[Senate Report 118-192]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                                      Calendar No. 436

118th Congress    }                                     {    Report
                                 SENATE                          
 2nd Session      }                                     {    118-192

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



 
                LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS, 2025

                                _______
                                

    July  11 (legislative day July 10), 2024--Ordered to be printed

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

                              R E P O R T

                         [To accompany S. 4678]

    The Committee on Appropriations reports the bill (S. 4678) 
making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal 
year ending September 30, 2025, and for other purposes, reports 
favorably thereon without amendment and recommends that the 
bill do pass.


            Amount of new budget (obligational) authority

Total of bill as reported to the Senate.................  $4,912,845,000
Amount of 2024 appropriations...........................   4,731,750,000
Amount of 2025 budget estimate..........................   5,191,983,000
Bill as recommended to Senate compared to--
    2024 appropriations.................................    +181,095,000
    2025 budget estimate................................    -279,138,000











                            C O N T E N T S

                              ----------                              
                                                                   Page
General Statement and Summary....................................     4
Title I:
    Legislative Branch Appropriations:
        Senate:
            Expense Allowances...................................    10
            Representation Allowances for the Majority and 
              Minority Leaders...................................    10
            Salaries, Officers, and Employees....................    11
            Office of the Legislative Counsel of the Senate......    17
            Office of Senate Legal Counsel.......................    17
            Expense Allowances of the Secretary of the Senate, 
              Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, and 
              Secretaries for the Majority and Minority of the 
              Senate.............................................    17
            Contingent Expenses of the Senate....................    18
            Administrative Provisions............................    32
        Joint Items:
            Joint Economic Committee.............................    32
            Joint Committee on Taxation..........................    32
            Office of the Attending Physician....................    33
            Office of Congressional Accessibility Services.......    33
        Capitol Police:
            Salaries.............................................    35
            General Expenses.....................................    36
        Office of Congressional Workplace Rights: Salaries and 
          Expenses                                                   37
        Congressional Budget Office: Salaries and Expenses           38
        Architect of the Capitol:
            Capital Construction and Operations..................    40
            Capitol Building.....................................    41
            Capitol Grounds......................................    42
            Senate Office Buildings..............................    43
            Capitol Power Plant..................................    43
            Library Buildings and Grounds........................    45
            Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds and Security.......    45
            Botanic Garden.......................................    46
            Capitol Visitor Center...............................    47
            Administrative Provision.............................    47
        Library of Congress:
            Salaries and Expenses................................    48
            Copyright Office.....................................    52
            Congressional Research Service.......................    53
            National Library Services for the Blind and Print 
              Disabled...........................................    54
            Administrative Provision.............................    55
        Government Publishing Office: Congressional Publishing       56
            Public Information Programs of the Office of 
              Superintendent of Documents........................    57
            Government Publishing Office Business Operations 
              Revolving Fund.....................................    57
        Government Accountability Office: Salaries and Expenses      57
        Congressional Office for International Leadership Fund...    60
        John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and 
          Develop-
          ment...................................................    60
Title II: General Provisions.....................................    61
Compliance With Paragraph 7, Rule XVI, of the Standing Rules of 
  the Sen- 
  ate............................................................    62
Compliance With Paragraph 7(c), Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules 
  of the Senate..................................................    62
Compliance With Paragraph 12, Rule XXVI, of the Standing Rules of 
  the Senate.....................................................    63
Budgetary Impact of Bill.........................................    64
Comparative Statement of Budget Authority........................    65


                     GENERAL STATEMENT AND SUMMARY

    The Legislative Branch appropriations bill provides funding 
for the Congress and for the agencies that serve the Congress. 
Multiple agencies funded through this bill provide oversight of 
executive branch agencies, including objective, nonpartisan, 
and timely audits and analysis of Federal programs. The funding 
in this bill also ensures that the public has permanent access 
to printed and electronic information products of the Federal 
Government. All accounts in the bill have been examined in 
detail to ensure that the funding provided is appropriate for 
the agencies to carry out their responsibilities and to 
continue to respond to Congress in a timely and accurate 
manner. Details on the accounts, the funding levels provided, 
and the Committee's justification for the funding levels are 
included in the explanatory statement. Conforming to 
longstanding practice under which each body of Congress 
determines its own housekeeping requirements and the other 
concurs without intervention, funds for neither the House of 
Representatives nor House office buildings are included in the 
bill. Similarly, the House will consider a Legislative Branch 
appropriations bill that addresses House but not Senate 
funding.
    The Committee recommends new budget (obligational) 
authority of $4,913,845,000 for the legislative branch for 
fiscal year 2025. This amount excludes House items as per 
normal protocol. This total is $279,138,000 below the fiscal 
year 2025 budget request and $181,269,000 above the fiscal year 
2024 appropriation.
    The bill includes $1,337,582,000 for the operations of the 
Senate, which is $83,039,000 above the fiscal year 2024 
appropriation and $31,484,000 below fiscal year 2025 request. 
The bill includes $737,990,000 for the Architect of the 
Capitol, excluding the House Office Buildings, to maintain, 
improve, and construct buildings and facilities for the 
Congress. The recommendation for the Architect of the Capitol 
is $120,914,000 below the fiscal year 2025 request and 
$42,897,000 below the fiscal year 2024 appropriation. The 
recommendation provides for needed upgrades to project 
management systems, supports the day-to-day operations of each 
jurisdiction, and allows for the most critical capital 
improvements across campus. The bill also includes $832,556,000 
for the Capitol Police; $883,139,000 for the Government 
Accountability Office; $878,786,000 for the Library of 
Congress; and $133,425,000 for the Government Publishing 
Office.
    The Committee directs legislative branch departments and 
agencies to ensure that all reports are completed in the 
timeframe noted in each respective directive. All legislative 
branch departments and agencies are reminded that funding 
should be utilized according to congressional intent and that 
reallocations or repurposing of funds, whether within or above 
reprogramming thresholds, should be done with the intent for 
the appropriation of the specific funding in mind.
    Reprogramming Guidelines.--The Committee expects all 
agencies to notify the Committee of any significant departures 
from budget plans presented to the Committee in any agency's 
budget justifications. The Committee recommendation grants 
limited reprogramming authorities to ensure that funds are 
devoted to the highest priorities, particularly due to changes 
in circumstances. In particular, agencies funded through this 
bill are required to notify the Committee prior to any 
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 full time equivalents 
[FTE] or funds to create new organizational entities within the 
agency or to restructure entities that already exist.
    In addition, the Committee must be notified of 
reprogramming actions that 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' 
reports are affected.
    Prior to initial obligation or reallocation of funds, all 
Congressional reprogramming notifications shall, to the maximum 
extent practicable, contain detailed information about the 
sources of the funds and why such funds are no longer intended 
to be used as previously justified. The Committee expects that 
the conditions associated with funding appropriated by this Act 
shall be accomplished in the manner as directed in the report, 
consistent with congressional intent.
    Full-Time Equivalents [FTE].--The Committee directs that 
budget justifications sent to the Committee shall include a 
comparison of FTE based on the number of FTE supported by the 
funding provided in the current enacted appropriations 
legislation and the number of FTE that would be supported by 
the funding requested for the following fiscal year.
    Science and Technology Assistance for Congress.--The 
Committee notes the interest among some Members over the past 
several years to reinstitute the Office of Technology 
Assessment [OTA], which was de-funded in 1995. In fiscal year 
2019, the Committee instructed the National Academy of Public 
Administration [NAPA] to conduct a study to determine the best 
way to increase Congress' access to needed in-depth analysis of 
fast-breaking technology developments. The NAPA report, 
released in November 2019, recommended strengthening the 
capacity of the Government Accountability Office [GAO] and 
Congressional Research Service [CRS] in technology assessment 
rather than restarting OTA. The Committee remains pleased with 
the efforts of both CRS and GAO to respond to the concerns of 
Congress and increase the depth and breadth of their capacities 
to provide research and policy analysis on current and emerging 
legislative issues related to science and technology [S&T] and 
Federal uses and oversight of S&T.
    The Committee encourages CRS to continue to hire additional 
staff for its specialized teams working on S&T issues in order 
to expand its capacity and expertise and allow CRS to meet the 
growing need of Congress for timely, complex, and 
multidisciplinary analysis of policy issues related to these 
rapidly changing technologies, the effects of Federal 
government in oversight of such technologies, and the effects 
of the Federal government S&T policies across all sectors. The 
Committee also encourages CRS to increase outreach efforts to 
make Members and congressional staff more aware of the 
resources it provides related to S&T issues Congress is 
examining.
    Additionally, in 2019 the GAO established a Science, 
Technology Assessment, and Analytics [STAA] team to better 
address the evolving and time-sensitive needs of Congress. The 
Committee encourages the GAO to continue to strengthen its STAA 
team and the Innovation Lab to increase the depth, breadth, and 
diversity of knowledge available to meet congressional needs.
    As a result, the bill provides the full request for CRS and 
GAO in these areas to strengthen S&T programs. The Committee 
will continue to review the work of CRS and the GAO to see if 
other steps are needed in the future.
    Zero-Based Budgeting.--The Committee continues to direct 
all legislative branch agencies to develop budget requests from 
a zero-base. Budget justifications should provide sufficient 
detailed information on all requested funding requirements to 
allow the Committee to make informed funding decisions.
    Good Accounting Obligation in Government Act.--The Good 
Accounting Obligation in Government Act, or GAO-IG Act (Public 
Law 115-414) requires that each Federal agency, including the 
agencies of the legislative branch, include an accounting of 
any public recommendations by the Government Accountability 
Office or the agency's Office of Inspector General that have 
not yet been implemented and the timeframe for implementation.
    Each legislative branch agency is directed to continue to 
address recommendations from oversight entities, such as the 
GAO and OIGs, in a timely manner and to request resources, as 
appropriate, to fully implement these recommendations. 
Legislative branch agencies are directed to develop corrective 
action plans that include timelines for completion of open 
recommendations, to include reasons for the recommendation 
remaining open and the cost proposals for fully implementing 
each unresolved oversight recommendation. It is expected that 
each agency in this bill include such a report in its fiscal 
year 2026 congressional budget justification.
    Offices of Inspectors General [OIG] Budgets.--The Committee 
believes it is important to ensure independence between 
legislative branch OIGs and their respective reporting agencies 
and expects a separate section included in each agency's fiscal 
year 2026 budget justification reflecting a detailed budget 
request for the agency's OIG. These requests should be 
submitted without change by the agency. Agencies are reminded 
that FTEs and operating funds provided to Office of Inspectors 
Generals in appropriation should be provided as directed and 
funds should remain available to the OIG throughout the 
entirety of the fiscal year. Additionally, the Committee 
directs each OIG to keep the Committee fully apprised of its 
funding needs. The Committee also directs each agency to avoid 
interfering with or requiring approval for such communications.
    Congressional Requirements for Legislative Branch Cyber and 
Physical Data Security to Assure Resilience.--The Committee 
directs Legislative Branch agencies to continue to take 
proactive steps to fully protect critical Information 
Technology [IT] infrastructure, including prevention of 
cyberattacks, assuring secure data storage, and ensuring 
continuity of government operations for all Branch agencies. 
The Committee reiterates prior direction that legislative 
branch agencies utilize computing and cloud facilities designed 
for concurrent maintainability and consider geographic 
diversity in data center locations. The Committee directs each 
agency to refine and improve their detailed implementation 
plans for robust, secure, and resilient data center 
infrastructure, as required by the Consolidated Appropriations 
Acts in 2022, 2023 and 2024; further, agencies are required to 
provide cost estimates for full compliance with the above 
directive. In addition, the Committee expects agencies to 
continue to provide quarterly progress reports to the 
Committee.
    Cybersecurity for the Legislative Branch.--Legislative 
branch agencies are charged with combating cyber-attacks that 
could disrupt Congress' ability to perform its constitutional 
duties. Accordingly, the legislative branch agencies, including 
the U.S. Senate, must have the tools and resources necessary to 
defend our networks against sophisticated adversaries. The 
Committee recommendation includes funding requested by 
legislative branch agencies in fiscal year 2025 to strengthen 
cyber defenses. Each legislative branch agency shall continue 
to provide quarterly briefings to the Committee on 
Appropriation on the status of its cybersecurity program, to 
include milestones, significant activities, challenges, and the 
status of the execution of funding provided for this purpose.
    Legislative Branch Support Agency Information Working 
Group.--The Committee understands the importance of data access 
to certain of the legislative branch agencies' missions. 
Accordingly, the Committee directs the Congressional Budget 
Office, the Library of Congress, and the Government 
Accountability Office to continue to provide a briefing on the 
efforts of the working group to identify the challenges they 
face in obtaining timely, detailed, and sufficient access to 
Federal agency information. The working group should continue 
to develop options for ensuring that legislative branch 
agencies have access to the information they need at the time, 
in the formats and level of detail necessary for them to 
complete their work. The task force shall continue to meet from 
time to time to monitor the situation and make recommendations 
to the relevant committees, as appropriate.
    Proximity Card Program.--While the Committee appreciates 
the work of the Security Working Group and the joint efforts of 
various stakeholders to respond to community requests, the 
Committee is concerned at the lack of a campus-wide plan for 
the proximity card reader program. The program is currently 
being administered on an ad-hoc basis without a comprehensive 
plan for funding, installation, administration, or maintenance. 
The Committee directs the relevant stakeholders, including the 
AOC, the USCP, and the SAA, to jointly brief the Committee and 
the Committee on Rules and Administration within 60 days of the 
enactment of this act on a proposed plan to continue the 
proximity card reader program. The briefing should include 
information and metrics on the assessment process, the current 
and future program scope, the successes and challenges of 
administering the program, and the expected joint costs in 
future fiscal years.
    Use of Government Vehicles.--Legislative branch agencies 
are reminded that Federal Government vehicles are to be 
utilized for official government business only and are not to 
be used for general personal use. In fiscal year 2023, all 
legislative branch agencies were directed to implement policies 
regarding the acquisition and use of Federal Government 
vehicles, including price limitations, equipment installation, 
and lifecycle replacement procedures.
    Further, all legislative branch agencies were required to 
implement internal controls over home-to-work vehicle programs 
where vehicles are issued to employees for the purposes of 
responding to their assignment to fulfill an official duty in a 
timely manner. These controls were to include an annual 
recertification of home-to-work justifications for any vehicle 
assigned to agency personnel for this purpose. This process was 
required to include the justification for the issuance of the 
home-to-work vehicle, the estimated roundtrip mileage for the 
vehicle to and from the employee's residence on a daily basis, 
and the estimated cost to the agency resulting from the 
assignment of the vehicle.
    Within 30 days of enactment of this act, legislative branch 
agencies shall provide an updated detailed report to the 
Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Rules and 
Administration of the Senate on agency internal controls, 
policies and procedures for the use of government vehicles, to 
include home-to-work justifications, as described above.
    Single-Use Plastic.--Since fiscal year 2019, each 
Legislative Branch Appropriations Act has included a provision 
that directs all agencies and offices funded by this act with a 
food service provider to reduce plastic waste. The Architect of 
the Capitol [AOC], which holds the contract with the primary 
food service provider in the Senate, has worked to reduce 
plastic waste within its operations in the Senate. The AOC is 
expected to continue this effort, including options for 
utilizing high content recycled products. The Committee 
continues the directive contained in the explanatory statement 
accompanying Public Law 117-328 regarding the report on 
products currently in use.
    Child Care.--The Committee believes that access to licensed 
and certified child care is critical for recruiting and 
retaining personnel within offices and committees of the Senate 
and other legislative branch entities. The Committee also 
recognizes that onsite child care centers are critical to the 
work-life balance of legislative branch personnel. The 
Committee recognizes that the child care requirements of the 
legislative branch entities far exceeds the capacity of 
established child care centers within the branch. The Committee 
directs the Architect of the Capitol to refresh its study done 
in accordance with the directive contained in Senate Report 
115-274. The updated review shall be completed within 180 days 
of enactment of this act. Further, the Architect is directed to 
brief the Committee on its findings and proposed 
recommendations.
    Support for Nursing Mothers.--The Committee continues to 
encourage legislative branch entities to enhance the locations 
and access to spaces dedicated for the use of nursing mothers. 
The Committee notes that the Further Consolidated 
Appropriations Act, 2024 (P.L. 118-47) provided the AOC with 
$1,000,000 to retrofit certain nursing mothers' locations 
across the Capitol complex. The Committee directs the AOC to 
brief the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate not later 
than 60 days after enactment of this act on which lactation 
rooms were retrofitted and the improvements made to such rooms. 
Further, the Committee directs the AOC to conduct a survey 
within 120 days of enactment of this act of users and potential 
users of lactation rooms across the Capitol complex to better 
understand the use of such rooms, the need for additional 
locations and the potential for additional retrofits that may 
be necessary to better meet the needs of nursing mothers. The 
AOC is directed to provide the results of the survey and brief 
the Committee not later than 30 days after the completion of 
such survey.
    Locality Pay.--The Committee believes employees of 
Legislative Branch agencies should be receiving correct 
locality pay. The Committee encourages Legislative Branch 
agencies to ensure proper review and procedures for providing 
employees the correct locality pay.
    Bicycle Access.--The Committees directs the USCP, AOC, and 
the Senate SAA to continue to work with the District of 
Columbia Department of Transportation to determine if a 
protected bike lane on Louisiana Avenue can be safely developed 
to connect residents, commuters, and tourists to the U.S. 
Capitol, Union Station, and the National Mall.
    Legislative Branch Agencies--Reporting.--The Committee 
directs legislative branch agencies and departments to submit 
within 30 days of enactment of this act an annual operating 
plan for the execution of funds appropriated for its programs 
and quarterly execution reports thereafter that provide 
execution data against the annual operating plan. These 
controls will allow the Committee to conduct necessary 
oversight of the utilization of funding against the 
implementation and continuance of programs and initiatives for 
which appropriated funding was provided. These quarterly 
reports should include information regarding deviations, 
transfers, or reprogramming of funds for activities other than 
those included in the agencies annual operating plan.

                                TITLE I

                   LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS

                                 SENATE

                           Expense Allowances

Appropriations, 2024....................................        $195,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................         195,000
Committee recommendation................................         195,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $195,000 for 
the expense allowances of the Vice President, the President Pro 
Tempore and President Pro Tempore Emeritus of the Senate, the 
majority and minority leaders, the majority and minority whips, 
the chairmen of the majority and minority conference 
committees, and the chairmen of the majority and minority 
policy committees. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal 
year 2024 appropriation and the fiscal year 2025 request. The 
recommended allowances are as follows: For the expense 
allowance of the Vice President, the Committee recommends an 
amount of $20,000. For the expense allowance of the President 
Pro Tempore, the Committee recommends an amount of $40,000. For 
the expense allowance of the President Pro Tempore Emeritus, 
the Committee recommends an amount of $15,000. For the expense 
allowance of the majority and minority leaders, the Committee 
recommends $40,000 for each leader, for a total of $80,000. For 
the expense allowance of the majority and minority whips, the 
Committee recommends $10,000 for each whip, for a total of 
$20,000. For the expense allowance for the chairmen of the 
majority and minority conference committees, the Committee 
recommends $5,000 for each chairman, for a total of $10,000. 
For the expense allowance for the chairmen of the majority and 
minority policy committees, the Committee recommends $5,000 for 
each chairman, for a total of $10,000. Expenditures from all 
the foregoing allowances are made upon certification from the 
individuals for whom the allowances are authorized, and are 
reported semiannually in the report of the Secretary of the 
Senate.

    Representation Allowances for the Majority and Minority Leaders

Appropriations, 2024....................................         $30,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................          30,000
Committee recommendation................................          30,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $30,000 for 
representation allowances for the majority and minority 
leaders. The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 2024 
appropriation and the fiscal year 2025 request. This allowance 
was established in the Supplemental Appropriations Act for 
Fiscal Year 1985 (Public Law 99-88). The funds were authorized 
to be used by the majority and minority leaders solely for the 
discharge of their appropriate responsibilities in connection 
with official visits to the United States by members of foreign 
legislative bodies and representatives of foreign governments 
and intergovernmental agencies. The recommended amount is to be 
divided equally between the two leaders. Expenditures from this 
allowance are made upon certification of the leaders and are 
reported in the semiannual report of the Secretary of the 
Senate.

                   Salaries, Officers, and Employees

Appropriations, 2024....................................    $277,838,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................     304,036,000
Committee recommendation................................     293,770,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $293,770,000 
for the subaccounts funded under the overall account for the 
salaries of officers and employees of the Senate. The 
recommendation is $15,932,000 above the fiscal year 2024 
appropriation and $10,266,000 below the fiscal year 2025 
request. It should be noted that, except for a handful of 
positions in the Offices of the Secretary and the Sergeant at 
Arms that are required by statute, specific staffing levels are 
not stipulated either by the budget request or by the 
Committee's recommendation. Rather, lump-sum allowances are 
provided to fund staffing levels that each office finds 
necessary and appropriate for the performance of its duties. 
Estimated staffing levels for offices funded under this 
appropriation for fiscal year 2025 are approximately 1,668 
positions.

                    SALARIES, OFFICERS, AND EMPLOYEES
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Fiscal year 2025
                                      Fiscal year 2025      Committee
                                           Request       recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office of the Vice President........        $3,095,000        $3,102,000
Office of the President Pro Tempore.           888,000           873,000
Office of the President Pro Tempore            384,000           377,000
 Emeritus...........................
Offices of the majority and minority         6,590,000         6,486,000
 leaders............................
Offices of the majority and minority         4,136,000         4,070,000
 whips..............................
Conference committees...............         4,026,000         3,960,000
Offices of the secretaries of the            1,002,000           986,000
 conference of the majority and the
 conference of the minority.........
Policy committees...................         4,110,000         4,044,000
Office of the Chaplain..............           639,000           616,000
Office of the Secretary.............        31,819,000        32,462,000
Office of the Sergeant at Arms and         132,863,000       121,739,000
 Doorkeeper.........................
Offices of the secretaries for the           2,782,000         2,689,000
 majority and minority..............
                                     -----------------------------------
      Totals........................       192,334,000       181,398,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Any change from the allocation of funds in the subaccounts 
within this appropriation is subject to the approval of the 
Committee. The total amount appropriated is allocated to the 
various offices of the Senate as displayed under the headings 
for the offices that follow.

                      OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

Appropriations, 2024....................................      $3,000,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................       3,095,000
Committee recommendation................................       3,102,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $3,102,000 to 
fund the salaries of the administrative and clerical staff of 
the Office of the Vice President in connection with her duties 
as the President of the Senate.

                  OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE

Appropriations, 2024....................................        $843,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................         888,000
Committee recommendation................................         873,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $873,000 for 
the Office of the President Pro Tempore.

              OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE EMERITUS

Appropriations, 2024....................................        $364,000
Budget Estimate, 2025...................................         384,000
Committee recommendation................................         377,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $377,000 for 
the Office of the President Pro Tempore Emeritus.

              OFFICES OF THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADERS

Appropriations, 2024....................................      $6,272,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................       6,590,000
Committee recommendation................................       6,486,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $6,486,000 for 
the offices of the majority and minority leaders. The amount 
recommended is to be equally divided, providing $3,243,000 for 
each office. The administrative and clerical staffs funded by 
this appropriation were authorized under the provisions of 
Public Law 91-145, effective November 1, 1969.

               OFFICES OF THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY WHIPS

Appropriations, 2024....................................      $3,934,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................       4,136,000
Committee recommendation................................       4,070,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $4,070,000 for 
the offices of the majority and minority whips. It is to be 
equally divided, providing $2,035,000 for each office. The 
authority for the administrative and clerical staff funded by 
this appropriation was created by Public Law 84-242, effective 
July 1, 1955.

                      COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Appropriations, 2024....................................     $19,319,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................      19,633,000
Committee recommendation................................      20,785,000

    For the salaries of the staff of the Committee on 
Appropriations, the Committee recommends an appropriation of 
$20,785,000.

                         CONFERENCE COMMITTEES

Appropriations, 2024....................................      $3,828,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................       4,026,000
Committee recommendation................................       3,960,000

    For the administrative and clerical staffs of the majority 
and minority conference committees, the Committee recommends an 
appropriation of $3,960,000. The appropriation provides 
$1,980,000 in salaries for the staff of each conference 
committee. The chairman of each conference committee may 
transfer to or from amounts provided for salaries of each 
conference to the account for conference committee expenses 
within the ``Miscellaneous Items'' appropriation.

 OFFICES OF THE SECRETARIES OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE MAJORITY AND THE 
                       CONFERENCE OF THE MINORITY

Appropriations, 2024....................................        $952,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................       1,002,000
Committee recommendation................................         986,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $986,000 for 
the majority and minority conference secretaries. These offices 
were created by section 6 of Senate Resolution 17, agreed to 
January 10, 1977, and two positions in each office were first 
funded in the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1977 (Public Law 
95-26). Section 102 of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 
1979 (Public Law 96-38), abolished the specific positions and 
established a lump-sum allowance for the employment of staff, 
effective October 1, 1979. The amount recommended is to be 
divided equally between the majority secretary and the minority 
secretary.

                           POLICY COMMITTEES

Appropriations, 2024....................................      $3,910,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................       4,110,000
Committee recommendation................................       4,044,000

    For the salaries of the administrative and clerical staffs 
of the majority and minority policy committees, the Committee 
recommends an appropriation of $4,044,000. The appropriation 
provides $2,022,000 in salaries for the staff of each 
committee. The chairman of each policy committee may transfer 
to or from amounts provided for salaries of each policy 
committee to the account for policy committee expenses within 
the ``Miscellaneous Items'' appropriation.

                         OFFICE OF THE CHAPLAIN

Appropriations, 2024....................................        $606,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................         639,000
Committee recommendation................................         616,000

    For the Office of the Chaplain, the Committee recommends an 
appropriation of $616,000. The amount recommended provides the 
salaries for the Chaplain of the Senate and support staff to 
assist the Chaplain with his pastoral duties. The Office of the 
Chaplain may transfer to or from amounts provided for salaries 
to the account for expenses within the ``Miscellaneous Items'' 
appropriation.

                        OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

Appropriations, 2024....................................     $30,288,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................      31,819,000
Committee recommendation................................      32,462,000

    The Committee recommends $32,462,000 for salaries of the 
Office of the Secretary. Fiscal year 2025 staffing levels are 
estimated at 262 positions. This appropriation provides funds 
for four statutory positions (Secretary of the Senate, 
Assistant Secretary of the Senate, Financial Clerk of the 
Senate, and Parliamentarian of the Senate) and lump-sum 
allowances for the employment and adjustment of salaries of 
personnel in the Office of the Secretary of the Senate, as 
authorized by Public Law 97-51, effective October 1, 1981 (2 
U.S.C. 6539). The following departmental guidelines for fiscal 
year 2025 have been submitted by the Secretary to the 
Committee. The departmental budgets under executive offices 
include: the Executive Office of the Secretary of the Senate, 
Page School, Senate Security, Information Systems, and Web 
Technology. The departmental budgets grouped under 
administrative services include the following: conservation and 
preservation, curator, disbursing office, gift shop, historical 
office, human resources, interparliamentary services, library, 
printing and document services, public records, chief counsel 
for employment, and the stationery room. The departmental 
budgets grouped under legislative services include the 
following: the bill clerk, daily digest, enrolling clerk, 
journal clerk, legislative clerk, Official Reporters of 
Debates, captioning services, executive clerk, Legislative 
Information System project office, and Parliamentarian. The 
Committee provides these funds to the Secretary of the Senate 
without apportionment in the interest of facilitating financial 
management duties and restructuring that occurs from time to 
time. The Committee expects to be notified in writing in a 
timely manner of any changes to the staffing levels, 
distribution of staff, or related funding.

             OFFICE OF THE SERGEANT AT ARMS AND DOORKEEPER

Appropriations, 2024....................................    $115,875,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................     132,863,000
Committee recommendation................................     121,739,000

    This appropriation provides funds for the salaries of three 
statutory positions (Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper, Deputy 
Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper, and Administrative Assistant 
to the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper) and lump-sum allowances 
for employment and adjustments of salaries of personnel in the 
Office of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, as 
authorized by Public Law 97-51, effective October 1, 1981 (2 
U.S.C. 6597). The Committee recommends an appropriation of 
$121,739,000 for fiscal year 2025, which supports a staffing 
level of 1,054 FTEs. The recommendation includes funding to 
enhance the information technology operations in the Senate; 
continue implementation of a Unified Communications system; and 
fully support the continued initiative to expand the Senate's 
cybersecurity capabilities. The Committee expects to be updated 
regularly as the SAA develops its strategic plan to modernize 
and harden the Senate's cyber defense. The Sergeant at Arms is 
the chief law enforcement officer, the chief protocol officer, 
and an executive officer of the Senate.
    To fulfill these responsibilities, the Sergeant at Arms 
operates through four principal units:
  --The Office of Security and Emergency Preparedness prepares 
        the Senate to respond to a full spectrum of emergencies 
        that may disrupt normal business operations. This 
        preparation includes programs that support life safety, 
        intelligence, security, and continuity of operations 
        policies and programs throughout the U.S. Senate, 
        including Senate home State offices, as well as 
        strategic and analytic assistance to the Sergeant at 
        Arms in her capacity as Chairman or Member of the 
        Capitol Police Board and Chief Law Enforcement Officer 
        of the Senate.
  --Capitol Operations is responsible for many of the services 
        provided within the Capitol building that support the 
        day-to-day operation of the Senate. Services include 
        Chamber operations maintained by the Doorkeepers; 
        official business visitor processing provided by the 
        Senate Appointment Desks; as well as credentialing and 
        interfacing with the news media via the Senate Media 
        Galleries. In addition, the Senate Recording Studio 
        provides audio and video services.
  --The Operations Division provides an array of services to 
        the Senate community to include identification, 
        transportation, parking, and photographic services; 
        printing, publishing, graphic design, and framing 
        services; and USPS mail screening, and mailing and 
        package delivery services. Operations furnishes and 
        maintains the Senate side of the Capitol Building and 
        supports the maintenance of Senate State offices.
  --The Office of the Chief Information Officer [OCIO] builds, 
        operates, and supports the Senate's information 
        infrastructure. The OCIO is responsible for information 
        security, technology infusion, telecommunications, 
        helpdesk, IT systems to support Continuity of 
        Operations and Continuity of Government, enterprise 
        computing systems, data networks, web services and 
        hosting, system development, and office equipment. 
        Executive and other offices provide general management, 
        human resource, financial, and training support to the 
        Senate. The offices and personnel covered by this 
        appropriation are shown in the following table.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office of Protective Services and Continuity...............          125
Capitol Operations.........................................          178
Operations.................................................          199
Chief Information Officer..................................          386
Executive and administrative offices.......................          166
                                                            ------------
      Total................................................        1,054
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Committee provides these funds to the Sergeant at Arms 
without apportionment in the interest of facilitating financial 
management duties and restructuring that occurs from time to 
time. The Committee expects to be notified in writing in a 
timely manner of any changes to the staffing levels, 
distribution of staff, or related funding.
    Security and Emergency Preparedness.--The Committee 
provides full funding for the Office of Security, Emergency 
Preparedness and Continuity's request for 1 new FTE to support 
the physical security of Senators, staff, and visitors to the 
Capitol and surrounding buildings, including the Senate 
Residential Security System Program to support the safety of 
Senators and their families at their residence. The Committee 
also expects the SAA to continue increasing its outreach 
efforts to offices to improve security coordination and 
emergency preparedness, including creating better awareness of 
Senators' activities off of the Capitol campus; educating and 
training staff to identify and alert the SAA and the Capitol 
Police of events or activities that may warrant a threat 
assessment; facilitating threat assessments and security 
coordination with the USCP as well as Federal, State, and local 
law enforcement, as appropriate; and informing and updating 
Members and Senate staff on emergency preparedness training and 
other resources available to them.
    Employee Assistance Program.--The Committee fully funds the 
requested increase for SAA to expand resources, including 
adding personnel, providing additional website services and 
supplementing existing resources with new options, such as 
transcendental meditation instruction, to meet increased demand 
and support the mental and emotional health needs and well-
being of the Senate community.
    Office Cybersecurity.--The Committee expects SAA to utilize 
funds provided for fiscal year 2025 to continue to conduct 
third-party cybersecurity auditing services and resiliency 
assessments for all Senate offices and committees to protect 
the privacy and integrity of office networks; provide enhanced 
cybersecurity training for each Senate office; institute 
protections against insider threats; and institute and 
operationalize enhanced privacy protections within the Senate 
network.
    Intern Resources.--The Committee provides the FTEs and 
resources to support the Intern Resource operations within the 
SAA. This office shall serve as a resource office for both 
interns and the individual employing offices, while supporting 
and respecting the independent implementation of the program 
within individual employing offices.

        OFFICES OF THE SECRETARIES FOR THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY

Appropriations, 2024....................................      $2,644,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................       2,782,000
Committee recommendation................................       2,689,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $2,689,000 for 
the offices of the secretaries for the majority and minority. 
The appropriation is to be equally divided, providing 
$1,344,500 for each office.

                          AGENCY CONTRIBUTIONS

Appropriations, 2024....................................     $86,003,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................      92,069,000
Committee recommendation................................      91,581,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $91,581,000 
for agency contributions for employees paid under certain 
appropriations, including ``Salaries, officers, and 
employees,'' ``Joint Economic Committee,'' ``Office of the 
Legislative Counsel of the Senate,'' and ``Office of Senate 
Legal Counsel.'' Agency contributions include the Senate's 
contributions as an employer to the Civil Service Retirement 
System, the Federal Employees' Retirement System, the Thrift 
Savings Plan, Federal employee group life insurance, Federal 
employee health insurance programs, and payments required by 
the Federal Insurance Contributions Act. The Senate is required 
by law to make these payments, and the total required is 
dependent upon the number of Senate employees, their 
compensation levels, the benefit programs in which they are 
enrolled, and the extent of the benefits elected.

            Office of the Legislative Counsel of the Senate

Appropriations, 2024....................................      $8,650,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................       9,450,000
Committee recommendation................................       9,094,000

    For the Office of the Legislative Counsel of the Senate, 
the Committee recommends an appropriation of $9,094,000. This 
amount provides for the salaries and expenses of the office. 
Funding necessary to cover agency contributions for employees 
of the Office of Legislative Counsel of the Senate is included 
in the Committee's recommendation for the ``Agency 
Contributions'' heading, which is a subheading of the 
``Salaries, officers, and employees'' appropriation.

                     Office of Senate Legal Counsel

Appropriations, 2024....................................      $1,365,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................       1,429,000
Committee recommendation................................       1,387,000

    The Office of Senate Legal Counsel was established pursuant 
to section 701 of Public Law 95-521. The Committee recommends 
an appropriation of $1,387,000 for the Office of Senate Legal 
Counsel. The amount provided pays for the salaries and expenses 
of the office. Funding necessary to cover agency contributions 
for employees of the office of Senate Legal Counsel is included 
in the Committee's recommendation for the ``Agency 
Contributions'' heading, which is a subheading of the 
``Salaries, officers, and employees'' appropriation.

Expense Allowances of the Secretary of the Senate, Sergeant at arms and 
Doorkeeper of the Senate, and Secretaries for the Majority and Minority 
                             of the Senate

Appropriations, 2024....................................         $30,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................          30,000
Committee recommendation................................          30,000

    Section 119 of Public Law 97-51 authorized an expense 
allowance for the Secretary of the Senate, the Sergeant at Arms 
and Doorkeeper of the Senate, the Secretary for the Majority, 
and the Secretary for the Minority. Since fiscal year 1983, the 
amount has been provided through a direct appropriation. The 
Committee recommends an appropriation of $30,000 providing an 
allowance of $7,500 for each office.

                   Contingent Expenses of the Senate


                      INQUIRIES AND INVESTIGATIONS

Appropriations, 2023....................................    $174,000,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................     187,200,000
Committee recommendation................................     187,200,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $187,200,000 
for inquiries and investigations by Senate standing, special, 
and select committees, of which $18,720,000 shall be available 
until September 30, 2026. The recommendation is $13,200,000 
above the fiscal year 2024 appropriation and equal to the 
fiscal year 2025 request. This appropriation funds the 
liquidation of obligations incurred by committees under the 
authorization provided in Committee funding resolutions at the 
beginning of each new Congress.
    Committee Intern Pay.--Senate committees have the authority 
and sufficient resources needed to pay committee interns from 
within funding made available to committees. The Committee 
reiterates that the significant increase provided to this 
account will more than allow for committees to pay their 
interns if they so choose. The Committee advises any committee 
that wishes to seek additional funding for intern pay to 
include such an increase in its budget request to the Committee 
on Rules and Administration of the Senate, so that this 
Committee can fully consider the needs of Senate committees 
under such budgetary advisement.

         U.S. SENATE CAUCUS ON INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL

Appropriations, 2024....................................        $582,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................         610,000
Committee recommendation................................         591,000

    The Committee recommends $591,000 for the expenses of the 
U.S. Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control. 
Established in 1985 by the Foreign Relations Authorization Act 
(Public Law 99-93), the Caucus was created to monitor and 
promote international compliance with narcotics control 
treaties and monitor and encourage U.S. Government and private 
programs seeking to expand international cooperation against 
drug abuse. The Caucus is composed of seven Senators, four from 
the majority party and three from the minority party, with a 
chair from the majority party and a co-chair from the minority 
party.

                        SECRETARY OF THE SENATE

Appropriations, 2024....................................     $17,494,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................      17,500,000
Committee recommendation................................      17,299,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $17,299,000 
for expenses of the Office of the Secretary. The recommendation 
is $195,000 below the fiscal year 2024 appropriation and 
$201,000 below to the fiscal year 2025 request. Of the total 
provided, the Committee recommends an appropriation of 
$4,425,000 to remain available until expended, of which 
$3,825,000 is for Financial Management Information System 
Modernization [FMIS] enhancements, and $12,874,000 to remain 
available until September 30, 2029, of which $5,974,000 is for 
the Senate Information Services program and $5,600,000 is for 
FMIS support. The Secretary of the Senate shall continue to 
provide semi-annual updates to the Committee on FMIS progress 
starting within 30 days of enactment of this act. The Committee 
provides these funds to the Secretary of the Senate without 
apportionment in the interest of facilitating financial 
management duties and restructuring that occurs from time to 
time. The Committee expects notification in writing in a timely 
manner of any cumulative changes in excess of 10 percent to the 
funding levels between programs, projects, or activities. 
Typical expenditures of the Secretary of the Senate include:
    Consultants.--Funding is provided for not to exceed two 
individual consultants as authorized by section 110 of Public 
Law 95- 94, August 5, 1977, which amends section 101 of Public 
Law 95- 26, May 4, 1977. Consultants employed under this 
authority shall not be paid in excess of the per diem 
equivalent of the highest gross rate of annual compensation, 
which may be paid to employees of a standing committee of the 
Senate.
    Legal Reference Volumes.--Funding is provided to furnish 
U.S. Senators with volumes of the U.S. Code Annotated or U.S. 
Code service, pocket parts and supplements, as authorized by 
Public Law 92-51, July 9, 1971. The Disbursing Office is 
responsible for providing the U.S. Code Annotated or the U.S. 
Code Service to Senators when they assume office and upon 
receipt of a written request of a Senator.
    Contractual Legal and Administrative Services and 
Miscellaneous Expenses.--Funding is provided for various 
contractual, administrative, and miscellaneous expenses 
incurred by the Office of the Secretary. In addition, the 
Office of the Secretary has incurred various types of legal and 
other expenses, which have been authorized by the Senate. 
Funding is provided for contractual and other expenses 
necessary to update and publish the Senate's legislative 
precedents and procedure documentation. Administrative services 
and miscellaneous expenses are housekeeping expenses of the 
Office of the Secretary.
    Travel and Registration Fees.--Funding is provided for 
travel expenses and registration fees incurred by the Secretary 
of the Senate and the employees of the Office of the Secretary. 
This line item excludes funding for travel expenses for the 
Federal Election Campaign Act under the Office of Public 
Records, which is provided separately under the authority of 
Public Law 92-342. The authority for the travel portion of this 
account was provided for by section 101 of Public Law 94-59, 
July 25, 1975.
    Orientation and Training.--Funding is provided for expenses 
incurred by the Secretary of the Senate to conduct orientation 
seminars or similar meetings for Senators, Senate officials, or 
members of staffs of Senators or Senate officials, not to 
exceed $30,000 under the authority of 2 U.S.C. 6514. The Office 
of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate is also 
authorized under these provisions to conduct seminars or 
similar meetings in the same manner and to the same extent as 
the Office of the Secretary of the Senate.
    Postage.--This account also provides funding for postage 
for the Office of the Secretary of the Senate for special 
delivery, registered mail, and additional postage not covered 
under the frank.
    Education of Senate Pages.--Funding is provided for the 
education of Senate pages. Senate Resolution 184, July 29, 
1983, authorized the Secretary of the Senate to provide such 
educational services and items in such manner as the Secretary 
may deem appropriate. Public Law 98-125, October 13, 1983, 
amended Public Law 98-51, July 14, 1983, striking out the 
heading and paragraph ``Education of Pages'' under the heading 
``Joint Items'', and redesignated the funds provided in Public 
Law 98-51.
    Stationery.--Funding is provided for stationery supplies 
for the Office of the Secretary of the Senate. The funds 
provided have been allocated to the various departments of the 
Office of the Secretary.
    Senate Commission on Art.--Funding is provided for the 
Senate Commission on Art, authorized by Public Law 100-696, 
November 18, 1988, as amended, and Public Law 108-83, September 
30, 2003, as amended to acquire, accept, supervise, hold, 
place, protect, make known, conserve, restore, replicate, or 
replace any work of art, historical object, documents, or 
material relating to historical matters, or exhibits for 
placement or exhibition within the Senate wing of the Capitol, 
any Senate office building, or in rooms, spaces, or corridors 
thereof, and to publish as a Senate document a list of all 
works of art, historical objects, and exhibits currently within 
the Senate wing of the Capitol and Senate office buildings. The 
Senate Commission on Art was formerly the Commission on Arts 
and Antiquities of the United States Senate, which was 
authorized by Senate Resolution 382, October 1, 1968, as 
amended by Senate Resolution 95, April 1, 1977, and Senate 
Resolution 400, March 23, 1988.
    Representation Expenses.--Funding is provided, not to 
exceed $50,000, to the Secretary of the Senate to coordinate 
and carry out responsibilities in connection with foreign 
parliamentary groups or other foreign officials visiting the 
United States. Authorized by section 2, chapter VIII of Public 
Law 100-71, November 21, 1989, as amended.
    Office of Conservation and Preservation.--Funding is 
provided for the Office of Conservation and Preservation to 
develop and coordinate programs directly related to the 
conservation and protection of Senate records and materials for 
which the Secretary of the Senate has statutory authority.
    Book Preservation.--Funding is provided for the Office of 
Conservation and Preservation to use outside sources for the 
preservation and protection of the Senate book collection, 
including historically valuable documents under the care of the 
Secretary of the Senate.
    Office of Public Records.--Funding is provided for expenses 
of the Office of Public Records. This office has evolved 
through various pieces of legislation and various 
responsibilities authorized by the Federal Election Campaign 
Act, as amended, the Ethics in Government Act, as amended, and 
the Lobbying Disclosure Act, as amended. The Office of Public 
Records is mentioned for the first time in Public Law 93-145, 
November 1, 1973, which authorizes the Secretary of the Senate 
to appoint and fix the compensation of a superintendent and 
other positions for the Office of Public Records. In addition, 
under the authority of Public Law 95-521, October 26, 1978 
(Ethics in Government Act) reports filed under section 101 
shall be available for public inspection and a copy of the 
report shall be provided to any person upon request. Any person 
requesting a copy of a report may be required to pay a 
reasonable fee to cover the cost of reproduction. Any moneys 
received by the Secretary shall be deposited into the Office of 
Public Records Revolving Fund under the authority of Public Law 
101-163, November 21, 1989. The office also performs functions 
such as registration of mass mailings.
    Disbursing Office.--Funding is provided for expenses 
incurred in the operation of the disbursing office. Typical 
expenses for this office include notary bonds, seals, and 
necessary supplies in conjunction with the various machinery 
maintained in the office, which are not available in the 
stationery room.
    Office of Captioning Services.--Funding is provided for the 
closed captioning of the televised Senate floor proceedings for 
the hearing impaired. Closed captioning was first authorized 
under Public Law 101-163, November 21, 1989.
    Senate Chief Counsel for Employment.--Funding is provided 
for the Office of the Senate Chief Counsel for Employment. This 
office is a nonpartisan office formed in May 1993 at the 
direction of the joint leadership and is charged with providing 
legal advice and representation of Senate offices in all areas 
of employment law.

             SERGEANT AT ARMS AND DOORKEEPER OF THE SENATE

Appropriations, 2024....................................    $194,942,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................     241,191,000
Committee recommendation................................     204,000,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $204,000,000 
for expenses of the Sergeant at Arms, which is $9,058,000 above 
the fiscal year 2024 appropriation and $37,191,000 below the 
fiscal year 2025 request. Of the total provided, $190,223,000 
shall remain available until September 30, 2028 and $13,777,000 
is to remain available until expended, to include $5,000,000 
for Senate hearing room audiovisual equipment improvements, as 
requested in the fiscal year 2025 budget, $2,500,000 for the 
residential security systems program, and $6,277,000 to support 
the Sergeant at Arms Fellowships program.
    The following table compares the fiscal year 2025 Committee 
recommendation for the component categories within this account 
to the fiscal year 2025 budget request.

         EXPENSES-OFFICE OF THE SERGEANT AT ARMS AND DOORKEEPER
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Fiscal year 2025      Committee
                                           request       recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office of Security and Emergency            $4,991,000        $3,770,000
 Preparedness.......................
Capitol Operations..................         5,839,000         5,145,000
Operations..........................         4,706,000         4,011,000
Chief Information Officer...........       182,654,000       151,488,000
Executive and Other Offices.........        35,251,000        32,086,000
Senate Residential Security System           2,500,000         2,500,000
 Program............................
Hearing Room Audiovisual Equipment..         5,000,000         5,000,000
                                     -----------------------------------
      Grand Total...................       241,191,000       204,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The Committee provides these funds to the Sergeant at Arms 
without apportionment in the interest of facilitating financial 
management duties and restructuring that occurs from time to 
time. The Committee expects to be notified in writing in a 
timely manner of any cumulative changes in excess of 10 percent 
to the funding levels between programs, projects, or 
activities.
    Hearing Room Audiovisual Equipment.--The Committee 
recommends $5,000,000 in no-year funding to partially or fully 
renovate two to four hearing rooms per year, as per the 
request. The audiovisual equipment and systems in these hearing 
rooms has or will soon exceed their useful life and must be 
replaced. The failure of hearing room audiovisual systems has 
disrupted several high-profile hearings in recent years, and 
represents a problem that will only grow worse as the equipment 
and systems reach their useful life. The Committee expects the 
SAA to continue working with the Architect of the Capitol and 
the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Rules and 
Administration to develop a replacement plan to avoid equipment 
failure.
    Unified Communications and Collaboration [UCC] System.--The 
Committee directs the SAA to provide quarterly updates to the 
Committee on the implementation of the UCC system through 
complete implementation of the program.
    Captioning Services.--The Committee directs the Secretary 
of the Senate, in coordination with the Sergeant-at-Arms, to 
provide an update to the Committee within 60 days of enactment 
of the act on the ongoing efforts to increase captioning 
services for various operational functions within the Senate, 
to include the use of emerging technologies for this purpose.
    Training to ``Stop the Bleed''.--For the past several 
years, the SAA has offered Senate staff the opportunity to 
train in Tactical Combat Casualty Care, also known as ``Stop 
the Bleed'' training, which increases survivability from mass 
shootings and other casualty events causing life-threatening 
external bleeding. The Committee supports the SAA Office of 
Security, Emergency Preparedness and Continuity's continued 
utilization of ``Stop the Bleed'' training on the Capitol 
campus so that more Senate staff know how to respond to and 
administer basic bleeding control techniques to individuals 
with trauma if such a situation arises and for emergency 
preparedness purposes.
    Accessibility.--The Committee recognizes the importance for 
the Senate to incorporate accessibility features for people 
with disabilities into plans for new initiatives. Further, the 
Committee recognizes that including accessibility features in 
new systems and processes, such as software, building designs, 
and security procedures, at the start of such plans makes 
accessibility less expensive to achieve. The Committee directs 
Senate entities contracting services to, as feasible, build 
accessibility into their design and acquisition processes.
    Congressional Staff Directory.--The Committee notes the 
unavailability or insufficiency of currently-provided 
congressional staff contact information. The absence of a 
congressional staff directory that covers the Senate, House, 
support offices, and support agencies makes it difficult for 
congressional staff to identify and connect with relevant 
staff. The Committee directs the SAA to continue to explore the 
creation of a centrally-managed staff directory for Congress 
and congressional support agencies to enhance the exchange of 
information and improve collaboration across the legislative 
branch. The SAA shall brief the Committee on the efforts to 
create a centralized congressional staff directory, including 
inherit challenges with creating such a directory, associated 
costs and directory information features and access.
    Website Attachments.--The Committee recognizes the 
importance of receiving letters and other appropriate documents 
from members' constituents, and notes that SAA worked with 
Senate offices to develop a safe, web-based solution that 
accepts attachments from constituents and routes those 
attachments directly to an office's Constituent Support 
Systems. However, additional enhancements are necessary in 
order to ensure that attachments can be made to submissions on 
Senate websites in a manner that meets the needs of the Senate 
offices. The Committee strongly encourages SAA to continue 
reviewing its policy concerning the receipt of attachments from 
a Senate network cybersecurity perspective and to conduct 
focused discussions with Senate offices to determine the 
specific needs of the Senate community regarding website 
attachments.
    Cyber Tools.--The Committee directs the SAA to evaluate and 
provide an update briefing within 90 days of enactment of this 
act to the Committee on the feasibility of Member office and 
committee use of cloud-based word processing and document real-
time collaboration tools in a SAA-hosted and CIO-operated data 
center.
    IT Requirements for State Offices.--The Committee 
appreciates the work of the SAA across the information 
technology platform. To continue to stay abreast of these 
requirements, the SAA shall conduct an updated survey with 
personal State offices to validate the IT requirements for each 
office. Based on the results of the survey, the SAA shall 
provide a briefing to the Committee within 30 days of enactment 
of the act to update on the SAA efforts to address findings 
from the survey.
    Training for System Administrators.--The Committee notes 
that the SAA Chief Information Officer [CIO] has worked to 
provide Linked in Learning training for Senate offices' and 
committees' system administrators and expects the CIO to 
continue exploring and recommending training options for system 
administrators.
    Cyber Care Education for Senators and Staff.--The Committee 
recognizes the threat of hacking and cyberattacks on Senators 
and staff on their official and personal devices and accounts. 
The SAA is working to improve personal cybersecurity, cyber 
advisories, and cybersecurity best practice documents tailored 
to such devices and accounts, and should continue to educate 
members and staff on such practices. In addition, the SAA 
shall, in coordination with this Committee, the Senate 
Committee on Rules and Administration, and Senate majority and 
minority leadership, continue to explore ways-including the 
options presented in the bipartisan Senators' Personal 
Cybersecurity Working Group's report-in-which it may better 
provide voluntary cybersecurity support to any Senator seeking 
assistance with their personal devices or accounts under 
existing ethics, rules, appropriations, statutory, and civil 
law, including whether investments in additional IT hardware 
and software, additional personnel, and additional guidelines 
are needed. The Committee also directs the SAA to provide 
increased training opportunities so that members and staff 
traveling abroad are aware of cyber threats and appropriate 
best practices to mitigate such threats to their devices, and 
to brief this Committee on whether members and staff are 
utilizing these awareness tools.
    Enterprise Software.--The Committee notes that the Further 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2024 (Public Law 118-47) 
required the SAA to conduct a needs assessment within the 
Senate community to determine the overall enterprise software 
requirements for each entity's mission, and to use the outcomes 
of the needs assessment to inform the SAA's Chief Information 
Officer's Strategic and Operational Objectives. Employees of 
the Senate use and rely upon software approved and managed by 
the SAA to carry out their responsibilities on behalf of the 
American people. While SAA appropriately focuses on the safety, 
security and integrity of these software applications and 
license agreements, the SAA is encouraged to make available 
software that is best suited to the requirements of its end 
users. The Committee directs the SAA to brief the Committee on 
the outcomes of the needs assessment and how the SAA plans to 
use the needs assessment to inform the SAA's Chief Information 
Officer's Strategic and Operational Objectives no later than 60 
days after the completion of the needs assessment.
    Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Correspondence.--The 
SAA is directed to brief the Committee on Appropriations within 
60 days of enactment of this act on its ongoing efforts to 
support Senate offices and committees in identifying artificial 
intelligence proliferation in constituent correspondence and 
its impact on the legislative work of the Senate.
    Member Security.--The Committee continues to be concerned 
over the growing numbers of threats to Members of Congress. The 
Committee encourages the Sergeant At Arms, in coordination with 
USCP, to continue exploring all forms of appropriate security 
measures including commercially available technology solutions 
that allow for a rapid law enforcement response both in and 
outside of the National Capital Region.
    Residential Security System Program.--The SAA shall brief 
the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Rules and 
Administration of the Senate within 60 days of enactment of 
this act on the progress of the implementation of the 
Residential Security System Program.
    Sergeant-at-Arms Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery 
Fund.--The SAA shall provide a report to the Committee within 
30 days of enactment of this act on the utilization of the 
Sergeant at Arms Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery 
[BCDR] fund, which was established under section 103 of the 
Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2022 (Public Law 117-
103).
    McCain-Mansfield Fellowship Program.--The Committee 
continues to support the SAA's efforts to implement the McCain-
Mansfield Fellowship Program. The Committee provides $6,277,000 
for this purpose. The SAA shall brief the Committee within 90 
days of the enactment of the act on the SAA's progress in 
implementing the fellowship program.
    Collaborative Co-Development of Legislative Branch 
Technology.--The SAA is encouraged to work more closely with 
the House of Representatives on the co-development of future 
modernization technology tools to increase congressional 
capacity, continuity, and customer service to the American 
people.
    Modernization of Applications for the Committee on 
Appropriations.--The SAA is encouraged to develop and deliver 
innovative software applications that support the work of the 
Committee. The SAA is directed to work in close coordination 
with the Committee on these efforts and to brief the Committee 
within 90 days of enactment of this act on proposed software 
solution recommendations.
    Enhancing Effectiveness of Constituent Casework 
Functionality.--The Committee directs the SAA to provide a 
briefing within 60 days of enactment of this act on the ongoing 
efforts to support personal office casework operations, such as 
the sharing of best practices, training, and technology 
support. Further, the SAA should include in the briefing 
recommendations for the SAA to provide additional support for 
casework operations, such as the development of methods to 
track aggregate casework data, the development of caseworker 
toolkits, the establishment of a central hub to provide 
caseworker resources and liaison assistance between agencies 
and personal offices.

                          MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Appropriations, 2024....................................     $26,517,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................      29,027,500
Committee recommendation................................      29,028,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $29,028,000 
for miscellaneous items to remain available until September 30, 
2027. Any deviation of more than 10 percent cumulatively from 
the stated levels for each item will require the customary 
prior approval of the Committee. The following table sets forth 
the apportionment of funds under this appropriation:

   FISCAL YEAR 2025 BUDGET--MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS APPORTIONMENT SCHEDULE
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Fiscal year 2025      Committee
                Item                       request       recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Resolution and reorganization               $5,500,000        $5,500,000
 reserve............................
Unallocated.........................        10,000,000        10,000,000
Reserve for contingencies                      800,000           800,000
 (miscellaneous items)..............
Reception of foreign dignitaries (S.            30,000            30,000
 Res. 247, dated February 7, 1962,
 as amended by S. Res. 370, dated
 October 10, 2000)..................
Foreign travel--Members and                    125,000           125,000
 employees (S. Res. 179, dated May
 25, 1977)..........................
Federal employees compensation                 600,000           600,000
 account (Public Law 96-499, dated
 December 5, 1980) (Unemployment
 Compensation)......................
Conferences for the Majority and               300,000           300,000
 Minority (Public Laws: 97-51, dated
 January 3, 1983; 101-250, dated
 November 5, 1990; and 107-68, dated
 November 12, 2001).................
Policy Committees for the Majority             150,000           150,000
 and Minority (Public Law 104-53,
 dated November 19, 1995)...........
Postage.............................             6,000             6,000
Stationery..........................            16,500            17,000
Communications......................            72,000            72,000
Consultants including agency                 9,000,000         9,000,000
 contributions (2 U.S.C. 6501 as
 amended)...........................
National Security Working Group                700,000           700,000
 (Public Law 115-244, dated
 September 21, 2018)................
Committee on Appropriations (Public            950,000           950,000
 Law 105-275, dated October 21,
 1998)..............................
Office of the Chaplain (Public Law              40,000            40,000
 108-199, dated January 23, 2004)...
Senate Child Care Center:
    Agency Contribution costs                  510,000           510,000
     authorized by Public Laws 102-
     90, dated August 14, 1991 and
     103-50, dated July 2, 1993.....
    Reimbursement of salaries                  206,000           206,000
     authorized by S. Res. 329,
     dated July 29, 2021............
    Training classes, conferences,              22,000            22,000
     and travel expenses as
     authorized by Public Law 104-
     197, dated September 16, 1996..
                                     -----------------------------------
      Total.........................        29,027,500        29,028,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Senate Employees' Child Care Center.--Under current law, 
Congress may only provide funding for employee benefits and 
travel expenses for employee training activities for the Senate 
Employees' Child Care Center [SECCC], and the reimbursement of 
salaries for the executive director and assistant director of 
the center, which are provided for and fully funded in this 
act. However, funds for all other employees' salaries and 
operational expenses are paid by the Center's operating budget 
and cannot be supplemented with appropriated funds. In agreeing 
to provide salary reimbursements for the SECCC executive 
director and the assistant director, the Committee recognizes 
the importance of access to high quality, affordable child care 
for recruitment and retention of U.S. Senate employees and 
supports the ability of the Center to employ high caliber 
faculty, maintain its commitment to early childhood education, 
and continue to serve the growing number of Senate employees 
who require child care for their infant to pre-school children. 
Furthermore, the Committee understands these payments will free 
up the Center's operating budget to provide salary increases 
for all day care faculty, allowing the Center to pay its staff 
competitive salaries comparable with the House of 
Representatives Child Care Center.
    Resolution and Reorganization Reserve.--This line item is 
used to cover the costs of Senate resolutions and public laws 
that authorize expenditures from the contingent fund of the 
Senate that do not have specific appropriations for such 
purpose.
    Reserve for Contingencies.--This line item includes payment 
for gratuities for family members of deceased Senate employees; 
damage to automobiles in the Senate parking lots; contractual, 
legal, and administrative services; and miscellaneous expenses, 
and is controlled by the Committee on Rules and Administration.
    Employees' Compensation Fund Reimbursements (Worker's 
Compensation).--This amount is for reimbursements made to the 
U.S. Department of Labor for total benefits and other payments 
made on behalf of Senate employees from the employees' 
compensation fund. Payments are authorized to be made from 
expired balances, a practice that is consistent with the other 
agencies of the legislative branch.
    Reception of Foreign Dignitaries.--The Committee on Foreign 
Relations is authorized to expend, and not to exceed, $30,000 
each fiscal year to receive foreign dignitaries under the 
authority of Senate Resolution 247, agreed to February 7, 1962, 
as amended.
    Foreign Travel: Members and Employees.--Senate Resolution 
179, agreed to May 25, 1977, authorized payment from the 
contingent fund of the Senate of the domestic portion of 
transportation costs and travel expenses incurred by Members 
and employees of the Senate when engaged in authorized foreign 
travel.
    Federal Employees' Compensation Account (Unemployment 
Compensation).--This line item provides for expenses incurred 
for the Senate to reimburse the Federal employees' compensation 
account, pursuant to Public Law 96-499, approved December 5, 
1980, for unemployment compensation payments made to Senate 
employees.
    Conferences for the Majority and Minority.--The amount 
recommended provides for the expenses of the majority and 
minority conference committees.
    Policy Committees for the Majority and Minority.--The 
amount recommended provides for the expenses of the majority 
and minority policy committees.
    Postage.--The amount recommended provides for postage 
allowances for the President of the Senate, Secretary of the 
Majority, Secretary of the Minority, and Senate Chaplain.
    Stationery.--The amount recommended provides funds for 
stationery and office supplies for the President of the Senate, 
conference committees of the Senate, Office of the Chaplain, 
and the Senate Chamber.
    Communications.--The amount recommended provides funds for 
cellular telephone and mobile data devices and services for the 
Office of the Vice President, Secretary for the Majority, 
Secretary for the Minority, Office of the Chaplain, Majority 
Leader, Minority Leader, Majority Whip, and Minority Whip.
    Consultants: Including Agency Contributions.--This item 
provides authority for the appointment and payment of 
consultants to the majority and minority leaders, President Pro 
Tempore, President Pro Tempore Emeritus, and the legislative 
counsel.
    The following summarizes the current authority and 
limitations:
    Majority Leader.--Twelve consultants at not to exceed the 
daily rate for maximum standing committee rate. All of the 
consultants may be appointed at an annual rate of compensation 
not to exceed the maximum annual rate for a standing committee.
    Minority Leader.--Twelve consultants at not to exceed the 
daily rate for maximum standing committee rate. All of the 
consultants may be appointed at an annual rate of compensation 
not to exceed the maximum annual rate for a standing committee.
    Legislative Counsel (Subject to President Pro Tempore 
Approval).--Two consultants at not to exceed the daily rate for 
maximum standing committee rate. All of the consultants may be 
appointed at an annual rate of compensation not to exceed the 
maximum annual rate for a standing committee.
    President Pro Tempore.--Three consultants at not to exceed 
the daily rate for maximum standing committee rate. The 
consultants may be appointed at an annual rate of compensation 
not to exceed the maximum annual rate for a standing committee.
    President Pro Tempore Emeritus.--One consultant at not to 
exceed the daily rate for maximum standing committee rate. The 
consultant may be appointed at an annual rate of compensation 
not to exceed the maximum annual rate for a standing committee.
    Senate National Security Working Group.--Provides funding 
for the Senate National Security Working Group, under the 
authority of Senate Resolution 75, agreed to March 25, 1999. 
The Senate National Security Working Group was formerly the 
Senate Arms Control Observer Group. The Senate National 
Security Working Group shall operate without future expiration 
of authority.
    Committee on Appropriations.--Pursuant to Public Law 105-
275, provides funding for administrative expenses for the 
Committee on Appropriations.
    Senate Employees' Child Care Center: Agency 
Contributions.--Provides for the payment of agency contribution 
costs as authorized by Public Law 102-90, approved August 14, 
1991, and Public Law 103-50, approved July 2, 1993, for 
employees of the Senate Employees' Child Care Center. The 
Senate Employees' Child Care Center is intended for the 
children of Members and employees of the Senate.
    Senate Employees' Child Care Center: Reimbursement of 
Salaries.--Provides for the reimbursement costs to the Senate 
Employees' Child Care Center for the basic pay paid to the 
Executive Director and for the basic pay paid to the Assistant 
Director of the Center, as authorized by Senate Resolution 329, 
approved July 29, 2021.
    Senate Employees' Child Care Center: Training Classes and 
Conference Costs.--Provides for the reimbursement of any 
individual employed by the Senate Employees' Child Care Center 
for the cost of training classes and conferences in connection 
with the provision of child care services and for travel, 
transportation, and subsistence expenses incurred in connection 
with the training classes and conferences, as authorized by 
Public Law 104-197, approved September 16, 1996.
    Student Loan Repayment Program.--$10,000,000 is provided 
for this program for fiscal year 2025 for the repayment of 
student loans, for eligible employees at the discretion of the 
employing office, to enhance recruitment and retention of 
Senate staff.

        SENATORS' OFFICIAL PERSONNEL AND OFFICE EXPENSE ACCOUNT

Appropriations, 2024....................................    $552,600,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................     571,790,000
Committee recommendation................................     588,381,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation for fiscal year 
2025 of $588,381,000 for the Senators' Official Personnel and 
Office Expense Account [SOPOEA]. The recommendation is an 
increase of $35,781,000 above the fiscal year 2024 
appropriation and $16,591,000 above the fiscal year 2025 
request. Of the funding provided, $29,420,000 is available 
until September 30, 2027. This account funds salaries and 
benefits of Senators' staffs as well as the office expense 
allowance for Senators' offices. The SOPOEA is comprised of 
three components. Two of these are for salaries of personnel in 
Senators' offices. The allowance for administrative and 
clerical assistance is based on the population of States, 
beginning with States with a population of fewer than five 
million people to States with a population of 28 million or 
more. The table illustrates the allowances per population 
category and the States that fall into those categories. The 
estimate for fiscal year 2025 totals $370,059,814. The second 
component of the salaries allowance is for legislative 
assistance to Senators, as authorized by Public Law 95-94 as 
amended. This allowance provides funding for three positions in 
each Senator's office for a total of $665,700 per office, or 
$66,570,000 for all 100 Senators. The third component of the 
SOPOEA account is for official office expenses and totals 
$20,128,950. Each Senator's office is allocated an amount for 
office expenses, as displayed in the following table. It should 
be noted that the amounts provided for the various components 
of the SOPOEA are interchangeable. Amounts provided for 
salaries may be used for expenses, and vice versa, subject to 
regulations set by the Committee on Rules and Administration 
with respect to official mail. It should also be noted that the 
figures in the following table are preliminary, and that 
official notification of member budgets is issued by the 
Financial Clerk of the Senate after enactment of this bill.
    The following table illustrates the several components of 
the SOPOEA.

     COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION FOR SENATORS' OFFICIAL PERSONNEL AND OFFICE EXPENSE ALLOWANCE FISCAL YEAR 2025
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Administrative
                                                   and clerical     Legislative      O.O.E.A.          Total
                      State                         assistance      assistance    allowance 10/1/ allowance 10/1/
                                                  allowance 10/1/ allowance 10/1/      2024            2024
                                                       2024            2024
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama.........................................       3,512,241         665,700         185,468       4,363,409
Alaska..........................................       3,414,342         665,700         253,230       4,333,272
Arizona.........................................       3,708,048         665,700         206,134       4,579,882
Arkansas........................................       3,414,342         665,700         169,802       4,249,844
California......................................       5,376,092         665,700         453,541       6,495,333
Colorado........................................       3,512,241         665,700         195,111       4,373,852
Connecticut.....................................       3,414,342         665,700         159,849       4,239,891
Delaware........................................       3,414,342         665,700         129,284       4,209,326
Florida.........................................       5,000,275         665,700         321,549       5,987,524
Georgia.........................................       4,099,669         665,700         223,517       4,988,886
Hawaii..........................................       3,414,342         665,700         278,941       4,358,983
Idaho...........................................       3,414,342         665,700         166,699       4,246,741
Illinois........................................       4,197,570         665,700         258,705       5,121,975
Indiana.........................................       3,610,147         665,700         192,511       4,468,358
Iowa............................................       3,414,342         665,700         170,707       4,250,749
Kansas..........................................       3,414,342         665,700         169,245       4,249,287
Kentucky........................................       3,414,342         665,700         179,392       4,259,434
Louisiana.......................................       3,414,342         665,700         185,151       4,265,193
Maine...........................................       3,414,342         665,700         148,456       4,228,498
Maryland........................................       3,610,147         665,700         171,611       4,447,458
Massachusetts...................................       3,708,048         665,700         196,098       4,569,846
Michigan........................................       4,001,765         665,700         229,807       4,897,272
Minnesota.......................................       3,512,241         665,700         190,249       4,368,190
Mississippi.....................................       3,414,342         665,700         167,321       4,247,363
Missouri........................................       3,610,147         665,700         198,512       4,474,359
Montana.........................................       3,414,342         665,700         162,328       4,242,370
Nebraska........................................       3,414,342         665,700         162,049       4,242,091
Nevada..........................................       3,414,342         665,700         177,692       4,257,734
New Hampshire...................................       3,414,342         665,700         143,421       4,223,463
New Jersey......................................       3,903,854         665,700         201,360       4,770,914
New Mexico......................................       3,414,342         665,700         166,133       4,246,175
New York........................................       4,874,999         665,700         316,441       5,857,140
North Carolina..................................       4,001,765         665,700         228,741       4,896,206
North Dakota....................................       3,414,342         665,700         151,263       4,231,305
Ohio............................................       4,099,669         665,700         251,727       5,017,096
Oklahoma........................................       3,414,342         665,700         181,546       4,261,588
Oregon..........................................       3,414,342         665,700         191,780       4,271,822
Pennsylvania....................................       4,295,472         665,700         257,290       5,218,462
Rhode Island....................................       3,242,182         665,700         139,405       4,219,447
South Carolina..................................       3,512,241         665,700         179,065       4,357,006
South Dakota....................................       3,242,182         665,700         152,891       4,232,933
Tennessee.......................................       3,708,048         665,700         197,888       4,571,636
Texas...........................................       5,376,092         665,700         380,908       6,422,700
Utah............................................       3,242,182         665,700         174,737       4,254,779
Vermont.........................................       3,242,182         665,700         136,696       4,216,738
Virginia........................................       3,805,955         665,700         197,006       4,668,661
Washington......................................       3,708,048         665,700         220,389       4,594,137
West Virginia...................................       3,242,182         665,700         146,030       4,226,072
Wisconsin.......................................       3,512,241         665,700         192,633       4,370,574
Wyoming.........................................       3,242,182         665,700         153,366       4,233,408
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
      Total.....................................     185,029,907      33,285,000      10,064,475     228,379,382
                                                 ===============================================================
                                                              x2              x2              x2              x2
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
      Grand Total...............................     370,059,814      66,570,000      20,128,950     456,758,764
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the most recent employment data compiled by 
the Secretary of the Senate, as of May 31, 2024, there were 
4,276 individuals employed in Senators' offices throughout the 
United States and covered by this appropriation. In addition to 
providing funds for compensation of employees within Senators' 
offices, this appropriation also provides for agency 
contributions for those employees; that is, the Senate's share, 
as an employer, of the various employee benefit programs for 
which Senate employees are eligible. These payments are 
mandatory, and fluctuate according to the programs in which 
employees are enrolled, the level of compensation, and the 
degree of participation. Budget requests for this account 
prepared by the Financial Clerk must be based on both 
experience and evaluation of trends. The fiscal year 2025 
funding level for this account anticipates $159,798,000 in 
agency contribution costs. The amount recommended by the 
Committee for the SOPOEA is less than would be required to 
cover all obligations that could be incurred under the 
authorized allowances for all Senators. The Committee is able 
to recommend an appropriation of a lesser amount than 
potentially necessary because Senators typically do not 
obligate funds up to the absolute ceiling of their respective 
allowances.
    Senate Intern Compensation.--The Committee continues to 
believe that Senate internships should be available to the 
broadest possible pool of candidates who have the ability and 
interest to serve. Unfortunately, unpaid internships exclude 
those who cannot independently afford to work without pay, 
hindering students' future career opportunities and making it 
more difficult for Senators to attract and hire the most 
qualified interns, regardless of socioeconomic status. 
Providing interns financial compensation provides an avenue for 
more students to have the opportunity to serve their country 
and gain experience toward a career in public service. In 
addition to funding allocated in the table above for Senators' 
office allowances and for agency contribution costs, the bill 
includes $7,000,000 for the sole purpose of providing financial 
compensation to interns. This will allow offices to continue to 
diversify their intern hires and, if an office chooses to do 
so, provide stipends to better help interns with travel and 
housing costs. Any intern compensation funding that remains 
unspent by any office will be returned to the Treasury in 
accordance with section 101 of the bill. Such funding is 
directed to be allocated among Senators' offices in relative 
proportion to funds allocated for each office's administrative 
and clerical assistance allowance for fiscal year 2025 shown in 
the table above, which reflect natural variables including 
State populations, with a small additional amount for non-
contiguous States. On average, each office will be allocated an 
estimated $70,000 for intern compensation.

  SENATORS' OFFICE ALLOCATIONS FOR INTERN COMPENSATION FISCAL YEAR 2025
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           State                                Amount
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama....................................................      $66,200
Alaska.....................................................       69,600
Arizona....................................................       69,900
Arkansas...................................................       64,400
California.................................................      101,400
Colorado...................................................       66,200
Connecticut................................................       64,400
Delaware...................................................       64,400
Florida....................................................       94,300
Georgia....................................................       77,300
Hawaii.....................................................       69,600
Idaho......................................................       64,400
Illinois...................................................       79,200
Indiana....................................................       68,100
Iowa.......................................................       64,400
Kansas.....................................................       64,400
Kentucky...................................................       64,400
Louisiana..................................................       64,400
Maine......................................................       64,400
Maryland...................................................       68,100
Massachusetts..............................................       69,900
Michigan...................................................       75,500
Minnesota..................................................       66,200
Mississippi................................................       64,400
Missouri...................................................       68,100
Montana....................................................       64,400
Nebraska...................................................       64,400
Nevada.....................................................       64,400
New Hampshire..............................................       64,400
New Jersey.................................................       73,600
New Mexico.................................................       64,400
New York...................................................       92,000
North Carolina.............................................       75,500
North Dakota...............................................       64,400
Ohio.......................................................       77,300
Oklahoma...................................................       64,400
Oregon.....................................................       64,400
Pennsylvania...............................................       81,000
Rhode Island...............................................       64,400
South Carolina.............................................       66,200
South Dakota...............................................       64,400
Tennessee..................................................       69,900
Texas......................................................      101,400
Utah.......................................................       64,400
Vermont....................................................       64,400
Virginia...................................................       71,800
Washington.................................................       69,900
West Virginia..............................................       64,400
Wisconsin..................................................       66,200
Wyoming....................................................       64,400
                                                            ------------
      Total................................................    3,500,000
                                                            ============
      Grand Total..........................................    7,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          OFFICIAL MAIL COSTS

Appropriations, 2024....................................        $300,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................         300,000
Committee recommendation................................         300,000

    For the official mail costs of the Senate, the Committee 
recommends an appropriation of $300,000 which is equal to the 
fiscal year 2024 appropriation and the fiscal year 2025 
request.

                        Administrative Provision

    Sec. 101. This provision requires that amounts remaining in 
the Senators' Official Personnel and Office Expense Account be 
used for deficit reduction or to reduce the Federal debt.

                              JOINT ITEMS


                        Joint Economic Committee

Appropriations, 2024....................................      $4,283,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................       4,283,000
Committee recommendation................................       4,283,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $4,283,000 for 
the Joint Economic Committee [JEC]. The recommendation is equal 
to the fiscal year 2024 appropriation and equal to the fiscal 
year 2025 request. The Joint Economic Committee was created by 
the Employment Act of 1946 (Public Law 79-304). The primary 
tasks of the JEC are to review economic conditions and to 
recommend improvements in economic policy. The JEC performs 
research and economic analysis, and monitors and analyzes 
current economic, financial, and employment conditions.

                      Joint Committee on Taxation

Appropriations, 2023....................................     $13,554,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................      14,850,000
Committee recommendation................................      14,450,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $14,450,000 
for salaries and expenses of the Joint Committee on Taxation. 
The recommendation is $896,000 above the fiscal year 2024 
appropriation and $400,000 below the fiscal year 2025 request.
    The Joint Committee on Taxation is established under the 
Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to:
  --investigate the operation and effects of internal revenue 
        taxes and the administration of such taxes;
  --investigate measures and methods for the simplification of 
        such taxes;
  --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
  --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. In addition 
        to these functions that are specified in the Internal 
        Revenue Code, the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 
        (Public Law 93-344) requires the Joint Committee to 
        provide revenue estimates for all tax legislation 
        considered by either the House of Representatives or 
        the Senate.

                   Office of the Attending Physician

Appropriations, 2024....................................      $4,764,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................       4,416,000
Committee recommendation................................       4,666,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $4,666,000 for 
the Office of the Attending Physician. The recommendation is 
$98,000 below the fiscal year 2024 appropriation and $250,000 
above the fiscal year 2025 request. The Office was first 
established by House Resolution 253, adopted December 5, 1928. 
The recommendation includes $250,000 to support the procurement 
and maintenance of continuity emergency medical materials and 
equipment.

             Office of Congressional Accessibility Services

Appropriations, 2024....................................      $1,766,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................       1,838,000
Committee recommendation................................       1,838,000

    The Committee recommends $1,838,000 for the Office of 
Congressional Accessibility Services [OCAS]. This office is a 
successor to the Special Services Office following enactment of 
the Capitol Visitor Center Act of 2008 (Public Law 110-437). 
The OCAS provides and coordinates accessibility services for 
individuals with disabilities, including Members of Congress, 
staff, and visitors to the U.S. Capitol complex. These services 
include sign language interpreting, adaptive tours, and 
wheelchair loans. OCAS also provides information regarding 
accessibility for individuals with disabilities, as well as 
related training and staff development to Members of Congress 
and employees of the Senate and House of Representatives.

                             CAPITOL POLICE

Appropriations, 2024....................................    $791,473,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................     900,390,000
Committee recommendation................................     832,556,000

    The United States Capitol Police [USCP] is charged with the 
protection of the United States Congress, its legislative 
processes, Members, employees, visitors, and facilities within 
the U.S. Capitol complex from crime, disruption, or terrorism 
so that the Congress may fulfill its constitutional 
responsibilities in a safe and open environment. The Committee 
recommends $832,556,000 for the USCP. The recommendation is 
$41,083,000 above the fiscal year 2024 appropriation and 
$67,834,000 below the fiscal year 2025 request.
    Risk-Based Protections for Members of Congress.--Threats 
against Members of Congress have increased significantly since 
calendar year 2021. In light of this, the Committee continues 
to find that ensuring the continuity of government must include 
protecting the overall security of Members of Congress. The 
recommendation provides $2,000,000 for the Department to 
continue to provide Member security outside of the Capitol 
campus in the National Capital Region [NCR], as warranted by 
risk-based analyses. The Committee expects the USCP to continue 
working closely with the Sergeants at Arms and law enforcement 
partners in the NCR, as well as educating Member offices, on 
the USCP strategy for Members' protection within the NCR while 
off the Capitol Grounds, per the December 2018 report detailing 
the Department's plans to enhance off-campus Member security in 
the NCR.
    Enhanced Member Protection.--The Committee continues to 
recognize the expanding mission requirements for the United 
States Capitol Police in the area of Member protection. The 
Department has been provided significant funding to support 
complex enhanced Member protection initiatives over the last 
two fiscal years. The Department shall provide quarterly 
briefings to the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee 
on Rules and Administration of the Senate on the Department's 
progress in implementing these initiatives. These briefings 
should include recommendations, as necessary, for the 
enhancement of the Department's efforts in this area, as well 
as recommended funding strategies for addressing the 
requirements.
    Contract Security Officers.--The Committee directs the USCP 
to provide an updated version of report requested under this 
heading in Senate Report 118-60.
    Mutual Aid Reimbursements.--The USCP is directed to 
continue to expand the use of other Federal, State and local 
law enforcement entities through reimbursable mutual aid 
agreements and to ensure a collaborative two-way sharing of 
critical information to meet USCP mission requirements.
    Use of Drones and Other Sensitive Technologies.--The 
Department is directed to continue to strengthen procedures for 
the purchasing of sensitive technologies in order to ensure 
that none are acquired for routine law enforcement purposes 
from entities identified by the United States Government as 
posing a cyber or other threat.
    Uniform Procurement.--The Department is directed to brief 
the Committee on the status of current uniform procurement and 
availability for USCP officers.
    Civilian Staffing.--The Committee supports the Department's 
authorized number of civilians, however the Committee's 
recommendation includes a reduction to the request as the 
Department's projections for fiscal year 2024 civilian hiring 
are below the authorized and appropriated levels. The Committee 
believes it will be difficult to hire the requested civilians 
for fiscal year 2025.
    USCP Office of the Inspector General Report Disclosure.--
The Committee is encouraged that the Office of the Inspector 
General has begun making its reports publicly available 
whenever practicable and has started publishing reports on its 
website. The Committee is supportive of the process initiated 
by the Office of the Inspector General to gain approval for the 
public posting of its reports.
    Concept of Operations Plan.--The Committee supports the 
efforts of the Department to address emerging requirements to 
better understand its staffing and resources needs in out 
years. The Department's Concept of Operations focused on three 
foundational program areas as the first step toward 
implementation of the recommendations provided in the report: 
Establish a Workforce Management/Staffing Office to optimize 
utilization of human resources; Conduct an organization-wide 
training gap assessment; and Conduct a comprehensive Technology 
Analysis and Future Needs Assessment. The Committee recommends 
$1,657,000 for the personnel required to build an 
implementation infrastructure to support future recommendation 
realization. The Committee also provides $745,000 to build an 
implementation infrastructure to support future recommendation 
realization.

                                Salaries

Appropriations, 2024....................................    $588,627,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................     636,546,000
Committee recommendation................................     620,401,000

    The amount provided covers salaries, benefits, overtime 
costs and salaries related incentives programs to recruit and 
retain highly qualified personnel. The Committee recommends 
$620,401,000 for USCP salaries, which is $31,774,000 above the 
fiscal year 2024 appropriation and $16,145,000 below the fiscal 
year 2025 request.
    USCP Office of Inspector General.--The Committee notes that 
as the USCP has grown over the last several fiscal years, so 
has the workload of the USCP OIG. To support the oversight of 
an expanding agency, the Committee provides funding support for 
the USCP OIG. As such, the Committee includes funds to support 
not less than 17 FTEs within the USCP OIG and includes no less 
than $897,000 in operating funds from within the USCP's annual 
appropriation.
    Overtime.--The Committee notes that overtime pay is a 
standard practice law enforcement entities utilize to respond 
to unscheduled and unanticipated events. However, understanding 
the impact of overtime on the onboard personnel, the Committee 
finds that keeping overtime pay at a minimum should continue to 
be a goal of the USCP. The Committee directs the USCP to 
continue its efforts to better track and manage overtime pay in 
order to keep overtime costs to a minimum. Further, the 
Committee directs the USCP to provide a detailed report to the 
Committee within 180 days of issuance of this report on the 
Department's efforts to manage the use of overtime on a 
quarterly basis. The report should also include detailed and 
specific recommendations for addressing the USCP's requests for 
implementation of availability pay and inclusion of overtime 
within retirement calculation methodology. The report should 
speak to the costs and benefits of implementing these 
recommendations, including the expected operational mission 
benefits and the costs of implementation and out-year fiscal 
impacts from each. The USCP should consult with the Office of 
Personnel Management, the Department of Justice, the 
Congressional Budget Office and other relevant Federal entities 
to develop the report and input from these agencies should be 
included in the report's details.
    The recommendation does not include funds for USCP overtime 
for requirements associated with major construction projects 
undertaken by the Architect of the Capitol [AOC], as those 
funds are provided to the AOC as part of the overall project 
costs for those major projects and are paid to the USCP on a 
reimbursable basis. The Committee expects the USCP to operate 
within the designated funding level for requirements associated 
with each project. The Committee directs the USCP to provide 
for any additional requirement costs beyond that allocation.
    USCP Overtime and Staffing Report.--The Committee directs 
the USCP to continue to submit to the Committee on 
Appropriations quarterly updates that outline the on-board 
strength of the USCP broken down by officials, officers, sworn 
recruits and civilians; a summary of the overall mission set 
required by the USCP; the number of additional duty (overtime 
and compensatory) hours worked by each USCP officer; a 3-year 
sworn attrition summary by rank; a summary of the timeline for 
training new sworn recruits; the challenges to sworn recruiting 
and hiring; and the USCP's multi-year strategy to remediate 
staffing shortages and incentivize sworn hiring and retention 
in future fiscal years. The Committee also expects this report 
to be thorough and to be received on time from the Department 
and to include updates on the Department's implementation of 
management controls over the impact of overtime on employees 
reaching the maximum annual payable rate.

                            General Expenses

Appropriations, 2024....................................    $202,846,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................     263,844,000
Committee recommendation................................     212,155,000

    Expenses include office supplies and equipment, 
communications, motor vehicles, uniforms and equipment, 
investigations, training, and miscellaneous items. The 
Committee recommends $212,155,000 for general expenses, which 
is $9,309,000 above the fiscal year 2024 appropriation and 
$51,689,000 below the fiscal year 2025 request.
    Stop the Bleed Training.--The Committee appreciates the 
USCP's commitment to conducting ``Stop the Bleed'' training for 
its sworn workforce. The USCP is encouraged to continue to 
provide this training to all new sworn personnel upon 
appointment to the Department.
    Field Office Update Report.--The USCP shall provide the 
Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Rules and 
Administration of the Senate with a report within 30 days of 
enactment of this act on the status of the USCP's continuing 
field office implementation and operations, to include the 
Department's efforts to facilitate an understanding of the 
field office operational mission for State and local government 
entities. The report should include lessons learned to date and 
recommended enhancements to these operational functions.
    Congressional Continuity of Operations Plan [C-COOP].--The 
Department's fiscal year 2025 budget included a $49,400,000 
funding request to support the C-COOP. The Committee believes 
this is a priority as part of the Department's core mission and 
therefore supports the Department having an independent, in-
house response and deployment capability to allow it to respond 
to changing environments, and, ultimately, to protect Members 
of Congress. As such, the Committee recommends at least 
$5,000,000 as a first phase of this effort to build IT 
capabilities to establish connectivity and radio communication 
capabilities, research development and training, as well as 
physical security requirements including deployable screening 
equipment, mobile vehicle barriers, mobile kiosks, and 
deployable barriers.
    Firearm Detection Software.--The Committee encourages the 
USCP to work with the Capitol Police Board to investigate 
whether a patented firearm detection software would complement 
the existing security infrastructure throughout the United 
States Capitol complex as well as district offices as a part of 
a broader security enhancement option. The software must be 
developed in the United States, without the use of any third 
party or open-source data. The Committee looks forward to a 
recommendation upon completion of the review 90 days after 
enactment of this Act.
    Wellness Programs for Law Enforcement.--The Committee 
appreciates the efforts undertaken by the USCP to develop and 
implement a holistic wellness and resiliency program for its 
workforce, including the Howard C. `Howie' Liebengood Center 
for Wellness. The Committee requests bi-annual updates on the 
wellness program and its accessibility to the USCP workforce.

                OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL WORKPLACE RIGHTS


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2024....................................      $8,150,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................       8,592,000
Committee recommendation................................       8,200,000

    The Congressional Accountability Act [CAA] (Public Law 104-
1) established an independent Office of Congressional Workplace 
Rights [OCWR], formerly the Office of Compliance, to apply the 
rights and protections of the following labor and employment 
statutes to covered employees within the Legislative Branch: 
the Fair Labor Standards Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights 
Act, the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Age 
Discrimination in Employment Act, the Family and Medical Leave 
Act, the Occupational Safety and Health Act, the Federal 
Service Labor Management Relations Act, the Employee Polygraph 
Protection Act, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining 
Notification Act, the Rehabilitation Act, and the Uniformed 
Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act. That act was 
amended in 1998 to apply the Veterans Employment Opportunities 
Act and in 2008 to apply the Genetic Information and 
Nondiscrimination Act. On December 21, 2018, the Congressional 
Accountability Act of 1995 Reform Act (Public Law 115- 397) was 
signed into law expanding the Office's duties and 
responsibilities, as well as the number of employees covered by 
the CAA and the CAA Reform Act [CAARA]. The Office of 
Congressional Workplace Rights administers and ensures the 
integrity of the neutral dispute resolution process concerning 
claims that arise under the CAA and CAARA. The Office also 
carries out an education and training program for congressional 
Members, employing offices and congressional employees to 
assist them in understanding their rights and responsibilities 
under the CAA and CAARA. The Committee recommends an 
appropriation of $8,200,000 for the salaries and expenses of 
the OCWR, which is $50,000 above the fiscal year 2024 enacted 
level and $392,000 below the fiscal year 2025 request. Of such 
amount, $500,000 shall remain available until September 30, 
2026.

                      CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2024....................................     $70,000,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................      70,729,000
Committee recommendation................................      73,000,000

    The Congressional Budget Office [CBO] is responsible for 
providing to the Congress objective, nonpartisan, and timely 
analyses to aid in economic and budgetary decisions on the wide 
array of programs covered by the Federal budget, as well as the 
information and estimates required for the congressional budget 
process. The Committee recommends an appropriation of 
$73,000,000 for the CBO. The recommendation is $3,000,000 above 
the fiscal year 2024 appropriation and $2,271,000 above the 
fiscal year 2025 request.
    Promoting Timeliness and Transparency.--The Congressional 
Budget Office provides Congress with budgetary and economic 
analysis that is important to the legislative process and can 
have significant policy implications. The Committee 
acknowledges that CBO has undertaken efforts to improve and 
promote transparency of the agency's modeling and cost 
estimates process. The Committee encourages CBO to strengthen 
its efforts on transparency to respect the interest of Congress 
and to maintain the agency's professional independence. As with 
prior year budget submissions, the Committee expects CBO to 
include in its fiscal year 2026 budget request details about 
the agency's ongoing and future efforts to implement the multi-
year plan to increase its capacity to make CBO's work as 
transparent and responsive as possible.
    Hiring of Personnel.--The Committee notes the CBO's fiscal 
year 2025 budget request includes funding for the hiring of new 
personnel. The Committee encourages the Office to maintain or 
hire new FTE for priority issue areas, including those within 
the Defense and Health Analysis subject areas.

                        ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL

    The Office of the Architect of the Capitol [AOC] is 
responsible to the United States Congress for the maintenance, 
operation, development, and preservation of 16.5 million square 
feet of buildings and more than 450 acres of land throughout 
the Capitol complex. This includes the Capitol, the Capitol 
Visitor Center, the House and Senate office buildings, the 
Library of Congress buildings, the U.S. Botanic Garden, the 
Capitol Power Plant, and other facilities. The AOC also 
provides professional expertise with regard to the preservation 
of architectural and artistic elements entrusted to its care 
and provides recommendations concerning design, construction, 
and maintenance of the facilities and grounds. The Committee 
recommends a funding level of $737,990,000 for activities of 
the Architect of the Capitol, excluding the House Office 
Buildings account. The recommendation is $42,897,000 below the 
fiscal year 2024 appropriation and $120,914,000 below the 
fiscal year 2025 request. The following table compares the 
Committee recommendation for the AOC accounts to the fiscal 
year 2025 request, excluding the House Office Buildings 
account.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Committee
                Item                  recommendation       Difference
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capitol Construction and Operations      $153,280,000      ($37,036,000)
Capitol Building...................        51,602,000        (1,591,000)
Capitol Grounds....................        21,422,000       (13,445,000)
Senate Office Buildings............       157,948,000       (52,048,000)
Capitol Power Plant................       127,114,000        (3,391,000)
Library Buildings and Grounds......        83,500,000        10,298,000
Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds          92,588,000       (20,764,000)
 and Security......................
Botanic Garden.....................        22,000,000          (859,000)
Capitol Visitor Center.............        28,536,000        (2,078,000)
                                    ------------------------------------
      Total........................       737,990,000      (120,914,000)
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    AOC Vehicle Usage.--The AOC is required to comply with 31 
U.S.C. 1343 and, as such, limited by the statutory controls 
over motor vehicle acquisition and use, including price 
limitation, equipment, and replacement of motor vehicles, and 
per regulations set forth by the Government Services 
Administration [GSA]. The Committee directs the AOC to adhere 
to GSA regulations on official use of agency vehicles to 
perform AOC's mission, including proper identification of the 
vehicle as Federal Government-issued and -owned, as well as 
home-to-work policies.
    Hygiene Products.--The Committee appreciates the AOC's 
efforts to ensure menstrual hygiene products are available at 
no cost to all those who use restroom facilities throughout the 
Capitol Complex buildings and grounds. The AOC is expected to 
continue making bulk purchases of, storing, and distributing 
daily menstrual hygiene products throughout the Capitol complex 
buildings, in coordination with partnering agencies.
    Miscellaneous Improvements Notifications.--The Committee 
appreciates the AOC's efforts to document and notify the 
Committee of ``Miscellaneous Improvements'' projects, which are 
completed projects that costs less than $5,000 for labor and 
materials.
    Minor Construction.--The Committee understands the evolving 
requirements the AOC faces throughout the fiscal year that 
impact minor construction accounts. However, the AOC must 
improve its processes for monitoring and communicating changes, 
as well as impacts, resulting from deviations. The Committee 
directs the AOC to provide detailed quarterly reports on Minor 
Construction projects, including a description and cost of each 
project, the status of total funding set aside for each 
purpose, the total amount of remaining funds for the fiscal 
year in this area and a description of all deviations from 
fiscal year projected Minor Construction projects.
    Accounting Practices.--The Committee is strongly concerned 
about the AOC's lack of clear and objective criteria for when 
it utilizes annual versus multi-year funding sources for 
projects. The Committee is concerned that the AOC, on occasion, 
may make certain accounting choices to purposefully avoid 
oversight. The AOC is directed to brief the Committee within 60 
days of enactment of this act on how and when the agency 
decides to utilize annual versus multi-year funding. The 
briefing should include an overview on the feasibility of the 
AOC providing project notification letters for projects funded 
out of annual funding sources, similar to the practice for 
projects funded through multi-year sources. Further, the 
Committee directs the AOC to establish a policy to outline the 
clear and objective procedure for determining project funding 
sources that is consistent with appropriations law. The AOC is 
directed to consult with and receive the approval of the 
Committee on Appropriations and the Committee on Rules and 
Administration of its proposed policy.
    Physical Accessibility Barriers Report.--The Committee 
acknowledges the work of the Architect of the Capitol to 
address potential accessibility barriers identified by the 
Office of Congressional Workplace Rights. The AOC shall provide 
a briefing to the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee 
on Rules and Administration within 30 days of enactment of this 
act on the status of addressing the remaining potential 
physical accessibility barriers on the Capitol Complex.
    Senate Restaurants--Addressing Deferred Maintenance and 
Realigning Physical Operations to Better Address 
Requirements.--As a part of the AOC's multi-year Senate 
restaurant renovations project, the Committee supports the 
AOC's efforts to realign the physical operations of the Senate 
restaurant locations to better utilize space and address the 
requirements for the function in a manner that also utilizes 
funding to address long-deferred maintenance and achieve 
lifecycle replacement requirements.
    Domestic Seafood.--The Committee encourages the management 
of food service facilities in the Capitol and Senate to source 
domestic seafood products, including wild-caught.
    AOC Office of Inspector General.--Within the total, the 
Committee provides no less than $6,110,000 and no fewer than 25 
FTE for the AOC OIG. The Committee also directs the AOC to 
ensure that sufficient funding is available for contracts and 
other expenses identified by the AOC OIG to fulfill its 
mission. Finally, the Committee reiterates that the 
independence of the AOC OIG is of the utmost importance.

                  Capital Construction and Operations

Appropriations, 2024....................................    $152,507,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................     190,316,000
Committee recommendation................................     153,280,000

    The Capital Construction and Operations appropriation 
provides funding for salaries and related benefits of the 
Architect, officers, administrative and support staff, and 
engineering and architecture employees. This account also 
provides for administrative items such as agency-wide 
contractual services; surveys and studies; information 
technology; and safety engineering operations. The Committee 
recommends an appropriation of $153,280,000 for capital 
construction and operations. The recommendation is $773,000 
above the fiscal year 2024 appropriation and $37,036,000 below 
the fiscal year 2025 request.
    Library of Congress Visitor Experience Project.--The 
Committee is concerned with the progress made to date on the 
LOC's Visitor Experience project. Additionally, the Committee 
remains concerned about the manner in which the AOC conducts 
its cost estimation and project scoping for its projects and 
initiatives. Along with budget submissions as part of the 
regular appropriations process, the AOC, in continued 
coordination with the Library of Congress is directed to 
continue to provide bi-weekly status reports to the Committee, 
including designs, cost estimates, and anticipated timelines 
for construction and implementation of the Library's updated 
Visitor Experience Master Plan. These updates should also 
include progress on fundraising initiatives for private 
funding, including both donations in-hand and verbal 
commitments, to support the Visitor Experience. The update 
should provide specific recommendations for resolving 
identified issues, so that the project can move toward project 
implementation and completion.
    Studying Sustainability.--The AOC's annual Performance and 
Accountability Report [PAR] provides the results of the AOC's 
financial performance each fiscal year, as well as demonstrates 
the AOC's commitment to the accomplishment of its mission and 
accountability for its financial resources. As part of the PAR 
completed for fiscal year 2025, the AOC will report on 
greenhouse gas emissions analysis as data is available for the 
Capitol complex. The Committee further directs the AOC to 
include information in each PAR that reflects all significant 
measures taken to address efficient use of steam and 
electricity. The AOC will continue to include this information 
as part of this report on an annual basis to leverage energy 
conservation and maximize the use of energy efficient sources 
throughout the legislative branch facilities.

                            Capitol Building

Appropriations, 2024....................................     $95,688,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................      53,193,000
Committee recommendation................................      51,602,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $51,602,000 
for necessary expenses for the maintenance, care, and operation 
of the Capitol, which is $44,086,000 below the fiscal year 2024 
appropriation and $1,591,000 below the fiscal year 2025 
request. Of such amount, $17,899,000 shall remain available 
until September 30, 2028.
    The following table displays the budget detail.

                            CAPITOL BUILDING
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Committee
                          Item                            recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget
 
      Subtotal, Operating Budget........................     $33,703,000
                                                         ===============
             Fiscal Year 2025 Project Budget
 
Electrical Power Distribution Replacement...............      11,300,000
Minor Construction......................................       6,000,000
Conservation of Fine and Architectural Art..............         599,000
                                                         ---------------
      Subtotal, Project Budget..........................      17,899,000
                                                         ===============
      Total, Capitol Building...........................      51,602,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                            Capitol Grounds

Appropriations, 2024....................................     $16,600,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................      34,867,000
Committee recommendation................................      21,422,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $21,422,000 
for Capitol Grounds for the care and improvements of the 
grounds surrounding the Capitol, the Senate and House office 
buildings, and the Capitol Power Plant. The recommendation is 
$4,822,000 above the fiscal year 2024 appropriation and 
$13,445,000 below the fiscal year 2025 request. Of the amount 
recommended, $6,000,000 shall remain available until September 
30, 2028.
    Composting Program.--While the Committee recommendation 
does not provide additional funding for composting activities, 
the Committee encourages the AOC to continue exploring options 
for composting and food waste reduction with offices who are 
interested from within existing resources.
    Bio-based Materials.--The Committee recognizes the benefits 
of utilizing bio-based products on the Capitol grounds. The 
Committee encourages the AOC to explore opportunities to 
incorporate bio-based products into ongoing projects where 
appropriate.
    Outdoor Recycling.--The Committee commends the efforts of 
the AOC and the United States Capitol Police for implementing 
outdoor recycling programs on the Capitol grounds while 
maintaining security of the complex. The Committee encourages 
the Architect of the Capitol and the USCP to continue to 
collaborate and work together to expand these efforts where 
appropriate in high-traffic areas across the Capitol complex. 
The AOC is also encouraged to continue to work with the USCP to 
find additional locations where garbage and recycling cans can 
be co-located and clearly marked on the Capitol grounds.
    The following table displays the budget detail:

                             CAPITOL GROUNDS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Committee
                          Item                            recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget
 
      Subtotal, Operating Budget........................     $15,422,000
                                                         ===============
             Fiscal Year 2025 Project Budget
 
Taft Memorial...........................................       3,000,000
Minor Construction......................................       3,000,000
                                                         ---------------
      Subtotal, Project Budget..........................       6,000,000
                                                         ===============
      Total, Capitol Grounds............................      21,422,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                        Senate Office Buildings

Appropriations, 2024....................................    $138,751,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................     209,996,000
Committee recommendation................................     157,948,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $157,948,000 
for maintenance of the Senate office buildings. The 
recommendation is $19,197,000 above the fiscal year 2024 
appropriation and $52,048,000 below the fiscal year 2025 
request. Of the amount recommended, $69,300,000 shall remain 
available until September 30, 2028, and $5,000,000 shall remain 
available until expended.
    The following table displays the budget detail:

                         SENATE OFFICE BUILDINGS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Committee
                          Item                            recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget
 
      Subtotal, Operating Budget........................     $83,648,000
                                                         ===============
             Fiscal Year 2025 Project Budget
 
Reprographics Department Renovation, DSOB...............  ..............
Daniel Webster Renovation--Phase II.....................      50,000,000
Domestic Waterline Replacement, DSOB....................       3,400,000
Senate Elevator Refurbishment Program...................       3,000,000
Senate Facilities Plan..................................  ..............
Senate Restaurant Renovation Program....................       5,000,000
Committee Room Modernization............................       4,500,000
Minor Construction......................................       8,400,000
                                                         ---------------
      Subtotal, Project Budget..........................      74,300,000
                                                         ===============
      Total, Senate Office Buildings....................     157,948,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Calder Mountain and Clouds Sculpture.--The Committee 
directs the AOC to continue working with outside partners on 
the restoration of the Calder Mountain and Clouds sculpture. 
The AOC is expected to seek all available avenues to 
expeditiously achieve the completion of this project. Further, 
the AOC is expected to continue providing the Senate Committees 
on Appropriations and the Committee on Rules and Administration 
of the Senate with quarterly updates on the status of these 
efforts.

                          Capitol Power Plant

Appropriations, 2024....................................    $148,650,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................     130,505,000
Committee recommendation................................     127,114,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $127,114,000 
for the operations of the Capitol Power Plant. This is 
supplemented by $10,000,000 in reimbursements, for a total of 
$137,114,000. The recommendation is $21,536,000 below the 
fiscal year 2024 appropriation and $3,391,000 below the fiscal 
year 2025 request. Of the amount provided, $21,000,000 shall 
remain available until September 30, 2028. The Power Plant 
provides heat, light, power, and air-conditioning for the 
Capitol, Senate and House office buildings, and the Library of 
Congress buildings; heat, light, and power for the Botanic 
Garden and the Senate and House Garages; light for the Capitol 
Grounds' street, park, and floodlighting system; steam heat for 
the Government Publishing Office and Washington City Post 
Office, also known as Postal Square; and steam heat and air-
conditioning for the Union Station complex, Folger Shakespeare 
Library, the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building, and 
the U.S. Supreme Court Building on a reimbursable basis. The 
Committee supports continuation of the project, initiated in 
fiscal year 2012, to replace the cooling towers in the West 
Refrigeration Plant. Within the operating budget, the 
recommended amounts for the purchase of electricity from the 
local private utility, payment to the government of the 
District of Columbia for the provision of water and sewer 
services, and the procurement of boiler fuel are displayed in 
the following table.

                FISCAL YEAR 2025 ESTIMATED UTILITY COSTS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Cost
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Purchase of electrical energy...........................     $30,462,000
Purchase of natural gas.................................      19,285,000
Purchase of steam.......................................       1,085,000
Purchase of oil.........................................       2,927,000
Purchase of solid fuel..................................  ..............
Water and Sewer payments................................       7,611,000
Utilities for Postal Square.............................         844,000
Energy Saving Performance Contracts.....................      17,920,000
Energy Reduction Services Contracts.....................      17,920,000
Reimbursement, Steam & Chilled Water....................    (10,000,000)
                                                         ---------------
      Total.............................................      71,465,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    The balance of this appropriation supports a workforce to 
operate and maintain the Power Plant.
    The following table displays the budget detail:

                           CAPITOL POWER PLANT
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Committee
                          Item                            recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget
 
      Subtotal, Operating Budget.......................    $106,144,000
                                                        ================
            Fiscal Year 2025 Project Budget
 
Electric Feeder and Communication Duct Banks...........      16,000,000
EV Charging Campuswide.................................  ...............
Minor Construction.....................................       5,000,000
      Subtotal, Project Budget.........................      21,000,000
                                                        ================
      Total, Capitol Power Plant.......................     127,114,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                     Library Buildings and Grounds

Appropriations, 2024....................................     $94,978,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................      73,202,000
Committee recommendation................................      83,500,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $83,500,000 
for the care and maintenance of the Library buildings and 
grounds by the AOC, of which $45,500,000 shall remain available 
until September 30, 2028. The recommendation is $11,478,000 
below the fiscal year 2024 appropriation and $10,298,000 above 
the fiscal year 2025 request.
    The following table displays the budget detail:

                      LIBRARY BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Committee
                          Item                            recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget
 
      Subtotal, Operating Budget........................     $38,000,000
                                                         ===============
             Fiscal Year 2025 Project Budget
 
Fire Alarm System Repairs, Jefferson....................      14,100,000
Fire Sprinkler System Replacement, Jefferson............      27,400,000
Minor Construction......................................       4,000,000
                                                         ---------------
      Subtotal, Project Budget..........................      45,500,000
                                                         ===============
      Total, Library Buildings and Grounds..............      83,500,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

            Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds, and Security

Appropriations, 2024....................................     $85,207,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................     113,352,000
Committee recommendation................................      92,588,000

    The Committee recommends $92,588,000 for Capitol Police 
Buildings, Grounds, and Security, which is $7,381,000 above the 
fiscal year 2024 appropriation and $20,764,000 below the fiscal 
year 2025 request, of which $28,200,000 shall remain available 
until September 30, 2028. This funding will continue to support 
the maintenance, care and operations of buildings, grounds and 
security enhancements of the USCP and AOC security and 
resilience/ continuity programs. As noted in the fiscal year 
2023, 2024 and 2025 budget submissions of the Capitol Police, 
the Department's growth since January 6, 2021, and ongoing 
threats translates into the need for adequate facilities and 
infrastructure support from within the AOC's annual Capitol 
Police Buildings, Grounds, and Security appropriation. The 
operational, administrative, training, and logistical support 
needs of a Federal law enforcement agency of the size and 
complexity of the USCP has and will continue to have 
significant fiscal impacts for the AOC. The funds provided by 
the Committee for core security needs will support the USCP 
mission and its efforts to transform the manner and means by 
which the Department performs its mission. The Committee is 
concerned by the extended timelines and increased costs for 
addressing critical initiatives. The AOC is directed to 
implement controls and management focus over these initiatives. 
Further, the AOC should address any internal impediments, such 
as non-cleared acquisition processes or disjointed project 
management that may be impacting the ability to address 
projects in a timely manner.
    The Committee directs the AOC to submit a detailed project 
status report within 30 days of the issuance of this statement 
and every 30 days thereafter, for both the Physical Security 
Assessment Design and Construction Program and the Enhanced 
Screening Vestibules Design and Construction Program. The 
detailed project status reports may be provided in a classified 
setting and should provide specific timelines and details for 
the execution of the various projects.
    The following table displays the budget detail:

             CAPITOL POLICE BUILDINGS, GROUNDS, AND SECURITY
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Committee
                          Item                            recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget
 
      Subtotal, Operating Budget........................     $64,388,000
                                                         ===============
             Fiscal Year 2025 Project Budget
 
Air Conditioning Unit Replacement, Offsite Facility.....       5,300,000
Fire Alarm and Sprinkler System Replacement, Offsite          11,900,000
 Facility...............................................
Lease Space Buildout for USCP...........................       2,000,000
USCP Security Assessment Support........................  ..............
Minor Construction......................................       9,000,000
                                                         ---------------
Proximity Card..........................................  ..............
                                                         ---------------
      Subtotal, Project Budget..........................      28,200,000
                                                         ===============
      Total, Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds, and           92,588,000
       Security.........................................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                             Botanic Garden

Appropriations, 2024....................................     $20,506,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................      22,859,000
Committee recommendation................................      22,000,000

    The Committee recommends $22,000,000 for salaries and 
expenses of the Botanic Garden. The recommendation is 
$1,494,000 above the fiscal year 2024 appropriation and 
$859,000 below the fiscal year 2025 budget request. Of this 
amount, $5,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 
2028.
    The following table displays the budget detail:

                             BOTANIC GARDEN
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Committee
                          Item                            recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
           Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget
 
      Subtotal, Operating Budget.......................     $17,000,000
            Fiscal Year 2025 Project Budget
 
Minor Construction.....................................       5,000,000
                                                        ----------------
      Subtotal, Project Budget.........................       5,000,000
                                                        ================
      Total, Botanic Garden............................      22,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                         Capitol Visitor Center

Appropriations, 2024....................................     $28,000,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................      30,614,000
Committee recommendation................................      28,536,000

    The Committee recommends a total of $28,536,000 for the 
operation of the Capitol Visitor Center. The recommendation is 
$536,000 above the fiscal year 2024 appropriation and 
$2,078,000 below the fiscal year 2025 request.
    Dome Tour Transparency.--The Committee understands the 
special privilege afforded only to Senators and Members of the 
House of Representatives to schedule tours of the U.S. Capitol 
Dome. Due to the uniqueness of this opportunity and the volume 
of requests, it has become increasingly challenging for Senate 
offices to reserve a Dome tour within Capitol Visitor Center 
[CVC] operational hours. Accordingly, the Committee directs the 
CVC, in coordination with other relevant entities, to provide a 
report on policies and procedures associated with Dome tours 
and to develop recommendations for how the reservation process 
can become more efficient, to include recommendations for an 
online booking platform and opportunities for Senator specific 
tours outside of normally established operational hours. The 
report should be provided no later than 60 days after enactment 
of this Act and should include short and long-term 
recommendations for actions that can be implemented to improve 
equitable access to Senate offices to reserve Dome tours. 
Further, the report should include recommendations for 
providing the Senate Sergeant-at-Arms with the ability to 
conduct Dome tour during hours outside of the operations of the 
CVC.
    The following table displays the budget detail:

                         CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             Committee
                          Item                            recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
            Fiscal Year 2025 Operating Budget
 
      Subtotal, Operating Budget........................     $28,536,000
                                                         ---------------
      Subtotal, Project Budget..........................  ..............
                                                         ===============
      Total, Capitol Visitor Center.....................      28,536,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                        Administrative Provision

    Sec. 120. This provision prohibits payment of bonuses to 
contractors behind schedule or over budget.

                          LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

    The Library of Congress [LOC] is the largest library in the 
world and an unmatched source of information for Congress, the 
American people, and beyond. The LOC acquires, registers, 
preserves, protects, and makes accessible the creative record 
of the United States. It is the main research arm of the United 
States Congress, and its resources and services are used by 
millions of people every month. Its mission is to support the 
Congress in fulfilling its constitutional duties and to further 
the progress of knowledge and creativity for the benefit of the 
American people. The LOC's collections include more than 178 
million items (books, photographs, maps, sound recordings, 
films, sheet music, legal materials) in 470 languages. Digital 
technology is transforming the way the LOC does its work, and 
the institution plays an important leadership role in 
superimposing digital library collections and services on those 
that are analog based. The Library of Congress houses the 
Congressional Research Service, U.S. Copyright Office, National 
Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled, Law Library 
of Congress, and numerous other programs and services. The 
Committee recommends a total of $878,786,000 for the Library of 
Congress, an increase of $26,628,000 above the fiscal year 2024 
appropriation and $5,547,000 above the fiscal year 2025 
request. In addition to the appropriation, the Library 
estimates receipts of $45,895,000, funds from gifts and trusts 
totaling $124,175,000, and reimbursable and revolving funds 
totaling $328,789,000. Total funds available to support Library 
operations, including the Architect of the Capitol's Library 
Buildings and Grounds account, are expected to be approximately 
$962,286,000 in fiscal year 2025 under the Committee 
recommendation.

                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2024....................................    $592,411,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................     614,578,000
Committee recommendation................................     611,948,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $611,948,000 
for salaries and expenses of the Library of Congress. The 
recommendation is $19,537,000 above the fiscal year 2024 
appropriation and $2,630,000 below the fiscal year 2025 
request.
    IT Continuous development.--The Committee maintains 
investment in the IT continuous development initiative at the 
Library and directs the Library to brief the Committee 
regularly on these efforts.
    Library of Congress Visitor Experience Project.--Along with 
budget submissions as part of the regular appropriations 
process, the Library, in continued coordination with the AOC, 
is directed to continue to provide bi-weekly status reports to 
the Committee, including designs, cost estimates, and 
anticipated timelines for construction and implementation of 
the Library's updated Visitor Experience Master Plan. These 
updates should also include progress on fundraising initiatives 
for private funding, including both donations in-hand and 
verbal commitments, to support the Visitor Experience. The 
update should provide specific recommendations for resolving 
identified issues, so that the project can move toward project 
implementation and completion.
    American Folklife Center--Appalachian Culture and 
Traditions.--The LOC is directed to brief the Committee within 
30 days of enactment of the act on its continued efforts to 
preserve Appalachian culture and traditions through the 
American Folklife Center programs and initiatives.
    Veterans History Project.--The Committee recommends an 
appropriation of $4,409,000 for the Library of Congress' 
Veterans History Project [VHP]. VHP is a critically important 
initiative designed to oversee a nationwide effort to build an 
archive of oral histories, from World War I through current 
conflicts, by collecting, preserving, and making available the 
personal stories of American war veterans and the civilian 
workers who support them. The VHP collection includes 
submissions from every State and is the largest oral history 
project in the United States. The LOC shall provide a briefing 
within 30 days of the issuance of this report to the Committee 
on the progress of the VHP.
    Teaching with Primary Sources.--The Committee recommends an 
appropriation of $12,360,000 for the Library's successful 
Teaching with Primary Sources program [TPS], a teacher training 
initiative that encourages educators to incorporate the 
Library's online primary sources into school curricula. The TPS 
program achieves this by making grants funding available to a 
broad array of eligible organizations in every State in order 
to develop innovative strategies, tools, and materials for 
meaningful teaching and learning experiences using primary 
source material from LOC collections. The Committee is aware of 
the important role that colleges, universities, and other 
educational institutions and foundations have held in 
developing and expanding the scope and reach of the TPS program 
since its authorization in 2005. The Committee encourages the 
Library to maintain funding for these partnerships to continue 
and expand this effective teacher training initiative that 
incorporates the Library's impressive digital collections into 
school curricula.
    The Committee believes that competitive, merit-based grants 
should be awarded through the TPS Consortium of partner 
organizations, such as colleges and universities, educational 
nonprofits, libraries, and advocacy organizations, so that 
grant recipients benefit from the experiences of consortium 
members located in different geographic areas experimenting 
with projects, sharing ideas, and working toward common goals. 
The Committee directs the Library to provide an update to the 
Committee on its plans to continue to implement this initiative 
no later than 90 days after the enactment of this act.
    Teaching with Primary Sources--Influence of Language.--The 
Committee encourages the Library to continue to support 
Teaching with Primary Sources activities focused on the 
importance of the various languages that helped to form the 
foundational development of the United States. These activities 
should include, but are not limited, the influence of the 
Spanish language in various States' governing constitutional 
practices.
    Teaching with Primary Sources- Lewis-Houghton Civics and 
Democracy Initiative.--The Committee appreciates the Library's 
efforts to develop and implement the Lewis-Houghton civics 
education grants initiative. The LOC is reminded that the 
implementation of the initiative shall be done consistent with 
the intent expressed in Public Law 117-328 and the associated 
explanatory statement. The Committee remains committed to the 
success of this program and directs the Library to provide 
quarterly updates on its progress to implement the funding 
previously provided for initiating the program and the proposed 
operating plan for the $2,300,000 recommended in fiscal year 
2025. The Committee directs the Library to provide the first of 
these updates on this effort within 60 days of issuance of this 
statement.
    Preservation of the Collection.--The Committee encourages 
the LOC to evaluate the need for the deacidification program. 
The LOC may utilize up to $500,000 in available funds for this 
purpose in fiscal year 2025.
    National Film and Sound Recording Preservation Programs.--
The Committee recognizes the important work of the National 
Film Preservation Program and the National Sound Recording 
Preservation Program, including the federally chartered 
National Film and National Recording Preservation Foundations 
[Foundations]. Consistent with the authorizing statute, the 
Foundations utilize both public and private matching funds to 
provide grants to a wide array of educational and non-profit 
organizations that help preserve historical and cultural 
artifacts that would otherwise disappear or be destroyed over 
time. Given that these programs were reauthorized under the 
Library of Congress Sound Recording and Film Preservation 
Programs Reauthorization Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-217), the 
Committee expects that the Library will continue to provide 
support to these programs to emphasize their importance.
    Congress.gov Update Study.--The Committee recognizes that 
Congress.gov is an important tool for members, staff, and the 
public to follow and understand the congressional process. The 
Committee appreciates the Library's continuing efforts to date 
to improve Congress.gov and the ongoing efforts to enhance the 
capabilities of Congress.gov. The Committee requests that the 
Library provide regular updates to the public on the ongoing 
efforts to enhance Congress.gov.
    The Committee understands that the study identified 
potential challenges for further enhancements. The Committee 
directs the Library to brief the Committees on Appropriations 
and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration on any 
continuing challenges and recommend solutions within 90 days of 
enactment of this act.
    Library of Congress Semi-annual Public Forums.--The 
Committee is aware of the tremendous value the Library of 
Congress's public forums are for Congress, stakeholders, and 
the public. The Committee also understands that users of the 
Library's legislative information services have suggestions 
regarding ways in which those services could be improved or 
expanded, and the Committee would like to encourage the 
continuance of a more structured process for receiving and 
considering such suggestions, such as the public forums held in 
previous years. Such a process should also recognize some of 
the limits on the Library's ability to implement improvements 
and expansions of these services, however. For example, much of 
the information presented on the Congress.gov website is not 
generated or controlled by the Library but rather comes from 
other sources--particularly various offices of the House of 
Representatives and the Senate and the Government Publishing 
Office--and expanding or changing the content of Congress.gov 
will often require those sources to do something new or 
different. Further, some improvements and expansions would 
require commitment of substantial time and resources by offices 
both within and outside the Library that already have a heavy 
IT workload.
    To facilitate public input into the Library's legislative 
information services and how they could be improved, the 
Committee directs the Library of Congress to hold these public 
forums semi-annually on an ongoing basis. The Library should 
invite a broad range of potentially interested parties to 
participate, such as academics, advocacy, journalists and 
public interest organizations, research institutions, 
libraries, and publishers of legislative information. The 
Library should also invite and encourage participation from 
representatives of Legislative Branch stakeholders such as the 
Clerk of the House, the Secretary of the Senate, the Senate and 
House Sergeants-at-Arms and the Government Publishing Office.
    Following each meeting, the Library shall continue to 
prepare a report, to be submitted to the House and Senate 
Appropriations Committees, to relevant authorizing committees 
and officers of the House and Senate, and to be made publicly 
available on the Library's website. The report should summarize 
the comments and suggestions made, indicate which could be 
implemented by the Library itself and which would require 
action by other entities, roughly estimate the cost and effort 
needed (where possible), and provide the Library's evaluation 
and recommendations for further action. The Library is 
authorized to discuss its recommendations with the public.
    Reading Room Access.--The Committee appreciates the efforts 
to date of the Library in opening up the Main Reading Room to 
the public, while ensuring that critical research activities 
can continue in an appropriate environment. The Library is 
directed to brief the Committee within 90 days of enactment of 
this act on its continuing efforts to expand public access.
    Access to Appropriations Data.--The Committee realizes the 
complexity of presenting annual and supplemental appropriations 
data in a comprehensive manner in similar formats for public 
access. The Committee directs the Library to provide a detailed 
update within 45 days of the issuance of this report on various 
options for providing appropriations data for public access; 
the challenges to doing so in a consistent manner; and the 
resources that would be required to implement the requirement.
    Outreach on Library Programs.--The Committee encourages the 
LOC to continue and expand, if appropriate, cooperative 
partnerships, fellowship opportunities, working consortia, and 
curriculum program associations with minority-serving 
institutions.
    Information Literacy.--In recognition of the critical need 
for Americans of all ages to develop information literacy 
skills, the Committee directs the Library of Congress to 
collaborate with and provide consultative support to the 
Institute of Museum and Library Services [IMLS] as IMLS carries 
out the activities of the Information Literacy Taskforce for 
the priorities and guidelines described in the explanatory 
statement to accompany the Departments of Labor, Health and 
Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies 
Appropriations Act, 2022 (Public Law 117-103).
    Surplus Books.--The Committee remains committed to the 
Surplus Book Program and recommends an appropriation of 
$150,000 for this purpose.
    Data Storage and Migration Methods Initiative.--The 
Committee supports the Library of Congress' ongoing work to 
optimize its large-scale data storage infrastructure and 
explore promising new technical solutions for long-term 
preservation of digital collections. The Committee directs the 
Library to continue the effort identified in the feasibility 
pilot study on the use of evolving data storage and migration 
methods for the preservation and recovery of library data at 
scale. The bill provides $1,000,000 of the total funding 
provided to remain available until expended for the Library to 
conduct this work, including the acquisition of necessary 
subject matter expertise and technical support. The Committee 
directs the Library to provide a update on the implementation 
of the pilot study findings no later than 90 days after 
enactment of the act.
    America 250.--The Committee encourages the Library to 
continue collaboration with the IMLS on outreach and activities 
to engage the diverse community of museums and libraries across 
the Nation in celebrating and commemorating the 
semiquincentennial anniversary of the Nation's founding.
    Office of Inspector General.--The LOC Office of Inspector 
General is provided funding to support no less than 14 FTE and 
$4,500,000 in operating funding for fiscal year 2025 from 
within the LOC's annual appropriation. The authority of the LOC 
Inspector General extends fully and completely to all entities 
within the LOC. All entities with the LOC will comply with all 
requests for assistance and information necessary to facilitate 
the work of the inspector general. Further, all entities within 
the LOC shall prioritize the resolution of open recommendations 
from the LOC Office of Inspector General and shall identify for 
the Committee on Appropriations the reasons why the full 
implementation of the recommendation cannot or should not be 
achieved.

                            Copyright Office


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2024....................................     $57,537,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................      57,543,000
Committee recommendation................................      60,238,000

    The United States Copyright Office plays an important role 
in our Nation's intellectual property system. Copyright law is 
the foundation for the creation and dissemination of American 
artistic works, leading to substantial economic and cultural 
benefits. The Copyright Office serves multiple central roles in 
the copyright system, overseeing the registration of 
copyrighted works, administering the copyright law, and 
providing counsel to Congress on copyright policy. The 
Committee recommends the direct appropriation of $60,238,000 
for the Copyright Office, and approves authority to spend 
receipts of $44,895,000 and $1,000,000 available from prior 
year unobligated balances, for a total of $106,133,000 in 
fiscal year 2025. The recommendation is $2,701,000 above the 
fiscal year 2024 appropriation and $2,695,000 above the fiscal 
year 2025 request.
    Information Technology Continuous Development.--The 
Committee recommends funding for Copyright Office IT continuous 
development. The Committee directs the Copyright Office and the 
Library's Office of Chief Information Officer [OCIO] to 
continue to work together to achieve efficiencies in shared 
services, while allowing for mission specific continued 
improvements to be the responsibility of the Copyright Office. 
The Committee directs the Copyright Office to provide an 
updated detailed report within 60 days of enactment of the act 
for the IT continuous development efforts intended to be 
addressed with the funds provided in fiscal year 2025 and the 
funds utilization to date. The report should provide detailed 
information on how these efforts align to the requirements of 
the communities being served by the Copyright Office.
    Artificial Intelligence Impacts on Copyrights.--The 
Committee recognizes the increasingly important role of 
Artificial Intelligence [AI] and the potential impact this 
technology will have on the creation and use of new and 
existing copyrighted materials. Therefore, the Committee 
strongly encourages the Copyright Office to continue on an 
expedited basis with its AI initiative to support its critical 
roles in administering the Copyright Act and advising Congress 
and others on copyright law and policy. The Library is directed 
to brief the Committee within 90 days of enactment of this act 
on its continued efforts.
    Independence for the Purpose of Issuing Copyright 
Decisions.--The Committee continues to support the independence 
of the Copyright Office from the Library of Congress for the 
purposes of consideration and issuance of copyright decisions.

                     Congressional Research Service


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2024....................................    $136,080,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................     142,860,000
Committee recommendation................................     141,000,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $141,000,000 
for the Congressional Research Service [CRS]. The 
recommendation is $4,920,000 above the fiscal year 2024 
appropriation and $1,860,000 below the fiscal year 2025 
request.
    Congressional Research Service Modernization.--The 
Committee recognizes the tremendous value that CRS has added to 
Congress by providing objective, authoritative, nonpartisan, 
and confidential research and analysis on the breadth of policy 
issues considered during each legislative session since its 
inception in 1914. The Committee continues to support 
modernization of CRS mission-specific information systems to 
increase efficiency of the office while protecting 
confidentiality of congressional data. An important part of 
this modernization is the enhancement of the timeliness and 
transparency of the CRS. The Committee directs the Library of 
Congress and the CRS to provide quarterly updates on these 
efforts, to include benchmarks for reaching these expected 
outcomes.
    Employee Viewpoint Survey.--The Federal Employee Viewpoint 
Survey [FEVS] offers organizational leadership with insight 
into an organization's climate and employee satisfaction. In 
order to ensure that CRS employees can perform the mission of 
the agency effectively, the Committee directs the Librarian of 
Congress to continue to formulate CRS specific questions for 
the LOC's annual FEVS to gauge CRS employee satisfaction and to 
use employee responses to guide CRS leadership objectives and 
performance measurement.
    Science and Technology Research Capacity.--The Committee 
continues to support CRS's efforts to increase the depth and 
breadth of its capacity to provide research and policy analysis 
on current and emerging legislative issues related to science 
and technology [S&T] and Federal uses and oversight of S&T. The 
Committee encourages CRS to continue developing this capacity, 
as recommended in the National Academy of Public Administration 
study directed in conference report H.R. 115-929. This added 
expertise will allow CRS to meet the expanding requirements of 
Congress for timely, complex, and multidisciplinary analysis of 
policy issues related to these rapidly changing technologies, 
the role of the Federal Government in oversight of such 
technologies, and the effects of Federal S&T policies across 
all sectors. The Committee directs the CRS to partner with the 
Government Accountability Office to maximize the legislative 
branch capabilities in this area. The Committee also encourages 
CRS to increase outreach efforts to make Members and 
congressional staff more aware of the resources it provides 
related to S&T policy analysis, including on current and 
emerging S&T issues Congress is examining. The CRS shall 
provide a briefing to the Committee within 60 days of enactment 
of this act on its continued progress to expand the CRS' 
capacity.
    Expansion of Big Data Analytics Capacity.--The Committee 
continues to have interest in CRS's ability to analyze and 
create forecast models using big data sets. The Committee 
directs the CRS to provide an update within 60 days of the 
issuance of this report to the Committee on Appropriations and 
the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate on its 
progress in this area.
    Augmenting Existing Data Analysis Capacity.--The Committee 
encourages CRS to continue to explore ways to augment its 
ability to perform quantitative analysis of research data. The 
Committee recommends $3,469,000 to expand CRS's data analytics 
capacity for big data. Further, within 90 days of enactment of 
this act, CRS shall update the Committee on its ongoing 
efforts, the future plans for meeting established capacity 
expectations, and the resources necessary to do so.
    Casework Contact Information for Agency Liaisons.--The CRS 
is directed to provide a report to the Committee on 
Appropriations within 90 days of enactment of the act on the 
feasibility of making casework related executive and 
legislative branch agency liaison contact information, 
including issue areas where applicable, for use by the 
congressional community. This information should include the 
name, office phone number, email address, and issue areas for 
each identified liaison. The information should also be 
established in an accessible format that is filterable by each 
individual data set for each liaison, as well as routinely 
updated.

       National Library Services for the Blind and Print Disabled


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2024....................................     $66,130,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................      58,258,000
Committee recommendation................................      65,600,000

    This appropriation supports a national reading program for 
eligible residents of the United States and U.S. citizens 
living overseas who are blind or print disabled. Books and 
magazines in braille and various recorded formats are produced 
by the National Library Service for the Blind and Print 
Disabled [NLS] for distribution through a network of State and 
locally supported libraries. At present, 55 regional libraries 
in 49 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the 
U.S. Virgin Islands house and circulate books and magazines to 
eligible readers. Twenty-eight subregional libraries in 10 
States and Guam assist at the local public library level. In 
addition, 15 Advisory and Outreach Centers assist regional 
libraries in provision of services. Fifty-three of the regional 
libraries and three separate cooperating agencies distribute 
sound reproducers. Two multi-State centers, under contract to 
the NLS, store and distribute books and other materials in 
their geographical region. The program supports a readership of 
approximately 300,000.
    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $65,600,000 
for salaries and expenses for NLS. The recommendation is 
$530,000 below the fiscal year 2024 appropriation and 
$7,342,000 above the fiscal year 2025 request.
    The Committee continues its full support for the work of 
the NLS in providing high-level services to the constituency it 
serves.
    The Committee encourages the Library, in consultation and 
coordination with the IMLS, to provide increased assistance to 
the State Library Administrative Agencies to expand access to 
materials from the NLS, with additional support provided to 
IMLS for these activities.

                        Administrative Provision

    Section 130 limits to $328,789,000 the amount that may be 
obligated during fiscal year 2025 from various reimbursements 
and revolving funds available to the Library of Congress.

                      GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE

    The U.S. Government Publishing Office [GPO] is the Federal 
Government's primary centralized resource for gathering, 
cataloging, producing, providing, and preserving published 
information in all its forms. By law and tradition, the GPO's 
mission is to provide expert publishing and printing services 
to all three branches of Government; to provide, in partnership 
with Federal depository libraries, permanent public access to 
the printed and electronic information products of all three 
branches of the Federal Government; and to sell copies of 
authentic printed and electronic documents and other government 
information products to the public. GPO's core mission dates to 
1813 when Congress determined that information regarding the 
work of the Federal Government should be available to all 
Americans. Over 200 years later, GPO's mission remains 
unchanged. However, the means for producing and distributing 
that information has transformed dramatically with the advent 
of the digital revolution. Today, GPO provides free online 
public access to more than 1.5 million searchable titles, 
including the Budget of the U.S. Government, the Code of 
Federal Regulations, the Congressional Record, and 
congressional bills, hearings, and reports. GPO also provides 
access to Government information in digital format through 
apps, eBooks, and related technologies. Since 2009, GPO has 
experienced more than 1.5 billion digital retrievals from its 
Federal Digital System, and in February 2019 GPO introduced the 
next generation of its digital information system, govinfo.gov, 
symbolizing the evolution of how Americans access Government 
information in the digital era.
    GPO Printing Modernization.--The Committee continues its 
interest in the pace of modernization at GPO, specifically as 
it relates to the use of outdated and custom printing methods 
at a time when the adoption of commercial, off-the-shelf 
technology may present advantages in operational and fiscal 
efficiency. The Committee directs GPO, within 180 days of 
enactment of this act, to submit to this Committee a detailed 
report on the agency's current print practices; how GPO is 
enabling agencies to use color, cameras, modern interfaces and 
software; and, other existing solutions and technology to 
improve the agencies communications with taxpayers, 
beneficiaries, veterans and citizens.
    Office of Inspector General.--The GPO Office of Inspector 
General is provided funding to support no less than 25 FTE and 
$7,000,000 in operating funds for fiscal year 2025 from within 
the GPO's annual appropriation. The GPO shall prioritize the 
resolution of open recommendations from the GPO Office of 
Inspector General and shall identify for the Committee on 
Appropriations the reasons why the full implementation of the 
recommendation cannot or should not be achieved.

                        Congressional Publishing

Appropriations, 2024....................................     $83,000,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................      83,000,000
Committee recommendation................................      83,000,000

    The appropriation for Congressional Publishing supports 
transparency of the congressional process by funding digital 
and print publication of congressional proceedings, including 
the Congressional Record, bills, amendments, Committee reports, 
and hearing transcripts. This appropriation also supports the 
direct publication and printing needs of Congress. The 
Committee recommends $83,000,000 for congressional publishing. 
The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 2024 
appropriation and equal to the fiscal year 2025 request. The 
following table compares the component categories within this 
account for fiscal year 2024 and the fiscal year 2025 request. 
The Committee has not recommended separate amounts for each 
activity in order to give GPO the flexibility to meet changing 
requirements.

                        CONGRESSIONAL PUBLISHING
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                     Fiscal year 2024   Fiscal year 2025
                                         enacted           requested
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Congressional Record Publications.       $24,116,000        $24,116,000
Miscellaneous publications........         2,381,000          2,381,000
Miscellaneous publishing and              20,466,000         20,466,000
 services.........................
Details to Congress...............         8,057,000          8,057,000
Document envelopes and document              591,000            591,000
 franks...........................
Business and committee calendars..         4,757,000          4,757,000
Bills, resolutions, and amendments         4,632,000          4,632,000
Committee reports.................         1,890,000          1,890,000
Documents.........................         2,494,000          2,494,000
Hearings..........................        15,432,000         15,432,000
Committee prints..................           654,000            654,000
Transfers.........................        (2,470,000)        (2,470,000)
                                   -------------------------------------
      Total.......................        83,000,000         83,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Public Information Programs of the Office of Superintendent of 
                               Documents


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2024....................................     $37,388,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................      41,664,000
Committee recommendation................................      39,000,000

    This appropriation provides for salaries and expenses 
associated with the distribution of electronic and printed 
Government documents to depository and international exchange 
libraries, the cataloging and indexing of Government 
publications, and the distribution of electronic and printed 
publications authorized by law at the request of Members of 
Congress and other Government agencies. The Committee 
recommends $39,000,000 for salaries and expenses of the Public 
Information Programs of the Office of the Superintendent of 
Documents. The recommendation is $1,612,000 above the fiscal 
year 2024 appropriation and $2,664,000 below to the fiscal year 
2025 request. The Committee supports GPO's introduction of its 
next generation information system, govinfo.gov, as well as the 
agency's other information technology systems, given that these 
efforts continue to reduce costs.

    Government Publishing Office Business Operations Revolving Fund

Appropriations, 2024....................................     $11,611,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................      11,425,000
Committee recommendation................................      11,425,000

    The Committee recommends $11,425,000 for the GPO Business 
Operations Revolving Fund. The recommendation is $186,000 below 
the fiscal year 2024 appropriation and equal to the fiscal year 
2025 request. The Committee supports continued investment in 
the Revolving Fund as the most efficient solution to both 
cutting costs and ensuring efficient online access to 
government documents. One reason GPO is able to meet the 
increased work demands and continually reduce costs is through 
its constant focus on capital investments to modernize 
information systems, production equipment, and major facility 
repairs.

                    GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE


                         Salaries and Expenses

Appropriations, 2024....................................    $811,894,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................     915,957,000
Committee recommendation................................     883,139,000

    The U.S. Government Accountability Office [GAO] is an 
independent nonpartisan agency that was established by the 
Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 (Public Law 67-13) to act as 
an auditor for Congress and investigate how the Federal 
Government spends taxpayer dollars.
    The function of GAO includes auditing agency operations to 
determine whether Federal funds are being spent efficiently and 
effectively; investigating allegations of illegal and improper 
activities; reporting on how well Government programs and 
policies are meeting their objectives; performing policy 
analyses and outlining options for congressional consideration; 
and issuing legal decisions and opinions, such as bid protest 
rulings and reports on agency rules.
    The Committee recommends funding of $883,139,000 for 
salaries and expenses of the GAO. The recommendation is 
$71,245,000 above the fiscal year 2024 appropriation and 
$32,818,000 below the fiscal year 2025 request. The funding 
provided will allow GAO to continue to support for the work in 
evolving science and technology issues; cybersecurity threats; 
and rising healthcare costs. GAO will also be able to continue 
the multiphase initiative to modernize its aging information 
technology infrastructure and begin to address the backlog of 
deferred maintenance at its headquarters building.
    Additionally, $33,424,000 is authorized in offsetting 
collections derived from rent receipts and reimbursements for 
conducting financial audits of Government corporations, for a 
total of $916,563,000.
    GAO Science, Technology Assessment, and Analytics Team.--
The Committee applauds the efforts of GAO's STAA team and 
encourages STAA to continue providing Congress with unbiased 
explanatory data, as well as assessments of future science and 
technology issues relevant to Congress. The Committee also 
supports the ongoing growth and adaptation of the STAA team to 
meet congressional needs, to include the impacts of artificial 
intelligence. In the fiscal year 2019, the Committee directed 
GAO to provide a comprehensive plan to reconfigure its science 
and technology function to better address the evolving and 
timely needs of Congress, and in January 2019, GAO established 
a Science, Technology Assessment, and Analytics [STAA] team. In 
consultation with internal and external stakeholders, academic 
and nonprofit organizations, and Members of Congress, the STAA 
team submitted its plan for staffing needs, resources, areas of 
expertise, and the products and services that the team will 
provide or is currently providing to Congress. The plan 
demonstrated STAA's value and ability to assess upcoming 
technological and digital innovations. Presently, the STAA is 
providing Congress with continued technology assessments, 
technical assistance, and reports in the areas of oversight of 
Federal technology and science programs, as well as best 
practices in engineering sciences and cybersecurity. The 
Committee directs the GAO to update its comprehensive plan 
within 90 days of enactment of this act to reflect current 
science, technology and analytics requirements and to provide 
recommendations for enhancing, as necessary, the GAO's capacity 
to provide support to Congress to meet these new requirements.
    Congressionally Directed Spending and Community Project 
Funding Transparency and Accountability.--The Committee directs 
the GAO to again undertake an audit of Congressionally Directed 
Spending [CDS] and Community Project Funding [CPF] contained in 
fiscal year 2025 appropriations legislation. The audit shall 
include the same characteristics GAO adhered to in its fiscal 
year 2022, 2023 and 2024 CDS and CPF directive after consulting 
with the Committees on Appropriations. In conducting its audit, 
GAO shall provide periodic briefings and reports based on 
available data to the Committees.
    Unimplemented Government Accountability Office 
Recommendations.--Within 180 days of enactment of this act, GAO 
shall publish on its website and provide to the Committees on 
Appropriations of the Senate and House of Representatives, the 
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, 
and the House Oversight Committee a report estimating the 
financial costs of unimplemented GAO recommendations.
    Appropriations and Budget Law.--The Committee acknowledges 
that GAO legal decisions, including those related to the 
Congressional Review Act, are often fact specific and time 
consuming. The Committee commends the improvements made by the 
GAO Appropriations Law Group to increase resources dedicated to 
supporting Congress' oversight role. The Committee continues 
the directives contained in the explanatory statement 
accompanying Public Law 117-328. Further, the GAO is directed 
to brief the Committee on its continued efforts to 
expeditiously respond to Congressional Review Act requests, 
including the number of requests received annually and the 
average response time to those requests, within 90 days of 
enactment of this act.
    GAO Study on Agency Responsiveness to Congressional 
Casework Requests.--The Committee directs the Government 
Accountability Office, within 180 days of passage of this Act, 
to study the current status of the responsiveness of executive 
branch agencies to Member office inquiries on behalf of 
constituents seeking assistance. Among other things, the study 
should provide detailed findings and make recommendations for 
minimum response standards, as well as standard agency 
personnel and technology needs to provide accurate and timely 
responses to Congressional inquiries.
    Government Accountability Office Reports as Text Files.--
The Government Accountability Office is encouraged to improve 
congressional and public access to the information contained in 
its reports and testimony by publishing that information both 
as PDF and in a text format, ideally a structured or semi-
structured text format with appropriate metadata. In light of 
the large corpus of documents, GAO should start with the 
documents it publishes in fiscal year 2025 and as practicable, 
work to make more of the back-documents publicly available 
online in PDF and in structured data text format (such as TXT, 
HTML, XML) with accompanying metadata.
    GAO Office of Inspector General.--The Committee recommends 
no less than $2,400,000 in operating funds and no fewer than 20 
FTE within the GAO OIG. The Committee believes that 
independence between legislative branch OIGs and their 
respective reporting agencies is important and reminds the GAO 
that the budget and FTE amounts in the report are expected to 
be provided as a floor for the OIG to conduct its oversight 
mission.

         CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE FOR INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP FUND

Appropriations, 2024....................................      $6,000,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................       7,200,000
Committee recommendation................................       6,500,000

    The Committee recommends $6,500,000 as a payment to the 
Congressional Office for International Leadership [COIL] Fund, 
which is $500,000 above the fiscal year 2024 appropriation and 
$700,000 below the fiscal year 2025 request. Founded in 1999 by 
Congress, COIL, formerly the Open World Leadership Center, 
serves as the dedicated support agency for congressional 
legislative diplomacy efforts. Legislative diplomacy is crucial 
in providing critical advice and consultation to nascent 
parliamentary bodies trying to build nonpartisan resources to 
improve legislative output. The Office provides this support 
for Members of Congress by encouraging both inter-parliamentary 
and judicial contacts, and by conducting exchanges that 
establish lasting professional relationships between emerging 
leaders and their U.S. counterparts. The Office also supports 
Congress in achieving outcomes that include the further 
promotion of common values, particularly strengthening 
international diplomatic relations between legislative bodies, 
and lasting partnerships between Members of Congress and 
foreign parliamentarians.
    The Office maintains a vast network of more than 29,000 
alumni in strategic countries across Eurasia. These alumni are 
placed at all levels of their societies, including regional and 
Federal elected positions and ministries. Their presence 
provides assurances that U.S. interests are understood and 
considered.
    Ukraine.--The Committee continues to be deeply troubled by 
the Russian invasion of Ukraine and supports COIL's efforts to 
reinstate programming in Ukraine, as possible. The Committee 
further urges COIL's engagement with Ukrainians outside of 
Ukraine to maintain democratic advancement throughout wartime.
    Expansion of Program to Other Countries.--The Committee 
continues to request that COIL keeps the Committee apprised of 
any new developments on expanding programming to include other 
regions and countries that may be of strategic necessity to the 
United States.

   JOHN C. STENNIS CENTER FOR PUBLIC SERVICE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

Appropriations, 2024....................................        $430,000
Budget estimate, 2025...................................         430,000
Committee recommendation................................         430,000

    The John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and 
Development was created by Congress in 1988. The mandate of the 
Center is to promote and strengthen public service. The 
Committee recommends the budget request of $430,000 as 
authorized by 2 U.S.C. 1105, for the Center's congressional 
staff training and development programs.

                                TITLE II

                           GENERAL PROVISIONS

    Included are several general provisions carried annually in 
this act (sections 201-211), as follows:
    Section 201 bans the use of appropriated funds for service 
and maintenance of private vehicles, except under such 
regulations as may be promulgated by the House Administration 
Committee and the Senate Rules and Administration Committee, 
respectively.
    Section 202 limits the availability for obligation of 
appropriations to the fiscal year for which it is expressly 
provided in this act.
    Section 203 provides that any pay rate and title 
designation for a staff position created in this act, and not 
specifically established by the Legislative Pay Act of 1929, is 
to be made permanent law by this act. Further, any pay rate and 
title change for a position provided for in the 1929 Act is to 
be made permanent law by this act and any changes in the 
official expenses of Members, officers, and committees, and in 
the clerk hire of the House and Senate are to be made permanent 
law by this act.
    Section 204 bans the use of funds for contracts unless such 
contracts are matters of public record and are available for 
public inspection.
    Section 205 authorizes legislative branch entities 
participating in the Legislative Branch Financial Managers 
Council [LBFMC] to finance the costs of the LBFMC.
    Section 206 prohibits unauthorized transfers of funds to 
other agencies.
    Section 207 ensures continuation of the staff-led tours of 
the Capitol.
    Section 208 prohibits funds made available in this act to 
be used to acquire certain telecommunications equipment unless 
the agency meets certain criteria.
    Section 209 prohibits the use of funds to establish or 
maintain a computer network unless such network blocks the 
viewing, downloading, and exchanging of pornography, except for 
law enforcement investigation, prosecution, or adjudication 
activities, or other official government activities.
    Section 210 directs agencies in this act to work with food 
service providers to reduce or eliminate plastic waste.
    Section 211 relates to limitations to the cost of living 
adjustments for Members of Congress.
    Section 212 relates to the extension of PUMP Act 
protections to the Legislative Branch.

  COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 7, RULE XVI, OF THE STANDING RULES OF THE 
                                 SENATE

    Paragraph 7 of rule XVI requires that Committee reports 
accompanying general appropriations bills identify each 
recommended amendment which proposes an item of appropriation 
which is not made to carry out the provisions of an existing 
law, a treaty stipulation, or an act or resolution previously 
passed by the Senate during that session. The Committee is 
filing an original bill, which is not covered under this rule, 
but reports this information in the spirit of full disclosure.

COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 7(c), RULE XXVI OF THE STANDING RULES OF THE 
                                 SENATE

    Pursuant to paragraph 7(c) of rule XXVI, on July 11, 2024, 
the Committee ordered favorably reported an original bill (S. 
4678) making appropriations for the legislative branch for the 
fiscal year ending September 30, 2025, and for other purposes, 
provided, that the bill be subject to amendment and that the 
bill be consistent with the subcommittee funding guidance, and 
provided that the Chair of the Committee or her designee be 
authorized to offer the substance of the original bill as a 
Committee amendment in the nature of a substitute to the House 
companion measure, by a recorded vote of 27-0, a quorum being 
present. The vote was as follows:
        Yeas                          Nays
Chair Murray
Mr. Durbin
Mr. Reed
Mr. Tester
Mrs. Shaheen
Mr. Merkley
Mr. Coons
Mr. Schatz
Ms. Baldwin
Mr. Murphy
Mr. Manchin
Mr. Van Hollen
Mr. Heinrich
Mr. Peters
Ms. Sinema
Ms. Collins
Mr. McConnell
Ms. Murkowski
Mr. Graham
Mr. Moran
Mr. Hoeven
Mr. Boozman
Mr. Kennedy
Mrs. Hyde-Smith
Mr. Hagerty
Mrs. Britt
Mrs. Fischer

 COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 12, RULE XXVI, OF THE STANDING RULES OF THE 
                                 SENATE

    Paragraph 12 of rule XXVI requires that Committee reports 
on a bill or joint resolution repealing or amending any statute 
or part of any statute include ``(a) the text of the statute or 
part thereof which is proposed to be repealed; and (b) a 
comparative print of that part of the bill or joint resolution 
making the amendment and of the statute or part thereof 
proposed to be amended, showing by stricken-through type and 
italics, parallel columns, or other appropriate typographical 
devices the omissions and insertions which would be made by the 
bill or joint resolution if enacted in the form recommended by 
the Committee.''
    In compliance with this rule, changes in existing law 
proposed to be made by the bill are shown as follows: existing 
law to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets; new matter is 
printed in italic; and existing law in which no change is 
proposed is shown in roman.

                         TITLE 2--THE CONGRESS


                Chapter 24--Congressional Accountability


           Subchapter II--Extension of Rights and Protections


PART A--EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION, FAMILY AND MEDICAL LEAVE, FAIR LABOR 
    STANDARDS, EMPLOYEE POLYGRAPH PROTECTION, WORKER ADJUSTMENT AND 
 RETRAINING, EMPLOYMENT AND REEMPLOYMENT OF VETERANS, AND INTIMIDATION

Sec. 1313. Rights and protections under Fair Labor Standards Act of 
                    1938

(a) Fair labor standards

        (1) In general

            The rights and protections established by 
        subsections (a)(1) and (d) of section 6, section 7, 
        [and section 12(c)] section 12(c), and section 18D of 
        the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 206 
        (a)(1) and (d), 207, 212(c), 218d) shall apply to 
        covered employees.

                        BUDGETARY IMPACT OF BILL


  PREPARED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE PURSUANT TO  SEC. 308(a), PUBLIC LAW 93-344, AS
                                                     AMENDED
                                            [In millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Budget authority                 Outlays
                                                         -------------------------------------------------------
                                                            Committee    Amount  in     Committee    Amount  in
                                                           allocation       bill       allocation       bill
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comparison of amounts in the bill with the subcommittee
 allocation for 2025: Subcommittee on the Legislative
 Branch:
    Mandatory...........................................          143           143           143       \1\ 143
    Discretionary.......................................        7,000         4,914         5,162     \1\ 5,152
        Defense.........................................  ............  ............  ............  ............
        Non-defense.....................................        7,000         4,914   ............  ............
Projection of outlays associated with the
 recommendation:
2025....................................................  ............  ............  ............    \2\ 3,931
2026....................................................  ............  ............  ............          638
2027....................................................  ............  ............  ............          176
2028....................................................  ............  ............  ............           48
2029 and future years...................................  ............  ............  ............           (9)
Financial assistance to State and local governments for            NA   ............           NA          \2\
 P2025
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\ Includes outlays from prior-year budget authority.
\2\ Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority.
 
NA: Not applicable.


  COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2024 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR FISCAL
                                                                        YEAR 2025
                                                                [In thousands of dollars]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                        Senate Committee recommendation
                                                                                                                            compared with (+ or -)
                             Item                                     2024         Budget estimate      Committee    -----------------------------------
                                                                  appropriation                      recommendation         2024
                                                                                                                        appropriation    Budget estimate
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                  TITLE I--LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
 
                            SENATE
 
                      Expense Allowances
 
Vice President................................................               20                20                20   ................  ................
President Pro Tempore of the Senate...........................               40                40                40   ................  ................
Majority Leader of the Senate.................................               40                40                40   ................  ................
Minority Leader of the Senate.................................               40                40                40   ................  ................
Majority Whip of the Senate...................................               10                10                10   ................  ................
Minority Whip of the Senate...................................               10                10                10   ................  ................
President Pro Tempore Emeritus of the Senate..................               15                15                15   ................  ................
Chairman of the Majority Conference Committee.................                5                 5                 5   ................  ................
Chairman of the Minority Conference Committee.................                5                 5                 5   ................  ................
Chairman of the Majority Policy Committee.....................                5                 5                 5   ................  ................
Chairman of the Minority Policy Committee.....................                5                 5                 5   ................  ................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal, Expense Allowances..............................              195               195               195   ................  ................
                                                               =========================================================================================
Representation Allowances for the Majority and Minority                      30                30                30   ................  ................
 Leaders......................................................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total, Expense Allowances.................................              225               225               225   ................  ................
                                                               =========================================================================================
 
               Salaries, Officers and Employees
 
Office of the Vice President..................................            3,000             3,095             3,102              +102                +7
Office of the President Pro Tempore...........................              843               888               873               +30               -15
Office of the President Pro Tempore Emeritus..................              364               384               377               +13                -7
Offices of the Majority and Minority Leaders..................            6,272             6,590             6,486              +214              -104
Offices of the Majority and Minority Whips....................            3,934             4,136             4,070              +136               -66
Committee on Appropriations...................................           19,319            19,633            20,785            +1,466            +1,152
Conference committees.........................................            3,828             4,026             3,960              +132               -66
Offices of the Secretaries of the Conference of the Majority                952             1,002               986               +34               -16
 and the Conference of the Minority...........................
Policy committees.............................................            3,910             4,110             4,044              +134               -66
Office of the Chaplain........................................              606               639               616               +10               -23
Office of the Secretary.......................................           30,288            31,819            32,462            +2,174              -643
Office of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper 1/..............          115,875           132,863           121,739            +5,864           -11,124
Offices of the Secretaries for the Majority and Minority......            2,644             2,782             2,689               +45               -93
Agency contributions and related expenses 1/..................           86,003            92,069            91,581            +5,578              -488
Outlays.......................................................  ................  ................  ................  ................  ................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total, Salaries, Officers and Employees...................          277,838           304,036           293,770           +15,932           -10,266
                                                               =========================================================================================
 
        Office of the Legislative Counsel of the Senate
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................            8,650             9,450             9,094              +444              -356
 
                Office of Senate Legal Counsel
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................            1,365             1,429             1,387               +22               -42
 
Expense Allowances of the Secretary of the Senate, Sergeant at
  Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, and Secretaries for the
              Majority and Minority of the Senate
 
Expense allowances............................................               30                30                30   ................  ................
 
               Contingent Expenses of the Senate
 
Inquiries and investigations..................................          174,000           187,200           187,200           +13,200   ................
Expenses of United States Senate Caucus on International                    582               610               591                +9               -19
 Narcotics Control............................................
Secretary of the Senate.......................................           17,494            17,500            17,299              +195              -201
Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate 1/..............          194,942           241,191           204,000            +9,058           -37,191
Sergeant at Arms Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery      ................  ................  ................  ................  ................
 Fund.........................................................
Sergeant at Arms Fellowship Fund..............................  ................            6,277             6,277            +6,277   ................
Miscellaneous items...........................................           26,517            29,028            29,028            +2,511   ................
Senators' Official Personnel and Office Expense Account 1/....          552,600           571,790           588,381           +35,781           +16,591
Official Mail Costs...........................................              300               300               300   ................  ................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total, Contingent Expenses of the Senate..................          966,435         1,053,896         1,033,076           +66,641           -20,820
                                                               =========================================================================================
    Total, Senate.............................................        1,254,543         1,369,066         1,337,582           +83,039           -31,484
                                                               =========================================================================================
 
                          JOINT ITEMS
 
Joint Economic Committee......................................            4,283             4,283             4,283   ................  ................
Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.........            3,675   ................  ................           -3,675   ................
Joint Committee on Taxation...................................           13,554            14,850            14,450              +896              -400
 
               Office of the Attending Physician
 
Medical supplies, equipment, expenses, and allowances.........            4,764             4,416             4,666               -98              +250
 
        Office of Congressional Accessibility Services
 
Salaries and expenses 1/......................................            1,766             1,838             1,838               +72   ................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total, Joint Items........................................           28,042            25,387            25,237            -2,805              -150
                                                               =========================================================================================
 
                        CAPITOL POLICE
 
Salaries......................................................          588,627           636,546           620,401           +31,744           -16,145
General expenses..............................................          202,846           263,844           212,155            +9,309           -51,689
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total, Capitol Police.....................................          791,473           900,390           832,556           +41,083           -67,834
                                                               =========================================================================================
 
           OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL WORKPLACE RIGHTS
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................            8,150             8,592             8,200               +50              -392
 
                  CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................           70,000            70,729            73,000            +3,000            +2,271
 
                ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL [AOC]
 
Capital Construction and Operations...........................          152,507           190,316           153,280              +773           -37,036
Capitol building..............................................           95,688            53,193            51,602           +44,086            -1,591
Capitol grounds...............................................           16,600            34,867            21,422            +4,822           -13,445
Senate office buildings.......................................          138,751           209,996           157,948           +19,197           -52,048
Capitol Power Plant...........................................          158,650           140,505           137,114           -21,536            -3,391
    Spending from offsetting collections......................          -10,000           -10,000           -10,000   ................  ................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Subtotal, Capitol Power Plant.........................          148,650           130,505           127,114           -21,536            -3,391
                                                               =========================================================================================
Library buildings and grounds.................................           94,978            73,202            83,500           -11,478           +10,298
Capitol police buildings, grounds and security................           85,207       113,352*//*            92,588            +7,381           -20,764
Botanic Garden................................................           20,506            22,859            22,000            +1,494              -859
Capitol Visitor Center........................................           28,000            30,614            28,536              +536            -2,078
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total, Architect of the Capitol...........................          780,887           858,904           737,990           -42,897          -120,914
                                                               =========================================================================================
 
                      LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................          592,411           614,578           611,948           +19,537            -2,630
Copyright Office, Salaries and expenses.......................          103,128           104,745           106,133            +3,005            +1,388
    Authority to spend receipts...............................          -44,591           -47,202           -44,895              -304            +2,307
    Prior year unobligated balances...........................           -1,000   ................           -1,000   ................           -1,000
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Subtotal, Copyright Office............................           57,537            57,543            60,238            +2,701            +2,695
                                                               =========================================================================================
 
Congressional Research Service, Salaries and expenses:
    Salaries and expenses.....................................          136,080           142,860           141,000            +4,920            -1,860
 
   National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled
 
    Salaries and expenses.....................................           66,130            58,258            65,600              -530            +7,342
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total, Library of Congress............................          852,158           873,239           878,786           +26,628            +5,547
                                                               =========================================================================================
 
                 GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
 
Congressional publishing......................................           83,000            83,000            83,000   ................  ................
Public Information Programs of the Superintendent of                     37,388            41,664            39,000            +1,612            -2,664
 Documents, Salaries and expenses.............................
Government Publishing Office Business Operations Revolving               11,611            11,425            11,425              -186   ................
 Fund.........................................................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total, Government Publishing Office.......................          131,999           136,089           133,425            +1,426            -2,664
                                                               =========================================================================================
 
               GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................          885,870           949,381           916,563           +30,693           -32,818
    Offsetting collections....................................          -73,976           -33,424           -33,424           +40,552   ................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total, Government Accountability Office...............          811,894           915,957           883,139           +71,245           -32,818
                                                               =========================================================================================
 
    CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE FOR INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP FUND
 
Payment to the Congressional Office for International                     6,000             7,200             6,500              +500              -700
 Leadership (COIL) Fund.......................................
 
     JOHN C STENNIS CENTER FOR PUBLIC SERVICE TRAINING AND
                          DEVELOPMENT
 
Stennis Center for Public Service.............................              430               430               430   ................  ................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total, Title I, Legislative Branch........................        4,735,576         5,165,983         4,916,845          +181,269          -249,138
                                                               =========================================================================================
 
                 TITLE II--GENERAL PROVISIONS
 
Adjustments to Compensation (CBO estimate)....................           -4,000   ................           -4,000   ................           -4,000
Authority to Make Purchases of Materials and Services During    ................           26,000   ................  ................          -26,000
 Emergencies (Sec 131)........................................
Ensuring AOC Employee Eligibility for Childcare Benefits,       ................  ................  ................  ................  ................
 Consistent with Other Federal Agencies (Sec 132).............
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total, Title II, General Provisions.......................           -4,000            26,000            -4,000   ................          -30,000
                                                               =========================================================================================
 
                     OTHER APPROPRIATIONS
 
    FURTHER CONTINUING APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2024 (PL 118-22)
 
Payment to Widows and Heirs of Deceased Members of Congress...              174   ................  ................             -174   ................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total, Other Appropriations...............................              174   ................  ................             -174   ................
                                                               =========================================================================================
Grand total...................................................        4,731,750         5,191,983         4,912,845          +181,095          -279,138
                                                               =========================================================================================
    Appropriations............................................       (4,815,726)       (5,235,407)       (4,956,269)        (+140,543)        (-279,138)
    Offsetting collections....................................         (-83,976)         (-43,424)         (-43,424)         (+40,552)  ................
    (Discretionary)...........................................       (4,731,576)       (5,191,983)       (4,912,845)        (+181,269)        (-279,138)
    (Mandatory)...............................................             (174)  ................  ................            (-174)  ................
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                                                           [all]