Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1997
PL 104-197 (H.R.3754), enacted 09/16/1996

110 STAT. 2394 
PUBLIC LAW 104-197—SEPT. 16, 1996 
Public Law 104-197 
104th Congress 
An Act 
Sept. 16, 1996 
[H.R. 3754] 
Legislative 
Branch 
Appropriations 
Act, 1997. 
Congressional 
Operations 
Appropriations 
Act, 1997. 
2 u s e 60a note. 
Making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year ending 
September 30, 1997, and for other purposes. 
Be it enaxited by the Senate and House of Representatives 
of 
the United States of America in Congress assembled, That the 
following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury 
not otherwise appropriated, for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal 
year ending September 30, 1997, and for other purposes, namely: 
TITLE I—CONGRESSIONAL OPERATIONS 
SENATE 
EXPENSE ALLOWANCES 
For expense allowances of the Vice President, $10,000; the 
President Pro Tempore of the Senate, $10,000; Majority Leader 
of the Senate, $10,000; Minority Leader of the Senate, $10,000; 
Majority Whip of the Senate, $5,000; Minority Whip of the Senate, 
$5,000; and Chedrmen of the Majority and Minority Conference 
Committees, $3,000 for each Chairman; in all, $56,000. 
REPRESENTATION ALLOWANCES FOR THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY 
LEADERS 
For representation allowances of the Majority and Minority 
Leaders of the Senate, $15,000 for each such Leader; in all, $30,000. 
SALARIES, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES 
For compensation of officers, employees, and others as author-
ized by law, including agency contributions, $74,615,000, which 
shall be paid from this appropriation without regard to the below 
limitations, as follows: 
OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT 
For the Office of the Vice President, $1,513,000. 
OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE 
For the Office of the President Pro Tempore, $325,000. 
OFFICES OF THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADERS 
For Offices of the Majority and Minority Leaders, $2,195,000. 
PUBLIC LAW 104-197—SEPT. 16, 1996 
110 STAT. 2395 
OFFICES OF THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY WHIPS 
For Offices of the Majority and Minority Whips, $1,156,000. 
CONFERENCE COMMITTEES 
For the Conference of the Majority and the Conference of the 
Minority, at rates of compensation to be fixed by the Chairman 
of each such committee, $996,000 for each such committee; in 
all, $1,992,000. 
OFFICES 
OF 
THE 
SECRETARIES 
OF 
THE 
CONFERENCE 
OF 
THE 
MAJORITY 
AND 
THE 
CONFERENCE 
OF 
THE 
MINORITY 
For Offices of the Secretaries of the Conference of the Majority 
and the Conference of the Minority, $384,000. 
POLICY COMMITTEES 
For salaries of the Majority Policy Committee and the Minority 
Policy Committee, $965,000 for each such committee, in all, 
$1,930,000. 
OFFICE OF THE CHAPLAIN 
For Office of the Chaplain, $234,000. 
OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY 
For Office of the Secretary, $12,714,000. 
OFFICE OF THE SERGEANT AT ARMS AND DOORKEEPER 
For 
Office 
of the 
Sergeant 
at Arms 
and 
Doorkeeper, 
$34,037,000. 
OFFICES OF THE SECRETARIES FOR THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY 
For Offices of the Secretary for the Majority and the Secretary 
for the Minority, $1,135,000. 
AGENCY CONTRIBUTIONS AND RELATED EXPENSES 
For agency contributions for employee benefits, as authorized 
by law, and related expenses, $17,000,000. 
OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL OF THE SENATE 
For salaries and expenses of the Office of the Legislative Coun-
sel of the Senate, $3,447,000. 
OFFICE OF SENATE LEGAL COUNSEL 
For salaries and expenses of the Office of Senate Legal Counsel, 
$936,000. 
110 STAT. 2396 
PUBLIC LAW 104-197—SEPT. 16, 1996 
EXPENSE 
ALLOWANCES OF THE SECRETARY OF THE SENATE, 
SERGEANT AT ARMS AND DOORKEEPER OF THE SENATE, AND SEC-
RETARIES FOR THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY OF THE SENATE 
For expense allowances of the Secretary of the Senate, $3,000; 
Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, $3,000; Secretary 
for the Majority of the Senate, $3,000; Secretary for the Minority 
of the Senate, $3,000; in all, $12,000. 
CONTINGENT EXPENSES OF THE SENATE 
INQUIRIES AND INVESTIGATIONS 
For expenses of inquiries and investigations ordered by the 
Senate, or conducted pursuant to section 134(a) of Public Law 
601, Seventy-ninth Congress, as amended, section 112 of Public 
Law 96-304 and Senate Resolution 281, agreed to March 11, 1980, 
$69,561,000. 
EXPENSES OF THE UNITED STATES SENATE CAUCUS ON 
INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL 
For expenses of the United States Senate Caucus on Inter-
national Narcotics Control, $305,000. 
SECRETARY OF THE SENATE 
For expenses of the Office of the Secretary of the Senate, 
$1,511,000. 
SERGEANT AT ARMS AND DOORKEEPER OF THE SENATE 
For expenses of the Office of the Sergeant at Arms and Door-
keeper of the Senate, $65,931,000. 
MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS 
For miscellaneous items, $6,791,000. 
SENATORS' OFFICIAL PERSONNEL AND OFFICE EXPENSE ACCOUNT 
For Senators' Official Personnel and Office Expense Account, 
$208,000,000. 
STATIONERY (REVOLVING FUND) 
For stationery for the President of the Senate, $4,500, for 
officers of the Senate and the Conference of the Majority and 
Conference of the Minority of the Senate, $8,500; in all, $13,000. 
OFFICIAL MAIL COSTS 
For expenses necessary for official mail costs of the Senate, 
$10,000,000, to remain available until September 30,1998. 
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS 
SECTION 1. Section 195(a) of chapter IX of title I of the Supple-
mental Appropriations Act, 1985 (Pubhc Law 99-88; 2 U.S.C. 61g-
7(a)) is amended by striking the period at the end and inserting 
PUBLIC LAW 104-197—SEPT. 16, 1996 
110 STAT. 2397 
"or with respect to the administration of the affairs of the commit-
tee.". 
SEC. 2. Section 105(dXl) of chapter VI of title I of the Second 
Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1978 (Public Law 95-355; 2 
U.S.C. 43d<d)(l)) is amended by striking "and telephone services" 
and inserting ", telephone services, and stationer}^'. 
SEC. 
3. Section 3(f)(1) xmder the heading "ADMINISTRATIVE 
PROVISIONS" in the appropriation for the Senate in the Legislative 
Branch Appropriation Act, 1975 (2 U.S.C. 59(e)(1)) is amended 
in the second sentence by striking "one year" and inserting "3 
years". 
SEC. 4. (a) Section 5 under the heading "ADMINISTRATIVE PROVI-
SIONS" in the appropriation for the Senate in the Legislative Branch 
Appropriations Act, 1996 (2 U.S.C. 58a note) is amended— 
(1) in subsection (a), by striking "by the Sergeant at Arms 
and Doorkeeper of the Senate"; and 
(2) by striking subsection (b) and inserting the following: 
"(b) As used in subsection (a), the term 'user' means a Senator, 
an Officer of the Senate, and any office, committee, or other entity 
the funds of which are disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate.". 
(b) The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect 
on October 1, 1996, and shall apply to all payments made on 
or after such date for local and long distance telecommunications 
service. 
SEC. 5. (a) The Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate 
may directly, or through the GenergJ Services Administration, 
trsuisfer title to excess or surplus educationally useful equipment 
to a public school. Any such transfer shall be completed at the 
lowest possible cost to the public school and the Senate. 
(b) The Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate 
shall prescribe regulations to carry out the provisions of this section. 
(c) Receipts from reimbursements for the costs of transfer of 
excess or surplus educationally useful equipment under this section, 
shall be deposited in the United States Treasury for credit to 
the account for the "Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the 
Senate" within the contingent fund of the Senate. 
(d) For the purposes of this section: 
(1) The term "public school" means a pubhc elementary 
or secondary school as such terms are defined in section 14101 
of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (20 
U.S.C. 8801). 
(2) The term "educationally useful equipment" means 
computers and related peripheral tools, including printers, 
modems, routers, servers, computer keyboards, scanners, and 
other telecommunications and research equipment, that are 
appropriate for use in pubUc school education. 
(e) This section shall take effect beginning with fiscal year 
1997 and shall be effective each fiscal year Siereafter. 
SEC. 6. (a) Notwithstanding section 1345 of title 31, United 
States Code, the Secretary of the Senate may reimburse any individ-
ual employed by the Senate day care center for the cost of training 
classes and conferences in connection with the provision of child 
care services and for travel, transportation, and subsistence 
expenses incurred in connection with the training classes and con-
ferences. 
(b) The Senate day care center shall certify and provide appro-
priate documentation to the Secretary of the Senate with respect 
Effective date. 
Applicability. 
2 u s e 58a note. 
Public schools. 
Computers. 
2 u s e 117b note. 
Regulations. 
Effective date. 
40 u s e 214e. 
Certification. 
110 STAT. 2398 
PUBLIC LAW 104-197—SEPT. 16, 1996 
Regulations. 
Effective date. 
2 use 123e. 
Effective date. 
2 use 60p. 
to any reimbursement imder this section. Reimbursements under 
this section shall be made from the appropriations account "MIS-
CELLANEOUS ITEMS" within the contingent fund of the Senate 
on vouchers approved by the Secretary of the Senate. 
(c) Reimbursements under this section shall be subject to the 
regulations and limitations prescribed by the Committee on Rules 
and Administration of the Senate for travel and related expenses 
for which payment is authorized to be made from the contingent 
fund of the Senate. 
(d) This section shall be effective on and after October 1, 
1996. 
SEC. 7. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any funds 
received during fiscal year 1996 by the Sergeant at Arms and 
Doorkeeper of the Senate in settlement of a contract claim or 
dispute, but not to exceed $1,450,000, shell be deposited into the 
appropriation account for fiscal year 1997 for the Sergeant at Arms 
and Doorkeeper of the Senate within the contingent fund of the 
Senate and shall be available in a like manner and for the same 
purposes as are the other funds in that account. 
SEC. 8. (a) The Secretary of the Senate, with the oversight 
and approval of the Committee on Rules and Administration of 
the Senate, shall oversee the development and implementation of 
a comprehensive Senate legislative information system. 
(b) In carrying out this section, the Secretary of the Senate 
shall consult and work with officers and employees of the House 
of Representatives. Legislative branch agencies and departments 
and agencies of the executive branch shall provide cooperation, 
consultation, £ind assistance as requested by the Secreteuy of the 
Senate to carry out this section. 
(c) Any funds that were appropriated under the heading "Sec-
retary of the Senate" for expenses of the Office of the Secretary 
of the Senate by the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1995, 
to remain available until September 30, 1998, and that the Sec-
retary determines are not needed for development of a financial 
management system for the Senate may, with the approval of 
the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, be used to carry 
out the provisions of this section, and such funds shall be available 
through September 30, 2000. 
(d) The Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate 
may prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out 
the provisions of this section. 
(e) This section shall be effective for fiscal years beginning 
on or after October 1, 1996. 
SEC. 9. PAYMENT FOR UNACCRUED LEAVE.— 
(a) IN GENERAL.—The Financial Clerk of the Senate is author-
ized to accept from an individual whose pay is disbursed by the 
Secretary of Senate a pajrment representing pay for any period 
of unaccrued annual leave used by that individual, as certified 
by the head of the employing office of the individual making the 
pajmient. 
(b) WITHHOLDING.—The Financial Clerk of the Senate is author-
ized to withhold the amount referred to in subsection (a) from 
any amount which is disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate 
and which is due to or on behalf of the individual described in 
subsection (a). 
PUBLIC LAW 104-197—SEPT. 16, 1996 
110 STAT. 2399 
(c) DEPOSIT.—Any pa5anent accepted under this section shall 
be deposited in the general fund of the Treasury as miscellaneous 
receipts. 
(d) DEFINITION.—^As used in this section, the term "head of 
the employing office" means any person with the final authority 
to appoint, hire, discharge, Eind set the terms, conditions, or privi-
leges of the employment of an individual whose pay is disbursed 
by the Secretary of the Senate. 
(e) APPLICABILITY.—^This section shall apply to fiscal year 1996 
and each fiscal year thereafter. 
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
SALARIES AND EXPENSES 
For salaries and expenses of the House of Representatives, 
$683,831,000, as follows: 
HOUSE L E A D E R S H I P OFFICES 
For salaries and expenses, as authorized by law, $11,592,000, 
including: Office of the Speaker, $1,535,000, including $25,000 for 
official expenses of the Speaker; Office of the Majority Floor Leader, 
$1,526,000, including $10,000 for official expenses of the Majority 
Leader; Office of the Minority Floor Leader, $1,534,000, including 
$10,000 for official expenses of the Minority Leader; Office of the 
Majority Whip, including the Chief Deputy Majority Whip, 
$957,000, including $5,000 for official expenses of the Majority 
Whip; Office of the Minority Whip, including the Chief Deputy 
Minority Whip, $949,000, including $5,000 for official expenses 
of the Minority Whip; Speaker's Office for Legislative Floor Activi-
ties, $376,000; Repubhcan Steering Committee, $664,000; Repub-
lican Conference, $1,130,000; Democratic Steering and Policy 
Committee, $1,191,000; Democratic Caucus, $603,000; and nine 
minority employees, $1,127,000. 
MEMBERS' REPRESENTATIONAL ALLOWANCES 
INCLUDING MEMBERS' CLERK HIRE, OFFICIAL EXPENSES OF MEMBERS, 
AND OFFICLVL MAIL 
For Members' representational allowances, including Members' 
clerk hire, official expenses, and official mail, $363,313,000. 
COMMITTEE EMPLOYEES 
STANDING COMMITTEES, SPECL\L AND SELECT 
For salaries and expenses of standing committees, special and 
select, authorized by House resolutions, $80,222,000. 
COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS 
For salaries and expenses of the Committee on Appropriations, 
$17,580,000, including studies and examinations of executive agen-
cies and temporary personal services for such committee, to be 
expended in accordance with section 202(b) of the Legislative 
Reorganization Act of 1946 and to be available for reimbursement 
to agencies for services performed. 
110 STAT. 2400 
PUBLIC LAW 104-197—SEPT. 16, 1996 
SALARIES, OFFICERS AND EMPLOYEES 
For compensation and expenses of officers and employees, as 
authorized by law, $86,259,000, including: for salaries and expenses 
of the Office of the Clerk, including not more than $3,500, of 
which not more thgin $2,500 is for the Family Room, for official 
representation and reception expenses, $15,074,000; for salaries 
and expenses of the Office of the Sergeant at Arms, including 
the position of Superintendent of Garages, and including not more 
than $750 for official representation and reception expenses, 
$3,638,000; for sedaries and expenses of the Office of the Chief 
Administrative Officer, $55,209,000, including salaries, expenses 
and temporary personal services of House Information Resources, 
$22,577,000, of which $16,577,000 is provided herein: Provided, 
That House Information 
Resources is authorized to receive 
reimbursement from Members of the House of Representatives and 
other governmental entities for services provided and 
such 
reimbursement shall be deposited in the Treasury for credit to 
this account; for salaries and expenses of the Office of the Inspector 
General, $3,954,000; Office of the Chaplain, $126,000; for salaries 
and expenses of the Office of the Parliamentarian, including the 
Parliamentarian and $2,000 for preparing the Digest of Rules, 
$1,036,000; for salaries and expenses of the Office of the Law 
Revision Counsel of the House, $1,767,000; for salaries and expenses 
of the Office of the Legislative Counsel of the House, $4,687,000; 
and other authorized employees, $768,000. 
ALLOWANCES AND EXPENSES 
For allowances and expenses as authorized by House resolution 
or law, $124,865,000, including: supplies, materials, administrative 
costs and Federal tort claims, $2,374,000; official mail for commit-
tees, leadership offices, and administrative offices of the House, 
$1,000,000; 
reemployed 
annuitants 
reimbursement, 
$71,000; 
Government contributions for health, retirement. Social Security, 
and other applicable employee benefits, $120,779,000; and mis-
cellaneous items including purchase, exchange, maintenance, repair 
and operation of House motor vehicles, interparliamentary recep-
tions, and gratuities to heirs of deceased employees of the House, 
$641,000. 
CHILD CARE CENTER 
For salaries and expenses of the House of Representatives 
Child Care Center, such amounts as are deposited in the account 
established by section 312(d)(1) of the Legislative Branch Appropria-
tions Act, 1992 (40 U.S.C. 184g(d)(l)), subject to the level specified 
in the budget of the Center, as submitted to the Committee on 
Appropriations of the House of Representatives. 
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS 
SEC. 101. (a) Section 107A of the Legislative Branch Appropria-
40 use 174k 
tions Act, 1996 (109 Stat. 522) is amended— 
note. 
(1) by striking out "For fiscal year 1996, subject" and 
inserting in lieu thereof "(a) Subject"; 
(2) by striking out "of the total amount" and all that 
follows through "cost of inventory" and inserting in lieu thereof 
PUBLIC LAW 104-197—SEPT. 16, 1996 
110 STAT. 2401 
the following: "the amounts deposited in the account specified 
in subsection (b) from vending operations of the House of Rep-
resentatives Restaurant System shall be available to pay the 
cost of goods sold"; and 
(3) by adding at the end the following new subsection: 
"(b) The account referred to in subsection (a) is the special 
deposit account established for the House of Representatives Res-
taurant by section 208 of the First Supplemental Civil Functions 
Appropriation Act, 1941 (40 U.S.C. 174k note).". 
(b) The amendments made by subsection (a) shall apply with 
respect to fiscal years beginning after September 30,1996. 
SEC .102. (a) Section 3210(a)(6)(A) of title 39, United States 
Code, is amended— 
(1) in clause (i), by inserting "(or, in the case of a Member 
of the House, fewer than 90 days)" after "60 days"; and 
(2) in clause (ii), by strilang out "60 days" and inserting 
in lieu thereof "90 days". 
(b) The amendments made by subsection (a) shall take effect 
on October 1, 1996, and shall apply with respect to any mailing 
postmarked on or after that date. 
JOINT ITEMS 
For Joint Committees, as follows: 
JOINT COMMITTEE ON INAUGURAL CEREMONIES OF 1997 
For construction of platform and seating stands and for salaries 
and expenses of conducting the inaugural ceremonies of the Presi-
dent and Vice President of the United States, January 20, 1997, 
in accordance with such program as may be adopted by the joint 
committee authorized by Senate Concurrent Resolution 47, One 
Hundred Fourth Congress, agreed to March 20, 1996, and Senate 
Concurrent Resolution 48, One Hundred Fourth Congress, agreed 
to March 20, 1996, $950,000 to be disbursed by the Secretary 
of the Senate and to remain available until September 30, 1997. 
Such funds shall be available for payment, on a direct or reimburs-
able basis, whether incurred on, before, or after, October 1, 1996: 
Provided, That the compensation of any employee of the Committee 
on Rules and Administration of the Senate who has been designated 
to perform service for the Joint Congressional Committee on Inau-
gural Ceremonies shall continue to be paid by the Committee on 
Rules and Administration, but the account fi*om which such staff 
member is paid may be reimbursed for the services of the staff 
member (including agency contributions when appropriate) out of 
fiinds made available under this heading. 
JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE 
For salaries and expenses of the Joint Economic Committee, 
$2,750,000, to be disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate. 
Applicability. 
40USC174k 
note. 
Effective date. 
Applicability. 
39 use 3210 
note. 
JOINT COMMITTEE ON PRINTING 
For salaries and expenses of the Joint Committee on Printing, 
$777,000, to be disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate. 
110 STAT. 2402 
PUBLIC LAW 104-197—SEPT. 16, 1996 
JOINT COMMITTEE ON TAXATION 
For salaries and expenses of the Joint Committee on Teixation, 
$5,470,000, to be disbursed by the Chief Administrative Officer 
of the House. 
For other joint items, as follows: 
OFFICE OF THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN 
For medical supplies, equipment, and contingent expenses of 
the emergency rooms, and for the Attending Physician and his 
assistants, including (1) an sdlowance of $1,500 per month to the 
Attending Physician; (2) an allowance of $500 per month each 
to two medical officers while on duty in the Attending Physician's 
office; (3) an allowance of $500 per month to one assistant and 
$400 per month each to not to exceed nine assistants on the basis 
heretofore provided for such assistance; and (4) $867,000 for 
reimbursement to the Depeirtment of the Navy for ejroenses incurred 
for staff" and equipment assigned to the Office of the Attending 
Physician, which shall be advanced and credited to the applicable 
appropriation or appropriations from which such salaries, allow-
ances, and other expenses are payable and shall be available for 
all the purposes thereof, $1,225,000, to be disbursed by the Chief 
Administrative Officer of the House. 
CAPITOL POLICE BOARD 
CAPITOL POLICE 
SALARIES 
For the Capitol Police Board for salaries of officers, members, 
and employees of the Capitol Police, including overtime, hazardous 
duty pay differential, clothing allowance of not more than $600 
each for members required to wear civilian attire, and Grovemment 
contributions for health, retirement, Social Security, and other 
appUcable employee benefits, $69,356,000, of which $33,437,000 
is provided to the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives, 
to be disbursed by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House, 
and $35,919,000 is provided to the Sergeant at Arms and Door-
keeper of the Senate, to be disbursed by the Secretary of the 
Senate: Provided, That, of the amounts appropriated under this 
heading, such amounts as may be necessary may be transferred 
between the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives 
and the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, upon 
approval of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Rep-
resentatives and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate. 
GENERAL EXPENSES 
For the Capitol Police Board for necessary expenses of the 
Capitol Police, including motor vehicles, communications and other 
equipment, security equipment and installation, uniforms, weapons, 
supplies, materials, training, medical services, forensic services, 
stenographic services, personal and professional services, the 
employee assistance program, not more than $2,000 for the awards 
program, postage, telephone service, travel advances, relocation of 
instructor and liaison personnel for the Federal Law Enforcement 
PUBLIC LAW 104-197—SEPT. 16, 1996 
110 STAT. 2403 
Training Center, and $85 per month for extra services performed 
for the Capitol Pohce Board by an employee of the Sergeant at 
Arms of the Senate or the House of Representatives designated 
by the Ch£iirman of the Board, $2,782,000, to be disbursed by 
the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives: 
Provided, That, notwithstsinding any other provision of law, the 
cost of basic training for the Capitol Police at the Federal Law 
Enforcement Training Center for fiscal year 1997 shall be paid 
by the Secretsiry of the Treasury from funds available to the Depart-
ment of the Treasury. 
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISION 
SEC. 103. Amounts appropriated for fiscal year 1997 for the 
Capitol Police Board for the Capitol Police may be transferred 
between the headings "SALARIES" and "GENERAL EXPENSES" upon 
the approval of— 
(1) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Rep-
resentatives, in the case of amounts transferred from the appro-
priation provided to the Sergeant at Arms of the House of 
Representatives imder the heading "SALARIES"; 
(2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, in 
the case of amounts transferred from the appropriation provided 
to the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate under 
the heading "SALARIES"; and 
(3) the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and 
the House of Representatives, in the case of other transfers. 
CAPITOL GUIDE SERVICE AND SPECIAL SERVICES OFFICE 
For salaries and expenses of the Capitol Guide Service and 
Special Services Office, $1,991,000, to be disbursed by the Secretary 
of the Senate: Provided, That no part of such amount may be 
used to employ more than forty individuals: Provided further. That 
the Capitol Guide Board is authorized, during emergencies, to 
employ not more than two additional individuals for not more 
than one hundred twenty days each, and not more than ten addi-
tional individuals for not more than six months each, for the Capitol 
Guide Service. 
STATEMENTS OF APPROPRIATIONS 
For the preparation, under the direction of the Committees 
on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives, 
of the statements for the second session of the One Hundred Fourth 
Congress, showing appropriations made, indefinite appropriations, 
and contracts authorized, together with a chronological history of 
the regular appropriations bills as required by law, $30,000, to 
be paid to the persons designated by the chairmen of such commit-
tees to supervise the work, 
OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE 
SALARIES AND EXPENSES 
For salaries and expenses of the Office of Compliance, as 
authorized by section 305 of the Congressional Accountability Act 
of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1385), $2,609,000. 
29-194 0-96-22:QL3Part3 
110 STAT. 2404 
PUBLIC LAW 104-197—SEPT. 16, 1996 
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE 
2 use 605. 
Applicability. 
Personal 
property. 
2 use 606. 
Applicability. 
Compensation. 
2 use 607. 
Applicability. 
SALARIES AND EXPENSES 
For salaries and expenses necessary to carry out the provisions 
of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-344), 
iiicluding not more than $2,500 to be expended on the certification 
of the Director of the Congressional Budget Office in connection 
with official representation and reception expenses, $24,532,000: 
Provided, That no part of such amount may be used for the purchase 
or hire of a passenger motor vehicle. 
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS 
SEC. 104. (a) Any sale or lease of property, supplies, or services 
to the Congressional Budget Office shall be deemed to be a sale 
or lease to the Congress subject to section 903 of the Supplemental 
Appropriations Act, 1983 (2 U.S.C. 111b). 
(b) Subsection (a) shall apply with respect to fiscal years begin-
ning after September 30,1996. 
SEC. 105. (a) The Director of the Congressional Budget Office 
shall have the authority, within the limits of available appropria-
tions, to dispose of surplus or obsolete personal property by inter-
agency transfer, donation, or discarding. 
(b) Subsection (a) shall apply with respect to fiscal years begin-
ning after September 30,1996. 
SEC. 106. (a) The Director of the Congressional Budget Office 
shall have the authority to make lump-sum payments to separated 
employees of the Congressional Budget Office for unused annual 
leave. 
(b) Subsection (a) shall apply with respect to fiscal years begin-
ning after September 30,1996. 
ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL 
OFFICE OF THE ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL 
SALARIES 
For the Architect of the Capitol, the Assistant Architect of 
the Capitol, and other personal services, at rates of pay provided 
by law, $8,454,000. 
TRAVEL 
40 use 166a. 
Appropriations under the control of the Architect of the Capitol 
shall be available for expenses of travel on official business not 
to exceed in the aggregate under all funds the sum of $20,000. 
CONTINGENT EXPENSES 
To enable the Architect of the Capitol to make surveys and 
studies, and to meet unforeseen expenses in connection with activi-
ties under his care, $100,000. 
i 
PUBLIC LAW 104-197—SEPT. 16, 1996 
110 STAT. 2405 
CAPITOL BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS 
CAPITOL BUILDINGS 
For all necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and oper-
ation of the Capitol and electrical substations of the Senate and 
House office buildings under the jurisdiction of the Architect of 
the Capitol, including furnishings and office equipment; including 
not more than $1,000 for official reception and representation 
expenses, to be expended as the Architect of the Capitol may 
approve; purchase or exchange, maintenance and operation of a 
passenger motor vehicle; and attendance, when specifically author-
ized by the Architect of the Capitol, at meetings or conventions 
in connection with subjects related to work under the Architect 
of the Capitol, $23,255,000, of which $2,950,000 shall remain avail-
able luitil expended. 
CAPITOL GROUNDS 
For all necessary expenses for care and improvement of grounds 
surrounding the Capitol, the Senate and House office buildings, 
and the Capitol Power Plant, $5,020,000, of which $25,000 shall 
remain available rnitil expended. 
SENATE OFFICE BUILDINGS 
For all necessary expenses for maintenance, care and operation 
of Senate Office Buildings; and furniture and furnishings to be 
expended under the control and supervision of the Architect of 
the Capitol, $39,640,000, of which $3,200,000 shall remain available 
until expended. 
HOUSE OFFICE BUILDINGS 
For all necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and oper-
ation of the House office buildings, $32,556,000, of which $4,825,000 
shall remain available until expended. 
CAPITOL POWER PLANT 
For all necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and oper-
ation of the Capitol Power Plant; lighting, heating, power (including 
the purchase of electrical energy) and water and sewer services 
for the Capitol, Senate and House office buildings, Library of Con-
gress buildings, and the grounds about the same. Botanic Garden, 
Senate garage, and air conditioning refrigeration not supplied from 
plants in any of such buildings; heating the Government Printing 
Office and Washington City Post Office, and heating and chilled 
water for air conditioning for the Supreme Court Building, Union 
Station complex, Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building 
and the Folger Shakespeare Library, expenses for which shall be 
advanced or reimbursed upon request of the Architect of the Capitol 
and amounts so received shall be deposited into the Treasury to 
the credit of this appropriation, $30,749,000: Provided, That not 
more than $4,000,000 of the funds credited or to be reimbursed 
to this appropriation as herein provided shall be available for obliga-
tion during fiscal year 1997. 
110 STAT. 2406 
PUBLIC LAW 104-197—SEPT. 16, 1996 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE 
SALARIES AND EXPENSES 
For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of section 
203 of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 166) 
and to revise and extend the Annotated Constitution of the United 
States of America, $62,641,000: Provided, That no part of such 
eimount may be used to pay any salary or expense in connection 
with any publication, or preparation of material therefor (except 
the Digest of Public General Bills), to be issued by the Library 
of Congress unless such publication has obtained prior approval 
of either the Committee on House Oversight of the House of Rep-
resentatives or the Committee on Rules and Administration of 
2 use 166 note. 
the Senate: Provided further, That, notwithstanding any other provi-
sion of law, the compensation of the Director of the Congressional 
Research Service, Library of Congress, shall be at an annual rate 
which is equal to the annual rate of basic pay for positions at 
level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 
5, United States Code. 
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
CONGRESSIONAL PRINTING AND BINDING 
For authorized printing and binding for the Congress and the 
distribution of Congressional information in any format; printing 
and binding for the Architect of the Capitol; expenses necessary 
for preparing the semimonthly and session index to the Congres-
sional Record, as authorized by law (44 U.S.C. 902); printing and 
binding of Government publications authorized by law to be distrib-
uted to Members of Congress; and printing, binding, and distribu-
tion of Government publications authorized by law to be distributed 
without charge to the recipient, $81,669,000: Provided, That this 
appropriation shall not be available for paper copies of the perma-
nent edition of the Congressional Record for individual Representa-
tives, Resident Commissioners or Delegates authorized under 44 
U.S.C. 906: Provided further, That this appropriation shall be avail-
able for the payment of obligations incurred under the appropria-
tions for similar purposes for preceding fiscal years. 
This title may be cited as the "Congressional Operations Appro-
priations Act, 1997". 
TITLE II—OTHER AGENCIES 
BOTANIC GARDEN 
SALARIES AND EXPENSES 
For all necessary expenses for the maintenance, c£ire and oper-
ation of the Botanic Garden and the nurseries, buildings, grounds, 
and collections; and purchase and exchange, maintenance, repair, 
and operation of a passenger motor vehicle; all under the direction 
of the Joint Committee on the Library, $2,902,000. 
PUBLIC LAW 104-197—SEPT. 16, 1996 
110 STAT. 2407 
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS 
SALARIES AND EXPENSES 
For necessary expenses of the Library of Congress not otherwise 
provided for, including development and maintenance of the Union 
Catalogs; custody and custodial care of the Library buildings; special 
clothing; cleaning, laundering and repair of uniforms; preservation 
of motion pictures in the custody of the Library; preparation and 
distribution of catalog cards and other publications of the Library; 
hire or purchase of one passenger motor vehicle; and expenses 
of the Library of Congress Trust Fund Board not properly charge-
able to the income of any trust fund held by the Board, 
$216,007,000, of which not more than $7,869,000 shall be derived 
from collections credited to this appropriation during fiscal year 
1997, and shall remain available until expended, under the Act 
of June 28, 1902 (chapter 1301; 32 Stat. 480; 2 U.S.C. 150): Pro-
vided, That the Library of Congress may not obligate or expend 
any flinds derived from collections under the Act of June 28, 1902, 
in excess of the amount authorized for obligation or expenditure 
in appropriations Acts: Provided further, That the total amoimt 
available for obligation shall be reduced by the amount by which 
collections are less than the $7,869,000: Provided further. 
That 
of the total amount appropriated, $8,458,000 is to remain available 
until expended for acquisition of books, periodicals, and newspapers, 
and all other materials including subscriptions for bibliographic 
services for the Library, including $40,000 to be available solely 
for the purchase, when specifically approved by the Librarian, of 
special and unique materials for additions to the collections: Pro-
vided further. That of the total amoimt appropriated, $928,800 
shall be for the operation and maintenance of the American Folklife 
Center in the Library. 
COPYRIGHT OFFICE 
SALARIES AND EXPENSES 
For necessary expenses of the Copyright Office, including 
publication of the decisions of the United States courts involving 
copyrights, $33,402,000, of which not more than $17,340,000 shall 
be derived from collections credited to this appropriation during 
fiscal year 1997 under 17 U.S.C. 708(d), and not more than 
$4,929,000 shall be derived from collections during fiscal year 1997 
under 17 U.S.C. 111(d)(2), 119(b)(2), 802(h), and 1005: Provided, 
That the total amount available for obligation shall be reduced 
by the amount by which collections are less than $22,269,000: 
Provided further. That not more thein $100,000 of the amoimt 
appropriated is available for the maintenance of an "International 
Copyright Institute" in the Copjrright Office of the Library of Con-
gress for the purpose of training nationals of developing countries 
in intellectual property laws and policies: Provided further. That 
not more than $2,250 may be expended, on the certification of 
the Librarian of Congress, in connection with official representation 
and reception expenses for activities of the International Copyright 
Institute. 
110 STAT. 2408 
PUBLIC LAW 104-197—SEPT. 16, 1996 
BOOKS FOR THE BLIND AND PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED 
SALARIES AND EXPENSES 
For salaries and expenses to carry out the Act of March 3, 
1931 (chapter 400; 46 Stat. 1487; 2 U.S.C. 135a), $44,964,000, 
of which $11,694,000 shall remain available until expended. 
FURNITURE AND FURNISHINGS 
For necessary expenses for the purchase and repair of furniture, 
furnishings, office and library equipment, $4,882,000. 
ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS 
SEC. 201. Appropriations in this Act available to the Library 
of Congress shall be available, in an amount of not more than 
$194,290, of which $58,100 is for the Congressional Research Serv-
ice, when specifically authorized by the Librarian, for attendance 
at meetings concerned with the function or activity for which the 
appropriation is made. 
SEC. 202. (a) No part of the funds appropriated in this Act 
shall be used by the Library of Congress to administer any flexible 
or compressed work schedule which— 
(1) applies to any manager or supervisor in a position 
the grade or level of which is equal to or higher than GS-
15; and 
(2) grants such manager or supervisor the right to not 
be at work for all or a portion of a workday because of time 
worked by the manager or supervisor on another workday. 
(b) For purposes of tlus section, the term "manager or super-
visor" means any management official or supervisor, as such terms 
are defined in section 7103(a) (10) and (11) of title 5, United 
States Code. 
SEC. 203. Appropriated funds received by the Library of Con-
gress from other Federal agencies to cover general and administra-
tive overhead costs generated by performing reimbursable work 
for other agencies under the authority of 31 U.S.C. 1535 and 1536 
shall not be used to employ more than 65 employees and may 
be expended or obligated— 
(1) in the case of a reimbursement, only to such extent 
or in such amounts as are provided in 
appropriations 
Acts; or 
(2) in the case of an advance payment, only— 
(A) to pay for such general or administrative overhead 
costs as are attributable to the work performed for such 
agency; or 
(B) to such extent or in such amounts as are provided 
in appropriations Acts, with respect to any purpose not 
allowable under subparagraph (A). 
SEC. 204. Of the amounts appropriated to the Library of Con-
gress in this Act, not more than $5,000 may be expended, on 
the certification of the Librarian of Congress, in connection with 
official representation and reception expenses for the incentive 
awards program. 
SEC. 205. Of the amount appropriated to the Library of Con-
gress in this Act, not more thsin $12,000 may be expended, on 
the certification of the Librarian of Congress, in connection with 
PUBLIC LAW 104-197—SEPT. 16, 1996 
110 STAT. 2409 
Foreign 
countries. 
Expiration date. 
Effective date. 
2 use 142/. 
official representation and reception expenses for the Overseas Field 
Offices. 
SEC. 206. (a) For fiscal year 1997, the obligational authority 
of the Library of Congress for the activities described in subsection 
(b) may not exceed $108,275,000. 
(b) The activities referred to in subsection (a) are reimbursable 
£Uid revolving fund activities that are fiinded from sources other 
than appropriations to the Library in appropriations Acts for the 
legislative brsinch. 
SEC. 207. (a)(1) Subject to subsection (b), for fiscal year 1997, 
the obligational authority of the Library of Congress for the activi-
ties described in paragraph (2) may not exceed $2,000,000. 
(2) The activities referred to in paragraph (1) are non-expendi-
ture transfer activities in support of parliamentary development 
that are funded from sources other than appropriations to the 
Library in appropriations Acts for the legislative branch, 
(b) The obligational authority under subsection (a)— 
(1) shafi be available only with respect to Russia, Ukraine, 
Albsuiia, Slovakia, and Romania; and 
(2) shall expire on December 31,1996. 
SEC. 208. From and afl;er October 1, 1996, the Disbursing 
Officer of the Library of Congress is authorized to disburse fiinds 
appropriated for the Office of Compliance, and the Library of Con-
gress shall provide financial management support to the Office 
of Compliance as may be required and mutually agreed to by 
the Librarian of Congress and the Executive Director of the Office 
of Compliance. The Library of Congress is further authorized to 
compute and disburse the basic pay of all personnel of the Office 
of Compliance pursuant to the provisions of section 5504 of 
title 5. 
All vouchers certified for pa3anent by duly authorized certifying 
Certification 
officers of the Library of Congress shall be supported with a certifi-
cation by an officer or employee of the Office of Compliance duly 
authorized in writing by the Executive Director of the Office of 
Compliance to certify pa3mients from appropriations of the Office 
of Compliance. The Office of Compliance certifying officers shall 
(1) be held responsible for the existence and correctness of the 
facts recited in the certificate or otherwise stated on the voucher 
or its supporting paper and the legality of the proposed pa3anent 
under the appropriation or fiind involved, (2) be held responsible 
and accountable for the correctness of the computations of certifi-
cations made, and (3) be held accountable for and required to 
make good to the United States the amount of any illegal, improper, 
or incorrect payment resulting from any false, inaccurate, or mis-
leading certificate made by them, as well as for any payment 
prohibited by law which did not represent a legal obligation \mder 
the appropriation or fiind involved: Provided, Txiat the Comptroller 
General of the United States may, at his discretion, relieve such 
certifying officer or employee of liability for any payment otherwise 
proper whenever he finds (1) that the certification was based on 
official records and that such certifying officer or employee did 
not know, suid by reasonable diligence and incjuiry coxJd not have 
ascertained the actual facts, or (2) that the obhgation was incurred 
in good faith, that the payment was not contrary to any statutory 
provision 
specifically 
prohibiting payments 
of the 
character 
involved, and the United States has received value for such pay-
ment: Provided further, That the Comptroller General shall relieve 
110 STAT. 2410 
PUBLIC LAW 104-197—SEPT. 16, 1996 
such certifying officer or employee of liability for an overpajonent 
for transportation services made to any common carrier covered 
by section 3726 of title 31, whenever he finds that the overpayment 
occurred solely because the administrative examination made prior 
to payment of the transportation bill did not include a verification 
of transportation rates, freight classifications, or land grant deduc-
tions. 
The Disbursing Officer of the Library of Congress shall not 
be held accountable or responsible for £iny illegal, improper, or 
incorrect pa5nnent resulting from any false, inaccurate, or mislead-
ing certificate, the responsibility for which is imposed upon a certify-
ing officer or employee of the Office of Compliance. 
SEC. 209. Section 8 of the Americ£in Folklife Preservation Act 
(20 U.S.C. 2107) is amended to read as follows: 
"SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS. 
"There are authorized to be appropriated to the Center to 
carry out this Act such sums as may be necessary for each of 
the fiscal years 1997 and 1998.". 
ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL 
LIBRARY BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS 
STRUCTURAL AND MECHANICAL CARE 
For all necessary expenses for the mechanical and structural 
maintenance, care and operation of the Library buildings and 
grounds, $9,753,000, of which $1,310,000 shall remain available 
until expended. 
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE 
OFFICE OF SUPERINTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS 
SALARIES AND EXPENSES 
For expenses of the Office of Superintendent of Documents 
necessary to provide for the cataloging and indexing of Government 
publications and their distribution to the public, Members of Con-
gress, other Government agencies, and designated depository and 
international exchange libraries as authorized by law, $29,077,000: 
Provided, That travel expenses, including travel expenses of the 
Depository Library Council to the Public Printer, shall not exceed 
$150,000: Provided 
further, 
That amounts of not more than 
$2,000,000, from current year appropriations are authorized for 
producing and disseminating Congressional serial sets and other 
related publications for 1995 and 1996 to depository anA other 
designated libraries. 
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE REVOLVING FUND 
The Government Printing Office is hereby authorized to make 
such expenditures, within the limits of funds available and in 
accord with the law, and to make such contracts and commitments 
without regard to fiscal year limitations as provided by section 
9104 of title 31, United States Code, as may be necessary in 
carrying out the programs and purposes set forth in the budget 
for the current fiscal year for the Government Printing Office revolv-
PUBLIC LAW 104-197—SEPT. 16, 1996 
110 STAT. 2411 
ing fund: Provided, That not more than $2,500 may be expended 
on the certification of the PubHc Printer in connection with official 
representation and reception expenses: Provided further. That the 
revolving fond shall be available for the hire or purchase of not 
more than twelve passenger motor vehicles: Provided further. That 
expenditures in connection with travel expenses of the advisory 
councils to the Public Printer shall be deemed necessary to carry 
out the provisions of title 44, United States Code: Provided further, 
That the revolving fund shall be available for temporary or intermit-
tent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, 
but at rates for individuals not more than the daily equivEdent 
of the annual rate of basic pay for level V of the Executive Schedule 
under section 5316 of such title: Provided further. That the revolving 
fund £ind the fiinds provided under the headings "OFFICE OF SUPER-
INTENDENT OF DOCUMENTS" and "SALARIES AND EXPENSES" together 
may not be available for the full-time equivalent employment of 
mora than 3,600 workyears by the end of fiscal year 1997: Provided 
further. That activities financed through the revolving fund may 
provide information in any format: Provided further. That the 
revolving fiind shall not be used to administer any flexible or 
compressed work schedule which applies to any manager or super-
visor in a position the grade or level of which is equal to or 
higher than GS-15: Provided further, That expenses for attendance 
at meetings shall not exceed $75,000. 
GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE 
SALARIES AND EXPENSES 
For necessary expenses of the General Accounting Office, 
including not more than $7,000 to be expended on the certification 
of the Comptroller General of the United States in connection 
with official representation and reception expenses; temporary or 
intermittent services imder section 3109(b) of title 5, United States 
Code, but at rates for individuals not more than the daily equivalent 
of the annual rate of basic pay for level IV of the Executive Schedule 
under section 5315 of such title; hire of one passenger motor vehicle; 
advance payments in foreign countries in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 
3324; benefits comparable to those payable under sections 901(5), 
901(6) and 901(8) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 
4081(5), 4081(6) and 4081(8)); and under regulations prescribed Regulations, 
by the Comptroller General of the United States, rental of living 
quarters in foreign countries; $332,520,000: Provided, That not 
more than $100,000 of reimbursements received incident to the 
operation of the General Accounting Office Building shall be avail-
able for use in fiscal year 1997: Provided further. That notwithstand- 
31USC 9105 
ing 31 U.S.C. 9105 hereaft;er amounts reimbursed to the Comptrol- "ote. 
ler General pursuant to that section shall be deposited to the 
appropriation of the General Accoimting Office then available and 
remain available until expended, and not more than $5,805,000 
of such funds shall be available for use in fiscal year 1997: Provided 
further. That this appropriation and appropriations for administra-
tive expenses of any other department or agency which is a member 
of the Joint Fineuicial Management Improvement Program (JFMIP) 
shall be avedlable to finance an appropriate share of JFMIP costs 
as determined by the JFMIP, including the salary of the Executive 
Director and secretarial support: Provided further, That this appro-
110 STAT. 2412 
PUBLIC LAW 104-197—SEPT. 16, 1996 
priation and appropriations for administrative expenses of any other 
department or agency which is a member of the National Intergov-
ernmental Audit Forum or a Regional Intergovernmental Audit 
Forum shall be available to finance an appropriate share of Forum 
costs as determined by the Forum, including necessary travel 
expenses of non-Federal participants. Payments hereunder to either 
the Forum or the JFMIP may be credited as reimbursements to 
any appropriation fi*om which costs involved are initially financed: 
Provided further. That to the extent that funds are otherwise avail-
able for obligation, agreements or contracts for the removal of 
asbestos, and renovation of the building £ind building systems 
(including the heating, ventilation and air conditioning system, 
electrical system and other major building systems) of the General 
Accounting Office Building may be made for periods not exceeding 
five years: Provided further. That this appropriation and appropria-
tions for administrative expenses of any other department or agency 
which is a member of the American Consortium on International 
Public Administration (ACIPA) shall be available to fingince an 
appropriate share of ACIPA costs as determined by the ACIPA, 
including any expenses attributable to membership of ACIPA in 
the International Institute of Administrative Sciences. 
Contracts. 
Public 
information. 
Notice. 
TITLE III—GENERAL PROVISIONS 
SEC. 301. No part of the funds appropriated in this Act shall 
be used for the maintenance or care of private vehicles, except 
for emergency assistance and cleaning as may be provided under 
regulations relating to parking facilities for the House of Represent-
atives issued by the Committee on House Oversight and for the 
Senate issued by the Committee on Rules and Administration. 
SEC. 302. No part of the funds appropriated in this Act shall 
remain available for obligation beyond fiscal year 1997 unless 
expressly so provided in this Act. 
SEC. 303. Whenever in this Act any office or position not specifi-
cally established by the Legislative Pay Act of 1929 is appropriated 
for or the rate of compensation or designation of any office or 
{)osition appropriated for is different fi'om that specifically estab-
ished by such Act, the rate of compensation and the designation 
in this Act shall be the permanent law with respect thereto: Pro-
vided, That the provisions in this Act for the various items of 
official expenses of Members, officers, euid committees of the Senate 
and House of Representatives, and clerk hire for Senators and 
Members of the House of Representatives shall be the permanent 
law with respect thereto. 
SEC. 304. The expenditure of any appropriation under this 
Act for any consulting service through procurement contract, pursu-
ant to 5 U.S.C. 3109, shall be limited to those contracts where 
such expenditures are a matter of public record and available 
for public inspection, except where otherwise provided under 
existing law, or under existing Executive order issued pursuant 
to existing law. 
SEC. 305. (a) It is the sense of the Congress that, to the 
greatest extent practicable, all equipment and products purchased 
with fiinds made available in this Act should be American-made. 
(b) In providing financial assistance to, or entering into £iny 
contract with, any entity using funds made available in this Act, 
the head of each Federal agency, to the greatest extent practicable. 
PUBLIC LAW 104-197—SEPT. 16, 1996 
110 STAT. 2413 
40 use 175 note. 
shall provide to such entity a notice describing the statement made 
in subsection (a) by the Congress. 
(c) If it has been finally determined by a court or Federal 
agency that any person intentionally affixed a label bearing a 
"Made in America inscription, or any inscription with the same 
meaning, to any product sold in or snipped to the United States 
that is not made in the United States, such person shall be ineligible 
to receive any contract or subcontract made with fiinds provided 
pursusuit to this Act, pursuant to the debarment, suspension, £ind 
ineligibihty procedures described in section 9.400 through 9.409 
of title 48, Code of Federal Regulations. 
SEC. 306. During fiscal year 1997 and fiscal years thereafl;er, 
40 USC I66h 
amounts appropriated to the Architect of the Capitol (including 
amounts relating to the Botanic Garden) may be transferred among 
accoxints avedlable to the Architect of the Capitol upon the 
approval of— 
(1) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Rep-
resentatives, in the case of eunounts transferred fi*om the appro-
priation for Capitol buildings and grounds under the heading 
"HOUSE OFFICE BUILDINGS"; 
(2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, in 
the case of amounts transferred fi-om the appropriation for 
Capitol buildings and grounds under the heading "SENATE 
OFFICE BUILDINGS"; and 
(3) the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and 
the House of Representatives, in the case of amounts trans-
ferred fi-om £uiy other appropriation. 
SEC. 307. (a) Upon approval of the Committee on Appropriations 
of the House of Representatives, and in accordance with conditions 
determined by the Committee on House Oversight, positions in 
connection with House public address sound system activities and 
related funding shall be transferred fi*om the appropriation for 
the Architect of the Capitol for Capitol buildings and grounds 
under the heading "CAPITOL BUILDINGS" to the appropriation for 
salaries and expenses of the House of Representatives for the Office 
of the Clerk under the heading "SALARIES, OFFICERS AND EM-
PLOYEES". 
(b) For purposes of section 8339(m) of title 5, United States 
Code, the days of unused sick leave to the credit of any such 
employee as of the date such employee is transferred under sub-
section (a) shall be included in the total service of such employee 
in connection with the computation of any annuity imder sub-
sections (a) through (e) and (o) of such section. 
(c) In the case of days of annual leave to the credit of any 
such employee as of the date such employee is transferred under 
subsection (a), the Architect of the Capitol is authorized to make 
a lump sum pajnnent to each such employee for that annual leave. 
No such payment shall be considered a pajmaent or compensation 
within the meaning of any law relating to dual compensation. 
SEC. 308. (a) Effective October 1, 1996, the responsibility for 
maintenance of security systems for the Capitol buildings £ind 
grounds is transferred from the Architect of the Capitol to the 
Capitol Police Board. Such maintenance shall be carried out under 
the direction of the Committee on House Oversight of the House 
of Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration 
of the Senate. On and after October 1, 1996, any alteration to 
a structural, mechanical, or architectural feature of the Capitol 
Annuities. 
Effective dates. 
Government 
organization. 
40 USC 212a-4a. 
110 STAT. 2414 
PUBLIC LAW 104-197—SEPT. 16, 1996 
Government 
organization. 
Mail. 
Notice. 
2 use 59h. 
Reports. 
buildings and grounds that is required for security system m£dnte-
nance under the preceding sentence may be carried out only with 
the approval of the Architect of the Capitol. 
(b)(1) Effective October 1, 1996, all positions specified in para-
graph (2) and each individual holding any such position (on a 
permanent basis) immediately before that date, as identified by 
the Architect of the Capitol, shall be transferred to the Capitol 
Police. 
(2) The positions referred to in paragraph (1) are those positions 
which, immediately before October 1,1996, are— 
(A) under the Architect of the Capitol; 
(B) within the Electronics Engineering Division of the 
Office of the Architect of the Capitol; and 
(C) related to the maintensince of security systems for 
the Capitol buildings and grounds. 
(3) All annual leave and sick leave standing to the credit 
of an individual immediately before such individual is transferred 
imder paragraph (1) shall be credited to such individual, without 
adjustment, in the new position of the individual. 
SEC. 309. Such srnns as may be necessary are appropriated 
to the account described in subsection (a) of section 415 of Public 
Law 104-1 to pay awards eind settlements as authorized under 
such subsection. 
SEC. 310. Any gimoimt appropriated in this Act for "HOUSE 
OF REPRESENTATIVES—Salaries and Expenses—Members' Rep-
resentational Allowances" shall be available only for fiscal year 
1997. Any amount remaining after all payments are made under 
such allowances for such fiscal year shall be deposited in the Treas-
ury, to be used for deficit reduction. 
SEC. 311. (a) Each mass mailing sent by a Member of the 
House of Representatives shall bear in a prominent place on its 
face, or on the envelope or outside cover or wrapper in which 
the mail matter is sent, the following notice: "TfflS MAILING WAS 
PREPARED, 
PUBUSHED, 
AND MAILED 
AT 
TAXPAYER EXPENSE.", Or 
a notice to the same effect in words which may be prescribed 
under subsection (c). The notice shall be printed in a type size 
not smaller th£in 7-point. 
(b)(1) There shall be published in the itemized report of 
disbursements of the House of Representatives as required by law, 
a summary tabulation setting forth, for the office of each Member 
of the House of Representatives, the total number of pieces of 
mass mail mailed during the period involved and the total cost 
of those mass msdlings. 
(2) Each such tabulation shall also include— 
(A) the total cost (as referred to in paragraph (1)) divided 
by the number (as determined by the Postmaster General) 
of addresses (other than business possible delivery stops) in 
the Congressional district fi*om which the Member was elected 
(as such addresses are described in section 3210(d)(7)(B) of 
title 39, United States Code); and 
(B) the total number of pieces of mass mail (as referred 
to in paragraph (1)) divided by the number (as determined 
by the Postmaster General) of addresses (other than business 
possible delivery stops) in the Congressional district fi*om which 
the Member was elected (as such addresses are described in 
section 3210(d)(7)(B) of title 39, United States Code). 
PUBLIC LAW 104-197—SEPT. 16, 1996 
110 STAT. 2415 
(c) The Committee on House Oversight shall prescribe such Rules and 
rules and regulations and shall take such other action as the regulations. 
Committee considers necessary and proper for Members to conform 
to the provisions of this subsection and apphcable rules and regula-
tions. 
(d) For purposes of this section— 
(1) the term "Member of the House of Representatives" 
means a Representative in, or a Delegate or Resident Commis-
sioner to, the Congress; and 
(2) the term "mass mailing" has the meaning given such 
term by section 3210(a)(6)(E) of title 39, United States Code. 
(e) This section shall apply with respect to sessions of Congress Applicability. 
beginning after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
SEC. 312. (a) Section 203(a)(3) of PubUc Law 104-1 (2 U.S.C. 
1313(a)(3)) is amended by inserting "and in subsection (c)(4)" after 
"(cX3)" 
(b) Section 203(c) of Public Law 104-1 (2 U.S.C. 1313(c)) is 
sunended by adding at the end the following paragraph: 
"(4) LAW ENFORCEMENT.—Law enforcement personnel of 
the Capitol Police who are subject to the exemption under 
section 7(k) of the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (29 U.S.C. 
207(k)) may elect to receive compensatory time off in lieu of 
overtime compensation for hours worked in excess of the maxi-
mum for their work period.". 
SEC. 313. Section 316 of PubHc Law 101-302 is amended in 
the first sentence of subsection (a) by striking "1996" and inserting 
"1997". 
SEC. 314. (a) Upon enactment into law of this Act, there shall 
be established a program for providing the widest possible exchange 
of information among legislative branch agencies with the long-
range goal of improving information technology planning and 
evaluation. The Committee on House Oversight of the House of 
Representatives and the Committee on Rules and Administration 
of the Senate are requested to determine the structure and oper-
ation of this program and to provide appropriate oversight. All Reports, 
of the appropriate offices and agencies of the legislative breuich 
as defined below shall participate in this program for information 
exchange, and shall report annually on the extent and nature 
of their participation in their budget submissions to the Committee 
on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Commit-
tee on Appropriations of the Senate, 
(b) As used in this section— 
(1) the term "offices and agencies of the legislative branch" 
means, the office of the Clerk of the House, the office of the 
Secretary of the Senate, the office of the Architect of the Capitol, 
the General Accounting Office, the Government Printing Office, 
the Library of Congress, the Congressional Research Service, 
the Congressional Budget Office, the Chief Administrative Offi-
cer of the House of Representatives, and the Sergeant at Arms 
of the Senate; and 
(2) the term "technology" refers to any form of computer 
hardware and software; computer-based systems, services, and 
support for the creation, processing, exchange, and delivery 
of information; and telecommunications systems, and the associ-
ated hardware and software, that provide for voice, data, or 
image communication. 
40 use 188b-6. 
Establishment. 
Science and 
technology. 
Tele-
communications. 
2 use 181. 
110 STAT. 2416 
PUBLIC LAW 104-197—SEPT. 16, 1996 
PROHIBITIONS AGAINST POLITICAL RECOMMENDATIONS RELATING TO 
FEDERAL EMPLOYMENT 
SEC. 315. (a) IN GENERAL.—Section 3303 of title 5, United 
States Code, is amended to read as follows: 
**§3303. Competitive service; recommendations of Senators 
or Representatives 
"An individual concerned in examining an applic£int for or 
appointing him in the competitive service may not receive or con-
sider a recommendation of the applicant by a Senator or Representa-
tive, except as to the character or residence of the applicant.". 
(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENTS.—(1) The table 
of sections for chapter 33 of title 5, United States Code, is amended 
by amending the item relating to section 3303 to read as follows: 
"3303. Competitive service; recommendations of Senators or Representatives.". 
(2) Section 2302(b)(2) of title 5, United States Code, is amended 
to read as follows: 
"(2) solicit or consider any recommendation or statement, 
oral or written, with respect to any individual who requests 
or is under consideration for any personnel action unless such 
recommendation or statement is based on the personal knowl-
edge or records of the person furnishing it and consists of— 
"(A) an evaluation of the work performance, ability, 
aptitude, or general qualifications of such individual; or 
"(B) an evaluation of the character, loyalty, or suit-
ability of such individual;". 
5 use 2302 note. 
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE.—This section shall take effect 30 days 
after the date of the enactment of this Act. 
S E C 316. Limitation on Exclusive Copj^ghts for Literary 
Works in Specialized Format for the Blind and Disabled.— 
(a) IN GENERAL.—Chapter 1 of title 17, United States Code, 
is amended by adding after section 120 the following new section: 
'*§ 121. Limitations on exclusive rights: reproduction for blind 
or other people with disabilities 
"(a) Notwithstanding the provisions of sections 106 and 710, 
it is not an infiingement of copyright for an authorized entity 
to reproduce or to distribute copies or phonorecords of a previously 
published, nondrsimatic literary work if such copies or phonorecords 
are reproduced or distributed in specialized formats exclusively 
for use by blind or other persons with disabilities. 
"(b)(1) Copies or phonorecords to which this section applies 
shall— 
"(A) not be reproduced or distributed in a format other 
than a specijQized format exclusively for use by blind or other 
persons with disabilities; 
Notice. 
"(B) bear a notice that any further reproduction or distribu-
tion in a format other than a speciaHzed format is an infringe-
ment; and 
Notice. 
"(C) include a copyright notice identifying the copyright 
owner and the date of the original publication. 
"(2) The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to 
standardized, secure, or norm-referenced tests and related testing 
material, or to computer programs, except the portions thereof 
that are in conventional human language (including descriptions 
PUBLIC LAW 104-197—SEPT. 16, 1996 
110 STAT. 2417 
of pictorial works) and displayed to users in the ordinary course 
of using the computer programs. 
"(c) For purposes of this section, the term— 
"(1) 'authorized entity* means a nonprofit organization or 
a governmental agency that has a primary mission to provide 
speciaJized services relating to training, education, or adaptive 
reading or information access needs of blind or other persons 
with disabilities; 
"(2) Talind or other persons with disabilities' means individ-
uals who are eligible or who may qualify in accordance with 
the Act entitled "An Act to provide books for the adult blind", 
approved March 3, 1931 (2 U.S.C. 135a; 46 Stat. 1487) to 
receive books and other publications produced in specialized 
formats; and 
"(3) 'specigdized formats' means braille, audio, or digital 
text which is exclusively for use by blind or other persons 
with disabilities.", 
(b) TECHNICAL AND CONFORMING AMENDMENT.—The table of 
sections for chapter 1 of title 17, United States Code, is amended 
by adding after the item relating to section 120 the following: 
"121. Limitations on exclusive rights: reproduction for blind or other people with 
disabilities.". 
SEC. 317. For payment to Jo Ann Emerson, widow of Bill Jo Ann Emerson. 
Emerson, late a Representative from the State of Missouri, 
$133,600. 
This Act may be cited as the "Legislative Branch Appropriations 
Act, 1997". 
Approved September 16, 1996. 
LEGISLATIVE HISTORY—H.R. 3754: 
HOUSE REPORTS: Nos. 104-657 (Comm. on Appropriations) and 104-733 (Comm. 
of Conference). 
SENATE REPORTS: No. 104-323 (Comm. on Appropriations). 
CONGRESSIONAL RECORD, Vol. 142 (1996): 
July 10, considered and passed House. 
July 29, 30, considered and passed Senate, amended. 
Aug. 1, House agreed to conference report. 
Sept. 3, Senate agreed to conference report. 
WEEKLY COMPILATION OF PRESIDENTLVL DOCUMENTS, Vol. 32 (1996): 
Sept. 16, Presidential statement.