64–978 

112TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 1st Session 112–9 

AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURES BY COMMITTEES OF THE 

SENATE 

MARCH 31, 2011.—Ordered to be printed 

Mr. SCHUMER, from the Committee on Rules and Administration, 

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. Res. 81] 

The Committee on Rules and Administration having considered 

an original resolution (S. Res. 81) authorizing expenditures by committees of the Senate for the periods March 1, 2011, through September 30, 2011, and October 1, 2011, through September 30, 2012, 

and October 1, 2012, through February 28, 2013, having considered 

the same, reports favorable thereon without amendment and recommends that the resolution do pass. 

CHAIRMAN’S STATEMENT

Since the 101st Congress, the Rules Committee has favorably reported out and the Senate has agreed to an omnibus biennial committee funding authorization for the standing, special, and select 

committees of the Senate. This procedure has consistently received 

strong support from committee chairmen and ranking members. 

During the 1990s, pursuant to Rule XXVII, most committees allocated their funding two-thirds for the majority and one-third for 

the minority. During the past decade, starting with the 107th Congress, biennial negotiations over the allocation ratios for committee 

funding produced Leadership guidance, which the Rules Committee 

used to develop committee budget guidelines. The 109th Congress 

Leadership colloquy of January 6, 2005 set a minimum for the minority of 40 percent of personnel funds after allocations for nondesignated administrative and clerical staff. The minority leader 

stated in the colloquy that he hoped never in the future would it 

be any lower, no matter which party is in control of the Senate. 


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In the 112th Congress, on February 3, 2011, the Leadership 

agreed on a new funding approach to be used in the 112th and 

their intention that it be used in future Congresses in place of biennial negotiations. That funding approach is based on the party division of the Senate, but recognizes the majority’s need for resources 

commensurate with its responsibilities in administering the committee. The Leadership agreed that 10 percent of the total majority 

and minority baseline salary amount, after allocations for non-designated administrative and clerical staff, would be set aside for the 

majority. The remaining 90 percent would be divided according to 

the party division of the Senate. For the 112th Congress, the party 

division for funding purposes is 53 to 47. Committee office space 

follows the same approach, with 10 percent of the total space set 

aside for the majority, and the remaining 90 percent divided according to the party division of the Senate. The Leadership colloquy 

further specified that regardless of the party division of the Senate, 

however, the minority share would never be less than 40 percent, 

and the majority would never exceed 60 percent including the 10 

percent set aside for the majority. This approach provides greater 

stability to committees when Senate party ratios alter or the Senate majority changes from one party to another. 

The February 3, 2011, Joint Leadership colloquy and letter, submitted by the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader, are included below for informational purposes. 

COLLOQUY

MR. REID. Mr. President, over the last 20 years, the apportionment of committee funding has gone from a straight two-thirds for 

majority and one-third for minority during the 1990s, regardless of 

the size of the majority and minority, to biannual negotiations during the past decade. It is my intention that the approach adopted 

for this Congress will be used in the future. This new funding allocation for Senate committees is based on the party division of the 

Senate, with 10 percent of the total majority and minority salary 

baseline going to the majority for administrative expenses. However, regardless of the party division of the Senate, it is also intended that the minority share will never be less than 40 percent, 

and the majority share will never exceed 60 percent. 

MR. MCCONNELL. It is my intention also that this new approach 

will serve us for this Congress and future Congresses. In addition, 

we are making a transition to restore Special Reserves to its historic purpose. We know that we will face tight budgets for the foreseeable future and cannot expect increases in funding. We have to 

move toward funding authorizations that are in line with our actual resources and I look forward to working with my friend, the 

majority leader, to accomplish this. 

MR. REID. I thank my friend, the Republican leader, and ask 

unanimous consent that a joint leadership letter be printed in the 

Record. 

JOINT LEADERSHIP LETTER

We mutually commit to the following for the 112th Congress: 


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The budgets of the Committees of the Senate, including 

Joint and Special Committees, and all other subgroups, 

shall be apportioned to reflect the ratio of the Senate as 

of this date, including an additional ten percent (10%) to 

be allocated to the Chairmen for administrative expenses, 

to be determined by the Rules Committee. However, the 

amount of funding authorized for each individual Committee in the 112th Congress is being reduced by the 

amount that was allocated to that Committee from Special 

Reserves in the last Congress. 

Special Reserves is being restored to its historic purpose. 

Requests for funding will only be considered when submitted by a Committee Chairman and Ranking Member 

for unanticipated, non-recurring needs. Such requests shall 

be granted only upon the approval of the Chairman and 

Ranking Member of the Rules Committee. 

Funds for Committee expenses shall be available to each 

Chairman consistent with Senate rules and practices of 

the 111th Congress. 

The Chairman and Ranking Member of any Committee 

may, by mutual agreement, modify the apportionment of 

Committee funding and office space. 

The division of Committee office space shall be commensurate with this funding agreement. 

BACKGROUND

Beginning in the 106th Congress, the biennial committee funding 

cycle was divided into 3 segments: the 7-month period from March 

1 through September 30 of the first calendar year of the Congress; 

the 12-month period from October 1 of the first calendar year 

through September 30 of the second calendar year; and the 5- 

month period from October 1 of the second calendar year through 

the last day of February of the third calendar year. S. Res. 81 continues this practice. 

S. Res. 81, the ‘‘omnibus’’ committee funding resolution for the 

112th Congress, was reported in lieu of Senate Resolutions 50, 52, 

53, 54, 56, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62, 64, 66, 67, 68, 69, 71, and 79, which 

were reported by the Senate committees in conformance with paragraph 9 of Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. An original 

resolution, S. Res. 70, authorizing expenditures by the Committee 

on Rules and Administration, is on the Senate calendar (Order No. 

8) and is obviated by passage of S. Res. 81, since funding for the 

Rules Committee’s expenditures in the 112th Congress is included 

in the omnibus funding resolution. 

The total funding target for majority and minority salary baselines for each of fiscal years 2011, 2012, and 2013, will be 

$100,000,000 plus the actual amount approved for cost of living adjustments (COLAs) in fiscal years 2009 and 2010. The funding will 

be allocated according to the ratios in the Leadership colloquy. 

There are no amounts authorized for COLAs in the 112th Congress 

for fiscal years 2011, 2012 and 2013. Therefore, committees were 

advised not to include COLAs in their budgets. 

Further, special reserves will not be available to each chairman/ 

ranking member on request as they were in the 111th Congress. 


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As stated in the February 3, 2011, Joint Leadership letter, the special reserves fund is being restored to its historic purpose. Requests 

for funding from special reserves will be considered only when submitted by a Committee chairman and ranking member for unanticipated, non-recurring needs. The request must be approved by 

the chairman and ranking member of the Rules Committee. 

Similar to procedures used during the previous four Congresses, 

the Rules Committee offered committees the opportunity to streamline the authorization process. Committees whose budget requests 

were within guidelines specified by the Joint Leadership agreement 

and whose questionnaires were jointly signed by the chairman and 

ranking member were not required to testify on their funding resolution before the Rules Committee. Committees that wished to request funds that exceeded the guidelines were directed to submit 

to the Rules Committee a letter, signed by the chairman and ranking member, that specified the budget amount and asked for a 

hearing. All committees funded by S. Res. 81 submitted budgets 

and questionnaires that conformed to the guidelines. 

For the 112th Congress, the Rules Committee prepared an original funding resolution incorporating a budget amount at the guidelines level for every committee included in the resolution. The Senate passed the omnibus committee funding resolution, S. Res. 81, 

on March 2, 2011, by unanimous consent and without amendment. 

Sec. 1. Aggregate Authorization 

(a) In General—For purposes of carrying out the powers, duties, 

and functions under the Standing Rules of the Senate, and under 

the appropriate authorizing resolutions of the Senate there is authorized for the period March 1, 2011, through September 30, 2011, 

in the aggregate of $70,790,674, for the period October 1, 2011, 

through September 30, 2012, in the aggregate of $121,355,435, and 

for the period October 1, 2012, through February 28, 2013, in the 

aggregate of $50,564,763, in accordance with the provisions of this 

resolution, for standing committees of the Senate, the Special Committee on Aging, the Select Committee on Intelligence, and the 

Committee on Indian Affairs. 

Sec. 2. Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry 

FY 2011 

(7 mths) 

FY 2012 

(12 mths) 

FY 2013 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $2,727,993 $4,676,559 $1,948,566 

2011 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2012 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2013 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

Consultants ............................................................................................................. 0 0 0 

Training ................................................................................................................... 0 0 0 

Official Mail ............................................................................................................ 6,047 10,367 4,320 

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 66,039 113,210 47,171 

Budget Authority 112th Congress .......................................................................... 2,800,079 4,800,136 2,000,057 


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Sec. 3. Committee on Armed Services 

FY 2011 

(7 mths) 

FY 2012 

(12 mths) 

FY 2013 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $4,681,305 $8,025,095 $3,343,790 

2011 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2012 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2013 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

Consultants ............................................................................................................. 14,583 25,000 10,417 

Training ................................................................................................................... 4,667 8,000 3,333 

Official Mail ............................................................................................................ 4,083 7,000 2,917 

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 45,231 77,539 32,308 

Budget Authority 112th Congress .......................................................................... 4,749,869 8,142,634 3,392,765 

Sec. 4. Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs 

FY 2011 

(7 mths) 

FY 2012 

(12 mths) 

FY 2013 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $4,202,004 $7,203,434 $3,001,431 

2011 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2012 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2013 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

Consultants ............................................................................................................. 11,667 20,000 8,333 

Training ................................................................................................................... 700 1,200 500 

Official Mail ............................................................................................................ 1,400 2,400 1,000 

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 88,417 151,572 63,155 

Budget Authority 112th Congress .......................................................................... 4,304,188 7,378,606 3,074,419 

Sec. 5. Committee on the Budget 

FY 2011 

(7 mths) 

FY 2012 

(12 mths) 

FY 2013 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $4,432,576 $7,598,701 $3,166,125 

2011 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2012 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2013 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

Consultants ............................................................................................................. 0 0 0 

Training ................................................................................................................... 0 0 0 

Official Mail ............................................................................................................ 10,746 18,421 7,675 

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 45,919 78,718 32,799 

Budget Authority 112th Congress .......................................................................... 4,489,241 7,695,840 3,206,599 

Sec. 6. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation 

FY 2011 

(7 mths) 

FY 2012 

(12 mths) 

FY 2013 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $4,536,453 $7,776,777 $3,240,324 

2011 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2012 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2013 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

Consultants ............................................................................................................. 0 0 0 

Training ................................................................................................................... 0 0 0 

Official Mail ............................................................................................................ 11,932 20,455 8,523 

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 88,048 150,939 62,891 

Budget Authority 112th Congress .......................................................................... 4,636,433 7,948,171 3,311,738 


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Sec. 7. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

FY 2011 

(7 mths) 

FY 2012 

(12 mths) 

FY 2013 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $3,847,006 $6,594,867 $2,747,861 

2011 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2012 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2013 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

Consultants ............................................................................................................. 0 0 0 

Training ................................................................................................................... 0 0 0 

Official Mail ............................................................................................................ 9,129 15,649 6,520 

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 68,164 116,853 48,689 

Budget Authority 112th Congress .......................................................................... 3,924,299 6,727,369 2,803,070 

Sec. 8. Committee on Environment and Public Works 

FY 2011 

(7 mths) 

FY 2012 

(12 mths) 

FY 2013 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $3,496,021 $5,993,178 $2,497,157 

2011 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2012 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2013 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

Consultants ............................................................................................................. 4,667 8,000 3,333 

Training ................................................................................................................... 1,167 2,000 833 

Official Mail ............................................................................................................ 8,416 14,427 6,011 

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 102,121 175,064 72,943 

Budget Authority 112th Congress .......................................................................... 3,612,391 6,192,669 2,580,278 

Sec. 9. Committee on Finance 

FY 2011 

(7 mths) 

FY 2012 

(12 mths) 

FY 2013 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $5,207,439 $8,927,039 $3,719,599 

2011 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2012 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2013 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

Consultants ............................................................................................................. 17,500 30,000 12,500 

Training ................................................................................................................... 5,833 10,000 4,167 

Official Mail ............................................................................................................ 10,480 17,965 7,485 

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 92,556 158,667 66,111 

Budget Authority 112th Congress .......................................................................... 5,333,808 9,143,671 3,809,862 

Sec. 10. Committee on Foreign Relations 

FY 2011 

(7 mths) 

FY 2012 

(12 mths) 

FY 2013 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $4,290,736 $7,355,549 $3,064,812 

2011 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2012 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2013 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

Consultants ............................................................................................................. 0 0 0 

Training ................................................................................................................... 0 0 0 

Official Mail ............................................................................................................ 9,380 16,080 6,700 

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 93,288 159,920 66,633 

Budget Authority 112th Congress .......................................................................... 4,393,404 7,531,549 3,138,145 


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Sec. 11. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions 

FY 2011 

(7 mths) 

FY 2012 

(12 mths) 

FY 2013 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $5,991,404 $10,270,978 $4,279,574 

2011 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2012 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2013 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

Consultants ............................................................................................................. 0 0 0 

Training ................................................................................................................... 0 0 0 

Official Mail ............................................................................................................ 14,236 24,405 10,169 

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 109,673 188,010 78,338 

Budget Authority 112th Congress .......................................................................... 6,115,313 10,483,393 4,368,081 

Sec. 12. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 

Affairs 

FY 2011 

(7 mths) 

FY 2012 

(12 mths) 

FY 2013 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $6,768,833 $11,603,715 $4,834,882 

2011 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2012 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2013 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

Consultants ............................................................................................................. 0 0 0 

Training ................................................................................................................... 0 0 0 

Official Mail ............................................................................................................ 15,689 26,895 11,206 

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 118,237 202,692 84,455 

Budget Authority 112th Congress .......................................................................... 6,902,759 11,833,302 4,930,543 

Sec. 13. Committee on the Judiciary 

FY 2011 

(7 mths) 

FY 2012 

(12 mths) 

FY 2013 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $6,599,943 $11,314,188 $4,714,245 

2011 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2012 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2013 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

Consultants ............................................................................................................. 0 0 0 

Training ................................................................................................................... 0 0 0 

Official Mail ............................................................................................................ 15,097 25,881 10,784 

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 69,199 118,626 49,428 

Budget Authority 112th Congress .......................................................................... 6,684,239 11,458,695 4,774,457 

Sec. 14. Committee on Rules and Administration 

FY 2011 

(7 mths) 

FY 2012 

(12 mths) 

FY 2013 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $1,821,891 $3,123,242 $1,301,351 

2011 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2012 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2013 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

Consultant ............................................................................................................... 0 0 0 

Training ................................................................................................................... 0 0 0 

Official Mail ............................................................................................................ 4,634 7,944 3,310 

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 14,192 24,329 10,137 

Budget Authority 112th Congress .......................................................................... 1,840,717 3,155,515 1,314,798 


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Sec. 15. Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship 

FY 2011 

(7 mths) 

FY 2012 

(12 mths) 

FY 2013 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $1,676,785 $2,874,489 $1,197,704 

2011 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2012 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2013 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

Consultant ............................................................................................................... 0 0 0 

Training ................................................................................................................... 0 0 0 

Official Mail ............................................................................................................ 3,753 6,434 2,681 

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 52,322 89,694 37,370 

Budget Authority 112th Congress .......................................................................... 1,732,860 2,970,617 1,237,755 

Sec. 16. Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

FY 2011 

(7 mths) 

FY 2012 

(12 mths) 

FY 2013 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $1,572,204 $2,695,207 $1,123,003 

2011 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2012 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2013 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

Consultants ............................................................................................................. 0 0 0 

Training ................................................................................................................... 0 0 0 

Official Mail ............................................................................................................ 3,888 6,665 2,777 

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 26,146 44,821 18,675 

Budget Authority 112th Congress .......................................................................... 1,602,238 2,746,693 1,144,455 

Sec. 17. Special Committee on Aging 

FY 2011 

(7 mths) 

FY 2012 

(12 mths) 

FY 2013 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $1,887,516 $3,235,742 $1,348,226 

2011 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2012 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2013 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

Consultants ............................................................................................................. 0 0 0 

Training ................................................................................................................... 0 0 0 

Official Mail ............................................................................................................ 3,923 6,725 2,802 

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 45,675 78,300 32,625 

Budget Authority 112th Congress .......................................................................... 1,937,114 3,320,767 1,383,653 

Sec. 18. Select Committee on Intelligence 

FY 2011 

(7 mths) 

FY 2012 

(12 mths) 

FY 2013 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $4,151,379 $7,116,650 $2,965,271 

2011 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2012 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2013 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

Consultants ............................................................................................................. 37,917 65,000 27,083 

Training ................................................................................................................... 1,167 4,000 4,000 

Official Mail ............................................................................................................ 7,317 12,544 5,227 

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 51,333 86,000 33,500 

Budget Authority 112th Congress .......................................................................... 4,249,113 7,284,194 3,035,081 


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Sec. 19. Select Committee on Indian Affairs 

FY 2011 

(7 mths) 

FY 2012 

(12 mths) 

FY 2013 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $1,407,919 $2,413,575 $1,005,657 

2011 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2012 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2013 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

Consultants ............................................................................................................. 0 0 0 

Training ................................................................................................................... 0 0 0 

Official Mail ............................................................................................................ 3,959 6,786 2,828 

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 70,731 121,253 50,522 

Budget Authority 112th Congress .......................................................................... 1,482,609 2,541,614 1,059,007 

OVERTIME

Committees have been advised that any overtime costs mandated 

by the Congressional Accountability Act must be absorbed within 

salary baselines funded in S. Res. 81. 

COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS

There are no amounts authorized for COLAs in the 112th Congress for fiscal years 2011, 2012 and 2013. Therefore, committees 

were advised not to include COLAs in their budgets. It is the intent 

of the Rules Committee that amounts for COLAs shall only be 

available to the extent they are authorized by the order of the 

President Pro Tempore of the Senate pursuant to 2 U.S.C. section 

60a–1, and provided sufficient funds are appropriated to pay for 

such expenses. 

CERTIFICATION OF COMMITTEE EXPENSES

Committee biennial funding resolutions prior to March 1, 1995 

stipulated that vouchers were not required for the disbursement of 

salaries of committee employees who were paid at an annual rate 

of pay. In addition, vouchers were not required for certain types of 

official expenses which could be certified as owed to Senate support 

offices providing such goods and services to Senate committees. The 

practice was to identify in the funding resolution which Senate 

support office was authorized to certify such expenses as due for 

payment. Examples of certifiable expenses include, but are not limited to, telecommunications, stationery supplies, official mail, metered charges on copying equipment, and expenses for Senate Recording and Photographic Services. 

However, section 1 of the FY 1994 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill provided permanent language in statute addressing this 

issue (2 U.S.C. 68–8). Therefore, the specific authorization for certifications is no longer required in committee biennial funding resolutions and the language in section 1 of S. Res. 54 (107th Congress) 

has been modified by deleting section 1(b)(2) with the heading, 

VOUCHERS NOT REQUIRED. 

PRINTING AND BINDING

Committee expenditures for printing and binding include the 

costs of preparation and publishing of documents in electronic and/ 

or print format by GPO personnel. Although printing and binding 

funds are not included in individual committee budgets, the ComVerDate Mar 15 2010 04:20 Apr 01, 2011 Jkt 064978 PO 00000 Frm 00009 Fmt 6659 Sfmt 6602 E:\HR\OC\SR009.XXX SR009

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mittee on Rules and Administration advises all committees to be 

judicious in the use of these funds. 

Printing and binding costs for committees authorized in S. Res. 

81 decreased from the end of the 110th Congress to the end of the 

111th Congress by $1,854,175.00. 

The Committee reminds all Senate committees to adhere strictly 

to the provisions of Title 44 governing the printing and binding of 

documents. 

A committee may not procure more than 300 copies of a hearing, 

or other documents germane thereto, except as authorized by 44 

U.S.C. 703. Section 703 provides that extra copies not exceeding 

$700 in cost may be obtained upon an order of the Joint Committee 

on Printing; extra copies at a cost of $700 to $1,200 must be authorized by simple resolution of the Senate; and cost exceeding 

$1,200 requires approval of both houses of Congress by concurrent 

or joint resolution. Such resolutions requesting printing are referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. 

‘‘Extra copies’’ means additional numbers ordered at the time of 

original printing. Reprinting a document at a later time must be 

treated as a new publication. 

Charges incurred by committees for GPO employees detailed as 

printers decreased 30.5% between the 110th and 111th Congresses. 

The Rules Committee encourages committees to continue reducing 

costs associated with GPO detailees while still ensuring the priority services and support they need. Effective with the 112th Congress, committees wishing to obtain or continue the services of a 

GPO detailee are required to obtain prior approval in writing from 

the Committee on Rules and Administration. 

Every effort should be made to control costs by limiting overtime 

as much as possible. Committees that incur overtime charges on a 

continuing basis are strongly advised to evaluate their printing operation with an eye to minimizing a printer’s overtime except on 

a temporary basis when the extraordinary cost can be justified by 

the need for timely delivery of the committee’s legislative papers. 

COST OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE EMPLOYEES DETAILED AS

PRINTERS

111TH CONGRESS 

2009 2010 

Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry ..................................................... $79,482.00 $68,656.00 

Committee on Armed Services .................................................................................... 0.00 0.00 

Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs ................................................. 149,565.00 104,632.00 

Committee on the Budget ........................................................................................... 65,859.00 54,979.99 

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation ............................................. 139,752.00 54,577.85 

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources ............................................................ 141,489.00 124,420.00 

Committee on Environment and Public Works ............................................................ 138,456.00 123,571.92 

Committee on Finance ................................................................................................. 71,058.00 100,006.99 

Committee on Foreign Relations ................................................................................. 140,391.00 113,649.98 

Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions ............................................. 71,019.00 57,298.00 

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs .................................... 68,019.00 58,806.00 

Committee on the Judiciary ......................................................................................... 99,246.00 59,293.00 

Committee on Rules and Administration .................................................................... 0.00 0.00 

Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship ................................................ 0.00 0.00 

Committee on Veterans’ Affairs .................................................................................. 70,596.00 63,329.00 

Special Committee on Aging ....................................................................................... 65,793.00 58,405.00 

Select Committee on Intelligence ................................................................................ 0.00 0.00 


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111TH CONGRESS—Continued 

2009 2010 

Select Committee on Indian Affairs ............................................................................ 70,161.00 63,554.00 

Total ............................................................................................................... $1,370,886.00 $1,105,179.73 

DETAILED EMPLOYEES

Sections 2 through 19 of the omnibus resolution include specific 

authorizing language on the use of detailed employees on either a 

reimbursable or non-reimbursable basis. This language, which has 

been included in previous biennial funding resolutions since 1989, 

continues the practice of permitting the detail or assignment of 

personnel from departments or agencies of the Federal government 

to the staff of a committee with or without reimbursement of that 

person’s salary. 

Pursuant to Standing Rule XXVII, paragraph 4, 

‘‘No committee shall appoint to its staff any experts or 

other personnel detailed or assigned from any department 

or agency of the Government, except with the written permission of the Committee on Rules and Administration.’’ 

The Committee on Rules and Administration monitors expenditures associated with the use of detailed employees in order to 

evaluate overall committee spending. 


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SPECIAL RESERVES

For the 112th Congress, S. Res. 81 authorizes a special reserve 

fund within the appropriations account, ‘‘Expenses of Inquiries and 

Investigations.’’ Special Reserves is being restored to its historic 

purpose. Requests for funding will be considered only when submitted by a Committee chairman and ranking member for unanticipated, non-recurring needs. Such requests shall be granted only 

upon the approval of the chairman and ranking member of the 

Rules Committee. 

History of Special Reserves. When biennial funding cycles 

began in 1989, the Rules Committee authorized the use of unexpended funds from one authorization to the next. The Committee 

in 1991 informed all Senate committees in Senate Report 102-15, 

and during the debate on S. Res. 62 (102nd Congress), that committees could retain 50 percent of their funds unexpended as of 

February 28, 1993, to cover non-recurring needs that enhanced efficiency in the committee. When S. Res. 71, the Omnibus Committee 

Funding Resolution for the 103rd Congress, was considered by the 

Senate, it was amended to contain language that no committee of 

the Senate was permitted to carry forward unexpended balances 

beyond March 1, 1995. While S. Res. 54 (105th Congress) did not 

permit committees to carry forward funds, it did continue to provide a special reserve into which the unexpended balances of the 

committees were transferred, after obligations incurred during the 

prior funding period were paid. 

In order to preserve the flexibility of the Committee on Rules and 

Administration to meet the unforeseen needs of Senate committees, 

S. Res. 49 and S. Res. 189 in the 106th Congress continued the 

practice of making special reserve funding available for unanticipated, non-recurring needs of each committee when necessary. 

In the colloquy of January 12, 2007, the Senate Leadership 

agreed for the 110th Congress that, under the circumstances of a 

continuing resolution for FY 07, to provide each ranking member, 

if requested, an allocation equal to 49% of the 10% administrative 

funds that were available to the committee chairman in the 109th 

Congress. A total of $4,794,387 was requested and authorized in 

the 110th Congress to fulfill the colloquy. This funding was added 

to the budget baselines of the respective committees for the 111th 

Congress. 

In the Joint Leadership letter of January 15, 2009, the Leadership agreed that for the 111th Congress, 89 percent of special reserves would be available to each chair/ranking member for administrative expenses, if requested, to be allocated at a 60 percent to 

40 percent ratio, majority/minority respectively. This allowed individual minority committee funding levels to remain unchanged, if 

special reserves were requested. Therefore, no committee budget 

was allocated to reduce the minority committee budget below that 

of FY 08. 

The Special Reserves Fund for the 111th Congress was almost 

entirely dedicated to fulfilling the guidance of the Joint Leadership 

letter and colloquy of January 15, 2009. Therefore, contrary to circumstances in previous Congresses, the Rules Committee had little 

flexibility with regard to additional requests from the special reserves fund. The Rules Committee determined that an additional 


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five percent (5%) of special reserves may have been required to satisfy the intent of the colloquy and authorized use of those funds. 

Amendment to S. Res. 73 in the 111th Congress. S. Res. 73, 

which was agreed to on March 10, 2009, provided special reserves 

to be available to meet unpaid obligations which a committee may 

be called upon to incur above the amount authorized. 

In FY 09, for the period March 1, 2009, through September 30, 

2009, $4,375,000 was originally made available. However, under 

the Leadership colloquy of January 15, 2009, $4,132,668 or 94% of 

the Special Reserves for FY 09 was committed from these funds to 

supplement the original authorization provided to each committee 

by each section of S. Res. 73 and therefore leaving only $242,332 

in available funds for any committee to request. 

On May 20, 2009, the Committee on the Judiciary wrote to the 

Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee on Rules and Administration and requested $600,000 to meet the unanticipated expenses it expected to incur following the announcement that Justice David Souter was resigning from the United States Supreme 

Court. However, this action required the passage of S. Res. 152, 

agreed to May 19, 2009, which amended section 20(a)(1) of S. Res. 

73 and increased by $500,000 to $4,875,000 the amount of Special 

Reserves available in FY 09. On May 21, 2009, the chairman and 

ranking member of the Committee on Rules and Administration 

approved the pending request from the Judiciary Committee. 

On April 23, 2010, the Committee on the Judiciary again wrote 

to the Committee on Rules and Administration and requested 

$300,000 to meet the unanticipated expenses it expected to incur 

following the announcement that Justice John Paul Stevens was 

retiring from the United States Supreme Court. Sufficient funds 

were available for FY 10 and on April 29, 2010, the Chairman and 

Ranking Member of the Committee on Rules and Administration 

approved the pending request from the Judiciary Committee. 

LEGISLATIVE REVIEW BY SENATE COMMITTEES

Rule XXVI, section 8b of the Standing Rules of the Senate requires that, in each odd-numbered year, each committee shall submit to the Senate, not later than March 31st, a report on the activities of that committee during the Congress ending at noon on January 3rd of such year. 

POLICY ON COMMITTEE WORK AND HOUSING FOR COMMITTEE STAFF

Pursuant to each committee’s authorizing resolution, funds are 

made available from the Contingent Fund of the Senate to assist 

a committee in carrying out its powers, duties, and functions under 

the Standing Rules of the Senate. These responsibilities include 

holding hearings, reporting such hearings, and making investigations as authorized by paragraphs 1 and 8 of Rule XXVI of the 

Standing Rules of the Senate. Therefore, committee staff may not 

engage in work other than committee business. 

In addition, it remains the policy of the Rules Committee that all 

committee staff paid by committee funds will be housed in committee space. 


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Space allocations will be strictly tied to authorized committee 

staff and detailed employees approved by the Committee on Rules 

and Administration. 

COMMITTEE OFFICE AUTOMATION RESOURCES

The Senate Sergeant at Arms (SAA) will fund office automation 

needs for committees on a per capita basis which includes authorized staff and detailed employees identified in the committee budget submission. This fund is referred to as the Economic Allocation 

Fund (EAF). Upon submission and approval by the Rules Committee of staffing levels, committees will be able to purchase items 

to meet their business requirements from the standard, approved 

products available from the SAA. Non-standard hardware or software requests will be at committee expense and must include costs 

for maintenance, service, and support. Any non-standard purchases 

in excess of $500 must be approved in advance by the Rules Committee. 

A Committee chairman shall ensure that each full-time employee 

and full-time, authorized detailed employee on the committee be 

provided with a workstation and have appropriate access to related 

office equipment. 

The funding levels provided will be sufficient to provide for regular replacement of hardware, as well as purchases of software updates. Any computers in excess of authorized levels must be returned to the SAA. 

Committees that request funding above and beyond the per capita basis are required to submit a complete office automation plan 

based upon its business requirements and the level of authorized 

staff and detailed employees identified in the committee budget 

submission. To assist the Rules Committee and the SAA in accurately projecting computer services funding (acquisition, installation, maintenance, and support), these committees must complete 

Information Technology Resources Worksheets to accompany their 

budget submissions. Upon review of these documents, the Rules 

Committee will notify the committee of the approved funding level. 

In the use of these funds, the Committee on Rules and Administration and SAA recommend that all committee chairmen adopt energy-efficient office equipment, including the use of virtual servers 

available through the SAA. These provide relief for offices by eliminating a server footprint in the work space and the accompanying 

noise and heat; support all critical continuity requirements of an 

office; and are available at a lower cost compared to the implementation of physical servers. 

COMMITTEE OFFICE AUTOMATION RESOURCES

ECONOMIC ALLOCATION FUND—112TH CONGRESS 

Committee Allocation 

Aging .................................................................................................................................................................... $144,000.00 

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry ...................................................................................................................... 144,000.00 

Appropriations ...................................................................................................................................................... 516,000.00 

Armed Services ..................................................................................................................................................... 248,000.00 

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs .................................................................................................................. 260,000.00 

Budget .................................................................................................................................................................. 268,000.00 

Commerce, Science, and Transportation ............................................................................................................. 352,000.00 


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ECONOMIC ALLOCATION FUND—112TH CONGRESS—Continued 

Committee Allocation 

Energy and Natural Resources ............................................................................................................................. 244,000.00 

Environment and Public Works ............................................................................................................................ 240,000.00 

Ethics .................................................................................................................................................................... 60,000.00 

Finance ................................................................................................................................................................. 508,000.00 

Foreign Relations .................................................................................................................................................. 356,000.00 

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions .............................................................................................................. 460,000.00 

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs ..................................................................................................... 632,000.00 

Indian Affairs ....................................................................................................................................................... 104,000.00 

Intelligence ........................................................................................................................................................... 478,156.38 

Joint Economic ...................................................................................................................................................... 196,000.00 

Judiciary ................................................................................................................................................................ 616,000.00 

Rules and Administration .................................................................................................................................... 112,000.00 

Small Business ..................................................................................................................................................... 156,000.00 

Veterans’ Affairs ................................................................................................................................................... 132,000.00 

CONSULTANTS

This resolution specifies the available funding to hire consultants, as otherwise authorized by statute. 

COMMITTEE LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANCE

In the past the Rules Committee received inquiries regarding 

staff representatives on committees. With respect to providing 

funds for legislative assistance, the position of the Committee on 

Rules and Administration is that such funds are already incorporated into Members’ personal office accounts for the purpose of 

providing assistance with such committee duties. 

The legislative assistance allowance was established in the 94th 

Congress by passage of S. Res. 60, agreed to on June 12, 1975. It 

authorized each Senator serving on a committee to hire staff to assist them in connection with their membership on one or more committees. This new authorization was preserved and continued in S. 

Res. 4 in the 95th Congress, when the Senate reorganized the committee system by passing amendments to the Standing Rules of the 

Senate regarding the jurisdiction and size of committees. 

Later in the 95th Congress, the committee legislative assistance 

was made permanent and codified into law by section 111 of P.L. 

95–94. This provision, as amended by P.L. 100–137 and P.L. 102– 

392, currently provides funding for three positions in each Senator’s office at an annual rate of $169,459 each for a total of 

$508,377 per office, or $50,837,700 for all 100 Senators in FY 09. 

These funds may be adjusted each fiscal year by the authorized 

cost of living adjustment for Senate offices by the order of the 

President Pro Tempore. 

ARCHIVING

Under Senate Rule XXVI(10)(a) and 2 U.S.C. 72(a)(d), committee 

records are the property of the Senate. At the end of each Congress, non-current committee records are transferred to the Archives [Senate Rule XI(1) and 44 U.S.C. 2118]. To ensure the preservation of the Senate’s permanently valuable records, the Rules 


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Committee requests that each committee submit to the Rules Committee their National Archives Records Transfer Report. 

Æ 


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