[Deschler's Precedents, Volume 2, Chapters 7 - 9]
[Chapter 7.  The Members]
[B. Compensation and Allowances]
[Â§ 8. Office and Personnel Allowances; Supplies]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]


[Page 731-742]
 
                               CHAPTER 7
 
                              The Members
 
                     B. COMPENSATION AND ALLOWANCES
 
Sec. 8. Office and Personnel Allowances; Supplies

    Congress has established a variety of allowances and allotments 
which enable Members to equip, staff, and operate offices, both in the 
Capitol and in the home district.(13) Some allotments are 
furnished in kind with no dollar limit, such as office space in federal 
buildings.(14) Other allotments are limited to a certain 
dollar value, such as postage stamps (15) and electrical 
office equipment furnished to Members.(16) Other expenses of 
Members are reimbursed by the House up to a certain limit, such as 
telephone service (17) and home district office space in 
nonfederal buildings.(18) Another method of financing 
prevails over clerk-hire, which is paid directly by the House of 
Representatives to employees of the Member.(19) If an 
allowance may be withdrawn in cash as needed, as may the stationery 
allowance,(20) the allowance is taxable income to the 
Member.(1)
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13. The allowances and allotments discussed in this section apply to 
        the Delegates from the District of Columbia, Guam, and the 
        Virgin Islands and to the Resident Commissioner from Puerto 
        Rico, unless otherwise indicated.
14. See 40 USC Sec. Sec. 177-184 (House office buildings) and 2 USC 
        Sec. 122 (home district office buildings).
15. See 2 USC Sec. 42c.
16. See 2 USC Sec. 112e. The Committee on House Administration may 
        prescribe the dollar value limit of mechanical office 
        equipment.
17. See 2 USC Sec. Sec. 46g and 46g-1.
18. See 2 USC Sec. 122 and Sec. 8.6, infra (power of Committee on House 
        Administration to adjust the home district office allotment).
19. See 2 USC Sec. 92.
20. See 2 USC Sec. 46b.
 1. The Revenue Act of 1951, 65 Stat. 452, Sec. 619(d), Oct. 20, 1951, 
        which became effective Jan. 3, 1953, rendered cash allowances 
        of Members accountable as taxable income.
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    All office allowances are drawn from the contingent fund of the 
House.(2) Measures and regulations relating to such 
expenditures, and to the clerk-hire and office space of Members, are 
within the jurisdiction of the Committee

[[Page 732]]

on House Administration.(3) Under the former practice, 
increases in the allowances of Members were brought before the House 
for its approval by resolution.(4) In the 92d Congress, 
however, the Committee on House Administration was authorized by law to 
independently adjust the allowances of House Members.(5) Any 
payment from the contingent fund must have the prior sanction of the 
committee.(6)
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 2. See 2 USC Sec. 57(b).
 3. See Sec. 8.1, infra.
            For regulations promulgated by the Committee on House 
        Administration, see Regulations of Travel and other Expenses of 
        Committees and Members, Committee on House Administration, 92d 
        Cong. (Mar. 1, 1971).
 4. See, for example, Sec. 8.8, infra.
 5. See Sec. 8.3, infra, including note as to later rescission of 
        authority.
 6. 2 USC Sec. 95.
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    Each Member receives, by statute, an allotment of office space both 
at the Capitol and in the home district. An office in one of the House 
buildings is granted to the Member, based on a system of seniority and 
drawing lots.(7) In the home district, the Representative is 
entitled to three locations for office space, to be located in federal 
buildings if space is available.(8)
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 7. See 40 USC Sec. Sec. 177-184. For information on the allotment of 
        space in House office buildings, see Ch. 4, supra.
 8. See Sec. 8.6, infra, for adjustments made in the 92d Congress to 
        the allowance for home district office space.
            The Committee on House Administration has jurisdiction over 
        all matters relating to office space for Members. House Rules 
        and Manual Sec. 693 (1973).
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    The offices of Representatives in the House office buildings are 
furnished by the House. In addition, each Member is entitled to 
electric office equipment, to be credited against his allowance for 
that purpose.(9) Electric equipment remains the property of 
the Clerk of the House during the period of its use.(10)
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 9. The Committee on House Administration has authority to sanction the 
        purchase of electric and mechanical office equipment for 
        Members, to prescribe the type of equipment, and to issue 
        regulations as to the use, maximum dollar limit, and 
        depreciation of such property. 2 USC Sec. 112e.
10. See 2 USC Sec. 122e(b).
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    The most substantial allowance given to Members is the clerk-hire 
allowance, through which he staffs all his offices.(11) The 
max

[[Page 733]]

imum allowance has been adjusted upwards in recent 
Congresses.(12)
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11. See 2 USC Sec. 332. For the disbursement of clerk-hire 
        appropriations, see 2 USC Sec. 92.
            The clerk-hire allowance for the Delegates from Guam and 
        the Virgin Islands is 60 percent of that of Members (see 48 USC 
        Sec. 1715). The Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico and the 
        Delegate from the District of Columbia receive the same clerk-
        hire as Members.
12. See Sec. 8.4, infra.
            The maximum dollar limit for the clerk-hire allowance, 
        formerly based on a base rate pay system, has since been 
        changed to a gross annual rate pay system (see 2 USC Sec. 331).
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    Clerical help may be dismissed by a Member without 
cause,(13) and under Rule XLIII clause 8, a Member may not 
retain anyone from his clerk-hire allowance who does not perform duties 
commensurate with his compensation. In the event a Member dies, his 
clerical help may remain on the House payroll until the time a 
successor is elected.(14)
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13. 2 USC Sec. 92.
14. See 2 USC Sec. 92b. Pending the election of a successor, such 
        clerks perform duties under the supervision of the Clerk of the 
        House.
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    Each Member is allotted a certain number of official publications, 
such as the Congressional Record,(15) the House Rules and 
Manual,(16) and the United States Code.(17)
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15. 44 USC Sec. 906.
16. See, for example, H. Res. 1170, 92d Cong. 2d Sess., Oct. 18, 1972 
        (printing and distribution of revised House Rules and Manual).
17. 2 USC Sec. 54.
            The Clerk of the House must distribute to Members copies of 
        the Journal, copies of requested documents printed by order of 
        the House, and lists of reports which federal departments must 
        make to Congress. Rule III clauses 2, 3, House Rules and Manual 
        Sec. Sec. 640, 641 (1973).
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    Necessary supplies are furnished a Member's office pursuant to 
statute. Each Representative receives postage stamps up to a certain 
dollar limit,(18) and may draw upon a stationery 
account.(19) For communications purposes, each Member is 
entitled to a certain number of ``units'' for long distance telephone 
calls, telegrams, and cables.(20) Units are calculated on 
the number of minutes, for telephone communications, and on the number 
of words, for telegram and cable communications.(1)
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18. See 2 USC Sec. 42c.
19. The stationery allowance, codified in 2 USC Sec. 46b, has been 
        adjusted by the Committee on House Administration (see 
        Sec. 8.7, infra).
            A Member or Delegate elected to serve a portion of a term 
        receives a prorated stationery allowance (see 2 USC Sec. 46b-
        2).
20. See 2 USC Sec. 46g. A Member or Delegate elected for a portion of a 
        term receives a proportional amount of units.
 1. Each Member receives a quarterly allowance in reimbursement for 
        telephone service incurred outside the District of Columbia 
        (see 2 USC Sec. 46g-1). The Delegate from the District of 
        Columbia is not entitled to that allowance.

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[[Page 734]]

    Various office services are performed by officers and employees of 
the House. Members may have documents folded or prepared for bulk 
mailing by the House Folding Room. The Clerk of the House maintains 
radio and television studios for Members to make transcriptions and 
films. The Government Printing Office binds documents for House 
Members. The stationery room prints, without charge, official 
stationery for Members.
    Advisory assistance on office operation is available from the House 
Office of Placement and Office Management.(2)
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 2. See 2 USC Sec. 416.
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                            Cross References
Allowances and supplies of officers, officials, and employees, see Ch. 
    6, supra.
Distribution of official publications, see Ch. 5, supra.
House facilities in general, see Ch. 4, 
    supra.                          -------------------

Jurisdiction of Committee on House Administration

Sec. 8.1 The Committee on House Administration has jurisdiction over 
    all measures relating to allowances and clerk-hire for Members, 
    office space, and appropriations and payments from the contingent 
    fund of the House.

    The Committee on House Administration, created by the Legislative 
Reorganization Act of 1946,(3) has jurisdiction under the 
House rules,(4) over employment of persons by the House, 
including clerks for Members, assignment of office space, and 
appropriations and payments from the contingent fund for allowances of 
Members. Any payments from the contingent fund must have the sanction 
of the Committee on House Administration.(5) The committee 
regulates the purchase and use of electric office equipment for 
Members.(6)
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 3. 60 Stat. 812, Jan. 2, 1947.
 4. House Rules and Manual Sec. 693 (1973).
 5. 2 USC Sec. 95.
            The committee may report at any time on all matters of 
        expenditure from the contingent fund. See 99 Cong. Rec 10360, 
        83d Cong. 1st Sess., July 29, 1953; 100 Cong. Rec. 2282, 83d 
        Cong. 2d Sess., Feb. 25, 1954.
 6. 2 USC Sec. 112e.
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    In the 92d Congress, the committee was given plenary powers to 
periodically review and adjust the allowances of Members, without the 
requirement that the House consider and pass individual resolutions on 
the subject of allowances.(7)
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 7. See Sec. 8.3, infra.
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Sec. 8.2 The Committee on House Administration announced a

[[Page 735]]

    policy to discourage the temporary employment, by Members and by 
    committees, of personnel for periods of less than a month.

    On Oct. 19, 1966,(8) Wayne L. Hays, of Ohio, the 
Chairman of the Subcommittee on Accounts of the Committee on House 
Administration announced as follows:
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 8. 112 Cong. Rec. 27653, 89th Cong. 2d Sess.
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        Mr. Hays: . . . Today the House Committee on Administration 
    passed unanimously a motion ordering and directing the chairman to 
    notify all Members that, as of the 15th of November, any employee 
    put on a Member's payroll, or a committee payroll, shall not be put 
    on for a period of less than 1 month, except that if the person put 
    on does not work out, and they desire to terminate his employment 
    in less than a month, he may not reappear on the Member's payroll 
    for a period of 6 months.

Adjustments of Allowances

Sec. 8.3 The Committee on House Administration became authorized by law 
    in the 92d Congress to periodically review and adjust the office 
    and supplies allowances of Members.

    On July 21, 1971, the House agreed to House Resolution 
457,(9) later enacted into permanent law,(10) 
which empowered the Committee on House Administration to periodically 
review and adjust the allowances of Members of the House without 
requiring any action by the House. The resolution covered the following 
allowances: clerk-hire; postage stamps; stationery; telecommunications; 
official office space and official expenses in the district; official 
telephone service in the district; travel and mileage.
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 9. 117 Cong. Rec. 26451, 92d Cong. 1st Sess. But see 2 USC Sec. 57a 
        (authority substantially rescinded).
10. 2 USC Sec. 57, enacted by Pub. L. No. 92-184, Ch. 4, 85 Stat. 636, 
        Dec. 15, 1971.
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    During debate on the resolution, it was stated by Mr. Frank 
Thompson, Jr., of New Jersey, a member of the committee, that any such 
action taken by the committee would be submitted to the House and 
printed in the Congressional Record on the day following a 
decision.(11)
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11. 117 Cong. Rec. 26446, 92d Cong. 1st Sess.
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    The purpose of the resolution, as stated by Mr. Thompson, was to 
``eliminate the need for coming to the floor a number of times each 
session with privileged resolutions on . . . routine allowances.'' 
(12)
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12. Id. at p. 26445
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    The resolution, called up as privileged by the Committee on

[[Page 736]]

House Administration, read as follows:

        Resolved, That (a) until otherwise provided by law, the 
    Committee on House Administration may, as the committee considers 
    appropriate, fix and adjust from time to time, by order of the 
    committee, the amounts of allowances (including the terms, 
    conditions, and other provisions pertaining to those allowances) 
    within the following categories:
        (1) for Members of the House of Representatives, the Resident 
    Commissioner from Puerto Rico, and the Delegate from the District 
    of Columbia--allowances for clerk hire, postage stamps, stationery, 
    telephone and telegraph and other communications, official office 
    space and official office expenses in the congressional district 
    represented (including as applicable, a State, the Commonwealth of 
    Puerto Rico, and the District of Columbia), official telephone 
    services in the congressional district represented, and travel and 
    mileage to and from the congressional district represented; and
        (2) for the standing committees, the Speaker, the majority and 
    minority leaders, the majority and minority whips, the Clerk, the 
    Sergeant at Arms, the Doorkeeper, and the Postmaster of the House 
    of Representatives--allowances for postage stamps, stationery, and 
    telephone and telegraph and other communications.
        (b) The contingent fund of the House of Representatives is made 
    available to carry out the purposes of this resolution.

Clerk-hire Allowance

Sec. 8.4 The Committee on House Administration adjusted upwards the 
    clerk-hire allowance of Members in the 92d and 93d Congresses.

    On Feb. 29, 1972,(13) Frank Thompson, Jr., of New 
Jersey, the Chairman of the Subcommittee on Accounts, Committee on 
House Administration, inserted in the Record an order equalizing the 
number of clerks and clerk-hire allowance for Members:
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13. 118 Cong. Rec. 6122, 92d Cong. 2d Sess.
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        Order No. 3 equalizes the number of clerks and the amount of 
    clerk hire allowance to all Members of the House of 
    Representatives, the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico, and 
    the Delegate from the District of Columbia. The former method of 
    allocating this allowance--based on the population of a Member's 
    district--has become obsolete under the new redistricting plans 
    being adopted throughout the United States. Under these plans, 
    congressional districts will be of a more uniform size.
        Order No. 3 follows:

            Resolved, That effective March 1, 1972, until otherwise 
        provided by order of the Committee on House Administration, 
        each Member of the House of Representatives, the Resident 
        Commissioner from Puerto Rico, and the Delegate from the 
        District of Columbia shall be entitled to an annual clerk hire 
        allowance of $157,092 for not to exceed 16 clerks. There shall 
        be paid out of the contingent fund of the House of 
        Representatives such sums as may be necessary to carry out this 
        order until otherwise provided by law.

[[Page 737]]

    The Committee on House Administration had ordered the adjustment 
pursuant to the authority granted to the committee by the 
House.(14)
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14. See Sec. 8.3, supra.
            The former base rate pay system on which clerk-hire was 
        calculated was converted to a gross per annum salary system by 
        the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970, Pub. L. No. 91-510, 
        84 Stat. 1140, Oct. 26, 1970, codified in 2 USC 331.
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    On Apr. 18, 1973, Mr. Thompson inserted in the Record two orders 
further affecting the clerk-hire allowance of Members: (15)
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15. 119 Cong. Rec. 13074, 93d Cong. 1st Sess.
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                             Committee Order No. 5

        Resolved, That effective May 1, 1973, until otherwise provided 
    by order of the Committee on House Administration, upon written 
    request to the Committee on House Administration, a Member, the 
    Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico, or a Delegate to the House 
    of Representatives may employ in lieu of 1 of the 16 clerks allowed 
    under his clerk hire allowance, a research assistant at such salary 
    as the Member may designate. The Member's annual clerk hire 
    allowance will then be increased at the rate of $20,000.
        There shall be paid out of the contingent fund of the House of 
    Representatives such sums as may be necessary to carry out this 
    order until otherwise provided by law.

                             Committee Order No. 6

        Resolved, That effective May 1, 1973, until otherwise provided 
    by order of the Committee on House Administration, upon written 
    request to the Committee on House Administration, a Member, the 
    Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico or a Delegate to the House 
    of Representatives may allocate up to $250 a month of any unused 
    portion of his clerk hire allowance for the leasing of equipment 
    necessary for the conduct of his office.
        There shall be paid out of the contingent fund of the House of 
    Representatives such sums as may be necessary to carry out this 
    order until otherwise provided by law.(16)
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16. Pursuant to H. Res. 420, 93d Cong. 1st Sess., Sept. 18, 1973, each 
        Member may also employ a ``Lyndon Baines Johnson Congressional 
        Intern,'' for a maximum of two months, at not to exceed $500 
        per month.
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Sec. 8.5 A resolution providing a minimum gross annual salary for all 
    employees paid from clerk-hire allowances was not called up as 
    privileged, since it did not involve the contingent fund but a 
    separate clerk-hire appropriation.

    On Feb. 3, 1971, Wayne L. Hays, of Ohio, Chairman of the Committee 
on House Administration, called up by unanimous consent a resolution 
providing for a minimum gross annual salary for all clerk-hire 
employees.(17) The resolution was considered by

[[Page 738]]

unanimous consent, since such a resolution, calling for expenditure not 
from the contingent fund but from the separate clerk-hire 
appropriation, is not privileged under Rule XI clause 22:
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17. 117 Cong. Rec. 1517, 1518, 92d Cong. 1st Sess.
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                                  H. Res. 189

        Resolved, That, until otherwise provided by law and 
    notwithstanding any other authority to the contrary, effective at 
    the beginning of the first pay period commencing on or after the 
    date of adoption of this resolution no person shall be paid from 
    the clerk hire allowance of any Member of the House of 
    Representatives, the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico, or the 
    Delegate from the District of Columbia at a per annum gross rate of 
    less than $1,200.

Home Office Allowance

Sec. 8.6 The Committee on House Administration modified the home 
    district office space allowance of Members in the 92d Congress.

    On Aug. 4, 1971,(18) the Chairman of the Committee on 
House Administration inserted in the Record an order by that committee 
adjusting the allowance of Members for home district office space:
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18. 117 Cong. Rec. 29526, 92d Cong. 1st Sess.
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        (Mr. Hays asked and was given permission to extend his remarks 
    at this point in the Record and to include extraneous matter.)
        Mr. [Wayne L.] Hays [of Ohio]: Mr. Speaker, House Resolution 
    457, adopted by the House of Representatives on July 21, 1971, 
    provided the Committee on House Administration the authority to fix 
    and adjust from time to time various allowances by order of the 
    committee. During House debate on House Resolution 457, the Members 
    were assured that any order adopted by the committee under the 
    authority of the resolution would be published in the Congressional 
    Record in the first issue following the committee action. Pursuant 
    to that commitment, the following order of the Committee on House 
    Administration is submitted for printing in the Congressional 
    Record. After careful consideration, the order was approved 
    unanimously by the Subcommittee on Accounts on July 29, 1971, and 
    adopted unanimously by the Committee on House Administration August 
    4, 1971.

             To Adjust the Allowance for Rental of District Offices

            Resolved, That effective August 1, 1971, until otherwise 
        provided by order of the Committee on House Administration, 
        each Member of the House of Representatives shall be entitled 
        to office space suitable for his use in the district he 
        represents at not more than three places designated by him in 
        such district. The Sergeant at Arms shall secure office space 
        satisfactory to the Member in post offices or Federal buildings 
        at not more than two locations if such space is available. 
        Office space to which a Member is entitled under this 
        resolution which is not secured by the Sergeant at Arms may be 
        secured by the Member, and the Clerk shall approve for payment 
        from the

[[Page 739]]

        contingent fund of the House of Representatives vouchers 
        covering bona fide statements of amounts due for such office 
        space not exceeding a total allowance to each Member of $200 
        per month; but if a Member certifies to the Committee on House 
        Administration that he is unable to obtain suitable space in 
        his district for $200 per month due to high rental rates or 
        other factors, the Committee on House Administration may, as 
        the Committee considers appropriate, direct the Clerk to 
        approve for payment from the contingent fund of the House of 
        Representatives vouchers covering bona fide statements of 
        amounts due for suitable office space not exceeding a total 
        allowance to each Member of $350 per month. No Member shall be 
        entitled to have more than two district offices outfitted with 
        office equipment, carpeting and draperies at the expense of the 
        General Services Administration.
            As used in this resolution the term ``Member'' means any 
        Member of the House of Representatives, the Resident 
        Commissioner of Puerto Rico and the Delegate of the District of 
        Columbia.(19)
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19. For the authority of the Committee on House Administration to 
        adjust such allowances, see Sec. 8.3, supra. For previous 
        office space allowed under the United States Code, see 2 USC 
        Sec. 122.
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    Another adjustment affecting the allowance was announced on Feb. 
29, 1972: (20)
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20. 118 Cong. Rec. 6122, 92d Cong. 2d Sess.
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        Mr. [Frank] Thompson [Jr.] of New Jersey: Mr. Speaker, House 
    Resolution 457, adopted by the House of Representatives on July 21, 
    1971, provided the Committee on House Administration the authority 
    to fix and adjust from time to time various allowances by order of 
    the committee. Pursuant to this authority, the committee has 
    revised Order No. 1 and issued Order No. 3.
        Order No. 1, revised, increases the number of allowable 
    district offices in Federal office buildings from two to three. 
    Some Members, because of the physical size of their districts 
    require additional offices to adequately serve their constituents. 
    This order gives those Members the authority to establish an 
    additional office in a Federal building if such space is available.
        Order No. 1, revised, follows:

            Resolved, That effective January 25, 1972, each Member of 
        the House of Representatives shall be entitled to office space 
        suitable for his use in the district he represents at such 
        places designated by him in such district. The Sergeant at Arms 
        shall secure office space satisfactory to the Member in post 
        offices or Federal buildings at not more than three (3) 
        locations if such space is available. Office space to which a 
        Member is entitled under this resolution which is not secured 
        by the Sergeant at Arms may be secured by the Member, and the 
        Clerk shall approve for payment from the contingent fund of the 
        House of Representatives vouchers covering bona fide statements 
        of amounts due for office space not exceeding a total allowance 
        to each Member of $200 per month; but if a Member certifies to 
        the Committee on House Administration that he is unable to 
        obtain suitable space in his district for $200 per month due to 
        high rental rates or other factors, the Committee on House 
        Administration, may as the committee considers appropriate, 
        direct the Clerk to approve for payment from the contingent 
        fund of the House of Rep

[[Page 740]]

        resentatives vouchers covering bona fide statements of amounts 
        due for suitable office space not exceeding a total allowance 
        to each Member of $350 per month. Members shall be entitled to 
        have no more than three (3) district offices outfitted with 
        office equipment, carpeting, and draperies at the expense of 
        the General Services Administration.
            As used in this resolution the term ``Member'' means any 
        Member of the House of Representatives, the Resident 
        Commissioner of Puerto Rico, and the Delegate of the District 
        of Columbia.

Stationery Allowance

Sec. 8.7 The Committee on House Administration increased the stationery 
    allowance of Members in the 92d Congress.

    On Oct. 5, 1972,(1) the Committee on House 
Administration increased the stationery allowance of Members by Order 
No. 4, submitted pursuant to the authority granted the committee to 
adjust allowances:
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 1. 118 Cong. Rec. 34177, 92d Cong. 2d Sess.
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    Committee on House Administration: Order No. 4--To Adjust the 
        Allowance for Stationery for Representatives, Delegates, and 
        Resident Commissioner

        Resolved, That effective January 3, 1973, until otherwise 
    provided by order of the Committee on House Administration; the 
    allowance for stationery for each Member of the House of 
    Representatives, Delegates, and Resident Commissioner shall be 
    $4,250 per regular session.(2)
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 2. For the prior allowance, see 2 USC Sec. 46b.
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Contingent Fund Appropriations as Privileged

Sec. 8.8 Resolutions which provided payment out of the contingent fund 
    for additional office allowances of Members were called up as 
    privileged.(3)
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 3. The power granted to the Committee on House Administration in the 
        92d Congress to independently adjust allowances had made 
        unnecessary the practice of offering privileged resolutions for 
        payment from the contingent fund of allowances (see Sec. 8.3, 
        supra).
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    On May 26, 1966, a resolution from the Committee on House 
Administration providing payment from the contingent fund of sums to 
increase the basic clerk-hire allowance on each Member and the Resident 
Commissioner was called up as privileged: (4)
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 4. 112 Cong. Rec. 11654, 89th Cong. 2d Sess.
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        Mr. [Samuel N.] Friedel [of Maryland]: Mr. Speaker, by 
    direction of the Committee on House Administration, I offer a 
    privileged resolution (H. Res. 855) and ask for its immediate 
    consideration.
        The Clerk read the resolution, as follows:

[[Page 741]]

                                  H. Res. 855

            Resolved, That, effective on the first day of the first 
        month which begins after the date of adoption of this 
        resolution, there shall be paid out of the contingent fund of 
        the House, until otherwise provided by law, such sums as may be 
        necessary to increase the basic clerk hire allowance of each 
        Member and the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico by an 
        additional $7,500 per annum, and each such Member and Resident 
        Commissioner shall be entitled to one clerk in addition to 
        those to which he is otherwise entitled.

        With the following committee amendment:

            Line 7, strike out ``$7,500'' and insert ``$7,000''.

    On Sept. 27, 1951,(5) the House considered a resolution 
called up by the Committee on House Administration:
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 5. 97 Cong. Rec. 12289, 82d Cong. 1st Sess.
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        Mr. [Thomas B.] Stanley [of Virginia]: Mr. Speaker, by 
    direction of the Committee on House Administration I offer a 
    privileged resolution (H. Res. 318) with amendments, and ask for 
    its immediate consideration.
        The Clerk read as follows:

            Resolved, That upon the request of any Member, officer, or 
        committee of the House of Representatives and with the approval 
        of the Committee on House Administration, the Clerk of the 
        House of Representatives is authorized and directed to purchase 
        electric office equipment for the use of such Member, officer, 
        or committee. The cost of such equipment shall be paid from the 
        contingent fund of the House of Representatives.
            Sec. 2. The Committee on House Administration shall 
        prescribe such standards and regulations (including regulations 
        establishing the types and maximum amount of electric office 
        equipment which may be furnished to any Member, officer, or 
        committee) as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of 
        this resolution.
            Sec. 3. Electric office equipment furnished under this 
        resolution shall be registered in the office of the Clerk of 
        the House of Representatives, and shall remain the property of 
        the House of Representatives.
            Sec. 4. For the purposes of this resolution, the term 
        ``Member'' includes the Representatives in Congress, the 
        Delegates from the Territories of Alaska and Hawaii, and the 
        Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico. . . .

        Mr. [Karl M.] LeCompte [of Iowa]: Mr. Speaker, a parliamentary 
    inquiry.
        The Speaker: (6) The gentleman will state it.
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 6. Sam Rayburn (Tex.).
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        Mr. LeCompte: Is this a privileged resolution?
        The Speaker: The Chair would hold that this is a privileged 
    resolution because the expenditure is out of the contingent fund of 
    the House.(7)
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 7. See also 116 Cong. Rec. 39448, 39449, 91st Cong. 2d Sess., Dec. 2, 
        1970 (resolution for additional stationery allowance from 
        contingent fund and resolution for increased telephone and 
        telegraph allowance from contingent fund); 111 Cong. Rec. 
        13799, 89th Cong. 1st Sess., June 16, 1965 (resolution 
        authorizing employment by Members of student congressional 
        interns, to be paid from contingent fund).

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[[Page 742]]

Legislation Amending Allowances

Sec. 8.9 A joint resolution to amend existing law by providing an 
    increase in the number of electric typewriters furnished to each 
    Member, to be paid for from the contingent fund, is not called up 
    as privileged.(8)
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 8. In the 92d Congress, the Committee on House Administration was 
        given independent power to adjust allowances, thereby obviating 
        the necessity of offering resolutions to increase allowances 
        (see Sec. 8.3, supra).
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    On Sept. 15, 1965,(9) a joint resolution reported from 
the Committee on House Administration, increasing the number of 
electric typewriters to be furnished to Members by the Clerk of the 
House, and amending a prior joint resolution on the same subject, was 
not called up as privileged, since it amended existing law.
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 9. 111 Cong. Rec. 23985, 89th Cong. 1st Sess.
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Sec. 8.10 Amendments to increase the clerk-hire allowance and to permit 
    Members to adjust clerk-hire are legislation and not in order on 
    pending appropriations bills.

    On Dec. 6, 1944,(10) Chairman Herbert C. Bonner, of 
North Carolina, ruled that an amendment fixing new rates of clerk-hire 
for Members and new rates of salaries for committee employees, and 
allowing Members to readjust those salaries, was legislation and was 
not in order on a pending appropriation bill.
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10. 90 Cong. Rec. 8937-39, 78th Cong. 2d Sess.
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    On July 1, 1955,(11) Chairman William M. Colmer, of 
Mississippi, held an amendment increasing the basic rate of allowance 
for clerk-hire to be legislation and not in order on an appropriations 
bill.
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11. 101 Cong. Rec. 9815, 9816, 84th Cong. 1st Sess.

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