[Senate Report 113-41]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


113th Congress                                                   Report
                                 SENATE
 1st Session                                                     113-41
======================================================================
 
          AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURES BY COMMITTEES OF THE SENATE

                                _______
                                

                 June 13, 2013.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

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


                              R E P O R T

                       [To accompany S. Res. 64]

    The Committee on Rules and Administration, having 
considered an original resolution (S. Res. 64) authorizing 
expenditures by committees of the Senate for the period of 
March 1, 2013, through September 30, 2013, reports it favorably 
without amendment and recommends that the resolution pass.

                          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.
    At the beginning of the 113th Congress, the Rules Committee 
determined that it would report out an omnibus Committee 
funding resolution for only the 7-month period from March 1, 
2013, through September 30 2013, because of the high level of 
uncertainty regarding appropriations available to committees 
for the full 2-year period. Subsequent authorizing resolutions 
will be required for the 12-month and 5-month periods.
    S. Res. 64 represents a reduction in committee funding 
authorizations of 12 percent below the level of S. Res. 81 in 
the 112th Congress. The Rules Committee notified committees 
that it would issue ``expenditure guidance'' as necessary to 
bring actual committee spending into closer alignment with 
available appropriations as necessary during the 113th 
Congress.
    During the 1990s, pursuant to Rule XXVII, most committees 
allocated their funding two-thirds for the majority and one-
third for the minority. During the past decade, starting with 
the 107th Congress, biennial negotiations over the allocation 
ratios for committee funding produced Leadership guidance, 
which the Rules Committee used to develop committee budget 
guidelines. The 109th Congress Leadership colloquy of January 
6, 2005, set a minimum for the minority of 40 percent of 
personnel funds after allocations for non-designated 
administrative and clerical staff. The minority leader stated 
in the colloquy that he hoped never in the future would it be 
any lower, no matter which party is in control of the Senate.
    In the 112th Congress, on February 3, 2011, the Leadership 
agreed on a new funding approach to be used in the 112th and 
stated their intention that it be used in future Congresses in 
place of biennial negotiations. That funding approach is based 
on the party division of the Senate but recognizes the 
majority's need for resources commensurate with its 
responsibilities in administering the committee. The Leadership 
agreed that 10 percent of the total majority and minority 
baseline salary amount, after allocations for administrative 
expenses and non-designated staff, would be set aside for the 
majority. The remaining 90 percent would be divided according 
to the party division of the Senate. For the 113th Congress, 
the party division for funding purposes is 55 for the majority, 
45 for the minority.
    Committee office space follows the same approach, with 10 
percent of the total majority and minority (excluding non-
designated staff) space set aside for the majority, and the 
remaining 90 percent divided according to the party division of 
the Senate. The Leadership colloquy further specified that 
regardless of the party division of the Senate, however, the 
minority share would never be less than 40 percent, and the 
majority would never exceed 60 percent including the 10 percent 
set aside for the majority. When Senate party ratios change, 
this approach provides greater stability than the earlier 
division of two-thirds for the majority and one-third for the 
minority.
    The chairman and ranking member of any committee may, by 
mutual agreement, modify the apportionment of committee funding 
and office space.
    The January 24, 2013, Joint Leadership colloquy and letter, 
submitted by the majority leader and the minority leader, are 
included below for informational purposes.

                                Colloquy

    Mr. Reid. Mr. President, two years ago my friend the 
Republican leader and I expressed our intention that the 
funding allocation adopted for the 112th Congress would serve 
for that and future Congresses. Over the prior 20 years, the 
apportionment of committee funding had gone from a straight 
two-thirds for majority and one-third for minority during the 
1990s, regardless of the size of the majority and minority, to 
biennial negotiations during the past decade. The new funding 
allocation for Senate committees was based on the party 
division of the Senate, with 10 percent of the total majority 
and minority salary baseline going to the majority for 
administrative expenses. However, regardless of the party 
division of the Senate, the minority share of the majority and 
minority salary baseline will never be less than 40 percent, 
and the majority share will never exceed 60 percent. This 
approach met our needs for the last Congress, and I would like 
to see it continue.
    Mr. McConnell. Mr. President, I, too, would like to 
continue this approach for the 113th and future Congresses. It 
serves the interest of the Senate and the public by helping to 
retain core committee staff with institutional knowledge, 
regardless of which party is in the majority. We made a 
transition in the last Congress to restore special reserves to 
its historic purpose, but appropriations cuts prevented special 
reserves from being funded. To the extent possible, we should 
try to fund special reserves in order to be able to assist 
committees that face urgent, unanticipated, non-recurring 
needs. We know that we will continue to face tight budgets for 
the foreseeable future, and we have to bring funding 
authorizations more in line with our actual resources while 
ensuring that committees are able to fulfill their 
responsibilities. I look forward to continuing to work with my 
friend the majority leader to accomplish this.
    Mr. Reid. I thank my friend, the Republican leader, and ask 
unanimous consent that a joint leadership letter be printed in 
the Record.

                        Joint Leadership Letter

    We mutually commit to the following for the 113th Congress:
    The budgets of the committees of the Senate, including 
joint and special committees, and all other subgroups, shall be 
apportioned to reflect the ratio of the Senate as of this date, 
including an additional ten percent (10%) from the majority and 
minority salary baseline to be allocated to the chairman for 
administrative expenses, to be determined by the Rules 
Committee.
    Special Reserves has been restored to its historic purpose. 
Requests for funding will only be considered when submitted by 
a committee chairman and ranking member for unanticipated, non-
recurring needs. Such requests shall be granted only upon the 
approval of the chairman and ranking member of the Rules 
Committee.
    Funds for committee expenses shall be available to each 
chairman consistent with Senate rules and practices of the 
112th Congress.
    The chairman and ranking member of any committee may, by 
mutual agreement, modify the apportionment of committee funding 
and office space.
    The division of committee office space shall be 
commensurate with this funding agreement.

                               Background

    Beginning in the 106th Congress, the biennial committee 
funding cycle was divided into three 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.
    For the 113th Congress, S. Res. 64 authorizes committee 
funding for only the 7-month period from March 1, 2013 through 
September 30, 2013. Additional authorization will be needed for 
the 12-month and 5-month period.
    S. Res. 64, the omnibus committee funding resolution for 
the 113th Congress, was reported in lieu of Senate Resolutions 
38, 39, 40, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55, 
and 59, 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, S. Res. 43, authorizing 
expenditures by the Committee on Rules and Administration, is 
on the Senate calendar (Order No. 17) and is obviated by 
passage of S. Res. 64, since funding for the Rules Committee's 
expenditures in the 113th Congress is included in the omnibus 
funding resolution.
    The funding will be allocated according to the ratios in 
the Leadership colloquy. There are no amounts authorized for 
COLAs in the 113th Congress for fiscal year 2013. Therefore, 
committees were advised not to include COLAs in their budgets.
    As stated in the Joint Leadership letter, the special 
reserves fund is being restored to its historic purpose. 
Requests for funding from special reserves will be considered 
only when submitted by a committee chairman and ranking member 
for unanticipated, non-recurring needs and to the extent that 
appropriated funds are available for special reserves. The 
request must be approved by the chairman and ranking member of 
the Rules Committee.
    Similar to procedures used during the previous five 
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. All committees funded by S. Res. 64 submitted 
budgets and questionnaires that conformed to the guidelines.
    For the 113th Congress, the Rules Committee prepared an 
original funding resolution incorporating a budget amount at 
the guidelines level for every committee included in the 
resolution. The Senate passed S. Res. 64, on March 5, 2013, by 
unanimous consent and without amendment.

                           TEXT OF S. RES. 64

Sec. 1. Aggregate Authorization.

    (a) In General.--For purposes of carrying out the powers, 
duties, and functions under the Standing Rules of the Senate, 
and under the appropriate authorizing resolutions of the Senate 
there is authorized for the period March 1, 2013, through 
September 30, 2013, in the aggregate of $62,295,795, in 
accordance with the provisions of this resolution, for standing 
committees of the Senate, the Special Committee on Aging, the 
Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on Indian 
Affairs.

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               FY 2013  (7 mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline.....................                          $2,400,634
2013 COLA...........................  ..................................
Consultants.........................  ..................................
Training............................  ..................................
Official Mail.......................                               5,321
Administrative Expenses.............                              58,114
                                     -----------------------------------
Budget Authority 113th Congress.....                           2,464,069
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 3. Committee on Armed Services

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               FY 2013  (7 mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline.....................                          $4,111,321
2013 COLA...........................  ..................................
Consultants.........................                              14,583
Training............................                               4,667
Official Mail.......................                               4,083
Administrative Expenses.............                              45,231
                                     -----------------------------------
Budget Authority 113th Congress.....                           4,179,885
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               FY 2013  (7 mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline.....................                          $3,697,764
2013 COLA...........................  ..................................
Consultants.........................                              10,267
Training............................                                 616
Official Mail.......................                               1,232
Administrative Expenses.............                              77,806
                                     -----------------------------------
Budget Authority 113th Congress.....                           3,787,685
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 5. Committee on the Budget

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               FY 2013  (7 mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline.....................                          $3,900,668
2013 COLA...........................  ..................................
Consultants.........................                                   0
Training............................                                   0
Official Mail.......................                               9,454
Administrative Expenses.............                              40,410
                                     -----------------------------------
Budget Authority 113th Congress.....                           3,950,532
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               FY 2013  (7 mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline.....................                          $3,992,079
2013 COLA...........................  ..................................
Consultants.........................                                   0
Training............................                                   0
Official Mail.......................                              10,500
Administrative Expenses.............                              77,482
                                     -----------------------------------
Budget Authority 113th Congress.....                           4,080,061
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 7. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               FY 2013  (7 mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline.....................                          $3,385,366
2013 COLA...........................  ..................................
Consultants.........................                                   0
Training............................                                   0
Official Mail.......................                               8,033
Administrative Expenses.............                              59,984
                                     -----------------------------------
Budget Authority 113th Congress.....                           3,453,383
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 8. Committee on Environment and Public Works

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               FY 2013  (7 mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline.....................                          $3,062,534
2013 COLA...........................  ..................................
Consultants.........................                               4,667
Training............................                               1,166
Official Mail.......................                               8,416
Administrative Expenses.............                             102,121
                                     -----------------------------------
Budget Authority 113th Congress.....                           3,178,904
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 9. Committee on Finance

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               FY 2013  (7 mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline.....................                          $4,567,382
2013 COLA...........................  ..................................
Consultants.........................                              17,500
Training............................                               5,833
Official Mail.......................                              10,480
Administrative Expenses.............                              92,556
                                     -----------------------------------
Budget Authority 113th Congress.....                           4,693,751
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 10. Committee on Foreign Relations

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               FY 2013  (7 mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline.....................                          $3,774,721
2013 COLA...........................  ..................................
Consultants.........................                                   0
Training............................                                   0
Official Mail.......................                               9,380
Administrative Expenses.............                              82,094
                                     -----------------------------------
Budget Authority 113th Congress.....                           3,866,195
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               FY 2013  (7 mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline.....................                          $5,272,435
2013 COLA...........................  ..................................
Consultants.........................                                   0
Training............................                                   0
Official Mail.......................                              11,505
Administrative Expenses.............                              97,535
                                     -----------------------------------
Budget Authority 113th Congress.....                           5,381,475
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 12. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
              Affairs

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               FY 2013  (7 mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline.....................                          $5,956,573
2013 COLA...........................  ..................................
Consultants.........................                                   0
Training............................                                   0
Official Mail.......................                              13,806
Administrative Expenses.............                             104,050
                                     -----------------------------------
Budget Authority 113th Congress.....                           6,074,429
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 13. Committee on the Judiciary

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               FY 2013  (7 mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline.....................                          $5,797,835
2013 COLA...........................  ..................................
Consultants.........................                                   0
Training............................                                   0
Official Mail.......................                              15,097
Administrative Expenses.............                              69,199
                                     -----------------------------------
Budget Authority 113th Congress.....                           5,882,131
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 14. Committee on Rules and Administration

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               FY 2013  (7 mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline.....................                          $1,601,005
2013 COLA...........................  ..................................
Consultants.........................                                   0
Training............................                                   0
Official Mail.......................                               4,634
Administrative Expenses.............                              14,192
                                     -----------------------------------
Budget Authority 113th Congress.....                           1,619,831
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 15. Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               FY 2013  (7 mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline.....................                          $1,475,571
2013 COLA...........................  ..................................
Consultants.........................                                   0
Training............................                                   0
Official Mail.......................                               3,303
Administrative Expenses.............                              46,043
                                     -----------------------------------
Budget Authority 113th Congress.....                           1,524,917
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 16. Committee on Veterans' Affairs

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               FY 2013  (7 mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline.....................                          $1,195,694
2013 COLA...........................  ..................................
Consultants.........................                              30,000
Training............................                              10,000
Official Mail.......................                               3,888
Administrative Expenses.............                             170,388
                                     -----------------------------------
Budget Authority 113th Congress.....                           1,409,970
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 17. Special Committee on Aging

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               FY 2013  (7 mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline.....................                          $1,264,823
2013 COLA...........................  ..................................
Consultants.........................                                   0
Training............................                              95,000
Official Mail.......................                               3,500
Administrative Expenses.............                             341,338
                                     -----------------------------------
Budget Authority 113th Congress.....                           1,704,661
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 18. Select Committee on Intelligence

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               FY 2013  (7 mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline.....................                          $3,671,736
2013 COLA...........................  ..................................
Consultants.........................                              10,000
Training............................                                   0
Official Mail.......................                               7,317
Administrative Expenses.............                              50,167
                                     -----------------------------------
Budget Authority 113th Congress.....                           3,739,220
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 19. Committee on Indian Affairs

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               FY 2013  (7 mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline.....................                          $1,230,006
2013 COLA...........................  ..................................
Consultants.........................                                   0
Training............................                                   0
Official Mail.......................                               3,959
Administrative Expenses.............                              70,731
                                     -----------------------------------
Budget Authority 113th Congress.....                           1,304,696
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                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. 64.

                       Cost-of-Living Adjustments

    There are no amounts authorized for COLAs in the 113th 
Congress for fiscal year 2013. Therefore, committees were 
advised not to include COLAs in their budgets. It is the intent 
of the Rules Committee that amounts for COLAs shall only be 
available to the extent they are authorized by the order of the 
President pro tempore of the Senate pursuant to 2 U.S.C. 
section 60a-1, and provided sufficient funds are appropriated 
to pay for such expenses.

                  Certification of Committee Expenses

    Vouchers are not required for certain types of official 
expenses which instead are certified as owed to Senate support 
agencies providing such goods and services to Senate 
committees. Examples of certifiable expenses include, but are 
not limited to, telecommunications, stationery supplies, 
official mail, and expenses for Senate recording and 
photographic services. The certified expenses are submitted by 
the Senate support agencies to the Rules Committee for 
approval.
    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.

                          Printing and Binding

    Committee expenditures for printing and binding include the 
costs of preparation and publishing of documents in electronic 
and/or print format by GPO 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 for committees authorized in S. 
Res. 81 decreased from the end of the 111th Congress to the end 
of the 112th Congress by $2,518,426.00.
    The Committee reminds all Senate committees to 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 relevant documents 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 a 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 authorized by S. Res. 64 for 
GPO employees detailed as printers increased 12% from the 111th 
to the 112th Congress. The cost of GPO employees detailed as 
printers to the Appropriations Committee was $360,264.00 in 
2011 and $366,263.00 in 2012. The Rules Committee encourages 
committees to reduce costs associated with GPO detailees while 
still receiving the services and support they need. Effective 
with the 112th Congress, committees wishing to obtain or 
continue the services of a GPO detailee are required to obtain 
prior approval in writing from the Committee on Rules and 
Administration. No detailee shall be approved for more than one 
year.
    Every effort should be made to control costs by limiting 
the overtime of detailees. Committees that incur overtime 
charges on a recurring basis are advised to evaluate their 
printing operation and minimize 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 To 
                  Committees Authorized by S. Res. 64


                             112th CONGRESS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           2011               2012
------------------------------------------------------------------------
S. Aging..........................         $45,445.00  .................
S. Agriculture....................         105,864.00          90,720.00
S. Banking........................         190,955.00         155,763.00
S. Budget.........................          90,526.00          64,368.00
S. Commerce.......................         110,757.00         107,172.00
S. Energy.........................         186,132.00         192,024.00
S. Environment....................         185,220.00         169,398.00
S. Finance........................         201,808.00         178,146.00
S. Foreign Relations..............         174,044.00         166,266.00
S. Health, Educ., Labor...........          94,993.00          65,682.00
S. Homeland Sec. and Gov't Affairs         106,548.00          92,286.00
S. Indian Affairs.................          95,388.00          88,128.00
S. Judiciary......................          83,406.00          92,826.00
S. Veterans' Affairs..............          98,554.00          96,984.00
                                   -------------------------------------
      Total.......................       1,769,640.00       1,559,763.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                 Employees Detailed From Other Agencies

    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 biennial funding 
resolutions since 1989, continues the practice of permitting 
the detail or assignment of personnel from departments or 
agencies of the Federal government to the staff of a committee 
with or without reimbursement of that person's salary.
    Pursuant to Standing Rule XXVII, paragraph 4,

    ``No committee shall appoint to its staff any experts or 
other personnel detailed or assigned from any department or 
agency of the Government, except with the written permission of 
the Committee on Rules and Administration.''

    The Committee on Rules and Administration may monitor 
expenditures associated with the use of detailed employees in 
order to evaluate overall committee spending.


                            Special Reserves

    For the 113th Congress, S. Res. 64 authorizes a special 
reserve fund within the appropriations account, ``Expenses of 
Inquiries and Investigations.'' Requests for funding will be 
considered only when submitted by a committee chairman and 
ranking member for unanticipated, non-recurring needs and to 
the extent that appropriated funds are available for special 
reserves. Such requests shall be granted only upon the approval 
of the chairman and ranking member of the Rules Committee.
    History of Special Reserves. 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 S. Res. 62 (102nd 
Congress), 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, S. Res. 49 and S. Res. 189 in the 106th Congress 
continued the practice of making special reserve funding 
available for unanticipated, non-recurring needs of committees 
when necessary.
    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 percent of the 
10 percent 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.
    In the Joint Leadership letter of January 15, 2009, the 
Leadership agreed that for the 111th Congress, 89 percent of 
special reserves would be 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 allowed individual minority 
committee funding levels to remain unchanged, if special 
reserves were requested. Therefore, no committee budget was 
allocated to reduce the minority committee budget below that of 
FY 08.
    The special reserves fund for the 111th Congress was almost 
entirely dedicated to fulfilling the guidance of the Joint 
Leadership letter and colloquy of January 15, 2009. Therefore, 
contrary to circumstances in previous Congresses, the Rules 
Committee had little flexibility with regard to additional 
requests from the special reserves fund. The Rules Committee 
determined that an additional 5 percent of special reserves may 
have been required to satisfy the intent of the colloquy and 
authorized use of those funds.
    In the 111th Congress, S. Res. 73, which was agreed to on 
March 10, 2009, provided special reserves to be available to 
meet unpaid obligations which a committee may incur above the 
amount authorized.
    In FY 09, for the period March 1, 2009, through September 
30, 2009, $4,375,000 was originally made available. However, 
under the Leadership colloquy of January 15, 2009, $4,132,668 
or 94 percent of the special reserves for FY 09 was committed 
from these funds to supplement the original authorization 
provided to each committee by each section of S. Res. 73 and 
therefore leaving only $242,332 in available funds for any 
committee to request.
    On May 20, 2009, the Committee on the Judiciary wrote to 
the chair and ranking member of the Rules Committee and 
requested $600,000 to meet the unanticipated expenses it 
expected to incur following the announcement that Justice David 
Souter was resigning from the Supreme Court. This required the 
passage of S. Res. 152, agreed to May 19, 2009, which amended 
section 20(a)(1) of S. Res. 73 and increased by $500,000 to 
$4,875,000 the amount of special reserves available in FY 09. 
On May 21, 2009, the chairman and ranking member of the Rules 
Committee approved the request from the Judiciary Committee.
    On April 23, 2010, the Committee on the Judiciary again 
wrote to the Rules Committee and requested $300,000 to meet the 
unanticipated expenses it expected to incur following the 
announcement that Justice John Paul Stevens was retiring from 
the Supreme Court. Sufficient funds were available for FY 10 
and on April 29, 2010, the chairman and ranking member of the 
Rules Committee approved the request from the Judiciary 
Committee.
    In the 112th Congress, no requests were granted for special 
reserves.

                Legislative Report 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.

        Policy on Committee Work and Housing for Committee Staff

    Pursuant to each committee's authorizing resolution, funds 
are made available from the Contingent Fund of the Senate to 
assist a committee in carrying out its powers, duties, and 
functions under the Standing Rules of the Senate. These 
responsibilities include holding hearings, reporting such 
hearings, and making investigations as authorized by paragraphs 
1 and 8 of Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate. 
Therefore, committee staff may not engage in work other than 
committee business.
    In addition, it remains the policy of the Rules Committee 
that all staff paid by committee funds will be housed in 
committee space.
    Space allocations will be strictly tied to authorized 
committee staff and detailed employees approved by the 
Committee on Rules and Administration.

                 Committee Office Automation Resources

    The Senate Sergeant at Arms (SAA) will fund office 
automation needs for committees on a per capita basis, which 
includes authorized staff and detailed employees identified in 
the committee budget submission. This fund is referred to as 
the Economic Allocation Fund (EAF). Upon submission and 
approval by the Committee on Rules and Administration of 
staffing levels, committees will be able to purchase items to 
meet their business requirements from the standard, approved 
products available from the SAA. 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 detailed employee 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 SAA.
    A committee that requests funding above and beyond the per 
capita basis is required to submit a complete office automation 
plan based on its business requirements and the level of 
authorized staff and detailed employees identified in the 
committee budget submission. To assist the Rules Committee and 
the SAA in accurately projecting computer services funding 
(acquisition, installation, maintenance, and support), a 
committee must complete the Information Technology Resources 
Worksheet to accompany its 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 Rules Committee and SAA 
recommend all committee chairmen adopt energy-efficient office 
equipment, including virtual servers available through the SAA. 
These servers save space and reduce noise and heat in the 
office, support all critical continuity requirements of an 
office, and cost less than physical servers.

                 Committee Office Automation Resources


                ECONOMIC ALLOCATION FUND--113th CONGRESS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Committee                           Allocation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aging...................................................      $80,000.00
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry....................      112,000.00
Appropriations..........................................      400,000.00
Armed Services..........................................      198,400.00
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.....................      208,000.00
Budget..................................................      214,400.00
Commerce, Science, and Transportation...................      268,800.00
Energy and Natural Resources............................      185,600.00
Environment and Public Works............................      198,400.00
Ethics..................................................       41,600.00
Finance.................................................      368,000.00
Foreign Relations.......................................      249,600.00
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions..................      358,400.00
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs..............      406,400.00
Indian Affairs..........................................       80,000.00
Intelligence............................................      140,800.00
Joint Economic..........................................      153,600.00
Judiciary...............................................      441,600.00
Rules and Administration................................       89,600.00
Small Business..........................................      121,600.00
Veterans' Affairs.......................................      105,600.00
                                                         ---------------
      Total.............................................    4,422,400.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                              Consultants

    S. Res. 64 specifies the funding available for committees 
to hire consultants, as otherwise authorized by statute.

                    Committee Legislative Assistance

    It is the position of the Committee on Rules and 
Administration that funds are already incorporated into 
Members' personal office accounts for the purpose of providing 
legislative assistance with 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 with committee work. 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 legislative assistance 
allowance 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 
$171,315 each for a total of $513,945 per office, or 
$51,394,500 for all 100 Senators in FY 13.
    These funds may be 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 in accordance with 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. It is recommended that committees 
consult with the Senate Archivist on the proper preparation of 
electronic and paper records for permanent archive storage.

                                  
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