[Senate Report 114-112]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


114th Congress    }                                    {        Report
                                 SENATE
 1st Session      }                                    {       114-112

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



 
          AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURES BY COMMITTEES OF THE SENATE

                                _______
                                

                 August 4, 2015.--Ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

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

                              R E P O R T

                       [To accompany S. Res. 73]

    The Committee on Rules and Administration, having 
considered an original resolution (S. Res. 73) authorizing 
expenditures by committees of the Senate for the periods March 
1, 2015 through September 30, 2015, October 1, 2015 through 
September 30, 2016, and October 1, 2016 through February 28, 
2017, 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.
    During the 113th Congress, the Rules Committee reported two 
separate funding resolutions and issued ``expenditure 
guidance'' to address sequester and appropriations reductions. 
The result of these efforts was to bring committee spending 
into closer alignment with available appropriations. For the 
114th Congress, S. Res. 73 authorizes $198,175,601 for 
committees, which is slightly less than the total amount 
authorized for the 113th Congress by S. Res. 64 and S. Res. 
253. While this authorization is consistent with current and 
anticipated appropriations levels for the Congress, the Rules 
Committee will continue to monitor appropriations and will 
provide additional guidance to committees if necessary.
    Prior to the 107th Congress, most committees allocated 
their funding two-thirds for the majority and one-third for the 
minority pursuant to Rule XXVII. Beginning 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.
    In the 112th Congress, on February 3, 2011, the Leadership 
agreed on a new funding approach 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. The division of committee office space 
follows the same approach. For the 114th Congress, the party 
division for funding and office space purposes is 54 percent 
for the majority, 46 percent for the minority.
    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 7, 2015, Joint Leadership colloquy and letter, 
submitted by the majority leader and the minority leader, are 
included below for informational purposes.

                                Colloquy

    Mr. McConnell. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to 
engage in a colloquy with Senator Durbin on behalf of the 
Democratic leader.
    The Presiding Officer. Without objection, it is so ordered.
    Mr. McConnell. Mr. President, in the 112th Congress the 
Senate adopted a new funding allocation for Senate committees. 
This approach has served the Senate for the past two Congresses 
when the Democrats controlled the majority. I believe this 
approach will continue to serve the interests of the Senate and 
the public, regardless of which party is in the majority, by 
helping to retain core committee staff with institutional 
knowledge. This funding allocation is 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 not be less than 40 percent, and 
the majority share will not exceed 60 percent. It is my intent 
that this approach will continue to serve the Senate for this 
Congress and future Congresses.
    Mr. Durbin. Mr. President, this approach met our needs for 
the last two Congresses, and I too would like to see it 
continue. In addition, last Congress, special reserves was 
restored to its historic purpose. We should continue to fund 
special reserves to the extent possible in order to be able to 
assist committees that face urgent, unanticipated, nonrecurring 
needs. Recognizing the tight budgets we will face for the 
foreseeable future, it is necessary to continue 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 the 
majority leader to accomplish this.
    Mr. McConnell. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that 
a joint leadership letter be printed in the RECORD.
    There being no objection, the material was ordered to be 
printed in the RECORD, as follows:

                         UNITED STATES SENATE,

                    Washington, DC, January 7, 2015.

    We Mutually Commit to the Following for the 114th Congress: 
The Rules Committee is to determine the budgets of the 
committees of the Senate. The budgets of the committees, 
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.
    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 the Senate rules and practices of the 
113th Congress.
    The division of committee office space shall be 
commensurate with this funding agreement.
    The chairman and ranking member of any committee may, by 
mutual agreement, modify the apportionment of committee funding 
and office space.
                                                   Mitch McConnell.
                                                        Harry Reid.

                               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.
    S. Res. 73, the omnibus committee funding resolution for 
the 114th Congress, was reported in lieu of Senate Resolutions 
28, 31, 32, 33, 34, 36, 39, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 53, 55 
and 57 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. 54, authorizing 
expenditures by the Committee on Rules and Administration, is 
on the Senate calendar (Order No. 9) and is obviated by passage 
of S. Res. 73, since funding for the Rules Committee's 
expenditures in the 114th 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 114th Congress for fiscal year 2015, 2016 and 
2017. 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. 73 submitted 
budgets and questionnaires that conformed to the guidelines.
    For the 114th 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.73, on February 12, 2015, 
by unanimous consent and without amendment.

                           TEXT OF S. RES. 73

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, 2015, through 
September 30, 2015, in the aggregate of $57,801,217, for the 
period October 1, 2015, through September 30, 2016, in the 
aggregate of $99,087,800, and for the period October 1, 2016 
through February 28, 2017, in the aggregate of $41,286,584, 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 2015  (7    FY 2016    FY 2017  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $2,166,044   $3,876,077   $1,475,032
2015 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2016 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2017 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
Consultants......................      200,000      200,000      200,000
Training.........................       40,000       40,000       40,000
Official Mail....................        6,047       10,367        4,320
Administrative Expenses..........       51,743       97,272       40,530
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 114th Congress..    2,463,834    4,223,716    1,759,882
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 3. Committee on Armed Services

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2015  (7    FY 2016    FY 2017  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $3,661,345   $6,276,591   $2,615,246
2015 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2016 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2017 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
Consultants......................       46,667       80,000       33,334
Training.........................       17,500       30,000       12,500
Official Mail....................        1,750        3,000        1,250
Administrative Expenses..........       56,583       97,000       40,416
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 114th Congress..    3,783,845    6,486,591    2,702,746
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2015  (7    FY 2016    FY 2017  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $3,028,670   $5,192,010   $2,163,370
2015 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2016 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2017 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
Consultants......................        8,370       14,348        5,978
Training.........................          503          861          358
Official Mail....................        1,400        2,400        1,000
Administrative Expenses..........       80,210      137,500       57,290
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 114th Congress..    3,119,153    5,347,119    2,227,996
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 5. Committee on the Budget

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2015  (7    FY 2016    FY 2017  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $3,424,110   $5,869,903   $2,445,793
2015 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2016 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2017 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
Consultants......................            0            0            0
Training.........................            0            0            0
Official Mail....................       10,746       18,421        7,675
Administrative Expenses..........       99,516      170,600       71,084
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 114th Congress..    3,534,372    6,058,924    2,524,552
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2015  (7    FY 2016    FY 2017  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $3,791,599   $6,479,326   $2,699,715
2015 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2016 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2017 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
Consultants......................            0            0            0
Training.........................            0            0            0
Official Mail....................       10,500       20,445        8,523
Administrative Expenses..........       77,482      150,939       62,891
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 114th Congress..    3,879,581    6,650,710    2,771,129
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 7. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2015  (7    FY 2016    FY 2017  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $3,142,229   $5,386,679   $2,244,450
2015 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2016 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2017 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
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 114th Congress..    3,219,522    5,519,181    2,299,659
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 8. Committee on Environment and Public Works

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2015  (7    FY 2016    FY 2017  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $2,944,501   $5,047,717   $2,103,217
2015 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2016 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2017 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
Consultants......................        4,667        8,000        3,333
Training.........................        1,166        2,000          833
Official Mail....................        8,416       14,427        6,011
Administrative Expenses..........      102,121      175,064       72,943
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 114th Congress..    3,060,871    5,247,208    2,186,337
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 9. Committee on Finance

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2015  (7    FY 2016    FY 2017  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $4,584,301   $7,858,802   $3,274,501
2015 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2016 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2017 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
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 114th Congress..    4,710,670    8,075,434    3,364,764
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 10. Committee on Foreign Relations

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2015  (7    FY 2016    FY 2017  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $3,695,688   $6,333,559   $2,637,872
2015 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2016 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2017 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
Consultants......................            0            0            0
Training.........................            0            0            0
Official Mail....................        9,326       16,080        6,754
Administrative Expenses..........      184,014      317,265      133,251
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 114th Congress..    3,889,028    6,666,904    2,777,877
------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2015  (7    FY 2016    FY 2017  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $5,011,413   $8,590,996   $3,579,584
2015 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2016 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2017 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
Consultants......................            0            0            0
Training.........................            0            0            0
Official Mail....................        7,584       13,000        5,416
Administrative Expenses..........       86,490      148,268       61,777
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 114th Congress..    5,105,487    8,752,264    3,646,777
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 12. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 
              Affairs

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2015  (7    FY 2016    FY 2017  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $5,481,153   $9,396,263   $3,915,110
2015 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2016 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2017 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
Consultants......................            0            0            0
Training.........................            0            0            0
Official Mail....................       15,689       26,895       11,206
Administrative Expenses..........       94,811      162,533       67,722
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 114th Congress..    5,591,653    9,585,691    3,994,038
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 13. Committee on the Judiciary

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2015  (7    FY 2016    FY 2017  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $5,384,594   $9,230,733   $3,846,139
2015 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2016 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2017 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
Consultants......................            0            0            0
Training.........................            0            0            0
Official Mail....................        6,473       11,096        4,623
Administrative Expenses..........       70,321      120,550       50,229
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 114th Congress..    5,461,388    9,362,379    3,900,991
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 14. Committee on Rules and Administration

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2015  (7    FY 2016    FY 2017  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $1,356,993   $2,326,273     $969,280
2015 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2016 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2017 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
Consultant.......................            0            0            0
Training.........................            0            0            0
Official Mail....................        4,634        7,944        3,310
Administrative Expenses..........       14,192       24,329       10,138
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 114th Congress..    1,375,819    2,358,546      982,728
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 15. Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2015  (7    FY 2016    FY 2017  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $1,444,452   $2,476,204   $1,031,752
2015 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2016 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2017 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
Consultant.......................       14,584       25,000       10,417
Training.........................        5,833       10,000        4,168
Official Mail....................        3,753        6,434        2,681
Administrative Expenses..........       52,322       89,694       37,370
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 114th Congress..    1,520,944    2,607,332    1,086,388
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 16. Committee on Veterans' Affairs

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2015  (7    FY 2016    FY 2017  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $1,186,105   $2,033,323     $847,218
2015 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2016 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2017 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
Consultants......................       10,000       20,000        8,000
Training.........................        3,500        5,000        1,500
Official Mail....................          500        1,000          500
Administrative Expenses..........       83,417      141,000       59,583
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 114th Congress..    1,283,522    2,200,323      916,801
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 17. Special Committee on Aging

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2015  (7    FY 2016    FY 2017  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $1,347,763   $2,193,200     $966,121
2015 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2016 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2017 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
Consultants......................        3,055        6,000        2,500
Training.........................        3,000        6,000        1,500
Official Mail....................        2,000        6,000        1,500
Administrative Expenses..........       43,945      188,394       28,210
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 114th Congress..    1,399,763    2,399,594      999,831
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 18. Select Committee on Intelligence

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2015  (7    FY 2016    FY 2017  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $3,167,282   $5,429,626   $2,262,344
2015 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2016 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2017 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
Consultants......................       10,000       17,144        7,143
Training.........................            0            0            0
Official Mail....................            0            0            0
Administrative Expenses..........       40,166       68,856       28,690
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 114th Congress..    3,217,448    5,515,626    2,298,177
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sec. 19. Committee on Indian Affairs

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   FY 2015  (7    FY 2016    FY 2017  (5
                                      mths)      (12 mths)      mths)
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Salary Baseline..................   $1,109,628   $1,902,219     $792,591
2015 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2016 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
2017 COLA........................  ...........  ...........  ...........
Consultants......................       20,000       20,000       20,000
Training.........................       20,000       20,000       20,000
Official Mail....................        3,959        6,786        2,828
Administrative Expenses..........       30,730       81,253       10,522
                                  --------------------------------------
Budget Authority 114th Congress..    1,184,317    2,030,258      845,941
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                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

    There are no amounts authorized for COLAs in the 114th 
Congress for fiscal years 2015, 2016 and 2017. 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 4571, 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. 6509). 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. 64 and S. Res. 253 decreased from the end of the 112th 
Congress to the end of the 113th Congress by $4,021,867.
    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. 73 for 
GPO employees detailed as printers decreased 2% from the 112th 
to the 113th Congress. The cost of GPO employees detailed as 
printers to the Appropriations Committee was $ 317,032.00 in 
2013 and $ 393,156.00 in 2014. 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.
    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 Publishing Office Employees Detailed as Printers To 
                  Committees Authorized by S. Res. 73


                             113th CONGRESS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                           2013               2014
------------------------------------------------------------------------
S. Agriculture....................         109,728.00          88,938.00
S. Banking........................         212,328.00         147,150.00
S. Budget.........................         114,120.00          74,952.00
S. Commerce.......................          90,414.00          76,140.00
S. Energy.........................         183,168.00         128,466.00
S. Environment....................         179,874.00         145,584.00
S. Finance........................         182,250.00         165,078.00
S. Foreign Relations..............         169,992.00         134,946.00
S. Gov't Affairs..................          92,988.00          78,408.00
S. Health, Educ., Labor...........          93,564.00          72,126.00
S. Indian Affairs.................          94,392.00          80,352.00
S. Judiciary......................          79,164.00          58,266.00
S. Veterans' Affairs..............          82,566.00          81,216.00
                                   -------------------------------------
      Total.......................       1,684,548.00       1,331,622.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                 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 114th Congress, S. Res. 73 restores the special 
reserve fund to its historic purpose and authorizes up to 7 
percent of the amounts available in the appropriations account 
``Expenses of Inquiries and Investigations'' for special 
reserves. Requests for funding must be for unanticipated, non-
recurring needs and require the signature of both the committee 
chairman and ranking member. Approval of such requests requires 
the approval of the chairman and ranking member of the Rules 
Committee and are dependent upon availability of appropriated 
funds.

                                           HISTORY OF SPECIAL RESERVES
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               Congress                  Special Reserves Use            Notes              Funding Authority
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   101                                 Unexpended funds from    Biennial funding cycle            S. Res. 66
                                        one authorization to     began
                                        next.
   102                                 Retain 50% of                                              S. Res. 62
                                        unexpended funds as of                                    Rept 102-15
                                        2/28/93 for non-
                                        recurring needs.
   103                                 Prohibition on carrying                                    S. Res. 71
                                        forward unexpended
                                        balances beyond
                                         3/1/95.
   104                                 Unexpended funds from                                      S. Res. 73
                                        one authorization may
                                        carry to the next
                                        authorization.
   105                                 Transferred unexpended                                     S. Res. 54
                                        balances into a
                                        special reserve fund
                                        for unanticipated, non-
                                        recurring needs.
   106                                 Special reserves                                           S. Res. 49
                                        available for                                             S.Res. 189
                                        unanticipated, non-
                                        recurring needs.
   107                                 Same as 106th Congress                                     S. Res. 54
   108                                 Same as 106th Congress                                     S. Res. 66
   109                                 Same as 106th Congress                                     S. Res. 50
   110                                 Upon request, each       A total of $4,794,387             S. Res. 89
                                        Ranking Member           was requested and
                                        provided an allocation   authorized in the
                                        equal to 49% of the      110th Congress to
                                        10% administrative       fulfill the Leadership
                                        funds that had been      colloquy. This funding
                                        available to the         was added to the
                                        Chairman in 109th        budget baselines of
                                        Congress.                the respective
                                                                 committees for the
                                                                 111th Congress.
   111                                 Upon request, 89% of
                                        special reserves would
                                        be available to each
                                        chair/ranking member
                                        for administrative
                                        expenses to be
                                        allocated at a 60% to
                                        40% ratio, majority/
                                        minority respectively.
                                        This allowed
                                        individual minority
                                        committee funding
                                        levels to remain
                                        unchanged. The Rules
                                        Committee determined
                                        that an additional 5%
                                        of special reserves
                                        may have been required
                                        to satisfy the intent
                                        of the colloquy and
                                        authorized use of
                                        those funds.
                                                                The Committee on the              S. Res. 73
   112                                 Special reserves                                           S. Res. 81
                                        unavailable
   113                                 Special reserves                                           S. Res. 64
                                        unavailable                                               S. Res. 253
   114                                 7% of Inquiries and                                        S. Res 73
                                        Investigations account
                                        available for
                                        unanticipated non-
                                        recurring needs.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                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 Economic Allocation Program

    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.
    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.

                ECONOMIC ALLOCATION FUND--114th CONGRESS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                        Committee                           Allocation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Aging...................................................     $102,000.00
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry....................      156,400.00
Appropriations..........................................      391,000.00
Armed Services..........................................      187,000.00
Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs.....................      180,200.00
Budget..................................................      224,400.00
Commerce, Science, and Transportation...................      285,600.00
Energy and Natural Resources............................      197,200.00
Environment and Public Works............................      210,800.00
Ethics..................................................       51,000.00
Finance.................................................      391,000.00
Foreign Relations.......................................      251,600.00
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions..................      380,800.00
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs..............      459,000.00
Indian Affairs..........................................       85,000.00
Intelligence............................................      285,600.00
Joint Economic..........................................      163,200.00
Judiciary...............................................      448,800.00
Rules and Administration................................      119,000.00
Small Business..........................................      112,200.00
Veterans' Affairs.......................................      112,200.00
                                                         ---------------
      Total.............................................    4,794,000.00
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                              Consultants

    S. Res. 73 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. 4301(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.

                                  [all]