U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

For sale by the Superintendent of Documents, U.S. Government Publishing Office

Internet: bookstore.gpo.gov Phone: toll free (866) 512–1800; DC area (202) 512–1800

Fax: (202) 512–2104 Mail: Stop IDCC, Washington, DC 20402–0001

25–186 2017

MARKUP OF H. RES. 173 

MARKUP 

BEFORE THE

COMMITTEE ON HOUSE 

ADMINISTRATION 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

ONE HUNDRED FIFTEENTH CONGRESS 

FIRST SESSION 

MARCH 8, 2017 

Printed for the use of the Committee on House Administration 

( 

Available on the Internet: 

www.gpoaccess.gov/congress/house/administration/index.html 

(II) 

COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION

GREGG HARPER, Mississippi, Chairman 

RODNEY DAVIS, Illinois, Vice Chairman 

BARBARA COMSTOCK, Virginia 

MARK WALKER, North Carolina 

ADRIAN SMITH, Nebraska 

BARRY LOUDERMILK, Georgia 

ROBERT A. BRADY, Pennsylvania, 

Ranking Member 

ZOE LOFGREN, California 

JAMIE RASKIN, Maryland 

(1) 

MARKUP OF H. RES. 173 

WEDNESDAY, MARCH 8, 2017 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES, 

COMMITTEE ON HOUSE ADMINISTRATION, 

Washington, DC. 

The Committee met, pursuant to call, at 10:53 a.m., in Room 

1310, Longworth House Office Building, Hon. Gregg Harper [Chairman of the Committee] presiding. 

Present: Representatives Harper, Davis, Smith, Loudermilk, 

Brady, and Raskin. 

Staff Present: Sean Moran, Staff Director; Kim Betz, Senior Advisor; Bob Sensenbrenner, General Counsel; Max Engling, Franking Director; George Hadijski, Director of Member Services; Erin 

McCracken, Communications Director; C. Maggie Moore, Legislative Clerk; Rob Taggard, Deputy Legislative Clerk/Oversight; Cole 

Felder, Counsel; Alex Attebery, Staff Assistant; Jamie Fleet, Minority Staff Director; Matt Pinkus, Minority Senior Policy Advisor; 

and Eddie Flaherty, Minority Chief Clerk. 

The CHAIRMAN. I now call to order the Committee on House Administration for today’s Committee markup. A quorum is present. 

So we may proceed. The meeting record will remain open for 5 legislative days so Members may submit any materials they wish to 

be included therein. 

Today we will consider H. Res. 173, the Committee Funding Resolution which authorizes the committee budgets for the 115th Congress. Every Congress, the House looks to this Committee to carry 

out our responsibility of determining the funding needed for standing House committees this year and next. Our panel has received 

input from the chairmen and ranking members of each standing 

committee to help set appropriate funding levels. I thank each of 

them for presenting a budget request that is targeted to meet their 

legislative and oversight responsibilities. I am confident that, with 

their assistance, our Committee has put forward a funding resolution that applies appropriate and targeted amounts to effectively 

support each of the House committees as they continue their work. 

I would now like to recognize the Committee’s Ranking Member, 

Mr. Brady, for the purpose of providing an opening statement if he 

wishes. 

Mr. BRADY. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you for calling this 

meeting this morning. 

And I am pleased to support the Committee Funding Resolution. 

I will ask my colleagues to do same. 

I also appreciate your bipartisan approach to this process, working with me to protect the rights of the minority. On behalf of my 

2 

colleagues on the Armed Services Committee, the increase is very 

much needed, and it will be put to good use. I hope we are able 

to take this matter to the floor quickly and get our colleagues the 

resources they need. 

You know, we hear from every one of our ranking members and 

our chairmen, and all they keep saying is they have to get qualified 

staff. We need qualified staff all around this country. And in order 

to get qualified staff, you have got to pay them. And we don’t pay 

them nowhere near the level that they would get paid in private 

service in the private sector. So we appreciate, you know, their contribution to the American people, and we appreciate the contribution to this here. And I think that most of them—almost all of 

them—have said that any increase would be going to staff and getting and keeping qualified staff, so they don’t leave, and being able 

to attract qualified staff. So I think it is a good approach that we 

are doing a little bit and a little bit more, a little bit more, and 

maybe we can maintain and keep that level. 

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I yield back the balance of my time. 

The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman yields back. 

I would ask if any other Member of the Committee wishes to be 

recognized for the purpose of providing an opening statement. 

Seeing none, I now call up and lay before the Committee H. Res. 

173, the Committee Funding Resolution. 

Without objection, the first reading of the Resolution is dispensed 

with, and the Resolution is considered read and open for amendment at any point. 

[The bill follows:] 

3 


Insert graphic folio 8 here 25186A.001

115TII COXGRBSS 

18'1' SESSIO:\' H. RES. 173 

ProYiding· for the e:-:pense~ of eertain committees of the Honse of 

Representatives in the One Hundred Fifteenth CongTess. 

IN THE HOUSE OF' REPRESENTATIVES 

l\L\1{('[[ 7' 2017 

Jlr. HARPER submitted the following resolution; whieh was referred to the 

Committ<>e on House Administration 

RESOLUTION 

IY 

Providing for the expenses of certain committees of the 

House of Representatives in the One Hundred F'ifteenth 

Congress. 

Resolved, 

2 SECTION 1. COMMITTEE EXPENSES FOR THE ONE HUN· 

3 DRED FIFTEENTH CONGRESS. 

4 (a) Ix GEXERAL.-With respect to the One Hundred 

5 Fifteenth Congress, there shall be paid out of the applica6 ble accounts of the House of Representatives, in aceonl7 anee with this primary expense resolution, not more than 

8 the amount specified in subsection (b) for the expenses 

9 (including the expenses of all staff salaries) of each eom1 0 mittee named in such subsection. 
4 


Insert graphic folio 9 here 25186A.002

2 

(b) CmDIITTEES A;\D }LiroexTs.-The committees 

2 and amounts referred to in subsection (a) are: Committee 

3 on Agriculture, $11,437,517; Committee on Armed SerT4 ices, $16,188,340; Committee on thP Budget, 

5 $10,380,424; Committee on Education and the Workforce, 

6 $14,454,212; CommitteP on Eneroy and Comnwrcp t"'!~~ ' 

7 $20,531,442; Committee on Ethics, $6,681,326; Com8 mittee on Financial Services, $16,580,450; Committ<>e on 

9 Poreign _Affairs, $15,673,98(); Committee on Homelawl 

10 Security, $15,007,846; Committee on House Administra11 tion, $10,343,130; Permanent Select Committee on Intd12 ligcnee, $12,100,000; Committee on the JudiciaL"y, 

13 $15,:350,572; Committee on ~atural Resources, 

14 $13,758,344; Committee on Owrsight all(l Government 

15 Reform, $18,259,682; Committee on Rules, $6,4G0,562; 

16 Committee on Sci em~<\ Space, anc1 'l'cchnolooy <"::j.,' 

17 $10,969,956; Committee on Small Business, $G,287,0:37; 

18 Committee on Transportation aml Infrastmetnrc, 

19 $17,416,000; Committee Oil Veterans' Affairs, 

20 $7,958,062; and Committee on Wa,vs and Means, 

21 $17,940,()92. 

22 SEC. 2. FIRST SESSION LIMITATIONS. 

23 (a) Ix GEXERAL.-Of the amount provided for in 

24 section 1 for each eommittce name(l in subseetion {b), not 

25 more than the amount speeified in sueh subsection shall 

•HRES 173 IH 
5 


Insert graphic folio 10 here 25186A.003

3 

be available for expenses ineurred during the period begin2 ning at noon on ,January 3, 2017, and ending immediately 

3 before noon on January :3, 2018. 

4 (b) Co:mrrTTEES AXD 1'brorxTs.-The eommittees 

5 and amounts referred to in subsection (a) are: Committee 

6 on Agriculture, $5,699,668; Committee on ""\rmecl Serv7 ices, $8,094,170; Committee on the Budget, $5,190,212; 

8 Committee on Education and the Workforce, $7,146,429; 

9 Committee on Energy and Commerce, $10,265,721; Com10 mittec on Ethics, $3,:140,66:3; Committee on l,~inancial 

11 Sen;ces, $8,290,22~); Committee on Foreign Affairs, 

12 $7,836,993; Committee on Homeland Security, 

13 $7,50:3,923; Committee on House Administration, 

14 $5,021,565; Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, 

15 $6,050,000; Committee on the ,Judicial)', $7,625,286; 

16 Committee on Natural Resources, $6,879, 172; Committee 

17 on Oversight and Government Reform, $9,129,841; Com18 mittee on Rules, $:3,2:30,281; Committee on Seience, 

19 Space, and Technology, $5,484,978; Committee on Small 

20 Business, $:3,037,400; Committee on Transportation and 

21 Infrastructure, $8,655,500; Committee on Veterans' Af22 fairs, $3,979,031; and Committee on Ways and Means, 

23 $8,954,346. 

•HRES 173 IH 
6 


Insert graphic folio 11 here 25186A.004

4 

SEC. 3. SECOND SESSION LIMITATIONS. 

2 (a) I;-; (lEXERAI1.-0f the amount provided for in 

3 section 1 for each committee named in subsection (h), not 

4 more than the amount specified in such subseetion shall 

5 be available for expenses incurred during the period begin6 ning at noon on ,January 3, 2018, aml ending immediately 

7 before noon on January 8, 2019. 

8 (b) CcnniiTTEER A.'\D A\IorKTR.-The committees 

9 and amounts referred to in subsection (a) are: Committee 

10 on Agriculture, $5,737,849; Committee on .Armed Serv11 ices, $8,094, 170; Committee on the Budget, $5, 190,212; 

12 Committee on Education and the ·workforce, $7,307,783; 

13 Committee on Energy and Commerce, $10,265,721; Com14 mittee on I<Jthies, $3,340,(!63; Committee on Financial 

15 Services, $8,290,225; Committee on Foreign Affairs, 

16 $7,836,993; Committee on Homeland Security, 

17 $7,503,923; Committee on House Administration, 

18 $5,321,5()5; Permanent Seleet Committee on lntelligenee, 

19 $(),050,000; Committee on the ,Judiciary, $7, 725,286; 

20 Committee on Xatural Resources, $6,879, 172; Committee 

21 on Oversight and GoYernment Reform, $9,129,841; Com22 mittee on Rules, $3,2:30,281; Committee on Science, 

23 Spaee, and Technology, $5,484,978; Committee on Small 

24 Business, $:3,249,6:37; Committee on Transportation and 

25 Infrastnwture, $8, 760,500; Committee on Veterans' Af-

•HRES 173 IH 
7 


Insert graphic folio 12 here 25186A.005

5 

fairs, $3,979,031; and Committee on \Va,vs and l\Ieans, 

2 $8,986,846. 

3 (e) REYIE\Y OF UsE OF' Fr.'.'DS IX I<'mRT SERSIOX.-

4 (1) RK\l:EW.-~one of the amounts provided 

5 for in section 1 for a eommittee named in subseetion 

6 (b) may be available for eA-"J)euses of the committee 

7 after l\larch 15, 2018, unless the ehair or ranking· 

8 minority member of the committee appears and pre9 sents testimon.v at a hearing of the Committee on 

10 House Administration held prior to such date to re11 view the committee's use of the amounts provided 

12 for in section 1 during· the first session of the One 

13 Hundred Fifteenth Congress and to determine 

14 ;vhether the amount specified in subsection (b) with 

15 respect to the committee should be updated on the 

16 basis of the review. 

17 (2) WATYER.-'l'he Committee on Honse Ad18 ministration may waive the applieation of paragraph 

19 (1) to any or all of the eommittees named in sub20 seetion (b). 

21 SEC. 4. VOUCHERS. 

22 Paynwnts under this resolution shall be made on 

23 vouchers authorized by the eommittee involved, signed b)· 

24 the ehairman of sueh committee, and approved in the 

•HRES 173 IH 
8 


Insert graphic folio 13 here 25186A.006

() 

manner directed by the Committee on House Admiuistra2 tion. 

3 SEC. 5. REGULATIONS. 

4 Amounts made available under this resolution shall 

5 be expended in accordance ·with regulations prescribed by 

6 the Committee on House Administration. 

7 SEC. 6. RESERVE FUND FOR UNANTICIPATED EXPENSES. 

8 (a) ESTABLISIDIEXT.-There is hereby established a 

9 reserve fund for unanticipated CA"J)enses of committees for 

10 the One Hundred Fifteenth Congress. 

11 (b) A:um:xT.-The reserve fund under this section 

12 shall have a balance of $2,500,000, ofwhich13 ( 1) $1,250,000 shall be available for unantici14 patecl e""l)enses incurred during the period beginning 

15 at noon on January 3, 2017, and ending nnme16 diately before noon on January 3, 2018; and 

17 (2) $1,250,000 shall be available for unantici18 pated ex"J)enses incurred during the period beginning 

19 at noon on ,January 3, 2018, and ending nnme20 diately before noon on January 3, 2019. 

21 (e) ALLOCATIOX TO Cm.rMITTEES.-Amounts in the 

22 reserve fund under this section shall be paid to a com23 mittee pursuant to an allocation approved by the Com24 mittee on House Administration. 

•HRES 173 IH 
9 


Insert graphic folio 14 here 25186A.007

7 

SEC. 7. ADJUSTMENT AUTHORITY. 

2 The Committee on House Administration shall have 

3 authorit~· to make adjustments in amounts under section 

4 1, if necessary to compl~· with an order of the President 

5 issued under section 251A or 254 of the Balanced Budget 

6 and Emergency Defieit Control Act of 1985 or to conform 

7 to any change in appropriations for the purposes of such 

8 section 1. 

•HRES 173 IH 
10 

The CHAIRMAN. Is there any debate? 

Are there any Members that want to offer an amendment to the 

Resolution? 

Seeing none, I move the Committee favorably report H. Res. 173. 

The question is on the motion. 

All those in favor, signify by saying aye. 

Any opposed, by nay. 

In the opinion of the Chair, the ayes have it and the motion is 

agreed to. 

Without objection, the motion to reconsider is laid upon the table. 

Without objection, the markup is adjourned. 

Thanks. 

[Whereupon, at 10:56 a.m., the Committee was adjourned.] 

Æ