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[House Report 112-148]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

112th Congress                                                   Report
                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
 1st Session                                                    112-148

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

 
              LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2012

                                _______
                                

 July 15, 2011.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the 
              State of the Union and ordered to be printed

                                _______
                                

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

                              R E P O R T

                             together with

                            ADDITIONAL VIEWS

                        [To accompany H.R. 2551]

    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, 2012, and for other purposes.

                        INDEX TO BILL AND REPORT

_______________________________________________________________________

                                                            Page number

                                                            Bill Report
Highlights of bill.........................................
                                                                      4
Title I--Legislative Branch Appropriations.................
                                                                      8
        House of Representatives...........................     2
                                                                      8
        Joint Items:
                Joint Economic Committee...................    12
                                                                     14
                Joint Committee on Taxation................    13
                                                                     14
                Office of the Attending Physician..........    13
                                                                     14
                Office of Congressional Accessibility 
                    Services...............................    14
                                                                     15
        Capitol Police.....................................    14
                                                                     15
        Office of Compliance...............................    17
                                                                     16
        Congressional Budget Office........................    18
                                                                     16
        Architect of the Capitol (except Senate Office 
            Buildings).....................................    18
                                                                     17
        Library of Congress................................    22
                                                                     22
        Government Printing Office.........................    28
                                                                     25
        Government Accountability Office...................    31
                                                                     27
        Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund............    33
                                                                     28
        John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training 
            and Development................................
                                                                     28
Title II--General Provisions...............................    33
                                                                     29
Bill-wide Reporting Requirements...........................
                                                                     29
Additional Views...........................................
                                                                     51

                            SUMMARY OF BILL

    The bill, as recommended by the Committee, provides 
appropriations for fiscal year 2012 Legislative Branch 
operations, which total $3,325,999,364. 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. Current 
appropriations estimates for the Senate for fiscal year 2012, 
including those under the Architect of the Capitol, total 
$1,058,799,000.
    A comparative summary of the bill by title and agency 
follows:

                                                                   SUMMARY OF THE BILL
                             [Note.--Excludes Senate items including those Senate Items under the Architect of the Capitol]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                                          Bill compared with--
                                                      New budget      Budget estimates of       New budget     -----------------------------------------
                                                    (obligational)     new (obligational)     (obligational)         New budget      Budget estimates of
                     Agency                       authority, fiscal    authority, fiscal        authority          (obligational)     new (obligational)
                                                      year 2011            year 2012       recommended in bill   authority, fiscal    authority, fiscal
                                                                                                                     year 2011            year 2012
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Title I--Legislative Branch Appropriations

House of Representatives.......................       $1,311,396,950       $1,333,708,000       $1,226,680,000         -$84,716,950        -$107,028,000
Joint items....................................           19,794,482           20,907,000           19,390,000             -404,482           -1,517,000
Capitol Police.................................          340,136,364          387,616,000          340,136,364  ...................          -47,479,636
Office of Compliance...........................            4,076,980            4,782,000            3,817,000             -259,980             -965,000
Congressional Budget Office....................           46,771,270           46,865,000           43,787,000           -2,984,270           -3,078,000
Architect of the Capitol (except Senate Office           526,139,612          618,802,000          489,571,000          -36,568,612         -129,231,000
 Buildings)....................................
Library of Congress............................          628,676,128          666,731,000          575,322,000          -53,354,128          -91,409,000
Government Printing Office.....................          135,067,324          148,474,000          113,000,000          -22,067,324          -35,474,000
Government Accountability Office...............          546,254,302          556,849,000          511,296,000          -34,958,302          -45,553,000
Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund........           11,377,200           12,600,000            1,000,000          -10,377,200          -11,600,000
John C. Stennis Center.........................              429,140              430,000  ...................             -429,140             -430,000
CVC (Rescission)...............................         (14,600,000)  ...................  ...................           14,600,000  ...................
CBO Scorekeeping Adjustment....................          (2,518,000)  ...................            2,000,000            4,518,000           +2,000,000
                                                --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
      Grand total, new budget, (obligational)         $3,553,001,752       $3,797,764,000       $3,325,999,364        -$227,002,388        -$471,764,636
       authority (for items considered by the
       House)..................................
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

                         HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BILL

    The Committee recommends $3,325,999,364 in discretionary 
resources for operations of the Legislative Branch of 
government, $471,764,636 below the requested amount and 
$227,002,388, or 6.4 percent, below the fiscal year 2011 
enacted levels (excluding Senate items).
    This bill reflects an acknowledgment that the Legislative 
Branch must set itself as an example for fiscal restraint while 
continuing to serve the Nation.
    The following table below demonstrates the Committee's 
commitment to getting the nation's fiscal house in order and 
sharing in the sacrifices that this will require. This bill 
recommends a cut of 6.4% from the fiscal year 2011 level which 
follows a cut of 2.8% from the fiscal year 2010 level. The 
recommended level is $331.5 million below the fiscal year 2010 
enacted level, and it is the largest ever two-year reduction 
for the Legislative Branch. This bill will require strict 
fiscal discipline on the part of all congressional offices and 
all agency heads in the Legislative Branch.

                                                                 [Dollars in thousands]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                            Change      Percent     Change      Percent
                                                          FY2010      FY2011      FY2012       FY2012        from      cut since     from      cut since
                                                          Enacted     Enacted    Requested   Recommended    FY2011      FY2011      FY2010      FY2010
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
House.................................................   1,369,025   1,311,396   1,333,708     1,226,680    (84,716)       -6.5%   (142,345)      -10.4%
Joint Items...........................................      21,323      19,794      20,907        19,390       (404)       -2.0%     (1,933)       -9.1%
Capitol Police*.......................................     328,318     340,137     387,616       340,137  ..........        0.0%      11,819        3.6%
Office of Compliance..................................       4,377       4,077       4,782         3,817       (260)       -6.4%       (560)      -12.8%
Congressional Budget Office...........................      45,165      46,771      46,865        43,787     (2,984)       -6.4%     (1,378)       -3.1%
Architect of the Capitol..............................     527,194     526,139     618,802       489,571    (36,568)       -7.0%    (37,623)       -7.1%
Library of Congress...................................     643,337     628,677     666,731       575,322    (53,355)       -8.5%    (68,015)      -10.6%
Government Printing Office............................     147,461     135,067     148,474       113,000    (22,067)      -16.3%    (34,461)      -23.4%
Government Accountability Office......................     556,849     546,254     556,849       511,296    (34,958)       -6.4%    (45,553)       -8.2%
Open World Leadership Center..........................      12,000      11,377      12,600         1,000    (10,377)      -91.2%    (11,000)      -91.7%
Stennis Center for Public Service.....................         430         429         430  ............       (429)     -100.0%       (430)     -100.0%
General Provisions....................................  ..........    (14,600)  ..........  ............      14,600  ..........  ..........  ..........
CBO Scorekeeping Adjustment...........................  ..........     (2,518)  ..........         2,000       4,518  ..........  ..........  ..........
                                                       -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
    Total.............................................   3,655,479   3,553,000   3,797,764     3,326,000   (227,000)       -6.4%   (331,479)      -9.0%
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*Does not include FY2010 supplemental for USCP.

                    Legislative Branch-Wide Matters

    Awards and Recognition.--In fiscal years 2010 and 2011 the 
agencies of the Legislative Branch, excluding the House of 
Representatives and Senate, have paid over $20.2 million and 
$2.5 million to date respectively, for cash awards, bonuses, 
and merit pay to their employees. These payments have been made 
within the current salary and benefit funding provided to each 
agency and thus may have decreased the ability to support FTE's 
that the Committee funded and intended to be filled. In 
addition, considering the current budget reductions that will 
need to be made and that the legislative agency budgets are in 
the neighborhood of 70 percent labor, such independent funding 
decisions may divert from the intent of the Congress. 
Therefore, the Committee directs that, starting with the fiscal 
year 2013 budget submission, the budget justifications of all 
agencies, excluding the House and Senate, will reflect a 
realignment of funding, and associated decrease in FTE's, from 
the salary and benefit base to a separate line item for cash 
awards, bonuses, and merit pay. The Committee directs the 
agencies, excluding the House and Senate, to justify the amount 
of funding requested for cash awards, bonuses, and merit pay by 
appropriation each and every year thereafter.
    Performance Based Merit Increases.--The Committee is very 
concerned about the amount of performance based merit increases 
being given by some agencies of the Legislative Branch. It has 
come to the Committee's attention that, when incorporated into 
the annual base salary, there are some individuals whose total 
compensation is greater than that of the annual compensation of 
Members of Congress. Therefore, the Committee directs that 
agencies report and justify all circumstances where the sum of 
annual compensation and any ``performance based merit 
increases'' will cause any employee to exceed the annual rate 
of compensation of a Member at the rate of compensation of 
Members in effect during the year in which the performance 
based merit increase is paid.
    Reprogramming Guidelines.--The Committee expects all 
agencies to notify the Committee of any significant departures 
from budget plans presented to the Committee. In particular, 
agencies funded in this bill are required to notify the 
Committee prior to each reprogramming of funds in excess of the 
lesser of 10 percent or $500,000 between programs, projects, or 
activities, or in excess of $500,000 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 $500,000 from or to 
a particular program, activity, or object classification, as 
well as reprogramming of FTE's or funds to create new 
organizational entities within the Agency or to restructure 
entities which already exist. These guidelines remain effective 
unless modified in a subsequent Committee report.
    Committee Requests.--The Committee is concerned with the 
substandard quality in responses to requests for information. 
Managers at all levels are expected to be available to provide 
responses during critical phases of the appropriations process, 
and offices are to be covered by the appropriate staff during 
normal working hours without exception. Managers are expected 
to respond to requests immediately, and if delays are 
anticipated or deadlines cannot be met, agencies are 
responsible for keeping Committee staff informed of the 
progress and expected timeline of the response.
    Voluntary Early Retirement Authority/Voluntary Separation 
Incentive Payment--VERA/VSIP.--Currently the Legislative Branch 
permanent authority (2 U.S.C. 60q) provides that ``the head of 
any office in the Legislative Branch may establish a program 
under which voluntary separation incentive payments may be 
offered to eligible employees of the office to encourage such 
employees to separate from service voluntarily (whether by 
retirement or resignation)''. Since the budgets of the 
Legislative Branch agencies in total are 65 to 70 percent labor 
and taking into consideration the reductions in this bill, 
some, if not all, agencies may need to consider the VERA/VSIP 
option. The Committee strongly encourages all agencies to 
explore this option in order to reduce costs in the current 
fiscal year and the out years. The VERA/VSIP program will 
provide the opportunity for agencies to down-size, as budgetary 
constraints require, with less negative impact on agency 
operations than executing a time consuming, disruptive, and 
costly reduction-in-force (RIF).
    Furloughs.--The Committee is aware that the reductions in 
this bill will require Legislative Branch agencies to make 
adjustments in programs and operations. In this vein, the 
Committee directs that furloughs be an option for cost 
reduction, which should be no greater than one day per month to 
lessen the impact on the employees, the support to the 
Congress, and the services provided to the Nation. Further, the 
Committee directs that any agency opting for furlough days will 
take the appropriate action to ensure that employee service 
dates and longevity increases are not adjusted by furlough 
days.
    Zero Base Budgeting.--With the ever increasing strain on 
the Federal budget which will likely continue in the 
foreseeable future, the ability to support increases for the 
Legislative Branch agencies is uncertain, if not totally 
impossible. The Committee believes that there are considerable 
opportunities to realize meaningful savings by carefully 
reviewing each agency's budget requirements from a zero base, 
rather than by reviewing only incremental changes to the base. 
Such a review would not only assist the Committee in its 
appropriating and oversight responsibilities, but would also 
require agencies to systematically examine all of their 
budgetary requirements as they relate to the individual 
mission. Therefore, the Committee directs each and every agency 
of the Legislative Branch to develop and present their budget 
requirements from a zero base. The individual reviews should 
examine and justify each and every program, project, and 
activity (PPA) as if the PPA were nonexistent. These reviews 
should justify the FTE's and all related costs. The Committee 
further believes that such self examination by the agencies of 
the PPAs will permit a better understanding of program 
priorities, scope, effectiveness, and results and assist the 
agencies in determining funding priorities. The zero base 
budget should be the basis for the fiscal year 2013 budget 
request. The Committee further directs the Legislative Branch 
Budget Officers, under the coordination of the Library of 
Congress Budget Office, to meet and establish a review 
methodology and guidelines by October 31, 2011, as mutually 
agreeable, and approved by the Committee on Appropriations of 
the House and Senate.
    Diversity in the Workforce.--The Committee is committed to 
the principles of workforce diversity and the positive impact 
diversity has on organizational success and employee 
development. The Committee strongly encourages Legislative 
Branch agencies, including the House, to develop diversity 
policies including broadening recruitment efforts to reach as 
many qualified candidates as possible. The Committee directs 
the House Officers to report to the Committee within six months 
after enactment of this Act on current operations as they 
relate to diversity, any plans to broaden recruitment efforts, 
and barriers to recruiting diverse job candidates.

             Major Challenges Facing the Legislative Branch

    Preserving and Maintaining the Infrastructure.--The job of 
caretaker of the Legislative Branch buildings and Capitol 
complex grounds falls to the Architect of the Capitol (AOC). 
The AOC's jurisdiction is comprised of 32 buildings and 450 
acres of grounds which are occupied by the House of 
Representatives, the Senate, the Library of Congress, the 
Supreme Court, the Capitol Police, and other independent 
Legislative Branch agencies. The AOC recently reformed its 
planning and prioritization process for deferred maintenance 
and capital renewal requirements. The newly developed five-year 
Capital Improvements Plan (CIP) provides a more realistic 
picture of what projects AOC can execute. The Committee is 
pleased with the AOC's progress on improving these estimates 
from the previously unconstrained list of requirements, but 
notes that even the CIP process will result in widely 
fluctuating project budget submissions which will be impossible 
to fund fully in the current budgetary environment. These 
budget limitations will demand continued refinements to the 
AOC's process for prioritizing the performance of facilities 
which are most critical to the operational needs of the 
Congress and Legislative Branch agencies.

               TITLE I--LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS

                        HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

    The Committee recommends $1,226,680,000 for the operations 
and maintenance of the House of Representatives during fiscal 
year 2012. This amount is $84,716,950, or 6.5 percent, below 
the fiscal year 2011 enacted level and $107,028,000 below the 
budget request.

                        House Leadership Offices

2011 appropriation....................................       $24,861,969
2012 budget request...................................        24,862,000
Committee recommendation..............................        23,275,773

    The Committee recommends $23,275,773 for salaries and 
expenses of staff in House leadership offices for fiscal year 
2012. This amount is $1,586,196 below fiscal year 2011, or 6.4% 
percent and $1,586,227 below the budget request. This level of 
funding will require a reduction to the Leadership offices 
beginning January 1, 2012.
    The allocation by office follows:

Office of the Speaker.................................        $6,942,770
Office of the Majority Floor Leader...................         2,277,595
Office of the Majority Whip...........................         1,971,050
Republican Conference.................................         1,572,788
Office of the Minority Floor Leader...................         7,432,812
Office of the Minority Whip...........................         1,524,951
Democratic Caucus.....................................         1,553,807
                                                       -----------------
    Total.............................................       $23,275,773

    The Committee has included administrative provisions to 
increase transparency and accountability in House Leadership 
accounts. The provisions consolidate all of the funds available 
to the Speaker and Minority Leader each under one heading. 
These leaders previously controlled funding from multiple, 
separate headings for floor activities, steering and policy 
committees, training and program development, cloakroom 
personnel, and other authorized minority employees. This 
streamlining will allow for greater efficiency and clarify the 
resources available to each authority. The Committee has also 
included funding for a transition quarter (September 30, 2012 
through December 31, 2012) to allow leadership offices to 
operate according to the sessions of Congress, similar to 
Member offices. Beginning in fiscal year 2013, it is the 
Committee's intent to appropriate funding for Leadership 
Offices on a legislative year.

                  House Leadership Transition Quarter

Office of the Speaker.................................        $1,735,694
Office of the Majority Floor Leader...................           569,399
Office of the Majority Whip...........................           492,763
Republican Conference.................................           393,197
Office of the Minority Floor Leader...................         1,858,205
Office of the Minority Whip...........................           381,238
Democratic Caucus.....................................           388,452
                                                       -----------------
    Total.............................................        $5,818,948

                  Members' Representational Allowances

2011 appropriation....................................      $613,052,000
2012 budget request...................................       633,848,000
Committee recommendation..............................       573,939,282

    The Committee recommends $573,939,282 for the 
representational allowances of the Members of the House. This 
amount is $39,112,718 or 6.4 percent below the fiscal year 2011 
level and $59,908,718 below the budget request. This level of 
funding will require a reduction in the authorization beginning 
January 3, 2012.

                            House Committees

2011 appropriation....................................      $163,032,103
2012 budget request...................................       163,032,000
Committee recommendation..............................       152,630,655

    The Committee recommends $152,630,655 in total for House 
Committees. This amount is $10,401,448, or 6.4% below total 
available funding in fiscal year 2011 and $10,401,345 below the 
budget request. This account includes funding for staff 
salaries and official expenses of Committees including 
equipment, telecommunications, printing, and contract services. 
Funding is available until December 31, 2012. Included in the 
total is $26,665,785 for the Committee on Appropriations. The 
amount provided is $1,817,215, or 6.4% below the fiscal year 
2011 level and $1,817,215, or 6.4% below the amount requested. 
This level of funding will require another reduction to 
Committees beginning January 3, 2012.
    The Committee has not provided funding for the continuation 
of hearing room modernizations. Sufficient funding currently 
exists for the execution of this program.
    The Committee reminds all House Committees that, in 
accordance with the Committee on House Administration Handbook, 
detailees assigned from the Government Printing Office require 
full reimbursement from committee funds.

                    Salaries, Officers and Employees

2011 appropriation....................................      $193,326,000
2012 budget request...................................       203,801,000
Committee recommendation..............................       177,628,400

    The Committee recommends $177,628,400 for the salaries and 
expenses of House officers and employees of the various 
activities funded through this consolidated item. This amount 
is $15,697,600 below the fiscal year 2011 enacted level and 
$26,172,600 below the budget request.
    The following table summarizes the funding allocation 
provided to each component of the account:

Office of the Clerk...................................       $26,114,400
Office of the Sergeant At Arms........................       *12,585,000
Office of the Chief Administrative Officer............       116,782,000
Office of the Inspector General.......................         5,045,000
Office of General Counsel.............................         1,415,000
Office of the Chaplain................................           179,000
Office of the Parliamentarian.........................         2,060,000
    Parliamentarian...................................       (1,466,000)
    Compilation of Precedents.........................         (594,000)
Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the House.......         3,258,000
Office of the Legislative Counsel of the House........         8,814,000
Office of Interparliamentary Affairs..................           859,000
Other authorized employees............................           347,000
The Historian.........................................           170,000
                                                       -----------------
    Total.............................................     $177,628,400

*This funding includes $4,445,000 previously funded under the Office of
  Emergency Planning, Preparedness, and Operations that was transferred
  to the Sergeant At Arms, January 2010, and renamed Office of Emergency
  Management.

                          OFFICE OF THE CLERK

    The Committee recommends $26,114,400 for the Clerk of the 
House. This amount is $2,474,600, or 8.7% below total available 
funding in fiscal year 2011 and $4,401,600 below the budget 
request.
    The Committee understands that in preparation for fiscal 
year 2012 and anticipated budget cuts, the Office of the Clerk 
has been working to identify areas for reduction within its 
budget. As a result a significant number of vacant positions 
will not be filled and there will be no salary increases with 
the exception of longevity increases. In addition the Clerk 
will reduce training, travel, subscriptions, equipment, and 
contracts and has developed a plan to reduce long distance 
telephone service, postage and photographic expenses.
    All of these efforts will be taken with an eye on the core 
responsibilities of the Office of the Clerk in support of the 
legislative process. The Committee applauds the efforts of the 
Office of the Clerk to reduce spending and decrease the 
staffing levels of the organization.
    The Committee notes that effective June 1, 2011 the Clerk 
of the House consolidated the Office of the Historian and the 
Office of Art and Archives into a new division in the Office of 
the Clerk to be called the Office of the Historian Staff (OHS). 
The transfer of responsibilities to the newly created OHS will 
strengthen and streamline the House history functions, making 
OHS truly a ready resource for Members and staff, and also a 
first-rate public history office for the general public, 
scholars, teachers, students, and the media.

                     OFFICE OF THE SERGEANT AT ARMS

    The Committee recommends $12,585,000 for the Office of the 
Sergeant At Arms (SAA). This amount is $3,551,000 above the 
year 2011 enacted level and $6,869,000 below the budget 
request. The Committee funds the Office of Emergency 
Management, formerly the Office of Emergency Planning, 
Preparedness and Operations, in this account to reflect the 
move of the office on February 1, 2010 to the SAA.
    The SAA is taking significant action in two areas to reduce 
cost. The first area is in personnel. The SAA is currently not 
filling any position vacancies unless the position is 
determined mission critical. The second area is a review of 
contracts to determine which contracts can be reduced or 
eliminated and, reductions to travel, training, supplies and 
equipment purchases. The Committee applauds the efforts of the 
SAA to review operations and reduce cost.
    Due to the unfortunate events in Tucson involving 
Representative Giffords, it became clear that enhanced security 
of all Members was needed. In order to provide this needed 
security and to ease the financial burden on the Capitol 
Police, the SAA created a program where local staff, with 
assistance from the Sergeant at Arms and the Capitol Police, 
would work in conjunction with local law enforcement agencies 
to provide the necessary level of protection for Members, 
staff, and constituents. As the local jurisdictions are more 
familiar with the threat environment in a Member's district, 
the Member can help to ensure the necessary level of security 
at his or her events. The SAA and Capitol Police developed 
training for the Law Enforcement Coordinator Program and 
reached out to local jurisdictions that have come to the aid of 
Congress. The Committee commends the SAA for the creation of 
the Law Enforcement Coordinator Program.
    The Committee is aware of efforts underway by the SAA and 
the Capitol Police to further improve security in Congressional 
district offices. The Committee recognizes that some security 
measures are cost prohibitive for some offices, yet these 
efforts are necessary to ensure the safety and security of 
constituents, Members, and their staff. To ensure that cost-
effective improvements are made by offices the SAA, along with 
the Capitol Police, shall assist offices in prioritizing 
improvements and highlighting alternative office locations that 
yield greater security with less cost.

               OFFICE OF THE CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER

    The Committee recommends $116,782,000 for the Office of the 
Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). This amount is $11,000,000, 
or 8.6% below the fiscal year 2011 enacted level and 
$14,000,000 below the budget request.
    In anticipation of future reductions in fiscal year 2012 
the CAO is preparing for personnel and non-personnel reductions 
so that the organization can re-align CAO personnel to focus on 
core business services to the House community and streamline 
service delivery processes. The core business services that the 
organization intends to focus on are finance, budget and 
payroll and benefits services; information technology/systems 
services; management and logistics of assets and furnishings; 
management of procurement, acquisitions and concessionaire 
services. Through re-organization the CAO would reduce its 
positions by approximately 5% and the duties of those positions 
would be merged within the existing operational areas. This is 
in addition to 38 vacant positions in February of this year.
    The Library of Congress Federal Library and Information 
Network (FEDLINK) offers federal agencies the opportunity, by 
using the FEDLINK service contracts, to obtain services 
directly from commercial sources. The FEDLINK contracts usually 
provide substantial discounts not available to individual 
customers for both large and small volume users. In addition, 
agencies can utilize the expertise of federal librarians, 
contracting officers, financial managers, and customer service 
representatives to get the best products and services at the 
best available prices. The Committee believes that 
opportunities exist within the House for individual offices to 
participate in the FEDLINK program rather than contracting 
individually for services provided by such vendors as CQ-Roll 
Call, Dow Jones and Company, Lexis-Nexis and others. Therefore, 
the Committee directs the CAO of the House to consult with all 
offices of the House in order to procure their required data 
services either by using the FEDLINK contracts or a unified 
House contract. The Committee further directs the CAO to report 
back to the Committee on a regular basis on the progress and 
actions taken regarding this matter.
    Improved Contracting Internal Controls.--The Committee 
directs the Chief Administrative Officer of the House to review 
the contracting protocols and regulations of the House and 
recommend ways to improve internal controls on the obligation 
of funds. In its review the CAO is encouraged to use best 
practices by other Federal agencies as a resource.

                        Allowances and Expenses

2011 appropriation....................................      $317,124,878
2012 budget request...................................       308,165,000
Committee recommendation..............................       293,386,942

    The Committee recommends a total of $293,386,942 for 
allowances and expenses. This amount is $23,737,936, or 7.5% 
below the fiscal year 2011 enacted level and $14,778,058 below 
the budget request. These funds include supplies, materials, 
administrative costs, and Federal tort claims; the costs of 
official mail for the Committees, leadership, and 
administrative offices; employee benefits; miscellaneous items; 
and Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery.
    The Committee has fully funded the Wounded Warrior Program 
at $2,500,000, an increase of $500,000 above the fiscal year 
2011 enacted level and the same as the budget request. The 
Wounded Warrior Program was established to create fellowships 
that provide employment opportunities within the House of 
Representatives. These fellowships provide veterans with 
experience and exposure to ultimately broaden their scope of 
transition opportunities. The Committee directs the CAO to 
prepare a report on this program. This report should provide 
the number of participants that have been in the program, the 
number currently in the program, how many have achieved full-
time employment and other relevant information so the Committee 
can evaluate the overall program. This report should be 
provided to the Committee on Appropriations of the House no 
later than December 31, 2011.
    The Committee bill does not include funding for tuition 
reimbursement or the child care subsidy benefit because of a 
lack of authorization.
    The Committee bill also does not include funding for Energy 
Demonstration Projects.
    The following table summarizes the funding allocation 
provided to each major component of the account:

Supplies, materials, administrative costs and Federal         $3,696,118
 tort claims..........................................
Official mail (committees, administrative, and                   201,000
 leadership offices)..................................
Government contributions..............................       264,848,219
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery.............        17,112,072
Transition Activities.................................         2,721,533
Energy Demonstration Projects.........................  ................
Wounded Warrior Program...............................         2,500,000
Office of Congressional Ethics........................         1,548,000
Miscellaneous items...................................           760,000
                                                       -----------------
    Total, allowances and expenses....................      $293,386,942

                       Administrative Provisions

    Section 101 provides for unspent amounts remaining in 
Members' Representational Allowances account to be used for 
deficit or debt reduction.
    Section 102 provides for who may assign responsibility 
within the Republican Policy Committee.
    Section 103 provides authority to the Speaker and the 
Minority Leader to allocate funds.
    Section 104 provides authority to the Speaker and the 
Minority Leader to allocate funds among the training and 
program development activities.
    Section 105 repeals the Office of Emergency Planning, 
Preparedness, and Operations and transfers the functions to the 
House Sergeant at Arms.

                              JOINT ITEMS

    The Committee recommends $19,390,000 for fiscal year 2012 
for the various joint committees and activities carried under 
this heading. The recommendation is $404,482 below the fiscal 
year 2011 level and is $1,517,000 below the budget request.

                        JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE

2011 appropriation....................................        $4,490,002
2012 budget request...................................         4,814,000
Committee recommendation..............................         4,203,000

    The Committee recommends $4,203,000 for the Joint Economic 
Committee. This recommendation is $287,002 below the fiscal 
year 2011 level and $611,000 below the budget request. This 
recommendation is a 6.4% reduction in the base operating 
budget. Since the Joint Committee lapsed in excess of $1 
million in fiscal 2010, this $287 thousand reduction should not 
create any detriment to the operations.
    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

2011 appropriation....................................       $10,530,048
2012 budget request...................................        11,327,000
Committee recommendation..............................        10,424,000

    The Committee recommends $10,424,000 for the Joint 
Committee on Taxation (JCT). This recommendation is $106,048 
below the fiscal year 2011 amount and $903,000 below the budget 
request. This recommendation is a 1% reduction in the base 
operating budget. The Committee understands the workload 
increases facing the JCT in the coming fiscal year and the need 
to fill critical vacant positions. In addition, the JCT will 
most likely be required to rewrite the entire tax code. Because 
of these demands the Committee has provided the funding 
required for this workload in fiscal year 2012.
    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 taxes set 
forth in Code section 6405 in excess of $2,000,000. In addition 
to these functions that are specified in the Internal Revenue 
Code, the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 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

2011 appropriation....................................        $3,400,186
2012 budget request...................................         3,403,000
Committee recommendation..............................         3,400,000

    The Committee recommends $3,400,000 for the Office of the 
Attending Physician. This amount is the same as the 2011 level 
(rounded) and is $3,000 below the budget request.

             OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES

2011 appropriation....................................        $1,374,246
2012 budget request...................................         1,363,000
Committee recommendation..............................         1,363,000

    The Committee recommends $1,363,000 for the operation of 
the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services. This amount 
is $11,246 below the fiscal year 2011 level and is the same as 
the budget request. The Office of Congressional Accessibility 
Services is a successor office to the Special Services Office 
following enactment of the Capitol Visitor Center Act of 2008 
(Public Law 110-437).

                             CAPITOL POLICE

    The Committee recommends a total of $340,136,364 for the 
Capitol Police (USCP). This amount is the same as the fiscal 
year 2011 enacted level and is $47,479,636 below the budget 
request.

                                Salaries

2011 appropriation....................................      $277,132,624
2012 budget request...................................       299,343,000
Committee recommendation..............................       277,132,624

    The Committee recommends $277,132,624 for the salaries and 
benefits authorized for police services throughout the USCP 
jurisdiction. This amount is the same as the fiscal year 2011 
level and is $22,210,376 below the budget request. Using the 
latest salary estimates from USCP, the Committee expects this 
level of funding to support a staffing level of 1775 sworn 
positions, a reduction of 25 officers and 370 civilians, a 
reduction of 73 positions.
    Budget Formulation.--The Committee is encouraged by the 
efforts of the USCP to improve its financial operations and, in 
particular, by the fact that the USCP recently closed all eight 
audit findings related to the USCP Office of Inspector General 
audit of the budget formulation process. The Committee expects 
this improvement to continue in fiscal year 2012.
    Workforce Management/Overtime Costs/Mission Requirements.--
The Committee recognizes the efforts of the USCP to manage and 
reduce the necessity for overtime while maintaining core 
mission requirements. The Committee recommends that the 
Department continue to work with the Capitol Police Board, the 
House and Senate Subcommittee on Legislative Branch 
Appropriations, the Committee on House Administration, and the 
Senate Committee on Rules and Administration to review the 
USCP's mission requirements that generate such large amounts of 
overtime in order to realize savings that could be used to 
offset other critical costs. The Committee recognizes the 
significant security requirements associated with the USCP's 
mission and believes that offsets can be achieved through 
continuous review of the overall mission requirements. The 
following are examples of requirements where offset savings may 
be applied in order to fund the requirement: security 
operations Federal Office building #8; Dome Skirt and Utility 
Tunnel Rehabilitation projects; security operations for 
upcoming conventions and pre-inauguration activities; 
protective services operations; and critical enhancement and 
life cycle replacements of technology and equipment that is 
necessary for security operations. The Committee directs the 
Department to provide a written update to the Committee on 
Appropriations of the House and Senate within 60 days of 
issuance of this report, which provides the results of its 
efforts to achieve mission requirement offsets as described.
    New Posts.--To assist the USCP in the management of the 
mission requirements it is required to achieve, the Committee 
directs the USCP to notify the Committee on Appropriations of 
the House and Senate when new posts are created, including the 
annualized cost of maintaining the new post, and how the cost 
will be offset.

                            General Expenses

2011 appropriation....................................       $63,003,740
2012 budget request...................................        88,273,000
Committee recommendation..............................        63,003,740

    The Committee recommends $63,003,740 for all general 
expenses of USCP. This is the same as the fiscal year 2011 
level and $25,269,260 below the budget request.

                       Administrative Provisions

    Section 1001 authorizes transfers between the Salaries and 
General Expenses accounts of the Capitol Police.
    Section 1002 authorizes the Chief of the Capitol Police 
authority to waive erroneous payments to officers and 
employees.

                          OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE

                         Salaries and Expenses

2011 appropriation....................................        $4,076,980
2012 budget request...................................         4,782,000
Committee recommendation..............................         3,817,000

    The Committee recommends $3,817,000 for the Office of 
Compliance. This amount is $259,980, or 6.4% below the fiscal 
year 2011 level and $965,000 below the budget request. This 
reduction can be achieved with four days of furlough ($42,500) 
and ($217,480) from contract services.
    The Office of Compliance was established to administer and 
enforce the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 104-
1). The Act applies various employment and workplace safety 
laws to Congress and certain Legislative Branch entities.

                      CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE

                         Salaries and Expenses

2011 appropriation....................................       $46,771,270
2012 budget request...................................        46,865,000
Committee recommendation..............................        43,787,000

    The Committee recommends $43,787,000 for the Congressional 
Budget Office (CBO). This is $2,984,270, or 6.4%, below the 
fiscal year 2011 level and $3,078,000, or 6.6% below the budget 
request.
    In fiscal year 2009 the CBO received a supplemental $2 
million appropriation to provide timely and accurate estimates 
on major health care legislation. This increase was utilized 
for such expenditures as $600,000 for equipment, $600,000 for 
actuarial and other expert consulting services, and $400,000 
for staff performance awards. Thus, $1.6 million or, 80% of the 
supplemental, was utilized for one time outlays that should not 
add to the current operating base. The remaining $400,000, or 
20%, was used for salary and benefits costs of 3 full-time-
equivalent positions. Therefore, the reduction in this bill is 
$1,384,270, or 3% below the fiscal year 2011 level, when $1.6 
million of non-recurring costs is eliminated. The balance of 
the reduction can be achieved with four furlough days 
($618,000) and a reduction of 5 full-time-equivalent positions 
($803,600). The Committee believes that a reduction of $1.384 
million from a revised base, which is less than half of what 
the other agencies in the Legislative Branch are taking, is 
more than adequate for agency operations during fiscal year 
2012.

                        ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL

2011 appropriation....................................   \1\$526,139,612
2012 budget request...................................    \1\618,802,000
Committee recommendation..............................   \1\489,571,000

\1\Does not include Senate office buildings.

    The Committee recommends $489,571,000 for fiscal year 2012 
for the activities of the Architect of the Capitol (AOC). 
Excluded are Senate items which are traditionally left for 
consideration by that body. This amount is $36,568,612 below 
the fiscal year 2011 enacted level, or 6.9%, and is 
$129,231,000 below the budget request.
    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. In addition, by including $30,000,000 for the House 
Historic Buildings Revitalization Trust Fund, the bill 
continues the Committee's commitment to advance planning for 
major capital renewal projects which will be essential to 
sustaining the performance of historic House buildings.
    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 Supreme Court building, 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.
    The following table summarizes the allocation of funds by 
appropriation account:

Architect of the Capitol:
    General Administration............................      $104,790,000
    Capitol building..................................        35,354,000
    Capitol grounds...................................         9,852,000
    House of Representatives buildings subtotal.......       119,154,000
        House office buildings........................      (89,154,000)
        Historic Buildings Revitalization Trust Fund..      (30,000,000)
    Capitol Power Plant...............................       127,159,000
    Library buildings and grounds.....................        38,486,000
    Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds and Security....        21,500,000
    Botanic Garden....................................        12,000,000
    Capitol Visitor Center............................        21,276,000
                                                       -----------------
        Total.........................................      $489,571,000

                         General Administration

2011 appropriation....................................      $106,569,434
2012 budget request...................................       119,150,000
Committee recommendation..............................       104,790,000

    The Committee recommends $104,790,000 for personnel 
services, equipment, communications, and other central support 
activities of the AOC. This amount is $1,779,434 below the 
fiscal year 2011 enacted level and is $14,360,000 below the 
budget request.
    The Committee directs the AOC to provide additional FTEs 
and funding, within existing resources, as requested by the 
Office of the Inspector General in the fiscal year 2012 budget 
request.
    The Committee directs that all overtime costs incurred by 
the Capitol Police for AOC construction projects are to be 
reimbursed, from project funds, upon receipt of billings from 
the Capitol Police.
    The recommended project budget of $3,199,000 is composed of 
the following projects:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Committee
                         Item                            recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Energy Savings Performance Contracts (ESPC):
Management Program...................................         $2,700,000
Conservation of Fine Architectural Art...............            499,000
                                                      ------------------
    Total............................................         $3,199,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                            Capitol Building

2011 appropriation....................................       $33,115,636
2012 budget request...................................        41,545,000
Committee recommendation..............................        35,354,000

    The Committee recommends $35,354,000 for the operation, 
maintenance, and care of the Capitol building. This amount is 
$2,238,364 above the fiscal year 2011 enacted level and is 
$6,191,000 below the budget request. The recommendation 
supports an operating budget of $25,091,000. The recommended 
project budget of $10,263,000 is composed of the following 
capital projects:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Committee
                         Item                            recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Presidential Inaugural Stand and Support Facilities..         $4,263,000
Minor Construction...................................          6,000,000
                                                      ------------------
    Total............................................        $10,263,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                            Capitol Grounds

2011 appropriation....................................       $10,952,052
2012 budget request...................................        10,799,000
Committee recommendation..............................         9,852,000

    The Committee recommends $9,852,000 for the care of the 
grounds surrounding the Capitol. This amount is $1,100,052 
below the fiscal year 2011 enacted level and is $947,000 below 
the budget request.

                         House Office Buildings

2011 appropriation....................................      $150,165,068
2012 budget request...................................       169,647,000
Committee recommendation..............................       119,154,000

    The Committee recommends $119,154,000 for the operation, 
maintenance, and care of the House office buildings. This 
amount is a decrease of $31,011,068 below fiscal year 2011 and 
is $50,493,000 below the budget request.
    The bill includes $30,000,000 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 of 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.
    The recommended project budget of $40,631,000 is composed 
of the following capital projects:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Committee
                         Item                            recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alternate Life Safety Approach, CHOB.................         $4,229,000
Power Distribution System Replacement, Vault C, FHOB.          3,957,000
Interior Rehabilitation, WHUG........................         18,000,000
480V Switchgear and Transformer Replacement, Phase             3,055,000
 III, RHOB...........................................
CAO Project Support..................................          4,390,000
Minor Construction...................................          7,000,000
House Historic Building Revitalization...............         30,000,000
                                                      ------------------
    Total............................................        $70,631,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                          Capitol Power Plant

2011 appropriation....................................      $118,894,734
2012 budget request...................................       142,101,000
Committee recommendation net..........................       127,159,000
Offsetting collections................................         9,000,000
                                                       -----------------
    Total available...................................      $136,159,000

    The Committee recommends $127,159,000 for the Capitol Power 
Plant supplemented by offsetting collections of $9,000,000. 
This amount is $8,264,266 above the fiscal year 2011 enacted 
level and is $14,942,000 below the budget request.
    The Committee has provided $17,406,000 requested for the 
ongoing repairs and improvements to address occupational safety 
and health issues in the power plant utility tunnels. These 
funds will enable the AOC to continue its progress toward 
completing all corrective measures on issues identified by the 
Office of Compliance by the June 11, 2012, settlement date.
    The Committee supports the AOC's plan to utilize 
cogeneration technology at the Capitol Power Plant to help meet 
the Energy Independence and Security Act of 2007 requirement of 
a 30 percent energy reduction by 2015. According to the AOC, 
cogeneration will yield a 7.1 percent reduction in total energy 
consumption at the Capitol Power Plant by increasing its 
overall efficiency.
    The recommendation supports an operating budget of 
$93,782,000, which provides for current services. The 
recommended project budget of $33,377,000 is composed of the 
following capital projects:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Committee
                         Item                            recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Utility Tunnel Program...............................        $17,406,000
WRP Chiller System Replacement, RPR, CPP.............          6,000,000
East Plant Chiller Relocation, RPR, CPP..............          3,971,000
Cogeneration Management Program......................          2,000,000
Minor Construction...................................          4,000,000
                                                      ------------------
    Total............................................        $33,377,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                     Library Buildings and Grounds

2011 appropriation....................................       $45,703,410
2012 budget request...................................        67,888,000
Committee recommendation..............................        38,486,000

    The Committee recommends $38,486,000 for the care and 
maintenance of the Library buildings and grounds. This amount 
is $7,217,410 below the fiscal year 2011 enacted level and is 
$29,402,000 below the budget request. The recommendation 
supports an operating budget of $25,760,000 and a project 
budget of $12,726,000, including the following capital 
projects:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Committee
                         Item                            recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Sprinkler System, West Mail Pavilion 1st Floor, Phase         $4,100,000
 III of III, TJB.....................................
Egress Improvements..................................          1,126,000
Garage Structural Repairs, Entry Improvements and              5,000,000
 Generator Replacement, Phase I of II, JAB...........
ABA Space Reorganization, Phase III of IV, JMMB......            500,000
Minor Construction...................................          2,000,000
                                                      ------------------
    Total............................................        $12,726,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

            Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds, and Security

2011 appropriation....................................       $26,957,976
2012 budget request...................................        32,312,000
Committee recommendation..............................        21,500,000

    The Committee recommends $21,500,000 for Capitol Police 
buildings, grounds, and security. This amount is $5,457,976 
below the fiscal year 2011 enacted level and is $10,812,000 
below the budget request. The recommendation supports an 
operating budget of $18,027,000 and a project budget of 
$3,473,000, including the following capital projects:

------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Committee
                         Item                            recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fire Alarm System Replacement, Headquarters..........         $2,473,000
Minor Construction...................................          1,000,000
                                                      ------------------
    Total............................................         $3,473,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

                             Botanic Garden

2011 appropriation....................................       $11,367,220
2012 budget request...................................        12,344,000
Committee recommendation..............................        12,000,000

    The Committee recommends $12,000,000 for salaries and 
expenses of the Botanic Garden. This amount is $632,780 above 
the fiscal year 2011 enacted level and $344,000 below the 
budget request. There are no capital projects in fiscal year 
2012.
    The Committee congratulates the Botanic Garden on the 
accomplishments of its education and outreach programs, which 
have leveraged the Garden's unparalleled expertise to provide 
unique educational opportunities. The Committee urges the 
Garden to continue forming partnerships with national and local 
organizations to advance these educational goals.

                         Capitol Visitor Center

2011 appropriation....................................       $22,414,082
2012 budget request...................................        23,016,000
Committee recommendation..............................        21,276,000

    The Committee recommends $21,276,000 for the operation of 
the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC). This amount is $1,138,082 
below the fiscal year 2011 enacted level and $1,740,000 below 
the budget request. There are no capital projects in fiscal 
year 2012. The CVC was established to improve security for all 
persons working in or visiting the U.S. Capitol and to enhance 
the educational experience of visitors.
    The Committee brings to the attention of the AOC the issue 
of the CVC gift shop employees. The gift shop currently employs 
20 employees whose salary and benefit costs exceed more than $1 
million annually. As with any revolving fund activity, the 
costs associated with the operation of that activity should be 
borne by that activity. For example, the Library of Congress 
gift shop is totally funded and operated from the revenues 
generated within their gift shop revolving fund. Therefore, the 
Committee directs the AOC to prepare a report on the operations 
and the steps that can be taken to achieve total operational 
costs funded within the gift shop revolving fund. This report 
should be provided to the Committee on Appropriations of the 
House and Senate no later than December 31, 2011.
    The Committee has observed that there seems to be a rather 
large contingent of tour guides assigned to the CVC. The 
Committee realizes that there are seasonal fluctuations in the 
spring and summer that necessitate an increase in the number of 
guides to handle the increased number of visitors. However, the 
Committee believes a review of the staffing requirements, as 
related to tour guides, needs to be undertaken. The Committee 
directs the Architect of the Capitol to review the staffing 
levels, taking into account the seasonal requirements, and 
report to the Committee on Appropriations of the House and 
Senate on these findings no later than January 31, 2012.

                          LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

    The Committee recommends $575,322,000 for the operations of 
the Library of Congress. This is $53,354,128, or 8.5% below the 
fiscal year 2011 level and $91,409,000, or 13.7% below the 
budget request. However, taking into consideration that $14 
million requested for the Books for the Blind and Physically 
Handicapped Digital Talking Book Program, which was completed 
in fiscal year 2011, would reflect an adjusted base and thus 
the amount below fiscal year 2011 is $39,354,128, or 6.4% and 
$77,409,000, or 11.9% below an adjusted request. In addition to 
the appropriation, the Committee recommends offsetting 
collections of $42,863,000. The reduced funding provided in 
this bill will require the Library of Congress to reduce 
staffing by at least 312 positions utilizing a VERA/VSIP 
option.
    Established by Congress in 1800, the Library of Congress is 
one of the largest libraries in the world, with a collection of 
more than 130,000,000 print, audio, and video items in 460 
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 
also maintains a number of collections and provides a range of 
services to libraries in the United States and abroad.

                         Salaries and Expenses

2011 appropriation....................................      $431,784,700
2012 budget request...................................       455,979,000
Committee recommendation..............................       406,096,000
Offsetting collections................................         6,350,000
                                                       -----------------
    Total available...................................      $412,446,000

    The Committee recommends $406,096,000, plus authority to 
spend $6,350,000 in receipts, for the salaries and expenses 
appropriation. This amount is $25,688,700 below the fiscal year 
2011 level and is $49,883,000 below the budget request. This 
reduction can be achieved with 20 percent participation, of 215 
of the eligible 1,075 ``Salaries and Expenses'' employees, in a 
VERA/VSIP program ($15,681,000), a four day furlough 
($3,936,000), purchase of books and library materials 
($1,000,000), Thirty-Year Mass Deacidification Program 
($1,000,000), National Audio-Visual Conservation Center 
equipment ($1,000,000), Overseas Field Office Operations 
($571,700) and Teaching with Primary Sources grants 
($2,500,000).
    The Committee fully understands the impact these budget 
reductions will have on the Library of Congress. These 
reductions will require adjustments in every program, project, 
and activity within the salaries and expenses appropriation. As 
in prior years, it is expected that the Library will mitigate 
any negative impact of the reduction in acquisition funding by 
realignments within the salaries and expenses appropriation. 
Also, the Committee has demonstrated its support of the 
Information Technology Services segment of the budget and 
believes that Library management should continue to support 
this activity, including the necessary incident handling and 
response function described in the Library's fiscal 2012 budget 
request, as much as possible within the funding levels 
provided. The Committee believes enhanced information 
technology is critical to ensuring that Library programs and 
services continue to meet the challenges and opportunities 
before them. The Committee recognizes that the major 
information technology requirements of Library organizations 
will only be met through Library-wide collaboration. The 
Committee directs the Librarian of Congress to consider 
managing within the Office of the Librarian all Library 
information technology planning and resource allocations to 
ensure that information technology requirements are properly 
prioritized and that resources are effectively used. In 
addition, the Committee expects the Veterans History Project 
and the Civil Rights History Project will be maintained at the 
fiscal year 2011 levels.

                            Copyright Office

2011 appropriation....................................       $17,828,272
2012 budget request...................................        21,723,000
Committee recommendation..............................        14,461,000
Offsetting collections................................        36,513,000
                                                       -----------------
    Total available...................................       $50,974,000

    The Committee recommends $14,461,000, plus authority to 
spend $36,513,000 in receipts, for the Copyright Office. This 
is $3,367,272 below the fiscal year 2011 level and $7,262,000 
below the budget request, not including offsetting collections. 
This reduction can be achieved with 20 percent participation, 
of 38 of the eligible 188 Copyright employees, in a VERA/VSIP 
program ($2,090,000), a two day furlough ($339,000), and a base 
reduction in equipment of ($938,272).
    The Committee has provided the authority to spend receipts 
at $36,513,000. This amount is $1,800,000 above the request and 
can be achieved largely through the utilization of prior year 
available unobligated balances.
    The Committee believes that reductions in appropriations 
are likely to continue, and those reductions could be offset by 
increased receipts. The Committee is aware that the full cost 
of the Copyright Office is not attributable to the Copyright 
registration process. However, other than costs associated with 
testimony and studies related to copyright for Congress, 
responding to Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) requests, 
public information about copyright, and assistance to other 
federal entities dealing with copyright issues, the full cost 
of the Copyright Office should be supported by fees charged for 
registrations. The Committee directs the management of the 
Library and the Copyright Office, working with the appropriate 
authorizing committees of the House and Senate, to review the 
current fee structure to determine if the registration fee 
covers the entire cost, including overhead, associated with the 
registration process.

                     Congressional Research Service

2011 appropriation....................................      $111,017,520
2012 budget request...................................       117,102,000
Committee recommendation..............................       104,091,000

    The Committee recommends $104,091,000 for salaries and 
expenses of the Congressional Research Service (CRS). This 
amount is $6,926,520 below the fiscal year 2011 level and 
$13,011,000 below the budget request.
    This reduction can be achieved with 20 percent 
participation, of 54 of the 272 eligible CRS employees, in a 
VERA/VSIP program ($5,431,000), a two day furlough ($757,600) 
and a base reduction between advisory and assistance services, 
other services, purchase of goods and services, and operation 
and maintenance of equipment ($737,920).
    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.

             Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

2011 appropriation....................................       $68,045,636
2012 budget request...................................        71,927,000
Committee recommendation..............................        50,674,000

    The Committee recommends $50,674,000 for salaries and 
expenses of the National Library Service for the Blind and 
Physically Handicapped (NLS). This amount is $17,371,636 below 
the fiscal year 2011 level and $21,253,000 below the budget 
request.
    The NLS has successfully 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 56 
regional and 65 subregional libraries. After a decade of 
extensive planning and research and development, NLS began 
contracting for the first shipment of digital talking book 
players in fiscal year 2008, a significant milestone in this 
program's history. With the termination of the analog cassette 
program and digital book and player production and distribution 
having reached a steady state, the Committee perceives fiscal 
year 2012 to represent a crossroads moment and appropriate time 
to take a comprehensive look at NLS funding requirements and 
services for the future. Base programs now are meeting their 
goals and wide-ranging service options are presenting 
themselves to a changing customer base, in large measure 
influenced by the availability of technologies that were as a 
practical matter unimaginable ten years back. Currently NLS is 
less a manufacturing operation and more a distributor. The 
provision of no-year funding, essential in the past to 
accommodate multi-year manufacturing cycles, no longer is 
essential, nor is the program's traditional line item for 
machine replacements. At the same time NLS would benefit by 
greater flexibility to be able to manage its funding mix as 
circumstances change. The Committee directs the NLS to take a 
close look at the future of its legacy programs and conduct a 
detailed study of its entire mix of products and services, 
examining how changing demographics are influencing the 
customer base and new technologies offering new and different 
service alternatives. This study is to be provided to the 
Committee on Appropriations of the House and Senate by 
September 30, 2012.
    The NLS launched a six-year transition to a fully 
operational Digital Talking Book Program in fiscal year 2008. 
The program, fully supported by the Congress, would provide 
545,000 digital talking book players and 6.8 million books by 
the end of fiscal year 2013. Lower than expected costs have 
allowed for a greater level of annual production of players and 
media than was anticipated at the beginning of the replacement 
program. At the same time the NLS has broadened its business 
model to respond to evolving technologies and a more diverse 
client base, offering the popular NLS Braille and Audio Reading 
Download (BARD) option to download books directly from the 
Internet. In response to customer demand the program adjusted 
production goals, reducing player production in favor of an 
increased range of digital media offerings, including 
additional retrospective titles and magazines. Therefore, in 
fiscal 2011 the program will meet its fiscal 2013 goal, and the 
$14 million requested in 2012 is no longer necessary.
    The Committee has taken a reduction of $3,371,636 below the 
enacted level. This reduction can be achieved with 10 percent 
participation, 5 of the 49 NLS eligible employees, in a VERA/
VSIP program ($295,000), a one day furlough ($42,636), 
reduction in spare parts ($1,200,000), GSA rent reduction 
($300,000) and a base reduction in the old machine procurement 
program ($1,534,000).

                       Administrative Provisions

    The Committee has recommended several administrative 
provisions related to obligational authority (sec. 1101) for 
reimbursable and revolving funds, (sec. 1102) transfer 
authority, and (sec. 1103) prior year funds to pay Workers 
Compensation.

                       GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

    The recommendation provides $113,000,000 in budget 
authority for the Government Printing Office (GPO), in addition 
to any offsetting collections which the GPO may earn under 
separate authority. This amount is $22,067,324, or 16.3% below 
the fiscal year 2011 level and $35,474,000 below the budget 
request. GPO provides publishing and dissemination services for 
Federal government publications to Congress, Federal agencies, 
Federal depository libraries, and the American public.
    The Committee has some concern about the future of the GPO 
as a viable printing operation for the Federal Government. The 
GPO currently contracts out, to small and medium size print 
operations, more than 90 percent of its annual printing 
requisitions, most of which are from the Executive Branch. The 
balance comes from printing for the Congress and a few small 
jobs for the Executive Branch, such as the President's Annual 
Budget. The Committee believes that a study is needed to review 
the feasibility of Executive Branch printing being performed by 
the General Services Administration, the transfer of the 
Superintendent of Documents program to the Library of Congress, 
and the privatization of the GPO. Therefore, the Committee 
directs the Government Accountability Office to conduct a study 
on these three options and report its findings to the Committee 
on Appropriations of the House and Senate no later than January 
31, 2012.

                   Congressional Printing and Binding

2011 appropriation....................................       $93,580,464
2012 budget request...................................       100,001,000
Committee recommendation..............................        78,000,000

    The Committee recommends $78,000,000 for Congressional 
Printing and Binding. This amount is $15,580,464, or 16.7% 
below the fiscal year 2011 level and is $22,001,000 below the 
budget request. The amount is provided as a lump sum to cover 
various categories of printing.
    The Committee has recommended changes for the publication 
of the Congressional Record Index and printing for the 
Architect of the Capitol, and commends the GPO for undertaking 
a survey of House offices and committees to provide Members and 
staff with the ability to opt out of receiving copies of the 
daily Congressional Record. These actions will reduce the 
charges against this account. However, additional efforts by 
the House to reduce its printing requirements, either through 
further changes in the way the House conducts its business or 
by revising the relevant provisions of the public printing and 
documents statutes of Title 44, United States Code, will be 
required to reduce the volume of congressional printing within 
the limits of the recommended funding. Otherwise, a shortfall 
in the Congressional Printing and Binding account is likely to 
be incurred in the current fiscal year, for which Congress will 
be obligated to reimburse the GPO in a subsequent 
appropriation.

                 Office of Superintendent of Documents

2011 appropriation....................................       $39,831,178
2012 budget request...................................        42,173,000
Committee recommendation..............................        35,000,000

    The Committee recommends $35,000,000 for the salaries and 
expenses of the Superintendent of Documents. This amount is 
$4,831,178 below the fiscal year 2011 level and $7,173,000 
below the request.
    The Committee recommendation reflects a general reduction 
of 12.1% in the base operating budget. However, utilization of 
$2.7 million transferred to the GPO Revolving Fund, reduces the 
net reduction to $2,131,178, or 5.3%. This reduction can be 
absorbed with 3 vacant positions not being filled, and 
reductions in travel, training and incentive awards. The 
Committee directs the Public Printer to realign the operations 
of the Superintendent of Documents program to address the most 
critical elements of the program.
    The Office of 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 distribution of government 
publications to the Federal Depository and International 
Exchange libraries and to other individuals and entities, as 
authorized by law.

               Government Printing Office Revolving Fund

2011 appropriation....................................        $1,655,682
2012 budget request...................................         6,300,000
Committee recommendation..............................  ................

    The Committee understands the importance of the Federal 
Digital System (FDsys) and the GPO Business Information System. 
However, within the current budgetary constraints, the 
Committee is unable to provide funding for these operational 
systems. The Committee directs the Public Printer to examine 
every avenue of revenue generation within the Revolving Fund to 
determine what adjustments could be made to allocate the 
funding required for these projects.
    The Committee is aware that GPO currently has more than 
100,000 square feet of vacant available space within the GPO 
complex. The Committee encourages the GPO to explore the 
possibility of a lease agreement for this space with other 
Federal Government agencies. The Committee believes that a 
revenue stream of this nature could be utilized for the FDsys 
and the GPO Business Information System.
    The bill continues language authorizing the operation of 
the revolving fund and authority to hire or purchase 
automobiles, advisory councils, and consultants.

                    GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE

                         Salaries and Expenses

2011 appropriation....................................      $546,254,302
2012 budget request...................................       556,849,000
Committee recommendation..............................       511,296,000
Offsetting Collections................................        18,304,000
                                                       -----------------
    Total available...................................      $529,600,000

    The Committee recommends $511,296,000 in direct 
appropriations for the Government Accountability Office (GAO), 
plus $18,304,000 in offsetting collections derived from 
reimbursements for conducting financial audits of government 
corporations and rental of space in the GAO building. This 
amount is a decrease of $34,958,302, or 6.4% below the fiscal 
year 2011 level, and is $45,553,000 below the budget request.
    In order to achieve the savings necessary to absorb the 
funding reductions in this bill, GAO will need to take the 
following actions: reduction in salaries and benefits including 
a slower hiring rate and reduction in planned hires, reduction 
in promotions, reduction in awards, and reduction in staff 
development ($18,143,000); reduction in engagement-related 
expenses including travel and support contracts ($816,000); 
infrastructure operations ($6,965,000); and other 
administrative adjustments ($8,907,000). As part of a cost 
cutting measure, the Committee encourages the GAO to consider a 
VERA/VSIP option, not only for this fiscal year but for future 
years. The Committee fully understands that these reductions 
will require adjustments in staffing and surely will increase 
response time for all studies, audits, and reports.
    The Committee notes that testimony by the GAO before the 
Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions on 
for-profit college sales and marketing practices received 
significant criticism from education experts, media and 
objective commentators for including significant mistakes and 
misstatements in the analysis of the for-profit college sector. 
In its investigation of its own report, GAO determined that 
pressure to find errors in ``15 out of 15'' schools and to 
finish the report within a short timeframe, as well as last-
minute demands to include revisions to the report resulted in a 
flawed final product that, even with revisions, remains 
available for public reference. The Committee has concern about 
the impact flawed analyses can have on the industries GAO 
report on; in this case, the for-profit educational sector; and 
directs the GAO to report to the Committee on Appropriations of 
the House and Senate by November 1, 2011, on what processes and 
procedures have been established to ensure errors of this 
nature do not repeat themselves in the future.
    GAO was established by the Budget and Accounting Act of 
1921. Formerly known as the General Accounting Office, it was 
renamed by Public Law 108-271. GAO works for Congress by 
responding to requests for studies of Federal Government 
programs and expenditures. GAO may also initiate its own work.

                        Administrative Provision

    The Committee has included an administrative provision 
(1201) that allows GAO to be treated the same as other 
Legislative Branch agencies regarding employee buyout 
authority.

                Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund

2011 appropriation....................................       $11,377,200
2012 budget request...................................        12,600,000
Committee recommendation..............................         1,000,000

    In recent years, the Committee has expressed concern 
regarding the placement of the Open World Leadership Program in 
the Legislative Branch and questioned its benefits. The program 
has some strong champions on the Committee, but with reductions 
being made to most every program within the Federal budget the 
Committee has elected to shut down the program and recommends 
$1,000,000 for shutdown expenses of the Open World Leadership 
Program.

   John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development

2010 appropriation....................................          $429,140
2011 budget request...................................           430,000
Committee recommendation..............................  ................

    The Center was created by Congress in 1988 with an 
appropriation of $7.5 million which subsequently was 
transferred to the John C. Stennis Trust Fund and invested in 
non-expendable corpus Special Issue Certificates of 
Indebtedness with the U.S. Treasury. As reflected in the 
current Budget of the United States, the Center has $15 million 
invested with the Treasury, and at a 2 percent return should 
generate $300,000 that can be utilized for the annual operation 
of the program. Since the principal of the fund has doubled 
from the original appropriation and with reduced funding within 
the Legislative Branch, the Committee has provided zero funding 
for the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and 
Development.
    The Committee directs that any further budget request from 
the John C. Stennis Center be accompanied by an appropriately 
detailed budget justification.

                      TITLE II--GENERAL PROVISIONS

    The customary language regarding emergency assistance for 
vehicles, fiscal year limitation, positions and allowances, 
consulting services, awards and settlements, the Legislative 
Branch Financial Managers Council, the maintenance and 
landscaping on Washington Avenue SW, a limitation on transfers 
of funds, language regarding maintaining staff-led tours 
(sections 201-209). Section 210 provides for a spending 
reduction account, excluding Senate items. This account 
excludes the portion of the allocation that is expected to be 
realized by amounts for Senate items.

              HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPORT REQUIREMENTS

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

                        Constitutional Authority

    Clause 6(e) of the Rules of the Appropriations Committee 
requires each committee report on a public bill or joint 
resolution to contain a statement citing the specific powers 
granted to Congress in the Constitution to enact the law 
proposed by the bill or joint resolution.
    The Committee on Appropriations bases its authority to 
report this legislation on clause 7 of section 9 of article I 
of the Constitution of the United States which states: ``No 
money shall be drawn from the Treasury, but in Consequence of 
Appropriations made by Law . . .''
    Appropriations contained in this Act are made pursuant to 
this specific power granted by the Constitution.

                 Comparison With the Budget Resolution

    Pursuant to clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the 
House of Representatives and section 308(a)(1)(A) of the 
Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the following table compares 
the levels of new budget authority provided in the bill with 
appropriate allocation under section 302(b) of the Budget Act.

                                            [In millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                               302(b) Allocation               This bill
                                                         -------------------------------------------------------
                                                              Budget                      Budget
                                                             authority      Outlays      authority      Outlays
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comparison of amounts in the bill with Committee
 allocations to its subcommittees of amounts in the
 Budget Resolution for 2012:
    Discretionary.......................................          $4,314      $4,397          $3,326   \1\$3,570
    Mandatory...........................................             136         136             136      \1\136
                                                         -------------------------------------------------------
        Total...........................................          $4,450      $4,533          $3,462      $3,706
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Includes outlays from both House and Senate prior-year budget authority.
Note.--Bill amounts exclude discretionary Senate-related items.

                    Five-Year Projection of Outlays

    Pursuant to section 308(a)(1)(B) of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974, 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:

                        [In millions of dollars]

Budget Authority......................................            $3,462
Outlays:
2012..................................................             2,968
2013..................................................               325
2014..................................................                93
2015..................................................                34
2016..................................................                23

               Assistance to State and Local Governments

    Pursuant to section 308(a)(1)(C) of the Congressional 
Budget Act of 1974, 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.

                           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 in Library of 
Congress, Congressional printing and binding, the 
Superintendent of Documents, and the Capitol Police programs.

                              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.

         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.

                  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 no appropriations not 
authorized by law.

               Terminations, Reductions and Other Savings

    In order to invest in the critical priorities identified in 
this bill, the Committee has proposed herein a number of 
program reductions and other savings from the fiscal year 2011 
level. These adjustments, no matter their size, are important 
to setting the right priorities within the spending allocation 
and for creating a government that is as efficient as it is 
effective.

                                Earmarks

    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(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of rule XXI.

               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 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 pertaining to the assignment 
of responsibilities within the Republican Policy Committee.
    11. The bill provides authority to the Speaker and Minority 
Leader to allocate funds among certain Leadership Offices.
    12. The bill provides authority to the Speaker and Minority 
Leader to allocate funds among the training and program 
development activities.
    13. The bill includes language repealing the Office of 
Emergency Planning, Preparedness, and Operations and transfers 
the functions and responsibility to the Sergeant at Arms of the 
House.
    14. The bill authorizes allowances for employees of the 
Office of the Attending Physician and provides reimbursement to 
the Department of the Navy.
    15. The bill authorizes expenses of the Capitol Police for 
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.
    16. 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.
    17. The bill provides authority for the Chief of the 
Capitol Police to waive claims for erroneous payments subject 
to the approval of the Capitol Police Board.
    18. The bill allows the Architect of the Capitol to 
purchase or exchange, maintain, and operate a passenger motor 
vehicle.
    19. The bill includes authorization allowing reimbursements 
for chilled water and steam provided to the Government Printing 
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.
    20. The bill allows the Architect of the Capitol to expend 
funds to maintain, care for, and operate the National Garden.
    21. The bill provides the authority to expend funds 
collected under the authority of 2 U.S.C. 150 and for 
international legal information, the balance to remain 
available until expended.
    22. The bill establishes that the amount available for 
obligation by the Library of Congress is reduced by offsetting 
collections.
    23. The bill provides funds for the digital collections and 
educational curricula program, the American Folklife Center, 
and the Civil Rights History Project.
    24. The bill allows the Library of Congress to hire or 
purchase one passenger motor vehicle.
    25. The bill allows funds from offsetting collections to be 
used for the Library's Copyright Office.
    26. 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.
    27. 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 committees.
    28. The bill provides funds to provide newspapers to the 
blind and physically handicapped.
    29. The bill authorizes the temporary transfer of funds 
under the heading ``Library of Congress, Salaries and 
Expenses'' to the revolving fund for the FEDLINK Program and 
the Federal Research Program.
    30. The bill makes balances of expired Library of Congress 
funds available for workers compensation payments.
    31. The bill contains language restricting the use of funds 
appropriated to the Government Printing Office for the 
permanent edition of the Congressional Record for individual 
Representatives and 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.
    32. The bill includes authorization of appropriations for 
Congressional printing and binding.
    33. The bill includes language authorizing the Office of 
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.
    34. There is language authorizing the operation of the 
Government Printing 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.
    35. 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.
    36. The bill clarifies agencies with authority to provide 
voluntary separation incentive payments.
    37. In Section 201, there is 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.
    38. Section 203 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.
    39. Section 204 requires that certain information regarding 
consulting services shall be a matter of public record.
    40. Section 205 authorizes the payment of awards and 
settlements.
    41. Section 206 authorizes Legislative Branch entities to 
share the costs of the Legislative Branch Financial Managers 
Council.
    42. Section 207 authorizes the Architect of the Capitol to 
maintain certain property.
    43. Section 208 limits the transfer of funds in this Act.
    44. Section 209 prohibits funds in this Act being used to 
eliminate or restrict staff led guided tours.
    45. Section 210 provides for a spending reduction account.

          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 103 OF THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1999

  Sec. 103. (a) * * *
  (b) [Subject to the allocation described in subsection (c), 
funds] Funds in the account established under subsection (a) 
shall be paid--
          (1) for activities of the Republican Conference in 
        such amounts, at such times, and under such terms and 
        conditions as the Speaker of the House of 
        Representatives may [direct;] direct (or, if the 
        Speaker is not a member of the Republican Party, under 
        such terms and conditions as the Minority Leader of the 
        House of Representatives may direct); and
          (2) for activities of the Democratic Steering and 
        Policy Committee in such amounts, at such times, and 
        under such terms and conditions as the Minority Leader 
        of the House of Representatives may [direct.] direct 
        (or, if the Speaker is a member of the Democratic 
        Party, under such terms and conditions as the Speaker 
        may direct).
  [(c) Of the total amount in the account established under 
subsection (a)--
          [(1) 50 percent shall be allocated to the Speaker for 
        payments for activities of the Republican Conference; 
        and
          [(2) 50 percent shall be allocated to the Minority 
        Leader for payments for activities of the Democratic 
        Steering and Policy Committee.]
  [(d)] (c) There are authorized to be appropriated to the 
account under this section for fiscal year 1999 and each 
succeeding fiscal year such sums as may be necessary for 
training and program development activities of the Republican 
Conference and the Democratic Steering and Policy Committee 
during the fiscal year.
                              ----------                              

              LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2005

                               DIVISION G

              LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2005

TITLE I--LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  Sec. 109. (a) There is established in the House of 
Representatives an office to be known as the Republican Policy 
Committee, which shall have such responsibilities as may be 
assigned by [the chair of the Republican Conference] the 
Speaker of the House of Representatives (or, if the Speaker is 
not a member of the Republican Party, the Minority Leader of 
the House of Representatives).
  (b) There shall be a lump sum allowance for the salaries and 
expenses of the Republican Policy Committee, which shall be 
treated as a category of House leadership offices for purposes 
of section 101(c) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 
1993 (2 U.S.C. 95b(c))[.], and which shall be obligated and 
expended as directed by the Speaker (or, if the Speaker is not 
a member of the Republican Party, the Minority Leader).

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

TITLE II--GENERAL PROVISIONS

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  Sec. 210. Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments. (a) * * *

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  [(d) Exclusion of Certain Offices.--This section shall not 
apply to any office which is an Executive agency under section 
105 of title 5, United States Code, or any employee of such an 
office.]

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

  (f) Repayment For Individuals Returning to Government 
Employment.--
          (1) * * *
          (2) Waiver for individuals possessing unique 
        abilities.--
                  (A) If the employment is with an Executive 
                agency (as defined by section 105 of title 5, 
                [United States Code] United States Code, but 
                excluding the Government Accountability 
                Office), the Director of the Office of 
                Personnel Management may, at the request of the 
                head of the agency, waive the repayment 
                required under this subsection if the 
                individual involved possesses unique abilities 
                and is the only qualified applicant available 
                for the position.

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                              ----------                              

              SECTION 3521 OF TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE

Sec. 3521. Definitions

  In this subchapter, the term--
          (1) ``agency'' means an Executive agency as defined 
        under [section 105] section 105 (other than the 
        Government Accountability Office); and

           *       *       *       *       *       *       *

                              ----------                              

          SECTION 905 OF THE EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL ACT, 2002

  [Sec. 905. (a) There is established in the House of 
Representatives an office to be known as the House of 
Representatives Office of Emergency Planning, Preparedness, and 
Operations. The Office shall be responsible for mitigation and 
preparedness operations, crisis management and response, 
resource services, and recovery operations.
  [(b) The Speaker, in consultation with the minority leader--
          [(1) shall provide policy direction for, and 
        oversight of, the Office;
          [(2) shall appoint and set the annual rate of pay for 
        employees of the Office, including a Director, who 
        shall be the head of the Office;
          [(3) shall exercise, with respect to any employee of 
        the Office, the authority referred to in section 
        8344(k)(2)(B) of title 5, United States Code, and the 
        authority referred to in section 8468(h)(2)(B) of title 
        5, United States Code;
          [(4) shall approve procurement of services of experts 
        and consultants by the Office or by committees or other 
        entities of the House of Representatives for assignment 
        to the Office; and
          [(5) may request the head of any Federal department 
        or agency to detail to the Office, on a reimbursable 
        basis, any of the personnel of the department or 
        agency.
  [(c) The day-to-day operations of the Office shall be carried 
out by the Director, under the supervision of a Board, to be 
known as the House of Representatives Continuity of Operations 
Board, comprised of the Clerk, the Sergeant at Arms, and the 
Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives. 
The Clerk shall be the Chairman of the Board.
  [(d) Until otherwise provided by law, funds shall be 
available for the Office from amounts appropriated for the 
operations of the House of Representatives.
  [(e) This section shall take effect on the date of the 
enactment of this Act and shall apply to fiscal years beginning 
with fiscal year 2002.]

  ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF THE HONORABLE NORM DICKS AND HONORABLE MICHAEL 
                                 HONDA

    The Chairman followed the long tradition of this 
subcommittee and included the minority in the process of 
developing the fiscal year 2012 Legislative Branch 
Appropriations bill. The Chairman and Ranking Member of this 
subcommittee are the stewards of the legislative branch of 
government and must operate in a bi-partisan manner to 
effectively serve in that role. Chairman Crenshaw should be 
applauded for the process followed.
    The bill funds the Legislative Branch, minus the Senate, at 
$3.3 billion which represents a 6.4 percent reduction from 
fiscal year 2011 and a 9 percent reduction from fiscal year 
2010. The allocation is only understandable given that the 
majority is also cutting Women and Children's nutrition 
programs, consumer protection, and other important programs in 
other appropriations bills. This bill has succeeded in joining 
the other appropriations bills by cutting programs at the 
expense of jobs, strong oversight, and common-sense 
efficiencies.

                        District Office Security

    After the tragic shootings in Tucson, the Congress was left 
to reevaluate security in Members' districts. While it is of 
the utmost importance to ensure that citizens have unfettered 
access to their Members of Congress, the Tucson event was a 
reminder that we must be vigilant in providing security to 
Members, to their staff and to their constituents that attend 
their events. The effort by the House to improve district 
security after the shootings put much of the onus on Members' 
offices, including the payment for that security. As Members' 
office budgets are being cut for the second time in a year, 
there has to be a reconsideration of that policy in order to 
consider a more centralized approach to security. That is not 
an inexpensive endeavor if you use the Secret Service's budget 
as a guide. The Capitol Police appropriation is $340 million, 
equal to the fiscal year 2011 level. The Capitol Police protect 
the Capitol Complex with primary security responsibility for 
541 Members of Congress, Resident Commissioners, and Delegates. 
By comparison, the House-passed Secret Service Appropriation 
included over $1 billion for the protection of 50 to 70 
individuals, including the President. If the Capitol Police is 
going to assess more threats against Members and take a more 
active role in district security then their budget should 
reflect these increased demands.

                       Oversight Role of Congress

    The Government Accountability Office, the Congressional 
Budget Office, and the Congressional Research Service are 
extensions of Congress and assist Members in exercising their 
oversight role of government programs. All were cut over 6 
percent and require reductions in force and furloughs. Many of 
the fiscal year 2012 appropriations bills considered by the 
Committee thus far have requirements of the Government 
Accountability Office to review a range of government programs 
and CBO has had to provide budget estimates for all the bills 
and amendments to those bills. In addition, the Committee's 
recently approved Semiannual Report of Committee Activities 
highlights the support provided by the GAO to the Committee. 
The report lists over 60 GAO reports and staff studies that are 
underway during the 112th Congress. What will happen to that 
oversight and analysis after Members' staff are cut as well as 
these oversight agencies?
    While the term ``spending'' has become a bad word for the 
majority, it is worth noting that some spending really is an 
investment. The return is high when investing in GAO by 
identifying inefficiencies, duplicative programs and best 
practices across the federal government. Every dollar spent at 
GAO results in $4 of taxpayer savings. Those who claim to want 
increased oversight of government programs should reject cuts 
to GAO.
    With regard to GAO, the Committee report directs the non-
partisan oversight agency to reassess a study of for-profit 
colleges' recruitment practices. GAO must be allowed to employ 
its independent judgment, regardless of whether Members 
disagree with their conclusions.

                      Open World Leadership Center

    During subcommittee and full committee consideration of the 
bill, Democratic Members spoke of their strong support for the 
Open World Leadership Center which received $1 million in the 
bill for shutdown costs. In the additional views submitted to 
the fiscal year 2008 bill, the then-minority stated ``If we 
would have had a more inclusive process, we are certain that 
the Chair would have realized that the Open World Leadership 
Program enjoys bipartisan support on this Committee. Instead, 
the Chair proposed to end this program and close it out.'' 
Given the support of Members for this program in 2008, it is 
surprising that the current majority has followed the course 
they rejected 4 years ago.

                                   Norman D. Dicks.
                                   Michael M. Honda.

                                  
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