[House Report 118-8]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


118th Congress }                                          { Report 
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session   }                                          { 118-8

======================================================================
 
          PROVIDING FOR THE EXPENSES OF CERTAIN COMMITTEES OF THE 
           HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES IN THE ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEENTH 
           CONGRESS
                               _______
                                

   March 8, 2023.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be 
                                printed

                                _______
                                

 Mr. Steil, from the Committee on House Administration, submitted the 
                               following

                              R E P O R T

                       [To accompany H. Res. 197]

    The Committee on House Administration, to whom was referred 
the resolution (H. Res. 197) providing for the expenses of 
certain committees of the House of Representatives in the One 
Hundred Eighteenth Congress, having considered the same, 
reports favorably thereon with an amendment and recommends that 
the resolution as amended be agreed to.

                                CONTENTS

                                                                   Page
Background and Need for the Resolution...........................     3
General Discussion...............................................     3
Summary of the Resolution........................................     4
Introduction and Referral........................................     5
Hearings.........................................................     5
Committee Consideration..........................................     6
Committee Votes..................................................     6
Committee Oversight Findings.....................................     6
Statement of Budget Authority and Related Items..................     6
Congressional Budget Office Estimate.............................     6
Performance Goals and Objectives.................................     6

    The amendment is as follows:
  Strike all after the resolving clause and insert the 
following:

SECTION 1. COMMITTEE EXPENSES FOR THE ONE HUNDRED EIGHTEENTH CONGRESS.

  (a) In General.--With respect to the One Hundred Eighteenth Congress, 
there shall be paid out of the applicable accounts of the House of 
Representatives, in accordance with this primary expense resolution, 
not more than the amount specified in subsection (b) for the expenses 
(including the expenses of all staff salaries) of each committee named 
in such subsection.
  (b) Committees and Amounts.--The committees and amounts referred to 
in subsection (a) are: Committee on Agriculture, $14,194,000; Committee 
on Armed Services, $24,740,000; Committee on the Budget, $11,990,000; 
Committee on Education and the Workforce, $18,674,000; Committee on 
Energy and Commerce, $27,411,000; Committee on Ethics, $9,276,000; 
Committee on Financial Services, $20,370,000; Committee on Foreign 
Affairs, $21,654,000; Committee on Homeland Security, $18,778,000; 
Committee on House Administration, $15,307,000; Permanent Select 
Committee on Intelligence, $17,195,000; Committee on the Judiciary, 
$22,714,000; Committee on Natural Resources, $17,546,000; Committee on 
Oversight and Accountability, $29,923,000; Committee on Rules, 
$8,336,000; Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, $14,111,000; 
Committee on Small Business, $7,370,000; Select Committee on the 
Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese 
Communist Party, $8,892,000; Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure, $21,766,000; Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 
$10,753,000; and Committee on Ways and Means, $24,232,000.

SEC. 2. FIRST SESSION LIMITATIONS.

  (a) In General.--Of the amount provided for in section 1 for each 
committee named in subsection (b), not more than the amount specified 
in such subsection shall be available for expenses incurred during the 
period beginning at noon on January 3, 2023, and ending immediately 
before noon on January 3, 2024.
  (b) Committees and Amounts.--The committees and amounts referred to 
in subsection (a) are: Committee on Agriculture, $7,097,000; Committee 
on Armed Services, $11,716,000; Committee on the Budget, $5,995,000; 
Committee on Education and the Workforce, $9,065,000; Committee on 
Energy and Commerce, $13,611,000; Committee on Ethics, $4,517,000; 
Committee on Financial Services, $10,185,000; Committee on Foreign 
Affairs, $10,827,000; Committee on Homeland Security, $9,389,000; 
Committee on House Administration, $7,405,000; Permanent Select 
Committee on Intelligence, $8,197,000; Committee on the Judiciary, 
$11,357,000; Committee on Natural Resources, $8,773,000; Committee on 
Oversight and Accountability, $14,772,000; Committee on Rules, 
$4,168,000; Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, $6,845,000; 
Committee on Small Business, $3,621,000; Select Committee on the 
Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese 
Communist Party, $4,471,000; Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure, $10,883,000; Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 
$5,271,000; and Committee on Ways and Means, $11,540,000.

SEC. 3. SECOND SESSION LIMITATIONS.

  (a) In General.--Of the amount provided for in section 1 for each 
committee named in subsection (b), not more than the amount specified 
in such subsection shall be available for expenses incurred during the 
period beginning at noon on January 3, 2024, and ending immediately 
before noon on January 3, 2025.
  (b) Committees and Amounts.--The committees and amounts referred to 
in subsection (a) are: Committee on Agriculture, $7,097,000; Committee 
on Armed Services, $13,024,000; Committee on the Budget, $5,995,000; 
Committee on Education and the Workforce, $9,609,000; Committee on 
Energy and Commerce, $13,800,000; Committee on Ethics, $4,759,000; 
Committee on Financial Services, $10,185,000; Committee on Foreign 
Affairs, $10,827,000; Committee on Homeland Security, $9,389,000; 
Committee on House Administration, $7,902,000; Permanent Select 
Committee on Intelligence, $8,998,000; Committee on the Judiciary, 
$11,357,000; Committee on Natural Resources, $8,773,000; Committee on 
Oversight and Accountability, $15,151,000; Committee on Rules, 
$4,168,000; Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, $7,266,000; 
Committee on Small Business, $3,749,000; Select Committee on the 
Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese 
Communist Party, $4,421,000; Committee on Transportation and 
Infrastructure, $10,883,000; Committee on Veterans' Affairs, 
$5,482,000; and Committee on Ways and Means, $12,692,000.

SEC. 4. VOUCHERS.

  Payments under this resolution shall be made on vouchers authorized 
by the committee involved, signed by the chair of such committee, and 
approved in the manner directed by the Committee on House 
Administration.

SEC. 5. REGULATIONS.

  Amounts made available under this resolution shall be expended in 
accordance with regulations prescribed by the Committee on House 
Administration.

SEC. 6. RESERVE FUND FOR UNANTICIPATED EXPENSES.

  (a) Establishment.--There is hereby established a reserve fund for 
unanticipated expenses of committees for the One Hundred Eighteenth 
Congress.
  (b) Amount.--The reserve fund under this section shall have a balance 
of $18,000,000, of which--
          (1) $9,000,000 shall be available for unanticipated expenses 
        incurred during the period beginning at noon on January 3, 
        2023, and ending immediately before noon on January 3, 2024; 
        and
          (2) $9,000,000 shall be available for unanticipated expenses 
        incurred during the period beginning at noon on January 3, 
        2024, and ending immediately before noon on January 3, 2025.
  (c) Allocation to Committees.--Amounts in the reserve fund under this 
section shall be paid to a committee pursuant to an allocation approved 
by the Committee on House Administration.

SEC. 7. ADJUSTMENT AUTHORITY.

  The Committee on House Administration shall have authority to make 
adjustments in amounts under section 1, if necessary to comply with an 
order of the President issued under section 251A or 254 of the Balanced 
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985 or to conform to any 
change in appropriations for the purposes of such section 1.

                 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.
    On March 8, 2023, by voice vote, the Committee agreed to a 
motion to report H. Res. 197, as amended, favorably to the 
House. The resolution authorizes the aggregate amount of 
funding for standing, select and permanent select committees 
for the 118th Congress.

                           GENERAL DISCUSSION

    During the first three months of each new Congress, House 
rule X, clause 7, authorizes House committees to continue 
operations based on their funding authorization from the 
preceding session. The continuing authorization allows 
committees to organize, adopt legislative and oversight 
agendas, and seek spending authority through the adoption of 
primary expense resolution by the House.
    The funding process begins after a House standing or select 
committee determines its biennial funding needs, and introduces 
a House resolution seeking those funds. Under House rule X, 
clause 6, all funding resolutions are referred to the Committee 
on House Administration. The Committee used these specific 
requests from individual committees to create an omnibus 
expense resolution, introduced by Chairman Steil and Ranking 
Member Morelle, to authorize funding for all of the committees.
    After requesting and reviewing committee budget 
submissions, the Committee recommends an appropriate allocation 
of funds. Since this funding process merely authorizes the 
expenditure of funds already provided (or to be provided) in 
appropriations acts, the funding measure takes the form of a 
simple House resolution, which does not require Senate or 
presidential approval.

118th Congress proceedings

    To gather the information necessary to create the omnibus 
primary expense resolution, the Committee required the 
standing, permanent select committees and select committees 
(with the exception of the Committee on Appropriations, 
pursuant to the Rules of the House of Representatives) to 
submit estimates for expected expenses for both sessions of the 
118th Congress. The Committee required that committees provide 
line-item estimates for the following expenses: personnel 
compensation (including salaries and lump sum payments), 
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, 
technology service contracts and other services. Furthermore, 
the Committee requested budget estimates for the costs of 
supplies, materials, and equipment.
    To further gather the information necessary to create the 
omnibus primary expense resolution, the Committee convened a 
hearing to provide the Chairs and Ranking Members of the 
standing, permanent select and select committees an opportunity 
to present and share their views on their respective budget 
requests for the 118th Congress.
    During the hearing, Members of the committee asked the 
Chairs and Ranking Members about how their budget request would 
impact their ability to conduct oversight or pursue their 
legislative goals. Members of the Committee asked whether the 
committee plans to hold field hearings and conduct oversight 
trips this Congress and, if so, what additional resources are 
needed on a committee level and what resources would it be 
helpful for the House to provide as committees endeavor to take 
Congress to the people. In addition, Members of the Committee 
asked if there are any enterprise-wide solutions and services 
the House could provide that would help committees operate more 
efficiently, such as software and subscriptions to 
publications.
    Members of the Committee also asked the Chairs and Ranking 
Members how they were managing and will manage their resources 
with equity and prudence. Since the 104th Congress, House 
majority leadership and the Chair and Ranking Member of the 
Committee have encouraged Chairs of the standing, permanent 
select and select committees to provide the minority with no 
less than one-third of committee staff and/or resources, as 
determined by each committee. These exchanges indicated that 
all of the committees appear to be in compliance with the 
traditional ``two-thirds/one-third'' distribution of funds 
among the majority and minority.
    In reporting out this resolution, the committee is 
recommending to the House an authorization to expend 
approximately $179,705,000 the first session, and $185,527,000 
in the second session, exclusive of the reserve fund for 
unanticipated expenses. The resolution includes such a reserve 
fund for unanticipated expenses of $9,000,000 for each session.

Authorization and oversight plans

    The Committee expects the funding allocated for each 
committee to be appropriately assigned by each committee to its 
subcommittees to ensure that the committees are able to 
accomplish their goals, as outlined by each committee's 
authorization and oversight plans as required by House rule X, 
clause 3(d)(5).

                       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 118th Congress for the expenses (including the 
expense of all staff salaries) of the standing, permanent 
select and select 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 118th Congress (the 
period beginning at noon on January 3, 2023, and ending 
immediately before noon on January 3, 2024).
    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 118th Congress (the 
period beginning at noon on January 3, 2024, and ending 
immediately before noon on January 3, 2025).
    The amounts provided each committee is as follows:

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                    1st Session     2nd Session        Total
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee on Agriculture........................................      $7,097,000      $7,097,000     $14,194,000
Committee on Armed Services.....................................      11,716,000      13,024,000      24,740,000
Committee on the Budget.........................................      $5,995,000       5,995,000      11,990,000
Committee on Education & the Workforce..........................      $9,065,000       9,609,000      18,674,000
Committee on Energy & Commerce..................................     $13,611,000      13,800,000      27,411,000
Committee on Ethics.............................................      $4,517,000       4,759,000       9,276,000
Committee on Financial Services.................................     $10,185,000      10,185,000      20,370,000
Committee on Foreign Affairs....................................     $10,827,000      10,827,000      21,654,000
Committee on Homeland Security..................................      $9,389,000       9,389,000      18,778,000
Committee on House Administration...............................      $7,405,000       7,902,000      15,307,000
Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence......................      $8,197,000       8,998,000      17,195,000
Committee on the Judiciary......................................     $11,357,000      11,357,000      22,714,000
Committee on Natural Resources..................................      $8,773,000       8,773,000      17,546,000
Committee on Oversight & Accountability.........................     $14,772,000      15,151,000      29,923,000
Committee on Rules..............................................      $4,168,000       4,168,000       8,336,000
Committee on Science, Space & Technology........................      $6,845,000       7,266,000      14,111,000
Committee on Small Business.....................................      $3,621,000       3,749,000       7,370,000
Committee on Transportation & Infrastructure....................     $10,883,000      10,883,000      21,766,000
Committee on Veterans' Affairs..................................      $5,271,000       5,482,000      10,753,000
Committee on Ways & Means.......................................     $11,540,000      12,692,000      24,232,000
Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United      $4,471,000       4,421,000       8,892,000
 States and the Chinese Communist Party.........................
Reserve Fund....................................................      $9,000,000       9,000,000      18,000,000
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\The amount provided to the Committee on Foreign Affairs includes $696,080 ($348,040 for each session) to
  provide funding for the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, and $476,700 ($238,350 for each session) for the
  House Democracy Partnership.

                       INTRODUCTION AND REFERRAL

    On March 7, 2023, Representative Bryan Steil of Wisconsin, 
Chairman of the Committee on House Administration, and 
Representative Joseph Morelle of New York, Ranking Member of 
the Committee on House Administration, introduced H. Res. 197 
which was referred to the Committee on House Administration.

                                HEARINGS

    On February 28 and March 1, 2023, the Committee held an 
oversight hearing to review the budget requests for all the 
standing, permanent select, and select committees (except the 
Committee on Appropriations) for the 118th Congress. The Chairs 
and Ranking Members of the select and standing committees 
provided testimony on their respective use of committee funds.

                        COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

    On Wednesday, March 8, 2023, the Committee met in open 
session to mark up House Resolution 173. The committee ordered 
the resolution, as amended, reported favorably 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 incorporated into the general discussion 
section 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 316, 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 H. Res. 197, as amended, serves as the 
biennial ``primary expense resolution'' to cover the expenses 
of each standing, permanent select, and select committee of the 
House, except the Committee on Appropriations. The performance 
goal and objective of H. Res. 197 is thus to provide adequate 
expenses for each standing, permanent select, and select 
committee of the House, ensuring that each may acquire and 
retain appropriate staff and equipment to carry out their 
legislative and oversight duties.

                                  [all]