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Staff Contact: Russ Vought (x68581) June 7, 2006

**Appropriations Policy Brief**

**H.R. 5521 -- Legislative Branch Appropriations Act for FY 2007**

**[Comparison to the RSC Budget]{.underline}**

**Congressional Printing**. The Congressional Printing division of GPO
prints approximately 5,300 copies of the Congressional Record daily when
Congress is in session, at a cost of over \$6.5 million annually.
Congressional Printing also prints several other large documents on a
regular basis, which are delivered to Member offices daily. The
Congressional Record, and all other documents distributed by
Congressional Printing can be found on the Internet and are easily
accessible to all congressional staff and Members. The RSC Budget
eliminates funding for Congressional Printing. H.R.5521 provides \$95
million to GPO's combined congressional printing and binding activities.

**Government Printing Office**. The Government Printing Office (GPO) is
responsible for the production and distribution of information products
and services for all three branches of the federal government. With
Internet access now widespread and with innovations in other electronic
media, it is no longer necessary to allocate significant sums to the
GPO. The RSC Budget proposes reducing the GPO's budget authority by 50
percent. H.R. 5521 provides \$131 million for the GPO, an increase of
\$8 million over last year.

**[Items of Note]{.underline}:**

**Steering Committee Funding:** Provides \$924,000 for the Republican
Steering Committee, the entity of Members that decides or "steers"
Members to their respective committee assignments. It is not clear why a
committee that does no legislative work and holds meetings so
infrequently requires roughly \$1 million to perform its function. For
point of comparison, the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee would
receive \$2.2 million (a significant increase of \$200,000 over last
year)---significantly more than the amount of funding for both the
Steering Committee and the Republican Policy Committee, \$1.3 million
combined.

**Committee Funding:** Provides \$26.5 million for the Appropriations
Committee and \$124.8 million for the other standing committees for the
110^th^ Congress.

[]{.mark}

**Excess MRA Funds for Deficit Reduction**: Continues language carried
in previous years providing that excess funds in the Members'
Representation Allowance Account shall be used for deficit reduction.

[]{.mark}

**Architect of the Capitol Inspector General**: Establishes an Office of
the Inspector General within the Office of the Architect of the Capitol.

**Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission**: Provides \$600,000 to the
Commission, established in 2000 to study activities that may be carried
out by the federal government to honor the bicentennial anniversary of
Lincoln's birth---February 12, 2009. For more information on the
Commission, please visit the committee's website
[here](http://www.lincolnbicentennial.gov/index.php).

[]{.mark}

**Private Vehicles**: Prohibits funds in this bill from being used to
maintain or otherwise care for privately-owned vehicles.

[]{.mark}

**Compensation Limitation**: Does not contain language from last year's
House-passed legislative branch appropriations bill preventing any
legislative branch employee from being paid more than a Member of the
House or Senate (excluding in-kind benefits and related payments). Last
year's provision was stripped in conference committee and was not
included in this year's bill.

[]{.mark}

**Capitol Hill Visitors Center:** Provides \$46.2 million to complete
the cost of construction and begin operating the Visitors Center.

**Rosa Parks Statue**: Provides \$370,000 for the Architect of the
Capitol to construct a statue to honor Rosa Parks.

[]{.mark}

**Miscellaneous Items**: Provides \$703,000 for "miscellaneous items"
including House automobiles (\$143,000), interparliamentary receptions
(\$40,000) and "gratuities to beneficiaries of deceased staff
\[employees of the House\]" (\$520,000).

**Open World Leadership Center:** Provides \$13.4 million for the Open
World Leadership Center which exists to expose political leaders of
foreign states to the workings of the U.S. government.

**Smoking in Rayburn Cafeteria**: Prohibits funds from being used to
establish or operate a smoking area in the cafeteria and public dining
rooms of the Rayburn House Office Building.

**Architect of the Capitol and GAO**: Provides the Comptroller General
(GAO) with direct authority over the Architect of the Capitol for one
year to execute and supervise all contracting, hiring, training, and
employee compensation.

**[Funding Summaries]{.underline}:**

*In Thousands*

  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------
                                                                                                    **FY 2006**   **FY 2007**   **FY 2006**  **Cmte.     **Cmte. v.**  **Cmte.     **Cmte. v.**
                                                                                                                                             v.**                      v.**        

                                                                                                    **Enacted**   **Request**   **Cmte**     **FY 2006** **Request**   **FY 2006** **Request**

  **House of Representatives**                                                                                                               ** **       ** **                      

  Office of the Speaker\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....           2,788         2,906         2,930        142         24            5.09%       0.83%

  Majority Leader\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...   2,089         2,139         2,213        124         74            5.94%       3.46%

  Minority Leader\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...   2,928         2,999         3,072        144         73            4.92%       2.43%

  Majority Whip\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\... 1,797         1,843         1,921        124         78            6.90%       4.23%

  Minority Whip\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\... 1,345         1,379         1,458        113         79            8.40%       5.73%

  Speaker Floor Activities\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....            482           491           491          9           0             1.87%       0.00%

  Republican Steering Cmte\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....                906           925           924          18          -1            1.99%       -0.11%

  Republican Conference\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....               1,548         1,699         1,699        151         0             9.75%       0.00%

  Republican Policy\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...     307           407           407          100         0                         0.00%

  Democratic Steering & Policy Cmte\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...                         1,945         2,194         2,194        249         0             12.80%      0.00%

  Democratic Caucus\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....           816           837           836          20          -1            2.45%       -0.12%

  Nine Minority Employees\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\....              1,445         1,473         1,473        28          0             1.94%       0.00%

  Training & Development Programs\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\....                          580           580           580          0           0             0.00%       0.00%

  Cloakroom Personnel\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...           868           894           894          26          0             3.00%       0.00%

  **Subtotal House Leadership\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....**                       **19,844**    **20,766**    **21,092**   **1,248**   **326**       **6.29%**   **1.57%**

  Members\' Representational Allowance (MRA)\...\...\...\...                                        534,109       559,628       557,796      23,687      -1,832        4.43%       -0.33%

  Standing Cmtes (except Appropriations)\...\...\...\...\...\.....                                  116,904       126,178       124,851      7,947       -1,327        6.80%       -1.05%

  Appropriations Cmte\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\....          25,668        26,555        26,497       829         -58           3.23%       -0.22%

  Office of the Clerk\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\....      21,911        22,820        21,505       -406        -1,315        -1.85%      -5.76%

  Office of the Sergeant at Arms\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....                      6,284         6,256         6,240        -44         -16           -0.70%      -0.26%

  Office of Chief Administrative Officer\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\....                           121,471       114,192       109,301      -12,170     -4,891        -10.02%     -4.28%

  Office of the Inspector General\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....                     3,991         4,212         4,204        213         -8            5.34%       -0.19%

  Office of Emergency Preparedness\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\....                             4,000         5,000         3,997        -3          -1,003        -0.08%      -20.06%

  Office of the General Counsel\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\....                    962           962           959          -3          -3            -0.31%      -0.31%

  Office of the Chaplain\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....          161           164           164          3           0             1.86%       0.00%

  Office of the Parliamentarian\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...                 1,767         1,767         1,762        -5          -5            -0.28%      -0.28%

  Office of the Law Revision Counsel\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...                            2,453         2,527         2,521        68          -6            2.77%       -0.24%

  Office of the Legislative Counsel\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....                       6,963         7,425         7,406        443         -19           6.36%       -0.26%

  Office of Interparliamentary Affairs.....................\...                                     720           738           737          17          -1            2.36%       -0.14%

  Other Authorized Employees................................                                        161           285           285          124         0             77.02%      0.00%

  Supplies, materials, admin costs, tort claims\...\...\...\...\...                                 4,179         4,554         4,554        375         0             8.97%       0.00%

  Official                                                                                          410           410           410          0           0             0.00%       0.00%
  Mail\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...                                                                                     

  Gov\'t Contributions\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...      213,422       223,252       217,253      3,831       -5,999        1.80%       -2.69%

  Misc                                                                                              703           703           703          0           0             0.00%       0.00%
  Items\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....                                                                                  

  **Joint Items**                                                                                   ** **         ** **         ** **        ** **       ** **                      

  Joint Economic Cmte\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\....      4,276         4,406         4,370        94          -36           2.20%       -0.82%

  Joint Cmte on Taxation\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\....       8,693         9,105         9,082        389         -23           4.47%       -0.25%

  Office of the Attending Physician\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....                   2,520         2,652         2,652        132         0             5.24%       0.00%

  Capitol Guide Service\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...     4,098         8,490         8,490        4,392       0             107.17%     0.00%

  Statements of Appropriations\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....                30            30            30           0           0             0.00%       0.00%

  Capitol Police Salaries and Expenses.....................\...                                     215,281       246,700       220,600      5,319       -26,100       2.47%       -10.58%

  Office of Compliance\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...      3,081         3,418         3,149        68          -269          2.21%       -7.87%

  Congressional Budget Office\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...               35,096        37,026        36,329       1,233       -697          3.51%       -1.88%

  Architect of the Capitol\--Gen\'l Admin\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...                   76,044        103,474       69,413       -6,631      -34,061       -8.72%      -32.92%

  Capitol                                                                                           23,118        31,207        22,396       -722        -8,811        -3.12%      -28.23%
  Building\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\....                                                                                    

  Capitol Grounds\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\..... 7,436         9,400         7,806        370         -1,594        4.98%       -16.96%

  House Office Buildings\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...        59,020        78,941        61,383       2,363       -17,558       4.00%       -22.24%

  Capitol Power Plant, Net\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....        64,632        89,710        87,327       22,695      -2,383        35.11%      -2.66%

  Library of Congress Buildings & Grounds\...\...\...\...\...\...\....                              68,075        102,237       36,401       -31,674     -65,836       -46.53%     -64.40%

  Capitol Police Building and Grounds\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....                     14,753        20,218        11,621       -3,132      -8,597        -21.23%     -42.52%

  Botanic                                                                                           7,557         9,264         8,612        1,055       -652          13.96%      -7.04%
  Garden\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...                                                                                       

  Capitol Visitor Center, Total.....................................                                43,758        41,175        46,175       2,417       5,000                     12.14%

  Library of Congress Salaries & Expenses, Net\...\...\...\.....                                    385,510       402,944       389,672      4,162       -13,272       1.08%       -3.29%

  Copyright Office, Salaries and Expenses, Net\...\...\...\...\...                                  22,429        25,205        24,069       1,640       -1,136        7.31%       -4.51%

  Congressional Research Service\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....                      99,907        104,279       102,462      2,555       -1,817        2.56%       -1.74%

  Books for the Blind & Handicapped\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....                       53,905        55,703        53,974       69          -1,729        0.13%       -3.10%

  Government Printing Office \-- Cong. Printing\....                                                87,209        100,285       95,233       8,024       -5,052        9.20%       -5.04%

  Gov\'t Printing Office \-- Salaries & Expenses\...\...\...\...\...\...                            33,004        43,000        35,287       2,283       -7,713        6.92%       -17.94%

  Gov\'t Printing Office Revolving Fund\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...                     1,980         8,231         0            -1,980      -8,231                    -100.00%

  General Accountability Office, Net\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\...\.....              477,571       502,370       488,234      10,663      -14,136       2.23%       -2.81%

  Payment to Open World Leadership Ctr Trust Fund                                                   13,860        14,400        13,400       -460        -1,000        -3.32%      -6.94%
  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------- ------------- ------------ ----------- ------------- ----------- -------------

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