35–984 

110TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session 110–198 

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2008 

JUNE 19, 2007.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 

the Union and ordered to be printed 

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, from the Committee on Appropriations, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

together with 

ADDITIONAL VIEWS 

[To accompany H.R. 2771] 

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, 2008, 

and for other purposes. 

INDEX TO BILL AND REPORT 

Page number 

Bill Report 

Summary of bill .......................................................................................... ........ 2 

Highlights of bill ......................................................................................... ........ 4 

Structure of bill .......................................................................................... ........ 4 

Legislative branch-wide matters ............................................................... ........ 4 

Title I—Legislative Branch Appropriations ............................................. ........ 6 

House of Representatives ................................................................... 2 6 

Joint Items: 

Joint Economic Committee ......................................................... 8 12 

Joint Committee on Taxation ..................................................... 8 12 

Office of the Attending Physician ............................................... 8 12 

Capitol Guide Service and Special Services Office ................... 9 12 

Statements of Appropriations ..................................................... 9 12 

Capitol Police ............................................................................... 10 13 

Office of Compliance ........................................................................... 12 15 

Congressional Budget Office .............................................................. 15 16 

Architect of the Capitol (except Senate Office Buildings) ............... 15 16 

Library of Congress ............................................................................. 33 25 


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Page number 

Bill Report 

Government Printing Office ............................................................... 40 28 

Government Accountability Office ..................................................... 43 29 

Payment to the Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund .......... 47 31 

John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development .................................................................................................. 48 32 

Title II—General Provisions ...................................................................... 48 32 

Constitutional authority ............................................................................ ........ 32 

Comparison with budget resolution .......................................................... ........ 32 

Five-year projection of outlays .................................................................. ........ 33 

Assistance to State and local governments .............................................. ........ 33 

Transfers of funds ...................................................................................... ........ 33 

Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives ...................... ........ 33 

Rescissions .................................................................................................. ........ 33 

Changes in the application of existing law .............................................. ........ 33 

Compliance with clause 3—rule XIII ........................................................ ........ 37 

Appropriations not authorized by law ...................................................... ........ 47 

Earmarks .................................................................................................... ........ 47 

Full Committee Votes ................................................................................ ........ 48 

Additional Views ........................................................................................ ........ 58 

SUMMARY OF BILL 

The bill, as recommended by the Committee, provides appropriations for fiscal year 2008 legislative branch operations, which total 

$3,103,709,000. 

Conforming with long practice under which each body of Congress determines its own housekeeping requirements and the other 

concurs without intervention, funds for the Senate are not included 

in the bill as reported to the House. Current appropriations estimates for the Senate for fiscal year 2008, as amended, including 

those under the Architect of the Capitol, total $980,583,000. 

A comparative summary of the bill by title and agency follows: 


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SUMMARY OF THE BILL 

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

Agency 

New budget 

(obligational) authority, fiscal year 2007 

Budget estimates of 

new (obligational) 

authority, fiscal year 

2008 

New budget 

(obligational) authority recommended in 

bill 

Bill compared with— 

New budget 

(obligational) authority, fiscal year 2007 

Budget 

new (o

authority

TITLE I—LEGISLATIVE BRANCH-APPROPRIATIONS 

House of Representatives .................................................................................................................................. 1 $1,144,486,000 $1,235,042,000 $1,198,560,000 +$54,074,000 ¥$

Joint items .......................................................................................................................................................... 24,155,000 27,540,000 21,112,000 ¥3,043,000 ¥Capitol Police ..................................................................................................................................................... 1 265,635,000 299,070,000 286,000,000 +20,365,000 ¥

Office of Compliance ......................................................................................................................................... 3,103,000 4,106,000 3,806,000 +703,000 

Congressional Budget Office ............................................................................................................................. 35,204,000 37,972,000 37,805,000 +2,601,000 Architect of the Capitol (except Senate office buildings) ................................................................................ 1 382,715,000 394,461,000 348,380,000 ¥34,335,000 ¥Library of Congress ............................................................................................................................................ 508,760,000 661,616,000 572,512,000 +63,752,000 ¥

Government Printing Office ............................................................................................................................... 122,050,000 181,979,000 125,776,000 +3,726,000 ¥Government Accountability Office ...................................................................................................................... 1 481,070,000 522,804,000 503,328,000 +22,258,000 ¥

Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund ....................................................................................................... 13,860,000 14,400,000 6,000,000 ¥7,860,000 ¥

John C. Stennis Center ...................................................................................................................................... 430,000 430,000 430,000 .............................. ............

Grand total, new budget, (obligational) authority (for items considered by House) .......................... 1 $2,981,468,000 $3,379,420,000 $3,103,709,000 +$122,241,000 ¥$2

1 Includes amounts provided in P.L. 110–28. 


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HIGHLIGHTS OF BILL 

SUMMARY OF ESTIMATES AND RECOMMENDATIONS

Budget estimates.—The budget estimates considered by the Com- mittee total $3,379,420,000, as amended. By law, budget requests 

for the legislative branch are transmitted to the Congress by the 

Office of Management and Budget (OMB) and the President without change in the amounts submitted by the originating agency. 

Committee recommendations.—A total of $3,103,709,000 in new 

budget (obligational) authority is recommended for fiscal year 2008. 

The bill does not include Senate items. 

Comparison with fiscal year 2007 appropriations.—Compared 

with the appropriations enacted for fiscal year 2007, the recommendation of $3,103,709,000 in net new budget (obligational) 

authority for fiscal year 2008 is an increase of $122,241,000 above 

fiscal year 2007, including the fiscal year 2007 supplemental, and 

$275,711,000 below the amended budget request. 

STRUCTURE OF THE BILL 

The bill is divided into two titles: 

Title I—Contains the appropriations for the House of Representatives, Joint Items, the Capitol Police, the Office of Compliance, the 

Congressional Budget Office, the Architect of the Capitol (except 

Senate office buildings), the Library of Congress, the Government 

Printing Office, the Government Accountability Office, the Open 

World Leadership Center, and the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development. 

Title II—Contains general provisions. 

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH-WIDE MATTERS 

Long Term Planning.—This year, as part of the regular budget 

hearing cycle, the Committee held extensive additional hearings focusing on long term planning. These hearings examined such 

issues as deferred maintenance within the Capitol complex; printing technology for the 21st century; and the digital revolution and 

what it means to the Library of Congress and libraries throughout 

the nation and the world. In addition, the Committee held monthly 

oversight hearings on the construction of the Capitol Visitor Center 

(CVC) project. In particular, the CVC hearings enabled the Committee to focus on problems, construction timelines, and the 

progress for bringing the CVC project through to fruition. 

The Committee believes that these hearings jump started a process, in which agencies will look beyond one fiscal year to the next 

as they address their respective agency missions. The Committee 

realizes that all the agencies of the Legislative Branch have some 

kind of long term strategic plan. However, in light of the recent 

hearings, issues and ideas may have surfaced that require reexamination of those plans. The Committee directs all agencies to reexamine their current strategic plans and determine if additions, deletions and/or adjustments are required. 

During this reexamination, agencies need to take into consideration the ever increasing strain on the Federal budget and the difficulty of supporting budget increases greater than the rate of inflation. In this regard, future budget requests need to reflect adjustVerDate Aug 31 2005 03:03 Jun 20, 2007 Jkt 035984 PO 00000 Frm 00004 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR198.XXX HR198

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ments resulting from the reexamination of strategic plans that will 

address the highest priority initiatives and, as appropriate for increased cost effectiveness, utilize new technology and management 

initiatives to enhance accountability, fiscal responsibility and physical security. 

The Committee expects all agencies to understand that looking 

to the future is a top priority to the Committee. Continued budget 

requests that jump from one place to another, each and every year, 

and do not reflect a planned, fiscally responsible and systematically 

defendable approach will be unacceptable. 

Personal Services Contracts.—The Committee is increasingly concerned with the personal services contracts awarded annually by 

the agencies of the Legislative Branch. The Committee directs that 

within 60 days of enactment of this Act all agencies (exclusive of 

the House and Senate) will provide to the Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate a report on all personal services 

contracts awarded during fiscal year 2006. This report should include the contractor name, contract purpose, contract period, was 

the contract openly competed, if not why not, and the total cost of 

the contract. The Committee further directs that beginning with 

the fiscal year 2009 budget justifications, all the agencies (exclusive 

of the House and Senate) will include as part of their annual budget justifications a report on all personal service contracts awarded 

for the previously completed fiscal year reflecting the same information required for contracts awarded during fiscal year 2006. 

Women and Minority Owned Businesses.—It has come to the 

Committee’s attention that some agencies of the Legislative Branch 

have no formal policy for contracting with women and minority 

owned businesses. The Committee believes that many opportunities 

exist for these businesses to be awarded contracts to perform services required from all agencies within the Legislative Branch. The 

Committee directs that all agencies, who have not done so, adopt 

within 60 days a formal written policy, in accordance with all applicable Federal laws, that provides for the consideration of contracting with this very important group of service providers. All 

agencies shall provide a copy of the policies to the Committee on 

Appropriations of the House and Senate within 60 days of enactment of this Act. The Committee further directs that all agencies 

provide an annual report on their compliance with this policy. 

Budget Justifications.—The Committee reminds all agencies of 

the Legislative Branch that the annual budget justifications are 

prepared for the benefit of the Committee and the Committee 

Members. These justifications are not prepared for the benefit of 

the agency or its staff. It is imperative that justifications are accurate, concise, and understandable and provide information necessary for the appropriate consideration of the budget submission. 

Agencies are not to make significant changes to their justification 

books without consultation with the Committees on Appropriations 

of the House and Senate. 

Legislative Language.—The Committee wants to remind all Legislative Branch agencies that language items to be included in the 

annual appropriations bill must be transmitted to the Congress as 

part of the President’s annual budget request or a budget amendment. This process allows the Committee appropriate oversight, reVerDate Aug 31 2005 01:55 Jun 20, 2007 Jkt 035984 PO 00000 Frm 00005 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR198.XXX HR198

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view and consideration during the annual budget justification hearings and markup of the bill. 

Mass Transit Benefits.—The Committee has included funding for 

the Federal Mass Transit Benefit Program for the agencies of the 

Legislative Branch. The Committee allowance provides a $110 per 

month allowance to the employees who participate in the program. 

The Committee encourages the agencies of the Legislative Branch 

to support employee participation in this very important program. 

TITLE I—LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

The Committee bill recommends a total of $1,198,560,000 for the 

operations of the House of Representatives during fiscal year 2008. 

The allowance is $54,074,000 above the current level, including the 

fiscal year 2007 supplemental, and is $36,482,000 below the request. 

The following tabulation summarizes the recommendations: 

Item Amount 

Salaries and expenses: 

House leadership offices ................................................................. $23,648,000 

Members’ representational allowances ......................................... 581,000,000 

Committee salaries and expenses ................................................. 162,800,000 

Salaries, officers and employees .................................................... 169,393,000 

Allowances and expenses ............................................................... 261,719,000 

Total, Salaries and Expenses ..................................................... $1,198,560,000 

Total, House of Representatives ................................................ $1,198,560,000 

PAYMENT TO WIDOWS AND HEIRS OF DECEASED MEMBERS OF

CONGRESS

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ 1 $330,000 

2008 budget request .............................................................................. – – –

Committee recommendation ................................................................. – – –

1 Amount included in P.L. 110–28. 

There are no payments recommended in this bill. 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ 1 $1,144,486,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 1,235,042,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 1,198,560,000 

1 Includes $6,767,000 provided in P.L. 110–28. 

The appropriation for the operations of the House of Representatives is the salaries and expenses appropriation. The account includes the following House activities: House leadership offices; 

Members’ representational allowances; committee salaries and expenses; salaries, officers and employees; allowances and expenses; 

and the child care center. The amount provided is $1,198,560,000. 

HOUSE LEADERSHIP OFFICES

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $22,822,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 23,648,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 23,648,000 


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The Committee recommends a total of $23,648,000 for the operations of the leadership offices during fiscal year 2008. This is an 

increase of $826,000 above the current level and is the same as the 

budget request. 

The allocation by office follows: 

House Leadership Offices 

Item Amount 

Office of the Speaker ............................................................................. $4,761,000 

Office of the Majority Floor Leader ...................................................... 2,188,000 

Office of the Minority Floor Leader ..................................................... 4,090,000 

Office of the Majority Whip .................................................................. 1,894,000 

Office of the Minority Whip .................................................................. 1,420,000 

Speaker’s Office for Legislative Floor Activities ................................. 499,000 

Republican Steering Committee ........................................................... 943,000 

Republican Conference .......................................................................... 1,631,000 

Republican Policy Committee ............................................................... 325,000 

Democratic Steering and Policy Committee ........................................ 1,295,000 

Democratic Caucus ................................................................................ 1,604,000 

Nine Minority Employees ...................................................................... 1,498,000 

Training and Program Development: 

Majority ........................................................................................... 290,000 

Minority ........................................................................................... 290,000 

Cloakroom Personnel: 

Majority ........................................................................................... 460,000 

Minority ........................................................................................... 460,000 

Total ............................................................................................. $23,648,000 

MEMBERS’ REPRESENTATIONAL ALLOWANCES

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $554,716,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 610,616,000 

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

A total of $581,000,000 is recommended for the representational 

allowances of the Members of the House, the so-called MRA account. The Committee bill provides $391,768,300 for clerk hire salaries, $153,035,400 for official expenses, and $36,196,300 for official mail. It should be noted that these components are fungible 

under regulations prescribed by the Committee on House Administration. Each Member has an overall consolidated allowance established by the Committee on House Administration from which staff 

salaries, office expenses, and mail costs are drawn. The level provided in the Committee recommendation reflects a 97 percent funding of the current authorization which is $597,000,000. 

COMMITTEE EMPLOYEES

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $150,272,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 156,775,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 162,800,000 

Standing Committees, special and select.—For the salaries and 

expenses of committees funded in the biennial funding resolution, 

$133,000,000 is provided. 

Committee on Appropriations.—For the salaries and expenses of 

the Committee on Appropriations (including the studies and investigation activities authorized by section 202(b) of the Legislative 

Reorganization Act of 1946), $29,800,000 is provided. 

The amount above the fiscal year 2008 budget request reflects a 

base adjustment provided in the fiscal year 2007 Continuing ResoVerDate Aug 31 2005 01:55 Jun 20, 2007 Jkt 035984 PO 00000 Frm 00007 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR198.XXX HR198

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lution that was not incorporated into the fiscal year 2008 budget 

request. 

Details of the funding resolution, H. Res. 202 (House Report 110– 29) approved by the House for the 110th Congress, follow: 

COMMITTEE FUNDING AUTHORIZATIONS, 110TH CONGRESS 

Committee 1st session 2nd session Total 

Agriculture ....................................................................................... $5,910,765 $6,084,541 $11,995,306 

Armed Services ............................................................................... 7,203,581 7,415,366 14,618,946 

Budget ............................................................................................. 6,169,343 6,350,721 12,520,064 

Education and Labor ...................................................................... 7,989,475 8,224,365 16,213,840 

Energy and Commerce .................................................................... 10,375,603 10,680,646 21,056,249 

Financial Services ........................................................................... 7,977,303 8,211,835 16,189,138 

Foreign Affairs ................................................................................ 8,569,776 8,821,728 17,391,504 

Homeland Security .......................................................................... 8,105,057 8,343,346 16,448,403 

House Administration ...................................................................... 5,033,242 5,181,219 10,214,461 

Intelligence ...................................................................................... 5,157,724 5,309,361 10,467,084 

Judiciary .......................................................................................... 8,055,250 8,292,074 16,347,324 

Natural Resources ........................................................................... 7,533,355 7,754,836 15,288,192 

Oversight and Government Reform ................................................ 10,644,994 10,957,956 21,602,950 

Rules ............................................................................................... 3,376,815 3,476,093 6,852,908 

Science and Technology .................................................................. 6,387,984 6,575,791 12,963,775 

Small Business ............................................................................... 2,939,758 3,026,187 5,965,945 

Standards of Official Conduct ........................................................ 2,460,915 2,533,266 4,994,181 

Transportation and Infrastructure .................................................. 9,491,374 9,770,421 19,261,795 

Veterans’ Affairs ............................................................................. 3,486,916 3,589,431 7,076,347 

Ways and Means ............................................................................. 9,382,384 9,658,226 19,040,609 

Total ................................................................................... $136,251,614 $140,257,409 $276,509,021 

Since the funding resolution is done on a biennial basis, the resolution for the 110th Congress will expire on December 31, 2008. 

This funding will support the first session of the 110th Congress 

and is provided through December 31, 2008. 

SALARIES, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $156,147,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 174,382,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 169,393,000 

The Committee recommendation for the salaries and expenses of 

House officers and employees of the various activities funded 

through this consolidated item is $169,393,000. This amount is 

$4,989,000 below the budget request and is $13,246,000 above the 

enacted level. 

Culinary School Students.—The Committee believes that opportunities exist for culinary school students nationwide to enhance 

their skills by giving them the opportunity, as part of their regular 

curriculum, to define the menu and assist with the preparation of 

the selections offered in the Member’s Dining Room. In that regard, 

the Committee requests that the Chief Administrative Officer contact culinary schools and explore the possibility for culinary school 

students to enhance their skills and make appropriate arrangements for the students to participate, on a rotational basis among 

the participants, in an ‘‘on the job training’’ or similar program. 

Disability Access.—The Committee is very concerned with disability access throughout the entire Capitol complex. Therefore, the 

Committee directs the Chief Administrative Officer of the House, 

with the assistance of the Architect of the Capitol, the Government 


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Accountability Office and the Office of Compliance where necessary, to do a comprehensive assessment of the Capitol complex 

regarding disability access, including the House Chamber, both 

cloak rooms, and all committee rooms. This assessment should take 

into consideration the Office of Compliance’s November 2005 Report on Americans with Disabilities Act Inspections Relating to 

Public Services and Accommodations conducted in the Legislative 

Branch during the 108th Congress. The Committee expects that 

this assessment with recommendations, a corrective action plan, 

and potential cost will be completed by June 30, 2008. 

Alternative Pay Dates.—The Committee has received requests to 

include legislative language to authorize the Chief Administrative 

Officer to establish alternative days for paying salaries of House 

employees. This legislation was intended to promote efficiency and 

conformity with generally accepted standards of accounting and auditing payroll activities. 

The Committee is sympathetic to the challenges involved with 

modernizing the House payroll system. However, the Committee is 

not prepared to make any changes until the CAO has had an opportunity to address the problems associated with the present payroll system. In addition, the Committee would like to be assured 

that any future change in the payroll processing system will be undertaken in accordance with a detailed conversion plan. 

Therefore, the Committee requests the CAO report by December 

31, 2007 on the progress in eliminating problems associated with 

the present payroll system, and the benefits and costs associated 

with converting to a system utilizing alternative pay dates. The 

Committee encourages the CAO to consider the advantages associated with utilizing the expertise of government payroll service providers, including the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s National Finance Center. 

Improved Access to Roll Call Information.—The Committee believes the public could benefit from more easily accessible roll call 

information. To that end, the Committee requests that the Chief 

Administrative Officer work with the Clerk of the House and the 

Library of Congress to study how, within the public House of Representatives website and the THOMAS website, a joint system 

might be developed to allow roll call searches by specific word, and 

report back to the Committee on Appropriations of the House by 

December 1, 2007. 

Availability of Fair Trade Certified Coffee.—Currently, fair trade 

certified coffee is only available at two House food service locations. 

The Committee requests that the Chief Administrative Officer of 

the House work with the House food service contractor to determine what the requirements would be for expanding the availability of fair trade certified coffee and report back to the Committee by October 31, 2007. 

Expanded Hours for the House Fitness Center.—The Committee 

believes that the physical and mental health of House staff is important. Therefore, the Committee urges the Chief Administrative 

Officer of the House to explore the possibilities of extending the 

closing time of the House Staff Fitness Center to provide better access to House staff, and report back to the Committee by October 

31, 2007. 


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Remote Access Alternatives.—Since September 11th, considerable 

efforts have been made to allow Members, committees, and staff to 

operate from remote locations in the event of an extensive disruption at the Capitol complex. The Committee believes these efforts 

have been beneficial and is interested in whether any additional remote access alternatives might be useful. Therefore, the Committee 

requests that the Chief Administrative Officer of the House study 

the feasibility and cost effectiveness of additional remote access alternatives, and report back to the Committee by January 31, 2008. 

House Child Care Center Evacuation Plan.—In the event of an 

emergency, the evacuation of the House Child Care Center is a priority. Therefore, the Committee urges the Chief Administrative Officer of the House to ensure that at all times a sufficient number 

of bus drivers are available to evacuate the House Child Care Center. 

Emergency Alert System.—The Committee is concerned about the 

level of information that is currently available to Members, staff, 

and visitors to the Capitol complex in the event of an emergency. 

Therefore, the Committee requests that the House Sergeant at 

Arms study the utility of developing an automated emergency alert 

system that would provide customized, real-time information during emergencies and building evacuations, and report back to the 

Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives by 

January 31, 2008. 

Green the Capitol.—The Committee believes it is important to 

offset greenhouse gases generated by the House. In that regard, the 

Committee requests the Chief Administrative Officer purchase Carbon Financial Instruments to offset carbon produced by all House 

operations. These offsets should be fully transparent, verified, 

American, project-based offset credits. 

The following table summarizes the funding allocation provided 

to each component of the account. 

Salaries, Officers and Employees 

Item Amount 

Office of the Clerk .................................................................................. $22,881,000 

Office of the Sergeant at Arms ............................................................. 7,024,000 

Office of the Chief Administrative Officer ........................................... 116,891,000 

Office of the Inspector General ............................................................. 4,457,000 

Office of Emergency Planning, Preparedness and Operations .......... 3,111,000 

Office of General Counsel ...................................................................... 1,202,000 

Office of the Chaplain ............................................................................ 166,000 

Office of the Parliamentarian ............................................................... 1,828,000 

Parliamentarian ..................................................................................... (1,455,000) 

Compilation of Precedents .................................................................... (373,000) 

Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the House ............................... 3,046,000 

Office of the Legislative Counsel of the House .................................... 7,406,000 

Office of Interparliamentary Affairs .................................................... 752,000 

Other authorized employees ................................................................. 170,000 

Office of the Historian ........................................................................... 459,000 

Total ................................................................................................. $169,393,000 

ALLOWANCES AND EXPENSES

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ 1 $260,199,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 269,621,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 261,719,000 

1 Includes $6,437,000, provided in P.L. 110–28. 


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A total of $261,719,000 is recommended for fiscal year 2008 for allowances and expenses. This amount is $7,902,000 below the request and is $1,520,000 above the current level. These funds include supplies, materials, administrative costs, and Federal tort 

claims; the costs of official mail for the committees, leadership, and 

administrative offices; employee benefits; miscellaneous items; Capitol Visitor Center; and Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery. 

Over 90% of these funds provide the employer share of retirement, 

health care, and unemployment compensation payments for House 

employees. 

The following table sets forth the various expense categories 

within this appropriation: 

Allowances and Expenses 

Detail Recommended 2008 

Supplies, materials, administrative costs and Federal tort claims $3,688,000 

Official mail (committees, administrative, and leadership offices) .... 410,000 

Government contributions .................................................................... 237,410,000 

Capitol Visitor Center ........................................................................... 2,308,000 

Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery ....................................... 17,200,000 

Miscellaneous items: 

House automobiles .......................................................................... 143,000 

Gratuities to beneficiaries of deceased staff ................................. 520,000 

Interparliamentary receptions ....................................................... 40,000 

Subtotal, miscellaneous items ....................................................... $703,000 

Total, allowances and expenses ..................................................... $261,719,000 

CHILD CARE CENTER

The bill provides authority for the House child care center budget, as required by Sec. 312(d)(1) of Public Law 102–90, as presented 

to the Committee by the Chief Administrative Officer. It should be 

noted that tuition and other center-generated revenues fund child 

care center operations. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Section 101 provides for unspent amounts remaining in Members’ Representational Allowances account to be used for deficit reduction. Section 102 is a technical correction that allows the CAO 

to contract with a public entity for the operation of the House Fitness Facility. Section 103 provides for receipts to be credited to the 

account of the Chief Administrative Officer. Section 104 provides 

for receipts to be credited to the House Services Revolving Fund. 

Section 105 adjusts the salary of the former Speaker’s staff. 

JOINT ITEMS 

The Committee recommends appropriations totaling $21,112,000 

for fiscal year 2008 for the various joint committees and activities 

carried under this heading. The recommendation is $3,043,000 

below the current fiscal year and is $6,428,000 below the amended 

budget request. 

The following summarizes the recommendations: 

Joint Items 

Item Amount 

Joint Economic Committee ................................................................... $4,398,000 


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Joint Items—Continued 

Item Amount 

Joint Committee on Taxation ............................................................... 9,416,000 

Office of the Attending Physician ......................................................... 2,820,000 

Capitol Guide Service and Special Services Office ............................. 4,448,000 

Statements of Appropriations ............................................................... 30,000 

Total ................................................................................................. $21,112,000 

JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE 

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $4,308,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 4,398,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 4,398,000 

The Committee has provided $4,398,000 for the Joint Economic 

Committee. This amount reflects an increase of $90,000 above the 

enacted level and is the same as the budget request. 

JOINT COMMITTEE ON TAXATION 

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $8,773,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 9,416,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 9,416,000 

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $9,416,000 for 

the Joint Committee on Taxation. This amount reflects an increase 

of $643,000 above the enacted level and is the same as the budget 

request. 

OFFICE OF THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN 

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $2,520,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 2,820,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 2,820,000 

The Committee has approved $2,820,000 for medical supplies, 

equipment, expenses, and allowances of Navy personnel detailed to 

the Office of the Attending Physician. This amount reflects an increase of $300,000 above the enacted level and is the same as the 

request. 

CAPITOL GUIDE SERVICE AND SPECIAL SERVICES OFFICE 

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $8,524,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 10,876,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 4,448,000 

The Committee bill provides $4,448,000 for the operation of the 

Capitol Guide Service and Special Services Office during the next 

fiscal year. This amount reflects a decrease of $4,076,000 below the 

enacted level and is $6,428,000 below the amended budget request. 

STATEMENTS OF APPROPRIATIONS 

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $30,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 30,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 30,000 

The sum of $30,000 is included for the preparation of the usual 

compilation of the statements of appropriations for the 1st session 

of the 110th Congress. The House and Senate Committees on Appropriations compile this publication jointly. 


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CAPITOL POLICE 

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ 1 $265,635,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 299,070,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 286,000,000 

1 Includes $10,000,000 provided in P.L. 110–28. 

The recommendations in the bill provide a total of $286,000,000 

for the Salaries and Expenses of the Capitol Police during fiscal 

year 2008. This amount reflects $224,500,000 for salaries and 

$61,500,000 for general expenses. 

Financial Management.—The Committee has patiently waited for 

the Capitol Police to successfully accomplish the financial management improvements it has promised this Committee. Beginning in 

fiscal year 2001 and annually thereafter, this Committee has expressed its concern about the Capitol Police’s continual, pervasive 

financial management problems and disappointment with the Capitol Police over its lack of progress. In fiscal year 2001, the Capitol 

Police was statutorily required to establish a Chief Administrative 

Officer who would have the overall responsibility to improve administrative operations at the Capitol Police, including improving 

long-standing problems in financial management. The Capitol Police have been unsuccessful in stabilizing financial management, 

let alone achieving one of the most basic indicators of a successful 

financial management operation—auditable financial statements. 

The Capitol Police must take immediate action to address these 

issues. 

The Committee acknowledges the commitment from the new 

Chief and Assistant Chief of the Capitol Police to make financial 

management a priority of the new administration. However, the 

Committee is still deeply concerned over the Capitol Police’s lack 

of progress in developing fully functional financial management operations capable of obtaining audit opinions on a full set of financial statements. The Committee directs the Capitol Police Chief Administrative Officer (CPCAO) to implement immediately the corrective actions needed to resolve the financial management weaknesses identified by the GAO. The Committee further directs that 

the CPCAO prepare a report, within 60 days of enactment of the 

FY 2008 appropriations bill, to the Chief of the Capitol Police and 

the Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate on the 

status of corrective actions planned including due dates, leading up 

to obtaining a clean opinion on a full set of financial statements not 

later than two years from the close of fiscal year 2007. 

The Committee expects the Capitol Police Board, the Chief of the 

Capitol Police and the CPCAO to devote all the necessary resources 

required to achieve this objective and the Committee will not accept nor entertain any further delay or excuses for the poor management of financial operations. 

Capitol Police/Library of Congress Police Merger.—It has come to 

the attention of the Committee that there is a disparity in the 

number of Capitol Police Officers assigned to the Library of Congress. The Committee directs the Chief of Police and the Librarian 

of Congress to work together to rectify the disparity in the number 

of Capitol Police officers assigned to the Library of Congress to the 

mutual satisfaction of both agencies. The Committee further directs 

that the two agencies will report to the Committees on AppropriaVerDate Aug 31 2005 01:55 Jun 20, 2007 Jkt 035984 PO 00000 Frm 00013 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR198.XXX HR198

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tions of the House and Senate no later than October 31, 2007, on 

the action taken to bring this issue to closure. Further, the Committee directs that any further action taken on the merger of the 

Capitol and Library Police forces should in no way negatively impact the retirement benefits of any officer. 

Radiological, Nuclear and Biological Detection.—The Committee 

directs the Capitol Police to enter into discussions with the Metropolitan District of Columbia Police and the Virginia and Maryland 

State Police to develop a Capitol Region radiological, nuclear and 

biological network. This capability will enhance regional homeland 

security and the Capitol Police should be prepared to discuss this 

issue at next’s year budget hearings. 

Electronic Mapping of the Capitol Complex.—The Committee directs the Capitol Police to explore the utility of electronic mapping 

of the Capitol Complex. In an emergency, quick access to the information provided by electronic mapping may help first responders 

save lives and mitigate damage. The Capitol Police should be prepared to discuss this issue at next year’s budget hearings. 

SALARIES

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $217,135,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 237,074,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 224,500,000 

The Committee bill provides $224,500,000 for the salaries and 

benefits authorized for police services throughout the Capitol Police 

jurisdiction during fiscal year 2008. This is an increase of 

$7,365,000 over the enacted level and is $12,574,000 less than the 

request. 

This level of funding will support the current staffing level of 

1671 sworn, plus an additional 10 FTEs for the Library of Congress, for a total of 1681 sworn FTEs. Funding is also included to 

support 439 civilian FTEs. The Committee recommendation supports 25 of the 30 additional civilian FTEs requested. The following 

FTEs were not provided for: Records Manager for the Chief Administrative Office; one Auditor for the Office of the Inspector General; 

Administrative Officer for the Security Services Bureau; Administrative Officer for the Office of Information Systems; and the Administrative Assistant for the Operational Services Bureau. 

GENERAL EXPENSES

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ 1 $48,500,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 61,996,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 61,500,000 

1 Includes $10,000,000 provided in P.L. 110–28. 

The amount of $61,500,000 is recommended for all general expenses of the Capitol Police for fiscal year 2008. This is an increase 

of $13,000,000 above the enacted level, including the amount provided in the fiscal year 2007 supplemental, and is $496,000 less 

than the request. The Committee recommendation includes 

$5,000,000 for the radio modernization program. The Committee 

directs that all funds for this program are withheld from obligation 

until approval of an obligation plan is approved by the Committees 

on Appropriations of the House and the Senate. 


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The Committee is concerned with the excessive growth above inflation in the administration accounts and directs a general reduction of $925,000. The Chief of Police is to report to the Committee 

by July 15, 2007 on the recommended allocation of this reduction. 

In addition, the Committee has made a reduction of $4,571,000 to 

General Expenses with the intent that $3,388,000 of this reduction 

can be funded with anticipated fiscal year 2007 salary savings and 

current available unobligated balances. 

The Committee has provided the Department with operational 

flexibility to manage the ‘‘General Expenses’’ account at a program 

and project level. However, it has come to the Committees attention that the internal financial tracking of the obligations and expenditures for this account may circumvent Congressional intent 

and Committee reprogramming guidelines. Therefore, the Committee directs the Chief of the Capitol Police to report to the Committee on Appropriations of the House and Senate no later than 

August 1, 2007 on corrective action to assure that the financial 

management system will track obligations and expenditures in accordance with Congressional intent and Committee reprogramming 

guidelines. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Section 1001 authorizes transfers between the various accounts 

of the Capitol Police. Section 1002 increases the authorization for 

tuition reimbursement. Section 1003 provides advance payment authority for subscription services. In regard to any advance payment 

for subscription services, a discount offered to the Capitol Police 

must exceed the cost of the funds per the rate published by the 

United States Treasury (I TFM 6–8040.40). 

OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $3,103,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 4,106,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 3,806,000 

The bill provides $3,806,000 for the Office of Compliance. This 

amount is $703,000 above the current level and is $300,000 below 

the budget request. This amount provides for 21 FTEs. 

Electronic Mail Accessibility.—As part of their outreach program, 

the Office of Compliance periodically produces information for employees of the Legislative Branch covered by the Congressional Accountability Act. This information is mailed to employees and it 

has been noted that not all employees are receiving the material. 

The Committee believes that electronic mail would be a more cost 

effective and environmentally friendly method of transmitting this 

vital information, in keeping with the Speaker’s ‘‘Greening the 

Capitol’’ initiative. Therefore, the Committee directs the Office of 

Compliance to work with the appropriate oversight committees of 

the House and Senate to achieve workplace electronic mail accessibility. 


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ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Section 1101 authorizes lump-sum payments to reward exceptional performance. Section 1102 authorizes an employee training 

and development program. Section 1103 requires legislative agencies to provide reimbursement to the Treasury, from existing funding, for payment of an award or settlement under the Congressional Accountability Act. The Committee believes that this provision will enhance accountability, encourage issues to be solved at 

a lower level, encourage work place fairness, and require periodic 

training of managers regarding their responsibility under the Congressional Accountability Act. 

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $35,204,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 37,972,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 37,805,000 

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $37,805,000 for 

the Congressional Budget Office. This is $2,601,000 above the current year and is $167,000 below the budget request. This amount 

provides for 1 additional FTE and associated costs to assist Congress in identifying and analyzing potential ways of controlling future health care spending. 

ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL 

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ 1 $382,715,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 394,461,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 348,380,000 

1 Includes $50,000,000 provided in P.L. 110–28. 

The Committee recommends a total of $348,380,000 for fiscal 

year 2008 for the various operational and maintenance activities 

under the jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol (AOC). Excluded is the Senate office building account, which will be considered by the Senate. This amount is $34,335,000 below the enacted 

level, including the $50,000,000 provided in the fiscal year 2007 

supplemental, and is $46,081,000 below the request. 

A summary of the appropriations recommended follows: 

Architect of the Capitol (Excluding Senate) 

Item Amount 

Architect of the Capitol: 

General Administration ................................................................. $81,733,000 

Capitol building .............................................................................. 24,567,000 

Capitol grounds ............................................................................... 9,310,000 

House office buildings .................................................................... 66,151,000 

Capitol Power Plant .............................................................................. 83,017,000 

Library buildings and grounds ............................................................. 31,638,000 

Capitol Police buildings and grounds; .................................................. 16,109,000 

Botanic Garden ...................................................................................... 8,310,000 

Capitol Visitor Center ........................................................................... 27,545,000 

Total ......................................................................................... $348,380,000 

Capitol Building and Grounds Construction.—The Committee 

recognizes the significant role of slave labor in the construction of 

the Capitol Building and Capitol Grounds. During the 109th ConVerDate Aug 31 2005 01:55 Jun 20, 2007 Jkt 035984 PO 00000 Frm 00016 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR198.XXX HR198

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gress a task force was formed to plan a commemoration of the contribution of slave laborers to construction of the Capitol. The Committee supports the activities of the task force and directs the Architect of the Capitol to provide to the Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate a complete implementation plan, including information on the estimated cost, within 90 days of receipt 

of the task force’s final report. 

Statutory Inspector General.—Because of longstanding and continuing lapses in management practices in the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, the Committee must take action to address this 

situation. 

The Committee has reached the limit with the ongoing difficulties in the Architect’s office such as the delays and escalating costs 

of the Capitol Visitor Center; costs overruns and time delays on almost every other project, as well as the complete management 

breakdown, failure of appropriate oversight responsibilities, and 

total disregard for the human element surrounding the Capitol 

Power Plant utility tunnels. Therefore, the Committee has included 

in the bill the establishment of a statutory Inspector General (IG) 

to audit and report semi-annually on management, operational 

issues and other issues as outlined in an annual audit plan. The 

Committee directs the IG to ensure that the AOC is utilizing appropriate management practices and budgetary and accounting 

standards within the limitations of all laws applicable to the operations of the Office of the Architect. The Committee recommendation provides authority for the IG to establish a staff, but for purposes of establishing an immediate functionally operative office the 

Committee recommendation includes 7 FTEs and funding for the 

IG; a Deputy IG, utilizing existing authority for a senior level position; 2 GS–15 Auditors, 2 GS–15 Investigators, a GS–13 Management Analyst, a GS–7 Administrative Secretary, and the current 

GS–15 position. This action is not intended to displace the sole GS–

15 non-statutory position that is currently assigned similar duties, 

but rather to increase the ability of the IG function to provide 

badly needed oversight and review of current operations. 

The Committee directs the Architect of the Capitol to enter into 

a contract with an executive employment search organization to 

perform a nationwide recruitment of the Inspector General. The 

Committee further directs the formation of a panel comprised of 

the Inspectors General of the House of Representatives, the Library 

of Congress, and a representative selected by the Senate, to review 

the applications, interview the top applicants, and forward a recommendation, including not less than three applicants to the Architect of the Capitol for final selection after consultation with the 

House Committee on Administration and the Senate Committee on 

Rules and Administration. The final selection will take place not 

less than 180 days after the enactment of this Act. The Committee 

further directs that the cost of this office will be absorbed within 

current funding levels. 

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $77,128,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 87,714,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 81,733,000 


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The Committee recommends an appropriation of $81,733,000, for fiscal year 2008. This amount is $4,605,000 above the amount provided in fiscal year 2007 and is $5,981,000 below the budget request. This account provides funds for personal services, equipment, communications, and other central support activities of the 

Architect of the Capitol. 

A tabulation of the increases in the annual operating budget and 

the project budget follows: 

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION 

{Request versus recommendation] 

Item Amount requested 

Committee recommendation 

Fiscal Year 2008 Operating Budget 

Personal Services ..................................................................................................................... $49,041,000 $47,108,000 

Operations ................................................................................................................................ 36,711,000 32,861,000 

Subtotal, Operating Budget ............................................................................................ $85,752,000 $79,969,000 

Fiscal Year 2008 Project Budget 

USPSs, Spare Hardware, and Software for AOC BASNet ........................................................ $84,000 $84,000 

Recertification of Lightning Protection Systems ..................................................................... 130,000 130,000 

Conversion to Electronic OPFs (Backfile Conversion) ............................................................. 198,000 ........................

Switchgear, Generator, and ATS Maintenance ........................................................................ 550,000 550,000 

Energy Survey of Congressional Buildings (Study) ................................................................. 400,000 400,000 

Arc Flash Labeling of Electrical Distribution Equipment ....................................................... 600,000 600,000 

Subtotal, Project Budget ................................................................................................ $1,962,000 $1,764,000 

Total, General Administration ................................................................................ $87,714,000 $81,733,000 

CAPITOL BUILDING

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $23,886,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 29,480,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 24,567,000 

A total of $24,567,000 is recommended for the operation and 

maintenance of the Capitol building during fiscal year 2008. This 

amount is $681,000 above the amount provided in fiscal year 2007 

and is $4,913,000 below the budget request. 

A tabulation of the increases in the annual operating budget and 

the project budget follows: 

CAPITOL BUILDING 

[Request versus recommendation] 

Item Amount requested 

Committee recommendation 

Fiscal Year 2008 Operating Budget 

Personal Services ..................................................................................................................... $12,632,000 $12,632,000 

Operations ................................................................................................................................ 2,480,000 2,472,000 

Subtotal, Operating Budget ............................................................................................ $15,112,000 $15,104,000 

Fiscal Year 2008 Project Budget 

Minton Tile Replacement ......................................................................................................... $650,000 $225,000 

Computer, Telecom, & Electrical Support ............................................................................... 298,000 298,000 

Legislative Call System Upgrade, Phase II ............................................................................. 150,000 150,000 

Elevator Modernization H–9 .................................................................................................... 240,000 ........................


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CAPITOL BUILDING—Continued 

[Request versus recommendation] 

Item Amount requested 

Committee recommendation 

Elevator Modernization S–4 ..................................................................................................... 240,000 ........................

Conservation of Wall Paintings ............................................................................................... 500,000 ........................

Inaugural Support, 2009 ......................................................................................................... 3,600,000 3,600,000 

Emergency Exit Signs & Lighting, Phase III ........................................................................... 1,000,000 1,000,000 

West Grand Stair Enclosure .................................................................................................... 1,190,000 1,190,000 

Chilled Water & Steam Mains Replacement (Design) ............................................................ 200,000 ........................

Electrical Power Distribution System Replacement (Study) .................................................... 2,400,000 ........................

Storm, Sanitary Riser & Vent Piping Replacement (Study) .................................................... 300,000 ........................

Minor Construction .................................................................................................................. 3,600,000 3,000,000 

Subtotal, Project Budget ................................................................................................ $14,368,000 $9,463,000 

Total, Capitol Building .......................................................................................... $29,480,000 $24,567,000 

CAPITOL GROUNDS

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $7,577,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 10,225,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 9,310,000 

The appropriation of $9,310,000 is recommended for the care and 

improvement of the grounds surrounding the Capitol, the Senate 

and House office buildings, and the Capitol power plant. This 

amount is an increase of $1,733,000 above the fiscal year 2007 level 

and is $915,000 below the request. 

A tabulation of the increases in the annual operating budget and 

the project budget follows: 

CAPITOL GROUNDS 

[Request versus recommendation] 

Item Amount requested 

Committee recommendation 

Fiscal Year 2008 Operating Budget 

Personal Services ..................................................................................................................... $5,814,000 $5,803,000 

Operations ................................................................................................................................ 3,196,000 2,427,000 

Subtotal, Operating Budget ............................................................................................ $9,010,000 $8,230,000 

Fiscal Year 2008 Project Budget 

60 Ton Snow Melting Unit Purchase ....................................................................................... $310,000 ........................

Perimeter Fence Replacement, Parking Lots ........................................................................... 40,000 $40,000 

Stabilization and Life Safety Projects, Summer House .......................................................... 540,000 540,000 

Summer House Comprehensive Restoration (Design) ............................................................. 325,000 ........................

Greening of the Capitol Initiative ........................................................................................... ........................ 500,000 

Subtotal, Project Budget ................................................................................................ $1,215,000 $1,080,000 

Total, Capitol Grounds ........................................................................................... $10,225,000 $9,310,000 

HOUSE OFFICE BUILDINGS

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $59,896,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 50,621,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 66,151,000 


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For House office buildings $66,151,000 has been provided. This amount is an increase of $6,255,000 above fiscal year 2007 and is 

$15,530,000 above the budget request. 

House Member Office Plaque.—Each of the Member offices in the 

House Office Buildings has a place in history that deserves recognition. To that end, the Architect of the Capitol is directed to review 

options for preparing, at the request of a Member, a suitable 

plaque for installation in the Member’s office. the plaque is to delineate the history of previous Members who have occupied the office. The AOC is to report back to the Committee on these options 

not later than 30 days after enactment of the accompanying bill. 

A tabulation of the increases in the annual operating budget and 

the project budget follows: 

HOUSE OFFICE BUILDINGS 

[Request versus recommendation] 

Item Amount requested 

Committee recommendation 

Fiscal Year 2008 Operating Budget 

Personal Services ..................................................................................................................... $35,214,000 $34,711,000 

Operations ................................................................................................................................ 5,707,000 5,640,000 

Subtotal, Operating Budget ............................................................................................ $40,921,000 $40,351,000 

Fiscal Year 2008 Project Budget 

Legislative Call System Replacement ..................................................................................... $400,000 $400,000 

Emergency Lighting Upgrade, RHOB (Phase 2) ...................................................................... 4,390,000 4,390,000 

FDA Building ............................................................................................................................ ........................ 16,000,000 

Minor Construction .................................................................................................................. 4,910,000 4,910,000 

Greening of the Capitol Initiative ........................................................................................... ........................ 100,000 

Subtotal, Project Budget ................................................................................................ $9,700,000 $25,800,000 

Total, House Office Buildings ................................................................................ $50,621,000 $66,151,000 

CAPITOL POWER PLANT

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ 1 $123,313,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 111,226,000 

Committee recommendation net ........................................................... 83,017,000 

Offsetting collections ............................................................................. 8,000,000 

Total available ................................................................................ $91,017,000 

1 Includes $50,000,000 provided in P.L. 110–28. 

The Committee recommends the appropriation of $83,017,000 for 

the Capitol power plant for fiscal year 2008, plus offsetting collections of $8,000,000. This is a decrease of $40,296,000 below the enacted level, including the $50,000,000 provided in the fiscal year 

2007 supplemental, and is $28,209,000 below the budget request. 

The Committee has not included the requested $24,770,000 for 

Steam Tunnel repairs. The Committee provided $50,000,000 in the 

supplemental to address this very important life safety issue. The 

total amount provided to date is $77,600,000 for this initiative. 

The Committee directs the Government Accountability Office, in 

consultation with the Department of Energy and within 90 days 

after enactment of the accompanying bill, to submit to the Committees on Appropriations a report detailing the expected percentage 


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increase in natural gas usage and costs of such usage at the Capitol Power Plant resulting from the Greening of the Capitol Initiative, as well as the forecasted impact on natural gas prices paid by 

American consumers should the percentage of natural gas used 

within the United States for heating and cooling be increased by 

the same rate as that of the Capitol Power Plant. 

A tabulation of the increases in the annual operating budget and 

the project budget follows: 

CAPITOL POWER PLANT 

[Request versus recommendation] 

Item Amount requested Committee recommendation 

Fiscal Year 2008 Operating Budget 

Personal Services ................................................................................................................. $8,997,000 $8,997,000 

Utilities ................................................................................................................................ 72,471,000 72,639,000 

Operations ............................................................................................................................ 5,152,000 4,361,000 

Reimbursement .................................................................................................................... (8,000,000) (8,000,000) 

Subtotal, Operating Budget ........................................................................................ $78,620,000 $77,997,000 

Fiscal Year 2008 Project Budget 

Spare Gearbox and Hub & Blade Assembly for the West Plant ......................................... $75,000 $75,000 

Electrical Breaker Materials ................................................................................................ 190,000 ..........................

Main Bulldozer ..................................................................................................................... 316,000 ..........................

Tunnel Repairs ..................................................................................................................... 24,770,000 ..........................

Hazardous Materials Survey (Study) ................................................................................... 75,000 75,000 

Dearator Replacement (Design) .......................................................................................... 80,000 ..........................

Waste Characterization (Study) ........................................................................................... 100,000 ..........................

Back-Up Blow-Down System Installation & Blowdown Heat Recovery (Design) ................ 110,000 ..........................

East Refrigeration Plant Chillers Relocation (Design) ........................................................ 150,000 150,000 

Steam and Chilled Water Piping Condition Assessment (Study) ....................................... 200,000 ..........................

Wickes Boilers Useful Life (Study) ...................................................................................... 200,000 ..........................

OSHA Analysis of Plant Buildings (Study) .......................................................................... 220,000 220,000 

Structural Fireproofing and Integrity (Study) ...................................................................... 220,000 220 000 

Condensate and Water Piping & Valve Replacement (Design) .......................................... 400,000 ..........................

City Water and Fire Loop Connection (Design) ................................................................... 500,000 ..........................

Boiler Plant Low Voltage Electrical Distribution System Replacement (Design) ............... 1,000,000 ..........................

Minor Construction .............................................................................................................. 4,000,000 1,010,000 

Greening of the Capitol Initiative ....................................................................................... .......................... 3,270,000 

Subtotal, Project Budget ............................................................................................ $32,606,000 $5,020,000 

Total, Capitol Power Plant ..................................................................................... $111,226,000 $83,017,000 

LIBRARY BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $27,692,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 42,788,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 31,638,000 

For Library buildings and grounds $31,638,000 has been provided. This amount is an increase of $3,946,000 above the current 

fiscal year and is $11,150,000 below the request. 

A tabulation of the increases in the annual operating budget and 

the project budget follows: 


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LIBRARY BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS 

[Request versus recommendation] 

Item Amount requested 

Committee recommendation 

Fiscal Year 2008 Operating Budget 

Personal Services ..................................................................................................................... $12,289,000 $11,978,000 

Operations ................................................................................................................................ 8,092,000 8,075,000 

Subtotal, Operating Budget ............................................................................................ $20,381,000 $20,053,000 

Fiscal Year 2008 Project Budget 

Sidewalk Replacement, LOC Campus ..................................................................................... $100,000 ........................

Electrical Vault Repairs ........................................................................................................... 225,000 $225,000 

Painting Arches, TJB ................................................................................................................ 237,000 ........................

95% Filtration LOC—Phase 1 of 3 ........................................................................................ 250,000 ........................

Backflow Preventer Installation ............................................................................................... 250,000 ........................

Upgrade Power Data Center, JMMB ........................................................................................ 250,000 250,000 

Life Safety Deficiencies Abatement ......................................................................................... 390,000 390,000 

Transite Panel Abatement, TJB ............................................................................................... 580,000 580,000 

Backflow Prevention (Design) .................................................................................................. 75,000 ........................

Stained Glass Window Repairs, TJB (Study) ........................................................................... 200,000 ........................

Facility Conditions Assessment, TJB (Study) .......................................................................... 700,000 ........................

Ramp/Handrails Redesign and Garage Waterproofing, JAB (Design) .................................... 800,000 ........................

Return Air System Modifications, Ground Floor Corridors, JAB .............................................. 830,000 ........................

Egress Improvements, LOC (Design) ....................................................................................... 1,000,000 1,000,000 

Copyright Deposit Facility (Design) ......................................................................................... 2,130,000 ........................

High Voltage Switchgear Replacement, JMMB ........................................................................ 2,130,000 2,130,000 

Secured Storage Facilities, JMMB ........................................................................................... 3,750,000 ........................

Smoke Detector Upgrades. JAB ............................................................................................... 6,510,000 6,510,000 

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

Subtotal, Project Budget ................................................................................................ $22,407,000 $11,585,000 

Total, Library Buildings and Grounds ................................................................... $42,788,000 $31,638,000 

CAPITOL POLICE BUILDINGS, GROUNDS, AND SECURITY

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $11,768,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 18,816,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 16,109,000 

For Capitol Police buildings, grounds, and security $16,109,000 has been provided. This amount is a decrease of $2,707,000 below 

the budget request and is $4,341,000 above the amount provided 

in the current fiscal year. 

A tabulation of the increases in the annual operating budget and 

the project budget follows: 

CAPITOL POLICE BUILDINGS, GROUNDS, AND SECURITY 

[Request versus recommendation] 

Item Amount requested 

Committee recommendation 

Fiscal Year 2008 Operating Budget 

Personal Services ..................................................................................................................... $1,418,000 $1,192,000 

Operations ................................................................................................................................ 12,698,000 12,417,000 

Subtotal, Operating Budget ....................................................................................... $14,116,000 $13,609,000 

Fiscal Year 2008 Project Budget 

Chiller Replacement, ACF (Design) ......................................................................................... $300,000 ........................

HVAC Controls Replacement, ACF (Design) ............................................................................ 400,000 ........................


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CAPITOL POLICE BUILDINGS, GROUNDS, AND SECURITY—Continued 

[Request versus recommendation] 

Item Amount requested 

Committee recommendation 

Vehicle Barriers, Independence Avenue, USCP ....................................................................... 2,000,000 $2,000,000 

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

Subtotal, Project Budget ................................................................................................ $4,700,000 $2,500,000 

Total, Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds, and Security ........................................ $18,816,000 $16,109,000 

BOTANIC GARDEN

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $7,697,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 9,707,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 8,310,000 

The amount recommended for the Botanic Garden is $8,310,000. 

This amount is $1,397,000 below the budget request and is 

$613,000 above the current level. 

The following tabulation summarizes the recommendations: 

BOTANIC GARDEN 

[Request versus recommendation] 

Item Amount requested 

Committee recommendation 

Fiscal Year 2008 Operating Budget 

Personal Services ......................................................................................................................... $5,513,000 $5,513,000 

Operations .................................................................................................................................... 2,795,000 2,497,000 

Subtotal, Operating Budget ................................................................................................ $8,308,000 $8,010,000 

Fiscal Year 2008 Project Budget 

Partnership Support ..................................................................................................................... $344,000 $100,000 

Administration Building Repairs ................................................................................................. 200,000 200,000 

Bartholdi Fountain Basin Repair and Basin Lightning .............................................................. 580,000 ......................

Outdoor Plantings Design for Bartholdi Park (Design) ............................................................... 275,000 ......................

Subtotal, Project Budget .................................................................................................... $1,399,000 $300,000 

Total, Botanic Garden ................................................................................................ $9,707,000 $8,310,000 

CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $43,758,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 33,884,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 27,545,000 

The Committee recommends funding in the amount of 

$27,545,000 for the cost to complete, project fit-out, and operations. 

This amount is $6,339,000 below the amount requested and is 

$16,213,000 below the current fiscal year. 

CVC Exhibits.—The Committee applauds the efforts made by 

those charged with the planned exhibits in the Capitol Visitor Center to include the historic roles of African American and women in 

Congress, However, the Committee remains concerned about the 

lack of representation of other racial groups in the exhibits, including Hispanic Americans and Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, who have made historic contributions to our nation’s Capitol. 


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The Committee urges that these omissions be corrected to truly 

represent the people of the United States. 

CVC Working Space.—The Committee is dismayed by the failure 

of this project to provide adequate working space for Congress. 

Over $70 million will be spent for expansion space for the Congress, yet there is not one room in the CVC or the rest of the Capitol Building that is adequate for a meeting of Conferees of the Full 

Committees. The Architect of the Capitol is directed to report on 

the options and costs of reconfiguring space in the Capitol Building, 

including the CVC, to meet those needs. This report is to be included in the next CVC obligation plan required in this bill under 

the heading ‘‘Capitol Visitor Center’’. 

CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER 

[Request versus recommendation] 

Item Amount requested 

Committee recommendation 

Fiscal Year 2008 Operating Budget 

Personal Services ..................................................................................................................... $8,711,000 $5,494,000 

Operations ................................................................................................................................ 5,013,000 2,051,000 

Subtotal, Operating Budget ............................................................................................ $13,724,000 $7,545,000 

Fiscal Year 2008 Project Fit-Out Budget 

Computer, Telecom & Electrical Upgrades ............................................................................. $100,000 ........................

Ropes and Stanchions ............................................................................................................. 60,000 ........................

Construction ............................................................................................................................. 20,000,000 $20,000,000 

Subtotal, Project Budget ................................................................................................ $20,160,000 $20,000,000 

Total, Capitol Visitor Center .................................................................................. $33,884,000 $27,545,000 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Section 1201 authorizes the Architect of the Capitol to enter into 

agreements for the Rosa Parks statue. The committee directs the 

Architect to provide periodic status reports on this project. Section 

1202 establishes an Office of the Inspector General. Section 1203 

authorizes a one-year pilot program for flexible work schedules. 

Section 1204 authorizes the payment of travel and transportation 

expenses of new appointees. Section 1205 allows the Architect to 

grant easements for rights of way on all property designated Capitol Grounds. Section 1206 provides authority for the Architect to 

award design-build construction contracts. Section 1207 provides 

for advance payments authority for subscription services. In regard 

to any advance payment for subscription services, a discount offered to the Architect of the Capitol must exceed the cost of the 

funds per the rate published by the United States Treasury (I TFM 

6–8040.40). Section 1208 allows for insurance coverage for works of 

art borrowed for exhibits. Section 1209 provides for the maintenance of the Capitol Visitor Center. Section 1210 adjusts the approval process for leasing authority. 


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LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 

The Committee recommends appropriations totaling $572,512,000 for the operations of the Library of Congress for fiscal 

year 2008. 

The Committee has included a new administrative provision 

(Section 1304) that allows for the transfer of funds between appropriations with the approval of the Committees on Appropriations of 

the House and Senate. This new provision will provide Library 

management flexibility to address funding requirements for such 

programs as, but not limited to, Library-wide training, space management, information technology, and infrastructure requirements 

that all appropriations under the heading ‘‘LIBRARY OF CONGRESS’’ can address as agency priorities. 

Student Loan Repayment Program.—The Committee believes 

that in order to meet the work-life expectations of a highly talented, motivated, and mobile new generation of workers a Student 

Loan Repayment Program is a benefit aimed at retaining skilled 

employees and a recruitment incentive for difficult-to-fill positions. 

Such a program will help the Library compete with the private and 

public sector for top talent. Therefore, the Committee directs the 

Library of Congress to develop an agency-wide Student Loan Repayment Program and include a proposal in the FY 2009 budget 

submission. 

Rewards and Recognition.—In fiscal years 2005 and 2006 the Library of Congress has paid over $2.7 million and $2.3 million respectively, for incentive payments/staff awards/senior level bonuses 

to their employees. These payments have been made within the 

current salary and benefit funding provided to each separate appropriation and thus may decrease the ability to fund FTEs that the 

Committee intended to fund and be filled. Therefore, the Committee directs that, starting with the next budget submission, the 

budget justification will reflect a realignment of funding, and or associated decrease in FTEs, from the salary base to a separate line 

item for incentive payments/staff awards/senior level bonuses. Each 

and every year the Committee directs the Library to justify, in detail, the amount of funding required for this program and the expenditures by organization for the prior fiscal year. 

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

Library of Congress 

Item Amount 

Fiscal year 2008: 

Salaries and expenses .................................................................... $394,650,000 

Copyright Office .............................................................................. 5,603,000 

Congressional Research Service .................................................... 104,518,000 

Books for the blind and physically handicapped ......................... 67,741,000 

Total ............................................................................................. $572,512,000 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $381,247,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 461,102,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 394,650,000 

(Plus: Authority to spend receipts) ....................................................... (6,350,000) 

Total available ................................................................................ $401,000,000 


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The sum of $394,650,000, plus $6,350,000 in offsetting receipts, 

is recommended for salaries and expenses, which is the basic appropriation for the operation of Library programs, an increase of 

$13,403,000 above the current level and a decrease of $66,452,000 

below the request. The funding provided will support 2,835 FTE’s, 

a reduction of 14 FTE’s from the current level. 

The Committee recommendation fully funds the request for the 

National Audio Visual Conservation Center. In 2007, construction 

will be completed; the entire property transferred to the government; staff relocations will continue; and the facility will become 

fully operational. The Committee thanks the Packard Humanities 

Institute for its contribution of this state-of-the-art conservation facility. 

The recommendation fully funds the request for the ‘‘Purchase of 

Library Materials’’ program as reflected in the current Library 

Services Operating Plan. The Committee allowance fully funds the 

Global Legal Information Network (GLIN); escape hoods for Library patrons; and the workforce transformation project and the 

Digital Collections and Educational Curricula Program. 

In addition, the Committee has provided $6,500,000 for the National Digital Information Infrastructure and Preservation Program 

(NDIIPP). The Committee supports the NDIIPP program however, 

the entire request cannot be provided for this fiscal year. The Committee has provided new language that, with Committee approval, 

authorizes the transfer of funding between Library accounts that 

might become available during the fiscal year to increase funding 

for this program. 

The Committee has not included, because of budgetary constraints, the $43.9 million requested by the Library to be transferred to the Architect of the Capitol, for the construction of the Library of Congress Fort Meade Logistics Center. This is the first 

time that the Library has requested funding of this nature in the 

Library’s budget rather than the Architect of the Capitol’s submitting the Library’s requirements in their budget. The Committee directs that in the future, requests under the jurisdiction of the Architect, on behalf of the Library, will be included in the Architect’s 

budget submission. This is not to be interpreted that the Library’s 

request for projects under the Architect’s jurisdiction are to be submitted without exception. Rather, the Library of Congress and the 

Architect of the Capitol are to work, within the AOC guidelines, to 

ensure that all Library requests receive timely information and appropriate instructions to meet AOC consideration deadlines. The 

Committee will not consider any further request of this nature as 

a result of the breakdown in the line of communication, the AOC 

process for project consideration, and/or misunderstanding of that 

process between the two organizations. 

Franklin Collection.—The Committee supports the goal of bringing the Library’s extensive 3,000 text collection of American books 

that were translated into Arabic, Persian, Pashtu, and Indonesian 

online in a digital format. As the first step in this endeavor, the 

Committee strongly encourages the Library to select an initial 150 

to 300 titles on the basis of such criteria as age of reader, cultural 

importance, and importance of writer and translator, and to secure 

copyright permission for the digitization of these books. 


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COPYRIGHT OFFICE

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $58,420,000 

2008 budget request .............................................................................. 51,562,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 5,603,000 

(Plus: Authority to spend receipts) ....................................................... (44,224,000) 

Total available ................................................................................ $49,827,000 

Salaries and expenses.—The Committee recommends an appropriation of $5,603,000, plus authority to spend $44,224,000 in receipts, for the Copyright Office which is $1,735,000 below the request and $8,593,000 below the enacted level. The Committee recommendation includes $1,000,000 for the Records Preservation 

Project that is funded with offsetting collections. The Committee 

recommendation reflects an increase in authority to use 

$10,000,000 in prior year offsetting collections and projected fiscal 

year 2007 carryover balances. In addition, the Committee has provided $972,000 in direct appropriations for the salary and benefit 

costs of employees of the Copyright Royalty Judges Program. 

The Committee congratulates the management and staff of the 

Copyright Office on the completion of the ‘‘Business Process Reengineering Project’’. This multi-year project, which is estimated to 

produce multi-million dollar annual savings, is an example of how 

agencies need to adjust business processes utilizing technology, 

new systems, equipment and employee training. 

CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $100,786,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 108,702,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 104,518,000 

Salaries and expenses.—The Committee recommends 

$104,518,000 for fiscal year 2008. This amount is $3,732,000 above 

the current year and is $4,184,000 below the request. The funding 

provided will support 705 FTE’s. 

The Committee appreciates the excellent work of the entire staff 

of the Congressional Research Service. With that, the Subcommittee wants to especially acknowledge, as he enters into retirement, the many years of dedicated, professional support provided by Paul Dwyer. On behalf of the entire Appropriations Committee, we thank you for your almost 40 years of outstanding service to the American people. 

BOOKS FOR THE BLIND AND PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $53,614,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 75,623,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 67,741,000 

Salaries and expenses.—A total of $67,741,000 is recommended 

for the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically 

Handicapped, an increase of $14,127,000 over the amount provided 

in fiscal year 2007 and $7,882,000 below the request. This funding 

will continue to support 128 FTE’s. 

The Committee recommendation provides $12,500,000 for the 

new Digital Talking Book Program. The Committee supports this 

program; however, the entire request cannot be provided for this 

fiscal year. The Committee has provided new language that, with 


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Committee approval, authorizes the transfer of funding between Library accounts that might become available during the fiscal year 

to increase funding for this program. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

The Committee has included four administrative provisions. Section 1301 provides for expenses related to official representation for 

the incentive awards program. Section 1302 provides obligation authority for various Library programs. Section 1303 changes the 

audit requirements for the Cooperative Acquisitions Program Revolving Fund. Section 1304 provides authority to transfer funds between Library accounts. 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 

CONGRESSIONAL PRINTING AND BINDING

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $87,954,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 109,541,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 87,892,000 

The Committee has included an appropriation of $87,892,000 for 

printing and binding of congressional documents at the Government Printing Office for use by Congress. This amount is a decrease of $62,000 below the current level and is $21,649,000 below 

the request. 

The Committee understands that this allowance may produce a 

deficit in this account for the coming fiscal year. With the recent 

approval to transfer $5.7 million of prior year funds, and the unknown work load of the new Congress, the Committee will address 

any potential shortfall in future budgets. 

A comparative summary of the recommendation by category of 

work follows: 

CONGRESSIONAL PRINTING AND BINDING 

Appropriation 

2007 Requested 2008 Recommended 2008 

Congressional Record program ................................................................... $29,621,000 $27,981,000 ........................

Miscellaneous publications ......................................................................... 3,835,000 4,097,000 ........................

U.S. Code and Supplements ....................................................................... 4,828,000 ........................ ........................

Miscellaneous printing and binding ........................................................... 18,651,000 20,009,000 ........................

Details to Congress .................................................................................... 3,082,000 2,944,000 ........................

Document envelopes and document franks ............................................... 883,000 1,027,000 ........................

Business and committee calendars ........................................................... 2,885,000 3,189,000 ........................

Bills, resolutions, and amendments ........................................................... 8,367,000 8,062,000 ........................

Committee reports ...................................................................................... 4,016,000 4,051,000 ........................

Documents .................................................................................................. 1,715,000 1,347,000 ........................

Hearings ...................................................................................................... 19,961,000 21,983,000 ........................

Committee prints ........................................................................................ 2,446,000 1,770,000 

Total ............................................................................................... $87,954,000 $109,541,000 $87,892,000 

OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $33,096,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 45,613,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 35,434,000 

The Committee recommends the appropriation of $35,434,000 for 

the salaries and expenses of the Superintendent of Documents, a 


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part of the Government Printing Office. This amount is an increase 

of $2,338,000 over the enacted level and is $10,179,000 below the 

request. The Committee recommendation provides $467,000 for manda- tory pay and related costs; $521,000 for price level changes; 

$700,000 for data storage; $300,000 for the Federal Depository Library Program Tangible Distribution Systems modernization; 

$200,000 for the International Exchange Service Program modernization and $150,000 for CD–ROM data migration. 

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE REVOLVING FUND

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $1,000,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 26,825,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 2,450,000 

The Committee recommends $2,450,000 for the Government 

Printing Office Revolving Fund. This is an increase of $1,450,000 

over the enacted level and is $24,375,000 below the request. This 

recommendation provides $2,000,000 for elevator repairs; $250,000 

for fire alarm systems; and $200,000 for workforce retraining. 

Physical Security.—The Committee is concerned about possible 

security lapses at the GPO facilities. Within 60 days of enactment 

of this Act, the GPO is to report to the Committees on Appropriations of the House and Senate on the current staffing plans for providing physical security to all GPO facilities. 

The bill includes the usual language authorizing the operation of 

the revolving fund, authority to hire or purchase automobiles, and 

advisory councils, and consultants. 

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE 

SALARIES AND EXPENSES

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ 1 $481,070,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 522,804,000 

Committee recommendation ................................................................. 503,328,000 

Offsetting collections ............................................................................. (7,510,000) 

Total available ................................................................................ $510,838,000 

1 Includes $374,000 provided in P.L. 110–28. 

The Committee has provided $503,328,000 in direct appropriations for the Government Accountability Office, plus $7,510,000 in 

offsetting collections derived from reimbursements for conducting 

financial audits of government corporations and rental of space in 

the GAO building. This amount is an increase of $22,258,000 above 

the current fiscal year, including the fiscal year 2007 supplemental, 

and is $19,476,000 less than the amended budget request. This 

amount provides for 3,217 FTEs, an increase of 57 FTEs above the 

current levels. 

The Committee fully funds all mandatory pay and benefit 

changes and price level increases. This increase in funding will enable the GAO to address important issues facing the Congress such 

as healthcare; changing security threats; education; the environment; and continued audit work on the war in Iraq. 

The Committee is dismayed to hear reports that GAO is moving 

slowly on resolving the issue of collective bargaining for GAO employees. A substantial number of employees have petitioned for 


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union representation, and the Committee expects GAO to move the 

process forward expeditiously. The Committee is especially concerned about reports of unusual efforts to challenge the rights of 

employees to participate in collective bargaining representation, 

and directs GAO to make certain that no extraordinary measures 

are taken which might have the effect of blocking or delaying the 

process. A substantial number of employees have petitioned for 

union representation, and the Committee expects the Comptroller 

General to move the process forward expeditiously. 

Technology Assessment.—The Committee believes as technology 

continues to change and expand rapidly it is essential that the consequences of technological applications be anticipated, understood, 

and considered in determination of public policy on existing and 

emerging national problems. The Committee believes it is necessary for the Congress to equip itself with effective means for securing competent, timely and unbiased information concerning the 

effects of scientific and technical developments and use the information in the legislative assessment of matters pending before the 

Congress. The Committee has provided $2,500,000 for the Government Accountability Office to perform technology assessment studies in the coming fiscal year. 

Capitol Power Plant.—Public Law 108–447, Section 1101 directed 

the Comptroller General to conduct a study and submit to the appropriate congressional committees and the Architect of the Capitol 

a report on the cost, cost effectiveness, benefits, and feasibility of 

the Architect of the Capitol entering into a contract with a private 

entity for the management and operation of the Capitol Power 

Plant (CPP). In a report to the Committee dated April 8, 2005, the 

Government Accountability Office reported ‘‘Because CPP is currently undertaking a major capital improvement project to expand 

the West Refrigeration Plant that will affect ongoing costs and may 

ultimately affect staffing, it is premature for us to comment on the 

feasibility of contracting for operation of CPP.’’ The Architect of the Capitol has reported to the Committee that 

the West Refrigeration Plant is projected to be completed by June 

30, 2007. Therefore, in accordance with Public Law 108–447, Section 1101, the Comptroller General is directed to reexamine the 

cost, cost effectiveness, benefits, and feasibility of the Architect of 

the Capitol entering into a contract with a private entity for the 

management and operation of the CPP. The Committee directs that 

this reexamination include a recommendation, for or against, the 

feasibility of a private entity managing and operating the Capitol 

Power Plant. The Committee further directs that this reexamination will be completed no later than December 31, 2007. 

Affirmative Action Plan.—An affirmative action plan is a blueprint for improving the employment and advancement opportunities for women, minorities, and individuals with disabilities. A formal affirmative action plan will assist the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in achieving an inclusive workforce, ensuring 

an environment of respect for all individuals, and offer opportunities for each person to develop to his or her full potential in support 

of the mission of the GAO. An affirmative action plan is a very important element of any human resources operation, and with the 

support and participation of the entire agency GAO will achieve 

measurable diversity within the workforce. Therefore, the ComVerDate Aug 31 2005 01:55 Jun 20, 2007 Jkt 035984 PO 00000 Frm 00030 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\HR198.XXX HR198

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mittee directs GAO to develop and institute an affirmative action 

plan with specific goals and objectives within 180 days of enactment of this Act to further the ability for women, minorities, and 

individuals with disabilities to achieve balanced representation 

within the GAO workforce. 

Facilities Management.—Both the House of Representatives 

Chief Administrative Officer staff and the Architect of the Capitol 

have responsibility for elements of the House buildings infrastructure. Considerable effort must be undertaken on a regular basis to 

ensure the work undertaken by both organizations is coordinated 

and does not result in redundant or unfunded projects or activities. 

Significant cost savings might be realized by eliminating the split 

responsibilities and having facilities management services provided 

by one organization. Therefore, the Committee directs the Government Accountability Office to review the cost effectiveness of House 

Office Building facilities services and recommend whether a different approach to facilities management should be undertaken. 

This review should be completed by March 31, 2008 and should include comparing the House facilities with other organizations or institutions of similar size and character. 

Tuition Reimbursement Parity.—The Committee directs the Government Accountability Office to conduct a review of the tuition reimbursement programs administered by the executive branch and 

submit to the Committees on Appropriations and House Administration, by not later than 6 months after the enactment of the accompanying bill, a report on the feasibility and cost of providing 

comparable benefits to legislative branch employees. 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION

The Committee has included an administrative provision (Sec. 

1401.) that repeals the unique Comptroller General Retirement 

system for any individual appointed Comptroller General after the 

date of the enactment of this Act. Future appointments to this position will be covered under the standard Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). 

PAYMENT TO THE OPEN WORLD LEADERSHIP CENTER TRUST FUND

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $13,860,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 14,400,000 

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

The Committee recommends $6,000,000 for payment to the Open 

World Leadership Center Trust Fund. This amount is $7,860,000 

below the fiscal year 2007 level and is $8,400,000 below the budget 

request. 

In addition, the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs 

fiscal year 2008 appropriation bill provides $6,000,000 to be transferred to the Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund. Thus the 

total funding for the Open World Center will be $12,000,000, which 

is $1,860,000 below the current level and is $2,400,000 below the 

request. 


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ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION

The Committee has included an administrative provision (Sec. 

1501) which transfers the Open World Leadership Center to the 

Department of State on October 1, 2008. 

JOHN C. STENNIS CENTER FOR PUBLIC SERVICE TRAINING AND

DEVELOPMENT

2007 appropriation ................................................................................ $430,000 

2008 budget estimate ............................................................................ 430,000 

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

The Committee has provided $430,000 for the John C. Stennis 

Center for Public Service Training and Development. This amount 

is the same as the fiscal year 2007 level and the fiscal year 2008 

budget request. 

TITLE II—GENERAL PROVISIONS 

The customary language regarding emergency assistance for vehicles, fiscal year limitation, positions and allowances, consulting 

services, awards and settlements, the Legislative Branch Financial 

Managers Council, the Architect to maintain and landscape areas 

on Washington Avenue SW., and a limitation on transfers of funds 

is included in this bill (Sec. 201–208). 

CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY 

Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House 

of Representatives, the Committee on Appropriations bases its authority to report this legislation from clause 7 of section 9 of article 

I of the U.S. Constitution which states: 

‘‘No money shall be drawn from the Treasury but in consequence of Appropriations made by law....’’

COMPARISON WITH THE BUDGET RESOLUTION 

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

of Representatives and section 308(a)(1)(A) of the Congressional 

Budget Act of 1974, the following table compares the levels of new 

budget authority provided in the bill with the appropriate allocation under section 302(b) of the Budget Act. 

COMPARISON WITH BUDGET RESOLUTION 

[In millions of dollars] 

Sec. 302(b) This bill—

Budget authority Outlays Budget authority Outlays 

Discretionary ................................................................................................. $4,024 $4,036 $3,104 1 $3,299 

Mandatory ..................................................................................................... 126 126 126 126 

Total ................................................................................................ $4,150 $4,162 $3,230 $3,425 

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

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


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FIVE-YEAR PROJECTION OF OUTLAYS 

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

of 1974, the following table contains five-year projections prepared 

by the Congressional Budget Office of outlays associated with the 

budget authority provided in the accompanying bill: 

[In millions of dollars] 

Budget Authority ................................................................................... $3,104 

Outlays: 

2008 ................................................................................................. 1 2,693 

2009 ................................................................................................. 307 

2010 ................................................................................................. 66 

2011 ................................................................................................. 15 

2012 ................................................................................................. 11 

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, the amount of financial assistance to State and local governments is as follows: 

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

TRANSFER OF FUNDS 

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

of Representatives, the following table lists the transfers of funds 

included in the accompanying bill. 

Indefinite transfer authority is authorized in Library of Congress, Congressional printing and binding, the Superintendent of 

Documents, and the Capitol Police programs. 

STATEMENT OF GENERAL PERFORMANCE GOALS AND 

OBJECTIVES 

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

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

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

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

RESCISSIONS 

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

of Representatives, the following table list the rescissions in the accompanying bill: 

The accompanying bill contains no rescissions. 

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: 


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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. Most of these items have been carried in previous appropriation bills. This authority tends to result in savings 

by removing the incentive to commit funds at the end of the fiscal 

year. 

2. The bill includes a number of provisions which place limitations on, or which authorize or reauthorize, the use of funds in the 

bill, 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. There is language that allows reimbursement for service to be 

used by the servicing entity. 

4. The bill continues the practice of providing official reception 

and representation allowances for officers and offices of the legislative branch. 

5. The bill authorizes expenses for employee awards, such as certificates or plaques and related ceremonial presentations, by certain agencies. 

6. The bill authorizes salaries and expenses of the House Child 

Care Center. 

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

8. There is language authorizing the Chief Administrative Officer 

of the House to contract with a public or private entity for the operation of the House Fitness Facility. 

9. There is language authorizing funds to be deposited in the 

Treasury to credit to the account of the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer. 

10. There is language that adjusts the salary of a position for 

former Speaker’s staff. 

11. There is language that authorizes allowances for employees 

of the Office of the Attending Physician. 

12. There is language under ‘‘Capitol Police, General Expenses’’

authorizing advance payments for travel by Capitol Police personnel for training or other purposes, expenses associated with the 

relocation of liaison or instructor personnel from the Capitol Police 

force to and from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, 

and for the costs of basic training of police personnel. 

13.. The bill authorizes the transfer of funds within ‘‘Capitol Police, Salaries’’ and ‘‘Capitol Police, General Expenses’’, subject to 

approval. 

14. The bill authorizes an increase in student loan reimbursements for the Capitol Police. 

15. The bill authorizes the Capitol Police to make advance payments for subscription services. 

16. There is language under the Office of Compliance providing 

for the disposal of personal property. 

17. There is language under the Office of Compliance authorizing 

lump-sum payments to reward exceptional performance. 

18. There is language under the Office of Compliance authorizing 

an employee development and training program. 


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19. There is language under the Office of Compliance authorizing 

reimbursement to the Treasury for payments of award and settlements. 

20. There is language under ‘‘Capitol Power Plant’’, Architect of 

the Capitol, allowing reimbursements for chilled water and steam 

provided to the Government Printing Office, the Washington City 

Post Office, the Supreme Court, the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building, Union Station Complex and the Folger Shakespeare Library to be credited to this appropriation and made available for obligation. 

21. There is language under the Architect of the Capitol, Botanic 

Garden that authorizes expenditures for the National Garden. 

22. There is language under the Architect of the Capitol, Capitol 

Visitor Center, restricting the obligation of funds without prior approval. 

23. There is language under the Architect of the Capitol authorizing the Architect to enter into an agreement for the Rosa Parks 

statute. 

24. There is language under the Architect of the Capitol establishing an office of Inspector General. 

25. There is language under the Architect of the Capitol authorizing a one-year flexible work schedule. 

26. There is language that authorizes travel and transportation 

expenses for applicants for positions with the Architect of the Capitol. 

27. There is language under the Architect of the Capitol granting 

authority for the Architect to grant easements. 

28. There is language under the Architect of the Capitol providing for the Architect to award design build contracts. 

29. There is language authorizing advance payments for subscriptions for the Architect of the Capitol. 

30. There is language under the Architect of the Capitol authorizing payment for insurance for exhibits and works of art. 

31. There is language authorizing for the purpose of maintenance 

the Capitol Visitor Center to be treated as an expense of the ‘‘Capitol Building’’. 

32. There is language under the Architect of the Capitol regarding leasing authority approval. 

33. There is 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. 

34. There is language authorizing the expenditure of funds for 

the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission. 

35. There is language authorizing expenditure of receipts for the 

Copyright Royalty Judges. 

36. There is language under ‘‘Congressional Research Service’’

which prohibits the publication of material unless approved by the 

appropriate committees. 

37. There is language authorizing the temporary transfer of 

funds under the heading ‘‘Library of Congress, Salaries and Expenses’’. 

38. There is language regarding the audit requirements of certain Library of Congress funds. 


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39. There is language authorizing the transfer of funds between 

the account under the heading ‘‘Library of Congress’’, subject to approval. 

40. There is language under ‘‘Congressional printing and binding’’ restricting the use of funds appropriated to the Government 

Printing Office for the permanent edition of the Congressional 

Record for individual Representatives and Senators, Resident Commissioners, or Delegates, and language providing that appropriations recommended shall be available for the payment of obligations incurred under appropriations for similar purposes for preceding fiscal years, primarily due to the unpredictability of the volume of work generated by the Congress, limiting the printing of 

certain documents to a time certain, authorizing the transfer of unobligated balances and prohibiting the expenditure of funds for contract guard services as certain facilities. 

41. Authorization of appropriations for Congressional printing 

and binding is included. 

42. There is language under ‘‘Salaries and Expenses’’, Office of 

Superintendent of Documents, which authorizes the use of current 

appropriations to pay for printing certain publications in prior 

years for the depository library program. There is language authorizing the transfer of unexpended balances. 

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

expenses for advisory councils. 

44. There is language relating to the Government Accountability 

Office authorizing the direct procurement of expert and consultant 

services under 5 U.S.C. 3109, at certain rates; authorizing the hire 

of one passenger motor vehicle, as required by 31 U.S.C. 1343; authorizing the General Accounting Office to make advance payments 

in foreign countries in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3324; and to provide 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. 

45. There is language under the Government Accountability Office eliminating the Comptroller General Retirement System for 

anyone appointed to the position of Comptroller General after enactment of this Act. 

46. There is language that transfers the Open World Leadership 

Center to the Department of State beginning in fiscal year 2009. 

47. 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. 

48. 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 

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spect 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. 

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

50. Section 206 authorizes legislative branch entities to share the 

costs of the Legislative Branch Financial Managers Council. 

51. Section 207 authorizes the Architect of the Capitol to maintain certain property. 

52. Section 208 limits the transfer of funds in this Act. 

53. There is language naming the main hall of the CVC Emancipation Hall. 

COMPLIANCE WITH CLAUSE 3 OF RULE XIII (RAMSEYER 

RULE) 

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

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

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

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


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LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2005 

DIVISION G 

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2005 

TITLE I—LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS 

* * * * * * * 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

* * * * * * * 

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 103. CONTRACT FOR EXERCISE FACILITY. (a) IN GENERAL.—The Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives shall enter into a contract on a competitive basis with a 

øprivate entity¿ public or private entity for the management, operation, and maintenance of the exercise facility established for the 

use of employees of the House of Representatives which is constructed with funds made available under this Act. 

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 105. (a) * * * 

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

Funds shall be used for any purpose designated by øthe Chief Administrative Officer¿ 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. 

* * * * * * * 

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1996 

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

United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following 

sums are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year 

ending September 30, 1996, and for other purposes, namely: 

TITLE I—CONGRESSIONAL OPERATIONS 

* * * * * * * 


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ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

SEC. 101. Effective with respect to fiscal years beginning with 

fiscal year 1995, in the case of mail from outside sources presented 

to the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives 

(other than mail through the Postal Service and mail with postage 

otherwise paid) for internal delivery in the House of Representatives, the Chief Administrative Officer is authorized to collect fees 

equal to the applicable postage. Amounts received by the Chief Administrative Officer as fees under the preceding sentence shall be 

ødeposited in the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts¿ deposited in 

the Treasury for credit to the account of the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer. 

* * * * * * * 

SECTION 5 OF HOUSE RESOLUTION 1238, NINETY-FIRST 

CONGRESS 

(As enacted into permenant law by chapter VIII of the Supplemental Appropriations 

Act, 1971) 

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

connection with the administration, settlement, and conclusion of 

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Schedule, as determined by the Speaker, and an additional Secretary, who shall be paid at a gross per annum rate of not to exceed the then current rate for østep 1 of level 6¿ step 7 of level 11 

of such Schedule as determined by the Speaker, designated and appointed by the Speaker to serve as members of his office staff in 

such two-year period. Each person so designated and appointed 

shall be held and considered, for the duration of such appointment, 

as—

(1) * * * 

* * * * * * * 


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SECTION 908 OF THE EMERGENCY SUPPLEMENTAL ACT, 

2002 

EDUCATIONAL ASSISTANCE PROGRAM FOR EMPLOYEES

SEC. 908. (a) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(c) LIMIT ON AMOUNT OF PAYMENTS.—The total amount paid by 

the Capitol Police with respect to any individual under the program under this section may not exceed ø$40,000¿ $60,000. 

* * * * * * * 

TITLE 5, UNITED STATES CODE 

* * * * * * * 

PART III—EMPLOYEES 

* * * * * * * 

SUBPART C—EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE 

* * * * * * * 

CHAPTER 41—TRAINING 

Sec. 

4101. Definitions. 

* * * * * * * 

4122. Training for employees of the Office of Compliance. 

* * * * * * * 

§ 4122. Training for employees of the Office of Compliance 

(a) The Executive Director of the Office of Compliance may, by 

regulation, make applicable such provisions of this chapter as the 

Executive Director determines necessary to provide for training of 

employees of the Office of Compliance. The regulations shall provide 

for training which, in the determination of the Executive Director, 

is consistent with the training provided by agencies under the preceding sections of this chapter. 

(b) The Director of the Office of Personnel Management shall 

provide the Executive Director of the Office of Compliance with such 

advice and assistance as the Executive Director may request in 

order to enable the Executive Director to carry out the purposes of 

this section. 

* * * * * * * 

SUBPART D—PAY AND ALLOWANCES 

* * * * * * * 


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CHAPTER 57—TRAVEL, TRANSPORTATION, AND 

SUBSISTENCE 

* * * * * * * 

SUBCHAPTER II—TRAVEL AND TRANSPORTATION EXPENSES; NEW APPOINTEES, STUDENT TRAINEES, AND 

TRANSFERRED EMPLOYEES 

§ 5721. Definitions 

For the purpose of this subchapter—

(1) ‘‘agency’’ means—

(A) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(G) the Architect of the Capitol; 

ø(G)¿ (H) the Government Printing Office; and 

ø(H)¿ (I) the government of the District of Columbia; 

* * * * * * * 

SECTION 415 OF THE CONGRESSIONAL 

ACCOUNTABILITY ACT OF 1995 

SEC. 415. PAYMENTS. 

(a) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(d) REIMBURSEMENT.—

(1) NOTIFICATION OF PAYMENTS MADE FROM ACCOUNT.—As 

soon as practicable after the Executive Director is made aware 

that a payment of an award or settlement under this chapter 

has been made from the account described in subsection (a), the 

Executive Director shall notify the head of the office to which 

the payment is attributable that the payment has been made, 

and shall include in the notification a statement of the amount 

of the payment. 

(2) REIMBURSEMENT BY OFFICE.—Not later than 180 days 

after receiving a notification from the Executive Director under 

paragraph (1), the head of the office involved shall transfer to 

the account described in subsection (a), out of any funds available for operating expenses of the office, a payment equal to the 

amount specified in the notification. 


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ACT OF DECEMBER 1, 2005 

(Public Law 109–116) 

AN ACT To direct the Joint Committee on the Library to obtain a statue of Rosa 

Parks and to place the statue in the United States Capitol in National Statuary 

Hall, and for other purposes. 

SECTION 1. PLACEMENT OF STATUE OF ROSA PARKS IN NATIONAL 

STATUARY HALL. 

(a) OBTAINING STATUE.—Not later than 2 years after the date 

of the enactment of this Act, the Joint Committee on the Library 

shall enter into an agreement to obtain a statue of Rosa Parks, 

under such terms and conditions as the Joint Committee considers 

appropriate consistent with applicable law. The Joint Committee 

may authorize the Architect of the Capitol to enter into the agreement required under this subsection on its behalf, under such terms 

and conditions as the Joint Committee may require. 

* * * * * * * 

SECTION 521 OF THE NATIONAL ENERGY 

CONSERVATION POLICY ACT 

SEC. 521. DEFINITIONS. 

As used in the part—

(1) The term ‘‘Federal agency’’ means—

(A) * * * 

(B) each entity specified in paragraphs ø(B) through 

(H)¿ (B) through (I) of subsection (1) of section 5721 of title 

5, United States Code. 

* * * * * * * 

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2004 

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

United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following 

sums are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2004, 

and for other purposes, namely: 

TITLE I—LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS 

* * * * * * * 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

* * * * * * * 

ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL 

* * * * * * * 


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ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

* * * * * * * 

SEC. 1102. LEASING OF SPACE. (a) * * * 

(b) CONDITIONS TO LEASE SPACE.—The Architect of the Capitol 

may lease space under subsection (a) upon submission of written 

notice of intent to lease such space to, and approved by—

(1) the øCommittee on Rules and Administration¿ Committees on Appropriations and Rules and Administration of the 

Senate for space to be leased for the Senate; 

(2) øthe House Office Building Commission¿ the Committee 

on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the 

House Office Building Commission for space to be leased for 

the House of Representatives; and 

(3) the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and 

House of Representativesø.¿, for space to be leased for any 

other entity under subsection (a). 

* * * * * * * 

SECTION 207 OF THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH 

APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1998 

SEC. 207. (a) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

ø(e) ANNUAL REPORT.—Not later than March 31 of each year, 

the Librarian of Congress shall prepare and submit to Congress an 

audited financial statement for the revolving fund for the preceding 

fiscal year. The audit shall be conducted in accordance with Government Auditing Standards for financial audits issued by the 

Comptroller General of the United States.¿ 

(e) AUDIT.—The revolving fund shall be subject to audit by the 

Comptroller General at the Comptroller General’s discretion. 

TITLE 31, UNITED STATES CODE 

* * * * * * * 

SUBTITLE I—GENERAL 

* * * * * * * 

CHAPTER 7—GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE 

SUBCHAPTER I—DEFINITIONS AND GENERAL ORGANIZATION 

Sec. 

701. Definitions. 

* * * * * * * 

SUBCHAPTER V—ANNUITIES 

771. Definitions. 

ø772. Annuity of the Comptroller General.¿ 

* * * * * * * 


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SUBCHAPTER III—PERSONNEL 

* * * * * * * 

§ 735. Relationship to other laws 

(a) Except as provided in section 733(c) of this title, this subchapter and subchapter IV of this chapter do not affect sections 

702(b), 703, 731(c)–(e), ø772, 775(a) and (d)¿ or 775(b) of this title. 

* * * * * * * 

SUBCHAPTER V—ANNUITIES 

* * * * * * * 

ø§ 772. Annuity of the Comptroller General 

ø(a) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a 

Comptroller General serving a complete term as Comptroller General or who retires under section 703(e)(1) of this title is entitled 

to receive an annuity for life equal to the pay the Comptroller General is receiving on completion of the term or at the time of retirement. An annuity of a Comptroller General who completes a term 

before becoming 65 years of age is reduced by .25 percent for each 

complete month the Comptroller General is under 65 years of age. 

ø(b) Except as provided in subsection (c) of this section, a 

Comptroller General becoming permanently disabled shall be retired and is entitled to receive an annuity for life equal to— ø(1) the pay of the Comptroller General at the time of retirement if the Comptroller General served at least 10 years; 

or 

ø(2) 50 percent of the pay if the Comptroller General 

served less than 10 years. 

ø(c) A Comptroller General who, when appointed, is or has 

been subject to subchapter III of chapter 83 or chapter 84 of title 

5 remains subject to such subchapter III or such chapter 84 (as the 

case may be) unless the Comptroller General elects in writing to 

receive an annuity under this section. An election is irrevocable 

and must be made within 10 years and 60 days after the start of 

service as Comptroller General. A Comptroller General electing to 

receive an annuity under this section is entitled to a refund of the 

lump-sum credit to the account of the Comptroller General in the 

Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund. 

ø(d) A Comptroller General (except a Comptroller General remaining subject to subchapter III of chapter 83 of title 5) shall—

ø(1) deposit with the Government Accountability Office for 

redeposit in the Treasury as miscellaneous receipts as a contribution to the annuity—

ø(A) 3.5 percent of the pay received as Comptroller 

General before deductions are made under clause (2)(A) of 

this subsection plus 3 percent interest compounded every 

December 31 on the amount to be deposited, if electing 

survivor benefits under this subchapter; or 

ø(B) 8 percent of the pay received as Comptroller General before deductions are made under clause (2)(B) of this 

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cember 31 on the amount to be deposited, if not electing 

survivor benefits under this subchapter; and 

ø(2) have—

ø(A) 3.5 percent of the pay received as Comptroller 

General deducted as a contribution to the annuity if electing survivor benefits under this subchapter; or 

ø(B) 8 percent of the pay received as Comptroller General deducted as a contribution to the annuity if not electing survivor benefits under this subchapter. 

ø(e) A Comptroller General receiving benefits under this section may not receive retirement or disability benefits under another 

law of the United States.¿ 

§ 773. Election of survivor benefits 

(a) To provide survivor benefits, a Comptroller General may 

elect in writing to reduce the pay and annuity of the Comptroller 

General. An election shall be made within 6 months of taking office 

øor, if an election is made under section 772(c) of this title, by the 

60th day after making an election under section 772(c).¿. 

* * * * * * * 

§ 774. Survivor annuities 

(a) * * * 

(b) A survivor annuity shall be paid under this subchapter 

when a Comptroller General—

(1) * * * 

(2) dies in office øor while receiving an annuity under section 772 of this title¿; 

* * * * * * * 

§ 775. Refunds 

ø(a) A Comptroller General separated from office before becoming entitled to receive an annuity under section 772 of this title is 

entitled to a lump-sum refund of the amount deducted from pay or 

deposited as a contribution under section 772, plus 3 percent interest on the amount compounded every December 31. 

ø(b) A Comptroller General making an election under section 

773 of this title who is separated from office before becoming entitled to an annuity under section 772 of this title is entitled to a 

lump-sum refund of the amount deducted under section 773 of this 

title, plus 4 percent interest before January 1, 1948, and 3 percent 

interest after December 31, 1947, compounded every December 31 

until the separation date.¿ 

ø(c)¿ (a) A lump-sum refund of the amounts deducted under 

øsections 772 and 773¿ section 773 of this title, plus interest of 4 

percent before January 1, 1948, and 3 percent after December 31, 

1947, compounded every December 31 until the date of death, shall 

be paid under subsection ø(d)¿ (b) of this section if—

(1) * * * 

* * * * * * * 


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ø(d)¿ (b) If a Comptroller General or retired Comptroller General dies before a refund is made under this section, the refund 

shall be paid in the following order of precedence: 

(1) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

ø(e)¿ (c) The General Counsel is not subject to section 771(1) 

and (2) of this title when making a decision about a surviving 

spouse or child under subsection ø(c) or (d)¿ (a) or (b) of this section. 

ø(f)¿ (d) If the annuities of all individuals entitled to survivor 

annuities under this subchapter end before the amount of annuities 

paid equals the amount deducted under øsections 772 and 773¿ 

section 773 of this title, plus interest of 4 percent before January 

1, 1948, and 3 percent after December 31, 1947, compounded every 

December 31 until the date of death, the remainder shall be paid 

under subsection ø(d)¿ (b) of this section. 

§ 776. Payment of survivor benefits 

(a) * * * 

* * * * * * * 

(d)(1) A payment under subsection (c)(2)(B) of this section or 

section ø775(d)¿ 775(b) of this title is a bar to recovery by another 

individual. 

* * * * * * * 

§ 777. Annuity increases 

(a) * * * 

(b) øAn annuity under section 772 of this title may not be more 

than the basic pay of the Comptroller General.¿ A surviving 

spouse’s annuity may be increased under this section without regard to any limitation set forth in section 774(e) of this title. 

* * * * * * * 

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 table 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. 

EARMARKS 

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

Representatives, this bill, as reported, contains no congressional 

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

in clause 9(d), 9(e), or 9(f) of rule XXI. 


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ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF HON. JERRY LEWIS AND HON. ZACH 

WAMP 

The Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill provides $3.1 billion in discretionary budget authority, which is $276 million (or 8.2 percent) below the budget request and $189 million (or 6.5 percent) 

above the FY 2007, enacted level. Compared to the actual spending 

in FY 2007 (including rescissions, but not emergency spending) the 

bill is a $122 million increase (or 4.1 percent). 

On balance, the funding provided in this bill to operate the legislative branch agencies under the jurisdiction of the House is fiscally responsible. The exception to this fiscal responsibility is the 

$16 million included in this measure for Federal Office Building 8, 

commonly referred to as the former FDA building. This Subcommittee is one of only four Subcommittees whose allocation is actually below the request. 

While we are strongly opposed to the excessive 302(a) funding 

level which increases FY 2008 discretionary spending in excess of 

$20 billion over the President’s request, the 302(b) sub-allocation 

for the Legislative Branch bill is appropriate. 

The Chair and the Ranking Member are both new in their roles 

on the Subcommittee. While they have worked together on issues 

related to the CVC, the same cannot necessarily be said about the 

development of this bill. 

The development of this bill did not demonstrate the same level 

of bipartisanship shown by other Subcommittees considered prior 

to the Legislative Branch bill. The development of the bill was not 

as collaborative and inclusive as it could have, or for that matter, 

should have been and definitely not as it has been done in the past. 

More than any other bill, this is the bill that the Subcommittee 

Chair and the Ranking Member should operate in a non-partisan 

manner, as they are simply stewards of this great institution. If we 

would have had a more inclusive process, we are certain that the 

Chair would have realized that the Open World Leadership Program enjoys bipartisan support on this Committee. Instead, the 

Chair proposed to end this program and close it out. 

Furthermore, the Chair has included many new policy directives—some controversial—in the report, which was not available 

for Members to review at the Subcommittee markup. 

AOC IG 

We want to applaud the Chair for including an Inspector General 

for the Architect of the Capitol. This provision was included in the 

FY 2007 Legislative Branch Bill but as a result of the Omnibus 

Continuing Resolution process, the provision did not become law. 

Although there is no directive language related to the Capitol Visitors Center in this bill, the Chair, the Ranking Member and other 

members of the Subcommittee remain focused on pushing the 


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schedule and keeping the Architect’s and contractor’s feet to the 

fire as it relates to schedule and cost. 

FOB 8 

The bill provides $16 million for the former FDA building known 

as Federal Office Building 8 (FOB 8) located adjacent to the Ford 

House Office Building. As was said during the full committee 

markup, we need to think long and hard before we decide to again 

expand the Capitol Complex. At a time that we are struggling to 

get our arms around the massive project known as the Capitol Visitor’s Center, the last thing we need to do is embark on another costly campus expansion project. Let us assure our colleagues, $16 

million for security upgrades is just the tip of the iceberg. The General Services Administration has estimated that by proceeding with 

the revised plan, the total cost to the House and the Architect of 

the Capitol is $55,884,000, at a minimum. This is before incurring 

annual lease payments at roughly $10 to $15 million per year. Additionally, occupying another 200,000+ square feet of House office 

space hardly seems to comply with the new ‘‘carbon neutral’’ goal 

of Speaker Pelosi. 

GREENING OF THE CAPITOL

The bill earmarks $3.27 million to implement a ‘‘Greening of the 

Capitol’’ report which has not yet been finalized. The way we understand this funding provision is that we will pay more for natural gas than we are currently paying under contract for coal. This 

additional expenditure will cover the percentage of heating and 

cooling for House office buildings and the House portion of the Capitol. We are left to assume that sounding ‘‘environmental’’ is more 

important than being fiscally responsible. 

Additionally, the bill contains $100,000 in the AOC House buildings account for the Greening of the Capitol Initiative for new environmentally friendly light bulbs—all of which contain mercury and 

will require HAZMAT procedures to dispose of such bulbs. 

Finally, there is an additional $500,000 identified in the Capitol 

Grounds section of the report for an E–85 gas pump. It is our understanding that the House does not currently own or lease any E–

85 vehicles. We are not sure if the plan moving forward is to retrofit current vehicles or buy or lease new vehicles to use the new 

E–85 gas pump provided in this measure. We are spending taxpayer dollars to implement the Chief Administrative Officer’s 

‘‘Greening of the Capitol’’ report—a report that has yet to be finalized and released. 

While widespread bi-partisan support exists for energy efficiency 

upgrades and the use of renewable sources, the minority sees the 

current proposal as more ‘‘window dressing’’ than substance. 

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE

With regard to the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the 

Committee report attempts to have Congress interject itself into 

GAO’s collective bargaining process to expedite the unionization effort at the agency. Language directing GAO to move expeditiously 

in establishing a union organizing process is included in the report 


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even though the Comptroller General, David Walker, has stated 

that he ‘‘supports the rights of GAO employees to organize if they 

so choose.’’ The report also asks GAO for an Affirmative Action Plan even 

though the Managing Director of Opportunity and Inclusiveness 

made the following point regarding this issue: ‘‘Based on our hiring 

and promotion statistics, GAO would currently exceed any reasonable affirmative action goals for women, African Americans and 

Asians. As such, requiring such a plan could limit, rather than enhance our diversity efforts.’’

BOOKS FOR THE BLIND AND PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED

The bill cuts $7 million from the budget request for this important program (Digital Talking Books) but still manages to fund 

‘‘nice to have’’ new programs such as Greening of the Capitol and 

new House office space at FOB 8. 

EMANCIPATION HALL

During full Committee Mr. Wamp and Mr. Jackson offered an 

amendment which was adopted to name the space located in the 

CVC, ‘‘Emancipation Hall.’’ This matter came to the Committee’s 

attention early in the Fiscal Year 2008 process when it became 

known that the AOC and others were calling this space, ‘‘The Great 

Hall.’’ It is common sense that you cannot have two competing 

Great Halls, one in the CVC and one in the century old Library of 

Congress Jefferson Building, which are connected by a tunnel. 

This grand hall is going to be the most prominent gathering 

space, outside of the rotunda, on the Capitol Grounds. The space 

needs a name that recognizes the importance and history of the 

Capitol. 

In looking at the history of the Capitol, there is a glaring omission: to date there is no mention of the contributions slave labor 

made to the Capitol in the telling of its history or in the art work 

displayed. In fact, many people still do not know that it was slave 

labor that actually built this symbol of freedom. The time has come 

for us, the Congress of the United States of America, to realize the 

great opportunity we have before us. By naming this space Emancipation Hall we will finally honor those who have gone un-honored 

far too long. 

Emancipation means free or equal. And there is no greater duty 

bestowed upon the Congress than to advance the principle of Freedom. Emancipation Hall will tell freedom’s story to the millions of 

visitors every year. Like the Statue of Liberty, which stands tall in 

New York’s harbor and represents the promise of Liberty, this hall 

will forever represent the promise of Freedom. 

CAPITOL POLICE

The bill does an excellent job of funding essential Capitol Police 

priorities. We are particularly pleased that the Committee was able 

to provide an additional $5,000,000 for the Chief of Police’s number 

one priority, the radio modernization program. We strongly endorse 

included report language on the poor management of financial operations, issues this Committee has dealt with for many years. We 


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61 

would like to reiterate that the Chief Administrative Officer needs 

to make this the number one priority and implement corrective actions immediately. 

CONCLUSION

We are disappointed this bill was not put together in a more collaborative manner with members of the subcommittee from both 

parties sitting down with staff two or three weeks prior to the bill’s 

consideration. We are confident that over time we will be able to 

move forward working in a manner that better honors the traditions of this subcommittee. 

JERRY LEWIS. 

ZACH WAMP. 

Æ 


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