89–006 

111TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 111–557 

TO IMPROVE CERTAIN ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS OF 

THE LIBRARY OF CONGRESS, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES 

JULY 22, 2010.—Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of 

the Union and ordered to be printed 

Mr. BRADY of Pennsylvania, from the Committee on House 

Administration, submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany H.R. 5681] 

[Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] 

The Committee on House Administration, to whom was referred 

the bill (H.R. 5681) to improve certain administrative operations of 

the Library of Congress, and for other purposes, having considered 

the same, report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that the bill do pass. 

PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION

H.R. 5681, introduced by Chairman Robert A. Brady on July 1, 

2010, makes administrative improvements to three Library of Congress programs. 

ANALYSIS OF THE BILL (AS REPORTED)

Section 1. This section authorizes the Librarian of Congress to 

dispose of outdated or obsolete property through different means, 

including sales, trades and inter-agency transfers. The proceeds 

from these transactions will be available during the fiscal years the 

proceeds are received or the following fiscal year to acquire the 

same or similar property that has been modernized and updated. 

This measure will save money for the Library of Congress by offsetting the cost of purchasing new property. 

Section 2. This section reorganizes the Library of Congress student loan repayment program and clarifies that the Librarian may 

use any available funds to pay for student loan benefits for employees regardless of the source of their salary. Funds for student loan 

repayment for employees of all Library service units will be drawn 


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from the same fund, making repayment easier to administer and 

more accessible to employees. 

Presently, only one Library of Congress employee receives a student loan repayment benefit. Under the current system, Library 

service units, if they wish to participate in the student loan repayment program, must draw from their own operating budgets to 

make payments for employees. Section 2 of H.R. 5681 creates one 

pool of funds for the entire Library of Congress, from which individual service units can draw to cover the amount of monthly repayments. As the Library of Congress has a large number of employees with advanced degrees, this benefit will make it a more attractive destination for potential employees and will help the Library retain the services and talents of current employees. 

Section 3. This section makes available any unobligated amounts 

of expired appropriations to the Librarian of Congress for deposit 

into the Employees’ Compensation Fund pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 

8147(b). This measure will help ensure that the Employees’ Compensation Fund is adequately funded and avoids the need for new 

appropriations. 

COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION

On July 14, 2010, the Committee on House Administration conducted a markup and, by voice vote, ordered H.R. 5681 reported favorably to the House without amendment. 

MATTERS REQUIRED UNDER THE RULES OF THE HOUSE

Constitutional authority 

Clause 3(d)(1) of House rule XIII requires each committee report 

on a public bill or joint resolution to include a statement citing the 

specific constitutional power(s) granted to the Congress on which 

the Committee relies for enactment of the measure under consideration. 

The Committee cites the legislative power broadly granted to 

Congress under Article I. Pursuant to clause 1(j)(4) of House rule 

X, the Committee on House Administration is charged with oversight of the Library of Congress, including management thereof. 

Committee votes 

Clause 3(b) of House rule XIII requires the results of each recorded vote on an amendment or motion to report, together with 

the names of those voting for and against, to be printed in the committee report. No recorded votes were taken during the Committee’s consideration of H.R. 5681. 

Congressional Budget Office estimate 

Clause 3(c)(3) of House rule XIII requires the report of a committee on a measure which has been approved by the committee to 

include a cost estimate prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 403 of the CBA, if timely 

submitted. The Director submitted the following estimate: 


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U.S. CONGRESS, CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE, Washington, DC, July 21, 2010. 

Hon. ROBERT A. BRADY, 

Chairman, Committee on House Administration, 

House of Representatives, Washington, DC. 

DEAR MR. CHAIRMAN: The Congressional Budget Office has prepared the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 5681, a bill to improve 

certain administrative operations of the Library of Congress, and 

for other purposes. 

If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased 

to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Christina Hawley Anthony. 

Sincerely, 

DOUGLAS W. ELMENDORF. 

Enclosure. 

H.R. 5681—A bill to improve certain administrative operations of 

the Library of Congress, and for other purposes 

H.R. 5681 would allow the Librarian of Congress to sell or dispose of obsolete property and use the proceeds of any sale to acquire new, replacement property. In addition, the bill would allow 

the Librarian to use funds provided for salaries and expenses to 

repay the student loans of its employees. Furthermore, beginning 

with appropriations made in fiscal year 2011, the Librarian could 

use unobligated, expired balances to make deposits to the Employee’s Compensation Fund. 

Allowing the Librarian to repay student loans and use expired 

balances could increase total outlays from future appropriations, 

beginning with funding for fiscal year 2011. 

CBO expects that enacting H.R. 5681 could affect direct spending 

by allowing the Librarian to sell property and spend the proceeds; 

therefore, pay-as-you-go procedures would apply. However, CBO estimates that the net effects would be insignificant for each year, 

and in total over the 2011–2020 period. Enacting the bill would not 

affect revenues. 

The CBO staff contact for this estimate is Christina Hawley Anthony. The estimate was approved by Peter H. Fontaine, Assistant 

Director for Budget Analysis. 

Federal mandates 

Section 423 of the CBA requires a committee report on any public bill or joint resolution that includes a federal mandate to include 

specific information about such mandates. The Committee states 

that H.R. 5681 includes no federal mandates. 

Preemption clarification 

Section 423 of the CBA requires a committee report on any public bill or joint resolution to include a committee statement on the 

extent to which the measure is intended to preempt state or local 

law. The Committee states that H.R. 5681 is not intended to preempt any state or local law. 


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Oversight findings 

Clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII requires each committee report to contain oversight findings and recommendations required pursuant to 

clause 2(b)(1) of House rule X. Oversight findings are addressed in 

the descriptive portions of the report. The Committee has general 

oversight responsibility for the Library of Congress. 

Statement of general performance goals and objectives 

Clause 3(c)(4) of House rule XIII requires committee reports to 

include a statement of general performance goals and objectives. 

The Committee believes that enactment of H.R. 5681 will improve 

the operation and efficiency of administrative programs at the Library of Congress. 

Congressional ‘‘earmarks’’ 

Clause 9 of House rule XXI requires committee reports on public 

bills and resolutions to contain an identification of congressional 

‘‘earmarks,’’ limited tax benefits, limited tariff benefits, and the 

names of requesting Members. The bill as reported contains no 

such items. 

Congressional Accountability Act applicability 

Section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 

(Pub.L. 104–1) (CAA) requires each report on a public bill or joint 

resolution relating to terms and conditions of employment or access 

to public services or accommodations to describe the manner in 

which the legislation applies to the Legislative Branch. H.R. 5681 

makes no change to the terms and conditions of employment, access to public services or accommodations in the Legislative 

Branch. 

Changes in Existing Law made by the bill, as reported 

The bill as reported makes no changes in existing law. 

Æ 


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