[House Report 116-20]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


116th Congress     }                                          {    Report
                          HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session       }                                          {    116-20

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



 
   PROVIDING FOR THE EXPENSES OF CERTAIN COMMITTEES OF THE HOUSE OF 
         REPRESENTATIVES IN THE ONE HUNDRED SIXTEENTH CONGRESS

                                _______
                                

   March 26, 2019.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be 
                                printed

                                _______
                                

Ms. Lofgren, from the Committee on House Administration, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                       [To accompany H. Res. 245]

    The Committee on House Administration, to whom was referred 
the resolution (H. Res. 245) providing for the expenses of 
certain committees of the House of Representatives in the One 
Hundred Sixteenth Congress, having considered the same, report 
favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the 
resolution be agreed to.

                 BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR THE RESOLUTION

    Pursuant to House rule X, clause 6, the Committee on House 
Administration (hereinafter referred to as the ``Committee'') 
reports an omnibus, biennial ``primary expense resolution'' to 
cover the expenses of each standing, permanent select and 
select committee of the House, except the Committee on 
Appropriations. H. Res. 245 is the primary expense resolution 
reported by the Committee on House Administration for the 116th 
Congress.
    On March 25, 2019, by voice vote, the Committee agreed to a 
motion to report H. Res. 245 favorably to the House without 
amendment.
    The resolution authorizes the aggregate amount of funding 
for standing, permanent select, and select committees for the 
116th Congress, and also includes a provision to require a 
review of the use of committee funds at the beginning of the 
second session of the 116th Congress.
    To gather the information necessary to create the omnibus 
primary expense resolution, the Committee required the 
standing, permanent select, and select committees to submit 
estimates for their expected expenses for both sessions of the 
116th Congress. The Committee asked that committees provide 
line item estimates for the following expenses: personnel 
compensation (including salaries and lump sum payments), 
overtime, travel, communications, and printing and reproduction 
costs.
    The Committee also requested that committees estimate their 
expenses for other services, including consultant contracts, 
detailees from executive and other agencies, training, 
representational expenses, and other services. Finally, the 
Committee requested budget estimates for the costs of supplies, 
materials, and equipment.
    After the hearing, the Committee used the budget 
submissions and Member testimony to create an omnibus expense 
resolution, introduced by Chairperson Lofgren, to authorize 
funding for all of the committees. The resolution includes a 
provision to require the Chairs and Ranking Members to return 
to the Committee after one year for an additional oversight 
hearing to review the use of funds from the first session, 
unless waived by the Committee. These proceedings will be open 
to the public and will provide an opportunity to discover how 
effectively and efficiently funding allocations are being used. 
The provision is intended to promote accountability, 
transparency, and oversight of each committee's resources.
    Since the 104th Congress, House majority leadership and the 
Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee have encouraged the 
Chairs of the standing and permanent select committees to 
provide the minority with one-third of committee staff and/or 
resources authorized in the primary expense resolutions. Chairs 
were asked to specify in their budget request submissions how 
resources are allocated between the majority and minority 
within their committee. Based on the responses from the Chairs, 
all the standing and permanent select committees where 
appropriate are in compliance with the traditional ``two-third/
one-third'' distribution of funds among majority and minority.
    In reporting out this resolution, the committee is 
recommending to the House an authorization to expend 
approximately $138,575,734 in the first session, and 
$143,463,234 in the second session. The resolution also 
includes a reserve fund for unanticipated expenses of 
$1,500,000 in the first session and $6,500,000 in the second 
session.

                       SUMMARY OF THE RESOLUTION

    Section 1 adjusts the aggregate amount paid out of the 
applicable accounts of the House of Representatives with 
respect to the 116th Congress for the expenses (including the 
expense of all staff salaries) of the permanent select, select, 
and standing committees of the House (except the Committee on 
Appropriations).
    Section 2 adjusts the amount provided for the expenses of 
each standing, permanent select, and select committee of the 
House (except the Committee on Appropriations) for expenses 
incurred during the first session of the 116th Congress (the 
period beginning at noon on January 3, 2019 and ending 
immediately before noon on January 3, 2020).
    Section 3 adjusts the amount provided for the expenses of 
each standing, permanent select, and select committee of the 
House (except the Committee on Appropriations) for expenses 
incurred during the second session of the 116th Congress (the 
period beginning at noon on January 3, 2020, and ending 
immediately before noon on January 3, 2021).
    The amounts provided each committee is as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    1st Session     2nd Session        Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee on Agriculture........................................      $5,756,664      $5,756,664     $11,513,328
Committee on Armed Services.....................................       8,175,111       8,175,111      16,350,222
Committee on the Budget.........................................       5,190,212       5,190,212      10,380,424
Select Committee on the Climate Crisis..........................       1,890,750       1,890,750       3,781,500
Committee on Education and Labor................................       7,289,357       7,289,357      14,578,714
Committee on Energy and Commerce................................      10,573,692      10,573,692      21,147,384
Committee on Ethics.............................................       3,507,696       3,507,696       7,015,392
Committee on Financial Services.................................       8,538,931       8,538,931      17,077,862
Committee on Foreign Affairs....................................       8,120,362       8,120,362   \1\16,240,724
Committee on Homeland Security..................................       7,654,001       7,654,001      15,308,002
Committee on House Administration...............................       5,172,211       5,472,211      10,664,422
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence......................       6,231,500       6,231,500      12,463,000
Committee on the Judiciary......................................       7,930,297       7,930,297      15,860,594
Select Committee on the Modernization of Congress...............         450,000          37,500         487,500
Committee on Natural Resources..................................       6,947,963       6,947,963      13,895,926
Committee on Oversight and Reform...............................       9,495,034       9,495,034      18,990,068
Committee on Rules..............................................       3,327,189       3,327,189       6,654,378
Committee on Science, Space and Technology......................       5,539,827       5,539,827      11,079,654
Committee on Small Business.....................................       3,098,148       3,098,148       6,196,296
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure..................       8,915,165       8,915,165      17,830,330
Committee on Veterans' Affairs..................................       4,138,192       4,138,192       8,276,384
Committee on Ways and Means.....................................       9,133,432       9,133,432      18,266,864
Reserve Fund....................................................       1,500,000       6,500,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\The amount provided to the Committee on Foreign Affairs includes $410,000 ($205,000 for the first session and
  $205,000 for the second session) to provide funding for the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.

                       INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL

    On March 21, 2019, Representative Zoe Lofgren of California 
introduced House Resolution 245 which was referred to the 
Committee on House Administration.

                                HEARINGS

    On March 12, 2019, the Committee held a hearing titled 
``Committee Funding for the 116th Congress.'' By prior 
agreement between Chairperson Lofgren and Ranking Member Davis 
determined that committees that submitted a bipartisan budget 
request would not be required to appear before the Committee. 
The Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Oversight 
and Reform appeared before the Committee and provided testimony 
regarding that Committee's budget request for the 116th 
Congress. This hearing led to the development of House 
Resolution 245.

                        COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

    On Monday, March 25, 2019, the Committee met in open 
session and ordered the resolution, H. Res. 245, favorably 
reported to the House by voice vote, a quorum being present.

                            COMMITTEE VOTES

    In compliance with House Rule XIII, clause 3(b), with 
respect to each record vote on an amendment or motion to 
report, together with the names of those voting for and 
against, the Committee states that there were no recorded votes 
during the consideration of this resolution.

                      COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS

    In compliance with clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII and clause 
(2)(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of 
Representatives, the Committee's oversight findings and 
recommendations are reflected in the descriptive portions of 
this report.

            STATEMENT OF BUDGET AUTHORITY AND RELATED ITEMS

    The resolution does not provide new budget authority, new 
spending authority, new credit authority, or an increase or 
decrease in revenues or tax expenditures and a statement under 
House Rule XIII, clause 3(c)(2), and section 308(a)(1) of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 is not required.

                  CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE ESTIMATE

    In compliance with House Rule XIII, clause 3(c)(3), the 
Committee states, with respect to House Resolution 173, that 
the Director of the Congressional Budget Office did not submit 
a cost estimate and comparison under section 402 of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.

                    PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

    In compliance with House Rule XIII, clause 3(c)(4), the 
Committee states that House Resolution 245 serves as the 
biennial ``primary expense resolution'' to cover the expenses 
of each standing and select committee of the House, except the 
Committee on Appropriations. The performance goal and objective 
of House Resolution 245 is thus to provide adequate expenses 
for each standing and permanent select committee of the House, 
ensuring that each may acquire and retain appropriate staff and 
equipment to carry out their legislative and oversight duties.