29–999 

115TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 115–696 

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2019 

MAY 21, 2018.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 

the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. YODER, from the Committee on Appropriations, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

together with 

ADDITIONAL VIEWS 

[To accompany H.R. 5894] 

The Committee on Appropriations submits the following report in 

explanation of the accompanying bill making appropriations for the 

Legislative Branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, 

and for other purposes. 

INDEX TO BILL AND REPORT 

Page Number 

Bill Report 

Highlights of Bill ........................................................................................ ........ 2 

Title I—Legislative Branch Appropriations ............................................. 2 3 

House of Representatives ................................................................... 2 3 

Joint Items: 10 7 

Joint Economic Committee ......................................................... 10 7 

Joint Committee on Taxation ..................................................... 11 7 

Office of the Attending Physician ............................................... 11 8 

Office of Congressional Accessibility Services ........................... 12 8 

Capitol Police ....................................................................................... 12 8 

Office of Compliance ........................................................................... 13 9 

Congressional Budget Office .............................................................. 14 10 

Architect of the Capitol (except Senate Office Buildings) ............... 14 11 

Library of Congress ............................................................................. 24 16 

Government Publishing Office ........................................................... 29 20 

Government Accountability Office ..................................................... 33 22 

Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund ..................................... 35 23 

John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development .................................................................................................. 35 23 

Title II—General Provisions ...................................................................... 36 23 

Bill-wide Reporting Requirements ............................................................ ........ 23 

Additional Views ........................................................................................ ........ 47 

2 

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BILL 

The Committee recommends $3,811,132,960 in discretionary resources for operations of the Legislative Branch of government (excluding Senate items). The fiscal year 2019 recommendation is 

$132,678,541 above the current fiscal year level and $94,017,832 

below the budget request. 

Conforming to longstanding practice under which each body of 

Congress determines its own housekeeping requirements and the 

other concurs without intervention, funds for the Senate are not included in the bill as reported to the House. The budget request for 

the Senate for fiscal year 2019 including those under the Architect 

of the Capitol totals $1,068,867,040. 

This bill reflects a continued acknowledgment that the Legislative Branch must set itself as an example for fiscal restraint while 

continuing to serve the Nation. This bill will require strict fiscal 

discipline on the part of all Congressional offices and all agency 

heads in the Legislative Branch. 

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH-WIDE MATTERS

Reprogramming Guidelines: It is expected that all agencies notify 

the Committees on Appropriations of the House and the Senate of 

any significant departures from budget plans presented to the 

Committees in any agency’s budget justifications. In particular, 

agencies funded through this bill are required to notify the Committees prior to each reprogramming of funds in excess of the lesser of 10 percent or $750,000 between programs, projects or activities, or in excess of $750,000 between object classifications (except 

for shifts within the pay categories, object class 11, 12, and 13 or 

as further specified in each agency’s respective section). This includes cumulative reprogrammings that together total at least 

$750,000 from or to a particular program, activity, or object classification as well as reprogramming FTEs or funds to create new organizational entities within the Agency or to restructure entities 

which already exist. The Committees desire to be notified of reprogramming actions which involve less than the above-mentioned 

amounts if such actions would have the effect of changing an agency’s funding requirements in future years or if programs or projects 

specifically cited in the Committee’s reports are affected. 

Staffing Data in Budget Documents: Legislative branch FTE data 

is not consistently reported across the Legislative Branch agencies 

when submitting their budget justifications. The Committee directs 

the legislative branch agencies to include data on FTE levels that 

would actually be supported by the associated request or enacted 

funding levels. The Committee continues to direct the Legislative 

Branch Financial Managers Council to coordinate on a plan for 

aligning FTE levels with the Legislative branch agencies for consistency in reporting. 

Zero Base Budgeting: The Committee continues to direct all 

agencies of the Legislative Branch to develop budget requests from 

a zero base. The Committee believes that this valuable budgeting 

process has given agencies the opportunity to take a fresh look at 

all areas of their operations and make funding reductions and 

alignments within the current budget base. The Committee believes that there are continued opportunities to realize meaningful 

3 

savings by carefully reviewing each agency’s budget requirements 

from a zero base. 

Committee Requests, Furloughs and Performance Based Merit Increases: The Committee directs that adherence to the language carried in House Reports 112–148, 112–511 and 113–417 pertaining to 

Committee Requests and Furloughs to be continued unless otherwise so directed. Performance Based Merit Increases are not to exceed the maximum allowable for agencies with a certified SES performance appraisal system. 

Data Centers: The Committee understands that Legislative 

Branch Agencies use information technology (IT) infrastructure to 

support critical functions to carry out their statutory missions, including functions essential to carrying out the constitutional responsibilities of the Legislative Branch. 

IT infrastructure may be located in data centers covering several 

geographic regions or using several types of cloud services. Regardless of how such infrastructure is provisioned, an agency’s IT infrastructure must satisfy the following requirements: must meet ‘concurrently maintainable’ requirements of data centers certified from 

the Uptime Institute or equivalent certifying authority; must maintain continuous operation against an ‘all hazards’ risk evaluation; 

and, must incorporate technical communications capabilities to ensure that all necessary IT resources required to support the mission of the Legislative Branch can interoperate effectively with the 

House, Senate, and other agencies under ‘all hazards’ conditions. 

TITLE I—LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $1,200,000,766 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 1,256,972,035 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 1,232,143,035 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +32,142,269 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥24,829,000 

The Committee recommends $1,232,143,035 for salaries and expenses of the House of Representatives. 

HOUSE LEADERSHIP OFFICES

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $22,278,891 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 22,278,891 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 25,378,875 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +3,099,984 

Change from request ................................................................... +3,099,984 

The Committee recommends $25,378,875 for salaries and expenses of staff in House leadership offices. 

Increase reflects amounts previously provided to House Leadership Offices under the heading ‘‘Allowances and Expenses, Supplies, Materials, Administrative Costs and Federal Tort Claims’’ 

have been combined with the associated accounts under the heading ‘‘House Leadership Offices’’. 

The allocation by office follows: 

4 

Office of the Speaker .......................................................................... $7,123,634 

Office of the Majority Floor Leader .................................................. 2,642,739 

Office of the Majority Whip ............................................................... 2,197,163 

Republican Conference ....................................................................... 2,186,819 

Office of the Minority Floor Leader .................................................. 7,751,946 

Office of the Minority Whip ............................................................... 1,700,079 

Democratic Caucus ............................................................................. 1,776,495 

MEMBERS’ REPRESENTATIONAL ALLOWANCES

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $562,632,498 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 573,630,000 

Committee recommendation 573,630,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +10,997,502 

Change from request ................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $573,630,000 for the salaries and 

expenses of the Members Representational Allowances. This level 

of funding will allow the MRAs to operate at authorized levels as 

approved by the Committee on House Administration. 

COMMITTEE EMPLOYEES

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $150,279,373 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 150,016,144 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 151,016,144 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +736,771 

Change from request ................................................................... +1,000,000 

The Committee recommends $151,016,144 in total for Committee 

Employees. 

This account includes funding for salaries and expenses of Committees including equipment, telecommunications, printing, contract services, and supplies. Funding is available until December 

31, 2019. 

This amount makes available $4,000,000 for committee room renovations. 

Included in the total is $23,112,971 for the Committee on Appropriations. 

TOM LANTOS HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $0 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 0 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 230,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +230,000 

Change from request ................................................................... +230,000 

The Committee recommends $230,000 for salaries and expenses 

of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission. 

SALARIES, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $204,356,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 222,833,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 217,845,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +13,489,000 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥4,988,000 

The Committee recommends $217,845,000 for the salaries and 

expenses of House officers and employees of the various activities 

funded through this consolidated item. 

The following table summarizes the funding allocation provided 

to each component of the account: 

5 

Office of the Clerk .............................................................................. $28,305,000 

Witness Disclosure Forms: House rules require non-governmental 

witnesses appearing before any committee of the House to disclose 

recent grants or contracts from the Federal or foreign governments. 

In implementing this requirement, committees are using PDF 

forms to gather the information. This format often results in witnesses’ hand writing their information on the disclosure forms, 

sometimes not legible. The Committee intends to work with the 

Committee on House Administration to develop and make available 

to all committees a disclosure document in webform to ensure the 

required information is typed and clearly readable. 

Member Bioguide: Currently the only publically available structure to the Member Bioguide data is HTML. This presents challenges for individuals and outside groups that wish to programmatically make use of the information. The Committee is aware of 

and encouraged by the Office of Clerk’s efforts to publish the 

Bioguide data in machine readable format. The Committee has 

been informed that the target completion for this initiative is December 2018. 

Office of the Sergeant At Arms ......................................................... $18,773,000 

Office of the Chief Administrative Officer ........................................ 147,558,000 

House Child Care Center Expansion: The Committee is encouraged by the construction progress to date at the new House Child 

Care Center location. While physically expanding the Center will 

reduce the lengthy waitlist and create more opportunities for families to utilize the facility, it also provides an opportunity to examine and evaluate the operations of the Center. The Chief Administrative Officer is encouraged to work with the House Child Care 

Center Advisory Board in evaluating current operations and with 

the expectation any recommendations be implemented in conjunction with the full physical expansion of the Center. 

CAO Tracking of Metrics: The Committee directs the CAO Logistics and Support division (L&S) to identify and create, accurately 

maintain, and report on the operating measures that reflect the demand for L&S services, the costs to meet the demand (e.g., labor, 

materials, equipment), the length of time to fulfill service request, 

and the satisfaction of those receiving L&S services. 

Food Waste Reduction: The United States Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency set a joint goal 

of reducing food waste by 50 percent by the year 2030. The Committee believes that the House should help to meet this goal and, 

whenever possible, ensure that food waste generated at House food 

services does not end up in a landfill. The Committee urges the 

Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to explore composting and donation options for House food services. 

Healthy Food Options: The Committee requests the CAO ensure 

the House’s food offerings include food and nutrition options that 

support healthier choices such as: a variety of fruit and vegetable 

options; whole grain-rich options; plant-based proteins; lean protein 

entrees; more visible access to freely available drinking water; and 

meals, entrees, and sides with less sodium. 

Study on House Salaries: Not later than 12 months after the date 

of enactment of this Act, the Chief Administrative Officer shall contract with an independent external entity to produce and submit to 

6 

the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives 

a report that: reviews the salaries and benefits of personal office 

and committee staff in the House of Representatives against their 

Executive branch and private sector counterparts to evaluate 1) 

whether staff receive similar pay for similar work, and 2) if there 

is a disjunction, the extent and nature of that disjunction, broken 

out by job responsibilities; and reviews the salaries of personal office and committee staff in the House of Representatives to evaluate in the aggregate whether 1) men and women with similar job 

responsibilities, experience, and qualifications receive similar pay 

for similar work, and 2) whether people form different ethnic or racial groups receive similar pay for similar work. This review should 

focus on personal and committee offices. 

Office of the Inspector General ......................................................... $5,019,000 

Office of General Counsel .................................................................. 1,502,000 

Office of the Parliamentarian ............................................................ 2,026,000 

Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the House ............................ 3,327,000 

Office of the Legislative Counsel of the House ................................ 9,937,000 

Office of Interparliamentary Affairs ................................................. 814,000 

Other authorized employees .............................................................. 584,000 

ALLOWANCES AND EXPENSES

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $260,454,004 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 288,214,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 264,043,016 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +3,589,012 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥24,170,984 

The Committee recommends a total of $264,043,016 for allowances and expenses. 

The following table summarizes the funding allocation provided 

to each major component of the account: 

Supplies, materials, administrative costs and Federal tort claims $525,016 

Official mail (committees, administrative, and leadership offices) 190,000 

Government Contributions ................................................................ 239,000,000 

Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery .................................... 16,186,000 

Transition Activities ........................................................................... 3,000,000 

Wounded Warrior Program ............................................................... 2,750,000 

Wounded Warrior Program: The Chief Administrative Officer 

(CAO) managed Wounded Warrior program is one of the House’s 

most supported initiatives. The program currently provides 85 twoyear fellowship positions for wounded veterans in Congressional offices. The Committee believes that with effective management of 

the program and continued support in appropriations, sufficient 

funding exists to expand the program by an additional 25 fellowship positions. The Committee is also aware that the CAO is evaluating the program and may be making some recommendations as 

a result. The Committee is interested in the CAO’s observations of 

the program and any recommendations to improve it. The CAO is 

directed to present any recommendations to the Committee within 

90 days of enactment. 

Office of Congressional Ethics ........................................................... $1,670,000 

Miscellaneous items ........................................................................... 722,000 

7 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Section 110 provides for unspent amounts remaining in Members’ Representational Allowances account to be used for deficit or 

debt reduction. 

Section 111 prohibits the delivery of bills and resolutions. 

Section 112 prohibits the delivery of printed copies of the Congressional Record. 

Section 113 places a limitation on amount available to lease vehicles. 

Section 114 places a limitation on printed copies of the U.S. 

Code. 

Section 115 prohibits the delivery of reports of disbursements. 

Section 116 prohibits the delivery of the daily calendar. 

Section 117 prohibits delivery of congressional pictorial directory. 

Section 118 eliminates allowances for former Speakers. 

Section 119 prohibits cost of living adjustment for Members of 

Congress. 

Section 120 authorizes transfers among House Leadership Offices. 

JOINT ITEMS 

JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE 

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $4,203,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 4,203,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 4,203,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... 0 

Change from request ................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $4,203,000 for the salaries and expenses of the Joint Economic Committee. 

The Joint Economic Committee was created by the Employment 

Act of 1946. The primary tasks of the Committee are to review economic conditions and to recommend improvements in economic policy. The Committee performs research and economic analysis and 

monitors and analyzes current economic, financial, and employment conditions. 

JOINT COMMITTEE ON TAXATION 

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $11,169,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 11,169,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 11,169,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... 0 

Change from request ................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $11,169,000 for the salaries and expenses of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT). 

The Joint Committee on Taxation operates under the Internal 

Revenue Code of 1986 and its predecessors dating to the Revenue 

Act of 1926. It has responsibility to (1) investigate the operation 

and effects of internal revenue taxes and the administration of 

such taxes; (2) investigate measures and methods for the simplification of such taxes; (3) 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 (4) review any proposed 

refund or credit of income or estate and gift taxes or certain other 

8 

taxes set forth in Code section 6405 in excess of $2,000,000 

($5,000,000 in the case of a C corporation). In addition to these 

functions that are specified in the Internal Revenue Code, the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 requires the Joint Committee to provide revenue estimates for all tax legislation considered by either 

the House or the Senate. 

OFFICE OF THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN 

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $3,838,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 3,798,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 3,798,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... ¥40,000 

Change from request ................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $3,798,000 for the Office of the Attending Physician. 

OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES 

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $1,444,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 1,486,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 1,486,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +42,000 

Change from request ................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $1,486,000 for the operation of the 

Office of Congressional Accessibility Services. 

The Office of Congressional Accessibility Services provides and 

coordinates a variety of accessibility services for individuals with 

disabilities including Members of Congress, staff and visitors in the 

United States Capitol Complex. 

CAPITOL POLICE 

SALARIES

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $351,700,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 374,804,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 374,804,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +23,104,000 

Change from request ................................................................... +0 

The Committee recommends $374,804,000 for the personnel salaries, benefits, and overtime requirements, to include the cost of 

overtime necessary for providing training. 

The increase includes necessary half year funds to provide full 

year funding for those sworn hired from fiscal year 18 funding to 

staff the House Garage Security initiative and limited 

prescreening; half year funding to fully fund 48 civilian positions 

hired from fiscal year 18 funding that will replace positions currently staffed by sworn officers, who will be redeployed to meet 

critical mission requirements and provide immediate personnel 

utility; and additional half year funds in fiscal year 19 for the hiring of 72 sworn and 21 civilian positions for additional sworn 

prescreeners at office buildings and the implementation of ESP 

screening at the CVC, as well as one position for the USCP Office 

of Inspector General. 

New Posts: The Committee continues to direct the USCP to notify 

the Committee on Appropriations of the House when new posts are 

9 

created, including the annualized cost of maintaining the new post, 

and how the cost will be offset. 

Use of Grounds: The Committee understands the need to maintain safety and order on the Capitol grounds and commends the 

Capitol Police for their efforts. Given the family-style neighborhood 

that the Capitol shares with the surrounding community the Committee continues to instruct the Capitol Police to forebear enforcement of 2 U.S.C. 1963 (‘‘An act to protect the public property, turf, 

and grass of the Capitol Grounds from injury’’) and the Traffic Regulations for the United States Capitol Grounds when encountering 

snow sledders on the grounds. 

Mandatory Retirement Age: The Committee directs the USCP to 

provide a written report to the Committee within 180 days of enactment on the feasibility and impact of permanently raising the 

USCP sworn employee mandatory retirement age from 57 years of 

age to 60 years of age. The report should address the young and 

vigorous law enforcement standard; the potential impact to benefits 

afforded to USCP sworn employees under the Capitol Police Retirement Act, the Social Security benefit, the Federal Employees Retirement System benefit, and the Thrift Savings Plan annuity; the 

long-term financial impact on the USCP if enacted; and provide 

benchmark data against other Federal law enforcement agencies to 

ensure Federal law enforcement parity for the USCP will not be 

impacted should the mandatory retirement age be raised to 60 

years of age. 

GENERAL EXPENSES

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $74,800,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 81,554,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 81,554,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +6,754,000 

Change from request ................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $81,554,000 for general expenses to 

support the responsibilities for law enforcement, Capitol complex 

physical and technological security, dignitary protection, intelligence analysis, event management, hazardous material/devices, 

information technology, and other specialized responses, as well as 

logistical and administrative support. 

OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $4,959,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 4,552,757 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 5,410,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +451,000 

Change from request ................................................................... +857,243 

The Committee recommends $5,410,000 for salaries and expenses 

of the Office of Compliance. 

The Office of Compliance was established to administer and enforce the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 104–91). 

The Act applies various employment and workplace safety laws to 

Congress and certain Legislative Branch entities. 

Additional Resources: This act makes available additional resources to the Office of Compliance (OOC) to help address the inVerDate Sep 11 2014 07:50 May 22, 2018 Jkt 029999 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR696.XXX HR696
10 

crease in requests for in-person training, enhancements to the 

OOC’s on-line training modules, and to help address the overall increase in caseload. It is a top priority of the Committee’s that employing authorities are held accountable for employee rights that 

are violated, as well as, making sure employees know and understand their rights and have access to a dispute resolution process 

that is fair and easy to navigate. The Committee also stands by to 

ensure the OOC has adequate resources to implement Congressional Accountability Act reform were it to be passed by Congress. 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $49,945,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 50,737,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 50,737,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +792,000 

Change from request ................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $50,737,000 for salaries and expenses of the Congressional Budget Office. 

This office is responsible for producing independent analyses of 

budgetary and economic issues to support the Congressional budget 

process. Each year, the agency produces dozens of reports, including its outlook on the budget and economy, and hundreds of cost 

estimates for proposed legislation. 

Responsiveness: The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) provides 

nonpartisan, budgetary and economic analysis to support the work 

of the Congress and its reports and analysis can have far reaching 

policy implications. The Committee expects CBO, to the greatest 

extent practicable, to ensure a high level of responsiveness to committees, leadership, and individual Members. There is support for 

the work that CBO has done in the area of responsiveness thus far, 

as well as support for the agency’s goals to continue its improved 

responsiveness efforts. Those efforts include developing analysts 

who can move from one topic to another when demand surges for 

analysis of a particular topic, developing deeper expertise in certain 

topics so that the agency is better positioned to analyze new proposals in those areas in a more timely manner, expanding its use 

of team approaches in which work on large and complicated proposals is shared, and assisting rank and file Members of Congress 

in the development of legislation. The Committee recommends CBO 

consider factors such as the number of co-sponsors for legislation 

when prioritizing which legislation receives a cost estimate beyond 

what is mandated in statute and requested by Committees. The 

Committee directs CBO to provide periodic updates to the Committee on progress specifically in the area of increased responsiveness to Member requests. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION

Section 130 provides relocation reimbursement authority to new 

employees. 

11 

ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL 

(EXCLUDING SENATE OFFICE BUILDINGS)

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $610,491,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 687,889,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 642,004,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +31,513,000 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥45,885,000 

The Committee recommends $642,004,000 for the activities of the 

Architect of the Capitol (AOC). Excluded are Senate items which 

are traditionally left for consideration by that body. Within the recommended level the Committee continues its prioritization of 

projects that: (1) promote the safety and health of workers and occupants, (2) decrease the deferred maintenance backlog, and (3) invest to achieve future energy savings. 

The AOC is responsible for the maintenance, operation, development, and preservation of the United States Capitol Complex. This 

includes mechanical and structural maintenance of the Capitol, 

Congressional office buildings, the Library of Congress buildings, 

the U.S. Botanic Garden, the Capitol Power Plant, and other facilities, as well as the upkeep and improvement of the grounds surrounding the Capitol complex. 

Energy and Sustainability Program: The Committee continues to 

be supportive of, and encouraged by, the Architect of the Capitol’s 

(AOC) robust energy savings and sustainability initiatives across 

their jurisdictions. 

Since fiscal year 2003 the AOC has facilitated energy reduction 

across the Capitol campus by more than 30% with the goal of 50% 

reduction by fiscal year 2025. A large driver of those energy savings has been the AOC’s entrance into several Energy Saving Performance Contracts which has made possible more investments in 

infrastructure efficiencies and saved the AOC more than $100 million in cost avoidance. The AOC has also instituted waste reduction, recycling, and composting programs that has reduced building 

occupant waste by 44% and diverted construction waste by 90%. 

The Committee directs the AOC to study what further measures 

can be taken to conserve resources and promote a more sustainable 

campus. This study should focus on further decreasing water and 

electricity use; reducing waste; and improving or expanding recycling and composting practices in the Capitol complex. Any feasible, 

cost-neutral practices should be implemented. The study should 

also analyze whether the Congress could save taxpayer money 

through more widespread installation of solar panels to generate 

electricity. 

The following table summarizes the allocation of funds by appropriation account: 

Capital Construction and Operations ............................................... $103,962,000 

Capitol Building .................................................................................. 44,379,000 

Capitol Grounds .................................................................................. 16,761,000 

House Office Buildings ....................................................................... 187,098,000 

House Historic Buildings Revitalization Trust Fund ...................... 10,000,000 

Capitol Power Plant ........................................................................... 118,980,000 

Library Buildings and Grounds ........................................................ 70,201,000 

Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds and Security .............................. 52,542,000 

Botanic Garden ................................................................................... 14,759,000 

Capitol Visitor Center ........................................................................ 23,322,000 

12 

CAPITOL CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATIONS

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $93,478,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 103,962,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 103,962,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +10,484,000 

Change from request ................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $103,962,000 for personnel services, 

equipment, communications, and other central support activities of 

the AOC. 

Item Committee recommendation 

Operating Expenses .......................................................................................................................................... $103,962,000 

CAPITOL BUILDING

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $45,300,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 46,154,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 44,379,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... ¥921,000 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥1,775,000 

The Committee recommends $44,379,000 for the operation, maintenance, and care of the U.S. Capitol and Capitol Visitor Center 

(CVC). 

Item Committee 

recommendation 

Operating Expenses ........................................................................................................................................ $26,648,000 

Projects: 

Security Improvements, House Chamber, USC ..................................................................................... 4,857,000 

Senate Reception Room Restoration and Conservation, USC .............................................................. 4,750,000 

Fire Alarm System Upgrade, USC ......................................................................................................... 2,525,000 

Conservation of Fine and Architectural Art .......................................................................................... 599,000 

Minor Construction ................................................................................................................................ 5,000,000 

CAPITOL GROUNDS

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $13,333,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 17,978,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 16,761,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +3,428,000 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥1,217,000 

The Committee recommends $16,761,000 for the care of the 

grounds surrounding the Capitol. 

Item Committee recommendation 

Operating Expenses .......................................................................................................................................... $11,242,000 

Projects: 

Light Pole Structural Repairs and Improvements, Phase III–VI ............................................................. 2,519,000 

Minor Construction .................................................................................................................................. 3,000,000 

Gardens: The Committee is interested in identifying additional 

locations on Capitol grounds that may be suitable for more gardens. The AOC is directed to share its current and future initiatives with the Committee. 

13 

HOUSE OFFICE BUILDINGS

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $207,294,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 190,098,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 197,098,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... ¥10,196,000 

Change from request ................................................................... +7,000,000 

The Committee recommends $197,098,000 for the operation, 

maintenance, and care of the Rayburn, Cannon, Longworth, Ford, 

O’Neill House Office Buildings, and the House underground garages. $7,000,000 will be derived from the House Office Building 

Fund for operations and maintenance of the O’Neill House Office 

Building. 

Item Committee recommendation 

Operating Expenses ...................................................................................................................................... $59,546,000 

Projects: 

Garage Interior Rehabilitation, Phase IV, RHOB ................................................................................... 32,721,000 

Security Enhancements, Phase 4, HOB ................................................................................................ 15,171,000 

Security Enhancements, Phase 5, HOB ................................................................................................ 7,000,000 

CAO Project Support .............................................................................................................................. 3,660,000 

Restoration and Renovation, CHOB ...................................................................................................... 62,000,000 

House Historic Buildings Revitalization Trust Fund ............................................................................. 10,000,000 

Minor Construction ................................................................................................................................ 7,000,000 

House Historic Buildings Revitalization Trust Fund: The bill includes $10,000,000 for the House Historic Buildings Revitalization 

Trust Fund. Public Law 111–68 established the Fund to finance 

major repairs and renovations to facilities of the House. Subject to 

approval by the Committee on Appropriations of the House, the 

AOC may use these funds for major renovation projects to preserve 

and maintain the performance of the iconic buildings of the House 

of Representatives. 

Cannon House Office Building: The Cannon Renewal Project’s 

Phase I of the renovation covering the building bordering New Jersey Avenue, SE is currently in progress and scheduled to be completed in November 2018. Phases 2 through 4 to renovate the remaining 3 sections of the building will be completed in subsequent 

2-year intervals with final project completion planned in November 

2024. The Committee provides $62,000,000 to continue the established funding strategy. 

Rayburn House Office Building Garage Rehabilitation: The Committee provides $32,721,000 for the fourth and final phase of the 

rehabilitation program for the Rayburn House Office Building garage. There is severe corrosion of the reinforcing steel and spalling 

and delaminating of the concrete slabs and columns. This project 

provides structural and architectural modifications for life safety, 

accessibility, lighting, electrical, mechanical, plumbing, fire protection, and security system upgrades. 

CAPITOL POWER PLANT

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $115,694,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 127,980,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 127,980,000 

Offsetting collections .......................................................................... ¥9,000,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +12,286,000 

Change from request ................................................................... 0 

14 

The Committee recommends $127,980,000 for the operations of 

the Capitol Power Plant which is the centralized provider of utility 

services for the Capitol campus. 

Item Committee recommendation 

Operating Expenses ........................................................................................................................................ $91,688,000 

Projects: 

Cooling Tower Renovation and Electrical Upgrades, RPR, Phase IV ................................................... 21,215,000 

Pipe Expansion Joint Improvements, G Tunnel ..................................................................................... 4,930,000 

Tunnel Waterproofing, Y Tunnel ............................................................................................................ 4,709,000 

Switchgear B & Pump Replacement, RPR, Phase VI ........................................................................... 724,000 

Condenser Water Pump and HVAC Replacement, RPR, Phase VII ....................................................... 714,000 

Minor Construction ................................................................................................................................ 4,000,000 

LIBRARY BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $74,873,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 113,427,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 70,201,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... ¥4,672,000 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥43,226,000 

The Committee recommends $70,201,000 for the care and maintenance of the Thomas Jefferson Building; James Madison Memorial Building; John Adams Building; Packard Campus, Ft. Meade 

Collection Storage Facility; National Library Services Facility and 

the St. Cecilia Special Services Facilities Center. 

Item Committee 

recommendation 

Operating Expenses ........................................................................................................................................ $28,122,000 

Projects: 

North Exit Stair B, Phase II, TJB ........................................................................................................... 18,090,000 

Emergency Lighting System Upgrade, TJB ............................................................................................ 7,490,000 

Book Conveyor System Removal and In-Fill, JMMB .............................................................................. 4,762,000 

Exterior Masonry and Envelope Repairs, TJB ........................................................................................ 2,149,000 

Exterior Masonry and Envelope Repairs, JAB ........................................................................................ 1,676,000 

Fire Alarm and Audibility Upgrade, JMMB ............................................................................................ 1,622,000 

ESPC Management Program, LBG ......................................................................................................... 1,790,000 

National Library Service Relocation Design and Initial Construction .................................................. 2,000,000 

Minor Construction ................................................................................................................................ 2,500,000 

CAPITOL POLICE BUILDINGS, GROUNDS, AND SECURITY

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $34,249,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 59,309,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 52,542,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +18,293,000 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥6,767,000 

The Committee recommends $52,542,000 for the maintenance, 

care and operation of buildings, grounds and security enhancements of the USCP and AOC security operations. 

Alternate Computing Facility: The Committee directs the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) to develop and present a multi-year strategic plan for the use of the Alternate Computing Facility (ACF) 

and associated cost estimates to meet the plan. The Committee directs the AOC to work with their stakeholders and committees of 

jurisdiction when developing the plan. Additionally, as part of the 

analysis for developing the strategic plan the AOC is directed to 

15 

work with the Uptime Institute or equivalent certifying authority 

to have a third-party assessment of the data center at the ACF. 

Item Committee recommendation 

Operating Expenses ........................................................................................................................................ $25,937,000 

Projects: 

Chiller Replacement and Chilled Water System Expansion, Phase I, ACF .......................................... 5,710,000 

Barrier Lifecycle and Perimeter Security Kiosk Replacement, Phase III .............................................. 8,300,000 

Perimeter Security Fence Modification, OSP ......................................................................................... 4,595,000 

South Door Screening Center Design and Initial Construction, USC ................................................... 3,000,000 

Minor Construction ................................................................................................................................ 5,000,000 

BOTANIC GARDEN

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $13,800,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 14,659,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 14,759,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +959,000 

Change from request ................................................................... +100,000 

The Committee recommends $14,759,000 for the improvement, 

operation, care, and maintenance of the USBG Conservatory; National Garden; Administration Building; Bartholdi Park and Fountain; heritage and other plant collections, and the USBG Production Facility at D.C. Village. 

Urban Agriculture: The Committee continues to support the Botanic Garden’s expansion of urban agriculture education and outreach programs. Included is continued funding for these efforts, 

such as the feasibility study and pilot project for which the Botanic 

Garden received funding in Public Law 115–141. 

Item Committee 

recommendation 

Operating Expenses ........................................................................................................................................ $11,200,000 

Projects: 

Security upgrade, BCC .......................................................................................................................... $959,000 

Minor Construction ................................................................................................................................ 2,600,000 

CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $21,470,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 23,322,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 23,322,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +1,852,000 

Change from request ................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $23,322,000 for the operations of 

the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC). The CVC was established to provide a secure public environment to welcome and manage a large 

number of visitors and to protect the Capitol, its occupants, and 

guests in an atmosphere of open access. 

There are no capital projects in fiscal year 2019. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Section 140 prohibits payment of bonuses to contractors behind 

schedule or over budget. 

Section 141 prohibits expenditure of funds for scrims for projects 

performed by the Architect of the Capitol. 

16 

Section 142 allows interagency transfers of funds to support the 

security needs of Congress. 

Section 143 amends the small purchase threshold. 

Section 144 authorizes details of employees. 

Section 145 authorizes employees to accept reimbursement of expenses for attending meetings and other functions in an official capacity. The Architect of the Capitol is directed to update its Ethics 

Order to incorporate this new authority as well as including the requirement applicable to executive branch agencies that the Architect of the Capitol submit semi-annual reports on all expenses paid 

in amounts greater than $250. 

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

Established by Congress in 1800, the Library of Congress is one 

of the largest libraries in the world, with a collection of more than 

162,000,000 print, audio, and video items in 470 languages. Among 

its major programs are acquisitions, preservation, administration of 

U.S. copyright laws by the Copyright Office, research and analysis 

of policy issues for the Congress by the Congressional Research 

Service, and administration of a national program to provide reading material to the blind and physically handicapped. The Library 

maintains a significant number of collections and provides a range 

of services to libraries in the United States and abroad. Increased 

funding is for information technology modernization within the Library, the Copyright Office, and the Congressional Research service. 

Visitor Experience: The Visitor Experience Plan for the Library 

of Congress’ Thomas Jefferson Building is an initiative that continues to have support in Congress. The proposed project will enhance the Library’s ability to bring the nation’s collections and history out of the vaults and into public spaces. With enhancements 

to exhibition spaces and development of learning centers, the Library can maximize the experience for its nearly two million annual visitors. The proposed funding for this initiative involves a 

public/private partnership, which has been a successful strategy for 

many similar institutions’ efforts to showcase our nation’s treasures. Included is $20,000,000 for enhancements to the public exhibits and visitor services at the Library. 

Congress.gov Calendar: Not later than 90 days after the date of 

enactment of this Act, the Library of Congress and the Government 

Publishing Office shall update the Congress.gov website to include 

a calendar for Senate and House of Representatives committee 

hearings and markups. That calendar, updated continuously as 

new information is available, shall include at least the following information about every hearing and markup taking place in the 

Senate and House of Representatives: the committee name; the 

subcommittee name (if appropriate); the meeting topic; witnesses 

(if any); legislation under consideration (if any); a link to legislation 

under consideration (if any); a link to the committee or subcommittee’s website; and a link to where video or audio (if any) from the 

proceedings are or will become available. The calendar shall be organized chronologically, and viewable as an individual day as well 

as a weekly view. 

Law Library Digitization: The Committee commends the Law Library for continuing to provide support to the time-sensitive and 

17 

complex needs of the Congress, the Supreme Court, Executive 

Branch agencies, courts, practicing attorneys, state bars, state and 

local governments, American businesses, scholars, journalists, and 

those with legal research needs. The Committee urges the Law Library to engage in a digitization strategy as part of the Library’s 

overall digitization strategy to increase online access to major parts 

of its collections, such as the U.S. Serial Sets and Supreme Court 

Records and briefs. 

Preservation: Recognizing that the Library’s extremely diverse 

collections require a well balanced approach of preservation assessment, treatment, reformatting, environmental storage and protective housing, the Committee directs that the mass deacidification 

program be maintained at a reasonable level of activity for a balanced preservation program. 

Outreach: The Committee encourages the Library of Congress to 

increase cooperative partnerships, fellowship opportunities, and 

curriculum program associations with community colleges, Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, Asian American and native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions, American Indian Tribally controlled colleges and 

universities, Alaska native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, predominantly Black institutions, Native American-serving 

institutions, Nontribal institutions, and other minority-serving institutions. 

National Film and Sound Recording Preservation Programs: The 

Committee recognizes the important work of the National Film and 

Sound Recording Preservation Programs, including the federally 

chartered National Film and National Recording Preservation 

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, the Committee expects that the library 

will provide full support to these programs. 

Veterans History Project: The Committee expects the Veterans 

History Project to be funded at least at the fiscal year 2018 level. 

The Committee recognizes the critical importance of the Veterans 

History Project as a way to collect, preserve and make accessible 

the personal accounts of American war veterans for the benefit of 

future generations. As the Veterans History Project relies on volunteers to collect and submit veteran’s stories, the Committee encourages the Library of Congress to do further outreach with schools, 

Girl and Boy Scout programs, and Veterans Service Organizations 

and nonprofit and community stakeholders serving veterans from 

historically underrepresented groups to enhance the project. 

Civic Education: The Committee recognizes the importance of 

civic education and the role the Library of Congress has played to 

increase access to civic education resources on U.S. civics and history. The Committee is encouraged by work the Library of Congress has already done to increase civic participation. The Committee believes that the Library of Congress should expand their 

civic education resources through the Teaching with Primary 

Sources program to also include materials targeted to post-secondary classrooms. The Committee directs the Library of Congress 

18 

to provide a plan on how the Library of Congress’s resources and 

web presence can be used to expand civic education and civic participation. 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $470,667,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 469,169,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 487,818,272 

Offsetting collections .......................................................................... 6,000,000 

Total available .................................................................................... 493,818,272 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +17,151,272 

Change from request ................................................................... +18,649,272 

The Committee recommends $487,818,272, plus authority to 

spend $6,000,000 in receipts, for salaries and expenses. 

COPYRIGHT OFFICE

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $28,446,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 38,646,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 43,589,000 

Offsetting collections .......................................................................... 45,490,000 

Prior Year Unobligated Balances ...................................................... 4,328,000 

Total available .................................................................................... 93,407,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +15,143,000 

Change from request ................................................................... +4,943,000 

The Committee recommends $43,589,000 plus authority to spend 

$45,490,000 in receipts, and $4,328,000 in prior year unobligated 

balances for salaries and expenses of the Copyright Office. 

Copyright Modernization: The Committee continues to support 

the collaborative work between the United States Copyright Office 

(USCO) and the Library of Congress’s Office of the Chief Information Officer’s Office (OCIO). Copyright modernization is something 

the Committee fully supports and will continue to provide requested resources towards. The Committee does have concerns that 

thus far the investments have not yielded many public-facing Copyright modernization enhancements. However, the Committee’s understanding is that the Copyright modernization work to date has 

been behind the scenes building a strong foundation for the longterm modernization strategy. When appropriate USCO is encouraged to engage with stakeholders both in the Congressional-community and beyond to highlight the progress that has already been 

made and to outline clear benchmarks for progress moving forward. 

Copyright Expertise: The Committee understands the Copyright 

Office has offered its expertise on copyright matters to the Executive Branch, including participation in international discussions, 

and expects the Office to continue that important role. Consistent 

with historical practice, the Committee expects the Library to continue to defer to the copyright expertise of the Register of Copyrights. 

CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $119,279,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 113,621,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 125,688,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +6,409,000 

Change from request ................................................................... +12,067,000 

19 

The Committee recommends $125,688,000 for salaries and expenses of the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS works for 

Members and Committees of Congress to support their legislative, 

oversight, and representational functions by providing nonpartisan 

and confidential research and policy analysis. 

Technology Assessment Study: The Committee has heard testimony on, and received dozens of requests advocating for restoring 

funding to the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA), and more 

generally on how Congress equips itself with the deep technical advice necessary to understand and tackle the growing number of 

science and technology policy challenges that face our country. The 

Committee directs the Congressional Research Service (CRS) to engage with the National Academy of Public Administration or a 

similar external entity to produce a report detailing the current resources available to Members of Congress within the Legislative 

Branch regarding science and technology policy. This study should 

also assess the potential need within the Legislative Branch to create a separate entity charged with the mission of providing nonpartisan advice on issues of science and technology. Furthermore, 

the study should also address if the creation of such entity duplicate services already available to Members of Congress. CRS 

should work with the Committee in developing the parameters of 

the study and once complete, the study should be made available 

to CRS’s committees of jurisdiction. 

Congressional Staff Education: The Committee appreciates the 

work the Congressional Research Service (CRS) does in providing 

classes and seminars to both Members and staff. The Committee 

also appreciates the New Member Seminar CRS holds each Congress to orientate new Members to issues they are most concerned 

about. In an effort to train new congressional staff, the Committee 

recommends CRS expand its training offerings to include a new 

staffers seminar on issues relating to the same topics new Members are briefed on. CRS is directed to have a plan on the implementation of the pilot program 180 days after enactment. In discharging its responsibilities to Congress, CRS should ensure positions taken by the House or the Senate in litigation or otherwise 

are included in its products, classes and seminars to Members and 

staff. 

BOOKS FOR THE BLIND AND PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $51,498,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 51,192,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 52,783,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +1,285,000 

Change from request ................................................................... +1,591,000 

The Committee recommends $52,783,000 for salaries and expenses of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically 

Handicapped (NLS). 

The NLS has administered a free national reading program for 

blind and physically handicapped residents of the United States 

and U.S. citizens living abroad since 1931. NLS provides direction 

for the production of books and magazines in braille and recorded 

formats and audio playback machines for distribution through a 

nationwide network of 55 regional and 33 sub-regional libraries. 

20 

eReader Program: In 2016 Congress authorized the National Library Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS) to 

provide readers for electronic braille (Public Law 114–219). The 

Committee included report language in the fiscal year 2017 omnibus and the fiscal year 2018 omnibus supporting the NLS approach 

of a pilot program to study braille eReaders, and with information 

learned from the pilot, work with the network of participating NLS 

libraries to scale the braille eReader program up so that it can deliver the increased accessibility that Congress intended. The Committee again directs the NLS to share the results of that pilot with 

the Committee in order to identify what, if any, additional resources will be required to implement the braille eReaders program 

nationwide. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION

Section 150 authorizes obligational authority for reimbursable 

and revolving funds. 

GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 

GPO provides publishing and dissemination services for Federal 

government publications to Congress, Federal agencies, Federal depository libraries, and the American public. 

The Committee commends GPO for its continuing use of digital 

technology to support the information requirements of Congress, 

including the ongoing development of a new XML-based composition system, which to date has resulted in the release in beta of 

a capability for the composition of congressional bills as well as the 

capability for the composition of the 2018 edition of the U.S. Code; 

a project to convert a subset of enrolled bills; public laws, and the 

Statutes at Large into USLM format, which is expected to be completed in 2018; the planned retirement of GPO’s Federal Digital 

System (FDsys) by the end of 2018 and its replacement by GPO’s 

new website, govinfo, which provides permanent public access to 

more than 2.2 million Government titles including congressional information; and the agency’s completion of work to digitize all issues 

of the Congressional Record dating back to its introduction in 1873. 

Additionally, the Committee supports GPO’s investments in newer, 

more cost-effective equipment for publishing congressional documents. Together, these efforts have helped GPO constrain the costs 

of its operations while expanding Government information access 

options to the American people, bringing greater openness and 

transparency to Congress and the Government. 

Statutes at Large: The Committee continues to support the work 

of the Legislative Branch Bulk Data Task Force, particularly in its 

efforts to convert Statutes at Large into United States Legislative 

Markup XML (USLM) format. Currently the Government Publishing Office (GPO) is in the process of converting all Statutes at 

Large from the 108th Congress forward into USLM XML format. 

Also available online in searchable PDF format are all Statutes at 

Large from 1951–2002. The Committee directs the GPO to assess 

the costs associated with converting Statutes at Large from 1789– 

2002 into the USLM XML format. 

21 

CONGRESSIONAL PUBLISHING

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $79,528,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 79,000,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 79,000,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... ¥528,000 

Change from request ................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $79,000,000 for Congressional Publishing. This account funds the costs of publishing congressional information products in both digital and print formats. The amount 

is provided as a lump sum to cover various categories of printing. 

PUBLIC INFORMATION PROGRAMS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF

DOCUMENTS

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $29,000,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 32,000,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 32,000,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +3,000,000 

Change from request ................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $32,000,000 for the salaries and expenses of the Public Information Programs of the Superintendent 

of Documents. 

The Public Information Programs of the Superintendent of Documents account funds the mailing of government documents for 

Members of Congress and Federal agencies, as statutorily authorized; the compilation of catalogs and indexes of government publications; and the cataloging, indexing, and providing of government 

publications in digital and tangible formats to the Federal Depository and International Exchange libraries and to other individuals 

and entities, as authorized by law. 

BUSINESS OPERATIONS REVOLVING FUND

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $8,540,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 6,000,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 6,000,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... ¥2,540,000 

Change from request ................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $6,000,000 for the Business Operations Revolving Fund. 

The operations of the Government Publishing Office are financed 

through the Business Operations Revolving Fund. This businesslike fund is used to pay GPO’s costs in performing congressional 

and agency publishing, information product procurement, and publications dissemination activities. The fund is reimbursed from payments from customer agencies, sales to the public, appropriations 

to the fund, and transfers from GPO’s two annual appropriations. 

The bill continues language authorizing the operation of the revolving fund and authority to hire or purchase automobiles, advisory councils, and consultants. 

22 

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $578,916,653 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 616,101,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 578,916,653 

Offsetting Collections ......................................................................... 23,800,000 

Total available .................................................................................... $602,716,653 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... 0 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥37,184,347 

The Committee recommends $578,916,653 in direct appropriations for the Government Accountability Office (GAO), plus 

$23,800,000 in offsetting collections derived from reimbursements 

for conducting financial audits of government corporations and 

rental of space in the GAO building. 

This level of funding will enable an increase of 80 FTE over the 

fiscal year 2018 level and will allow an enhanced focus on cybersecurity issues and the threats to the nation’s critical infrastructure, 

continued focus on a range of rapidly evolving science and technology issues; bolster reviews of the increased investment in Department of Defense programs; and assess the challenges associated with growing health care costs. 

GAO was established by the Budget and Accounting Act of 1921. 

GAO works for Congress by responding to requests for studies of 

Federal Government programs and expenditures. GAO may also 

initiate its own work. 

Duplicative Government Programs: Each year the Committee receives requests to direct the Government Accountability Office 

(GAO) to produce a report to Congress identifying duplicative programs throughout the Federal government. Since passage of Public 

Law 111–139 in 2010 the GAO has been mandated to produce such 

a report. In a yearly report the GAO identifies Federal programs, 

agencies, offices and initiatives that have duplicative goals or activities. Since 2011 the GAO has presented 645 actions in 249 

areas for Congress or executive branch agencies to reduce, eliminate, or better manage fragmentation, overlap or duplication. To 

date, Congress and the executive branch have addressed 329 of 

those actions resulting in roughly $135 billion in financial benefits. 

Whistleblower Resource Study: The Committee believes whistleblowers serve Congress as important sources of information about 

Federal waste, fraud, abuse and malfeasance. There are many avenues that are in place today for whistleblowers to make their concerns known. For example the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has a Blow the Whistle webpage, the Government 

Accountability Office maintains a Fraud Hotline and many personal offices of Members of Congress routinely receive information 

from whistleblowers. The Committee also believes it is important 

to protect whistleblowers and ensure that those handling the information provided have the resources they need and are aware of 

best practices when working with whistleblowers. 

The Committee directs the Government Accountability Office 

(GAO) to produce a report that identifies what avenues currently 

exist within the Legislative Branch for whistleblowers to communicate with Congress; identify best practices for Congressional staff 

when interacting with whistleblowers; and how best to get the information to the proper entity of jurisdiction so it can be invesVerDate Sep 11 2014 07:50 May 22, 2018 Jkt 029999 PO 00000 Frm 00022 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR696.XXX HR696
23 

tigated. The report should be provided to the Committee within 270 

days of enactment. 

OPEN WORLD LEADERSHIP CENTER TRUST FUND

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $5,600,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 5,800,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 5,600,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... 0 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥200,000 

The Committee recommends $5,600,000 for salaries and expenses 

of the Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund. 

JOHN C. STENNIS CENTER FOR PUBLIC SERVICE TRAINING AND

DEVELOPMENT

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018 ......................................................... $430,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2019 ....................................................... 430,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 430,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... 0 

Change from request ................................................................... 0 

The Committee recommends $430,000 for salaries and expenses. 

The Center provides Congressional staff training and development 

opportunities while it continues to achieve its broader mission to 

promote and strengthen public service leadership in America. 

TITLE II—GENERAL PROVISIONS 

Includes language regarding maintenance and care of private vehicles, fiscal year limitation, rates of compensation and designation, consulting services, the Legislative Branch Financial Managers Council, a limitation on transfers, guided tours of the Capitol, and the spending reduction account. 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPORT REQUIREMENTS 

The following items are included in accordance with various requirements of the Rules of the House of Representatives: 

FULL COMMITTEE VOTES

Pursuant to the provisions of clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House 

of Representatives, the results of each roll call vote on an amendment or on the motion to report, together with the names of those 

voting for and those against are printed below: 

24 


Insert offset folio 24 here HR696.001

FULL COMMITTEE VOTES 

Pursuant to the provisions of clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives, the results of 

each roll call vote on an amendment or on the motion to report, together with the names of those voting for and 

those voting against, are printed below: 

ROLL CALL NO. 1 

Date: May 8, 2018 

Measure: Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill, FY 2019 

Motion by: Ms. Wasserman Schultz 

Description of Motion: To increase the appropriation of the House Historic Building Revitalization Trust 

Fund by $7 million, to be offset by reducing funding for two accounts within the Architect of the Capitol. 

Results: Defeated 20 yeas to 28 nays. 

Members Voting Yea 

Mr. Aguilar 

Mr. Bishop 

Mr. Cartwright 

Ms. Clark 

Mr. Cuellar 

Ms. DeLauro 

Ms. Kaptur 

Mr. Kilmer 

Ms. Lee 

Mrs. Lowey 

Ms. McCollum 

Ms. Meng 

Ms. Pingree 

Mr. Pocan 

Mr. Quigley 

Ms. Roybal-Allard 

Mr. Ruppersberger 

Mr. Ryan 

Mr. Visclosky 

Ms. Wasserman Schultz 

Members Voting Nay 

Mr. Aderholt 

Mr.Amodei 

Mr. Calvert 

Mr. Carter 

Mr. Cole 

Mr. Culberson 

Mr. Dent 

Mr. Diaz-Balart 

Mr. Fleischmann 

Mr. Fortenberry 

Mr. Frelinghuysen 

Ms. Granger 

Mr. Graves 

Dr. Harris 

Ms. Herrera Beutler 

Mr. Joyce 

Mr. Moolenaar 

Mr. Newhouse 

Mr. Palazzo 

Mrs. Roby 

Mr. Rooney 

Mr. Simpson 

Mr. Stewart 

Mr. Taylor 

Mr. Valadao 

Mr. Womack 

Mr. Yoder 

Mr. Young 
25 


Insert offset folio 25 here HR696.002

FULL COMMITTEE VOTES 

Pursuant to the provisions of clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the House of Representatives, the results of 

each roll call vote on an amendment or on the motion to report, together with the names of those voting for and 

those voting against, are printed below: 

ROLL CALL NO. 2 

Date: May 8, 2018 

Measure: Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill, FY 2019 

Motion by: Mr. Aderholt 

Description of Motion: To report the bill to the House, as amended. 

Results: Adopted 4 7 yeas to 0 nays 

Members Voting Yea 

Mr. Aderholt 

Mr. Aguilar 

Mr.Amodei 

Mr. Calvert 

Mr. Carter 

Mr. Cartwright 

Ms. Clark 

Mr. Cole 

Mr. Cuellar 

Mr. Culberson 

Ms. DeLauro 

Mr. Dent 

Mr. Diaz-Balart 

Mr. Fleischmann 

Mr. Fortenberry 

Mr. Frelinghuysen 

Ms. Granger 

Mr. Graves 

Dr. Harris 

Ms. Herrera Beutler 

Mr. Joyce 

Ms. Kaptur 

Mr. Kilmer 

Ms. Lee 

Mrs. Lowey 

Ms. McCollum 

Ms. Meng 

Mr. Moolenaar 

Mr. Newhouse 

Mr. Palazzo 

Ms. Pingree 

Mr.Pocan 

Mr. Quigley 

Mrs. Roby 

Mr. Rooney 

Ms. Roybal-Allard 

Mr. Ruppersberger 

Mr. Ryan 

Members Voting Nay 
26 


Insert offset folio 26 here HR696.003

Mr. Simpson 

Mr. Stewart 

Mr. Taylor 

Mr. Valadao 

Mr. Visclosky 

Ms. Wasserman Schultz 

Mr. Womack 

Mr. Yoder 

Mr. Young 
27 

STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the following is a statement of general performance goals and objectives for which this measure authorizes funding: 

The Committee on Appropriations considers program performance, including a program’s success in developing and attaining 

outcome-related goals and objectives, in developing funding recommendations. 

RESCISSIONS

Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the following details the rescissions in the accompanying bill: 

The accompanying bill contains no rescissions. 

TRANSFER OF FUNDS

Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the following lists the transfers of funds included in the accompanying bill: 

Indefinite transfer authority is authorized for: Joint items disbursed by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House; Library 

of Congress; Congressional Publishing; the Superintendent of Documents; Capital Police programs; the Architect of Capitol security 

programs; and House Leadership Offices. 

DISCLOSURE OF EARMARKS AND CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED

SPENDING ITEMS

Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of 

Representatives, this bill, as reported, contains no Congressional 

earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as defined 

in clause 9 of rule XXI. 

COMPLIANCE WITH RULE XIII, CL. 3(e) (RAMSEYER RULE) 

In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, changes in existing law made by the bill, 

as reported, are shown as follows (existing law proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new matter is printed in italic, 

existing law in which no change is proposed is shown in roman): 

SECTION 906 OF THE 2002 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR FURTHER RECOVERY FROM AND RESPONSE TO TERRORIST ATTACKS ON THE UNITED 

STATES 

SEC. 906. (a) There is hereby established in the Treasury of the 

United States an account for the Architect of the Capitol to be 

known as ‘‘Capitol Police Buildings and Grounds’’ (hereinafter in 

this section referred to as the ‘‘account’’). 

ø(b) Funds in the account shall be used by the Architect of the 

Capitol for all necessary expenses for the maintenance, care, and 

operation of buildings and grounds of the United States Capitol Police.¿ 

28 

(b) Funds in the account shall be used by the Architect of the Capitol for all necessary expenses for— 

(1) resilience and security programs of the Architect of the 

Capitol; and 

(2) the maintenance, care, and operation of buildings, 

grounds, and security enhancements for facilities of the United 

States Capitol Police and for other facilities associated with 

such resilience and security programs at any location. 

(c)(1) For carrying out the purposes of the account, the Architect 

of the Capitol may receive transfers of appropriations from any 

agency or instrumentality of the United States Government upon the 

approval of— 

(A) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, in the case of a transfer from an office of the House 

of Representatives; 

(B) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, in the 

case of a transfer from an office of the Senate; or 

(C) the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate, in the case of a transfer from any 

other office of the Government. 

(2) Amounts transferred under this subsection shall be merged 

with the account and made available under this section. 

(3) This subsection shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2019 

and each succeeding fiscal year. 

ø(c)¿ (d) This section shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2002 

and each succeeding fiscal year. Any amounts provided to the Architect of the Capitol prior to the date of the enactment of this Act 

for the maintenance, care, and operation of buildings of the United 

States Capitol Police during fiscal year 2002 shall be transferred 

to the account. 

* * * * * * * 

SECTION 1201 OF THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH 

APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2003 

SEC. 1201. SMALL PURCHASE CONTRACTING AUTHORITY.—(a) IN

GENERAL.—Notwithstanding any other provision of law— 

(1) section 3709 of the Revised Statutes of the United States 

(41 U.S.C. 5) shall apply with respect to purchases and contracts for the Architect of the Capitol as if the reference to 

‘‘$25,000’’ in paragraph (1) of such section were a reference to 

‘‘ø$100,000¿ $250,000’’; and 

(2) the Architect may procure services, equipment, and construction for security related projects in the most efficient manner he determines appropriate. 

(b) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall apply to fiscal year 2003 

and each fiscal year thereafter. 

HOUSE RESOLUTION 1238, NINETY-FIRST CONGRESS 

Resolved, øThat the Speaker of the House of Representatives in 

the Ninety-first Congress (hereafter referred to in this resolution as 

the ‘‘Speaker’’) is entitled to retain for the period of two years immediately following the expiration of his term of office as a Representative in Congress in the Ninety-first Congress, the complete 

29 

and exclusive use of one office selected by him in order to facilitate 

the administration, settlement, and conclusion of matters pertaining to or arising out of his incumbency in office as a Representative in Congress and as Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

Such office shall be located in the United States and shall be furnished and maintained by the Government in a condition appropriate for his use. 

øSEC. 2. The Speaker is entitled to have the applicable accounts 

of the House of Representatives be available for payment of, for the 

period of two years immediately following the expiration of his 

term of office as a Representative in Congress in the Ninety-first 

Congress, an allowance equal to the Members’ Representational Allowance (to be paid in the same manner as such Allowance) for office and other expenses incurred in connection with the administration, settlement, and conclusion of matters pertaining to or arising 

out of his incumbency in office as a Representative in Congress and 

as Speaker of the House of Representatives. 

øSEC. 4. (a) The Speaker may send mail as franked mail under 

sections 4161 and 4164 of title 39, United States Code, and send 

and receive mail as franked mail under section 4162 of that title, 

for an additional period of eighteen months immediately following 

the close of the period specified in those sections following the expiration of his term of office as a Representative in Congress in the 

Ninety-first Congress. The postage on such mail, including registry 

fees if registration is required, shall be paid and credited as provided by section 4167(a) of title 39, United States Code. When the 

provisions of sections 3210, 3211, 3213, and 3216(a) of title 39, 

United States Code, as enacted by the Postal Reorganization Act, 

become effective, the references in this subsection to sections 4161, 

4162, 4164, and 4167(a) of title 39, United States Code, shall be 

deemed references to sections 3210, 3211, 3213, and 3216(a) of that 

title, respectively. 

ø(b) For the period of two years immediately following the expiration of his term of office as a Representative in Congress in the 

Ninety-first Congress, the Speaker shall be entitled to the benefits 

afforded by section 733 of title 44, United States Code. 

øSEC. 5. In order to provide staff assistance to the Speaker in 

connection with the administration, settlement, and conclusion of 

matters pertaining to or arising out of his incumbency in office as 

a Representative in Congress and as Speaker of the House of Representatives, the contingent fund of the House is hereby made 

available, for the period of two years immediately following the expiration of the term of office of the Speaker as a Representative in 

Congress in the Ninety-first Congress, for payment of the salaries 

of an Administrative Assistant, who shall be paid at a basic per 

annum rate of not to exceed the then current rate for step 11 of 

level 13 of the House Employees Schedule, as determined by the 

Speaker, a Secretary, who shall be paid at a basic per annum rate 

of not to exceed the then current rate for step 8 of level 12 of such 

Schedule, as determined by the Speaker, and an additional Secretary, who shall be paid at a gross per annum rate of not to exceed the then current rate for step 7 of level 11 of such Schedule, 

as determined by the Speaker, designated and appointed by the 

Speaker to serve as members of his office staff in such two-year peVerDate Sep 11 2014 09:37 May 22, 2018 Jkt 029999 PO 00000 Frm 00029 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR696.XXX HR696
30 

riod. Each person so designated and appointed shall be held and 

considered, for the duration of such appointment, as— 

ø(1) an ‘‘employee’’ for the purposes of subchapter I of chapter 81 (relating to compensation for work injuries) of title 5, 

United States Code; and 

ø(2) a ‘‘congressional employee’’ within the meaning of section 2107 of title 5, United States Code, for the purposes of— 

ø(A) subchapter III (relating to civil service retirement) 

of chapter 83 of such title, 

ø(B) chapter 87 (relating to Federal employees group life 

insurance) of such title, and 

ø(C) chapter 89 (relating to Federal employees group 

health insurance) of such title.¿ 

øSEC. 8. The entitlements of a former Speaker of the House of 

Representatives under this resolution shall be available— 

ø(1) in the case of an individual who is a former Speaker on 

the effective date of this section, for 5 years, commencing on 

such effective date; and 

ø(2) in the case of an individual who becomes a former 

Speaker after such effective date, for 5 years, commencing at 

the expiration of the term of office of the individual as a Representative in Congress.¿ 

PUBLIC LAW 93–532 

AN ACT RELATING TO FORMER SPEAKERS OF THE HOUSE OF

REPRESENTATIVES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the 

United States of America in Congress assembled, That (a) the provisions of H. Res. 1238, Ninety-first Congress, as enacted into permanent law by the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1971 (84 Stat. 

1989), are hereby extended to, and made applicable with respect to, 

each former Speaker of the House of Representatives, as long as he 

determines there is need therefor, commencing at the expiration of 

his term of office as Representative in Congress. 

ø(b) Subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to any former 

Speaker of the House of Representatives for any period during 

which such former Speaker holds an appointive or elective office or 

position in or under the Federal Government or the government of 

the District of Columbia to which is attached a rate of pay other 

than a nominal rate or to any former Speaker separated from the 

service by reason of expulsion from the House.¿ 

SECTION 101 OF THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH 

APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1993 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

SEC. 101. (a) Amounts appropriated for any fiscal year for the 

House of Representatives under the heading ‘‘ALLOWANCES AND 

EXPENSES’’ may be transferred among and merged with the various categories of allowances and expenses under such heading, effective upon the expiration of the 21-day period (or such alternative 

period that may be imposed by the Committee on Appropriations 

31 

of the House of Representatives) which begins on the date such 

Committee has been notified of the transfer. 

(b) Amounts appropriated for any fiscal year for the House of 

Representatives under the heading ‘‘SALARIES, OFFICERS AND 

EMPLOYEES’’ may be transferred among and merged with the 

various offices and activities under such heading, effective upon the 

expiration of the 21-day period (or such alternative period that may 

be imposed by the Committee on Appropriations of the House of 

Representatives) which begins on the date such Committee has 

been notified of the transfer. 

(c)(1) Amounts appropriated for any fiscal year for the House of 

Representatives under the headings specified in paragraph (2) may 

be transferred among and merged with such headings, effective 

upon the expiration of the 21-day period (or such alternative period 

that may be imposed by the Committee on Appropriations of the 

House of Representatives) which begins on the date such Committee has been notified of the transfer. 

(2) The headings referred to in paragraph (1) are ‘‘House Leadership Offices’’, ‘‘Members’’ Representational Allowances’’, ‘‘Committee Employees’’, ‘‘Salaries, Officers and Employees’’, ‘‘Allowances 

and Expenses’’, the heading for any joint committee under the 

heading ‘‘Joint Items’’ (to the extent that amounts appropriated for 

the joint committee are disbursed by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives), and ‘‘Office of the Attending 

Physician’’. 

(d) Amounts appropriated for any fiscal year for the House of 

Representatives under the heading ‘‘Allowances and Expenses’’ 

may be transferred to the Architect of the Capitol and merged with 

and made available under the heading ‘‘House Office Buildings’’, 

subject to the approval of the Committee on Appropriations of the 

House of Representatives. 

(e) Amounts appropriated for any fiscal year for the House of 

Representatives under any heading other than the heading ‘‘Members’’ Representational Allowances’’ may be transferred to the Architect of the Capitol and merged with and made available under 

the heading ‘‘House Historic Buildings Revitalization Trust Fund’’, 

subject to the approval of the Committee on Appropriations of the 

House of Representatives. 

(f) Amounts appropriated for any fiscal year for the House of Representatives under the heading ‘‘House Leadership Offices’’ may be 

transferred among and merged with the various offices and activities under such heading, effective upon the expiration of the 21-day 

period (or such alternative period that may be imposed by the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives) which begins on the date such Committee has been notified of the transfer. 

CHANGES IN THE APPLICATION OF EXISTING LAW

Pursuant to clause 3(f)(1)(A) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the following statements are submitted 

describing the effect of provisions in the accompanying bill that directly or indirectly change the application of existing law: 

1. The bill provides that certain appropriation items remain 

available for more than one year, where programs or projects are 

continuing in nature under the provisions of authorizing legislation 

32 

but for which that legislation does not specifically authorize such 

extended availability. 

2. The bill includes a number of provisions which place limitations on or change or extend existing limitations, appropriations, or 

authorizations, and which under some circumstances might be construed as changing the application of existing law. 

3. The bill continues the practice of providing official reception 

and representation allowances for officers and offices of the Legislative Branch. 

4. The bill authorizes disbursal of funds for various agencies. 

5. The bill authorizes transfer authority between accounts for 

certain agencies in the bill. 

6. The bill includes language allowing the use of funds for studies and examinations of executive agencies and temporary personnel services. Funds can also be available for reimbursement to 

agencies for services performed. 

7. The bill includes language providing funds for the Family 

Room, the Superintendent of Garages, Office of Emergency Management, and preparing the Digest of Rules. 

8. The bill includes language providing funds for House motor vehicles, interparliamentary receptions, and gratuities. 

9. The bill requires unspent funds remaining in Members’ Representational Allowances to be used for deficit or debt reduction. 

10. The bill includes language that prohibits funds being used for 

the delivery of bills and resolutions to Members offices. 

11. The bill includes language that prohibits funds being used for 

the delivery of the Congressional Record to Member offices. 

12. The bill includes language that places a limitation on the 

amount that a Member can spend on a leased vehicle per month. 

13. The bill includes language that places a limitation on printed 

copies of the U.S. Code for the House of Representatives. 

14. The bill includes language that prohibits funds being used for 

the delivery of the Reports of Disbursements to Member offices. 

15. The bill includes language that prohibits funds being used for 

the delivery of the daily calendar to Member offices. 

16. The bill includes language that prohibits funds being used for 

the delivery of the congressional pictorial directory to Member offices. 

17. The bill includes language that repeals the authorizations for 

former speakers. 

18. This bill provides language relating to cost of living adjustment for Members of Congress. 

19. The bill provides transfer authority among House Leadership 

Offices. 

20. The bill authorizes allowances for employees of the Office of 

the Attending Physician and provides reimbursement to the Department of the Navy. 

21. The bill authorizes expenses of the Capitol Police for motor 

vehicles, communications and other equipment, uniforms, weapons, 

supplies, materials, training, medical services, forensic services, 

stenographic services, personal and professional services, the employee assistance program, the awards program, postage, communication services, travel advances, and relocation expenses. 

33 

22. The bill provides that the cost of Capitol Police basic training 

at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center be paid by the 

Department of Homeland Security. 

23.The bill includes language that authorizes relocation expenses 

for employees of the Congressional Budget Office. 

24. The bill allows the Architect of the Capitol to purchase or exchange, maintain, and operate two passenger motor vehicles. 

25. The bill includes authorization allowing reimbursements for 

chilled water and steam provided to the Government Publishing 

Office, the Washington City Post Office, the Supreme Court, the 

Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building, Union Station 

Complex, and the Folger Shakespeare Library to be credited to the 

AOC Capitol Power Plant appropriation and made available for obligation. 

26. The bill allows the Architect of the Capitol to expend funds 

to maintain, care for, and operate the National Garden. 

27. The bill contains language that prohibits the Architect of the 

Capitol from expending funds for scrims containing photographs of 

building facades during restoration or construction projects. 

28. The bill prohibits paying bonuses for contractors who are behind schedule or over budget. 

29. The bill provides transfer authority for Architect of the Capitol security programs. 

30. The bill provides increase in threshold for small purchase 

contracting authority for the Architect of the Capitol. 

31. The bill provides details of employees under joint agency 

agreements authorization with the Architect of the Capitol. 

32. The bill provides acceptance of travel expenses from non-federal sources for employees of the Architect of the Capitol. 

33. The bill provides the authority to expend funds collected 

under the authority of 2 U.S.C. 150 and to the balance to remain 

available until expended. 

34. The bill establishes that the amount available for obligation 

by the Library of Congress is reduced by offsetting collections. 

35. The bill provides funds for the digital collections and educational curricula program, and the American Folklife Center. 

36. The bill allows the Library of Congress to hire or purchase 

one passenger motor vehicle. 

37. The bill allows funds from offsetting collections to be used for 

the Library’s Copyright Office. 

38. The bill includes language authorizing the expenditure of receipts, with the exception of salaries and benefits, for the administration of the Copyright Royalty Judges program. 

39. The bill contains language which provides that no funds in 

the Congressional Research Service can be used to publish or prepare material to be issued by the Library of Congress unless approved by the appropriate committee, with an exception. 

40. The bill provides funds to provide newspapers to the blind 

and physically handicapped. 

41. The bill contains language under the Library of Congress 

placing a limitation on obligations for Reimbursable and Revolving 

Fund activities. 

42. The bill contains language restricting the use of funds appropriated to the Government Publishing Office for the permanent edition of the Congressional Record for individual Representatives and 

34 

Senators, Resident Commissioners, or Delegates, and language providing that appropriations recommended shall be available for the 

payment of obligations incurred under appropriations for similar 

purposes for preceding fiscal years, limiting the printing of certain 

documents to a time certain, and authorizing the transfer of unobligated balances. 

43. The bill includes authorization of appropriations for Congressional Publishing. 

44. The bill includes language authorizing the Public Information 

Programs of the Superintendent of Documents to pay for printing 

certain publications in prior years for the depository library program. There is language authorizing the transfer of unexpended 

balances. 

45. There is language authorizing the operation of the Government Publishing Office revolving fund, and which authorizes travel 

expenses for advisory councils, the purchase of not more than 12 

passenger motor vehicles and that the revolving fund may be used 

to provide information in any format. 

46. The bill includes language relating to the Government Accountability Office, authorizing the direct procurement of expert 

and consultant services under 5 U.S.C. 3109 at certain rates; authorizing the hire of one passenger motor vehicle, as required by 

31 U.S.C. 1343; authorizing the Government Accountability Office 

to make advance payments in foreign countries in accordance with 

31 U.S.C. 3324; and providing certain benefits, including rental of 

living quarters in foreign countries. Appropriations are authorized 

for administrative expenses of any other member department or 

agency to finance an appropriate share of the costs of the National 

Intergovernmental Audit Forum or a Regional Intergovernmental 

Audit Forum. 

47. The bill includes language prohibiting the use of funds in the 

Act for the maintenance or care of private vehicles except for emergency assistance and cleaning as may be provided under regulations relating to parking facilities for the House issued by the Committee on House Administration and for the Senate by the Committee on Rules and Administration. 

48. The bill provides no part of the funds appropriated in this Act 

shall remain available for obligation beyond fiscal year 2019 unless 

expressly so provided in this Act. 

49. The bill provides that whenever any office or position not specifically established by the Legislative Pay Act of 1929 is appropriated for herein, or whenever the rate of compensation or designation of any position appropriated for herein is different from 

that specifically established for such position by such Act, the rate 

of compensation and the designation of the position, either appropriated for or provided herein, shall be the permanent law with respect thereto: Provided that the provisions herein for the various 

items of official expenses of Members, officers, and committees of 

the Senate and House, and clerk hire for Senators and Members 

shall be the permanent law with respect thereto. 

50. The bill requires that certain information regarding consulting services shall be a matter of public record. 

51. The bill authorizes Legislative Branch entities to share the 

costs of the Legislative Branch Financial Managers Council. 

52. The, bill limits the transfer of funds in this Act. 

35 

53. The bill prohibits funds in this Act being used to eliminate 

or restrict staff led guided tours. 

APPROPRIATIONS NOT AUTHORIZED BY LAW

Pursuant to clause 3(f)(1)(B) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 

House of Representatives, the following lists the appropriations in 

the accompanying bill which are not authorized by law for the period concerned: 

The accompanying bill contains appropriations not authorized by 

law: 

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission, ...................................................... $230,000 

COMPARISON WITH THE BUDGET RESOLUTION

Section 308(a)(1)(A) of the Congressional Budget Act requires the 

report accompanying a bill providing new budget authority to contain a statement comparing the levels in the bill to the suballocations submitted under section 302(b) of the Act for the most recently agreed to concurrent resolution on the budget for the applicable fiscal year. The following table provides this information: 

[in millions of dollars] 

302(b) Allocation This Bill 

Budget Authority Outlays Budget Authority Outlays 

Discretionary .......................................... 4,880 4,770 3,811 1 3,926 

Mangatory .............................................. 145 145 145 1 145 

Total ....................................................... 5,025 4,915 3,956 4,071 

1 Includes outlays from both House and Senate prior-year budget authority. Note—Bill amounts exclude discretionary Senate-related items. 

FIVE-YEAR OUTLAY PROJECTIONS

In compliance with section 208(a)(1)(B) of the Congressional 

Budget Act of 1974 (Public Law 93–344), as amended, the following 

table contains five-year projections prepared by the Congressional 

Budget Office of outlays associated with the budget authority provided in the accompanying bill: 

Budget Authority ................................................................................ $3,811 

Outlays: 

2019 .............................................................................................. 1 3,125 

2020 .............................................................................................. 432 

2021 .............................................................................................. 56 

2022 and future years ................................................................. 20 1 Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority. 

ASSISTANCE TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

Pursuant to section 308(a)(1)(C) of the Congressional Budget Act 

of 1974, (Public Law 93–344), as amended, the amount of financial 

assistance to State and local governments is as follows: 

The accompanying bill contains no funding for State and local assistance programs. 

36 

PROGRAM DUPLICATION

No provision of this bill establishes or reauthorizes a program of 

the Federal Government known to be duplicative of another Federal program, a program that was included in any report from the 

Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to section 

21 of Public Law 111–139, or a program related to a program identified in the most recent Catalog of Federal Domestic Assistance. 

DIRECTED RULE MAKING

The bill does not direct any rule-making to the Executive Branch. 


Insert offset folio 026 here 28052A.001

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY FOR 2018 AND BUDGET REQUESTS AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR 2

(Amounts in Thousands} 

TITLE I LEGISLATIVE BRANCH 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

Payment to Widows and Heirs of Deceased Members of 

Congress (FY17 PL 114-223, Sec.142)1/ .......... . 

Salaries and Expenses 

House Leadership Offices 

Office of the Speaker ................................ . 

Office of the Majority Floor Leader .................. . 

Office of the Minority Floor Leader .................. . 

Office of the Majority Whip .......................... . 

Office of the Minority Whip ......................... . 

Republican Conference. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 

Democratic Caucus . . . . . ....................... . 

Subtotal , House Leadership Offices ......... . 

Members' Representational Allowances 

Including Members' Clerk Hire, Official 

Expenses of Members, and Official Mail 

Expenses ............. . 

FY 2018 

Enacted 

174 

6,645 

2' 180 

7' 114 

1 '887 

1 '460 

1 '505 

1 '487 ~~~-~~~ 22,278 

562,632 

FY 2019 

Request 

6,645 

2' 180 

7' 114 

1 '887 

1 '460 

1 '505 

1 '487 

22,278 

573,630 

Bill vs. B

Bill Enacted 

-174 

7' 124 +479 

2,643 +463 

7,752 +638 

2' 197 +310 

1 '700 +240 

2' 187 +682 

1 '776 +289 

~~-~~~w~~~ M M 

25,379 +3' 101 

573,630 +10,998 

Insert offset folio 27 here 28052A.002

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY FOR 2018 AND BUDGET REQUESTS AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR 2

(Amounts in Thousands} 

Committee Employees 

Standing Committees, Special and Select .............. . 

Committee on Appropriations (including studies and 

investigations).... . ........................... . 

Subtotal, Committee employees ......... . 

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission 

Salaries and Expenses 

Salaries, Officers and Employees 

Office of the Clerk .. , ............................... . 

Office of the Sergeant at Arms ....................... . 

Office of the Chief Administrative Officer ........... . Office of the Inspector General ..................... . Office of General Counsel ........................... . Office of the Parliamentarian ........................ . Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the House .... . Office of the Legislative Counsel of the House .... . Office of Interparl i amentary Affairs. . . . .......... . 

Other authorized employees ........................ . 

Subtotal, Salaries, officers and employees ... 

FY 2018 

Enacted 

127,053 

23,226 

150,279 

27,945 20,505 

132,865 

4,968 

1 ,492 

2,037 

3,209 

9,937 

814 

584 

204,356 

FY 2019 

Request 

126,903 

23' 113 

150,016 

28,305 

18' 773 

152,558 

5,019 

1 '502 

2,026 

3,327 

9,925 

814 

584 

222,833 

Bill 

127,903 

23' 113 

151,016 

230 

28,305 

18 '773 

147,558 

5,019 

1 '502 

2,026 

3,327 

9,937 

814 

584 

217,845 

Bill vs. 

Enacted 

+850 

-113 

+737 +230 

+360 

-1 '732 

+14,693 

+51 

+10 

-11 

+118 

+13,489 

B

Insert offset folio 28 here 28052A.003

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY FOR 2018 AND BUDGET REQUESTS AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR 2

(Amounts in Thousands) 

Allowances and Expenses 

Supplies, materials, administrative costs and Federal 

tort claims ........................................ . 

Official mail for committees, leadership offices, 

and administrative offices of the House ............ . 

Government contributions ................ . 

Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery .. . 

Transition activities ..................... . 

Wounded Warrior program .......................... . 

Office of Congressional Ethics ...................... . 

Miscellaneous items .................................. . 

Subtotal, Allowances and expenses ..... . 

Total, House of Representatives (discretionary). Total, House of Representatives (mandatory) ..... 

JOINT ITEMS 

Joint Economic Committee ............. . Joint Committee on Taxation ............. . 

FY 2018 

Enacted 

3,625 

190 

233,040 

16' 186 

2,273 2,750 

1 '670 

720 

260,454 

1,199,999 

174 

4,203 

11 '169 

FY 2019 

Request 

3,625 

190 

260,000 

16' 186 

3,000 

2,750 

1 '741 

722 

288,214 

1,256,971 

4,203 

11 '169 

Bill 

525 

190 

239,000 

16' 186 

3,000 

2,750 

1 '670 

722 

264,043 

1,232,143 

4,203 

11 '169 

Bill vs. 

Enacted 

-3' 100 

+5,960 

+727 

---

+2 

+3,589 

+32' 144 

-174 

B

-

--

Insert offset folio 29 here 28052A.004

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY FOR 2018 AND BUDGET REQUESTS AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR 2

(Amounts in Thousands) 

Office of the Attending Physician 

Medical supplies, equipment, expenses, and allowances. 

Office of Congressional Accessibility Services 

Salaries and expenses ............ , ................... . 

Total, Joint items .................... .. 

CAPITOL POLICE 

Salaries ................................ . 

General expenses ....................... , ....... . 

Total, Capitol Police .......................... . 

OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE 

Salaries and expenses ..................... . 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE 

Salaries and expenses ........... . 

FY 2018 

Enacted 

3,838 

1 '444 

FY 2019 

Request 

3, 798 

1 '486 

Bi 11 

3,798 

1 '486 

Bill VS. B

Enacted 

-40 

+42 

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

20,654 

351,700 

74,800 

20,656 

374,804 

81 '554 

20,656 

374,804 

81 '554 

+2 

+23' 1 04 

+6,754 

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

426,500 456,358 456,358 +29,858 

4,959 4,553 5,410 +451 

49,945 50,737 50,737 +792 

Insert offset folio 30 here 28052A.005

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY FOR 2018 AND BUDGET REQUESTS AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR 2

(Amounts in Thousands) 

ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL (AOC) 

Capital Construction and Operations .................. . 

Capitol bui 1 ding.. .. .. .. ................ .. 

Capitol grounds ...................................... . 

House of Representatives buildings: 

House office buildings .......................... . 

House Historic Buildings Revitalization Trust Fund 

Capitol Power Plant .................................. . 

Offsetting collections ........................... . 

Subtotal, Capitol Power Plant ................. . 

Library 

Capitol 

Botanic 

Capitol 

buildings and grounds ................... . 

police buildings, grounds and security .. . 

Garden ................................. . 

Vis it or Center. 

Total, Architect of the Capitol .............. . 

FY 2018 

Enacted 

93,478 

45,300 

13,333 

197,294 

0,000 

115,694 

-9,000 

FY 2019 

Request 

103,962 

46' 154 

17,978 

180,098 

10,000 

127,980 

-9,000 

Bill 

103,962 

44,379 

16 '761 

187,098 

10,000 

127,980 

-9,000 

Bill vs. B

Enacted 

+10,484 

-921 

+3,428 

-10' 196 

--

+12,286 ~M~M~-~-- --- -- --------~- -~M~--~-~~---- -------------- -------

106,694 118' 980 118,980 +12,286 

74,873 113,427 70,201 -4,672 -

34,249 59,309 52,542 +18,293 

13,800 14,659 14,759 +959 

21,470 23,322 23,322 +1,852 

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

610,491 687,889 642,004 +31 '513 -

Insert offset folio 31 here 28052A.006

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY FOR 2018 AND BUDGET REQUESTS AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR 2

(Amounts in Thousands) 

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

Salaries and expenses .......................... . 

Authority to spend receipts.. .. .. . .. ............ . 

Subtotal , Salaries and expenses ................ . 

Copyright Office, Salaries and expenses .............. . 

Authority to spend receipts ...................... . 

Prior year unobligated balances .............. . 

Subtotal , Copyright Office .................. . 

Congressional Research Service, Salaries and expenses. 

Books for the blind and physically handicapped, 

Salaries and expenses .................... . 

Total, Library of Congress ................... . 

FY 2018 

Enacted 

477,017 

-6,350 

470.667 

72,011 

-41,305 

-2,260 

FY 2019 

Request 

475,196 

-6,000 

469' 196 

86,438 

-43,464 

-4,328 

Bi 11 

493,818 

-6,000 

487,818 

93,407 

-45,490 

-4,328 

Bill vs. 

Enacted 

+16,801 

+350 

+17' 151 

+21 ,396 

-4' 185 -2,068 

--------------

28,446 38,646 43,589 +15,143 

119,279 113,621 125,688 +6,409 

51,498 51' 192 52,783 +1,285 

669.890 672,655 709,878 +39,988 

B

++

+

+

Insert offset folio 32 here 28052A.007

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY FOR 2018 AND BUDGET REQUESTS AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR 2

(Amounts in Thousands) 

GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 

Congressional publishing ........................... . 

Public Information Programs of the Superintendent of 

Documents, Salaries and expenses ................... . 

Government Publishing Office Business Operations 

Revolving Fund ...................... . 

Total, Government Publishing Office 

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE 

Salaries and expenses ............................. .. 

Offsetting collections ........................... . 

Total, Government Accountability Office. 

OPEN WORLD LEADERSHIP CENTER TRUST FUND 

Payment to the Open World Leadership Center (OWLC) 

Trust Fund ............................ . 

FY 2018 

Enacted 

79,528 

29,000 

8,540 

FY 2019 

Request 

79,000 32,000 

6,000 

Bill 

79,000 32,000 

6,000 

Bill vs. B

Enacted 

-528 

+3,000 

-2,540 

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

117,068 

602,717 

-23,800 

578,917 

5,600 

117,000 

640,301 

-24,200 

616' 101 

5,800 

117,000 

602,717 

-23,800 

578' 917 

5,600 

-68 

-

-

Insert offset folio 33 here 28052A.008

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY FOR 2018 AND BUDGET REQUESTS AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR 2

(Amounts in Thousands) 

JOHN C. STENNIS CENTER FOR PUBLIC SERVICE 

TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT 

Stennis Center for Public Service .................... . 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS 

Scorekeeping adjustment (CBO estimate) 1/ ............ . 

OTHER APPROPRIATIONS 

FURTHER ADDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR 

DISASTER RELIEF REQUIREMENTS ACT, 2018 

Government Accountability Office, Salaries and 

expenses (FY2018 PL115-123, Title IX) (emergency) ... 

Total, Other Appropriations ............. . 

FY 2018 

Enacted 

430 

-2,000 

14,000 

FY 2019 

Request 

430 

Bill 

430 

-2,000 

Bill vs. B

Enacted 

-14,000 

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

14' 000 -14,000 

Insert offset folio 48 here HR696.004

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY FOR 2018 AND BUDGET REQUESTS AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR 2

(Amounts in Thousands) 

OTHER SCOREKEEPING ADJUSTMENTS 

Copyright Office additional spending authority 

(CBO estimate) ............................ . 

GPO unobligated balances transferred to Business 

Operations Revolving Fund (reappropriation) 

(CBO estimate) ..... . 

AOC House Office Buildings Fund (PL114-254) 

(CBO estimate)..... . .............. . 

Office of Compliance Settlements and Awards 

(CBO estimate) ..... 

Less emergency appropriations ... 

Grand total (including scorekeeping adjustments) 

Discretionary Mandatory 1/ ...... . 

1/ FY2018 is Div 0, Sec.101(a)(9) of Continuing 

Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-56) 

FY 2018 

Enacted 

-4.000 

-14,000 

FY 2019 

Request 

2,000 

20,000 

-7,000 

1 ,000 

Bi 11 

-7,000 

000 

Bill vs. B

Enacted 

-

-3,000 

+1 ,000 

+14,000 

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

3,678,627 

(3,678,453) 

(174) 

3' 905' 150 

(3,905,150) 

3,811,133 

(3' 811 '133) 

+132,506 

(+132,680) 

(-174) 

-

(-

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

Insert offset folio 49 here HR696.005

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET AUTHORITY FOR 2018 AND BUDGET REQUESTS AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR 2

(Amounts in Thousands) 

RECAPITULATION 

House of Representatives (discretionary) ....... . 

House of Representatives (mandatory) 1/ ....... . 

Joint Items ....................................... . 

Capitol Police ................................. . 

Office of Compliance ............... . 

Congressional Budget Office ......... . 

Architect of the Capitol ............. . 

Library of Congress. . . . . . . . . . . 

Government Publishing Office ............. . 

Government Accountability Office ........... . 

Open World Leadership Center..... . ........ . 

Stennis Center for Public Service .......... . 

Administrative Provisions 2/ ................ . 

Other Scorekeeping adjustments .............. . 

Grand total . 

Discretionary ............ . 

Mandatory 1/ ............. . 

Other Appropriations (emergency) .......... . 

1/ FY2018 is Div 0, Sec101 (a) (9) of Continuing 

Appropriations Act, 2018 (Public Law 115-56) 

FY 2018 

Enacted 

1,199,999 

174 

20,654 

426,500 

4,959 

49,945 

610,491 

669,890 

117,068 

578,917 

5,600 

430 

-2,000 

-4,000 

FY 2019 

Request 

1 '256' 971 

---

20,656 

456,358 

4,553 

50,737 

687,889 

672,655 

117,000 

616' 101 

5,800 

430 

---

16' 000 

Bill vs. B

Bill Enacted 

1 '232' 143 +32, 144 -

--- -174 

20,656 +2 

456,358 +29,858 

5,410 +451 

50,737 +792 

642,004 +31,513 -

709,878 +39,988 +

117,000 -68 

578,917 --- -

5,600 --- 

430 

-2,000 --- 

-6,000 -2,000 -

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

3,678,627 3,905,150 3, 811 '133 +132,506 -

(3,678,453) (3,905,150) (3, 811 '133) (+132,680) (-

(174) --- --- ( -174) 

14,000 --- -14,000 
(47) 

ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF NITA LOWEY AND TIM RYAN 

The fiscal year 2019 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill provides $3.81 billion, excluding Senate items. Under the leadership 

of Subcommittee Chairman Yoder and Appropriations Committee 

Chairman Frelinghuysen, the vast majority of Legislative Branch 

agencies receive their full budget requests in this bill. We are able 

to achieve this because of the bipartisan budget cap agreement 

reached earlier this year. After nearly a decade of austerity, we are 

finally beginning to reverse the harm caused by sequestration. 

Among the critical needs addressed in this bill are the security 

of Members of Congress, their staff, visitors and constituents both 

in Washington and in district offices; the House of Representatives’ 

response to the pervasive sexual harassment that has finally been 

acknowledged in workplaces and industries nationwide; the backlog 

of deferred maintenance on the Capitol campus, which only becomes more expensive to address the longer we wait; and, the oversight capacity of the Federal government’s watchdog agency, the 

Government Accountability Office. 

Although this bill generally meets the needs of Legislative 

Branch agencies and was written in a largely cooperative and bipartisan manner, there are several areas that evince a 

prioritization of buildings over people. For example, while the Library of Congress receives an appropriation above its budget request, the unrestricted amount appropriated for the salaries and 

expenses of the Library’s employees and operations is $6.2 million 

below the request. This will necessitate the Library slowing or 

pausing hiring throughout the year in order to stay within their 

budget as stated by the Librarian of Congress during her testimony 

in April 2018. 

We also wish the bill invested more in Congress as an institution. When we fail to keep pace with the private sector, the Executive Branch, and the Senate, we lose or fail to attract talented professionals who are essential to the legislative process, and we 

strain the House’s ability to serve the American people. We hope 

the majority will work with us on these concerns. 

Beyond the Legislative Branch bill, we remain gravely disappointed in the dysfunctional state of the overall budget process 

under Republican control of Congress. 

The Bipartisan Budget Agreement enacted early this year provided relief from unworkable discretionary spending caps. The 

agreement was supposed to provide the country with stability following a year of shutdowns, last-minute veto threats, and general 

uncertainty in government. That stability lasted long enough for 

Congress to pass a bipartisan Omnibus appropriations bill for fiscal 

year 2018 and then Republican chaos reigned again. The President 

threatened to veto the bill, unhappy with Congress’ large investVerDate Sep 11 2014 07:50 May 22, 2018 Jkt 029999 PO 00000 Frm 00047 Fmt 6604 Sfmt 6604 E:\HR\OC\HR696.XXX HR696
48 

ments in programs to help low and middle income Americans and 

rejection of his campaign-promised border wall. 

Even after the President backed off his threat and signed the 

bill, the administration and even Republican leadership in Congress who voted for the Bipartisan Budget Act and the Omnibus 

bill have continued to attempt to undo those bipartisan agreements. Now, the majority is seeking to pass a rescissions bill to 

undo funding and mollify an angry President. We have been told 

by OMB Director Mick Mulvaney that this is the first of many rescission packages meant to bring spending in line with the President’s priorities, ignoring Congressional action that dismissed the 

President’s fiscal year 2017 and fiscal year 2018 draconian budget 

requests. 

In addition to the unacceptable rescissions proposals, the majority’s lack of transparency with regards to how it will allocate the 

fiscal year 2019 discretionary budget also endangers future bipartisan compromise. The majority has abandoned longstanding committee practice to provide the Members and the public with a budget blueprint for domestic spending, known as 302(b) allocations. 

Members are being asked to vote on bills without having the full 

picture on what impact each bill will have on other bills. We are 

very concerned about what that means for programs in other bills 

that have yet to be considered and Democrats can only be left to 

assume that the majority is siphoning money from bills at the end 

of the process like the State and Foreign Operations bill and the 

Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations 

bill. 

In summary, while this bill is a good product and deserves our 

support, the overall budget process under which we are proceeding 

is dysfunctional. The American people deserve better, and we hope 

the majority will return to regular order so the remaining appropriations bills can be written to attract the level of bipartisan support the fiscal year 2019 Legislative Branch bill had in committee. 

TIM RYAN. 

NITA M. LOWEY. 

(49) 

ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF NITA LOWEY 

I am pleased that the majority agreed to eliminate the Office of 

the Former Speaker, as requested by Leader Pelosi, herself a 

former speaker, in her April 26 letter to myself and Ranking Member Tim Ryan. As I noted both at the Subcommittee and full Appropriations Committee markups of the Legislative Branch bill, taxpayers should not be on the hook to fund an office for former 

speakers; the money is better invested elsewhere. 

Leader Pelosi’s letter on this subject is included below. 

NITA M. LOWEY. 

50 


Insert offset folio 53 here HR696.006

The Honorable Nita Lowey 

2365 Rayburn House Office Building 

Washington, D.C. 20515 

The Honorable Tim Ryan 

1126 Longworth House Office Building 

Washington, D.C. 20515 

April 26, 2018 

Dear Representative Lowey and Representative Ryan: 

I am writing today to urge you and our Democratic colleagues on the Appropriations Committee to 

make a motion on the Legislative Branch appropriations bill to remove all funding for the office of 

former Speakers of the House of Representatives when you consider the bill next month. 

As you know, since 1970, the House has provided funding for office space, equipment, franked mail, 

and staff support for former Speakers. That funding was previously a lifetime allowance. In 1993, 

Congress limited such funding for a period of five years upon retirement from the House. It is my 

understanding that the pending FY 19 Legislative Branch bill would shorten funding to support former 

Speakers to one year. It is my opinion that funding for the office of former Speakers should be 

removed altogether. 

Thank you for your attention to this matter and for your leadership in the Committee and in the House. 

Democratic Leader 

0