94–068 

114TH CONGRESS REPORT " ! SENATE 1st Session 114–112 

AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURES BY COMMITTEES OF THE 

SENATE 

AUGUST 4, 2015.—Ordered to be printed 

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

submitted the following 

R E P O R T 

[To accompany S. Res. 73] 

The Committee on Rules and Administration, having considered 

an original resolution (S. Res. 73) authorizing expenditures by committees of the Senate for the periods March 1, 2015 through September 30, 2015, October 1, 2015 through September 30, 2016, and 

October 1, 2016 through February 28, 2017, reports it favorably 

without amendment and recommends that the resolution 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 113th Congress, the Rules Committee reported two 

separate funding resolutions and issued ‘‘expenditure guidance’’ to 

address sequester and appropriations reductions. The result of 

these efforts was to bring committee spending into closer alignment 

with available appropriations. For the 114th Congress, S. Res. 73 

authorizes $198,175,601 for committees, which is slightly less than 

the total amount authorized for the 113th Congress by S. Res. 64 

and S. Res. 253. While this authorization is consistent with current 

and anticipated appropriations levels for the Congress, the Rules 

Committee will continue to monitor appropriations and will provide 

additional guidance to committees if necessary. 

Prior to the 107th Congress, most committees allocated their 

funding two-thirds for the majority and one-third for the minority 

pursuant to Rule XXVII. Beginning with the 107th Congress, biennial negotiations over the allocation ratios for committee funding 


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produced Leadership guidance, which the Rules Committee used to 

develop committee budget guidelines. 

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

agreed on a new funding approach and stated 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 administrative expenses and 

non-designated staff, would be set aside for the majority. The remaining 90 percent would be divided according to the party division of the Senate. The division of committee office space follows 

the same approach. For the 114th Congress, the party division for 

funding and office space purposes is 54 percent for the majority, 46 

percent for the minority. 

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. 

When Senate party ratios change, this approach provides greater 

stability than the earlier division of two-thirds for the majority and 

one-third for the minority. 

The chairman and ranking member of any committee may, by 

mutual agreement, modify the apportionment of committee funding 

and office space. 

The January 7, 2015, Joint Leadership colloquy and letter, submitted by the majority leader and the minority leader, are included 

below for informational purposes. 

COLLOQUY

Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent to engage in a colloquy with Senator Durbin on behalf of the Democratic 

leader. 

The PRESIDING OFFICER. Without objection, it is so ordered. 

Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, in the 112th Congress the Senate adopted a new funding allocation for Senate committees. This 

approach has served the Senate for the past two Congresses when 

the Democrats controlled the majority. I believe this approach will 

continue to serve the interests of the Senate and the public, regardless of which party is in the majority, by helping to retain core 

committee staff with institutional knowledge. This funding allocation 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, the minority share of the majority and minority salary baseline will not be less than 40 percent, and the majority share will not exceed 60 percent. It is my intent that this approach will continue to serve the Senate for this Congress and future Congresses. 

Mr. DURBIN. Mr. President, this approach met our needs for the 

last two Congresses, and I too would like to see it continue. In addition, last Congress, special reserves was restored to its historic 

purpose. We should continue to fund special reserves to the extent 

possible in order to be able to assist committees that face urgent, 


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unanticipated, nonrecurring needs. Recognizing the tight budgets 

we will face for the foreseeable future, it is necessary to continue 

to bring funding authorizations more in line with our actual resources while ensuring that committees are able to fulfill their responsibilities. I look forward to continuing to work with the majority leader to accomplish this. 

Mr. MCCONNELL. Mr. President, I ask unanimous consent that a 

joint leadership letter be printed in the RECORD. 

There being no objection, the material was ordered to be printed 

in the RECORD, as follows: 

UNITED STATES SENATE, 

Washington, DC, January 7, 2015. 

We Mutually Commit to the Following for the 114th Congress: 

The Rules Committee is to determine the budgets of the committees of the Senate. The budgets of the committees, 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%) from the majority and minority salary baseline to be allocated to the chairman for administrative expenses. 

Special Reserves has been restored to its historic purpose. Requests for funding will only be considered when submitted by a 

committee chairman and ranking member for unanticipated, nonrecurring 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 the Senate rules and practices of the 113th 

Congress. 

The division of committee office space shall be commensurate 

with this funding agreement. 

The chairman and ranking member of any committee may, by 

mutual agreement, modify the apportionment of committee funding 

and office space. 

MITCH MCCONNELL. 

HARRY REID. 

BACKGROUND

Beginning in the 106th Congress, the biennial committee funding 

cycle was divided into three 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. 73, the omnibus committee funding resolution for the 

114th Congress, was reported in lieu of Senate Resolutions 28, 31, 

32, 33, 34, 36, 39, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 53, 55 and 57 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 


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resolution, S. Res. 54, authorizing expenditures by the Committee 

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

9) and is obviated by passage of S. Res. 73, since funding for the 

Rules Committee’s expenditures in the 114th Congress is included 

in the omnibus funding resolution. 

The funding will be allocated according to the ratios in the Leadership colloquy. There are no amounts authorized for COLAs in the 

114th Congress for fiscal year 2015, 2016 and 2017. Therefore, 

committees were advised not to include COLAs in their budgets. 

As stated in the 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, nonrecurring needs and to the extent that appropriated funds are 

available for special reserves. The request must be approved by the 

chairman and ranking member of the Rules Committee. 

Similar to procedures used during the previous five 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. All committees funded by S. 

Res. 73 submitted budgets and questionnaires that conformed to 

the guidelines. 

For the 114th 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 S. Res.73, on February 12, 2015, by unanimous consent 

and without amendment. 

TEXT OF S. RES. 73

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, 2015, through September 30, 

2015, in the aggregate of $57,801,217, for the period October 1, 

2015, through September 30, 2016, in the aggregate of $99,087,800, 

and for the period October 1, 2016 through February 28, 2017, in 

the aggregate of $41,286,584, 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 2015 

(7 mths) 

FY 2016 

(12 mths) 

FY 2017 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $2,166,044 $3,876,077 $1,475,032 

2015 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2016 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2017 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

Consultants ............................................................................................................. 200,000 200,000 200,000 

Training ................................................................................................................... 40,000 40,000 40,000 

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


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FY 2015 

(7 mths) 

FY 2016 

(12 mths) 

FY 2017 

(5 mths) 

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 51,743 97,272 40,530 

Budget Authority 114th Congress .......................................................................... 2,463,834 4,223,716 1,759,882 

Sec. 3. Committee on Armed Services 

FY 2015 

(7 mths) 

FY 2016 

(12 mths) 

FY 2017 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $3,661,345 $6,276,591 $2,615,246 

2015 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2016 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2017 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

Consultants ............................................................................................................. 46,667 80,000 33,334 

Training ................................................................................................................... 17,500 30,000 12,500 

Official Mail ............................................................................................................ 1,750 3,000 1,250 

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 56,583 97,000 40,416 

Budget Authority 114th Congress .......................................................................... 3,783,845 6,486,591 2,702,746 

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

FY 2015 

(7 mths) 

FY 2016 

(12 mths) 

FY 2017 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $3,028,670 $5,192,010 $2,163,370 

2015 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2016 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2017 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

Consultants ............................................................................................................. 8,370 14,348 5,978 

Training ................................................................................................................... 503 861 358 

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

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 80,210 137,500 57,290 

Budget Authority 114th Congress .......................................................................... 3,119,153 5,347,119 2,227,996 

Sec. 5. Committee on the Budget 

FY 2015 

(7 mths) 

FY 2016 

(12 mths) 

FY 2017 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $3,424,110 $5,869,903 $2,445,793 

2015 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2016 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2017 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

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

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

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

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 99,516 170,600 71,084 

Budget Authority 114th Congress .......................................................................... 3,534,372 6,058,924 2,524,552 

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

FY 2015 

(7 mths) 

FY 2016 

(12 mths) 

FY 2017 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $3,791,599 $6,479,326 $2,699,715 

2015 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2016 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2017 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

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

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

Official Mail ............................................................................................................ 10,500 20,445 8,523 

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 77,482 150,939 62,891 


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FY 2015 

(7 mths) 

FY 2016 

(12 mths) 

FY 2017 

(5 mths) 

Budget Authority 114th Congress .......................................................................... 3,879,581 6,650,710 2,771,129 

Sec. 7. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources 

FY 2015 

(7 mths) 

FY 2016 

(12 mths) 

FY 2017 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $3,142,229 $5,386,679 $2,244,450 

2015 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2016 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2017 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 114th Congress .......................................................................... 3,219,522 5,519,181 2,299,659 

Sec. 8. Committee on Environment and Public Works 

FY 2015 

(7 mths) 

FY 2016 

(12 mths) 

FY 2017 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $2,944,501 $5,047,717 $2,103,217 

2015 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2016 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2017 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

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

Training ................................................................................................................... 1,166 2,000 833 

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

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

Budget Authority 114th Congress .......................................................................... 3,060,871 5,247,208 2,186,337 

Sec. 9. Committee on Finance 

FY 2015 

(7 mths) 

FY 2016 

(12 mths) 

FY 2017 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $4,584,301 $7,858,802 $3,274,501 

2015 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2016 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2017 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 114th Congress .......................................................................... 4,710,670 8,075,434 3,364,764 

Sec. 10. Committee on Foreign Relations 

FY 2015 

(7 mths) 

FY 2016 

(12 mths) 

FY 2017 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $3,695,688 $6,333,559 $2,637,872 

2015 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2016 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2017 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

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

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

Official Mail ............................................................................................................ 9,326 16,080 6,754 

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 184,014 317,265 133,251 

Budget Authority 114th Congress .......................................................................... 3,889,028 6,666,904 2,777,877 


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

FY 2015 

(7 mths) 

FY 2016 

(12 mths) 

FY 2017 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $5,011,413 $8,590,996 $3,579,584 

2015 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2016 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2017 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

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

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

Official Mail ............................................................................................................ 7,584 13,000 5,416 

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 86,490 148,268 61,777 

Budget Authority 114th Congress .......................................................................... 5,105,487 8,752,264 3,646,777 

Sec. 12. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental 

Affairs 

FY 2015 

(7 mths) 

FY 2016 

(12 mths) 

FY 2017 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $5,481,153 $9,396,263 $3,915,110 

2015 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2016 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2017 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

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

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

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

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 94,811 162,533 67,722 

Budget Authority 114th Congress .......................................................................... 5,591,653 9,585,691 3,994,038 

Sec. 13. Committee on the Judiciary 

FY 2015 

(7 mths) 

FY 2016 

(12 mths) 

FY 2017 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $5,384,594 $9,230,733 $3,846,139 

2015 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2016 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2017 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

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

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

Official Mail ............................................................................................................ 6,473 11,096 4,623 

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 70,321 120,550 50,229 

Budget Authority 114th Congress .......................................................................... 5,461,388 9,362,379 3,900,991 

Sec. 14. Committee on Rules and Administration 

FY 2015 

(7 mths) 

FY 2016 

(12 mths) 

FY 2017 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $1,356,993 $2,326,273 $969,280 

2015 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2016 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2017 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

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

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

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

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 14,192 24,329 10,138 

Budget Authority 114th Congress .......................................................................... 1,375,819 2,358,546 982,728 


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Sec. 15. Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship 

FY 2015 

(7 mths) 

FY 2016 

(12 mths) 

FY 2017 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $1,444,452 $2,476,204 $1,031,752 

2015 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2016 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2017 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

Consultant ............................................................................................................... 14,584 25,000 10,417 

Training ................................................................................................................... 5,833 10,000 4,168 

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

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

Budget Authority 114th Congress .......................................................................... 1,520,944 2,607,332 1,086,388 

Sec. 16. Committee on Veterans’ Affairs 

FY 2015 

(7 mths) 

FY 2016 

(12 mths) 

FY 2017 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $1,186,105 $2,033,323 $847,218 

2015 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2016 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2017 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

Consultants ............................................................................................................. 10,000 20,000 8,000 

Training ................................................................................................................... 3,500 5,000 1,500 

Official Mail ............................................................................................................ 500 1,000 500 

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 83,417 141,000 59,583 

Budget Authority 114th Congress .......................................................................... 1,283,522 2,200,323 916,801 

Sec. 17. Special Committee on Aging 

FY 2015 

(7 mths) 

FY 2016 

(12 mths) 

FY 2017 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $1,347,763 $2,193,200 $966,121 

2015 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2016 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2017 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

Consultants ............................................................................................................. 3,055 6,000 2,500 

Training ................................................................................................................... 3,000 6,000 1,500 

Official Mail ............................................................................................................ 2,000 6,000 1,500 

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 43,945 188,394 28,210 

Budget Authority 114th Congress .......................................................................... 1,399,763 2,399,594 999,831 

Sec. 18. Select Committee on Intelligence 

FY 2015 

(7 mths) 

FY 2016 

(12 mths) 

FY 2017 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $3,167,282 $5,429,626 $2,262,344 

2015 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2016 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2017 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

Consultants ............................................................................................................. 10,000 17,144 7,143 

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

Official Mail ............................................................................................................ 0 0 0 

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 40,166 68,856 28,690 

Budget Authority 114th Congress .......................................................................... 3,217,448 5,515,626 2,298,177 


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Sec. 19. Committee on Indian Affairs 

FY 2015 

(7 mths) 

FY 2016 

(12 mths) 

FY 2017 

(5 mths) 

Salary Baseline ....................................................................................................... $1,109,628 $1,902,219 $792,591 

2015 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2016 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

2017 COLA .............................................................................................................. .................... .................... ....................

Consultants ............................................................................................................. 20,000 20,000 20,000 

Training ................................................................................................................... 20,000 20,000 20,000 

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

Administrative Expenses ......................................................................................... 30,730 81,253 10,522 

Budget Authority 114th Congress .......................................................................... 1,184,317 2,030,258 845,941 

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. 73. 

COST-OF-LIVING ADJUSTMENTS

There are no amounts authorized for COLAs in the 114th Congress for fiscal years 2015, 2016 and 2017. 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 

4571, and provided sufficient funds are appropriated to pay for 

such expenses. 

CERTIFICATION OF COMMITTEE EXPENSES

Vouchers are not required for certain types of official expenses 

which instead are certified as owed to Senate support agencies providing such goods and services to Senate committees. Examples of 

certifiable expenses include, but are not limited to, telecommunications, stationery supplies, official mail, and expenses for Senate 

recording and photographic services. The certified expenses are 

submitted by the Senate support agencies to the Rules Committee 

for approval. 

Section 1 of the FY 1994 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill 

provided permanent language in statute addressing this issue (2 

U.S.C. 6509). 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 Committee on Rules and Administration advises all committees to be 

judicious in the use of these funds. 


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

64 and S. Res. 253 decreased from the end of the 112th Congress 

to the end of the 113th Congress by $4,021,867. 

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 relevant documents 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 a 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 authorized by S. Res. 73 for 

GPO employees detailed as printers decreased 2% from the 112th 

to the 113th Congress. The cost of GPO employees detailed as 

printers to the Appropriations Committee was $ 317,032.00 in 2013 

and $ 393,156.00 in 2014. The Rules Committee encourages committees to reduce costs associated with GPO detailees while still receiving the 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 the overtime of detailees. Committees that incur overtime charges on a recurring basis are advised to evaluate their printing operation and 

minimize 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 PUBLISHING OFFICE EMPLOYEES DETAILED

AS PRINTERS TO COMMITTEES AUTHORIZED BY S. RES. 73 

113TH CONGRESS 

2013 2014 

S. Agriculture ............................................................................................................... 109,728.00 88,938.00 

S. Banking ................................................................................................................... 212,328.00 147,150.00 

S. Budget ..................................................................................................................... 114,120.00 74,952.00 

S. Commerce ................................................................................................................ 90,414.00 76,140.00 

S. Energy ...................................................................................................................... 183,168.00 128,466.00 

S. Environment ............................................................................................................ 179,874.00 145,584.00 

S. Finance .................................................................................................................... 182,250.00 165,078.00 

S. Foreign Relations .................................................................................................... 169,992.00 134,946.00 

S. Gov’t Affairs ............................................................................................................ 92,988.00 78,408.00 

S. Health, Educ., Labor ............................................................................................... 93,564.00 72,126.00 

S. Indian Affairs .......................................................................................................... 94,392.00 80,352.00 

S. Judiciary .................................................................................................................. 79,164.00 58,266.00 

S. Veterans’ Affairs ..................................................................................................... 82,566.00 81,216.00 

Total ............................................................................................................... 1,684,548.00 1,331,622.00 


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EMPLOYEES DETAILED FROM OTHER AGENCIES

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 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 may monitor expenditures associated with the use of detailed employees in order 

to evaluate overall committee spending. 


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SPECIAL RESERVES

For the 114th Congress, S. Res. 73 restores the special reserve 

fund to its historic purpose and authorizes up to 7 percent of the 

amounts available in the appropriations account ‘‘Expenses of Inquiries and Investigations’’ for special reserves. Requests for funding must be for unanticipated, non-recurring needs and require the 

signature of both the committee chairman and ranking member. 

Approval of such requests requires the approval of the chairman 

and ranking member of the Rules Committee and are dependent 

upon availability of appropriated funds. 

HISTORY OF SPECIAL RESERVES 

Congress Special Reserves Use Notes Funding Authority 

101 Unexpended funds from one authorization to next. Biennial funding cycle began S. Res. 66 

102 Retain 50% of unexpended funds 

as of 2/28/93 for non-recurring 

needs. 

S. Res. 62 

Rept 102–15 

103 Prohibition on carrying forward 

unexpended balances beyond 

3/1/95. 

S. Res. 71 

104 Unexpended funds from one authorization may carry to the 

next authorization. 

S. Res. 73 

105 Transferred unexpended balances 

into a special reserve fund for 

unanticipated, non-recurring 

needs. 

S. Res. 54 

106 Special reserves available for unanticipated, non-recurring 

needs. 

S. Res. 49 

S.Res. 189 

107 Same as 106th Congress S. Res. 54 

108 Same as 106th Congress S. Res. 66 

109 Same as 106th Congress S. Res. 50 

110 Upon request, each Ranking Member provided an allocation 

equal to 49% of the 10% administrative funds that had 

been available to the Chairman 

in 109th Congress. 

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

110th Congress to fulfill the 

Leadership colloquy. This funding was added to the budget 

baselines of the respective 

committees for the 111th Congress. 

S. Res. 89 

111 Upon request, 89% of special reserves would be available to 

each chair/ranking member for 

administrative expenses to be 

allocated at a 60% to 40% 

ratio, majority/minority respectively. This allowed individual 

minority committee funding 

levels to remain unchanged. 

The Rules Committee determined that an additional 5% 

of special reserves may have 

been required to satisfy the intent of the colloquy and authorized use of those funds. 

Special reserves available for 

unanticipated, non-recurring 

needs. 

The Committee on the Judiciary 

made two requests for special 

reserves for the retirements of 

Justices David Souter (2009) 

and John Paul Stevens (2010) 

from the Supreme Court. Both 

requests were approved by the 

chairman and ranking member 

of the Rules Committee. To accommodate the special reserve 

request for FY2009, S. Res. 

152 was passed to increase 

the amount of special reserves 

that had been provided in S. 

Res. 73. 

S. Res. 73 

S. Res. 152 

112 Special reserves unavailable S. Res. 81 

113 Special reserves unavailable S. Res. 64 

S. Res. 253 


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HISTORY OF SPECIAL RESERVES—Continued 

Congress Special Reserves Use Notes Funding Authority 

114 7% of Inquiries and Investigations account available for unanticipated non-recurring 

needs. 

S. Res 73 

LEGISLATIVE REPORT 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 

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

Space allocations will be strictly tied to authorized committee 

staff and detailed employees approved by the Committee on Rules 

and Administration. 

COMMITTEE ECONOMIC ALLOCATION PROGRAM

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 Committee on 

Rules and Administration 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 nonstandard 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. 

In the use of these funds, the Rules Committee and SAA recommend all committee chairmen adopt energy-efficient office equipment, including virtual servers available through the SAA. These 


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servers save space and reduce noise and heat in the office, support 

all critical continuity requirements of an office, and cost less than 

physical servers. 

ECONOMIC ALLOCATION FUND—114TH CONGRESS 

Committee Allocation 

Aging .................................................................................................................................................................... $102,000.00 

Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry ...................................................................................................................... 156,400.00 

Appropriations ...................................................................................................................................................... 391,000.00 

Armed Services ..................................................................................................................................................... 187,000.00 

Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs .................................................................................................................. 180,200.00 

Budget .................................................................................................................................................................. 224,400.00 

Commerce, Science, and Transportation ............................................................................................................. 285,600.00 

Energy and Natural Resources ............................................................................................................................. 197,200.00 

Environment and Public Works ............................................................................................................................ 210,800.00 

Ethics .................................................................................................................................................................... 51,000.00 

Finance ................................................................................................................................................................. 391,000.00 

Foreign Relations .................................................................................................................................................. 251,600.00 

Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions .............................................................................................................. 380,800.00 

Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs ..................................................................................................... 459,000.00 

Indian Affairs ....................................................................................................................................................... 85,000.00 

Intelligence ........................................................................................................................................................... 285,600.00 

Joint Economic ...................................................................................................................................................... 163,200.00 

Judiciary ................................................................................................................................................................ 448,800.00 

Rules and Administration .................................................................................................................................... 119,000.00 

Small Business ..................................................................................................................................................... 112,200.00 

Veterans’ Affairs ................................................................................................................................................... 112,200.00 

Total ........................................................................................................................................................ 4,794,000.00 

CONSULTANTS

S. Res. 73 specifies the funding available for committees to hire 

consultants, as otherwise authorized by statute. 

COMMITTEE LEGISLATIVE ASSISTANCE

It is the position of the Committee on Rules and Administration 

that funds are already incorporated into Members’ personal office 

accounts for the purpose of providing legislative assistance with 

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 with committee work. 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 legislative assistance allowance 

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 $171,315 each for a total of 

$513,945 per office, or $51,394,500 for all 100 Senators in FY 13. 

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. 


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ARCHIVING

Under Senate Rule XXVI(10)(a) and 2 U.S.C. 4301(d), committee 

records are the property of the Senate. At the end of each Congress, non-current committee records are transferred to the Archives in accordance with Senate Rule XI(1) and 44 U.S.C. 2118. 

To ensure the preservation of the Senate’s permanently valuable 

records, the Rules Committee requests that each committee submit 

to the Rules Committee their National Archives Records Transfer 

Report. It is recommended that committees consult with the Senate 

Archivist on the proper preparation of electronic and paper records 

for permanent archive storage. 

Æ 


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