[House Report 115-199]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


115th Congress   }                                      {      Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session     }                                      {     115-199

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



 
              LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2018

                                _______
                                

  July 6, 2017.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

           Mr. Yoder, from the Committee on Appropriations, 
                        submitted the following

                              R E P O R T

                             together with

                            ADDITIONAL VIEWS

                        [To accompany H.R. 3162]

    The Committee on Appropriations submits the following 
report in explanation of the accompanying bill making 
appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year 
ending September 30, 2018, and for other purposes.

                        INDEX TO BILL AND REPORT

                                                            Page number

                                                            Bill Report
Highlights of Bill.........................................
                                                                      2
Title I--Legislative Branch Appropriations.................     2
                                                                      4
        House of Representatives...........................
        Joint Items:
                Joint Economic Committee...................    10
                                                                      9
                Joint Committee on Taxation................    10
                                                                      9
                Office of the Attending Physician..........    10
                                                                     10
                Office of Congressional Accessibility 
                    Services...............................    11
                                                                     10
        Capitol Police.....................................    12
                                                                     10
        Office of Compliance...............................    13
                                                                     11
        Congressional Budget Office........................    14
                                                                     12
        Architect of the Capitol (except Senate Office 
            Buildings).....................................    14
                                                                     12
        Library of Congress................................    18
                                                                     18
        Government Publishing Office.......................    23
                                                                     22
        Government Accountability Office...................    27
                                                                     23
        Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund............    29
                                                                     24
        John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training 
            and Development................................    29
                                                                     24
Title II--General Provisions...............................    29
                                                                     24
Bill-wide Reporting Requirements...........................
                                                                     24
Additional Views...........................................
                                                                     42

                            SUMMARY OF BILL

    The accompanying bill contains recommendations for new 
budget (obligational) authority for fiscal year 2018 for the 
Legislative Branch. The following table summarizes these 
recommendations and reflects comparisons with the budget and 
with amounts appropriated to date for fiscal year 2017:

 
         [Note.--Excludes Senate items, including those Senate items under the Architect of the Capitol]
                                         (Amounts in thousands, rounded)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      FY 2017         FY 2018                        Bill vs.        Bill vs.
         Recapitulation               enacted         request          Bill           enacted         request
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
House of Representatives               1,189,049       1,223,187       1,194,049          +5,000         -29,138
 (discretionary)................
House of Representatives                     174           - - -           - - -            -174           - - -
 (mandatory)\1\.................
Joint Items.....................          19,565          20,654          19,940            +375            -714
Capitol Police..................         393,300         422,307         422,500         +29,200            +193
Office of Compliance............           3,959           4,056           3,959           - - -             -97
Congressional Budget Office.....          46,500          49,945          48,500          +2,000          -1,445
Architect of the Capitol........         529,481         672,919         581,837         +52,356         -91,082
Library of Congress.............         631,958         703,420         648,027         +16,069         -55,393
Government Publishing Office....         117,068         117,068         117,068           - - -           - - -
Government Accountability Office         544,506         590,678         544,506           - - -         -46,172
Open World Leadership Center....           5,600           5,800           5,600           - - -            -200
Stennis Center for Public                    430             430             430           - - -           - - -
 Service........................
General Provisions\2\...........          -1,000           - - -          -2,000          -1,000          -2,000
Other Scorekeeping Adjustments..           - - -          -4,000          -4,000          -4,000           - - -
                                 -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Grand total.................       3,480,590       3,806,464       3,580,416         +99,826        -226,048
        Discretionary...........     (3,480,416)     (3,806,464)     (3,580,416)      (+100,000)      (-226,048)
        Mandatory\1\............           (174)           - - -           - - -          (-174)           - - -
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\FY2017 funds provided in Continuing Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 114-223).
\2\FY2017 is Sec. 175 of Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 114-254).

                         HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BILL

    The Committee recommends $3,580,417,919 in discretionary 
resources for operations of the Legislative Branch of 
government (excluding Senate items). The fiscal year 2018 
recommendation is $100,000,000 above the current fiscal year 
level and $226,046,874 below the budget request.
    Conforming to longstanding practice under which each body 
of Congress determines its own housekeeping requirements and 
the other concurs without intervention, funds for the Senate 
are not included in the bill as reported to the House. The 
budget request for the Senate for fiscal year 2018 including 
those under the Architect of the Capitol totals $1,058,294,376.
    This bill reflects a continued acknowledgment that the 
Legislative Branch must set itself as an example for fiscal 
restraint while continuing to serve the Nation. This bill will 
require strict fiscal discipline on the part of all 
Congressional offices and all agency heads in the Legislative 
Branch.

                    Legislative Branch-Wide Matters

    Security: The Committee believes there is no higher 
priority in this bill than providing adequate resources for the 
physical security of Members of Congress, staff and their 
constituents. The recent shooting at a Congressional Baseball 
Game practice was a humbling reminder of the threats Members 
and staff face as public servants. The shooting incident was 
also a reminder of the heroic capabilities of the men and women 
of the United States Capitol Police department (USCP). After 
reflection on the recent shooting the Committee has heard from 
many Members expressing concerns about the current level of 
available security. To that point, this bill provides 
additional resources to the USCP in the amount of $7,500,000 
and House Sergeant at Arms in the amount of $5,000,000 to 
enhance security for Members both in Washington D.C. and in 
Congressional districts.
    Specific plans are being developed for how the additional 
resources will be used and what security procedures may need to 
be adjusted. The Committee supports taking a comprehensive and 
collaborative approach in developing the additional security 
measures. This approach should take into account enhanced 
security options for Members' personal safety, residential 
security, district office security and protecting the Capitol 
complex. Although the specific plans, issuance of additional 
guidance, and any required authorizations are still being 
finalized the Committee believes the resources included in this 
bill will be able to address district office security needs as 
well as a heightened USCP posture. Furthermore, the Committee 
has provided resources necessary to support the Committee on 
House Administration's plan to increase Member's 
Representational Allowance (MRA) by $25,000 per account this 
year for the purpose of providing Member security when away 
from the Capitol complex. Additionally, the Committee is aware 
of a pending request of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) 
to issue guidance on the allowance of all Members to use 
campaign funds for security improvements to their residences. A 
continued priority of this Committee will be to work with our 
stakeholders to ensure every reasonable effort is made to 
provide the safety Members, staff, and their constituents 
deserve.
    Reprogramming Guidelines: It is expected that all agencies 
notify the Committees on Appropriations of the House and the 
Senate of any significant departures from budget plans 
presented to the Committees in any agency's budget 
justifications. In particular, agencies funded through this 
bill are required to notify the Committees prior to each 
reprogramming of funds in excess of the lesser of 10 percent or 
$750,000 between programs, projects or activities, or in excess 
of $750,000 between object classifications (except for shifts 
within the pay categories, object class 11, 12, and 13 or as 
further specified in each agency's respective section). This 
includes cumulative reprogrammings that together total at least 
$750,000 from or to a particular program, activity, or object 
classification as well as reprogramming FTEs or funds to create 
new organizational entities within the Agency or to restructure 
entities which already exist. The Committees desire to be 
notified of reprogramming actions which involve less than the 
above-mentioned amounts if such actions would have the effect 
of changing an agency's funding requirements in future years or 
if programs or projects specifically cited in the Committee's 
reports are affected.
    Staffing Data in Budget Documents: Legislative branch FTE 
data is not consistently reported across the Legislative Branch 
agencies when submitting their budget justifications. The 
Committee directs the legislative branch agencies to include 
data on FTE levels that would actually be supported by the 
associated request or enacted funding levels. The Committee 
further directs the Legislative Branch Financial Managers 
Council to coordinate on a plan for aligning FTE levels with 
the Legislative branch agencies for consistency in reporting.
    Zero Base Budgeting: The Committee continues to direct all 
agencies of the Legislative Branch to develop budget requests 
from a zero base. The Committee believes that this valuable 
budgeting process has given agencies the opportunity to take a 
fresh look at all areas of their operations and make funding 
reductions and alignments within the current budget base. The 
Committee believes that there are continued opportunities to 
realize meaningful savings by carefully reviewing each agency's 
budget requirements from a zero base.
    Committee Requests, Furloughs and Performance Based Merit 
Increases: The Committee directs that adherence to the language 
carried in House Reports 112-148, 112-511 and 113-417 
pertaining to Committee Requests and Furloughs to be continued 
unless otherwise so directed. Performance Based Merit Increases 
are not to exceed the maximum allowable for agencies with a 
certified SES performance appraisal system.

               TITLE I--LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS


                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES


                         Salaries and Expenses


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................    $1,189,050,766
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................     1,223,187,891
Committee recommendation..............................     1,194,050,766
    Change from enacted level.........................        +5,000,000
    Change from request...............................       -29,137,125
 

    The Committee recommends $1,194,050,766 for salaries and 
expenses of the House of Representatives.

                        House Leadership Offices


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................       $22,278,891
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................        22,278,891
Committee recommendation..............................        22,278,891
    Change from enacted level.........................                 0
    Change from request...............................                 0
 

    The Committee recommends $22,278,891 for salaries and 
expenses of staff in House leadership offices.
    The allocation by office follows:

 
 
 
Office of the Speaker.................................        $6,645,417
Office of the Majority Floor Leader...................         2,180,048
Office of the Majority Whip...........................         1,886,632
Republican Conference.................................         1,505,426
Office of the Minority Floor Leader...................         7,114,471
Office of the Minority Whip...........................         1,459,639
Democratic Caucus.....................................         1,487,258
                                                       -----------------
    Total.............................................       $22,278,891
 

                  Members' Representational Allowances


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................      $562,632,498
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................       567,000,000
Committee recommendation..............................       562,632,498
    Change from enacted level.........................                 0
    Change from request...............................        -4,367,502
 

    The Committee recommends $562,632,498 for the salaries and 
expenses of the Members Representational Allowances. This level 
of funding will allow the MRAs to operate at authorized levels 
as approved by the Committee on House Administration.

                          Committee Employees


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................      $150,324,377
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................       152,288,000
Committee recommendation..............................       150,279,373
    Change from enacted level.........................           -45,004
    Change from request...............................        -2,008,627
 

    The Committee recommends $150,279,373 in total for 
Committee Employees.
    This account includes funding for salaries and expenses of 
Committees including equipment, telecommunications, printing, 
contract services, and supplies. Funding is available until 
December 31, 2018.
    This amount makes available $3,150,200 for committee room 
renovations.
    Included in the total is $23,226,000 for the Committee on 
Appropriations.
    Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission: The Committee received 
testimony regarding the outstanding work of the Tom Lantos 
Human Rights Commission done with very limited resources. The 
Committee is supportive of the commission's request for 
additional dedicated resources and is willing to work with the 
Committee on House Administration to identify potential 
additional resources for the commission.

                    Salaries, Officers and Employees


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................      $181,487,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................       202,796,000
Committee recommendation..............................       198,156,000
    Change from enacted level.........................       +16,669,000
    Change from request...............................        -4,640,000
 

    The Committee recommends $198,156,000 for the salaries and 
expenses of House officers and employees of the various 
activities funded through this consolidated item.
    The following table summarizes the funding allocation 
provided to each component of the account:

 
 
 
Office of the Clerk...................................       $27,945,000
Office of the Sergeant At Arms........................        20,505,000
 

    Member Security: The Committee has provided an additional 
$5,000,000 to the House Sergeant at Arms with the intent of 
enhancing security for Members when they are away from the 
Capitol complex. The Committee is aware that a specific plan is 
still evolving and once fully developed a plan will be 
presented to the Committee.

 
 
 
Office of the Chief Administrative Officer............       127,165,000
 

    Cybersecurity: The Committee recognizes the importance of 
cybersecurity even in a constrained fiscal environment. To that 
point, the Committee has provided $10,000,000 in additional 
funding to the CAO in order to enhance their cybersecurity 
program. The House is a major target for cyber intrusions, 
having prevented an estimated 4,700,000,000 cyber-attacks in 
calendar year 2016 alone. The House must continuously improve 
and adapt their cybersecurity posture in order to stay ahead of 
the ever evolving threat. The Committee is encouraged that the 
CAO is taking steps to evaluate and implement cyber protections 
beyond traditional desktop computers. Protecting mobile devices 
and home computing devices are areas that the Committee is 
pleased to see the CAO making strides in. The results of 
several on-going pilot programs in those areas are of interest 
to the Committee and the Committee looks forward to the CAO's 
recommendations.
    Food Service: The Committee continues to have concerns 
regarding current food service offerings. The recent emphasis 
the Office of Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) has put on 
food service through the quality assurance surveillance program 
is a step in the right direction. However, the Committee 
continues to believe that making available additional branded 
options to the House campus is an important aspect of improving 
food service. The Committee believes that opportunities for 
branded options exist in the Cannon House Office Building and 
possibly in the recently acquired O'Neill House Office 
Building. The CAO, in partnership with the Architect of the 
Capitol (AOC) is directed to look at the feasibility of branded 
food service offerings in those buildings as well as other 
suitable locations such as current House cafeterias and report 
the findings to this committee as well as the Committee on 
House Administration.
    Food Waste Reduction: The Committee believes that the House 
should whenever possible, ensure that food waste generated at 
House food services does not end up in a landfill. The 
Committee urges the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to 
explore composting and donation options for House food 
services. The CAO should report those findings to the 
Committee.
    Information Technology Model: Information technology 
resources are a critical component of the productivity and 
cybersecurity of the Legislative Branch. Over the years, the 
House of Representatives has adopted a model of outsourcing 
direct information technology support to offices and 
committees. Although this model provides Members and staff with 
flexibility to obtain the level of services and support they 
desire, it may not be the most secure or cost-efficient model. 
Therefore, the Committee directs the Chief Administrative 
Officer (CAO) to analyze the current cost and level of service 
provided by the existing mix of contractor and government 
provided information technology services. The report should 
assess options to provide Members with government provided 
information technology support in-line with other services of 
the House while also preserving the options for Members to 
utilize contract support.
    Child Care Center Expansion: An expansion of the House of 
Representatives Child Care Center continues to be a top 
priority for the Committee. While expanding the center and 
reducing the lengthy waitlist is in line with the Committee's 
priority of promoting a family-friendly workplace, the project 
must be done in a fiscally responsible manner. The Committee is 
aware that several proposals for a possible expansion are being 
reviewed and is committed to working with the House Office 
Building Commission and the Committee on House Administration 
to ensure any expansion be done in a manner that adds the most 
value to the House community.
    Wounded Warrior Program: The Chief Administrative Officer 
(CAO) managed Wounded Warrior program is one of the House's 
most supported initiatives. The program currently provides 54 
two-year fellowship positions for wounded veterans in 
Congressional offices. The Committee believes that with 
effective management of the program and continued support in 
appropriations, sufficient funding exists to expand the program 
by an additional 31 fellowship positions. The Committee is also 
aware that the CAO is evaluating the program and may be making 
some recommendations as a result; the Committee is interested 
in the CAO's observations of the program and any 
recommendations to improve it.
    Wellness Program: The Committee recognizes that 
organizational well-being is an important issue for large 
organizations. Multiple research shows the benefits of wellness 
programs that have been implemented for veterans, schools, 
Federal programs, and Fortune 500 companies. Wellness programs 
have been shown to improve the overall health of the workforce 
resulting in higher productivity, increased employee 
engagement, lower rates of absenteeism, and reductions in 
health care costs. The Committee supports a comprehensive 
wellness program for the House of Representatives and directs 
the Chief Administrative Officer to create a plan for the 
establishment of a comprehensive wellness program for the House 
of Representatives and to include as elements of the program 
resources to assist interested employees with nutrition, 
fitness, general health, and stress management techniques, 
including meditation. The CAO is directed to work with the 
Architect of the Capitol, the Sergeant at Arms, the Chief of 
the United States Capitol Police, and the Attending Physician 
to determine capabilities and requirements necessary for full 
implementation. This actionable plan shall be submitted to the 
Committee no later than December 31, 2017.
    Controls over Property and Equipment: Each year the House 
undergoes an outside independent financial statement audit, the 
findings of which are made publicly available through the 
House's Office of the Inspector General (OIG). The House 
recently received its 19th consecutive clean audit opinion 
which is an achievement that should be recognized. Although the 
opinion was clean, the audit did raise concerns of ineffective 
controls over property and equipment within the House. The 
Committee is aware of the challenges the Chief Administrative 
Officer (CAO) faces to implement an improved comprehensive 
inventory process, which effectively adds, tracks, and removes 
inventory items throughout their lifecycle. The risks that 
exist to the House by not having an effective inventory process 
are both financial and reputational. The Committee has an 
oversight responsibility to ensure we are being good stewards 
of tax payer dollars, part of that is making sure we have 
effective processes in place to keep track of our inventory. 
The CAO does consider this gap a priority and has assured the 
Committee they are committed to improving the process. Although 
the CAO has started to address the audit findings through a new 
Asset Management directorate and improved some of the major 
processes relating to receiving, CAO inventories and disposals 
there are still areas that need improvement to be effective. 
The CAO is directed to submit a plan on how to address the 
auditor's findings specific to property and equipment to this 
Committee as well as the Committee on House Administration 
within 180 days of enactment.

        Report on Tools to Address Bias in Hiring and Management

    The Committee recognizes that structural changes must be 
made to improve diversity and inclusion in the House of 
Representatives so that the people who serve America reflect 
its diversity. The Committee directs the Chief Administrative 
Officer to issue a report not later than 90 days after the date 
of the enactment of this Act addressing the ways in which 
Members and staff who have hiring and management 
responsibilities can be given the tools to combat unconscious 
bias in hiring and promotion, and with education on the 
negative impact of bias.

 
 
 
Office of the Inspector General.......................         4,968,000
Office of General Counsel.............................         1,492,000
Office of the Parliamentarian.........................         2,037,000
Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the House.......         3,209,000
Office of the Legislative Counsel of the House........         9,437,000
Office of Interparliamentary Affairs..................           814,000
Other authorized employees............................           584,000
                                                       -----------------
    Total.............................................      $198,156,000
 

                        Allowances and Expenses


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................      $272,328,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................       278,825,000
Committee recommendation..............................       260,704,004
    Change from enacted level.........................       -11,623,996
    Change from request...............................       -18,120,996
 

    The Committee recommends a total of $260,704,004 for 
allowances and expenses.
    The following table summarizes the funding allocation 
provided to each major component of the account:

 
 
 
Supplies, materials, administrative costs and Federal         $3,625,000
 tort claims..........................................
Official mail (committees, administrative, and                   190,000
 leadership offices)..................................
Government Contributions..............................       233,540,004
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery.............        16,186,000
Transition Activities.................................         2,273,000
Wounded Warrior Program...............................         2,500,000
Office of Congressional Ethics........................         1,670,000
Miscellaneous items...................................           720,000
                                                       -----------------
    Total, Allowances and Expenses....................      $260,704,004
 

                       Administrative Provisions

    Section 101 provides for unspent amounts remaining in 
Members' Representational Allowances account to be used for 
deficit or debt reduction.
    Section 102 prohibits the delivery of bills and 
resolutions.
    Section 103 prohibits the delivery of printed copies of the 
Congressional Record.
    Section 104 places a limitation on amount available to 
lease vehicles.
    Section 105 places a limitation on printed copies of the 
U.S. Code.
    Section 106 prohibits the delivery of reports of 
disbursements.
    Section 107 prohibits the delivery of the daily calendar.
    Section 108 prohibits delivery of congressional pictorial 
directory.
    Section 109 amends the House Services Revolving Fund.
    Section 110 prohibits cost of living adjustment for Members 
of Congress.

                              JOINT ITEMS


                        JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................        $4,203,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................         4,203,000
Committee recommendation..............................         4,203,000
    Change from enacted level.........................                 0
    Change from request...............................                 0
 

    The Committee recommends $4,203,000 for the salaries and 
expenses of the Joint Economic Committee.
    The Joint Economic Committee was created by the Employment 
Act of 1946. The primary tasks of the Committee are to review 
economic conditions and to recommend improvements in economic 
policy. The Committee performs research and economic analysis 
and monitors and analyzes current economic, financial, and 
employment conditions.

                      JOINT COMMITTEE ON TAXATION


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................       $10,095,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................        11,169,000
Committee recommendation..............................        10,455,000
    Change from enacted level.........................          +360,000
    Change from request...............................          -714,000
 

    The Committee recommends $10,455,000 for the salaries and 
expenses of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT).
    The Joint Committee on Taxation operates under the Internal 
Revenue Code of 1986 and its predecessors dating to the Revenue 
Act of 1926. It has responsibility to (1) investigate the 
operation and effects of internal revenue taxes and the 
administration of such taxes; (2) investigate measures and 
methods for the simplification of such taxes; (3) make reports 
to the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate 
Committee on Finance (or to the House and the Senate) on the 
results of such investigations and studies and to make 
recommendations; and (4) review any proposed refund or credit 
of income or estate and gift taxes or certain other taxes set 
forth in Code section 6405 in excess of $2,000,000 ($5,000,000 
in the case of a C corporation). In addition to these functions 
that are specified in the Internal Revenue Code, the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 requires the Joint Committee 
to provide revenue estimates for all tax legislation considered 
by either the House or the Senate.
    The Committee recognizes the unique needs of the Joint 
Committee on Taxation to protect the limited access to taxpayer 
return information protected under section 6103 of the Internal 
Revenue Code. The Committee looks forward to working with the 
Joint Committee on Taxation to enhance their cybersecurity 
posture.

                   OFFICE OF THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................        $3,838,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................         3,838,000
Committee recommendation..............................         3,838,000
    Change from enacted level.........................                 0
    Change from request...............................                 0
 

    The Committee recommends $3,838,000 for the Office of the 
Attending Physician.

             OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................        $1,429,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................         1,444,000
Committee recommendation..............................         1,444,000
    Change from enacted level.........................           +15,000
    Change from request...............................                 0
 

    The Committee recommends $1,444,000 for the operation of 
the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services.
    The Office of Congressional Accessibility Services provides 
and coordinates a variety of accessibility services for 
individuals with disabilities including Members of Congress, 
staff and visitors in the United States Capitol Complex.

                        Administrative Provision

    Section 1001 authorizes senior level positions for the 
Joint Committee on Taxation.

                             CAPITOL POLICE

    Security: In light of recent events $7,500,000 has been 
provided to enhance Member protection, including funds for 
increased training, equipment and technology-related support 
items.

                                Salaries


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................      $325,300,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................       347,096,000
Committee recommendation..............................       347,700,000
    Change from enacted level.........................       +22,400,000
    Change from request...............................          +604,000
 

    The Committee recommends $347,700,000 for the personnel 
salaries, benefits, and overtime requirements, to include the 
cost of overtime necessary for providing training.
    The increase also includes necessary half year funds to 
hire the required officers to staff the O'Neill House Office 
Building and garage security; half year funding for 48 civilian 
positions that will replace positions currently staffed by 
sworn officers and also allow the department to get utility out 
of 48 additional sworn officers.
    New Posts: The Committee continues to direct the USCP to 
notify the Committee on Appropriations of the House when new 
posts are created, including the annualized cost of maintaining 
the new post, and how the cost will be offset.
    Use of Grounds: The Committee understands the need to 
maintain safety and order on the Capitol grounds and commends 
the Capitol Police for their efforts. Given the family-style 
neighborhood that the Capitol shares with the surrounding 
community the Committee continues to instruct the Capitol 
Police to forebear enforcement of 2 U.S.C. 1963 (``An act to 
protect the public property, turf, and grass of the Capitol 
Grounds from injury'') and the Traffic Regulations for the 
United States Capitol Grounds when encountering snow sledders 
on the grounds.

                            General Expenses


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................       $68,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................        75,211,000
Committee recommendation..............................        74,800,000
    Change from enacted level.........................        +6,800,000
    Change from request...............................          -411,000
 

    The Committee recommends $74,800,000 for general expenses 
to support the responsibilities for law enforcement, Capitol 
complex physical and technological security, dignitary 
protection, intelligence analysis, event management, hazardous 
material/devices, information technology, and other specialized 
responses, as well as logistical and administrative support.

                          OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE


                         Salaries and Expenses


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................        $3,959,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................         4,055,902
Committee recommendation..............................         3,959,000
    Change from enacted level.........................                 0
    Change from request...............................           -96,902
 

    The Committee recommends $3,959,000 for salaries and 
expenses of the Office of Compliance.
    The Office of Compliance was established to administer and 
enforce the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 104-
91). The Act applies various employment and workplace safety 
laws to Congress and certain Legislative Branch entities.

                      CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE


                         Salaries and Expenses


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................       $46,500,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................        49,945,000
Committee recommendation..............................        48,500,000
    Change from enacted level.........................        +2,000,000
    Change from request...............................        -1,445,000
 

    The Committee recommends $48,500,000 for salaries and 
expenses of the Congressional Budget Office.
    This office is responsible for producing independent 
analyses of budgetary and economic issues to support the 
Congressional budget process. Each year, the agency produces 
dozens of reports, including its outlook on the budget and 
economy, and hundreds of cost estimates for proposed 
legislation.
    The Committee is aware of the necessity to relocate to a 
new hosting environment and expects a plan to be submitted to 
the Committee so adequate funding can be provided.

                        ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL


                  (EXCLUDING SENATE OFFICE BUILDINGS)

 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................      $529,481,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................       672,919,000
Committee recommendation..............................       581,837,000
    Change from enacted level.........................       +52,356,000
    Change from request...............................       -91,082,000
 

    The Committee recommends $581,837,000 for the activities of 
the Architect of the Capitol (AOC). Excluded are Senate items 
which are traditionally left for consideration by that body.
    Within the recommended level the Committee continues its 
prioritization of projects that: (1) promote the safety and 
health of workers and occupants, (2) decrease the deferred 
maintenance backlog, and (3) invest to achieve future energy 
savings. In addition, by including $10,000,000 for the House 
Historic Buildings Revitalization Trust Fund, the bill 
continues the Committee's commitment to advance planning for 
major capital renewal projects which will be essential to 
sustaining the performance of historic House buildings.
    The AOC is responsible for the maintenance, operation, 
development, and preservation of the United States Capitol 
Complex. This includes mechanical and structural maintenance of 
the Capitol, Congressional office buildings, the Library of 
Congress buildings, the U.S. Botanic Garden, the Capitol Power 
Plant, and other facilities, as well as the upkeep and 
improvement of the grounds surrounding the Capitol complex.
    Cost Estimates: The Committee is concerned with the 
accuracy of recent construction project cost estimates it has 
received from the Architect of the Capitol (AOC). The AOC is 
directed to re-evaluate their cost estimate process to ensure 
it is in line with industry best practices and produces 
reliable project cost estimates. Furthermore, as part of the 
re-evaluation process the AOC should consider what steps of the 
process can be done internally and if/when it is necessary to 
engage with private companies to assist in the estimate 
process. The Committee believes more of the work could be done 
in-house rather than engaging with outside entities which 
oftentimes lengthens the process and requires additional 
taxpayer dollars.
    The following table summarizes the allocation of funds by 
appropriation account:

 
 
 
Capital Construction and Operations...................       $93,000,000
Capitol Building......................................        45,300,000
Capitol Grounds.......................................        13,333,000
House Office Buildings subtotal.......................       179,294,000
    House Office Buildings............................     (169,294,000)
    House Historic Buildings Revitalization Trust Fund      (10,000,000)
Capitol Power Plant...................................       106,694,000
Library Buildings and Grounds.........................        76,097,000
Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds and Security........        33,249,000
Botanic Garden........................................        13,400,000
Capitol Visitor Center................................        21,470,000
                                                       -----------------
    Total.............................................      $581,837,000
 

                  Capital Construction and Operations


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................       $92,957,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................        98,360,000
Committee recommendation..............................        93,000,000
    Change from enacted level.........................           +43,000
    Change from request...............................        -5,360,000
 

    The Committee recommends $93,000,000 for personnel 
services, equipment, communications, and other central support 
activities of the AOC.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Committee
                         Item                            recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Budget.....................................        $93,000,000
 
    Total............................................        $93,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                            Capitol Building


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................       $32,584,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................        54,898,000
Committee recommendation..............................        45,300,000
    Change from enacted level.........................       +12,716,000
    Change from request...............................        -9,598,000
 

    The Committee recommends $45,300,000 for the operation, 
maintenance, and care of the U.S. Capitol and Capitol Visitor 
Center (CVC).

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Committee
                         Item                            recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Expenses...................................        $25,842,000
Projects:
    Exterior Stone and Metal Preservation, East              $12,125,000
     Facade, Phase IV................................
    Kitchen and Exhaust Renovation...................          1,734,000
    Conservation of Fine and Architectural Art.......            599,000
    Minor Construction...............................          5,000,000
                                                      ------------------
        Total........................................        $45,300,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Flag Office Modernization: The Committee is encouraged by 
the progress the Architect of the Capitol has made toward 
modernizing the Flag Office and looks forward to the pilot 
program which is expected to be implemented in the near future.

                            Capitol Grounds


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................       $12,826,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................        14,279,000
Committee recommendation..............................        13,333,000
    Change from enacted level.........................          +507,000
    Change from request...............................          -946,000
 

    The Committee recommends $13,333,000 for the care of the 
grounds surrounding the Capitol.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Committee
                         Item                            recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Expenses...................................        $10,138,000
Projects:
    Capitol Square Infrastructure Repair.............          1,195,000
    Minor Construction...............................          2,000,000
                                                      ------------------
        Total........................................        $13,333,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Victory Gardens: The Committee is aware of the recently 
opened ``victory'' gardens on Capitol grounds which are managed 
by the Architect of the Capitol and is interested in 
identifying additional locations on Capitol grounds that may be 
suitable for more gardens. The AOC is directed to share its 
findings with the Committee.

                         House Office Buildings


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................      $202,731,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................       186,948,000
Committee recommendation..............................       179,294,000
    Change from enacted level.........................       -23,437,000
    Change from request...............................        -7,654,000
 

    The Committee recommends $179,294,000 for the operation, 
maintenance, and care of the Rayburn, Cannon, Longworth, Ford, 
O'Neill House Office Buildings, and the House underground 
garages.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Committee
                         Item                            recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Expenses...................................        $62,164,000
Projects:
    Garage Rehabilitation, Phase III, RHOB...........         31,056,000
    Garage Rehabilitation, Plaza Waterproofing                 3,414,000
     Restoration West................................
    CAO Project Support..............................          3,660,000
    Restoration and Renovation, CHOB.................         62,000,000
    House Historic Buildings Revitalization Trust             10,000,000
     Fund............................................
    Minor Construction...............................          7,000,000
 
        Total........................................       $179,294,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    House Historic Buildings Revitalization Trust Fund: The 
bill includes $10,000,000 for the House Historic Buildings 
Revitalization Trust Fund. Public Law 111-68 established the 
Fund to finance major repairs and renovations to facilities of 
the House. Subject to approval by the Committee on 
Appropriations of the House, the AOC may use these funds for 
major renovation projects to preserve and maintain the 
performance of the iconic buildings of the House of 
Representatives.
    Cannon House Office Building: The Cannon Renewal Project's 
Phase I is fully underway, with construction impacting the west 
wing (New Jersey Avenue side of the building) from the basement 
to the fifth floor. Major construction activities include 
demolition/abatement, historic window and door restoration, 
stone facade cleaning and stabilization, and temporary roof 
enclosure preparation for demolition/re-construction of the 
fifth floor. The Committee is pleased phase I is on schedule 
for completion in November 2018. The Committee provides 
$62,000,000 to continue the established funding strategy.
    Rayburn House Office Building Garage Rehabilitation: The 
Committee provides $31,056,000 for the third phase of a four 
phased rehabilitation program for the Rayburn House Office 
Building garage. There is severe corrosion of the reinforcing 
steel and spalling and delaminating of the concrete slabs and 
columns. This project provides structural and architectural 
modifications for life safety, accessibility, lighting, 
electrical, mechanical, plumbing, fire protection, and security 
system upgrades.
    Rayburn Courtyard: The Committee has received an estimate 
for necessary security upgrades to allow use of the Rayburn 
courtyard on the west side of the Rayburn building. The 
Committee believes the estimate is excessively high and directs 
the Architect of the Capitol to partner with the United States 
Capitol Police and the House Sergeant at Arms to explore 
alternative options that are more cost-effective.

                          Capitol Power Plant


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................       $95,646,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................       117,205,000
Committee recommendation..............................       115,694,000
Offsetting collections................................         9,000,000
Total available.......................................      $106,694,000
    Change from enacted level.........................       +20,048,000
    Change from request...............................        -1,511,000
 

    The Committee recommends $115,694,000 for the operations of 
the Capitol Power Plant which is the centralized provider of 
utility services for the Capitol campus.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Committee
                         Item                            recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Expenses...................................        $87,637,000
Projects:
    West Refrigeration Plant Cooling Tower Renovation         19,190,000
     and Electrical Upgrade, Phase IV................
    City Water Piping Replacement....................          2,886,000
    Boiler Feedwater Piping Replacement..............          1,017,000
    Cogeneration Management Program, CPP.............            964,000
    Minor Construction...............................          4,000,000
                                                      ------------------
        Total........................................       $115,694,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                     Library Buildings and Grounds


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................       $47,080,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................       121,182,000
Committee recommendation..............................        76,097,000
    Change from enacted level.........................       +29,017,000
    Change from request...............................       -45,085,000
 

    The Committee recommends $76,097,000 for the care and 
maintenance of the Thomas Jefferson Building; James Madison 
Memorial Building; John Adams Building; Packard Campus, Ft. 
Meade Collection Storage Facility; National Library Services 
Facility and the St. Cecilia Special Services Facilities 
Center.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Committee
                         Item                            recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Expenses...................................        $27,373,000
Projects:
    Collection Storage Module 6, Fort Meade..........         45,000,000
    Exterior Envelope Repair and Restoration, JAB....          1,224,000
    Minor Construction...............................          2,500,000
                                                      ------------------
        Total........................................        $76,097,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

            Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds, and Security


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................       $20,033,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................        54,177,000
Committee recommendation..............................        33,249,000
    Change from enacted level.........................       +13,216,000
    Change from request...............................       -20,928,000
 

    The Committee recommends $33,249,000 for the maintenance, 
care and operation of buildings, grounds and security 
enhancements of the USCP and AOC security operations.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Committee
                         Item                            recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Expenses...................................        $20,949,000
Projects:
    Barrier Lifecycle and Perimeter Security Kiosk             8,300,000
     Replacement, Phase II...........................
    Minor Construction...............................          4,000,000
                                                      ------------------
        Total........................................        $33,249,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                             Botanic Garden


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................       $14,067,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................        13,400,000
Committee recommendation..............................        13,400,000
    Change from enacted level.........................          -667,000
    Change from request...............................                 0
 

    The Committee recommends $13,400,000 for the improvement, 
operation, care, and maintenance of the USBG Conservatory; 
National Garden; Administration Building; Bartholdi Park and 
Fountain; heritage and other plant collections, and the USBG 
Production Facility at D.C. Village.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Committee
                         Item                            recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Expenses...................................        $10,800,000
Projects:
    Minor Construction...............................          2,600,000
                                                      ------------------
        Total........................................        $13,400,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Veterans' Outreach Program: Funding is provided to expand a 
joint veterans' outreach program between the USBG and the 
American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial to develop 
educational, job training, and therapeutic horticultural and 
agricultural programs for disabled veterans.
    Education Opportunities: The Committee continues to commend 
the Botanic Garden on the accomplishments of its education and 
outreach programs, which have leveraged the Garden's expertise 
to provide educational opportunities to communities across our 
nation. The Committee urges the Garden to continue forming 
partnerships with national and local organizations. The 
Committee encourages the Botanic Garden to continue expanding 
its urban agricultural and botanical education programs for 
disabled veterans and underserved, food-insecure communities. 
The Committee also directs the Botanic Garden to conduct a 
feasibility study for a joint outreach program between the 
Botanic Garden and urban local public gardens that engages 
citizens in food-insecure, undernourished communities in the 
production of nutrition-rich, healthy foods, and which includes 
educational, job training, and therapeutic horticultural and 
agricultural components. The Botanic Garden is to provide the 
study to the Committee on Appropriations 180 days after 
enactment.

                         Capitol Visitor Center


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................       $20,557,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................        21,470,000
Committee recommendation..............................        21,470,000
    Change from enacted level.........................          +913,000
    Change from request...............................                 0
 

    The Committee recommends $21,470,000 for the operations of 
the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC). The CVC was established to 
provide a secure public environment to welcome and manage a 
large number of visitors and to protect the Capitol, its 
occupants, and guests in an atmosphere of open access.
    There are no capital projects in fiscal year 2018.
    Capitol Visitor Center Ticketing Process: The Committee 
understands the cyclical nature of visitors to the CVC. Peak 
visitor traffic typically starts in April right before the 
Easter holiday and continues through the summer months. While 
the types of traffic differ (e.g. school tours compared to 
families), the volume remains consistent. As such, the 
Committee has been made aware the high volume of traffic during 
this time exacerbates the existing problems associated with 
reserving and releasing ticket reservations and the 
corresponding wait times for walk-up tours. To that end, the 
Committee directs the CVC to develop potential alternate 
policies to guide ticket distributions during this peak period. 
The Committee recommends consulting with Member offices in the 
process. The report should be provided to oversight committees 
of the House and Senate within 180 days of enactment.
    Expanded Availability of Tours in Foreign Languages: The 
United States Capitol is an international tourist destination. 
Among the millions of visitors each year, thousands are from 
foreign countries. Many of the international visitors visit the 
Capitol each year to experience firsthand the symbol of our 
democracy. Currently, the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) provides 
translated brochures for visitors available in thirteen 
languages, and allows foreign speaking visitors to participate 
in tours while reading along in the translated brochures. To 
further enhance the visiting experience of foreign visitors, 
the Committee encourages the CVC to explore the feasibility of 
making listening devices available in additional foreign 
languages.

                       Administrative Provisions

    Section 1101 prohibits payment of bonuses to contractors 
behind schedule or over budget.
    Section 1102 prohibits expenditure of funds for scrims for 
projects performed by the Architect of the Capitol.

                          LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

    Established by Congress in 1800, the Library of Congress is 
one of the largest libraries in the world, with a collection of 
more than 162,000,000 print, audio, and video items in 470 
languages. Among its major programs are acquisitions, 
preservation, administration of U.S. copyright laws by the 
Copyright Office, research and analysis of policy issues for 
the Congress by the Congressional Research Service, and 
administration of a national program to provide reading 
material to the blind and physically handicapped. The Library 
maintains a significant number of collections and provides a 
range of services to libraries in the United States and abroad. 
Increased funding is for information technology modernization 
within the Library, the Copyright Office, and the Congressional 
Research service.
    Veterans History Project: The Committee expects the 
Veterans History Project to be funded at least at the fiscal 
year 2017 level. The Committee recognizes the critical 
importance of the Veterans History Project as a way to collect, 
preserve and make accessible the personal accounts of American 
war veterans for the benefit of future generations. As the 
Veterans History Project relies on volunteers to collect and 
submit veteran's stories, the Committee encourages the Library 
of Congress to do further outreach with schools, Girl and Boy 
Scout programs, and Veterans Service Organizations and 
nonprofit and community stakeholders serving veterans from 
historically underrepresented groups to enhance the project.
    Outreach: The Committee encourages the Library of Congress 
to increase cooperative partnership, fellowship opportunities, 
and curriculum program associations with community colleges, 
Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving 
institutions, Asian American and native American Pacific 
Islander-serving institutions, American Indian Tribally 
controlled colleges and universities, Alaska native and Native 
Hawaiian-serving institutions, predominantly Black 
institutions, Native American-serving institutions, Nontribal 
institutions, and other minority-serving institutions.
    Mass Deacidification: The Committee has long supported the 
Library's mass deacidification program and regularly commended 
the Library for the program's efficiency and effectiveness as a 
key tenet of the Library's preservation mission. 
Deacidification is still vital, and the Committee is concerned 
with the Library's shift of fiscal year 2017 funds allocated 
for mass deacidification into the cataloguing and management of 
alkaline collections. The Committee calls upon the Library to 
cease such transfers in funds and urges the Library to make a 
separate request for funds to manage and catalogue alkaline 
collections. Additionally, the Committee does not support the 
reduction in deacidification below 200,000 volumes annually. 
Such reductions in treatment increase the cost per book, add 
years to the program, dramatically increase the long-term 
program costs, and place hundreds of thousands of books at risk 
for loss, with many of these books being rare. The $5,500,000 
base provided for the program should be maintained.

                         Salaries and Expenses


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................      $457,017,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................       504,260,000
Committee recommendation..............................       464,209,234
Offsetting collections................................         6,350,000
Total available.......................................       457,859,234
    Change from enacted level.........................        +7,192,234
    Change from request...............................       -40,050,766
 

    The Committee recommends $457,859,234, plus authority to 
spend $6,350,000 in receipts, for salaries and expenses.

                            Copyright Office


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................       $23,098,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................        31,416,000
Committee recommendation..............................        28,446,000
Offsetting collections................................        41,305,000
Prior Year Unobligated Balances.......................         2,260,000
Total available.......................................        72,011,000
    Change from enacted level.........................        +3,186,000
    Change from request...............................        -5,698,000
 

    The Committee recommends $28,446,000 plus authority to 
spend $41,305,000 in receipts, and $2,260,000 in prior year 
unobligated balances for salaries and expenses of the Copyright 
Office.
    Copyright Modernization: The Committee is encouraged by the 
collaborative work between the United States Copyright Office 
(USCO) and the Library of Congress's Office of the Chief 
Information Officer's Office (OCIO) and is looking forward to 
the USCO's revised provisional IT plan which is expected in 
early August. The Committee continues to support a shared-
services approach with regards to commodity IT services. 
Copyright modernization is something the Committee fully 
supports and will continue to provide appropriate resources. As 
we go forward OCIO is encouraged to engage with stakeholders 
both in the Congressional-community and beyond to outline clear 
benchmarks for progress.
    Registration: Through its Registration Program and other 
services the USCO supports industries that contribute over one 
trillion dollars to the U.S. economy and provide immeasurable 
benefits to the public. One of the USCO's primary functions is 
the registration of claims to copyright. For that reason, 
modernization of the USCO's electronic copyright registration 
system is of utmost importance. The Committee has provided 
funding in fiscal year 2018, in coordination with the Library's 
OCIO, to begin the next phase of the registration modernization 
efforts: a thorough, comprehensive analysis of business 
requirements. This funding will also ensure that the office 
will be able to maintain its legacy systems while development 
of a new system occurs. The Committee expects that 
modernization efforts and requirements gathering to take into 
account the needs of external users from across copyright 
industries and user groups.
    Recordation: Testimony received by this Committee stated 
that it currently takes 18 months to complete the recordation 
process at the USCO, compared to the Patent and Trademark 
Office (PTO) processing time of 24-48 hours. The Committee 
understands the processes for PTO and USCO are not identical, 
however the statistic is illustrative of the difference a 
modernized processing system can have. While the Committee is 
encouraged to see progress on the development of a modernized 
recordation system there is still great concern over the length 
of this process. USCO has made the Committee aware that 
requirements gathering has been completed and technical 
development will begin in September 2017, with a pilot planned 
in fiscal year 2019. This modernized recordation system will 
enable web-based recordation submissions, create an updated 
workspace for USCO staff to review and validate submissions, 
and utilize a modular design to enable efficient growth, 
development, and integration of the subsequent USCO IT 
Modernization Projects. Future areas of improvement include 
creating the capacity for self-recordation and document reviews 
for legal validity.
    Historical Records: A major challenge for the Office is how 
to make historical copyright records searchable and available 
online. To date, the Office has fully digitized and made 
available online the Copyright of Entries (CCE). It has also 
digitized and migrated to long term storage more than 43 
million records and converted the entire 1971-1977 portion of 
the digitized card catalog into machine-readable text using 
Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and related technologies. 
Capturing machine-readable images is an important step that 
will ultimately allow the digitized images to be imported into 
the USCO online catalog of copyright records with links to the 
original scanned images. Funding from fiscal year 2017 will 
continue the conversion of the digitized records and will also 
build and implement an online virtual card catalog that will 
provide access to all of the digitized images in advance of the 
full OCR conversion.
    Licensing Division: The Division reviews thousands of 
statements of accounts from filers subject to statutory 
licensing provisions, and collects more than $200 million in 
royalty fees on behalf of copyright owners each year. Even 
though filings have become more complex and the demand for 
licensing data has increased, the Division continues to use an 
IT system that was first launched in 1992 and is not currently 
fully supported by the database vendor. At the request of 
stakeholders, the Division will begin accepting Excel versions 
of the filings in July of 2017; however those submissions are 
unable to be automatically ingested into the current system.
    Overall: Most recently, the USCO and the Library are 
collaborating to identify resource-sharing opportunities that 
may be achievable through use of the Library's existing or 
planned future technology resources and support services. 
Currently, the Library is centralizing the IT functions of the 
business units, including the USCO's IT functions. The planning 
for a Library-led strategy for USCO IT modernization is ongoing 
and is expected to result in additional synergies. The USCO, in 
collaboration with the Library continues to mitigate identified 
risks and to ensure that the existing legacy systems remain 
available and operational until functionality can be more 
permanently addressed through the USCO's and Library's joint 
modernization efforts. The Committee is pleased to see the 
ongoing collaborative efforts between the USCO and the Library 
work to deliver improved technologies on behalf of customers 
and stakeholders.
    Copyright Expertise: The Committee understands the 
Copyright Office has offered its expertise on copyright matters 
to the Executive Branch, including participation in 
international discussions, and expects the Office to continue 
that important role. Consistent with historical practice, the 
Committee expects the Library to continue to defer to the 
copyright expertise of the Register of Copyrights.

                     Congressional Research Service


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................      $107,945,234
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................       119,279,000
Committee recommendation..............................       111,474,000
    Change from enacted level.........................        +3,528,766
    Change from request...............................        -7,805,000
 

    The Committee recommends $111,474,000 for salaries and 
expenses of the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS works 
for Members and committees of Congress to support their 
legislative, oversight, and representational functions by 
providing nonpartisan and confidential research and policy 
analysis.
    Public Access to CRS Reports: The Committee directs the 
Library of Congress's Congressional Research Service (CRS) to 
make available to the public, all non-confidential reports. The 
Committee has debated this issue for several years, and after 
considering debate and testimony from entities inside the 
legislative branch and beyond the Committee believes the 
publishing of CRS reports will not impede CRS's core mission in 
any impactful way and is in keeping with the Committee's 
priority of full transparency to the American people. Within 90 
days of enactment of this act CRS is directed to submit a plan 
to its oversight committees detailing its recommendations for 
implementing this effort as well as any associated cost 
estimates. Where practicable, CRS is encouraged to consult with 
the Government Publishing Office (GPO) in developing their 
plan; the Committee believes GPO could be of assistance in this 
effort.

             Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................       $50,248,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................        52,815,000
Committee recommendation..............................        50,248,000
    Change from enacted level.........................                 0
    Change from request...............................        -2,567,000
 

    The Committee recommends $50,248,000 for salaries and 
expenses of the National Library Service for the Blind and 
Physically Handicapped (NLS).
    The NLS has administered a free national reading program 
for blind and physically handicapped residents of the United 
States and U.S. citizens living abroad since 1931. NLS provides 
direction for the production of books and magazines in braille 
and recorded formats and audio playback machines for 
distribution through a nationwide network of 55 regional and 33 
sub-regional libraries.
    eReader Program: In 2016 Congress authorized the National 
Library Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) 
to provide readers for electronic braille (Public Law 114-219). 
The Committee included report language in the fiscal year 2017 
omnibus supporting the NLS approach of a pilot program to study 
braille eReaders, and with information learned from the pilot, 
work with the network of participating NLS libraries to scale 
the braille eReader program up so that it can deliver the 
increased accessibility that Congress intended. The Committee 
directs the NLS to share the results of that pilot with the 
Committee in order to identify what, if any, additional 
resources will be required to implement the braille eReaders 
program nationwide.

                        Administrative Provision

    Section 1201 authorizes obligational authority for 
reimbursable and revolving funds.

                      GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE

    GPO provides publishing and dissemination services for 
Federal government publications to Congress, Federal agencies, 
Federal depository libraries, and the American public.
    The Committee commends GPO for its continuing use of 
digital technology to support the information requirements of 
Congress, including the initial release of a new XML-based 
composition system for congressional bills; a project to 
convert a subset of enrolled bills; public laws, and the 
Statutes at Large into XML format; the introduction of a new 
website, govinfo, for providing permanent access to public 
documents including congressional information; and the agency's 
ongoing work to digitize all issues of the Congressional Record 
dating back to its introduction in 1873. GPO's skilled use of 
digital technology has allowed the agency to constrain the 
costs of its operations while expanding Government information 
access options to the American people, bringing greater 
openness and transparency to the operations of Congress and the 
Government.

                        Congressional Publishing


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................       $79,736,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................        79,528,000
Committee recommendation..............................        79,528,000
    Change from enacted level.........................          -208,000
    Change from request...............................                 0
 

    The Committee recommends $79,528,000 for Congressional 
Publishing. This account funds the costs of publishing 
congressional information products in both digital and print 
formats. The amount is provided as a lump sum to cover various 
categories of printing.
    Statutes at Large: The Committee continues to support the 
work of the Legislative Branch Bulk Data Task Force, 
particularly in its efforts to convert Statutes at Large into 
United States Legislative Markup XML (USLM) format. Currently 
the Government Publishing Office (GPO) is in the process of 
converting all Statutes at Large from the 108th Congress 
forward into USLM XML format. Also available online in 
searchable PDF format are all Statutes at Large from 1951--
2002. The Committee directs the GPO to assess the costs 
associated with converting Statutes at Large from 1789-2002 
into the USLM XML format.

     Public Information Programs of the Superintendent of Documents


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................       $29,500,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................        29,000,000
Committee recommendation..............................        29,000,000
    Change from enacted level.........................          -500,000
    Change from request...............................                 0
 

    The Committee recommends $29,000,000 for the salaries and 
expenses of the Public Information Programs of the 
Superintendent of Documents.
    The Public Information Programs of the Superintendent of 
Documents account funds the mailing of government documents for 
Members of Congress and Federal agencies, as statutorily 
authorized; the compilation of catalogs and indexes of 
government publications; and the cataloging, indexing, and 
providing of government publications in digital and tangible 
formats to the Federal Depository and International Exchange 
libraries and to other individuals and entities, as authorized 
by law.

                   Business Operations Revolving Fund


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................        $7,832,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................         8,540,000
Committee recommendation..............................         8,540,000
    Change from enacted level.........................          +708,000
    Change from request...............................                 0
 

    The Committee recommends $8,540,000 for the Business 
Operations Revolving Fund.
    The operations of the Government Publishing Office are 
financed through the Business Operations Revolving Fund. This 
business-like fund is used to pay GPO's costs in performing 
congressional and agency publishing, information product 
procurement, and publications dissemination activities. The 
fund is reimbursed from payments from customer agencies, sales 
to the public, appropriations to the fund, and transfers from 
GPO's two annual appropriations.
    The bill continues language authorizing the operation of 
the revolving fund and authority to hire or purchase 
automobiles, advisory councils, and consultants.

                    GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE


                         Salaries and Expenses


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................      $544,505,919
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................       590,678,000
Committee recommendation..............................       544,505,919
Offsetting Collections................................        23,800,000
Total available.......................................      $568,305,919
    Change from enacted level.........................          +450,000
    Change from request...............................       -46,172,081
 

    The Committee recommends $544,505,919 in direct 
appropriations for the Government Accountability Office (GAO), 
plus $23,800,000 in offsetting collections derived from 
reimbursements for conducting financial audits of government 
corporations and rental of space in the GAO building.
    GAO was established by the Budget and Accounting Act of 
1921. GAO works for Congress by responding to requests for 
studies of Federal Government programs and expenditures. GAO 
may also initiate its own work.
    The Committee recognizes the important work that the 
Government Accountability Office does on a daily basis to 
provide oversight, transparency, and accountability for 
Congress and the American people.
    Inspector General Reports: Within 180 days of enactment, 
the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) shall issue a 
report to the Committee that examines the costs, feasibility, 
and utility of requiring all agency non-confidential inspector 
general reports to be made available contemporaneously through 
the GAO website.

                Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................        $5,600,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................         5,800,000
Committee recommendation..............................         5,600,000
    Change from enacted level.........................                 0
    Change from request...............................          -200,000
 

    The Committee recommends $5,600,000 for salaries and 
expenses of the Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund.

   John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development


 
 
 
Appropriation, fiscal year 2017.......................          $430,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2018......................           430,000
Committee recommendation..............................           430,000
    Change from enacted level.........................                 0
    Change from request...............................                 0
 

    The Committee recommends $430,000 for salaries and 
expenses. The Center provides Congressional staff training and 
development opportunities while it continues to achieve its 
broader mission to promote and strengthen public service 
leadership in America.

                      TITLE II--GENERAL PROVISIONS

    Includes language regarding maintenance and care of private 
vehicles, fiscal year limitation, rates of compensation and 
designation, consulting services, the Legislative Branch 
Financial Managers Council, a limitation on transfers, guided 
tours of the Capitol, and the spending reduction account.

              HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPORT REQUIREMENTS

    The following items are included in accordance with various 
requirements of the Rules of the House of Representatives.

         Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the following is a statement of 
general performance goals and objectives for which this measure 
authorizes funding:
    The Committee on Appropriations considers program 
performance, including a program's success in developing and 
attaining outcome-related goals and objectives, in developing 
funding recommendations.

                              Rescissions

    Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the following details the rescissions 
in the accompanying bill:
    The accompanying bill contains no rescissions.

                           Transfer of Funds

    Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives, the following lists the transfers of 
funds included in the accompanying bill:
    Indefinite transfer authority is authorized in Joint items 
disbursed by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House, 
Library of Congress, Congressional Publishing, the 
Superintendent of Documents, and the Capitol Police programs.

   Disclosure of Earmarks and Congressionally Directed Spending Items

    Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House 
of Representatives, this bill, as reported, contains no 
Congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff 
benefits as defined in clause 9 of rule XXI.

          Compliance With Rule XIII, Cl. 3(e) (Ramseyer Rule)

  In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by 
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law 
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new 
matter is printed in italics, existing law in which no change 
is proposed is shown in roman):

     SECTION 105 OF THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2005

  Sec. 105. (a) Establishment of House Services Revolving 
Fund.--There is hereby established in the Treasury of the 
United States a revolving fund for the House of Representatives 
to be known as the ``House Services Revolving Fund'' (hereafter 
in this section referred to as the ``Revolving Fund''), 
consisting of funds deposited by the Chief Administrative 
Officer of the House of Representatives from all amounts 
received by the House of Representatives with respect to the 
following activities:
          (1) The operation of the House Barber Shop.
          (2) The operation of the House Beauty Shop.
          (3) The operation of the House Restaurant System 
        (including vending operations).
          (4) The provision of mail services to entities which 
        are not part of the House of Representatives.
          (5) The payment of fees for the use of the exercise 
        facility described in section 103(a).
          (6) The collection of promotional rebates and 
        incentives on credit card purchases, balances, and 
        payments.
          (7) The collection of a service fee from vendors of 
        the Master Web Services Agreement or the Technology 
        Services Contract for failure to abide by and maintain 
        House of Representatives security policies.
  (b) Use of Amounts in Fund.--Amounts in the Revolving Funds 
shall be used for any purpose designated by the Chief 
Administrative Officer, including purposes relating to energy 
and water conservation and environmental activities carried out 
in buildings, facilities, and grounds under the Chief 
Administrative Officer's jurisdiction, which is approved by the 
Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
  (c) Transfer Authority.--The Revolving Fund shall be treated 
as a category of allowances and expenses for purposes of 
section 101(a) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 
1993 (2 U.S.C. 95b(a)).
  (d) Termination and Transfer of Existing Funds and 
Accounts.--
          (1) In general.--Each fund and account specified in 
        paragraph (2) is hereby terminated, and the balance of 
        each such fund and account is hereby transferred to the 
        Revolving Fund.
          (2) Funds and accounts specified.--The funds and 
        accounts referred to in paragraph (1) are as follows:
                  (A) The revolving fund for the House Barber 
                Shop, established by the paragraph under the 
                heading ``HOUSE BARBER SHOPS REVOLVING FUND'' 
                in the matter relating to the House of 
                Representatives in chapter III of title I of 
                the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1975 
                (Public Law 93-554; 88 Stat. 1776).
                  (B) The revolving funds for the House Beauty 
                Shop, established by the matter under the 
                heading ``house beauty shop'' in the matter 
                relating to administrative provisions for the 
                House of Representatives in the Legislative 
                Branch Appropriations Act, 1970 (Public Law 91-
                145; 83 Stat. 347).
                  (C) The special deposit account established 
                for the House of Representatives Restaurant by 
                section 208 of the First Supplemental Civil 
                Functions Appropriation Act, 1941 (2 U.S.C. 
                2041 note), or any successor fund or account 
                established for the receipt of revenues of the 
                House Restaurant System.
  (e) Effective Date.--This section shall take effect October 
1, 2004, and shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2005 and 
each succeeding fiscal year.
                              ----------                              


    SECTION 214 OF THE POSTAL REVENUE AND FEDERAL SALARY ACT OF 1967


                      LEGISLATIVE BRANCH EMPLOYEES

  Sec. 214. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this title, 
each officer or employee in or under the legislative branch of 
the Government, whose rate of compensation is increased by 
section 5 of the Federal Employees Pay Act of 1946, shall be 
paid additional compensation at the rate of 4.5 per centum of 
his gross rate of compensation (basic compensation plus 
additional compensation authorized by law).
  (b) The total annual compensation in effect immediately prior 
to the effective date of this section of each officer or 
employee of the House of Representatives, whose compensation is 
disbursed by the Clerk of the House of Representatives and is 
not increased by reason of any other provision of this section, 
shall be increased by 4.5 per centum.
  (c) The rates of compensation of employees of the House of 
Representatives whose compensation is fixed by the House 
Employees Schedule under the House Employees Position 
Classification Act (78 Stat. 1079-1084; Public Law 88-652; 2 
U.S.C. 291-303), including each employee subject to such Act 
whose compensation is fixed at a saved rate, are hereby 
increased by amounts equal, as nearly as may be practicable, to 
the increases provided by subsection (a) of this section.
  (d) Except as provided in the last sentence of section 218(a) 
of this title, the additional compensation provided by this 
section shall be considered a part of basic pay for the 
purposes of subchapter III of chapter 83 of title 5, United 
States Code, relating to civil service retirement.
  [(e) The per annum rate of compensation of the Chief of Staff 
of the Joint Committee on Taxation shall be the same as the per 
annum rate of compensation of the Legislative Counsel of the 
House of Representatives.]
  (f) This section shall not apply with respect to the 
compensation of student congressional interns and the 
compensation of employees whose compensation is fixed by the 
House Wage Schedule under the House Employees Position 
Classification Act.
  (g) The annual rate of gross compensation of each officer or 
employee whose compensation is disbursed by the Secretary of 
the Senate, and the annual rate of gross compensation of each 
telephone operator on the United States Capitol telephone 
exchange and each member of the Capitol Police whose 
compensation is disbursed by the Clerk of the House of 
Representatives, (1) is increased by 4.5 per centum, and (2) as 
so increased shall be adjusted, effective the first day of the 
month following the date of enactment of this Act, to the 
nearest multiple of $188.
  (h) In any case in which the rate of compensation of any 
officer, employee, or position, or class of officers, 
employees, or positions, the compensation for which is 
disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate, or any minimum or 
maximum rate with respect to such officer, employee, position, 
or class is referred to in or provided by statute or Senate 
resolution, such statutory provision or resolution shall be 
deemed to refer to the rate which an officer or employee 
subject to the provisions of subsection (g) receiving such rate 
immediately prior to the effective date of such subsection 
would be entitled (without regard to such statutory provision) 
to receive on and after such date. As used in this subsection 
and subsection (g), the term ``officer'' does not include a 
Senator.
  (i) The annual rate of gross compensation of each employee in 
the office of a Senator shall be adjusted, effective on the 
first day of the month following the date of enactment of this 
Act, to the lowest multiple of $188 which is not lower than the 
rate such employee was receiving immediately prior thereto, 
except that the foregoing provisions of this subsection shall 
not apply in the case of any employee if on or before the 
fifteenth day following the date of enactment of this Act, the 
Senator by whom such employee is employed notifies the 
disbursing office of the Senate in writing that he does not 
wish such provisions to apply to such employee. No employee 
whose rate of compensation is adjusted under this subsection 
shall receive an increase under subsection (g) for any period 
prior to the effective date of such adjustment during which 
such employee was employed in the office of the Senator by whom 
he is employed on the first day of the month following the 
enactment of this Act. No increase shall be paid to any person 
under subsection (g) for any period prior to the first day of 
the month following the date of enactment of this Act during 
which such person was employed in the office of a Senator 
(other than the Senator by whom he is employed on such day) 
unless on or before the fifteenth day following the date of 
enactment of this Act such Senator notifies the disbursing 
office of the Senate in writing that he wishes such employee to 
receive such additional compensation for such period. In any 
case in which, at the expiration of the time within which a 
Senator may give notice under this subsection, such Senator is 
deceased, such notice shall be deemed to have been given. An 
increase under this subsection in the compensation of an 
employee in the office of a Senator for any period prior to the 
first day of the month following the date of enactment of this 
Act shall be made without regard to the clerk hire allowance of 
such Senator.
  (j) [Omitted amendatory text]
  (k) [Omitted amendatory text]
  (l) [Omitted amendatory text]
  (m) The limitation on gross rate per hour per person provided 
by applicable law on the effective date of this section with 
respect to the folding of speeches and pamphlets for the Senate 
is hereby increased by 4.5 per centum. The amount of such 
increase shall be computed to the nearest cent, counting one-
half cent and over as a whole cent. The provisions of 
subsection (g) shall not apply to employees whose compensation 
is subject to such limitation, or to employees referred to in 
the last proviso in the second paragraph under the heading 
``SENATE'' in the Second Deficiency Approriation Act, 1948.
  (n) [Omitted amendatory text]
  (o) [Omitted amendatory text]
  (p) [Omitted amendatory text]

               Changes in the Application of Existing Law

    Pursuant to clause 3(f)(1)(A) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, the following statements are 
submitted describing the effect of provisions in the 
accompanying bill that directly or indirectly change the 
application of existing law:
    1. The bill provides that certain appropriation items 
remain available for more than one year, where programs or 
projects are continuing in nature under the provisions of 
authorizing legislation but for which that legislation does not 
specifically authorize such extended availability.
    2. The bill includes a number of provisions which place 
limitations on or change or extend existing limitations, 
appropriations, or authorizations, and which under some 
circumstances might be construed as changing the application of 
existing law.
    3. The bill continues the practice of providing official 
reception and representation allowances for officers and 
offices of the Legislative Branch.
    4. The bill authorizes disbursal of funds for various 
agencies.
    5. The bill authorizes transfer authority between accounts 
for certain agencies in the bill.
    6. The bill includes language allowing the use of funds for 
studies and examinations of executive agencies and temporary 
personnel services. Funds can also be available for 
reimbursement to agencies for services performed.
    7. The bill includes language providing funds for the 
Family Room, the Superintendent of Garages, Office of Emergency 
Management, and preparing the Digest of Rules.
    8. The bill includes language providing funds for House 
motor vehicles, interparliamentary receptions, and gratuities.
    9. The bill requires unspent funds remaining in Members' 
Representational Allowances to be used for deficit or debt 
reduction.
    10. The bill includes language that prohibits funds being 
used for the delivery of bills and resolutions.
    11. The bill includes language that prohibits funds being 
used for the delivery of the Congressional Record.
    12. The bill includes language that places a limitation on 
the amount that a Member can spend on a leased vehicle per 
month.
    13. The bill includes language that places a limitation on 
printed copies of the U.S. Code for the House of 
Representatives.
    14. The bill includes language that prohibits funds being 
used for the delivery of the Reports of Disbursements.
    15. The bill includes language that prohibits funds being 
used for the delivery of the daily calendar.
    16. The bill includes language that prohibits funds being 
used for the delivery of the congressional pictorial directory.
    17. The bill includes language that amends the House 
Services Revolving Fund.
    18. This bill provides language relating to cost of living 
adjustment for Members of Congress.
    19. The bill authorizes allowances for employees of the 
Office of the Attending Physician and provides reimbursement to 
the Department of the Navy.
    20. The bill authorizes senior level positions for the 
Joint Committee on taxation.
    21. The bill authorizes expenses of the Capitol Police for 
motor vehicles, communications and other equipment, uniforms, 
weapons, supplies, materials, training, medical services, 
forensic services, stenographic services, personal and 
professional services, the employee assistance program, the 
awards program, postage, communication services, travel 
advances, and relocation expenses.
    22. The bill provides that the cost of Capitol Police basic 
training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center be paid 
by the Department of Homeland Security.
    23. The bill includes language that authorizes 
reimbursement for law enforcement assistance provided in 
connection with any activity that was not sponsored by 
Congress.
    24. The bill allows the Architect of the Capitol to 
purchase or exchange, maintain, and operate two passenger motor 
vehicles.
    25. The bill includes authorization allowing reimbursements 
for chilled water and steam provided to the Government 
Publishing Office, the Washington City Post Office, the Supreme 
Court, the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building, Union 
Station Complex, and the Folger Shakespeare Library to be 
credited to the AOC Capitol Power Plant appropriation and made 
available for obligation.
    26. The bill allows the Architect of the Capitol to expend 
funds to maintain, care for, and operate the National Garden.
    27. The bill contains language that prohibits the Architect 
of the Capitol from expending funds for scrims containing 
photographs of building facades during restoration or 
construction projects.
    28. The bill provides the authority to expend funds 
collected under the authority of 2 U.S.C. 150 and for 
international legal information, the balance to remain 
available until expended.
    29. The bill establishes that the amount available for 
obligation by the Library of Congress is reduced by offsetting 
collections.
    30. The bill provides funds for the digital collections and 
educational curricula program, and the American Folklife 
Center.
    31. The bill allows the Library of Congress to hire or 
purchase one passenger motor vehicle.
    32. The bill allows funds from offsetting collections to be 
used for the Library's Copyright Office.
    33. The bill includes language authorizing the expenditure 
of receipts, with the exception of salaries and benefits, for 
the administration of the Copyright Royalty Judges program.
    34. The bill contains language which provides that no funds 
in the Congressional Research Service can be used to publish or 
prepare material to be issued by the Library of Congress unless 
approved by the appropriate committees.
    35. The bill provides funds to provide newspapers to the 
blind and physically handicapped.
    36. The bill contains language under the Library of 
Congress placing a limitation on obligations for Reimbursable 
and Revolving Fund activities.
    37. The bill contains language restricting the use of funds 
appropriated to the Government Publishing Office for the 
permanent edition of the Congressional Record for individual 
Representatives and Senators, Resident Commissioners, or 
Delegates, and language providing that appropriations 
recommended shall be available for the payment of obligations 
incurred under appropriations for similar purposes for 
preceding fiscal years, limiting the printing of certain 
documents to a time certain, and authorizing the transfer of 
unobligated balances.
    38. The bill includes authorization of appropriations for 
Congressional Publishing.
    39. The bill includes language authorizing the Public 
Information Programs of the Superintendent of Documents to pay 
for printing certain publications in prior years for the 
depository library program. There is language authorizing the 
transfer of unexpended balances.
    40. There is language authorizing the operation of the 
Government Publishing Office revolving fund, and which 
authorizes travel expenses for advisory councils, the purchase 
of not more than 12 passenger motor vehicles and that the 
revolving fund may be used to provide information in any 
format.
    41. The bill includes language relating to the Government 
Accountability Office, authorizing the direct procurement of 
expert and consultant services under 5 U.S.C. 3109 at certain 
rates; authorizing the hire of one passenger motor vehicle, as 
required by 31 U.S.C. 1343; authorizing the Government 
Accountability Office to make advance payments in foreign 
countries in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3324; and providing 
certain benefits, including rental of living quarters in 
foreign countries. Appropriations are authorized for 
administrative expenses of any other member department or 
agency to finance an appropriate share of the costs of the 
National Intergovernmental Audit Forum or a Regional 
Intergovernmental Audit Forum.
    42. In Section 201, there is language prohibiting the use 
of funds in the Act for the maintenance or care of private 
vehicles except for emergency assistance and cleaning as may be 
provided under regulations relating to parking facilities for 
the House issued by the Committee on House Administration and 
for the Senate by the Committee on Rules and Administration.
    43. Section 203 provides that whenever any office or 
position not specifically established by the Legislative Pay 
Act of 1929 is appropriated for herein, or whenever the rate of 
compensation or designation of any position appropriated for 
herein is different from that specifically established for such 
position by such Act, the rate of compensation and the 
designation of the position, either appropriated for or 
provided herein, shall be the permanent law with respect 
thereto: Provided that the provisions herein for the various 
items of official expenses of Members, officers, and committees 
of the Senate and House, and clerk hire for Senators and 
Members shall be the permanent law with respect thereto.
    44. Section 204 requires that certain information regarding 
consulting services shall be a matter of public record.
    45. Section 205 authorizes Legislative Branch entities to 
share the costs of the Legislative Branch Financial Managers 
Council.
    46. Section 206 limits the transfer of funds in this Act.
    47. Section 207 prohibits funds in this Act being used to 
eliminate or restrict staff led guided tours.

                  Appropriations Not Authorized by Law

    Pursuant to clause 3(f)(1)(B) of rule XIII of the Rules of 
the House of Representatives, the following lists the 
appropriations in the accompanying bill which are not 
authorized by law for the period concerned:
    The accompanying bill contains no appropriations not 
authorized by law.

                 Comparison With the Budget Resolution

    Section 308(a)(1)(A) of the Congressional Budget Act 
requires the report accompanying a bill providing new budget 
authority to contain a statement comparing the levels in the 
bill to the suballocations submitted under section 302(b) of 
the Act for the most recently agreed to concurrent resolution 
on the budget for the applicable fiscal year. That information 
is provided in the table headed ``Comparison of Reported Bill 
to Section 302(b) Suballocation.''

                        [In millions of dollars]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 302(b) Allocation        This Bill
                               -----------------------------------------
                                  Budget               Budget
                                Authority   Outlays  Authority   Outlays
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Discretionary.................      4,490     4,440      3,580  \1\3,697
Mandatory.....................        143       143        143    \1\143
    Total.....................      4,633     4,583      3,723     3,840
------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Includes outlays from both House and Senate prior-year budget
  authority.
Note.--Bill amounts excludes discretionary Senate-related items.

                      Five-Year Outlay Projections

    In compliance with section 308(a)(1)(B) of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-344), as 
amended, the following table contains five-year projections 
prepared by the Congressional Budget Office of outlays 
associated with the budget authority provided in the 
accompanying bill:

                        [In millions of dollars]
 
 
 
Budget Authority......................................            $3,580
Outlays:
    2018..............................................           \1\3085
    2019..............................................               409
    2020..............................................               100
    2021..............................................                51
    2022 and future years.............................                24
 
\1\ Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority.

               ASSISTANCE TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

    Pursuant to section 308(a)(1)(C) of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974, (Public Law 93-344), as amended, the amount 
of financial assistance to State and local governments is as 
follows:
    The accompanying bill contains no funding for State and 
local assistance programs.

                          PROGRAM DUPLICATION

    No provision of this bill establishes or reauthorizes a 
program of the Federal Government known to be duplicative of 
another Federal program, a program that was included in any 
report from the Government Accountability Office to Congress 
pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program 
related to a program identified in the most recent Catalog of 
Federal Domestic Assistance.

                          DIRECTED RULE MAKING

    The bill does not direct any rule-making to the Executive 
Branch.

[GRAPHIC(S) NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]


              ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF NITA LOWEY AND TIM RYAN

    The fiscal year 2018 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill 
provides $3.58 billion, $100 million above the level in the FY 
2017 omnibus appropriations bill and $226 million below the 
budget request, not including Senate items. The bill as written 
was developed in a bipartisan manner, although there are some 
spending levels we would have set higher and provisions we 
would have written differently. It will allow most agencies 
across the Legislative Branch of the Federal government to 
carry out their missions.
    In light of the tragic shooting at a Congressional Baseball 
Game practice that took place less than three weeks before this 
bill was marked up, we support the decision to provide 
additional resources to the Capitol Police and the House 
Sergeant at Arms for necessary security improvements for 
Members of Congress, staff, constituents and visitors. It is 
clear there are vulnerabilities that must be addressed in order 
to keep those working in and served by the Congress safe. While 
there is a specific plan for use of some of these additional 
funds, a proposal for use of the remaining security money is 
forthcoming and we look forward to working with bipartisan 
leadership on a comprehensive strategy.
    In addition to making a down payment on additional security 
needs, this bill will allow many agencies to make much-needed 
investments, including in IT modernization for the Library of 
Congress, Congressional Research Service and Copyright Office; 
cybersecurity enhancements for the House of Representatives; 
and deferred maintenance and construction projects in the 
Capitol Building, the Library of Congress buildings and 
grounds, the Capitol Police buildings and grounds, and at the 
Capitol Power Plant. We are also pleased that a manager's 
amendment was agreed to at markup giving the Architect of the 
Capitol's House Office Buildings account an additional $4 
million.
    We are concerned with the levels provided in a few areas. 
As this bill progresses it is our plan to seek additional 
funding for the Government Accountability Office (GAO). This 
bill currently provides GAO $568.3 million for FY 2018, $46.2 
million less than its budget request. It is irresponsible to 
underfund the GAO, especially when Administration officials 
have reportedly been ordered not to comply with Democratic 
oversight requests. At this funding level, GAO would have over 
200 fewer staff than planned by year's end, undermining its 
ability to conduct oversight and ensure taxpayer dollars are 
well spent.
    Also, while the Library of Congress, which includes the 
Congressional Research Service (CRS), received a 2.5% increase, 
those funds are earmarked specifically for IT modernization. 
Without additional funding for their workforce, the mission of 
the Library as a whole, and specifically CRS, is greatly 
compromised. Congress relies on the non-partisan expertise at 
the Library to provide research that impacts the debate around 
complicated issues. A degradation in services in Congress' 
support agencies reduces the effectiveness of the policies 
Congress is attempting to establish and ensures an over-
reliance on information from outside interest groups.
    Finally, we are deeply concerned at the failure to pass a 
budget resolution, the conspicuous absence of bipartisan talks 
to adjust the draconian spending caps found in the 2011 Budget 
Control Act, and the lack of any apparent plan to avoid a 
catastrophic debt default in the fall. Republicans control both 
houses of Congress and the White House and yet they cannot 
agree on an overall level of discretionary spending for the 
coming fiscal year. Without that topline number--the so-called 
302(a) allocation for the Appropriations Committee--we are 
marking up the 12 annual appropriations bills without knowing 
how much is left to spend on the remaining bills. Indeed, at 
the markup for the Legislative Branch and Defense 
Appropriations bills, neither subcommittee received even its 
own interim spending cap (a ``302(b) allocation''), which in 
past years has been the bare minimum of budget process followed 
by our Committee.
    In summary, while this bill is worthy of our support and 
the process by which it was written was inclusive and 
bipartisan, we look forward to working on improving it further 
in conference and we continue to object to the lack of 
transparency and progress demonstrated by the majority in the 
overall budget process.

                                                          Tim Ryan.
                                                     Nita M. Lowey.

                                  [all]