[Senate Report 118-60]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]


                                                       Calendar No. 130
118th Congress    }                                      {      Report
                                 SENATE
 1st Session      }                                      {      118-60

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



 
                LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS, 2024

                                _______
                                

                 July  13, 2023.--Ordered to be printed

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

                                 REPORT

                         [To accompany S. 2302]

    The Committee on Appropriations reports the bill (S. 2302) 
making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal 
year ending September 30, 2024, 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.................  $4,740,753,000
Amount of 2023 appropriations...........................   4,936,998,000
Amount of 2024 budget estimate..........................   5,040,551,000
Bill as recommended to Senate compared to--
    2023 appropriations.................................    -196,245,000
    2024 budget estimate................................    -299,798,000








                                CONTENTS

                              ----------                              
                                                                   Page
General Statement and Summary....................................     4
Title I:
    Legislative Branch Appropriations:
        Senate:
            Expense Allowances...................................     8
            Representation Allowances for the Majority and 
              Minority Leaders...................................     8
            Salaries, Officers, and Employees....................     9
            Office of the Legislative Counsel of the Senate......    15
            Office of Senate Legal Counsel.......................    15
            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.............................................    15
            Contingent Expenses of the Senate....................    15
            Administrative Provisions............................    29
        Joint Items:
            Joint Economic Committee.............................    30
            Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies 
              of 2025............................................    30
            Joint Committee on Taxation..........................    30
            Office of the Attending Physician....................    31
            Office of Congressional Accessibility Services.......    31
        Capitol Police:
            Salaries.............................................    31
            General Expenses.....................................    34
        Office of Congressional Workplace Rights: Salaries and 
          Expenses                                                   34
        Congressional Budget Office: Salaries and Expenses           35
        Architect of the Capitol:
            Capital Construction and Operations..................    37
            Capitol Building.....................................    38
            Capitol Grounds......................................    38
            Senate Office Buildings..............................    40
            Capitol Power Plant..................................    40
            Library Buildings and Grounds........................    42
            Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds and Security.......    42
            Botanic Garden.......................................    44
            Capitol Visitor Center...............................    44
            Administrative Provision.............................    45
        Library of Congress:
            Salaries and Expenses................................    45
            Copyright Office.....................................    49
            Congressional Research Service.......................    50
            National Library Services for the Blind and Print 
              Disabled...........................................    51
        Government Publishing Office: Congressional Publishing       52
            Public Information Programs of the Office of 
              Superintendent of Documents........................    53
            Government Publishing Office Business Operations 
              Revolving Fund.....................................    54
        Government Accountability Office: Salaries and Expenses      54
        Congressional Office for International Leadership Fund...    56
        John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and 
          Develop-
          ment...................................................    56
Title II: General Provisions.....................................    58
Compliance With Paragraph 7, Rule XVI, of the Standing Rules of 
  the Sen- 
  ate............................................................    59
Compliance With Paragraph 7(c), Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules 
  of the Senate..................................................    59
Compliance With Paragraph 12, Rule XXVI, of the Standing Rules of 
  the Senate.....................................................    60
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 $4,741,753,000 for the legislative branch for 
fiscal year 2024. This amount excludes House items as per 
normal protocol. This total is $297,598,474 below the fiscal 
year 2024 budget request and $183,397,000 below the fiscal year 
2023 appropriation.
    The bill includes $1,238,495,000 for the operations of the 
Senate, which is $88,146,000 above the fiscal year 2023 
appropriations and $23,857,000 below fiscal year 2024 request. 
The bill includes $797,699,000 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 $135,110,000 below the fiscal year 2024 request and 
$395,024,000 below the fiscal year 2023 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 $792,473,000 
for the Capitol Police; $813,968,000 for the Government 
Accountability Office; $855,848,000 for the Library of 
Congress; and $131,566,000 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.
    All legislative branch departments and agencies are 
directed to follow prior year directives adopted in Public Law 
117-328 and Division I--Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 
2023 on ``Reprogramming guidelines'', ``Full-time equivalent 
[FTE]'', ``Science and Technology Assistance for Congress'' and 
``Zero-based Budgeting''.
    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. 
It is expected that each agency in this bill include such a 
report in its fiscal year 2025 congressional budget 
justification.
    Implementation of Recommendations Issued by Oversight 
Entities.--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. In addition, each legislative branch agency is 
directed to provide a summary of all open oversight 
recommendations within the agency's annual budget 
justification, to include reasons for the recommendation 
remaining open and the cost proposals for fully implementing 
each unresolved oversight recommendation.
    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 2025 budget justification reflecting a detailed budget 
request for the agency's OIG. 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.--The Committee reiterates that 
legislative branch agencies should consider proactive steps to 
protect critical Information Technology [IT] infrastructure, 
including prevention of cyberattacks, secure data storage, and 
ensuring continuity of government operations. The Committee 
recommends that, as part of their production, redundant, and 
backup network architecture solutions, legislative branch 
agencies utilize computing and cloud facilities designed for 
concurrent maintainability (equivalent to ANSI/ TIA-942-A, or 
Uptime Institute Tier III standards and industry best 
practices), and also consider geographic diversity. The 
Committee directs each legislative branch agency to continue to 
build on the action plan it submitted detailing a schedule, 
cost, and implementation plan ensuring robust, secure, and 
resilient data center infrastructure for agency IT systems and 
data, as required of all legislative branch agencies by the 
Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2022, and to provide the 
Committee with quarterly status updates on progress.
    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 2024 to strengthen 
cyber defenses. Each legislative branch agency shall 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 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.
    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 fulfil 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 a 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. Therefore, 
the Committee authorizes the use of appropriated funds, subject 
to the availability of funds, to provide a child care subsidy 
for fulltime personnel within legislative branch entities, to 
include the Senate.
    Support for Nursing Mothers.--The Committee encourages 
legislative branch entities to continue to enhance the 
locations and access to spaces dedicated for the use of nursing 
mothers. Further, the Committee directs the Architect of the 
Capitol to retrofit identified spaces, where practical within 
the historical buildings on the Capitol complex, to better meet 
the needs of nursing mothers. Dedicated lactation rooms should 
be provided, subject to the limitations of the physical 
locations that include access to running water, appropriate 
temperature controlled storage, furniture and equipment for 
this purpose. The Committee recommends $1,000,000 to be 
utilized to implement recommended enhancements for these 
lactation spaces.
    Legislative Branch Agencies--Reporting.--The Committee 
directs legislative branch agencies and departments to submit 
within 30 days of the 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, 2023....................................        $195,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................         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 2023 appropriation and the fiscal year 2024 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, 2023....................................         $30,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................          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 2023 
appropriation and the fiscal year 2024 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, 2023....................................    $258,677,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................     283,978,200
Committee recommendation................................     277,470,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $277,470,000 
for the subaccounts funded under the overall account for the 
salaries of officers and employees of the Senate. The 
recommendation is $18,793,000 above the fiscal year 2023 
appropriation and $6,508,200 below the fiscal year 2024 
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 2024 are approximately 1,562 
positions.

                    SALARIES, OFFICERS, AND EMPLOYEES
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                        Fiscal year 2024
                                      Fiscal year 2024      Committee
                                           Request       recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office of the Vice President........        $3,061,100        $2,944,000
Office of the President Pro Tempore.           878,000           843,000
Office of the President Pro Tempore            380,000           364,000
 Emeritus...........................
Offices of the majority and minority         6,522,000         6,272,000
 leaders............................
Offices of the majority and minority         4,082,000         3,934,000
 whips..............................
Conference committees...............         3,982,000         3,828,000
Offices of the secretaries of the              992,000           952,000
 conference of the majority and the
 conference of the minority.........
Policy committees...................         4,068,000         3,910,000
Office of the Chaplain..............           631,000           606,000
Office of the Secretary.............        31,467,000        30,288,000
Office of the Sergeant at Arms and         120,834,000       116,194,000
 Doorkeeper.........................
Offices of the secretaries for the           2,240,000         2,644,000
 majority and minority..............
                                     -----------------------------------
      Totals........................       179,137,100       172,779,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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, 2023....................................      $2,907,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................       3,061,100
Committee recommendation................................       2,944,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $2,944,000 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, 2023....................................        $832,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................         878,000
Committee recommendation................................         843,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $843,000 for 
the Office of the President Pro Tempore.

              OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE EMERITUS

Appropriations, 2023....................................        $359,000
Budget Estimate, 2024...................................         380,000
Committee recommendation................................         364,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $364,000 for 
the Office of the President Pro Tempore Emeritus.

              OFFICES OF THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADERS

Appropriations, 2023....................................      $6,196,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................       6,522,000
Committee recommendation................................       6,272,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $6,272,000 for 
the offices of the majority and minority leaders. The amount 
recommended is to be equally divided, providing $3,136,000 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, 2023....................................      $3,876,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................       4,082,000
Committee recommendation................................       3,934,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $3,934,000 for 
the offices of the majority and minority whips. It is to be 
equally divided, providing $1,967,000 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, 2023....................................     $17,900,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................      18,839,000
Committee recommendation................................      18,688,000

    For the salaries of the staff of the Committee on 
Appropriations, the Committee recommends an appropriation of 
$18,688,000.

                         CONFERENCE COMMITTEES

Appropriations, 2023....................................      $3,782,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................       3,982,000
Committee recommendation................................       3,828,000

    For the administrative and clerical staffs of the majority 
and minority conference committees, the Committee recommends an 
appropriation of $3,828,000. The appropriation provides 
$1,914,000 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, 2023....................................        $940,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................         992,000
Committee recommendation................................         952,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $952,000 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, 2023....................................      $3,862,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................       4,068,000
Committee recommendation................................       3,910,000

    For the salaries of the administrative and clerical staffs 
of the majority and minority policy committees, the Committee 
recommends an appropriation of $3,910,000. The appropriation 
provides $1,955,000 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, 2023....................................        $598,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................         631,000
Committee recommendation................................         606,000

    For the Office of the Chaplain, the Committee recommends an 
appropriation of $606,000. 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, 2023....................................     $29,282,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................      31,467,000
Committee recommendation................................      30,288,000

    The Committee recommends $30,288,000 for salaries of the 
Office of the Secretary. Fiscal year 2024 staffing levels are 
estimated at 250 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 2024 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, 2023....................................    $108,929,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................     120,834,000
Committee recommendation................................     116,194,000

    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 
$116,194,000 for fiscal year 2024, which supports a staffing 
level of 1,037 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...............          124
Capitol Operations.........................................          177
Operations.................................................          193
Chief Information Officer..................................          382
Executive and administrative offices.......................          162
                                                            ------------
      Total................................................        1,037
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 request for 20 FTEs 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 counselors, 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 2024 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.

        OFFICES OF THE SECRETARIES FOR THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY

Appropriations, 2023....................................      $2,126,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................       2,240,000
Committee recommendation................................       2,644,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $2,644,000 for 
the offices of the secretaries for the majority and minority. 
The appropriation is to be equally divided, providing 
$1,322,000 for each office.

                          AGENCY CONTRIBUTIONS

Appropriations, 2023....................................     $77,088,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................      86,002,100
Committee recommendation................................      86,003,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $86,003,000 
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, 2023....................................      $8,150,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................       8,983,000
Committee recommendation................................       8,460,000

    For the Office of the Legislative Counsel of the Senate, 
the Committee recommends an appropriation of $8,460,000. 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, 2023....................................      $1,350,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................       1,415,000
Committee recommendation................................       1,365,000

    The Office of Senate Legal Counsel was established pursuant 
to section 701 of Public Law 95-521. The Committee recommends 
an appropriation of $1,365,000 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, 2023....................................         $30,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................          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....................................    $145,615,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................     174,000,000
Committee recommendation................................     176,600,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $176,600,000 
for inquiries and investigations by Senate standing, special, 
and select committees, of which $28,385,000 shall be available 
until September 30, 2025. The recommendation is $30,985,000 
above the fiscal year 2023 appropriation and $2,600,000 above 
the fiscal year 2024 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, 2023....................................        $552,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................         582,000
Committee recommendation................................         582,000

    The Committee recommends $582,000 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, 2023....................................     $17,515,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................      17,381,183
Committee recommendation................................      17,494,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $17,494,000 
for expenses of the Office of the Secretary. The recommendation 
is $21,000 below the fiscal year 2023 appropriation and 
$112,817 above the fiscal year 2024 request. Of the total 
provided, the Committee recommends an appropriation of 
$4,500,000 to remain available until expended, of which 
$3,825,123 is for Financial Management Information System 
Modernization [FMIS] enhancements, and $13,000,000 to remain 
available until September 30, 2028, of which $5,974,000 is for 
the Senate Information Services program and $5,682,060 is for 
FMIS support. Further, of the funds provided, $112,000 shall be 
available to address requirements associated with Public Law 
117-326. 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, 2023....................................    $171,844,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................     194,084,000
Committee recommendation................................     194,942,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $194,942,000 
for expenses of the Sergeant at Arms, which is $23,098,000 
above the fiscal year 2023 appropriation and $185,934,000 shall 
remain available until September 30, 2028 $858,000 above the 
fiscal year 2024 request. Of the total provided, $9,500,000 is 
to remain available until expended, to include $5,000,000 for 
Senate hearing room audiovisual equipment improvements, as 
requested in the fiscal year 2024 budget $2,500,000 for the 
residential security systems program and $2,000,000 for the 
Senate's share of the JAWS program. The Committee continues to 
express its support for the Sergeant at Arms Fellowships 
program.
    The following table compares the fiscal year 2024 Committee 
recommendation for the component categories within this account 
to the fiscal year 2024 budget request.

         EXPENSES-OFFICE OF THE SERGEANT AT ARMS AND DOORKEEPER
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Fiscal year 2024      Committee
                                           request       recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office of Security and Emergency            $4,453,000        $4,453,000
 Preparedness.......................
Capitol Operations..................         5,635,000         5,635,000
Operations..........................         8,812,000         8,812,000
Chief Information Officer...........       135,117,000       135,975,000
Executive and Other Offices.........        30,567,000        30,567,000
Senate Residential Security System           2,500,000         2,500,000
 Program............................
Joint Audible Warning System........         2,000,000         2,000,000
Hearing Room Audiovisual Equipment..         5,000,000         5,000,000
                                     -----------------------------------
      Grand Total...................       194,084,000       194,942,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 
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.
    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.
    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 SAA, in consultation with relevant 
support offices and agencies, including the Office of the Clerk 
and Chief Administrative Officer of the House of 
Representatives, 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 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 a briefing within 180 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 report to the Committee within 180 days of enactment 
of the act summarizing the identified requirements, potential 
service gaps and providing recommendations for addressing those 
IT service gaps.
    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. 
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 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.--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 SAA is encouraged to 
conduct a needs assessment with all Senate committees and 
personal offices to determine the specific enterprise software 
requirements, which may be used to inform the SAA's budget 
justifications. The Committee directs SAA to brief the 
Committee within 60 days of the enactment of this act on its 
enterprise software management process, to include its current 
efforts to determine and evaluate software requirements based 
on an alignment to the needs and positional responsibilities of 
Senate employees. Further, within 180 days of the enactment of 
this act, the SAA shall conduct a needs assessment within the 
Senate community to determine the overall enterprise software 
requirements for each entity's mission. The outcome of this 
needs assessment shall be utilized by the SAA to inform the 
SAA's Chief Information Officer's Strategic and Operational 
Objectives.
    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 SAA shall brief the Committee 
within 90 days of the enactment of the act on the SAA's 
progress in implementing the fellowship program.

                          MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Appropriations, 2023....................................     $27,814,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................      26,516,445
Committee recommendation................................      26,517,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $26,517,000 
for miscellaneous items to remain available until September 30, 
2026. 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 2024 BUDGET--MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS APPORTIONMENT SCHEDULE
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                      Fiscal year 2024      Committee
                Item                       request       recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Resolution and reorganization               $4,000,000        $4,000,000
 reserve............................
Unallocated.........................        10,000,000        10,000,000
Reserve for contingencies                      800,000           800,555
 (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            16,500
Communications......................            72,000            72,000
Consultants including agency                 8,000,000         8,000,000
 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                  193,945           193,945
     authorized by S. Res. 329,
     dated July 29, 2021............
    Training classes, conferences,              23,000            23,000
     and travel expenses as
     authorized by Public Law 104--
     197, dated September 16, 1996..
                                     -----------------------------------
      Total.........................        26,516,445        26,517,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 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.--$9,800,000 is provided for 
this program for fiscal year 2024 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, 2023....................................    $512,000,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................     550,000,000
Committee recommendation................................     534,510,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation for fiscal year 
2024 of $534,510,000 for the Senators' Official Personnel and 
Office Expense Account [SOPOEA]. The recommendation is an 
increase of $22,510,000 above the fiscal year 2023 
appropriation and $15,490,000 below the fiscal year 2024 
request. Of the funding provided, $49,169,000 is available 
until September 30, 2026. 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 2024 totals $351,214,514. 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 $636,300 per office, or 
$63,630,000 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 2024
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Administrative
                                                   and clerical     Legislative      O.O.E.A.          Total
                      State                         assistance      assistance    allowance 10/1/ allowance 10/1/
                                                  allowance 10/1/ allowance 10/1/      2023            2023
                                                       2023            2023
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama.........................................       3,335,145         636,300         184,274       4,155,719
Alaska..........................................       3,242,182         636,300         252,727       4,131,209
Arizona.........................................       3,521,079         636,300         206,610       4,363,989
Arkansas........................................       3,242,182         636,300         168,839       4,047,321
California......................................       5,105,016         636,300         451,429       6,192,745
Colorado........................................       3,335,145         636,300         195,321       4,166,766
Connecticut.....................................       3,242,182         636,300         160,899       4,039,381
Delaware........................................       3,242,182         636,300         129,410       4,007,892
Florida.........................................       4,748,148         636,300         325,544       5,709,992
Georgia.........................................       3,799,986         636,300         222,254       4,658,540
Hawaii..........................................       3,242,182         636,300         279,153       4,157,635
Idaho...........................................       3,242,182         636,300         166,647       4,045,129
Illinois........................................       3,985,918         636,300         262,167       4,884,385
Indiana.........................................       3,428,114         636,300         193,868       4,258,282
Iowa............................................       3,242,182         636,300         170,370       4,048,852
Kansas..........................................       3,242,182         636,300         168,049       4,046,531
Kentucky........................................       3,242,182         636,300         177,612       4,056,094
Louisiana.......................................       3,242,182         636,300         184,513       4,062,995
Maine...........................................       3,242,182         636,300         148,243       4,026,725
Maryland........................................       3,428,114         636,300         171,937       4,236,351
Massachusetts...................................       3,521,079         636,300         197,458       4,354,837
Michigan........................................       3,799,986         636,300         233,183       4,669,469
Minnesota.......................................       3,335,145         636,300         189,889       4,161,334
Mississippi.....................................       3,242,182         636,300         166,516       4,044,998
Missouri........................................       3,428,114         636,300         196,520       4,260,934
Montana.........................................       3,242,182         636,300         162,314       4,040,796
Nebraska........................................       3,242,182         636,300         161,911       4,040,393
Nevada..........................................       3,242,182         636,300         177,257       4,055,739
New Hampshire...................................       3,242,182         636,300         143,493       4,021,975
New Jersey......................................       3,707,012         636,300         202,519       4,545,831
New Mexico......................................       3,242,182         636,300         166,067       4,044,549
New York........................................       4,629,189         636,300         316,956       5,582,445
North Carolina..................................       3,799,986         636,300         225,872       4,662,158
North Dakota....................................       3,242,182         636,300         150,630       4,029,112
Ohio............................................       3,892,953         636,300         254,622       4,783,875
Oklahoma........................................       3,242,182         636,300         181,179       4,059,661
Oregon..........................................       3,242,182         636,300         192,200       4,070,682
Pennsylvania....................................       4,078,883         636,300         257,441       4,972,624
Rhode Island....................................       3,242,182         636,300         140,018       4,018,500
South Carolina..................................       3,335,145         636,300         178,202       4,149,647
South Dakota....................................       3,242,182         636,300         152,207       4,030,689
Tennessee.......................................       3,521,079         636,300         197,127       4,354,506
Texas...........................................       5,105,016         636,300         378,579       6,119,895
Utah............................................       3,242,182         636,300         174,868       4,053,350
Vermont.........................................       3,242,182         636,300         136,528       4,015,010
Virginia........................................       3,614,049         636,300         198,594       4,448,943
Washington......................................       3,521,079         636,300         220,459       4,377,838
West Virginia...................................       3,242,182         636,300         145,264       4,023,746
Wisconsin.......................................       3,335,145         636,300         193,623       4,165,068
Wyoming.........................................       3,242,182         636,300         153,113       4,031,595
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
      Total.....................................     175,607,257      31,815,000      10,064,475     217,486,732
                                                 ===============================================================
                                                              x2              x2              x2              x2
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
      Grand Total...............................     351,214,514      63,630,000      20,128,950     434,973,464
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    According to the most recent employment data compiled by 
the Secretary of the Senate, as of May 31, 2023, there were 
4,287 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 2024 
funding level for this account anticipates $150,967,000 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. To date, 
94 percent of Senators' offices expended funds provided in 
fiscal year 2023 to compensate interns. 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 2024 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 2024
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           State                                Amount
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama....................................................      $66,300
Alaska.....................................................       69,750
Arizona....................................................       70,000
Arkansas...................................................       64,400
California.................................................      101,500
Colorado...................................................       66,300
Connecticut................................................       64,400
Delaware...................................................       64,400
Florida....................................................       94,400
Georgia....................................................       75,500
Hawaii.....................................................       69,750
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..............................................       70,000
Michigan...................................................       75,500
Minnesota..................................................       66,300
Mississippi................................................       64,400
Missouri...................................................       68,100
Montana....................................................       64,400
Nebraska...................................................       64,400
Nevada.....................................................       64,400
New Hampshire..............................................       64,400
New Jersey.................................................       73,700
New Mexico.................................................       64,400
New York...................................................       92,000
North Carolina.............................................       75,500
North Dakota...............................................       64,400
Ohio.......................................................       77,400
Oklahoma...................................................       64,400
Oregon.....................................................       64,400
Pennsylvania...............................................       81,100
Rhode Island...............................................       64,400
South Carolina.............................................       66,300
South Dakota...............................................       64,400
Tennessee..................................................       70,000
Texas......................................................      101,500
Utah.......................................................       64,400
Vermont....................................................       64,400
Virginia...................................................       71,800
Washington.................................................       70,000
West Virginia..............................................       64,400
Wisconsin..................................................       66,300
Wyoming....................................................       64,400
                                                            ------------
      Total................................................    3,500,000
                                                            ============
                                                                      x2
                                                            ------------
      Grand Total..........................................    7,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          OFFICIAL MAIL COSTS

Appropriations, 2023....................................        $300,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................         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 2023 appropriation and the fiscal year 2024 
request.

                       Administrative Provisions

    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.
    Sec. 102. This provision amends the terms for the 
expiration date of the National Security Working Group.
    Sec. 103. This provision amends the guidance on the number 
of consultants utilized within the Senate.
    Sec. 104. This provision extends executive branch authority 
to legislative branch agencies and the Senate to utilize 
appropriated funds for child care.
    Sec. 105. This provision addresses security of office space 
rented by Senators.

                              JOINT ITEMS


                        Joint Economic Committee

Appropriations, 2023....................................      $4,283,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................       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 2023 appropriation and the fiscal year 2024 
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 Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies

Appropriations, 2023....................................................
Budget estimate, 2024...................................      $3,675,000
Committee recommendation................................       3,675,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $3,675,000 for 
salaries and expenses of the Joint Congressional Committee on 
Inaugural Ceremonies.

                      Joint Committee on Taxation

Appropriations, 2023....................................     $12,948,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................      14,125,000
Committee recommendation................................      14,125,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $14,125,000 
for salaries and expenses of the Joint Committee on Taxation. 
The recommendation is $1,177,000 above the fiscal year 2023 
appropriation and equal to the fiscal year 2024 request.
    The Joint Committee 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, 2023....................................      $4,181,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................       6,299,000
Committee recommendation................................       6,000,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $6,000,000 for 
the Office of the Attending Physician. The recommendation is 
$1,819,000 above the fiscal year 2023 appropriation and 
$299,000 below the fiscal year 2024 request. The Office was 
first established by House Resolution 253, adopted December 5, 
1928.

             Office of Congressional Accessibility Services

Appropriations, 2023....................................      $1,702,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................       1,766,000
Committee recommendation................................       1,766,000

    The Committee recommends $1,766,000 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, 2023....................................    $734,576,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................     840,942,000
Committee recommendation................................     792,473,000

    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 $792,473,000 for the USCP. The recommendation is 
$57,897,000 above the fiscal year 2023 appropriation and 
$48,469,000 below the fiscal year 2024 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.
    Contract Security Officers.--The Committee directs the USCP 
to submit to the Committee within 30 days of enactment of this 
act a report on the cost benefit analysis for using the 
Contract Security Officers [CSO] and on the performance of CSO 
ability to assist the USCP with meeting mission requirements. 
Realizing this report will contain law enforcement sensitive 
information, the report should be secured when provided to the 
Committee. The updated secured report should include decisional 
metrics for CSO location utilization and the benefits of 
supporting sworn officers. The report must detail the 
Department's contractor suitability policies for the CSO and 
any additional security training that may be needed in future 
contracts. Additionally, the report is required to detail the 
estimated cost savings for using CSO, to include the offsets of 
departmental overtime utilization resulting from the CSO.
    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.
    Chaplain Program.--The Committee commends the USCP for its 
efforts to expand its wellness program for its employees. 
Maintaining the overall wellness of the USCP workforce is of 
great importance. The Department is directed to brief the 
Committee within 60 days of enactment of this act on the status 
of the implementation of the volunteer chaplain service enacted 
in Fiscal Year 2023. The briefing should include the number of 
volunteer chaplains projected for the program, and how USCP is 
ensuring that personnel are aware of the availability of the 
service, including how to access such services.
    Arrest Summary Data Sharing Update.--The Committee 
appreciates the USCP's efforts to provide its arrest data in a 
more searchable manner and encourages it to continue this 
effort.
    Use of Drones and Other Sensitive Technologies.--The 
Committee remains concerned that the Department previously 
purchased drones that were manufactured by a company based in 
the People's Republic of China for off-site training outside of 
Washington, D.C. The Committee appreciates that the Department 
has stopped the use of the drones, disposed of them, and is 
taking internal steps to make sure such purchases do not occur 
again. The Department is directed to further 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. In 
addition, the Department is directed to brief the Committee on 
these efforts within 45 days of enactment of this act.
    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.

                                Salaries

Appropriations, 2023....................................    $541,730,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................     612,270,000
Committee recommendation................................     588,627,000

    The amount provided covers salaries, benefits, overtime 
costs and salaries related incentives programs to recruit and 
retain highly qualified personnel. The Committee recommends 
$588,627,000 for USCP salaries, which is $46,897,000 above the 
fiscal year 2023 appropriation and $23,643,000 below the fiscal 
year 2024 request.
    USCP OIG.--The Committee includes funds to support not less 
than 12 FTEs within the USCP OIG. The Committee notes that 
additional oversight of the USCP is conducted by the Government 
Accountability Office to supplement the work of the USCP OIG, 
as needed, as well as the oversight of the USCP provided by the 
Capitol Police Board, the Committees on Appropriations, the 
Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, the Committee on 
House Administration, and Senate and House Leadership offices.
    Overtime.--The Committee recommends no more than 
$74,976,000 for overtime in fiscal year 2024. This provides for 
approximately 988,241 hours of additional duty. 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 on the Department's 
efforts to manage the use of overtime on a quarterly basis. The 
Committee directs the USCP to provide for overtime in 
accordance with the budget request, as provided for in the 
following table.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Hours
                                              Funding        estimated
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scheduled, (Base).......................     $74,027,000         945,638
Unscheduled.............................       4,702,000          60,000
Training................................       1,900,000          24,000
LOC--non-reimbursable events............         594,000           7,500
National Capital Region (NCR) Member           2,000,000          25,259
 Protected Events (non-leadership)......
Conventions/Pre-Inauguration............       3,167,000          40,000
Offset--Contract Security Officer.......    (11,414,000)       (114,156)
                                         -------------------------------
      Total.............................      74,976,000         988,241
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 submit to the Committee on Appropriations a report 
within 30 days of issuance of this report that outlines 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 expects 
this report to be thorough and timely from the Department. The 
USCP shall provide quarterly updates to the Committee 
thereafter on its staffing efforts.

                            General Expenses

Appropriations, 2023....................................    $192,846,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................     228,672,000
Committee recommendation................................     203,846,000

    Expenses include office supplies and equipment, 
communications, motor vehicles, uniforms and equipment, 
investigations, training, and miscellaneous items. The 
Committee recommends $203,846,000 for general expenses, which 
is $11,000,000 above the fiscal year 2023 appropriation and 
$24,826,000 below the fiscal year 2024 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 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.
    Concept of Operations Update.--The Committee supports the 
efforts of the Department to address emerging requirements to 
better understand its staffing and resources needs in out 
years. The USCP shall provide a report within 90 days of 
enactment of this act to the Committee on the progress of the 
development of the USCP's Concept of Operations.

                OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL WORKPLACE RIGHTS


                         Salaries and Expenses

Appropriations, 2023....................................      $8,000,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................       8,549,646
Committee recommendation................................       8,300,000

    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 $8,300,000 for the salaries and expenses of 
the OCWR, which is $300,000 above the fiscal year 2023 enacted 
level and $249,646 below the fiscal year 2024 request. Of such 
amount, $2,500,000 shall remain available until September 30, 
2025.

                      CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE


                         Salaries and Expenses

Appropriations, 2023....................................     $63,237,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................      70,775,000
Committee recommendation................................      70,125,000

    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 
$70,125,000 for the CBO. The recommendation is $6,888,000 above 
the fiscal year 2023 appropriation and $650,000 below the 
fiscal year 2024 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 2025 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.

                        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 $797,699,000 for activities of 
the Architect of the Capitol, excluding the House Office 
Buildings account. The recommendation is $395,024,000 below the 
fiscal year 2023 appropriation and $135,110,000 below the 
fiscal year 2024 request. The following table compares the 
Committee recommendation for the AOC accounts to the fiscal 
year 2024 request, excluding the House Office Buildings 
account.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  Fiscal year 2024        Committee
                      Item                             request          recommendation           Difference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capitol Construction and Operations.............      $175,765,000          $161,833,000           ($13,932,000)
Capitol Building................................       119,267,000           108,174,000            (11,093,000)
Capitol Grounds.................................        17,556,000            16,600,000               (956,000)
Senate Office Buildings.........................       170,581,000           147,501,000            (23,080,000)
Capitol Power Plant.............................       158,024,000           149,650,000             (8,374,000)
Library Buildings and Grounds...................       120,766,000            78,578,000            (42,188,000)
Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds and Security..       119,828,000            86,757,000            (33,071,000)
Botanic Garden..................................        21,187,000            20,606,000               (581,000)
Capitol Visitor Center..........................        29,835,000            28,000,000             (1,835,000)
                                                 ---------------------------------------------------------------
      Total.....................................       932,809,000           797,699,000           (135,110,000)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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.
    Child Care Facilities.--The Committee recognizes the long-
standing capacity and space issues related to the Senate 
Employee's Child Care Center and Little Scholars Child Care 
Center. The Architect of the Capitol is directed to provide a 
briefing to the Committee on Appropriations and the Committee 
on Rules and Administration of the Senate on updates to the 
Senate Child Care Facilities study contained in S. Rept. 115-
274 within 90 days of the issuance of this report. The briefing 
should include updated assessments for operationalizing the 
remaining space in the Little Scholars Child Care Center 
building to be utilized for child care purposes.
    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.
    Resiliency Efforts.--The Committee provides $500,000 for 
resiliency efforts as outlined in the explanatory statement 
accompanying Public Law 117-328.
    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.
    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 60 days of enactment of this 
act on the status of addressing the remaining potential 
physical accessibility barriers on the Capitol Complex. The 
report should include an explanation of each potential barrier, 
recommended mitigation for each, the estimated costs to 
mitigate as necessary, and challenges to addressing each item.
    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.
    Beef Products.--The Committee encourages the management of 
food service facilities in the Capitol and Senate to source 
beef and beef products that are marked ``Product of USA,'' 
which indicates the products are born, raised, and processed in 
the United States.

                  Capital Construction and Operations

Appropriations, 2023....................................    $145,843,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................     175,765,000
Committee recommendation................................     161,833,000

    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 $161,833,000 for capital 
construction and operations. The recommendation is $15,990,000 
above the fiscal year 2023 appropriation and $13,932,000 below 
the fiscal year 2024 request. Of such amount, $8,600,000 shall 
remain available until September 30, 2028. The recommendation 
provides $500,000 to address resiliency costs; $1,000,000 to 
retrofit certain nursing mothers' locations across the Capitol 
complex.
    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. The AOC is directed to adopt better industry 
standards to improve performance in this area. Further, the AOC 
is directed to assign a dedicated project manager to the 
Visitor Experience within 30 days of the issuance of this 
report, so that the proper focus and internal controls can be 
achieved to complete this initiative in a timely manner.
    AOC Office of Inspector General.--Within the total, the 
Committee provides no less than $6,110,000 for the AOC OIG. The 
recommendation includes the request of $487,000 for 2 
additional FTEs. 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.
    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 2024, 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, 2023....................................     $80,589,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................     119,267,000
Committee recommendation................................     108,174,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $108,174,000 
for necessary expenses for the maintenance, care, and operation 
of the Capitol, which is $27,585,000 above the fiscal year 2023 
appropriation and $11,093,000 below the fiscal year 2024 
request. Of such amount, $21,300,000 shall remain available 
until expended and $52,500,000 shall remain available until 
September 30, 2028.
    The following table displays the budget detail.

                            CAPITOL BUILDING
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Committee
              Item                 Amount requested     recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Fiscal Year 2024 Operating
             Budget
 
      Subtotal, Operating Budget         $33,638,000         $34,374,000
                                 =======================================
 Fiscal Year 2024 Project Budget
 
Building Envelope Repairs,                25,000,000          25,000,000
 Capitol--Phase IV..............
Presidential Inaugural Stands             22,000,000          22,000,000
 Construction, Capitol..........
U.S. Capitol Retro-Commissioning             300,000  ..................
Electrical Power Distribution             10,700,000  ..................
 Replacement, Senate, Capitol -
 Phase I........................
Post Pandemic Indoor Air Flow                230,000  ..................
 Validation and Correction for
 Safety.........................
Senate Restaurant Renovation              21,300,000          21,300,000
 Program........................
Minor Construction..............           5,500,000           5,500,000
Conservation of Fine and                     599,000  ..................
 Architectural Art..............
                                 ---------------------------------------
      Subtotal, Project Budget..          85,629,000          73,800,000
                                 =======================================
      Total, Capitol Building...         119,267,000         108,174,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                            Capitol Grounds

Appropriations, 2023....................................     $16,365,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................      17,556,000
Committee recommendation................................      16,600,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $16,600,000 
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 
$235,000 above the fiscal year 2023 appropriation and $956,000 
below the fiscal year 2024 request. Of the amount recommended, 
$2,000,000 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 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
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Amount         Committee
                  Item                       requested    recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Budget
 
      Subtotal, Operating Budget........     $15,556,000     $14,600,000
                                         ===============================
     Fiscal Year 2024 Project Budget
 
Minor Construction......................       2,000,000       2,000,000
                                         -------------------------------
      Subtotal, Project Budget..........       2,000,000       2,000,000
                                         ===============================
      Total, Capitol Grounds............      17,556,000      16,600,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                        Senate Office Buildings

Appropriations, 2023....................................    $184,596,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................     170,581,000
Committee recommendation................................     147,501,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $147,501,000 
for maintenance of the Senate office buildings. The 
recommendation is $37,095,000 below the fiscal year 2023 
appropriation and $23,080,000 below the fiscal year 2024 
request. Of the amount recommended, $60,700,000 shall remain 
available until September 30, 2028, and $1,000,000 shall remain 
available until expended. Of the amount recommended, $5,135,000 
shall be available for contractual obligations of the Senate 
restaurants. Further, $12,589,000 is provided for lease 
obligations and related costs within the Senate jurisdiction, 
subject to the approval of the Committee on Rules and 
Administration of the Senate to enter into said leases.
    The following table displays the budget detail:

                         SENATE OFFICE BUILDINGS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Amount         Committee
                  Item                       requested    recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Budget
 
      Subtotal, Operating Budget........     $88,641,000     $85,801,000
                                         ===============================
     Fiscal Year 2024 Project Budget
 
Daniel Webster Renovation--Phase I......      10,000,000      10,000,000
Senate Elevator Refurbishment Program...       2,300,000       2,300,000
Senate Underground Garage...............  ..............       4,000,000
Senate Facilities Plan..................      15,000,000  ..............
Post Pandemic Indoor Air Flow Validation         240,000  ..............
 and Correction for Safety..............
Senate Restaurant Operations............  ..............       1,000,000
Senate Restaurant Renovation Program....      10,000,000  ..............
Air Handling Unit Refurbishments &            28,000,000      28,000,000
 Replacements, Phase II, Hart...........
Committee Room Modernization............       8,000,000       8,000,000
Minor Construction......................       8,400,000       8,400,000
                                         -------------------------------
      Subtotal, Project Budget..........      81,940,000      61,700,000
                                         ===============================
      Total, Senate Office Buildings....     170,581,000     147,501,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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 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, 2023....................................    $166,951,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................     158,024,000
Committee recommendation................................     149,650,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $149,650,000 
for the operations of the Capitol Power Plant. This is 
supplemented by $10,000,000 in reimbursements, for a total of 
$159,650,000. The recommendation is $17,301,000 below the 
fiscal year 2023 appropriation and $8,374,000 below the fiscal 
year 2024 request. Of the amount provided, $44,400,000 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. The Committee notes that the project cost 
will total $257,916,000 and that $191,516,000 in appropriations 
has already been provided spanning multiple fiscal years. 
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 2024 ESTIMATED UTILITY COSTS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               Cost
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Purchase of electrical energy...........................     $29,777,000
Purchase of natural gas.................................      18,851,000
Purchase of steam.......................................         200,000
Purchase of oil.........................................       1,600,000
Purchase of solid fuel..................................  ..............
Water and Sewer payments................................       9,305,000
Utilities for Postal Square.............................         825,000
Energy Saving Performance Contracts.....................      17,385,000
Energy Reduction Services Contracts.....................         500,000
Reimbursement, Steam & Chilled Water....................    (10,000,000)
                                                         ---------------
      Total.............................................      68,443,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    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
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Amount         Committee
                 Item                      requested      recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Budget
 
      Subtotal, Operating Budget......    $106,024,000     $105,250,000
                                       =================================
    Fiscal Year 2024 Project Budget
 
Pipe Expansion Joint Repairs, G Tunnel       7,600,000   ...............
Mechanical System Replacement,              30,800,000       30,800,000
 Refrigeration Plant--Phase VII.......
Utility Tunnels Concrete Repairs,            8,600,000        8,600,000
 Tunnels B&R..........................
Minor Construction....................       5,000,000        5,000,000
                                       ---------------------------------
      Subtotal, Project Budget........      52,000,000       44,400,000
                                       =================================
      Total, Capitol Power Plant......     158,024,000      149,650,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                     Library Buildings and Grounds

Appropriations, 2023....................................    $144,220,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................     120,766,000
Committee recommendation................................      78,578,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $78,578,000 
for the care and maintenance of the Library buildings and 
grounds by the AOC, of which $41,400,000 shall remain available 
until September 30, 2028. The recommendation is $65,642,000 
below the fiscal year 2023 appropriation and $42,188,000 below 
the fiscal year 2024 request.
    The following table displays the budget detail:

                      LIBRARY BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              Amount         Committee
                  Item                       requested    recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Budget
 
      Subtotal, Operating Budget........     $39,866,000     $37,178,000
                                         ===============================
     Fiscal Year 2024 Project Budget
 
Fire Alarm System Repairs, Jefferson....      13,600,000      13,600,000
Building Envelope Repairs, Jefferson....      33,400,000  ..............
Roof Replacement , Adams--Phase II......      23,800,000      23,800,000
Elevator Repairs, Adams.................       6,100,000  ..............
Visitor Experience. Jefferson...........  ..............  ..............
Minor Construction......................       4,000,000       4,000,000
                                         -------------------------------
      Subtotal, Project Budget..........      80,900,000      41,400,000
                                         ===============================
      Total, Library Buildings and           120,766,000      78,578,000
       Grounds..........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Library of Congress Visitor Experience.--The Committee is 
concerned with the progress made to date on the Visitor 
Experience project. The Committee directs the AOC to assign a 
dedicated full-time project manager to the Visitor Experience 
project within 30 days of the issuance of this report. This 
project manager will ensure proper focus and internal controls 
are utilized to complete the Visitor Experience project.

            Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds, and Security

Appropriations, 2023....................................    $402,907,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................     119,828,000
Committee recommendation................................      86,757,000

    The Committee recommends $86,757,000 for Capitol Police 
Buildings, Grounds, and Security, which is $316,150,000 below 
the fiscal year 2023 appropriation and $33,071,000 below the 
fiscal year 2024 request, of which $27,719,000 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 and 2024 budget submission 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 60 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.
    Project 116-DS.--The Committee provides $1,300,000 for the 
continuation of Senate Project 116-DS. Project 116-DS shall be 
completed in coordination with the Office of Senate Security 
and the Senate Committees on Appropriations and Rules and 
Administration.
    The following table displays the budget detail:

             CAPITOL POLICE BUILDINGS, GROUNDS, AND SECURITY
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                          Amount           Committee
                Item                     requested      recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
  Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Budget
      Subtotal, Operating Budget....     $70,122,000         $60,338,000
                                     ===================================
   Fiscal Year 2024 Project Budget
 
Additional Building Lease...........       6,500,000             519,000
Emergency Management Accreditation         2,430,000  ..................
 Program............................
Mobile Legislative Call System......       2,000,000  ..................
Personnel Suitability Program.......       1,000,000  ..................
Special Event Support...............         620,000  ..................
Fairchild Lease Expansion...........         556,000  ..................
A/E Backlog.........................         500,000  ..................
Accountability System...............         400,000  ..................
Employee Emergency Preparedness.....         200,000  ..................
Program Software Support Services...         200,000  ..................
JEMNS Support.......................         100,000  ..................
Generator Addition and New Utility         5,800,000           5,800,000
 Service............................
Air Conditioning Unit Replacements--       5,300,000  ..................
 Phase II...........................
Barrier and Security Kiosks                9,100,000           9,100,000
 Replacement........................
Lease Space Buildout for USCP.......      10,000,000          10,000,000
USCP Security Assessment Support....       1,000,000           1,000,000
Minor Construction..................       4,000,000  ..................
                                     -----------------------------------
      Subtotal, Project Budget......      49,706,000          26,419,000
                                     ===================================
      Total, Capitol Police              119,828,000          86,757,000
       Buildings, Grounds, and
       Security.....................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                             Botanic Garden

Appropriations, 2023....................................     $23,560,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................      21,187,000
Committee recommendation................................      20,606,000

    The Committee recommends $20,606,000 for salaries and 
expenses of the Botanic Garden. The recommendation is 
$2,954,000 below the fiscal year 2023 appropriation and 
$581,000 below the fiscal year 2024 budget request. Of this 
amount, $5,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 
2028.
    The following table displays the budget detail:

                             BOTANIC GARDEN
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                             Amount         Committee
                 Item                      requested      recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Fiscal Year 2024 Operating Budget
 
      Subtotal, Operating Budget......     $16,187,000      $15,606,000
                                       =================================
    Fiscal Year 2024 Project Budget
 
Minor Construction....................       5,000,000        5,000,000
                                       ---------------------------------
      Subtotal, Project Budget........       5,000,000        5,000,000
                                       =================================
      Total, Botanic Garden...........      21,187,000       20,606,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                         Capitol Visitor Center

Appropriations, 2023....................................     $27,692,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................      29,835,000
Committee recommendation................................      28,000,000

    The Committee recommends a total of $28,000,000 for the 
operation of the Capitol Visitor Center. The recommendation is 
$308,000 above the fiscal year 2023 appropriation and 
$1,835,000 below the fiscal year 2024 request.
    The following table displays the budget detail:

                         CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER
------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Committee
              Item                  Amount requested     recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Fiscal Year 2024 Operating
             Budget
 
      Subtotal, Operating Budget          $29,050,000        $28,000,000
                                 =======================================
    Orientation Theater                       550,000  .................
     Projection Upgrade, CVC....
    Special Exhibits............              135,000  .................
    Disaster Recovery Site......              100,000  .................
                                 ---------------------------------------
      Subtotal, Project Budget..              785,000  .................
                                 =======================================
      Total, Capitol Visitor               29,835,000         28,000,000
       Center...................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                        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 170 
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 $855,848,000 for the Library of 
Congress, an increase of $27,300,000 above the fiscal year 2023 
appropriation and $39,356,000 below the fiscal year 2024 
request. In addition to the appropriation, the Library 
estimates receipts of $45,591,000, funds from gifts and trusts 
totaling $62,078,000, and reimbursable and revolving funds 
totaling $324,110,000. Total funds available to support Library 
operations, including the Architect of the Capitol's Library 
Buildings and Grounds account, are expected to be approximately 
$1,365,855,000 in fiscal year 2024 under the Committee 
recommendation.

                         Salaries and Expenses

Appropriations, 2023....................................    $582,529,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................     618,570,000
Committee recommendation................................     596,101,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $596,101,000 
for salaries and expenses of the Library of Congress. The 
recommendation is $13,572,000 above the fiscal year 2023 
appropriation and $22,469,000 below the fiscal year 2024 
request.
    IT Continuous development.--The Committee continues to 
invest in IT continuous development initiative at the Library 
and directs the Library to brief the Committee regularly on 
these efforts.
    Thomas Jefferson Building Visitor Experience.--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.
    The Committee directs the LOC to assign a dedicated full-
time project manager to the Visitor Experience project within 
30 days of the issuance of this report. This project manager 
will ensure proper focus and internal controls are utilized to 
complete the Visitor Experience project.
    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 efforts to preserve 
Appalachian culture and traditions through the American 
Folklife Center programs and initiatives.
    Veterans History Project.--The Committee recommends an 
appropriation of $4,205,000 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 $12,739,000 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 a briefing to the 
Committee on its plans to implement this initiative no later 
than 180 days after the enactment of this act.
    Preservation of the Collection.--The Committee encourages 
the LOC to evaluate the need for the deacidification program. 
The LOC may utilize up to $1,000,000 in available funds for 
this purpose in fiscal year 2024.
    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 efforts to date to conduct 
the initial study of how 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, 
the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, and the 
Committee on House Administration on these challenges and 
recommended solutions within 90 days of enactment of this act.
    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 
report 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.
    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 $2,379,000 requested in fiscal year 
2024. The Committee directs the Library to provide the first of 
these updates on this effort within 60 days of issuance of this 
statement.
    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 
$250,000 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 conduct a feasibility pilot study on the use of 
evolving data storage and migration methods for the 
preservation and recovery of library data at scale. The 
Committee understands the feasibility pilot study will be 
conducted with a subset of the Library's data from a variety of 
data sources, and that data storage and migration technology is 
in development. Therefore, the pilot study will seek to 
optimize the current state of the industry during the pilot 
study. The bill provides $5,521,526 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 briefing on plans to implement 
this pilot study no later than 90 days after enactment of the 
act.
    America 250.--The Committee encourages the Library to 
collaborate 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.

                            Copyright Office


                         salaries and expenses

Appropriations, 2023....................................     $53,762,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................      57,537,000
Committee recommendation................................      57,537,000

    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 $57,537,000 
for the Copyright Office, and approves authority to spend 
receipts of $44,591,000 and $1,000,000 available from prior 
year unobligated balances, for a total of $103,128,000 in 
fiscal year 2024. The recommendation for total funding 
available is $2,454,000 above the fiscal year 2023 
appropriation and equal to the fiscal year 2024 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 a 
detailed report for the IT continuous development efforts 
intended to be addressed with the funds provided in fiscal year 
2024.
    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 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, 2023....................................    $133,600,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................     146,574,000
Committee recommendation................................     136,080,000

    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $136,080,000 
for the Congressional Research Service [CRS]. The 
recommendation is $2,480,000 above the fiscal year 2023 
appropriation and $10,494,000 below the fiscal year 2024 
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.
    Personnel Performance Measurements.--The Committee directs 
the Librarian to provide a report to the Committee on 
Appropriation and the Committee on Rules and Administration of 
the Senate within 30 days of enactment of this act regarding 
the CRS's personnel performance measurement processes. The 
report shall include the management methodology and criteria 
used to evaluate the responsiveness and effectiveness of CRS 
employees in addressing to needs of the Congress. The criteria 
utilized by the CRS shall be approved by the Librarian prior to 
implementation.
    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 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 progress to expand the CRS' capacity.
    Exploratory Study on Big Data Analytics.--The Committee 
continues to have interest in CRS' ability to analyze and 
create forecast models using big data sets. The Committee 
directs the CRS to provide a briefing 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. 
Within 90 days of enactment of this act, CRS shall brief the 
Committee on its ongoing efforts, the future plans for meeting 
established capacity expectations, and the resources necessary 
to do so.
    Ensuring a Highly Qualified Workforce at the CRS.--The 
Library shall provide a briefing to the Committee on 
Appropriations and the Committee on Rule and Administration 
within 90 days of enactment of this act on the Library's 
efforts to ensure that the CRS recruits, develops and retains a 
highly qualified and diverse workforce.

       National Library Services for the Blind and Print Disabled


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2023....................................     $58,657,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................      72,523,000
Committee recommendation................................      66,130,000

    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 800,000.
    The Committee recommends an appropriation of $66,130,000 
for salaries and expenses for NLS. The recommendation is 
$7,473,000 above the fiscal year 2023 appropriation and 
$6,393,000 below the fiscal year 2024 request.
    The Committee recommendation includes additional funding 
for Braille eReaders and Talking Book Machines to expand user 
access and modernize the program. The additional funding will 
allow for NLS to increase its supply so that more people in 
need may receive the braille and talking book machines. The 
Committee continues to support the Braille and Audio Reading by 
Download website replacement.
    The Committee also continues to support providing a new 
location for NLS. The Committee understands that the LOC and 
the Architect of the Capitol are reviewing an option to 
relocate the NLS into the Madison Building of the Library of 
Congress rather than lease or construct an alternate location 
for the NLS. The LOC and the AOC are directed to provide a 
briefing no later than 30 days after the issuance of this 
report. The briefing should provide specific details on the 
options and the expected costs for each option.
    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.

                      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. Last year, the govinfo system 
averaged approximately 70 million retrievals per month.

                        Congressional Publishing

Appropriations, 2023....................................     $82,992,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................      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 $8,000 above the fiscal year 2023 
appropriation and equal to the fiscal year 2024 request. The 
following table compares the component categories within this 
account for fiscal year 2023 and the fiscal year 2024 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 2023   Fiscal year 2024
                                         enacted           requested
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Congressional Record Publications.       $23,281,000        $24,116,000
Miscellaneous publications........         2,073,000          2,381,000
Miscellaneous publishing and              25,154,000         20,466,000
 services.........................
Details to Congress...............         7,846,000          8,057,000
Document envelopes and document              537,000            591,000
 franks...........................
Business and committee calendars..         3,156,000          4,757,000
Bills, resolutions, and amendments         4,980,000          4,632,000
Committee reports.................         1,981,000          1,890,000
Documents.........................         2,123,000          2,494,000
Hearings..........................        18,777,000         15,432,000
Committee prints..................           850,000            654,000
Transfers.........................        (7,765,000)        (2,470,000)
                                   -------------------------------------
      Total.......................        82,993,000         83,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Public Information Programs of the Office of Superintendent of 
                               Documents


                         SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriations, 2023....................................     $35,257,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................      37,388,000
Committee recommendation................................      36,476,000

    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 $36,476,000 for salaries and expenses of the Public 
Information Programs of the Office of the Superintendent of 
Documents. The recommendation is $1,219,000 above the fiscal 
year 2023 appropriation and $912,000 below to the fiscal year 
2024 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, 2023....................................     $11,605,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................      12,100,000
Committee recommendation................................      12,090,000

    The Committee recommends $12,090,000 for the GPO Business 
Operations Revolving Fund. The recommendation is $485,000 above 
the fiscal year 2023 appropriation and $10,000 below to the 
fiscal year 2024 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.
    Paper-Based Publications.--The Committee directs the GPO to 
provide a briefing within 90 days of the enactment of this act 
on all paper-based publications produced by the GPO. The 
briefing should provide an overview of each paper-based 
product, the reason for the product to be paper-based, and 
option for providing the document in various other media, to 
include the cost for each option.

                    GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE


                         Salaries and Expenses

Appropriations, 2023....................................    $790,319,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................     859,653,000
Committee recommendation................................     813,968,000

    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 $813,968,000 for 
salaries and expenses of the GAO. The recommendation is 
$23,649,000 above the fiscal year 2023 appropriation and 
$45,685,000 below the fiscal year 2024 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, $71,902,000 is authorized in offsetting 
collections derived from rent receipts and reimbursements for 
conducting financial audits of Government corporations, for a 
total of $885,870,000.
    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 
demonstrates STAA's value and ability to assess upcoming 
technological and digital innovations. Presently, the STAA is 
providing Congress with 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.
    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 2023 appropriations legislation. The audit shall 
include the same characteristics GAO adhered to in its fiscal 
year 2022 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.
    Staffing Practices.--The GAO is directed to brief the 
Committee within 90 days of enactment of this act on the total 
amount of staff within each mission team and how the agency 
considers work experience and educational background when 
hiring for or assigning personnel to those mission teams.
    GAO Methodology for Estimating Savings.--The Committee 
encourages GAO to explore a methodology for estimating 
potential cost savings through budget requests. Given the many 
assumptions and caveats required of such analysis, the 
Committee expects a briefing from GAO to discuss such 
methodology within 180 days of enactment of this act.
    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 efforts to expeditiously respond 
to Congressional Review Act requests, including the average 
response time to those requests, within 90 days of enactment of 
this act.

         CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE FOR INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP FUND

Appropriations, 2023....................................      $6,000,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................       7,200,000
Committee recommendation................................       6,000,000

    The Committee recommends $6,000,000 as a payment to the 
Congressional Office for International Leadership [COIL] Fund, 
which is equal to the fiscal year 2023 appropriation and 
$1,200,000 below the fiscal year 2024 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, 2023....................................        $430,000
Budget estimate, 2024...................................         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.

  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 13, 2023, 
the Committee ordered favorably reported an original bill (S. 
2302) making appropriations for the legislative branch for the 
fiscal year ending September 30, 2024, 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 Chairman of the Committee or his 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 29-0, a quorum being 
present. The vote was as follows:
        Yeas                          Nays
Chair Murray
Mrs. Feinstein
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. Collins
Mr. McConnell
Ms. Murkowski
Mr. Graham
Mr. Moran
Mr. Hoeven
Mr. Boozman
Mrs. Capito
Mr. Kennedy
Mrs. Hyde-Smith
Mr. Hagerty
Mrs. Britt
Mr. Rubio
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.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


                       Chapter 63--Senate Members


           Subchapter II--Employees, Expenses, and Allowances


Sec. 6317. Home State office space for Senators; lease of office space

(a) Procurement by Sergeant at Arms of Senate in places 
designated by Senator; places subject to use; lease of office 
space

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

(b) Maximum amount of aggregate square feet for each Senator

    [The aggregate] (1) Subject to paragraph (2), the aggregate 
square feet of office space secured for Senator shall not at 
any time exceed--

            [(1)] (A) 5,000 square feet if the population of 
        the State of the Senator is less than 3,000,000;

            [(2)] (B) 5,200 square feet if such population is 
        3,000,000 but less than 4,000,000;

            [(3)] (C) 5,400 square feet if such population is 
        4,000,000 but less than 5,000,000;

            [(4)] (D) 5,800 square feet if such population is 
        5,000,000 but less than 7,000,000;

            [(5)] (E) 6,200 square feet if such population is 
        7,000,000 but less than 9,000,000;

            [(6)] (F) 6,400 square feet if such population is 
        9,000,000 but less than 10,000,000;

            [(7)] (G) 6,600 square feet if such population is 
        10,000,000 but less than 11,000,000;

            [(8)] (H) 6,800 square feet if such population is 
        11,000,000 but less than 12,000,000;

            [(9)] (I) 7,000 square feet if such population is 
        12,000,000 but less than 13,000,000;

            [(10)] (J) 7,400 square feet if such population is 
        13,000,000 but less than 15,000,000;

            [(11)] (K) 7,800 square feet if such population is 
        15,000,000 but less than 17,000,000; or

            [(12)] (L) 8,200 square feet if such population is 
        17,000,000 or more.

            (2) The aggregate square feet of an office space 
        for purposes of paragraph (1) shall not include any 
        portion of the office space used for security or safety 
        enhancements that are--

                    (A) of a kind authorized by the Committee 
                on Rules and Administration of the Senate, 
                which shall include an information technology 
                security closet and a secure lobby or reception 
                area; and

                    (B) approved by the Sergeant at Arms and 
                Doorkeeper of the Senate.

(c) Maximum annual rental rate; maximum aggregate amount for 
acquisition of furniture, equipment, and other office 
furnishings

            (1) [The maximum] (A) Subject to subparagraph (B), 
        the maximum annual rate that may be paid for the rental 
        of an office secured for a Senator not in a post office 
        or other Federal building shall not exceed the highest 
        rate per square foot charged Federal agencies on the 
        first day of the lease of such office by the 
        Administrator of General Services, based upon a 100 
        percent building quality rating, for office space 
        located in the place in which the Senator's office is 
        located, multiplied by the number of square feet 
        contained in that office used by the Senator and his 
        employees to perform their duties.

            (B) The portion of the cost of a rental described 
        in subparagraph (A) that is attributable to building 
        security and safety measures shall not be included in 
        determining the annual rate paid for the rental for 
        purposes of subparagraph (A) if--

                    (i) the costs are for building security and 
                safety measures--

                            (I) of a kind authorized by the 
                        Committee on Rules and Administration 
                        of the Senate, which shall include 
                        guard services, access control, and 
                        facility monitoring; and

                            (II) approved by the Sergeant at 
                        Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate; and

                    (ii) such costs are itemized separately in 
                a manner approved by the Sergeant at Arms and 
                Doorkeeper of the Senate.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *


             Chapter 65--Senate Officers and Administration


                         Subchapter I--General


Sec. 6501. Appointment of consultants by Majority Leader, Minority 
                    Leader, Secretary of Senate, and Legislative 
                    Counsel of Senate; compensation

(a) In general

  The Majority Leader and the Minority Leader, are each 
authorized to appoint and fix the compensation of not more than 
[nine] 12 individual consultants, on a temporary or 
intermittent basis, at a daily rate of compensation not 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. * * *
                                ------                                


            TITLE 40--PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PROPERTY, AND WORKS


        Subtitle I--Federal Property and Administrative Services


                     Chapter 5--Property Management


      Subchapter V--Operation of Buildings and Related Activities


Sec. 590. Child Care

(a) Guidance, Assistance, and Oversight.--* * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

(g) Appropriated Amounts for Affordable Child Care.--

            (1) Definition.--* * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

            (6) Application to house of representatives.--* * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                    (B) amounts may be made available to 
                implement this subsection with respect to the 
                House of Representatives without advance notice 
                to the Committee on Appropriations of the 
                Senate.

            (7) Application to senate and other legislative 
        branch agencies.--This subsection shall apply with 
        respect to the Senate and agencies in the legislative 
        branch that are not entities of the Senate or of the 
        House of Representatives (in this paragraph referred to 
        as ``legislative branch agencies'') in the same manner 
        as it applies to an Executive agency, except that--

                    (A) the authority granted to the Office of 
                Personnel Management shall be exercised--

                            (i) with respect to a legislative 
                        branch agency, by the head of the 
                        legislative branch agency; or

                            (ii) with respect to the Senate, by 
                        the Majority and Minority Leaders of 
                        the Senate, in accordance with 
                        regulations promulgated by the 
                        Committee on Rules and Administration 
                        of the Senate; and

                    (B) amounts may be made available to 
                implement this subsection with respect to the 
                Senate without advance notice to the Committee 
                on Appropriations of the House of 
                Representatives.

                        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 2024: Subcommittee on the Legislative
 Branch:
    Mandatory...........................................          137           137           137        \1\137
    Discretionary.......................................        6,761         4,742         6,657      \1\4,905
        Defense.........................................  ............  ............  ............  ............
        Non-defense.....................................        6,761         4,742   ............        4,905
Projection of outlays associated with the
 recommendation:
    2024................................................  ............  ............  ............     \2\3,747
    2025................................................  ............  ............  ............          629
    2026................................................  ............  ............  ............          182
    2027................................................  ............  ............  ............           59
    2028 and future years...............................  ............  ............  ............           (5)
Financial assistance to State and local governments for            NA   ............           NA   ............
 P2024..................................................                                              ......\2\
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\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 2023 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR FISCAL
                                                                        YEAR 2024
                                                                [In thousands of dollars]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                        Senate Committee recommendation
                                                                                                                            compared with (+ or -)
                             Item                                     2023         Budget estimate      Committee    -----------------------------------
                                                                  appropriation                      recommendation         2023
                                                                                                                        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..................................            2,907             3,061             2,944               +37              -117
Office of the President Pro Tempore...........................              832               878               843               +11               -35
Office of the President Pro Tempore Emeritus..................              359               380               364                +5               -16
Offices of the Majority and Minority Leaders..................            6,196             6,522             6,272               +76              -250
Offices of the Majority and Minority Whips....................            3,876             4,082             3,934               +58              -148
Committee on Appropriations...................................           17,900            18,839            18,688              +788              -151
Conference committees.........................................            3,782             3,982             3,828               +46              -154
Offices of the Secretaries of the Conference of the Majority                940               992               952               +12               -40
 and the Conference of the Minority...........................
Policy committees.............................................            3,862             4,068             3,910               +48              -158
Office of the Chaplain........................................              598               631               606                +8               -25
Office of the Secretary.......................................           29,282            31,467            30,288            +1,006            -1,179
Office of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper.................          108,929           120,834           116,194            +7,265            -4,640
Offices of the Secretaries for the Majority and Minority......            2,126             2,240             2,644              +518              +404
Agency contributions and related expenses.....................           77,088            86,002            86,003            +8,915                +1
Outlays.......................................................  ................  ................  ................  ................  ................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total, Salaries, Officers and Employees...................          258,677           283,978           277,470           +18,793            -6,508
                                                               =========================================================================================
 
        Office of the Legislative Counsel of the Senate
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................            8,150             8,983             8,460              +310              -523
 
                 Office of Senate Legal Counsel
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................            1,350             1,415             1,365               +15               -50
 
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..................................          145,615           174,000           176,600           +30,985            +2,600
Expenses of United States Senate Caucus on International                    552               582               582               +30   ................
 Narcotics Control............................................
Secretary of the Senate.......................................           17,515            17,381            17,494               -21              +113
Financial Management Information System Modernization.........  ................  ................  ................  ................  ................
Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate.................          171,844           194,084           194,942           +23,098              +858
Sergeant at Arms Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery      ................            4,858   ................  ................           -4,858
 Fund.........................................................
Sergeant at Arms Fellowship Fund..............................            6,277   ................  ................           -6,277   ................
Miscellaneous items...........................................           27,814            26,516            26,517            -1,297                +1
Senators' Official Personnel and Office Expense Account.......          512,000           550,000           534,510           +22,510           -15,490
Official Mail Costs...........................................              300               300               300   ................  ................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total, Contingent Expenses of the Senate..................          881,917           967,721           950,945           +69,028           -16,776
                                                               =========================================================================================
    Total, Senate.............................................        1,150,349         1,262,352         1,238,495           +88,146           -23,857
                                                               =========================================================================================
        (Discretionary).......................................        1,150,349         1,262,352         1,238,495           +88,146           -23,857
        (Mandatory)...........................................  ................  ................  ................  ................  ................
 
Payment to Widows and Heirs of Deceased Members of Congress                 174   ................  ................             -174   ................
 (FY23 CR funding) (Public Law117-180)........................
 
                     Salaries and Expenses
 
    Total, Allowance for Compensation of Interns..............  ................  ................  ................  ................  ................
                                                               =========================================================================================
Outlays.......................................................  ................  ................  ................  ................  ................
 
                          JOINT ITEMS
 
Joint Economic Committee......................................            4,283             4,283             4,283   ................  ................
Joint Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies.........  ................            3,675             3,675            +3,675   ................
Joint Committee on Taxation...................................           12,948            14,125            14,125            +1,177   ................
 
               Office of the Attending Physician
 
Medical supplies, equipment, expenses, and allowances.........            4,181             6,299             6,000            +1,819              -299
 
        Office of Congressional Accessibility Services
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................            1,702             1,766             1,766               +64   ................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total, Joint Items........................................           23,114            30,148            29,849            +6,735              -299
                                                               =========================================================================================
 
                        CAPITOL POLICE
 
Salaries......................................................          541,730           612,270           588,627           +46,897           -23,643
General expenses..............................................          192,846           228,672           203,846           +11,000           -24,826
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total, Capitol Police.....................................          734,576           840,942           792,473           +57,897           -48,469
                                                               =========================================================================================
 
            OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL WORKPLACE RIGHTS
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................            8,000             8,550             8,300              +300              -250
 
                  CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................           63,237            70,775            70,125            +6,888              -650
 
                 ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL [AOC]
 
Capital Construction and Operations...........................          145,843           175,765           161,833           +15,990           -13,932
Capitol building..............................................           80,589           119,267           108,174           +27,585           -11,093
Capitol grounds...............................................           16,365            17,556            16,600              +235              -956
Senate office buildings.......................................          184,596           170,581           147,501           -37,095           -23,080
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Subtotal, AOC House Buildings.............................  ................  ................  ................  ................  ................
 
Capitol Power Plant...........................................          176,951           168,024           159,650           -17,301            -8,374
    Spending from offsetting collections......................          -10,000           -10,000           -10,000   ................  ................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Subtotal, Capitol Power Plant.........................          166,951           158,024           149,650           -17,301            -8,374
 
Library buildings and grounds.................................          144,220           120,766            78,578           -65,642           -42,188
Capitol police buildings, grounds and security................          402,907           119,828            86,757          -316,150           -33,071
Botanic Garden................................................           23,560            21,187            20,606            -2,954              -581
Capitol Visitor Center........................................           27,692            29,835            28,000              +308            -1,835
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total, Architect of the Capitol...........................        1,192,723           932,809           797,699          -395,024          -135,110
                                                               =========================================================================================
 
                      LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................          582,529           618,570           596,101           +13,572           -22,469
Copyright Office, Salaries and expenses.......................          100,674           103,128           103,128            +2,454   ................
    Authority to spend receipts...............................          -43,912           -45,591           -44,591              -679            +1,000
    Prior year unobligated balances...........................           -3,000   ................           -1,000            +2,000            -1,000
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Subtotal, Copyright Office............................           53,762            57,537            57,537            +3,775   ................
 
Congressional Research Service, Salaries and expenses:
    Salaries and expenses.....................................          133,600           146,574           136,080            +2,480           -10,494
 
   National Library Service for the Blind and Print Disabled
 
    Salaries and expenses.....................................           58,657            72,523            66,130            +7,473            -6,393
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
        Total, Library of Congress............................          828,548           895,204           855,848           +27,300           -39,356
                                                               =========================================================================================
 
                 GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
 
Congressional publishing......................................           82,992            83,000            83,000                +8   ................
Public Information Programs of the Superintendent of                     35,257            37,388            36,476            +1,219              -912
 Documents, Salaries and expenses.............................
Government Publishing Office Business Operations Revolving               11,605            12,100            12,090              +485               -10
 Fund.........................................................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total, Government Publishing Office.......................          129,854           132,488           131,566            +1,712              -922
                                                               =========================================================================================
 
               GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE
 
Salaries and expenses.........................................          846,184           933,629           885,870           +39,686           -47,759
Offsetting collections........................................          -55,865           -73,976           -71,902           -16,037            +2,074
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total, Government Accountability Office...................          790,319           859,653           813,968           +23,649           -45,685
                                                               =========================================================================================
 
    CONGRESSIONAL OFFICE FOR INTERNATIONAL LEADERSHIP FUND
 
Payment to the Congressional Office for International                     6,000             7,200             6,000   ................           -1,200
 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........................        4,927,324         5,040,551         4,744,753          -182,571          -295,798
                                                               =========================================================================================
 
                 TITLE II--GENERAL PROVISIONS
 
Adjustments to Compensation (CBO estimate)....................           -3,000   ................           -4,000            -1,000            -4,000
Capitol Complex Health and Safety.............................            5,000   ................  ................           -5,000   ................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total, Title II, General Provisions.......................            2,000   ................           -4,000            -6,000            -4,000
                                                               =========================================================================================
 
                     OTHER APPROPRIATIONS
 
   ADDITIONAL UKRAINE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2022
                      (Public Law117-128)
 
Payment to Widows and Heirs of Deceased Members of Congress                 174   ................  ................             -174   ................
 (Sec 603)....................................................
 
   ADDITIONAL UKRAINE SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2023
                      (Public Law117-328)
 
                           DIVISON M
 
               Government Accountability Office
 
Salaries and expenses (emergency).............................            7,500   ................  ................           -7,500   ................
                                                               -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total, Other Appropriations...............................            7,674   ................  ................           -7,674   ................
                                                               =========================================================================================
Grand total...................................................        4,936,998         5,040,551         4,740,753          -196,245          -299,798
                                                               =========================================================================================
    Appropriations............................................       (4,929,498)       (5,040,551)       (4,740,753)        (-188,745)        (-299,798)
    Emergency appropriations..................................           (7,500)  ................  ................          (-7,500)  ................
    (Discretionary)...........................................       (4,936,650)       (5,040,551)       (4,740,753)        (-195,897)        (-299,798)
    (Mandatory)...............................................             (348)  ................  ................            (-348)  ................
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                                           [all]