[Senate Report 111-14]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


111th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE
 1st Session                                                     111-14

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



 
          AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURES BY COMMITTEES OF THE SENATE

                                _______
                                

                 April 23, 2009.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

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

                              R E P O R T

                        [Relating to S. Res. 73]

                          Chairman's Statement

    Since the 101st Congress, the Rules Committee has favorably 
reported out and the Senate has agreed to an omnibus biennial 
committee funding authorization for the standing, special, and 
select committees of the Senate. This procedure has 
consistently received strong support from committee chairmen 
and ranking members over the succeeding Congresses.
    Beginning in the 106th Congress, the biennial committee 
funding fiscal year structure was divided into 3 segments: the 
7-month period from March 1 through September 30 of the first 
calendar year of the Congress; the 12-month period from October 
1 of the first calendar year through September 30 of the second 
calendar year; and the 5-month period from October 1, of the 
second calendar year through the last day of February of the 
third calendar year. S. Res. 73 continues this practice.
    As a result of the federal elections in November 2008, the 
Senate in the 111th Congress is currently composed of 56 
Democratic Members, 41 Republican Members, 2 Independents, and 
1 Vacancy. On January 15, 2009, the Majority Leader and the 
Minority Leader in their colloquy on the Senate Floor announced 
an agreement and provided guidance on committee funding for the 
111th Congress prior to appointing the chairmen, ranking 
members, and Senators who will serve on committees during the 
current Congress. However, at that time the Senate was also 
operating under a continuing resolution and the appropriations 
account for committees was frozen at the 2008 levels.
    The Joint Leadership colloquy specified that upon enactment 
of a full year appropriation for the legislative branch, the 
Rules Committee shall authorize $100,000,000 annually for staff 
salary baselines to be allocated at a 60 percent to 40 percent 
ratio, majority/minority respectively, for the 111th Congress. 
In addition, the authorization shall provide for salary 
baselines to be adjusted by future cost-of-living adjustment 
(COLA) increases, as approved by the Senate President pro 
tempore. The colloquy further stated that the Majority Leader 
and the Chairman of the Rules Committee have agreed that 89 
percent of special reserves is available to each chairman and 
ranking member for administrative expenses, if requested, to be 
allocated at a 60 percent to 40 percent ratio, majority/
minority respectively. It was noted in the colloquy that 
special reserves have been available to committees since 2001, 
and shall not exceed historic levels.
    The Joint Leadership also issued a letter to accompany the 
colloquy. The letter expressed the commitment of the Leaders 
that upon enactment of a full appropriation for the legislative 
branch, the individual minority committee funding levels remain 
unchanged, and no committee budget shall be allocated to reduce 
the minority committee budget below that of fiscal year 2008.
    However, as noted, implementation of the guidance provided 
to committees in the Joint Leadership colloquy and letter 
required enactment of the FY09 legislative branch 
appropriations bill.
    The Joint Leadership letter, submitted by the Majority 
Leader and the Minority Leader, is included below for 
informational purposes.

                        Joint Leadership Letter

    We mutually commit to the following for the 111th Congress:
    Upon enactment of a full year appropriation for the 
legislative branch, the majority and minority staff salary 
baselines for the committees of the Senate, including Joint and 
Special Committees, and all other subgroups, shall be 
apportioned at a 60 percent to 40 percent ratio, based on an 
authorization of $100,000,000 annually. Additionally, upon 
enactment of a full year appropriation for the legislative 
branch, the authorization will provide for salary baselines to 
be adjusted by future cost of living adjustment, COLA, 
increases as approved by the President Pro Tempore of the 
Senate. Further, the majority leader and the chairman of the 
Rules Committee have agreed that 89 percent of special reserves 
is available to each chair/ranking member for administrative 
expenses, if requested, to be allocated at a 60 percent to 40 
percent ratio, majority/minority respectively.
    This will allow individual minority committee funding 
levels to remain unchanged, if special reserves are requested. 
Therefore, no committee budget shall be allocated to reduce the 
minority committee budget below that of fiscal year 2008.
    Funds for committee expenses shall be available to each 
chairman consistent with the Senate rules and practices of the 
110th Congress.
    The chairman and ranking member of any committee, may, by 
mutual agreement, modify the apportionment of committee 
funding, and/or space.
    The division of committee office space shall be 
commensurate with the 60 percent to 40 percent ratio.

                               Background

    The ``omnibus'' committee funding resolution in the amount 
of $69,152,989 for the 7-month period of FY 2009 (March 1, 2009 
through September 30, 2009); $121,593,254 for the 12-month 
period of FY 2010 (October 1, 2009 through September 30, 2010); 
and $51,787,223 for the 5-month period of FY 2011 (October 1, 
2010 through February 28, 2011) was reported in lieu of Senate 
Resolutions 28, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 39, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 
46, 47, 50, 51, and 54 which were reported by the Senate 
committees in conformance with paragraph 9 of Rule XXVI of the 
Standing Rules of the Senate and referred to the Committee on 
Rules and Administration. An original resolution, subsequently 
S. Res. 46, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Rules 
and Administration, is on the Senate calendar (Order No. 22) 
and is obviated by passage of S. Res. 73, since funding for the 
Rules Committee's expenditures in the 111th Congress are 
included in the omnibus funding resolution.
    The total funding target for each of fiscal years 2009, 
2010, and 2011, will be $100,000,000 annually for committee 
staff salary baselines to be allocated at a 60 percent majority 
to 40 percent minority ratio. Amounts included for cost of 
living adjustments (COLAs) shall only be available to the 
extent authorized by the order of the President pro tempore of 
the Senate pursuant to 2 U.S.C. Sec. 60a-1. In anticipation of 
approval, committees were advised to include in their budget 
COLAs for 2009 at 4.78%, 2010 at 3.5%, and 2011 at 3.5%.
    As stated in the colloquy, special reserves are available 
to each chairman/ranking member for administrative expenses, if 
requested, to be allocated at a 60 percent to 40 percent ratio, 
majority/minority respectively. However, it should be noted 
that the Special Reserves Fund for this Congress is almost 
entirely dedicated to fulfilling the guidance of the colloquy. 
Therefore, contrary to circumstances in previous Congresses, 
the Rules Committee will have little flexibility with regard to 
additional requests from this fund.
    Similar to procedures used during the previous three 
Congresses, the Rules Committee offered committees the 
opportunity to streamline the authorization process. Committees 
whose budget requests were within guidelines specified by the 
Joint Leadership agreement and whose questionnaires were 
jointly signed by the chairman and ranking member were not 
required to testify on their funding resolution before the 
Rules Committee. Those committees requesting funds that 
exceeded the guidelines were directed to submit to the Rules 
Committee a letter, signed by the chairman and ranking member, 
that specified the budget amount and asked for a hearing to 
testify on this matter.
    All committees funded by this resolution submitted budgets 
and questionnaires that conformed to the requisite guidelines.
    It should be noted that in the 110th Congress three 
Committees--Finance, Foreign Relations, and Intelligence--
submitted requests for additional funds above guidelines. These 
amounts were funded from special reserves in the 110th Congress 
and added to the budget baselines for the respective Committees 
for the 111th. The Committee on Finance requested an additional 
$800,000 (over two years) above guidelines. The Committee on 
Foreign Relations requested an additional $700,002 ($350,000 
per annum) above guidelines. The Select Committee on 
Intelligence requested an additional $405,329 (over two years) 
above guidelines. These amounts were funded from special 
reserves in the 110th Congress, and added to the budget 
baselines of the respective committees for the 111th Congress.
    The Committee prepared an original funding resolution 
incorporating a budget amount at the guideline level for each 
committee included in the resolution. The Senate considered and 
agreed to without amendment by unanimous consent the omnibus 
committee funding resolution, subsequently S. Res. 73, on March 
10, 2009.
    S. Res. 73 was agreed to after passage of H.R. 1105, the 
Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009. This legislation included a 
full year appropriation for the legislative branch.

Sec. 2. Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2009  (7    FY 2010    FY 2011  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $2,542,027   $4,357,759   $1,815,733
2009 COLA........................      121,509      208,301       86,792
2010 COLA........................  ...........      119,859       66,588
2011 COLA........................  ...........  ...........       27,568
Consultants......................            0            0            0
Training.........................            0            0            0
Official Mail....................        6,047       10,367        4,320
Administrative Expenses..........       66,039      113,210       47,171
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 111th Congress..    2,735,622    4,809,496    2,048,172

Special Reserves for Majority if        96,886      166,090       69,204
 requested.......................
Special Reserves for Minority if        64,591      110,727       46,136
 requested.......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 3. Committee on Armed Services

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2009  (7    FY 2010    FY 2011  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $4,362,182   $7,478,026   $3,115,844
2009 COLA........................      208,512      357,450      148,937
2010 COLA........................  ...........      205,681      114,267
2011 COLA........................  ...........  ...........       47,307
Consultants......................       14,583       25,000       10,417
Training.........................        4,667        8,000        3,333
Official Mail....................        4,083        7,000        2,917
Administrative Expenses..........       45,231       77,539       32,308
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 111th Congress..    4,639,258    8,158,696    3,475,330

Special Reserves for Majority if       160,257      274,726      114,469
 requested.......................
Special Reserves for Minority if       106,838      183,151       76,313
 requested.......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 4. Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2009  (7    FY 2010    FY 2011  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $3,915,554   $6,712,378   $2,796,824
2009 COLA........................      187,163      320,852      133,688
2010 COLA........................  ...........      184,622      102,568
2011 COLA........................  ...........  ...........       42.463
Consultants......................       11,667       20,000        8,333
Training.........................          700        1,200          500
Official Mail....................        1,400        2,400        1,000
Administrative Expenses..........       88,417      151,572       63,155
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 111th Congress..    4,204,901    7,393,024    3,148,531

Special Reserves for Majority if       154,958      265,642      110,684
 requested.......................
Special Reserves for Minority if       103,305      177,095       73,790
 requested.......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 5. Committee on the Budget

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2009  (7    FY 2010    FY 2011  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $4,130,408   $7,080,700   $2,950,292
2009 COLA........................      197,434      338,457      141,024
2010 COLA........................  ...........      194,753      108,196
2011 COLA........................  ...........  ...........       44,793
Consultants......................            0            0            0
Training.........................            0            0            0
Official Mail....................       10,746       18,421        7,675
Administrative Expenses..........       45,919       78,718       32,799
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 111th Congress..    4,384,507    7,711,049    3,284,779

Special Reserves for Majority if       164,135      281,374      117,239
 requested.......................
Special Reserves for Minority if       109,423      187,583       78,160
 requested.......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 6. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2009  (7    FY 2010    FY 2011  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $4,227,205   $7,246,637   $3,019,433
2009 COLA........................      202,060      346,389      144,329
2010 COLA........................  ...........      199,317      110,732
2011 COLA........................  ...........  ...........       45,843
Consultants......................            0            0            0
Training.........................            0            0            0
Official Mail....................       11,932       20,455        8,523
Administrative Expenses..........       88,048      150,939       62,891
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 111th Congress..    4,529,245    7,963,737    3,391,751

Special Reserves for Majority if       158,897      272,395      113,498
 requested.......................
Special Reserves for Minority if       105,931      181,596       75,665
 requested.......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 7. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2009  (7    FY 2010    FY 2011  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $3,584,756   $6,145,297   $2,560,541
2009 COLA........................      171,351      293,745      122,394
2010 COLA........................  ...........      169,025       93,903
2011 COLA........................  ...........  ...........       38,876
Consultants......................            0            0            0
Training.........................            0            0            0
Official Mail....................        9,129       15,649        6,520
Administrative Expenses..........       68,164      116,853       48,689
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 111th Congress..    3,833,400    6,740,569    2,870,923

Special Reserves for Majority if       136,896      234,678       97,783
 requested.......................
Special Reserves for Minority if        91,264      156,452       65,188
 requested.......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 8. Committee on Environment and Public Works

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2009  (7    FY 2010    FY 2011  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $3,257,698   $5,584,625   $2,326,928
2009 COLA........................      155,718      266,945      111,227
2010 COLA........................  ...........      153,604       85,335
2011 COLA........................  ...........  ...........       35,329
Consultants......................        4,667        8,000        3,333
Training.........................        1,167        2,000          833
Official Mail....................        8,416       14,427        6,011
Administrative Expenses..........      102,121      175,064       72,943
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 111th Congress..    3,529,786    6,204,665    2,641,940

Special Reserve for Majority if        126,733      217,257       90,524
 requested.......................
Special Reserve for Minority if         84,489      144,838       60,349
 requested.......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 9. Committee on Finance

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2009  (7    FY 2010    FY 2011  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $4,852,449   $8,318,485   $3,466,035
2009 COLA........................      231,947      397,624      165,676
2010 COLA........................  ...........      228,798      127,110
2011 COLA........................  ...........  ...........       52,623
Consultants......................       17,500       30,000       12,500
Training.........................        5,833       10,000        4,167
Official Mail....................       10,480       17,965        7,485
Administrative Expenses..........       92,556      158,667       66,111
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 111th Congress..    5,210,765    9,161,539    3,901,707

Special Reserve for Majority if        184,420      316,149      131,729
 requested.......................
Special Reserve for Minority if        122,947      210,766       87,819
 requested.......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 10. Committee on Foreign Relations

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2009  (7    FY 2010    FY 2011  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $4,008,517   $6,871,743   $2,863,226
2009 COLA........................      191,607      328,469      136,862
2010 COLA........................  ...........      189,006      105,003
2011 COLA........................  ...........  ...........       43,471
Consultants......................            0            0            0
Training.........................            0            0            0
Official Mail....................        9,380       16,080        6,700
Administrative Expenses..........       82,257      141,012       58,755
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 111th Congress..    4,291,761    7,546,310    3,214,017

Special Reserves for Majority if       149,113      255,622      106,509
 requested.......................
Special Reserves for Minority if        99,409      170,415       71,006
 requested.......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 11. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2009  (7    FY 2010    FY 2011  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $5,582,972   $9,570,808   $3,987,837
2009 COLA........................      266,866      457,485      190,619
2010 COLA........................  ...........      263,243      146,246
2011 COLA........................  ...........  ...........       60,546
Consultants......................            0            0            0
Training.........................            0            0            0
Official Mail....................       14,236       24,405       10,169
Administrative Expenses..........      109,673      188,010       78,338
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 111th Congress..    5,973,747   10,503,951    4,473,755

Special Reserves for Majority if       217,144      372,246      155,103
 requested.......................
Special Reserves for Minority if       144,762      248,164      103,402
 requested.......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 12. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
        Affairs

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2009  (7    FY 2010    FY 2011  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $6,307,404  $10,812,693   $4,505,289
2009 COLA........................      301,494      516,847      215,353
2010 COLA........................  ...........      297,400      165,222
2011 COLA........................  ...........  ...........       68,402
Consultants......................            0            0            0
Training.........................            0            0            0
Official Mail....................       15,689       26,895       11,206
Administrative Expenses..........      118,237      202,692       84,455
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 111th Congress..    6,742,824   11,856,527    5,049,927

Special Reserves for Majority if       251,306      430,811      179,505
 requested.......................
Special Reserves for Minority if       167,538      287,208      119,670
 requested.......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 13. Committee on the Judiciary

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2009  (7    FY 2010    FY 2011  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $6,150,027  $10,542,903   $4,392,876
2009 COLA........................      293,971      503,951      209,979
2010 COLA........................  ...........      289,980      161,100
2011 COLA........................  ...........  ...........       66,695
Consultants......................            0            0            0
Training.........................            0            0            0
Official Mail....................       15,097       25,881       10,784
Administrative Expenses..........       69,199      118,626       49,428
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 111th Congress..    6,528,294   11,481,341    4,890,862

Special Reserves for Majority if       242,362      415,478      173,116
 requested.......................
Special Reserves for Minority if       161,575      276,986      115,411
 requested.......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 14. Committee on Rules and Administration

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2009  (7    FY 2010    FY 2011  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $1,697,693   $2,910,331   $1,212,638
2009 COLA........................       81,150      139,114       57,964
2010 COLA........................  ...........       80,048       44,471
2011 COLA........................  ...........  ...........       18,411
Consultant.......................            0            0            0
Training.........................            0            0            0
Official Mail....................        4,634        7,944        3,310
Administrative Expenses..........       14,192       24,329       10,137
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 111th Congress..    1,797,669    3,161,766    1,346,931

Special Reserves for Majority if        58,454      100,207       41,753
 requested.......................
Special Reserves for Minority if        38,969       66,804       27,835
 requested.......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 15. Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2009  (7    FY 2010    FY 2011  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $1,562,479   $2,678,536   $1,116,057
2009 COLA........................       74,686      128,034       53,348
2010 COLA........................  ...........       73,672       40,929
2011 COLA........................  ...........  ...........       16,945
Consultant.......................            0            0            0
Training.........................            0            0            0
Official Mail....................        3,753        6,434        2,681
Administrative Expenses..........       52,322       89,694       37,370
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 111th Congress..    1,693,240    2,976,370    1,267,330

Special Reserves for Majority if        57,398       98,397       40,999
 requested.......................
Special Reserves for Minority if        38,266       65,598       27,333
 requested.......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 16. Committee on Veterans' Affairs

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2009  (7    FY 2010    FY 2011  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $1,465,027   $2,511,475   $1,046,448
2009 COLA........................       70,028      120,049       50,020
2010 COLA........................  ...........       69,078       38,376
2011 COLA........................  ...........  ...........       15,888
Consultants......................            0            0            0
Training.........................            0            0            0
Official Mail....................        3,888        6,665        2,777
Administrative Expenses..........       26,146       44,821       18,675
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 111th Congress..    1,565,089    2,752,088    1,172,184

Special Reserves for Majority if        55,681       95,453       39,772
 requested.......................
Special Reserves for Minority if        37,120       63,635       26,515
 reqeusted.......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 17. Special Committee on Aging

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2009  (7    FY 2010    FY 2011  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $1,758,844   $3,051,162   $1,256,318
2009 COLA........................       84,073      144,125       60,052
2010 COLA........................  ...........       82,931       46,073
2011 COLA........................  ...........  ...........       19,074
Consultants......................            0            0            0
Training.........................            0            0            0
Official Mail....................        3,923        6,725        2,802
Administrative Expenses..........       45,675       78,300       32,625
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 111th Congress..    1,892,515    3,327,243    1,416,944

Special Reserves for Majority if        67,394      115,532       48,138
 requested.......................
Special Reserves for Minority if        44,930       77,022       32,093
 reqeusted.......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 18. Select Committee on Intelligence

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2009  (7    FY 2010    FY 2011  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $3,868,380   $6,631,510   $2,763,130
2009 COLA........................      184,909      316,986      132,078
2010 COLA........................  ...........      182,398      101,332
2011 COLA........................  ...........  ...........       41,952
Consultants......................       37,917       65,000       27,083
Training.........................            0            0            0
Official Mail....................        7,317       12,544        5,227
Administrative Expenses..........       52,500       90,000       37,500
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 111th Congress..    4,151,023    7,298,438    3,108,302

Special Reserves for Majority if       150,303      257,663      107,360
 requested.......................
Special Reserves for Minority if       100,202      171,775       71,573
 requested.......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 19. Select Committee on Indian Affairs

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2009  (7    FY 2010    FY 2011  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $1,311,942   $2,249,043     $937,101
2009 COLA........................       62,711      107,504       44,793
2010 COLA........................  ...........       61,859       34,366
2011 COLA........................  ...........  ...........       14,228
Consultants......................            0            0            0
Training.........................            0            0            0
Official Mail....................        3,959        6,786        2,828
Administrative Expenses..........       70,731      121,253       50,522
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 111th Congress..    1,449,343    2,546,445    1,083,838

Special Reserves for Majority if        47,263       81,023       33,760
 requested.......................
Special Reserves for Minority if        31,509       54,016       22,507
 requested.......................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                Overtime

    Committees have been advised that any overtime costs 
mandated by the Congressional Accountability Act must be 
absorbed within salary baselines funded in S. Res. 73.

                       Cost-of-Living Adjustments

    It is the intent of the Committee on Rules and 
Administration that amounts included in the various committee 
budgets for COLAs for 2009, 2010, and 2011 shall only be 
available to the extent authorized by the order of the 
President pro tempore of the Senate pursuant to section 4 of 
the Federal Pay Comparability Act of 1970 (2 U.S.C. 60a-1). In 
anticipation of approval, the Rules Committee directed 
committees to include in their budget submission the following 
COLA figures: 2009 at 4.78%, 2010 at 3.5%, and 2011 at 3.5%.
    If the President pro tempore does not authorize COLAs, 
funds included for that purpose by this resolution may not be 
expended. If, however, COLA authorizations exceed the 
percentages budgeted in this resolution, it may be necessary 
for committees to absorb the difference.

                  Certification of Committee Expenses

    Committee biennial funding resolutions prior to March 1, 
1995 stipulated that vouchers were not required for the 
disbursement of salaries of committee employees who were paid 
at an annual rate of pay. In addition, vouchers were not 
required for certain types of official expenses which could be 
certified as owed to Senate support offices providing such 
goods and services to Senate committees. The practice was to 
identify in the funding resolution which Senate support office 
was authorized to certify such expenses as due for payment. 
Examples of certifiable expenses include, but are not limited 
to, telecommunications, stationery supplies, official mail, 
metered charges on copying equipment, and expenses for Senate 
Recording and Photographic Services.
    However, section 1 of the FY 1994 Legislative Branch 
Appropriations Bill provided permanent language in statute 
addressing this issue (2 U.S.C. 68-8). Therefore, the specific 
authorization for certifications is no longer required in 
committee biennial funding resolutions and the language in 
section 1 of S. Res. 54 (107th Congress) has been modified by 
deleting section 1(b)(2) with the heading, VOUCHERS NOT 
REQUIRED.

                        Stationery Room Expenses

    Pursuant to the FY 1994 Legislative Branch Appropriations 
Bill, stationery room expenses for official business only are 
certified for payment by the appropriate Senate support office.

                          Official Mail Costs

    Pursuant to the FY 1994 Legislative Branch Appropriations 
Bill, official mail expenses, other than franked mail, are 
certified for payment by the appropriate Senate support office.
    Section 10 of Public Law 101-520, 101st Congress, 2nd 
Session, authorizes committees funded by this omnibus biennial 
committee funding resolution to send official mail, other than 
franked mail, through the Senate post office and to have the 
cost of such mail certified to their official office expense 
accounts in a manner similar to the purchase of supplies from 
the Senate stationery room. Public Law 105-55, the 1998 
Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, changed the manner in 
which official mail costs are paid. Beginning in October, 1998, 
and continuing for those segments of FY 2009, FY 2010, and FY 
2011 that comprise the 111th Congress, committees are provided 
additional funds for official mail and the costs incurred are 
charged directly to each committee. Committee allocations for 
official mail costs are reflected herein.
    The 60-day pre-election moratorium on mass mailings does 
not apply to a committee when such mass mailings are mailed 
under the frank of the chairman and relate to the normal and 
regular business of the committee.

                 Metered Charges for Copying Equipment

    Pursuant to the FY 1994 Legislative Branch Appropriations 
Bill, metered charges for copying equipment are certified for 
payment by the appropriate Senate support office.

               Senate Recording and Photographic Services

    Pursuant to the FY 1994 Legislative Branch Appropriations 
Bill, official expenses incurred by a committee at the Senate 
Recording and Photographic Studios are certified for payment by 
the appropriate Senate support office. ``Official expenses'' 
has the meaning given to it by Interpretative Ruling No. 442, 
issued April 15, 1992, by the Select Committee on Ethics.

                          Printing and Binding

    Committee expenditures for printing and binding continue to 
be a substantial cost to the Senate. Such costs include both 
the costs of printing documents and the costs of preparing 
manuscripts by GPO's detailed personnel. Although printing and 
binding funds are not included in individual committee budgets, 
the Committee on Rules and Administration advises all 
committees to be judicious in the use of these funds.
    Printing and binding costs increased from the end of the 
109th Congress to the end of the 110th Congress by more than 
$450,000. However, this increase was significantly less than 
the increase between the 108th and 109th Congresses.
    It is the intent of the Committee that all Senate 
committees adhere strictly to the provisions of Title 44 
governing the printing and binding of documents.
    A committee may not procure more than 300 copies of a 
hearing, or other document germane thereto, except as 
authorized by 44 U.S.C. 703. Section 703 provides that extra 
copies not exceeding $700 in cost may be obtained upon an order 
of the Joint Committee on Printing; extra copies at a cost of 
$700 to $1,200 must be authorized by simple resolution of the 
Senate; and cost exceeding $1,200 requires approval of both 
houses of Congress by concurrent or joint resolution. Such 
resolutions requesting printing are referred to the Committee 
on Rules and Administration.
    ``Extra copies'' means additional numbers ordered at the 
time of original printing. Reprinting a document at a later 
time must be treated as a new publication.
    Charges incurred by committees for GPO employees detailed 
as printers increased significantly as a result of increased 
committee activity in the 110th Congress. The Rules Committee 
especially urges those committees that incur overtime charges 
on a continuing basis to evaluate their printing operation with 
an eye to minimizing a printer's overtime except on a temporary 
basis when the extraordinary cost can be justified by the need 
for timely delivery of the committee's legislative papers.

   Cost of Government Printing Office Employees Detailed as Printers


                             110TH CONGRESS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                    2007         2008
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Special Committee on Aging....................      $88,791      $66,371
Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and            104,934       76,066
 Forestry.....................................
Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban            246,992      185,418
 Affairs......................................
Committee on the Budget.......................       95,004       64,888
Committee on Commerce, Science, and                 217,023      196,119
 Transportation...............................
Committee on Energy and Natural Resources.....      132,950      144,461
Committee on Environment and Public Works.....      160,466      141,173
Committee on Finance..........................      112,484       72,434
Committee on Foreign Relations................      229,262      181,216
Committee on Homeland Security and                   97,540       72,682
 Governmental Affairs.........................
Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and           92,334       71,509
 Pensions.....................................
Committee on Indian Affairs...................       93,436       71,096
Committee on the Judiciary....................      223,029      146,909
Committee on Veterans' Affairs................       86,302       93,164
                                               -------------------------
      Total...................................   $1,980,547   $1,583,506
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                           Detailed Employees

    Sections 2 through 19 of the omnibus resolution include 
specific authorizing language on the use of detailed employees 
on either a reimbursable or non-reimbursable basis. This 
language, which has been included in previous biennial funding 
resolutions since 1989, continues the practice of permitting 
the detail or assignment of personnel from departments or 
agencies of the government to the staff of a committee with or 
without reimbursement of that person's salary. The Committee on 
Rules and Administration intends that government employees, 
whose pay is disbursed by an agency of the federal government 
and who is detailed or assigned to a committee must comply with 
Rule 27, paragraph 4, of the Standing Rules of the Senate.
    Prior consent of the government department or agency 
concerned, as well as the Committee on Rules and 
Administration, must be obtained in order to utilize such 
personnel whether on a reimbursable or non-reimbursable basis 
pursuant to Standing Rule XXVII, paragraph 4.
    The Committee on Rules and Administration intends to 
monitor committee expenditures in conjunction with requests for 
approval for the use of detailed government employees 
(detailees). The purpose of monitoring detailee activity is to 
determine overall committee spending in the appropriation 
account ``Expenses of Inquiries and Investigations,'' within 
the Legislative Branch Appropriations bill.


                            Special Reserves

    This resolution authorizes a special reserve fund within 
the appropriations account, ``Expenses of Inquiries and 
Investigations,'' contained in the Legislative Branch 
Appropriations Act for fiscal years 2009, 2010, and 2011. This 
special reserve fund is available to any committee funded by 
this resolution on the basis of special, unforeseen, and non-
recurring needs of that committee during the funding periods. 
Any committee desiring to draw on special reserve funds must 
make such a request in writing with the signature of the 
chairman and ranking member. All special reserve requests are 
ultimately subject to the approval of the Chairman and Ranking 
Member of the Committee on Rules and Administration. The amount 
available in this special reserve is based on the percentage of 
funds approved for special reserves in previous Congresses from 
total funds authorized for committees.
    When biennial funding cycles began in 1989, the Rules 
Committee authorized the use of unexpended funds from one 
authorization to the next. The Committee in 1991 informed all 
Senate committees in Senate Report 102-15 and during the debate 
on that resolution, that committees could retain 50 percent of 
their funds unexpended as of February 28, 1993, to cover non-
recurring needs that enhanced efficiency in the committee. When 
S. Res. 71, the Omnibus Committee Funding Resolution for the 
103rd Congress, was considered by the Senate, it was amended to 
contain language that no committee of the Senate was permitted 
to carry forward unexpended balances beyond March 1, 1995. 
While S. Res. 54 (105th Congress) did not permit committees to 
carry forward funds, it did continue to provide a special 
reserve into which the unexpended balances of the committees 
were transferred, after obligations incurred during the prior 
funding period were paid.
    In order to preserve the flexibility of the Committee on 
Rules and Administration to meet the unforeseen needs of Senate 
committees, this resolution continues the practice of making 
special reserve funding available for unique, unanticipated, 
and non-recurring needs of each committee when necessary. This 
Committee intends that a request for such funds will continue 
to be considered only when submitted by the chairman and 
ranking member of a committee. Such request shall only be 
granted upon the approval of the Chairman and Ranking Member of 
the Committee on Rules and Administration.
    In the colloquy of January 12, 2007, the Senate Leadership 
agreed for the 110th Congress that under the circumstances of a 
continuing resolution for FY 07 to provide each ranking member, 
if requested, an allocation equal to 49% of the 10% 
administrative funds that were available to the committee 
chairman in the 109th Congress. A total of $4,794,387 was 
requested and authorized in the 110th Congress to fulfill the 
colloquy. This funding was added to the budget baselines of the 
respective committees for the 111th Congress.
    The Special Reserves Fund for the 111th Congress is almost 
entirely dedicated to fulfilling the guidance of the colloquy 
of January 15, 2009. Therefore, contrary to circumstances in 
previous Congresses, the Rules Committee will have little 
flexibility with regard to additional requests from the Special 
Reserves Fund. The Rules Committee has determined that an 
additional five percent (5%) of special reserves may be 
required to satisfy the intent of the colloquy and authorizes 
use of those funds.

           Financial Management Information System (WEB FMIS)

    The Committee on Rules and Administration authorized a new 
comprehensive and integrated accounting system to be 
implemented Senate-wide in 1997. This system was designed to 
assist committees in budget forecasting, allocating dollars by 
expense category and office sub-categories, posting expenses 
incurred, requesting reports by expense category or office, and 
reconciling accounts with the Disbursing Office. It is the 
Committee's intent that each committee funded by this 
resolution shall use the Financial Management Information 
System (Web FMIS) to account for funds authorized by this 
resolution.

                Legislative Review by Senate Committees

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

                      Housing for Committee Staff

    It remains the general policy and is expected by the 
Committee on Rules and Administration that staff paid from 
committee funds be housed in committee space. Space allocations 
will be strictly tied to authorized committee staff and 
detailees approved by the Committee on Rules and 
Administration.

                 Committee Office Automation Resources

    The Senate Sergeant at Arms will fund office automation 
needs for committees on a per capita basis which includes 
authorized staff and detailees identified in the committee 
budget submission. This fund will be referred to as the 
Economic Allocation Fund (EAF). Upon submission and approval by 
the Rules Committee of staffing levels, committees will be able 
to purchase items to meet their business requirements from the 
standard, approved products available from the Sergeant at 
Arms. Non-standard hardware or software requests will be at 
committee expense and must include costs for maintenance, 
service, and support. Any non-standard purchases in excess of 
$500 must be approved in advance by the Rules Committee.
    A Committee chairman shall ensure that each full-time 
employee and full-time, authorized detailee on the committee be 
provided with a workstation and have appropriate access to 
related office equipment.
    The funding levels provided will be sufficient to provide 
for regular replacement of hardware, as well as purchases of 
software updates. Any computers in excess of authorized levels 
must be returned to the Sergeant at Arms.
    Committees that requested funding above and beyond the per 
capita basis are required to prepare and submit a complete 
office automation plan based upon its business requirements and 
the level of authorized staff and detailees identified in the 
committee budget submission. To assist the Rules Committee and 
the Senate Sergeant at Arms in accurately projecting computer 
services funding (acquisition, installation, maintenance, and 
support), these committees must complete Information Technology 
Resources Worksheets to accompany their budget submissions. 
Upon review of these documents, the Rules Committee will notify 
the committee of the approved funding level.
    In the use of these funds, the Sergeant at Arms recommends 
that all committee chairmen adopt energy-efficient office 
equipment, including the use of virtual servers available 
through the Office of the Senate Sergeant at Arms. These 
provide relief for offices by eliminating a server footprint in 
the work space and the accompanying noise and heat; support all 
critical continuity requirements of an office; and are 
available at a lower cost compared to the implementation of 
physical servers.

                 Committee Office Automation Resources


                ECONOMIC ALLOCATION FUND--111TH CONGRESS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Committee                           Allocation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aging...................................................        $132,000
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry....................         172,000
Appropriations..........................................         520,000
Armed Services..........................................         248,000
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.....................         280,000
Budget..................................................         280,000
Commerce, Science, and Transportation...................         364,000
Energy and Natural Resources............................         232,000
Environment and Public Works............................         244,000
Ethics..................................................          60,000
Finance.................................................         468,000
Foreign Relations.......................................         340,000
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs..............         576,000
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions..................         460,000
Indian Affairs..........................................         108,000
Intelligence............................................         282,798
Joint Economic..........................................         200,000
Judiciary...............................................         576,000
Rules and Administration................................         112,000
Small Business..........................................         140,000
Veterans' Affairs.......................................         128,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                              Consultants

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

                    Committee Legislative Assistance

    In the past the Rules Committee received inquiries 
regarding staff representatives on committees. With respect to 
providing funds for legislative assistance, the position of the 
Committee on Rules and Administration is that such funds are 
already incorporated into Members' personal office accounts for 
the purpose of providing assistance with such committee duties.
    The legislative assistance allowance was established in the 
94th Congress by passage of S. Res. 60, agreed to on June 12, 
1975. It authorized each Senator serving on a committee to hire 
staff to assist them in connection with their membership on one 
or more committees. This new authorization was preserved and 
continued in S.Res. 4 in the 95th Congress, when the Senate 
reorganized the committee system by passing amendments to the 
Standing Rules of the Senate regarding the jurisdiction and 
size of committees.
    Later in the 95th Congress, the committee legislative 
assistance was made permanent and codified into law by section 
111, of P.L. 95-94. This provision, as amended by P.L. 100-137 
and P.L. 102-392, currently provides funding for three 
positions in each Senator's office at an annual rate of 
$169,459 each for a total of $508,377 per office, or 
$50,837,700 for all 100 Senators in FY 2009.
    These funds are adjusted each fiscal year by the authorized 
cost of living adjustment for Senate offices by the order of 
the President pro tempore.

                               Archiving

    Under Senate Rule XXVI(10)(a) and 2 U.S.C. 72(a)(d), 
committee records are the property of the Senate. At the end of 
each Congress, non-current committee records are transferred to 
the Archives [Senate Rule XI(1) and 44 U.S.C. 2118]. To ensure 
the preservation of the Senate's permanently valuable records, 
the Rules Committee requests that each committee submit to the 
Rules Committee their National Archives Records Transfer 
Report.

                                  
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