26–109 

115TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 115–199 

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2018 

JULY 6, 2017.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 

the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. YODER, from the Committee on Appropriations, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

together with 

ADDITIONAL VIEWS 

[To accompany H.R. 3162] 

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, 2018, 

and for other purposes. 

INDEX TO BILL AND REPORT 

Page number 

Bill Report 

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

Title I—Legislative Branch Appropriations ............................................. 2 4 

House of Representatives ...................................................................

Joint Items: 

Joint Economic Committee ......................................................... 10 9 

Joint Committee on Taxation ..................................................... 10 9 

Office of the Attending Physician ............................................... 10 10 

Office of Congressional Accessibility Services ........................... 11 10 

Capitol Police ....................................................................................... 12 10 

Office of Compliance ........................................................................... 13 11 

Congressional Budget Office .............................................................. 14 12 

Architect of the Capitol (except Senate Office Buildings) ............... 14 12 

Library of Congress ............................................................................. 18 18 

Government Publishing Office ........................................................... 23 22 

Government Accountability Office ..................................................... 27 23 

Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund ..................................... 29 24 

John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development .................................................................................................. 29 24 

Title II—General Provisions ...................................................................... 29 24 

2 

Page number 

Bill Report 

Bill-wide Reporting Requirements ............................................................ ........ 24 

Additional Views ........................................................................................ ........ 42 

SUMMARY OF BILL 

The accompanying bill contains recommendations for new budget 

(obligational) authority for fiscal year 2018 for the Legislative 

Branch. The following table summarizes these recommendations 

and reflects comparisons with the budget and with amounts appropriated to date for fiscal year 2017: 

[Note.—Excludes Senate items, including those Senate items under the Architect of the Capitol] 

(Amounts in thousands, rounded) 

Recapitulation FY 2017 enacted FY 2018 request Bill Bill vs. enacted Bill vs. request 

House of Representatives (discretionary) .......................................... 1,189,049 1,223,187 1,194,049 +5,000 ¥29,138 

House of Representatives (mandatory) 1 ............................................ 174 – – – – – – ¥174 – – – 

Joint Items ......................................... 19,565 20,654 19,940 +375 ¥714 

Capitol Police .................................... 393,300 422,307 422,500 +29,200 +193 

Office of Compliance ........................ 3,959 4,056 3,959 – – – ¥97 

Congressional Budget Office ............ 46,500 49,945 48,500 +2,000 ¥1,445 

Architect of the Capitol .................... 529,481 672,919 581,837 +52,356 ¥91,082 

Library of Congress ........................... 631,958 703,420 648,027 +16,069 ¥55,393 

Government Publishing Office .......... 117,068 117,068 117,068 – – – – – – 

Government Accountability Office ..... 544,506 590,678 544,506 – – – ¥46,172 

Open World Leadership Center ......... 5,600 5,800 5,600 – – – ¥200 

Stennis Center for Public Service ..... 430 430 430 – – – – – – 

General Provisions 2 .......................... ¥1,000 – – – ¥2,000 ¥1,000 ¥2,000 

Other Scorekeeping Adjustments ...... – – – ¥4,000 ¥4,000 ¥4,000 – – – 

Grand total ............................... 3,480,590 3,806,464 3,580,416 +99,826 ¥226,048 

Discretionary .................... (3,480,416) (3,806,464) (3,580,416) (+100,000) (¥226,048) 

Mandatory 1 ..................... (174) – – – – – – (¥174) – – – 

1 FY2017 funds provided in Continuing Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 114–223). 

2 FY2017 is Sec. 175 of Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 114–254). 

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BILL 

The Committee recommends $3,580,417,919 in discretionary resources for operations of the Legislative Branch of government (excluding Senate items). The fiscal year 2018 recommendation is 

$100,000,000 above the current fiscal year level and $226,046,874 

below the budget request. 

Conforming to longstanding practice under which each body of 

Congress determines its own housekeeping requirements and the 

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

the Senate for fiscal year 2018 including those under the Architect 

of the Capitol totals $1,058,294,376. 

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

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

discipline on the part of all Congressional offices and all agency 

heads in the Legislative Branch. 

3 

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH-WIDE MATTERS

Security: The Committee believes there is no higher priority in 

this bill than providing adequate resources for the physical security 

of Members of Congress, staff and their constituents. The recent 

shooting at a Congressional Baseball Game practice was a humbling reminder of the threats Members and staff face as public 

servants. The shooting incident was also a reminder of the heroic 

capabilities of the men and women of the United States Capitol Police department (USCP). After reflection on the recent shooting the 

Committee has heard from many Members expressing concerns 

about the current level of available security. To that point, this bill 

provides additional resources to the USCP in the amount of 

$7,500,000 and House Sergeant at Arms in the amount of 

$5,000,000 to enhance security for Members both in Washington 

D.C. and in Congressional districts. 

Specific plans are being developed for how the additional resources will be used and what security procedures may need to be 

adjusted. The Committee supports taking a comprehensive and collaborative approach in developing the additional security measures. 

This approach should take into account enhanced security options 

for Members’ personal safety, residential security, district office security and protecting the Capitol complex. Although the specific 

plans, issuance of additional guidance, and any required authorizations are still being finalized the Committee believes the resources 

included in this bill will be able to address district office security 

needs as well as a heightened USCP posture. Furthermore, the 

Committee has provided resources necessary to support the Committee on House Administration’s plan to increase Member’s Representational Allowance (MRA) by $25,000 per account this year for 

the purpose of providing Member security when away from the 

Capitol complex. Additionally, the Committee is aware of a pending 

request of the Federal Election Commission (FEC) to issue guidance on the allowance of all Members to use campaign funds for 

security improvements to their residences. A continued priority of 

this Committee will be to work with our stakeholders to ensure 

every reasonable effort is made to provide the safety Members, 

staff, and their constituents deserve. 

Reprogramming Guidelines: It is expected that all agencies notify 

the Committees on Appropriations of the House and the Senate of 

any significant departures from budget plans presented to the 

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

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

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

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

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

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

amounts if such actions would have the effect of changing an agenVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:44 Jul 07, 2017 Jkt 026109 PO 00000 Frm 00003 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR199.XXX HR199
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cy’s funding requirements in future years or if programs or projects 

specifically cited in the Committee’s reports are affected. 

Staffing Data in Budget Documents: Legislative branch FTE data 

is not consistently reported across the Legislative Branch agencies 

when submitting their budget justifications. The Committee directs 

the legislative branch agencies to include data on FTE levels that 

would actually be supported by the associated request or enacted 

funding levels. The Committee further directs the Legislative 

Branch Financial Managers Council to coordinate on a plan for 

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

Zero Base Budgeting: The Committee continues to direct all 

agencies of the Legislative Branch to develop budget requests from 

a zero base. The Committee believes that this valuable budgeting 

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

all areas of their operations and make funding reductions and 

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

savings by carefully reviewing each agency’s budget requirements 

from a zero base. 

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

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

TITLE I—LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $1,189,050,766 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 1,223,187,891 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 1,194,050,766 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +5,000,000 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥29,137,125 

The Committee recommends $1,194,050,766 for salaries and expenses of the House of Representatives. 

HOUSE LEADERSHIP OFFICES

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $22,278,891 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 22,278,891 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 22,278,891 

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

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

The Committee recommends $22,278,891 for salaries and expenses of staff in House leadership offices. 

The allocation by office follows: 

5 

Office of the Speaker .......................................................................... $6,645,417 

Office of the Majority Floor Leader .................................................. 2,180,048 

Office of the Majority Whip ............................................................... 1,886,632 

Republican Conference ....................................................................... 1,505,426 

Office of the Minority Floor Leader .................................................. 7,114,471 

Office of the Minority Whip ............................................................... 1,459,639 

Democratic Caucus ............................................................................. 1,487,258 

Total ............................................................................................. $22,278,891 

MEMBERS’ REPRESENTATIONAL ALLOWANCES

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $562,632,498 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 567,000,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 562,632,498 

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

Change from request ................................................................... ¥4,367,502 

The Committee recommends $562,632,498 for the salaries and 

expenses of the Members Representational Allowances. This level 

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

approved by the Committee on House Administration. 

COMMITTEE EMPLOYEES

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $150,324,377 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 152,288,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 150,279,373 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... ¥45,004 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥2,008,627 

The Committee recommends $150,279,373 in total for Committee 

Employees. 

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

31, 2018. 

This amount makes available $3,150,200 for committee room renovations. 

Included in the total is $23,226,000 for the Committee on Appropriations. 

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission: The Committee received 

testimony regarding the outstanding work of the Tom Lantos 

Human Rights Commission done with very limited resources. The 

Committee is supportive of the commission’s request for additional 

dedicated resources and is willing to work with the Committee on 

House Administration to identify potential additional resources for 

the commission. 

SALARIES, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $181,487,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 202,796,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 198,156,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +16,669,000 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥4,640,000 

The Committee recommends $198,156,000 for the salaries and 

expenses of House officers and employees of the various activities 

funded through this consolidated item. 

The following table summarizes the funding allocation provided 

to each component of the account: 

6 

Office of the Clerk .............................................................................. $27,945,000 

Office of the Sergeant At Arms ......................................................... 20,505,000 

Member Security: The Committee has provided an additional $5,000,000 to the House Sergeant at Arms with the intent of enhancing security for Members when they are away from the Capitol 

complex. The Committee is aware that a specific plan is still evolving and once fully developed a plan will be presented to the Committee. 

Office of the Chief Administrative Officer ........................................ 127,165,000 

Cybersecurity: The Committee recognizes the importance of cybersecurity even in a constrained fiscal environment. To that point, 

the Committee has provided $10,000,000 in additional funding to 

the CAO in order to enhance their cybersecurity program. The 

House is a major target for cyber intrusions, having prevented an 

estimated 4,700,000,000 cyber-attacks in calendar year 2016 alone. 

The House must continuously improve and adapt their cybersecurity posture in order to stay ahead of the ever evolving threat. The 

Committee is encouraged that the CAO is taking steps to evaluate 

and implement cyber protections beyond traditional desktop computers. Protecting mobile devices and home computing devices are 

areas that the Committee is pleased to see the CAO making strides 

in. The results of several on-going pilot programs in those areas are 

of interest to the Committee and the Committee looks forward to 

the CAO’s recommendations. 

Food Service: The Committee continues to have concerns regarding current food service offerings. The recent emphasis the Office 

of Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) has put on food service 

through the quality assurance surveillance program is a step in the 

right direction. However, the Committee continues to believe that 

making available additional branded options to the House campus 

is an important aspect of improving food service. The Committee 

believes that opportunities for branded options exist in the Cannon 

House Office Building and possibly in the recently acquired O’Neill 

House Office Building. The CAO, in partnership with the Architect 

of the Capitol (AOC) is directed to look at the feasibility of branded 

food service offerings in those buildings as well as other suitable 

locations such as current House cafeterias and report the findings 

to this committee as well as the Committee on House Administration. 

Food Waste Reduction: The Committee believes that the House 

should whenever possible, ensure that food waste generated at 

House food services does not end up in a landfill. The Committee 

urges the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to explore composting 

and donation options for House food services. The CAO should report those findings to the Committee. 

Information Technology Model: Information technology resources 

are a critical component of the productivity and cybersecurity of 

the Legislative Branch. Over the years, the House of Representatives has adopted a model of outsourcing direct information technology support to offices and committees. Although this model provides Members and staff with flexibility to obtain the level of services and support they desire, it may not be the most secure or costefficient model. Therefore, the Committee directs the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to analyze the current cost and level of servVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:44 Jul 07, 2017 Jkt 026109 PO 00000 Frm 00006 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR199.XXX HR199
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ice provided by the existing mix of contractor and government provided information technology services. The report should assess options to provide Members with government provided information 

technology support in-line with other services of the House while 

also preserving the options for Members to utilize contract support. 

Child Care Center Expansion: An expansion of the House of Representatives Child Care Center continues to be a top priority for 

the Committee. While expanding the center and reducing the 

lengthy waitlist is in line with the Committee’s priority of promoting a family-friendly workplace, the project must be done in a 

fiscally responsible manner. The Committee is aware that several 

proposals for a possible expansion are being reviewed and is committed to working with the House Office Building Commission and 

the Committee on House Administration to ensure any expansion 

be done in a manner that adds the most value to the House community. 

Wounded Warrior Program: The Chief Administrative Officer 

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

most supported initiatives. The program currently provides 54 twoyear fellowship positions for wounded veterans in Congressional offices. The Committee believes that with effective management of 

the program and continued support in appropriations, sufficient 

funding exists to expand the program by an additional 31 fellowship positions. The Committee is also aware that the CAO is evaluating the program and may be making some recommendations as 

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

the program and any recommendations to improve it. 

Wellness Program: The Committee recognizes that organizational 

well-being is an important issue for large organizations. Multiple 

research shows the benefits of wellness programs that have been 

implemented for veterans, schools, Federal programs, and Fortune 

500 companies. Wellness programs have been shown to improve the 

overall health of the workforce resulting in higher productivity, increased employee engagement, lower rates of absenteeism, and reductions in health care costs. The Committee supports a comprehensive wellness program for the House of Representatives and 

directs the Chief Administrative Officer to create a plan for the establishment of a comprehensive wellness program for the House of 

Representatives and to include as elements of the program resources to assist interested employees with nutrition, fitness, general health, and stress management techniques, including meditation. The CAO is directed to work with the Architect of the Capitol, 

the Sergeant at Arms, the Chief of the United States Capitol Police, and the Attending Physician to determine capabilities and requirements necessary for full implementation. This actionable plan 

shall be submitted to the Committee no later than December 31, 

2017. 

Controls over Property and Equipment: Each year the House undergoes an outside independent financial statement audit, the findings of which are made publicly available through the House’s Office of the Inspector General (OIG). The House recently received its 

19th consecutive clean audit opinion which is an achievement that 

should be recognized. Although the opinion was clean, the audit did 

raise concerns of ineffective controls over property and equipment 

within the House. The Committee is aware of the challenges the 

8 

Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) faces to implement an improved comprehensive inventory process, which effectively adds, 

tracks, and removes inventory items throughout their lifecycle. The 

risks that exist to the House by not having an effective inventory 

process are both financial and reputational. The Committee has an 

oversight responsibility to ensure we are being good stewards of tax 

payer dollars, part of that is making sure we have effective processes in place to keep track of our inventory. The CAO does consider this gap a priority and has assured the Committee they are 

committed to improving the process. Although the CAO has started 

to address the audit findings through a new Asset Management directorate and improved some of the major processes relating to receiving, CAO inventories and disposals there are still areas that 

need improvement to be effective. The CAO is directed to submit 

a plan on how to address the auditor’s findings specific to property 

and equipment to this Committee as well as the Committee on 

House Administration within 180 days of enactment. 

REPORT ON TOOLS TO ADDRESS BIAS IN HIRING AND MANAGEMENT

The Committee recognizes that structural changes must be made 

to improve diversity and inclusion in the House of Representatives 

so that the people who serve America reflect its diversity. The 

Committee directs the Chief Administrative Officer to issue a report not later than 90 days after the date of the enactment of this 

Act addressing the ways in which Members and staff who have hiring and management responsibilities can be given the tools to combat unconscious bias in hiring and promotion, and with education 

on the negative impact of bias. 

Office of the Inspector General ......................................................... 4,968,000 

Office of General Counsel .................................................................. 1,492,000 

Office of the Parliamentarian ............................................................ 2,037,000 

Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the House ............................ 3,209,000 

Office of the Legislative Counsel of the House ................................ 9,437,000 

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

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

Total ............................................................................................. $198,156,000 

ALLOWANCES AND EXPENSES

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $272,328,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 278,825,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 260,704,004 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... ¥11,623,996 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥18,120,996 

The Committee recommends a total of $260,704,004 for allowances and expenses. 

The following table summarizes the funding allocation provided 

to each major component of the account: 

9 

Supplies, materials, administrative costs and Federal tort claims $3,625,000 

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

Government Contributions ................................................................ 233,540,004 

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

Transition Activities ........................................................................... 2,273,000 

Wounded Warrior Program ............................................................... 2,500,000 

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

Miscellaneous items ........................................................................... 720,000 

Total, Allowances and Expenses ................................................ $260,704,004 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Section 101 provides for unspent amounts remaining in Members’ Representational Allowances account to be used for deficit or 

debt reduction. 

Section 102 prohibits the delivery of bills and resolutions. 

Section 103 prohibits the delivery of printed copies of the Congressional Record. 

Section 104 places a limitation on amount available to lease vehicles. 

Section 105 places a limitation on printed copies of the U.S. 

Code. 

Section 106 prohibits the delivery of reports of disbursements. 

Section 107 prohibits the delivery of the daily calendar. 

Section 108 prohibits delivery of congressional pictorial directory. 

Section 109 amends the House Services Revolving Fund. 

Section 110 prohibits cost of living adjustment for Members of 

Congress. 

JOINT ITEMS 

JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE 

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $4,203,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 4,203,000 

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

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

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

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

The Joint Economic Committee was created by the Employment 

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

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

JOINT COMMITTEE ON TAXATION 

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $10,095,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 11,169,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 10,455,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +360,000 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥714,000 

The Committee recommends $10,455,000 for the salaries and expenses of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT). 

The Joint Committee on Taxation operates under the Internal 

Revenue Code of 1986 and its predecessors dating to the Revenue 

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

10 

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 

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

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

the House or the Senate. 

The Committee recognizes the unique needs of the Joint Committee on Taxation to protect the limited access to taxpayer return 

information protected under section 6103 of the Internal Revenue 

Code. The Committee looks forward to working with the Joint 

Committee on Taxation to enhance their cybersecurity posture. 

OFFICE OF THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN 

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $3,838,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 3,838,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 3,838,000 

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

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

The Committee recommends $3,838,000 for the Office of the Attending Physician. 

OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES 

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $1,429,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 1,444,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 1,444,000 

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

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

The Committee recommends $1,444,000 for the operation of the 

Office of Congressional Accessibility Services. 

The Office of Congressional Accessibility Services provides and 

coordinates a variety of accessibility services for individuals with 

disabilities including Members of Congress, staff and visitors in the 

United States Capitol Complex. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION

Section 1001 authorizes senior level positions for the Joint Committee on Taxation. 

CAPITOL POLICE 

Security: In light of recent events $7,500,000 has been provided 

to enhance Member protection, including funds for increased training, equipment and technology-related support items. 

11 

SALARIES

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $325,300,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 347,096,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 347,700,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +22,400,000 

Change from request ................................................................... +604,000 

The Committee recommends $347,700,000 for the personnel salaries, benefits, and overtime requirements, to include the cost of 

overtime necessary for providing training. 

The increase also includes necessary half year funds to hire the 

required officers to staff the O’Neill House Office Building and garage security; half year funding for 48 civilian positions that will 

replace positions currently staffed by sworn officers and also allow 

the department to get utility out of 48 additional sworn officers. 

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

the Committee on Appropriations of the House when new posts are 

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

and how the cost will be offset. 

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

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

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

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

snow sledders on the grounds. 

GENERAL EXPENSES

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $68,000,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 75,211,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 74,800,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +6,800,000 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥411,000 

The Committee recommends $74,800,000 for general expenses to 

support the responsibilities for law enforcement, Capitol complex 

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

information technology, and other specialized responses, as well as 

logistical and administrative support. 

OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $3,959,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 4,055,902 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 3,959,000 

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

Change from request ................................................................... ¥96,902 

The Committee recommends $3,959,000 for salaries and expenses 

of the Office of Compliance. 

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

The Act applies various employment and workplace safety laws to 

Congress and certain Legislative Branch entities. 

12 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $46,500,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 49,945,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 48,500,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +2,000,000 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥1,445,000 

The Committee recommends $48,500,000 for salaries and expenses of the Congressional Budget Office. 

This office is responsible for producing independent analyses of 

budgetary and economic issues to support the Congressional budget 

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

estimates for proposed legislation. 

The Committee is aware of the necessity to relocate to a new 

hosting environment and expects a plan to be submitted to the 

Committee so adequate funding can be provided. 

ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL 

(EXCLUDING SENATE OFFICE BUILDINGS)

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $529,481,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 672,919,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 581,837,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +52,356,000 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥91,082,000 

The Committee recommends $581,837,000 for the activities of the 

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

are traditionally left for consideration by that body. 

Within the recommended level the Committee continues its 

prioritization of projects that: (1) promote the safety and health of 

workers and occupants, (2) decrease the deferred maintenance 

backlog, and (3) invest to achieve future energy savings. In addition, by including $10,000,000 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 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. 

Cost Estimates: The Committee is concerned with the accuracy of 

recent construction project cost estimates it has received from the 

Architect of the Capitol (AOC). The AOC is directed to re-evaluate 

their cost estimate process to ensure it is in line with industry best 

practices and produces reliable project cost estimates. Furthermore, 

as part of the re-evaluation process the AOC should consider what 

steps of the process can be done internally and if/when it is necessary to engage with private companies to assist in the estimate 

process. The Committee believes more of the work could be done 

in-house rather than engaging with outside entities which oftenVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:44 Jul 07, 2017 Jkt 026109 PO 00000 Frm 00012 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR199.XXX HR199
13 

times lengthens the process and requires additional taxpayer dollars. 

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

Capital Construction and Operations ............................................... $93,000,000 

Capitol Building .................................................................................. 45,300,000 

Capitol Grounds .................................................................................. 13,333,000 

House Office Buildings subtotal ........................................................ 179,294,000 

House Office Buildings ............................................................... (169,294,000) 

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

Capitol Power Plant ........................................................................... 106,694,000 

Library Buildings and Grounds ........................................................ 76,097,000 

Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds and Security .............................. 33,249,000 

Botanic Garden ................................................................................... 13,400,000 

Capitol Visitor Center ........................................................................ 21,470,000 

Total ............................................................................................. $581,837,000 

CAPITAL CONSTRUCTION AND OPERATIONS

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $92,957,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 98,360,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 93,000,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +43,000 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥5,360,000 

The Committee recommends $93,000,000 for personnel services, 

equipment, communications, and other central support activities of 

the AOC. 

Item Committee recommendation 

Operating Budget ........................................................................................................................................... $93,000,000 

Total ....................................................................................................................................................... $93,000,000 

CAPITOL BUILDING

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $32,584,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 54,898,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 45,300,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +12,716,000 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥9,598,000 

The Committee recommends $45,300,000 for the operation, maintenance, and care of the U.S. Capitol and Capitol Visitor Center 

(CVC). 

Item Committee 

recommendation 

Operating Expenses ........................................................................................................................................ $25,842,000 

Projects: 

Exterior Stone and Metal Preservation, East Facade, Phase IV ........................................................... $12,125,000 

Kitchen and Exhaust Renovation .......................................................................................................... 1,734,000 

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

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

Total .............................................................................................................................................. $45,300,000 

Flag Office Modernization: The Committee is encouraged by the 

progress the Architect of the Capitol has made toward modernizing 

the Flag Office and looks forward to the pilot program which is expected to be implemented in the near future. 

14 

CAPITOL GROUNDS

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $12,826,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 14,279,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 13,333,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +507,000 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥946,000 

The Committee recommends $13,333,000 for the care of the 

grounds surrounding the Capitol. 

Item Committee 

recommendation 

Operating Expenses ........................................................................................................................................ $10,138,000 

Projects: 

Capitol Square Infrastructure Repair .................................................................................................... 1,195,000 

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

Total .............................................................................................................................................. $13,333,000 

Victory Gardens: The Committee is aware of the recently opened 

‘‘victory’’ gardens on Capitol grounds which are managed by the Architect of the Capitol and is interested in identifying additional locations on Capitol grounds that may be suitable for more gardens. 

The AOC is directed to share its findings with the Committee. 

HOUSE OFFICE BUILDINGS

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $202,731,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 186,948,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 179,294,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... ¥23,437,000 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥7,654,000 

The Committee recommends $179,294,000 for the operation, 

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

O’Neill House Office Buildings, and the House underground garages. 

Item Committee recommendation 

Operating Expenses ........................................................................................................................................ $62,164,000 

Projects: 

Garage Rehabilitation, Phase III, RHOB ............................................................................................... 31,056,000 

Garage Rehabilitation, Plaza Waterproofing Restoration West ............................................................ 3,414,000 

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

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

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

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

Total .............................................................................................................................................. $179,294,000 

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

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

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

approval by the Committee on Appropriations of the House, the 

AOC may use these funds for major renovation projects to preserve 

and maintain the performance of the iconic buildings of the House 

of Representatives. 

Cannon House Office Building: The Cannon Renewal Project’s 

Phase I is fully underway, with construction impacting the west 

wing (New Jersey Avenue side of the building) from the basement 

15 

to the fifth floor. Major construction activities include demolition/ 

abatement, historic window and door restoration, stone fac ̧ade 

cleaning and stabilization, and temporary roof enclosure preparation for demolition/re-construction of the fifth floor. The Committee 

is pleased phase I is on schedule for completion in November 2018. 

The Committee provides $62,000,000 to continue the established 

funding strategy. 

Rayburn House Office Building Garage Rehabilitation: The Committee provides $31,056,000 for the third phase of a four phased rehabilitation program for the Rayburn House Office Building garage. There is severe corrosion of the reinforcing steel and spalling 

and delaminating of the concrete slabs and columns. This project 

provides structural and architectural modifications for life safety, 

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

Rayburn Courtyard: The Committee has received an estimate for 

necessary security upgrades to allow use of the Rayburn courtyard 

on the west side of the Rayburn building. The Committee believes 

the estimate is excessively high and directs the Architect of the 

Capitol to partner with the United States Capitol Police and the 

House Sergeant at Arms to explore alternative options that are 

more cost-effective. 

CAPITOL POWER PLANT

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $95,646,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 117,205,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 115,694,000 

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

Total available .................................................................................... $106,694,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +20,048,000 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥1,511,000 

The Committee recommends $115,694,000 for the operations of 

the Capitol Power Plant which is the centralized provider of utility 

services for the Capitol campus. 

Item Committee recommendation 

Operating Expenses ........................................................................................................................................ $87,637,000 

Projects: 

West Refrigeration Plant Cooling Tower Renovation and Electrical Upgrade, Phase IV ..................... 19,190,000 

City Water Piping Replacement ............................................................................................................ 2,886,000 

Boiler Feedwater Piping Replacement .................................................................................................. 1,017,000 

Cogeneration Management Program, CPP ............................................................................................ 964,000 

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

Total .............................................................................................................................................. $115,694,000 

LIBRARY BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $47,080,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 121,182,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 76,097,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +29,017,000 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥45,085,000 

The Committee recommends $76,097,000 for the care and maintenance of the Thomas Jefferson Building; James Madison Memorial Building; John Adams Building; Packard Campus, Ft. Meade 

16 

Collection Storage Facility; National Library Services Facility and 

the St. Cecilia Special Services Facilities Center. 

Item Committee recommendation 

Operating Expenses ........................................................................................................................................ $27,373,000 

Projects: 

Collection Storage Module 6, Fort Meade ............................................................................................. 45,000,000 

Exterior Envelope Repair and Restoration, JAB .................................................................................... 1,224,000 

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

Total .............................................................................................................................................. $76,097,000 

CAPITOL POLICE BUILDINGS, GROUNDS, AND SECURITY

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $20,033,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 54,177,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 33,249,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +13,216,000 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥20,928,000 

The Committee recommends $33,249,000 for the maintenance, 

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

Item Committee recommendation 

Operating Expenses ........................................................................................................................................ $20,949,000 

Projects: 

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

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

Total .............................................................................................................................................. $33,249,000 

BOTANIC GARDEN

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $14,067,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 13,400,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 13,400,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... ¥667,000 

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

The Committee recommends $13,400,000 for the improvement, 

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

Item Committee 

recommendation 

Operating Expenses ........................................................................................................................................ $10,800,000 

Projects: 

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

Total .............................................................................................................................................. $13,400,000 

Veterans’ Outreach Program: Funding is provided to expand a 

joint veterans’ outreach program between the USBG and the American Veterans Disabled for Life Memorial to develop educational, 

job training, and therapeutic horticultural and agricultural programs for disabled veterans. 

Education Opportunities: The Committee continues to commend 

the Botanic Garden on the accomplishments of its education and 

17 

outreach programs, which have leveraged the Garden’s expertise to 

provide educational opportunities to communities across our nation. The Committee urges the Garden to continue forming partnerships with national and local organizations. The Committee encourages the Botanic Garden to continue expanding its urban agricultural and botanical education programs for disabled veterans and 

underserved, food-insecure communities. The Committee also directs the Botanic Garden to conduct a feasibility study for a joint 

outreach program between the Botanic Garden and urban local 

public gardens that engages citizens in food-insecure, undernourished communities in the production of nutrition-rich, healthy 

foods, and which includes educational, job training, and therapeutic 

horticultural and agricultural components. The Botanic Garden is 

to provide the study to the Committee on Appropriations 180 days 

after enactment. 

CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $20,557,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 21,470,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 21,470,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +913,000 

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

The Committee recommends $21,470,000 for the operations of 

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

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

guests in an atmosphere of open access. 

There are no capital projects in fiscal year 2018. 

Capitol Visitor Center Ticketing Process: The Committee understands the cyclical nature of visitors to the CVC. Peak visitor traffic typically starts in April right before the Easter holiday and continues through the summer months. While the types of traffic differ 

(e.g. school tours compared to families), the volume remains consistent. As such, the Committee has been made aware the high volume of traffic during this time exacerbates the existing problems 

associated with reserving and releasing ticket reservations and the 

corresponding wait times for walk-up tours. To that end, the Committee directs the CVC to develop potential alternate policies to 

guide ticket distributions during this peak period. The Committee 

recommends consulting with Member offices in the process. The report should be provided to oversight committees of the House and 

Senate within 180 days of enactment. 

Expanded Availability of Tours in Foreign Languages: The 

United States Capitol is an international tourist destination. 

Among the millions of visitors each year, thousands are from foreign countries. Many of the international visitors visit the Capitol 

each year to experience firsthand the symbol of our democracy. 

Currently, the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) provides translated 

brochures for visitors available in thirteen languages, and allows 

foreign speaking visitors to participate in tours while reading along 

in the translated brochures. To further enhance the visiting experience of foreign visitors, the Committee encourages the CVC to explore the feasibility of making listening devices available in additional foreign languages. 

18 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Section 1101 prohibits payment of bonuses to contractors behind 

schedule or over budget. 

Section 1102 prohibits expenditure of funds for scrims for 

projects performed by the Architect of the Capitol. 

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

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

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

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

its major programs are acquisitions, preservation, administration of 

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

of policy issues for the Congress by the Congressional Research 

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

maintains a significant number of collections and provides a range 

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

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

Veterans History Project: The Committee expects the Veterans 

History Project to be funded at least at the fiscal year 2017 level. 

The Committee recognizes the critical importance of the Veterans 

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

the personal accounts of American war veterans for the benefit of 

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

Girl and Boy Scout programs, and Veterans Service Organizations 

and nonprofit and community stakeholders serving veterans from 

historically underrepresented groups to enhance the project. 

Outreach: The Committee encourages the Library of Congress to 

increase cooperative partnership, fellowship opportunities, and curriculum program associations with community colleges, Historically 

Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving institutions, 

Asian American and native American Pacific Islander-serving institutions, American Indian Tribally controlled colleges and universities, Alaska native and Native Hawaiian-serving institutions, predominantly Black institutions, Native American-serving institutions, Nontribal institutions, and other minority-serving institutions. 

Mass Deacidification: The Committee has long supported the Library’s mass deacidification program and regularly commended the 

Library for the program’s efficiency and effectiveness as a key tenet 

of the Library’s preservation mission. Deacidification is still vital, 

and the Committee is concerned with the Library’s shift of fiscal 

year 2017 funds allocated for mass deacidification into the cataloguing and management of alkaline collections. The Committee 

calls upon the Library to cease such transfers in funds and urges 

the Library to make a separate request for funds to manage and 

catalogue alkaline collections. Additionally, the Committee does not 

support the reduction in deacidification below 200,000 volumes annually. Such reductions in treatment increase the cost per book, 

add years to the program, dramatically increase the long-term proVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:44 Jul 07, 2017 Jkt 026109 PO 00000 Frm 00018 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR199.XXX HR199
19 

gram costs, and place hundreds of thousands of books at risk for 

loss, with many of these books being rare. The $5,500,000 base provided for the program should be maintained. 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $457,017,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 504,260,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 464,209,234 

Offsetting collections .......................................................................... 6,350,000 

Total available .................................................................................... 457,859,234 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +7,192,234 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥40,050,766 

The Committee recommends $457,859,234, plus authority to 

spend $6,350,000 in receipts, for salaries and expenses. 

COPYRIGHT OFFICE

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $23,098,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 31,416,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 28,446,000 

Offsetting collections .......................................................................... 41,305,000 

Prior Year Unobligated Balances ...................................................... 2,260,000 

Total available .................................................................................... 72,011,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +3,186,000 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥5,698,000 

The Committee recommends $28,446,000 plus authority to spend 

$41,305,000 in receipts, and $2,260,000 in prior year unobligated 

balances for salaries and expenses of the Copyright Office. 

Copyright Modernization: The Committee is encouraged by the 

collaborative work between the United States Copyright Office 

(USCO) and the Library of Congress’s Office of the Chief Information Officer’s Office (OCIO) and is looking forward to the USCO’s 

revised provisional IT plan which is expected in early August. The 

Committee continues to support a shared-services approach with 

regards to commodity IT services. Copyright modernization is 

something the Committee fully supports and will continue to provide appropriate resources. As we go forward OCIO is encouraged 

to engage with stakeholders both in the Congressional-community 

and beyond to outline clear benchmarks for progress. 

Registration: Through its Registration Program and other services the USCO supports industries that contribute over one trillion 

dollars to the U.S. economy and provide immeasurable benefits to 

the public. One of the USCO’s primary functions is the registration 

of claims to copyright. For that reason, modernization of the 

USCO’s electronic copyright registration system is of utmost importance. The Committee has provided funding in fiscal year 2018, in 

coordination with the Library’s OCIO, to begin the next phase of 

the registration modernization efforts: a thorough, comprehensive 

analysis of business requirements. This funding will also ensure 

that the office will be able to maintain its legacy systems while development of a new system occurs. The Committee expects that 

modernization efforts and requirements gathering to take into account the needs of external users from across copyright industries 

and user groups. 

Recordation: Testimony received by this Committee stated that it 

currently takes 18 months to complete the recordation process at 

the USCO, compared to the Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) 

20 

processing time of 24–48 hours. The Committee understands the 

processes for PTO and USCO are not identical, however the statistic is illustrative of the difference a modernized processing system can have. While the Committee is encouraged to see progress 

on the development of a modernized recordation system there is 

still great concern over the length of this process. USCO has made 

the Committee aware that requirements gathering has been completed and technical development will begin in September 2017, 

with a pilot planned in fiscal year 2019. This modernized recordation system will enable web-based recordation submissions, create 

an updated workspace for USCO staff to review and validate submissions, and utilize a modular design to enable efficient growth, 

development, and integration of the subsequent USCO IT Modernization Projects. Future areas of improvement include creating 

the capacity for self-recordation and document reviews for legal validity. 

Historical Records: A major challenge for the Office is how to 

make historical copyright records searchable and available online. 

To date, the Office has fully digitized and made available online 

the Copyright of Entries (CCE). It has also digitized and migrated 

to long term storage more than 43 million records and converted 

the entire 1971–1977 portion of the digitized card catalog into machine-readable text using Optical Character Recognition (OCR) and 

related technologies. Capturing machine-readable images is an important step that will ultimately allow the digitized images to be 

imported into the USCO online catalog of copyright records with 

links to the original scanned images. Funding from fiscal year 2017 

will continue the conversion of the digitized records and will also 

build and implement an online virtual card catalog that will provide access to all of the digitized images in advance of the full OCR 

conversion. 

Licensing Division: The Division reviews thousands of statements 

of accounts from filers subject to statutory licensing provisions, and 

collects more than $200 million in royalty fees on behalf of copyright owners each year. Even though filings have become more 

complex and the demand for licensing data has increased, the Division continues to use an IT system that was first launched in 1992 

and is not currently fully supported by the database vendor. At the 

request of stakeholders, the Division will begin accepting Excel 

versions of the filings in July of 2017; however those submissions 

are unable to be automatically ingested into the current system. 

Overall: Most recently, the USCO and the Library are collaborating to identify resource-sharing opportunities that may be 

achievable through use of the Library’s existing or planned future 

technology resources and support services. Currently, the Library 

is centralizing the IT functions of the business units, including the 

USCO’s IT functions. The planning for a Library-led strategy for 

USCO IT modernization is ongoing and is expected to result in additional synergies. The USCO, in collaboration with the Library 

continues to mitigate identified risks and to ensure that the existing legacy systems remain available and operational until 

functionality can be more permanently addressed through the 

USCO’s and Library’s joint modernization efforts. The Committee 

is pleased to see the ongoing collaborative efforts between the 

21 

USCO and the Library work to deliver improved technologies on 

behalf of customers and stakeholders. 

Copyright Expertise: The Committee understands the Copyright 

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

and expects the Office to continue that important role. Consistent 

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

CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $107,945,234 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 119,279,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 111,474,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +3,528,766 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥7,805,000 

The Committee recommends $111,474,000 for salaries and expenses of the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS works for 

Members and committees of Congress to support their legislative, 

oversight, and representational functions by providing nonpartisan 

and confidential research and policy analysis. 

Public Access to CRS Reports: The Committee directs the Library 

of Congress’s Congressional Research Service (CRS) to make available to the public, all non-confidential reports. The Committee has 

debated this issue for several years, and after considering debate 

and testimony from entities inside the legislative branch and beyond the Committee believes the publishing of CRS reports will not 

impede CRS’s core mission in any impactful way and is in keeping 

with the Committee’s priority of full transparency to the American 

people. Within 90 days of enactment of this act CRS is directed to 

submit a plan to its oversight committees detailing its recommendations for implementing this effort as well as any associated cost estimates. Where practicable, CRS is encouraged to consult with the Government Publishing Office (GPO) in developing 

their plan; the Committee believes GPO could be of assistance in 

this effort. 

BOOKS FOR THE BLIND AND PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $50,248,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 52,815,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 50,248,000 

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

Change from request ................................................................... ¥2,567,000 

The Committee recommends $50,248,000 for salaries and expenses of the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically 

Handicapped (NLS). 

The NLS has administered a free national reading program for 

blind and physically handicapped residents of the United States 

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

for the production of books and magazines in braille and recorded 

formats and audio playback machines for distribution through a 

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

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

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

22 

Committee included report language in the fiscal year 2017 omnibus supporting the NLS approach of a pilot program to study 

braille eReaders, and with information learned from the pilot, work 

with the network of participating NLS libraries to scale the braille 

eReader program up so that it can deliver the increased accessibility that Congress intended. The Committee directs the NLS to 

share the results of that pilot with the Committee in order to identify what, if any, additional resources will be required to implement 

the braille eReaders program nationwide. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION

Section 1201 authorizes obligational authority for reimbursable 

and revolving funds. 

GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE 

GPO provides publishing and dissemination services for Federal 

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

The Committee commends GPO for its continuing use of digital 

technology to support the information requirements of Congress, 

including the initial release of a new XML-based composition system for congressional bills; a project to convert a subset of enrolled 

bills; public laws, and the Statutes at Large into XML format; the 

introduction of a new website, govinfo, for providing permanent access to public documents including congressional information; and 

the agency’s ongoing work to digitize all issues of the Congressional 

Record dating back to its introduction in 1873. GPO’s skilled use 

of digital technology has allowed the agency to constrain the costs 

of its operations while expanding Government information access 

options to the American people, bringing greater openness and 

transparency to the operations of Congress and the Government. 

CONGRESSIONAL PUBLISHING

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $79,736,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 79,528,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 79,528,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... ¥208,000 

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

The Committee recommends $79,528,000 for Congressional Publishing. This account funds the costs of publishing congressional information products in both digital and print formats. The amount 

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

Statutes at Large: The Committee continues to support the work 

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

efforts to convert Statutes at Large into United States Legislative 

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

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

Also available online in searchable PDF format are all Statutes at 

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

the costs associated with converting Statutes at Large from 1789– 

2002 into the USLM XML format. 

23 

PUBLIC INFORMATION PROGRAMS OF THE SUPERINTENDENT OF

DOCUMENTS

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $29,500,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 29,000,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 29,000,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... ¥500,000 

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

The Committee recommends $29,000,000 for the salaries and expenses of the Public Information Programs of the Superintendent 

of Documents. 

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

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

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

and entities, as authorized by law. 

BUSINESS OPERATIONS REVOLVING FUND

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $7,832,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 8,540,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 8,540,000 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +708,000 

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

The Committee recommends $8,540,000 for the Business Operations Revolving Fund. 

The operations of the Government Publishing Office are financed 

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

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

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

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

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $544,505,919 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 590,678,000 

Committee recommendation .............................................................. 544,505,919 

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

Total available .................................................................................... $568,305,919 

Change from enacted level ......................................................... +450,000 

Change from request ................................................................... ¥46,172,081 

The Committee recommends $544,505,919 in direct appropriations for the Government Accountability Office (GAO), plus 

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

for conducting financial audits of government corporations and 

rental of space in the GAO building. 

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

GAO works for Congress by responding to requests for studies of 

24 

Federal Government programs and expenditures. GAO may also 

initiate its own work. 

The Committee recognizes the important work that the Government Accountability Office does on a daily basis to provide oversight, transparency, and accountability for Congress and the American people. 

Inspector General Reports: Within 180 days of enactment, the 

U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) shall issue a report 

to the Committee that examines the costs, feasibility, and utility of 

requiring all agency non-confidential inspector general reports to 

be made available contemporaneously through the GAO website. 

OPEN WORLD LEADERSHIP CENTER TRUST FUND

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $5,600,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 5,800,000 

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

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

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

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

of the Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund. 

JOHN C. STENNIS CENTER FOR PUBLIC SERVICE TRAINING AND

DEVELOPMENT

Appropriation, fiscal year 2017 ......................................................... $430,000 

Budget request, fiscal year 2018 ....................................................... 430,000 

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

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

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

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

The Center provides Congressional staff training and development 

opportunities while it continues to achieve its broader mission to 

promote and strengthen public service leadership in America. 

TITLE II—GENERAL PROVISIONS 

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

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPORT REQUIREMENTS 

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

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. 

25 

RESCISSIONS

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

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

The accompanying bill contains no rescissions. 

TRANSFER OF FUNDS

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

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

Indefinite transfer authority is authorized in Joint items disbursed by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House, Library 

of Congress, Congressional Publishing, the Superintendent of Documents, and the Capitol Police programs. 

DISCLOSURE OF EARMARKS AND CONGRESSIONALLY DIRECTED

SPENDING ITEMS

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

Representatives, this bill, as reported, contains no Congressional 

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

in clause 9 of rule XXI. 

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

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

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

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

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

SECTION 105 OF THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH 

APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2005 

SEC. 105. (a) ESTABLISHMENT OF HOUSE SERVICES REVOLVING

FUND.—There is hereby established in the Treasury of the United 

States a revolving fund for the House of Representatives to be 

known as the ‘‘House Services Revolving Fund’’ (hereafter in this 

section referred to as the ‘‘Revolving Fund’’), consisting of funds deposited by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives from all amounts received by the House of Representatives with respect to the following activities: 

(1) The operation of the House Barber Shop. 

(2) The operation of the House Beauty Shop. 

(3) The operation of the House Restaurant System (including 

vending operations). 

(4) The provision of mail services to entities which are not 

part of the House of Representatives. 

(5) The payment of fees for the use of the exercise facility described in section 103(a). 

(6) The collection of promotional rebates and incentives on 

credit card purchases, balances, and payments. 

(7) The collection of a service fee from vendors of the Master 

Web Services Agreement or the Technology Services Contract for 

failure to abide by and maintain House of Representatives security policies. 

26 

(b) USE OF AMOUNTS IN FUND.—Amounts in the Revolving Funds 

shall be used for any purpose designated by the Chief Administrative Officer, including purposes relating to energy and water conservation and environmental activities carried out in buildings, facilities, and grounds under the Chief Administrative Officer’s jurisdiction, which is approved by the Committee on Appropriations of 

the House of Representatives. 

(c) TRANSFER AUTHORITY.—The Revolving Fund shall be treated 

as a category of allowances and expenses for purposes of section 

101(a) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1993 (2 U.S.C. 

95b(a)). 

(d) TERMINATION AND TRANSFER OF EXISTING FUNDS AND ACCOUNTS.— 

(1) IN GENERAL.—Each fund and account specified in paragraph (2) is hereby terminated, and the balance of each such 

fund and account is hereby transferred to the Revolving Fund. 

(2) FUNDS AND ACCOUNTS SPECIFIED.—The funds and accounts referred to in paragraph (1) are as follows: 

(A) The revolving fund for the House Barber Shop, established by the paragraph under the heading ‘‘HOUSE 

BARBER SHOPS REVOLVING FUND’’ in the matter relating to the House of Representatives in chapter III of 

title I of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1975 (Public Law 93-554; 88 Stat. 1776). 

(B) The revolving funds for the House Beauty Shop, established by the matter under the heading ‘‘house beauty 

shop’’ in the matter relating to administrative provisions 

for the House of Representatives in the Legislative Branch 

Appropriations Act, 1970 (Public Law 91-145; 83 Stat. 

347). 

(C) The special deposit account established for the House 

of Representatives Restaurant by section 208 of the First 

Supplemental Civil Functions Appropriation Act, 1941 (2 

U.S.C. 2041 note), or any successor fund or account established for the receipt of revenues of the House Restaurant 

System. 

(e) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect October 1, 

2004, and shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2005 and each succeeding fiscal year. 

SECTION 214 OF THE POSTAL REVENUE AND FEDERAL 

SALARY ACT OF 1967 

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH EMPLOYEES

SEC. 214. (a) Except as otherwise provided in this title, each officer or employee in or under the legislative branch of the Government, whose rate of compensation is increased by section 5 of the 

Federal Employees Pay Act of 1946, shall be paid additional compensation at the rate of 4.5 per centum of his gross rate of compensation (basic compensation plus additional compensation authorized by law). 

(b) The total annual compensation in effect immediately prior to 

the effective date of this section of each officer or employee of the 

House of Representatives, whose compensation is disbursed by the 

27 

Clerk of the House of Representatives and is not increased by reason of any other provision of this section, shall be increased by 4.5 

per centum. 

(c) The rates of compensation of employees of the House of Representatives whose compensation is fixed by the House Employees 

Schedule under the House Employees Position Classification Act 

(78 Stat. 1079-1084; Public Law 88-652; 2 U.S.C. 291-303), including each employee subject to such Act whose compensation is fixed 

at a saved rate, are hereby increased by amounts equal, as nearly 

as may be practicable, to the increases provided by subsection (a) 

of this section. 

(d) Except as provided in the last sentence of section 218(a) of 

this title, the additional compensation provided by this section 

shall be considered a part of basic pay for the purposes of subchapter III of chapter 83 of title 5, United States Code, relating to 

civil service retirement. 

ø(e) The per annum rate of compensation of the Chief of Staff of 

the Joint Committee on Taxation shall be the same as the per 

annum rate of compensation of the Legislative Counsel of the 

House of Representatives.¿ 

(f) This section shall not apply with respect to the compensation 

of student congressional interns and the compensation of employees 

whose compensation is fixed by the House Wage Schedule under 

the House Employees Position Classification Act. 

(g) The annual rate of gross compensation of each officer or employee whose compensation is disbursed by the Secretary of the 

Senate, and the annual rate of gross compensation of each telephone operator on the United States Capitol telephone exchange 

and each member of the Capitol Police whose compensation is disbursed by the Clerk of the House of Representatives, (1) is increased by 4.5 per centum, and (2) as so increased shall be adjusted, effective the first day of the month following the date of enactment of this Act, to the nearest multiple of $188. 

(h) In any case in which the rate of compensation of any officer, 

employee, or position, or class of officers, employees, or positions, 

the compensation for which is disbursed by the Secretary of the 

Senate, or any minimum or maximum rate with respect to such officer, employee, position, or class is referred to in or provided by 

statute or Senate resolution, such statutory provision or resolution 

shall be deemed to refer to the rate which an officer or employee 

subject to the provisions of subsection (g) receiving such rate immediately prior to the effective date of such subsection would be entitled (without regard to such statutory provision) to receive on and 

after such date. As used in this subsection and subsection (g), the 

term ‘‘officer’’ does not include a Senator. 

(i) The annual rate of gross compensation of each employee in 

the office of a Senator shall be adjusted, effective on the first day 

of the month following the date of enactment of this Act, to the 

lowest multiple of $188 which is not lower than the rate such employee was receiving immediately prior thereto, except that the 

foregoing provisions of this subsection shall not apply in the case 

of any employee if on or before the fifteenth day following the date 

of enactment of this Act, the Senator by whom such employee is 

employed notifies the disbursing office of the Senate in writing that 

he does not wish such provisions to apply to such employee. No emVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:44 Jul 07, 2017 Jkt 026109 PO 00000 Frm 00027 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR199.XXX HR199
28 

ployee whose rate of compensation is adjusted under this subsection shall receive an increase under subsection (g) for any period 

prior to the effective date of such adjustment during which such 

employee was employed in the office of the Senator by whom he is 

employed on the first day of the month following the enactment of 

this Act. No increase shall be paid to any person under subsection 

(g) for any period prior to the first day of the month following the 

date of enactment of this Act during which such person was employed in the office of a Senator (other than the Senator by whom 

he is employed on such day) unless on or before the fifteenth day 

following the date of enactment of this Act such Senator notifies 

the disbursing office of the Senate in writing that he wishes such 

employee to receive such additional compensation for such period. 

In any case in which, at the expiration of the time within which 

a Senator may give notice under this subsection, such Senator is 

deceased, such notice shall be deemed to have been given. An increase under this subsection in the compensation of an employee 

in the office of a Senator for any period prior to the first day of the 

month following the date of enactment of this Act shall be made 

without regard to the clerk hire allowance of such Senator. 

(j) [Omitted amendatory text] 

(k) [Omitted amendatory text] 

(l) [Omitted amendatory text] 

(m) The limitation on gross rate per hour per person provided by 

applicable law on the effective date of this section with respect to 

the folding of speeches and pamphlets for the Senate is hereby increased by 4.5 per centum. The amount of such increase shall be 

computed to the nearest cent, counting one-half cent and over as 

a whole cent. The provisions of subsection (g) shall not apply to employees whose compensation is subject to such limitation, or to employees referred to in the last proviso in the second paragraph 

under the heading ‘‘SENATE’’ in the Second Deficiency 

Approriation Act, 1948. 

(n) [Omitted amendatory text] 

(o) [Omitted amendatory text] 

(p) [Omitted amendatory text] 

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. 

29 

5. The bill authorizes transfer authority between accounts for 

certain agencies in the bill. 

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

agencies for services performed. 

7. The bill includes language providing funds for the Family 

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

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

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

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

the delivery of bills and resolutions. 

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

the delivery of the Congressional Record. 

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

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

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

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

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

the delivery of the Reports of Disbursements. 

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

the delivery of the daily calendar. 

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

the delivery of the congressional pictorial directory. 

17. The bill includes language that amends the House Services 

Revolving Fund. 

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

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

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

20. The bill authorizes senior level positions for the Joint Committee on taxation. 

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

vehicles, communications and other equipment, uniforms, weapons, 

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

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

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

at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center be paid by the 

Department of Homeland Security. 

23. The bill includes language that authorizes reimbursement for 

law enforcement assistance provided in connection with any activity that was not sponsored by Congress. 

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

25. The bill includes authorization allowing reimbursements for 

chilled water and steam provided to the Government Publishing 

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

Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building, Union Station 

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

30 

AOC Capitol Power Plant appropriation and made available for obligation. 

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

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

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

Capitol from expending funds for scrims containing photographs of 

building facades during restoration or construction projects. 

28. The bill 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. 

29. The bill establishes that the amount available for obligation 

by the Library of Congress is reduced by offsetting collections. 

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

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

one passenger motor vehicle. 

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

the Library’s Copyright Office. 

33. 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. 

34. 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. 

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

and physically handicapped. 

36. The bill contains language under the Library of Congress 

placing a limitation on obligations for Reimbursable and Revolving 

Fund activities. 

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

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. 

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

39. The bill includes language authorizing the Public Information 

Programs of the Superintendent of Documents to pay for printing 

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

balances. 

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

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

passenger motor vehicles and that the revolving fund may be used 

to provide information in any format. 

41. 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 

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. 

42. 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. 

43. 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. 

44. Section 204 requires that certain information regarding consulting services shall be a matter of public record. 

45. Section 205 authorizes Legislative Branch entities to share 

the costs of the Legislative Branch Financial Managers Council. 

46. Section 206 limits the transfer of funds in this Act. 

47. Section 207 prohibits funds in this Act being used to eliminate or restrict staff led guided tours. 

APPROPRIATIONS NOT AUTHORIZED BY LAW

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

House of Representatives, the following lists the appropriations in 

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

The accompanying bill contains no appropriations not authorized 

by law. 

COMPARISON WITH THE BUDGET RESOLUTION

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

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

‘‘Comparison of Reported Bill to Section 302(b) Suballocation.’’ 

32 

[In millions of dollars] 

302(b) Allocation This Bill 

Budget 

Authority Outlays Budget Authority Outlays 

Discretionary ........................................................................................................... 4,490 4,440 3,580 1 3,697 

Mandatory ............................................................................................................... 143 143 143 1 143 

Total .............................................................................................................. 4,633 4,583 3,723 3,840 

1 Includes outlays from both House and Senate prior-year budget authority. 

Note.—Bill amounts excludes discretionary Senate-related items. 

FIVE-YEAR OUTLAY PROJECTIONS

In compliance with section 308(a)(1)(B) of the Congressional 

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

table contains five-year projections prepared by the Congressional 

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

[In millions of dollars] 

Budget Authority ................................................................................ $3,580 

Outlays: 

2018 .............................................................................................. 1 3085 

2019 .............................................................................................. 409 

2020 .............................................................................................. 100 

2021 .............................................................................................. 51 

2022 and future years ................................................................. 24 1 Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority. 

ASSISTANCE TO STATE AND LOCAL GOVERNMENTS

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

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

assistance to State and local governments is as follows: 

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

PROGRAM DUPLICATION

No provision of this bill establishes or reauthorizes a program of 

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

Government Accountability Office to Congress pursuant to section 

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

DIRECTED RULE MAKING

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

33 


Insert offset folio 017 here HR199.001
34 


Insert offset folio 18 here HR199.002
35 


Insert offset folio 19 here HR199.003
36 


Insert offset folio 20 here HR199.004
37 


Insert offset folio 21 here HR199.005
38 


Insert offset folio 22 here HR199.006
39 


Insert offset folio 23 here HR199.007
40 


Insert offset folio 24 here HR199.008
41 


Insert offset folio 25 here HR199.009
(42) 

ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF NITA LOWEY AND TIM RYAN 

The fiscal year 2018 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill provides $3.58 billion, $100 million above the level in the FY 2017 omnibus appropriations bill and $226 million below the budget request, not including Senate items. The bill as written was developed in a bipartisan manner, although there are some spending 

levels we would have set higher and provisions we would have 

written differently. It will allow most agencies across the Legislative Branch of the Federal government to carry out their missions. 

In light of the tragic shooting at a Congressional Baseball Game 

practice that took place less than three weeks before this bill was 

marked up, we support the decision to provide additional resources 

to the Capitol Police and the House Sergeant at Arms for necessary 

security improvements for Members of Congress, staff, constituents 

and visitors. It is clear there are vulnerabilities that must be addressed in order to keep those working in and served by the Congress safe. While there is a specific plan for use of some of these 

additional funds, a proposal for use of the remaining security 

money is forthcoming and we look forward to working with bipartisan leadership on a comprehensive strategy. 

In addition to making a down payment on additional security 

needs, this bill will allow many agencies to make much-needed investments, including in IT modernization for the Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service and Copyright Office; cybersecurity enhancements for the House of Representatives; and deferred maintenance and construction projects in the Capitol Building, the Library of Congress buildings and grounds, the Capitol Police buildings and grounds, and at the Capitol Power Plant. We are 

also pleased that a manager’s amendment was agreed to at markup 

giving the Architect of the Capitol’s House Office Buildings account 

an additional $4 million. 

We are concerned with the levels provided in a few areas. As this 

bill progresses it is our plan to seek additional funding for the Government Accountability Office (GAO). This bill currently provides 

GAO $568.3 million for FY 2018, $46.2 million less than its budget 

request. It is irresponsible to underfund the GAO, especially when 

Administration officials have reportedly been ordered not to comply 

with Democratic oversight requests. At this funding level, GAO 

would have over 200 fewer staff than planned by year’s end, undermining its ability to conduct oversight and ensure taxpayer dollars 

are well spent. 

Also, while the Library of Congress, which includes the Congressional Research Service (CRS), received a 2.5% increase, those 

funds are earmarked specifically for IT modernization. Without additional funding for their workforce, the mission of the Library as 

a whole, and specifically CRS, is greatly compromised. Congress relies on the non-partisan expertise at the Library to provide reVerDate Sep 11 2014 03:44 Jul 07, 2017 Jkt 026109 PO 00000 Frm 00042 Fmt 6604 Sfmt 6604 E:\HR\OC\HR199.XXX HR199
43 

search that impacts the debate around complicated issues. A degradation in services in Congress’ support agencies reduces the effectiveness of the policies Congress is attempting to establish and 

ensures an over-reliance on information from outside interest 

groups. 

Finally, we are deeply concerned at the failure to pass a budget 

resolution, the conspicuous absence of bipartisan talks to adjust the 

draconian spending caps found in the 2011 Budget Control Act, and 

the lack of any apparent plan to avoid a catastrophic debt default 

in the fall. Republicans control both houses of Congress and the 

White House and yet they cannot agree on an overall level of discretionary spending for the coming fiscal year. Without that topline 

number—the so-called 302(a) allocation for the Appropriations 

Committee—we are marking up the 12 annual appropriations bills 

without knowing how much is left to spend on the remaining bills. 

Indeed, at the markup for the Legislative Branch and Defense Appropriations bills, neither subcommittee received even its own interim spending cap (a ‘‘302(b) allocation’’), which in past years has 

been the bare minimum of budget process followed by our Committee. 

In summary, while this bill is worthy of our support and the 

process by which it was written was inclusive and bipartisan, we 

look forward to working on improving it further in conference and 

we continue to object to the lack of transparency and progress demonstrated by the majority in the overall budget process. 

TIM RYAN. 

NITA M. LOWEY. 

Æ