenditures.

Congressional Accountability Act of 1995

     Monitor application of the Congressional 
Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA) (PL 104-1).
     Review regulations adopted by the Office of 
Compliance.
     Evaluate resources available to the Office of 
Compliance and House Employing Offices to facilitate 
implementation of the Act.
     Conduct general oversight of the Office of 
Compliance.
     Monitor ongoing judicial proceedings to determine 
the impact on the CAA.

Franking Commission

     Oversee the Members' use of the congressional 
frank by providing guidance, advice, and counsel through 
consultation or advisory opinion on the frankability of 
congressional mail.
     Review proposals to reform mass mailing practices 
of Members, and regulations governing such mailings, and 
monitor current prohibition on mass mailings 90 days before a 
primary or general election.
     Review previously implemented rules to increase 
disclosure and improve the accounting of franked mail costs.
     Consider revisions of pre-election franking 
complaint procedures.
     Revise and reprint Regulations on the Use of the 
Congressional Frank and Rules on Practice in Proceedings Before 
the House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards.
     Review the formula to determine the number of 
postal delivery stops in a congressional district which is a 
component of the Members' Representational Allowance.

Government Printing Office

     Oversee operations of the Government Printing 
Office, including the Superintendent of Documents.
     Review the need for legislation to reform 
government printing by eliminating redundancies, increasing 
efficiency, and enhancing public access to government 
publications.
     Examine options to improve operation and structure 
of the GPO Inspector General's office. Monitor implementation 
of remedial actions taken to address audit issues identified by 
the GPO Inspector General.
     Review the printing needs of the House of 
Representatives to identify the potential for eliminating 
duplication through greater use of GPO services.
     Examine current GPO printing and binding 
regulations to determine advisability of change.
     Oversee Superintendent of Documents' Sales and 
Depository Library Programs.
     Review use of GPO facilities and other assets to 
identify possible alternatives enhancing value to the Congress 
and the public.
     Oversee preparation of Women in Congress, Black 
Americans in Congress, Hispanic Americans in Congress, Asian 
and Pacific Islander Americans in Congress, and other 
congressionally-authorized publications.

House Officers and House Operations

     Analyze management improvement proposals and other 
initiatives submitted by the House Officers, the Inspector 
General, the Capitol Police Board, and the Architect of the 
Capitol.
     Coordinate with the Subcommittee on Legislative 
Appropriations on matters impacting operations of the House and 
joint entities.
     Provide policy guidance to the House Officers, 
Inspector General and the joint entities as appropriate.
     Oversee compliance with the House Employee 
Classification Act (2 U.S.C. 291 et seq.).
     Assure coordination among officers and joint 
entities on administrative and technology matters.
     Continue review of congressional continuity 
issues, including organizing sessions of Congress at alternate 
locations, technological support for Member communications and 
chamber operations and filling vacancies in the House.
     Provide policy guidance and conduct oversight of 
security and safety issues and congressional entities charged 
with such roles.
            Chief Administrative Officer
     Review procedures for processing contracts with 
the House that exceed the threshold of $250,000.
     Continue to review the current financial 
management system and implementation of the Financial System 
Replacement project.
     Review the structure of House Information 
Resources and determine organizational direction of technology 
services in the House.
     Review and oversee information technology services 
provided, maintained or hosted by House Information Resources.
     Review new technology initiatives to better serve 
Members, committees, and the House.
     Continue review of functions and administrative 
operations assigned to the Chief Administrative Officer.
     Review semi-annual financial and operational 
status reports; recommend changes in operations to improve 
services and increase efficiencies.
     Review the operations of the House gift shop and 
methods of proposed management.
     Continue review of House restaurant operations; 
furniture policy, inventory and selection; and alternatives to 
the current mail delivery process in order to strengthen the 
services and tools available to Members and staff.
     Review the printing needs of the Chief 
Administrative Officer's operation to identify the potential 
for eliminating duplication through greater use of GPO 
services.
     Examine Chief Administrative Officer's role in 
assuring accessibility to the House wing of the Capitol, the 
House Office Buildings and other House facilities consistent 
with the Americans with Disabilities Act.
            Clerk of the House
     Review the administration of audio transmission on 
the House floor.
     Review and approve contracts and requests for 
proposals by the Clerk that exceed the $250,000 spending 
threshold.
     Oversee the Document Management System.
     Review progress towards defining a standard for 
the electronic exchange of legislative information between 
Congress and legislative-branch agencies.
     Coordinate on matters under the jurisdiction of 
the House Fine Arts Board.
     Continue review of functions and administrative 
operations assigned to the Clerk.
     Review of semi-annual financial and operational 
status reports; recommend changes in operations to improve 
services and increase efficiencies.
     Review the printing needs of the Clerk to evaluate 
the potential for eliminating duplication through greater use 
of GPO services.
     Oversee preparation of Women in Congress, Black 
Americans in Congress, Hispanic Americans in Congress, Asian 
and Pacific Islander Americans in Congress, and other 
congressionally-authorized publications.
            House Sergeant at Arms
     Review security operations in the House, including 
the House chamber, the galleries, the Capitol, House Office 
Buildings, and Capitol Grounds.
     Review semi-annual financial and operational 
status reports; recommend changes in operations to improve 
services and increase efficiencies.
     Review impact of electronic access to controlled 
spaces.
     Continue review of functions and administrative 
operations assigned to the Sergeant at Arms.
     Review the security operation of House parking 
facilities, regulations, and allocation of parking spaces.
     Review the policies and procedures for visitor 
access to the Capitol.
     Review the printing needs of the Sergeant at Arms 
and the Capitol Police Board to identify the potential for 
eliminating duplication through greater use of GPO services.
     Examine Sergeant at Arms' role in assuring 
accessibility to the House wing of the Capitol, the House 
Office Buildings, and other House facilities consistent with 
the Americans with Disabilities Act.
     Review the use of technology generally in the 
protection of the House of Representatives.
            U.S. Capitol Police
     Generally oversee operations of the agency.
     Review and report authorization legislation as 
necessary.
     Review need for additional USCP facilities and 
equipment.
     Review analysis of uniformed officer post/duty 
assignments to determine and authorize force levels to meet the 
agency's security requirements, especially with the advent of 
the Capitol Visitors Center and responsibility for U.S. Botanic 
Garden.
     Monitor human-resources needs of the agency, 
including civilian component, attrition rates, recruitment 
efforts and incentive programs for officers and civilian 
employees.
     Review USCP training program for new recruits, and 
in-service training.
     Review and approve all department reorganizations, 
creation of new positions, appointments, terminations, and 
certain promotions.
     Authorize and oversee the installation and 
maintenance of new security systems and devices proposed by the 
USCP Board.
     Review and authorize regulations prescribed by the 
USCP Board for use of law enforcement authority by the Capitol 
Police.
     Examine options to restructure security at the 
Library of Congress and implement legislation to complete the 
merger between the Library Police and the Capitol Police 
provided for in Sec. 1015 of Public Law 108-7.
     Examine Capitol Police role in assuring 
accessibility to the House wing of the Capitol, House Office 
Buildings and other facilities consistent with the Americans 
with Disabilities Act.
     Review the use of technology generally in the 
protection of the House of Representatives.
            House Inspector General
     Review proposed audit plan and audit reports.
     Review comprehensive financial and operational 
audits of the House, investigate any irregularities uncovered, 
and monitor necessary improvements.
     Monitor progress of House audits.
     Continue review of functions and administrative 
operations assigned to the Inspector General.
     Direct Inspector General to conduct management 
advisories to improve implementation and operation of key House 
functions.

Oversight of Legislative Branch and Other Entities

            Information and Technology Coordination
     Oversee, in conjunction with the Senate, forums 
for the sharing of technology plans and capabilities among the 
legislative branch agencies.
     Oversee, in conjunction with the Senate, the 
Legislative Branch Telecommunications group.
     Oversee continuing improvements to the Legislative 
Information System.
     Oversee work of the Legislative Branch Financial 
Managers' Council.
            Library of Congress
     Oversee the remedial measures taken by the Library 
in response to audit issues.
     Conduct a review of the progress that the Library 
has made in providing public access to government information, 
especially in electronic form.
     Continue oversight of Library and Congressional 
Research Service operations.
     Oversee completion and opening of the National 
Audio-Visual Conservation Center at Culpeper, Va.
     Examine options to improve the operation and 
structure of the Library Inspector General.
     Review implementation of the Library of Congress 
Fiscal Operations Improvement Act of 2000 (Public Law 106-481), 
the Veterans' Oral History Project Act (Public Law 106-380), 
the National Recording Preservation Act of 2000 (Public Law No: 
106-474), and the History of the House Awareness and 
Preservation Act (Public Law 106-99).
     Consider human-resources legislation proposed by 
the Library.
     Examine options to restructure security at the 
Library of Congress and implement legislation to complete the 
merger between the Library Police and the Capitol Police.
     Review the use of technology generally in Library 
of Congress operations.
            Smithsonian Institution
     Review the Smithsonian Inspector General's reports 
on the status of the Smithsonian.
     Oversee general museum and research facility 
operations of the Smithsonian Institution.
     Review and oversee Smithsonian Institution budget 
authorization.
     Consider legislation related to the Smithsonian 
Institution.
     Provide for the appointment of Citizen Regents to 
the Smithsonian Institution's Board of Regents.
     Review proposals for authorization of new 
Smithsonian facilities.
     Review operations of the National Zoo.
     Conduct additional oversight of Smithsonian 
Networks.
     Review the use of technology generally in 
Smithsonian operations.
            Architect of the Capitol
     Review the operations of the Office of the 
Architect.
     Review the electronic and procured services 
provided by the Architect.
     Oversee construction and operational planning for 
the Capitol Visitors Center project, in conjunction with the 
Senate and the Capitol Preservation Commission.

Technology Use by the House

     Continue oversight of House Information Resources 
and other technology functions of the House to ensure timely, 
accurate electronic information dissemination.
     Oversee implementation of House Rule XI 2(e)(4) 
requiring committee documentation to be made available 
electronically, to the maximum extent feasible.
     Review computer security measures.
     Oversee implementation of Committee hearing room 
upgrade program.
     Oversee and continue to implement an enterprise 
House Disaster Recovery Program for house offices, committees 
and member offices.
     Oversee and coordinate the House strategic 
technology plan.
     Conduct and conclude House technology assessment.

Oversight of Federal Election Law and Procedures

     Recommend disposition of House election contests 
pending before the Committee.
     Review operations of the Federal Election 
Commission (FEC) and evaluate possible changes to improve 
efficiency, improve enforcement of the Federal Election 
Campaign Act, improve procedures for the disclosure of 
contributions and expenditures, and consider authorization 
issues and make recommendations on the FEC's budget.
     Review federal campaign-finance laws and 
regulations, including Presidential public financing, and 
consider potential reforms.
     Study the role and impact of political 
organizations on federal elections.
     Review operations of the Election Assistance 
Commission (EAC), evaluate and consider authorization issues 
related to EAC governance, examine the implementation of the 
Help America Vote Act (HAVA), and make recommendations on the 
EAC's budget.
     Examine the impact of HAVA on Uniformed and 
Overseas Citizens Absentee Voting Act (UOCAVA), and consider 
proposals to improve voting methods for those serving and 
living abroad.
     Review state and federal activities under the 
National Voter Registration Act to identify potential for 
improvement to voter registration and education programs.
     Monitor allegations of fraud and misconduct during 
all phases of federal elections and evaluate measures to 
improve the integrity of the electoral process.

New Member Orientation

     Plan, implement, and oversee the New Member 
Orientation Program for newly-elected Members of Congress.
     Oversee the planning and implementation of the 
Congressional Research Service New Member Issues Seminar in 
Williamsburg.
    The Committee met on May 8, 2007 and adopted the following 
resolution:

                       COMMITTEE RESOLUTION 110-4


         110th Congress Franked Mail Allowances for Committees

    Resolved pursuant to Public Law 101-520 Sec. 311(e) [2 
U.S.C. 59e(e)] that effective January 3, 2007, and during the 
first session of the One Hundred Tenth Congress, the allocation 
of the Official Mail Allowance for the following committees of 
the House of Representatives shall be set as follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee on Agriculture...................................       $5,000
Committee on Armed Services................................        5,000
Committee on the Budget....................................        5,000
Committee on Education and Labor...........................        5,000
Committee on Energy and Commerce...........................        5,000
Committee on Financial Services............................        5,000
Committee on Foreign Affairs...............................        5,000
Committee on Homeland Security.............................        5,000
Committee on House Administration..........................        5,000
Committee on the Judiciary.................................        5,000
Committee on Natural Resources.............................        5,000
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform...............        5,000
Committee on Rules.........................................        5,000
Committee on Science and Technology........................        5,000
Committee on Small Business................................        5,000
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.................        5,000
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.............        5,000
Committee on Veterans' Affairs.............................        5,000
Committee on Ways and Means................................        5,000
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.................        5,000
Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.        5,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Resolved further pursuant to Public Law 101-520 Sec. 311(e) 
[2 USC 59e(e)] that effective January 3, 2008, and during the 
second session of the One Hundred Tenth Congress, the 
allocation of the Official Mail Allowance for the following 
committees of the House of Representatives shall be set as 
follows:

------------------------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee on Agriculture...................................       $5,000
Committee on Armed Services................................        5,000
Committee on the Budget....................................        5,000
Committee on Education and Labor...........................        5,000
Committee on Energy and Commerce...........................        5,000
Committee on Financial Services............................        5,000
Committee on Foreign Affairs...............................        5,000
Committee on Homeland Security.............................        5,000
Committee on House Administration..........................        5,000
Committee on the Judiciary.................................        5,000
Committee on Natural Resources.............................        5,000
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform...............        5,000
Committee on Rules.........................................        5,000
Committee on Science and Technology........................        5,000
Committee on Small Business................................        5,000
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.................        5,000
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure.............        5,000
Committee on Veterans' Affairs.............................        5,000
Committee on Ways and Means................................        5,000
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence.................        5,000
Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming.        5,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Committee met on June 27, 2007 and adopted the 
following resolution:

                       COMMITTEE RESOLUTION 110-5

    Resolved, that Rep. Davis of Alabama is hereby elected to 
the Subcommittee of Elections

Second Session

    The Committee met on April 2, 2008 and adopted the 
following resolution:

                       COMMITTEE RESOLUTION 110-6


   Modifying the Majority membership of the Subcommittee on Capitol 
                                Security

    Resolved, that the Majority membership of the Subcommittee 
on Capitol Security shall be as follows:
          Mr. Capuano, Massachusetts, Chairman
          Mr. Brady, Pennsylvania
    The Committee met on July 30, 2008 and adopted the 
following resolutions:

                       COMMITTEE RESOLUTION 110-7

    Resolved, that the regulations of the Committee on House 
Administration pertaining to shared employees are amended as 
follows:
    1. Each House employee who, during any pay period, is 
simultaneously employed by three or more House employing 
authorities is required to inform each employing authority in 
writing of the employee's employment status and any change in 
employment status with other employing authorities;
    2. (Upon Committee approval of the Shared Employee 
Manual)--Each House employee who, during any pay period, is 
simultaneously employed by three or more House employing 
authorities is required to file with the House Finance Office a 
signed Acknowledgment of Receipt and Understanding of Shared 
Employee Manual and Certification of Continued Compliance upon 
becoming simultaneously employed by three or more employing 
authorities. (see attached Acknowledgement and Certification)
    3. Each House employee who is simultaneously employed by 
three or more House employing authorities for more than 60 days 
during a calendar year must file a Financial Disclosure 
Statement under 5 U.S.C app Sec. 101 et. seq by May 15 of each 
year.
    4. Any House employee engaged in any outside employment or 
business activity may not directly, or indirectly through such 
outside employment or business activity, sell, lease, or 
otherwise provide any goods or assets to any House office or 
entity.
    Resolved further, that the Chairman of the Committee on 
House Administration is authorized to make technical and 
conforming amendments to the above regulations upon issuance 
and inclusion in the Congressional Handbooks.

             Acknowledgment of Receipt and Understanding of


                         Shared Employee Manual


               and Certification of Continuing Compliance


                                  With


             The Mandatory Provisions Incorporated Therein


                        Revised: August _, 2008

    I acknowledge that I have received a copy of the Shared 
Employee Manual, and that I have read and understand the 
contents of the Manual. I understand that the Manual is 
intended to provide me with both general and specific 
information about House practices, policies, and procedures 
attendant to being a shared employee of three or more employing 
authorities. I acknowledge and understand that employment 
within the House is at-will, and that each employee serves at 
the pleasure of the employing authority(s). I understand and 
acknowledge that the Shared Employee Manual does not create an 
actual or implied contract of employment, nor confer any right 
to remain an employee of any House office, nor otherwise change 
in any respect the employment- at-will relationship between 
employing authority(s) and myself. I certify that I am 
currently, and will take all necessary steps to remain, in 
compliance with the mandatory provisions of law and regulation 
described in the Shared Employee Manual.

__________
(Signature of Shared Employee)

__________
(Date)

                       COMMITTEE RESOLUTION 110-8

    Resolved, that the Committee's Implementing Regulations For 
Student Loan Repayment are hereby amended as follows (see 
attachment):
    1. Add the word ``Program'' to the end of the title.
    2. Strike ``Sec. 1.'' and renumber using conventional 
section and paragraph numbering.
    3. In Section 1(b)(2)(A)(i), strike ``500'' and insert in 
lieu thereof ``833''.
    4. In Section 1(b)(2)(A)(ii), strike ``40,000'' and insert 
in lieu thereof ``60,000''.
    5. In Section 1(b)(3)(C)(i)(I), strike ``2.5'' and insert 
in lieu thereof ``3.5''.
    6. In Section 1(b)(3)(C)(i)(II), strike ``2.5'' and insert 
in lieu thereof ``3.5''.
    7. In Section 1(d)(5), strike ``which is not paid for 
pursuant to the service agreement'' and insert in lieu thereof 
``that continues to be the employee's responsibility''.
    8. In Section 1(e) 1, strike ``2004, and each January 1 
thereafter'' and insert in lieu thereof ``of each year''.
    9. In Section 1(f), strike the entire subsection and 
renumber accordingly.
    10. In Section 1(g)(2) strike paragraphs (A) and (B) and 
insert in lieu thereof ``who is an employee of the House of 
Representatives.''.
    11. In Section 1(h), strike the entire subsection.
    12. Renumber as appropriate
    Resolved further, that the Chairman of the Committee on 
House Administration is authorized to make technical and 
conforming amendments to the above regulations upon issuance 
and inclusion in the Congressional Handbooks.
    The Committee met on September 25, 2008 and adopted the 
following resolution:

                       COMMITTEE RESOLUTION 110-9


                           Interim Authority

    Resolved that the Chairman of the Committee on House 
Administration is authorized and directed to take such actions 
as may be necessary on behalf of the Committee to discharge the 
responsibility of the Committee for the period between the 
adjournment sine die of the second session of the 110th 
Congress through just prior to noon on January 3, 2009.
    Resolved further that interim authority will be exercised 
by the Chairman only with respect to those matters which the 
full Committee would have been required to act upon had the 
House been in session, and which would otherwise disrupt normal 
operations if not promptly resolved. Written notice of intent 
to act on these matters and a reasonable time for response will 
be given to the Ranking Minority Member. Written notice of the 
completion of an action taken under interim authority shall he 
provided by the Chairman to the Ranking Minority Member.
    Resolved further that a complete list of all items approved 
by the exercise of interim authority will be provided to the 
full Committee.
    The Committee met on April 2, 2008 and passed the following 
amendment to Regulations Governing the Use of Official Funds:

    AMENDMENT TO THE REGULATIONS GOVERNING THE USE OF OFFICIAL FUNDS


                  BY MEMBERS, COMMITTEES, AND OFFICERS


                                 OF THE


                     U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES


                    FOR CONSIDERATION: APRIL 2, 2008


                        EFFECTIVE: UPON APPROVAL


                          ALTERNATE RIDE HOME

    The expenses of transportation via taxi or other commercial 
carrier incurred by an employee who regularly commutes between 
his/her duty station and residence by mass transit (i.e., via 
[Metro, bus, train, etc.]), by registered ridesharing program 
[carpools, vanpools, etc.], or by means other than a vehicle of 
the employee that has been issued a House parking permit are 
reimbursable when:
          1. An employee is required by his/her employing 
        authority to work unscheduled overtime or report to 
        duty early or stay late outside of his/her regular 
        working hours (``officially ordered work''); and
          2. Transportation via the usual means is not 
        available or to commute via such means is determined by 
        the employing authority to be an unreasonable burden.
    An Alternate Ride Home expense is only eligible for 
reimbursement under the following conditions:
    1. The employee seeking reimbursement does not maintain a 
single-user parking permit issued by the House of 
Representatives.
    2. The employee is performing officially ordered work as 
certified by the employee's supervisor and/or employing 
authority.
    3. The employee certifies that the expense is incurred for 
transportation originating from or traveling to the employee's 
official duties.
    4. The individual is authorized in advance by his/her 
employing authority to incur said expense.
    5. The employee certifies that his/her usual means of 
transportation are unavailable or the employing authority 
affirms that commute via such means or via alternative means of 
public transportation constitute an unreasonable burden.
    Examples of non qualifying circumstance include, but are 
not limited to, the following:
           Reporting to or remaining at work outside of 
        regular work hours on a voluntary basis;
           Performing personal errands;
           Transit service disruptions and/or delays;
           Weather emergencies; and
           Natural disasters.
    To request reimbursement, submit a completed voucher, 
accompanied by an Alternate Ride Home Form and the original 
copy of the vendor receipt or, if a receipt is not available 
(e.g., bus or Metro), a memo documenting/describing the 
expense(s) incurred, to the Finance Office for processing.
    This program must be administered by offices in a non-
discriminatory manner consistent with the requirements of the 
Congressional Accountability Act.
    On September 30, 2008, the Committee agreed to the 
following amendment to Regulations Governing the Use of 
Official Funds:
    In addition to their official (house.gov) Web site, a 
Member may maintain another Web site(s), channel(s) or 
otherwise post material on third-party Web sites.
    The official content of any material posted by the Member 
on any Web site must be in compliance with Federal law and 
House Rules and Regulations applicable to official 
communications and germane to the conduct of the Member's 
official and representational duties.
    When a link to a Web site outside the Member's official 
cite is imbedded on the Member's official site, the Member's 
site must include an exit notice advising the visitor when they 
are leaving the House. This exit notice must also include a 
disclaimer that neither the Member nor the House is responsible 
for the content of the linked site(s).
    Chairman is authorized to make technical and conforming 
changes to facilitate inclusion into the Committees and Member 
handbooks.
                              Appendix II

 Measures Referred to the Committee on House Administration During the 
                             110th Congress




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