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Order Code RL31812
CRS Report for Congress
Received through the CRS Web
Appropriations for FY2004:
Legislative Branch
Updated January 16, 2004
Paul E. Dwyer
Specialist in American National Government
Government and Finance Division
Congressional Research Service ~ The Library of Congress
Appropriations are one part of a complex federal budget process that includes budget
resolutions, appropriations (regular, supplemental, and continuing) bills, rescissions, and
budget reconciliation bills. The process begins with the President's budget request and is
bounded by the rules of the House and Senate, the Congressional Budget and Impoundment
Control Act of 1974 (as amended), the Budget Enforcement Act of 1990, and current
program authorizations.
This report is a guide to one of the 13 regular appropriations bills that Congress considers
each year. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House and Senate
Appropriations Subcommittees on Legislative Branch Appropriations. It summarizes the
current legislative status of the bill, its scope, major issues, funding levels, and related
legislative activity. The report lists the key CRS staff relevant to the issues covered and
related CRS products.
This report is updated as soon as possible after major legislative developments, especially
following legislative action in the committees and on the floor of the House and Senate.
NOTE: A Web version of this document with active links is
available to congressional staff at:
[http://www.crs.gov/products/appropriations/apppage.shtml].
Appropriations for FY2004: Legislative Branch
Summary
On September 30, 2003, the President signed into law H.R. 2657, the FY2004
Legislative Branch Appropriations Act (P.L. 108-83). The Act contains $3.548
billion for FY2004 legislative branch activities, and $937.6 million for FY2003
emergency supplemental appropriations (for executive and judicial programs).
During markup on July 9, 2003, the Senate Committee on Appropriations added
$1.989 billion in FY2003 emergency supplemental appropriations to its version of
the FY2004 legislative branch funding bill, S. 1383. It placed the funds in Title III
of the bill. The Senate amended the supplemental to contain $2.0 billion, and
conferees reduced the funding level to $937.6 million.
Among elements considered during discussions on the FY2004 budget were
! the level of additional funds necessary to complete construction and
furnishing of the Capitol Visitors' Center;
! additional security enhancements within and around the Capitol
complex;
! the level of funding for activities of the Capitol Police; and
! requests of the Capitol Police to expand their physical jurisdiction,
establish a mounted police unit, authorize officers to carry guns
(other than those used for official duty) when off-duty, and expand
the law enforcement duties of officers outside the physical
jurisdiction of the Capitol Police, including Members' home districts
and states.
Key Policy Staff
CRS
Area of Expertise Name Division Telephone and E-mail
Appropriations Process Bill Heniff GOV/FIN 7-8646
wheniff@crs.loc.gov
Sandy Streeter GOV/FIN 7-8653
sstreeter@crs.loc.gov
Committee Funds Paul Rundquist GOV/FIN 7-6939
prundquist@crs.loc.gov
Legislative Operations Paul Dwyer GOV/FIN 7-8668
pdwyer@crs.loc.gov
Bill Heniff GOV/FIN 7-8646
wheniff@crs.loc.gov
Mildred Amer GOV/FIN 7-8304
mamer@crs.loc.gov
Paul Rundquist GOV/FIN 7-6939
prundquist@crs.loc.gov
Division abbreviations: GOV/FIN = Government and Finance
Contents
Most Recent Developments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Introduction to the Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Status of FY2004 Appropriations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Action on the FY2004 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill . . . . . . . . . . 3
Submission of FY2004 Budget Request by the President . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Hearings on FY2004 Budget Requests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Report of FY2004 Bill By House Committee on Appropriations
(H.R. 2657) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Passage of FY2004 Bill by the House (H.R. 2657) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Report of FY2004 Bill by Senate Committee on Appropriations
(S. 1383) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Passage of FY2004 Bill by the Senate (S. 1383; H.R. 2657) . . . . . . . . . 5
Report of Conference on H.R. 2657 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Action on FY2003 Supplemental Appropriations for the Legislative Branch
(P.L. 108-11;H.R. 1559) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
FY2004 Legislative Branch Funding Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Capitol Complex Security -- U.S. Capitol Police . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Funding Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Capitol Complex Security -- Capitol Visitors' Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Architect of the Capitol Operations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Funding Issues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
FY2004 Budget Proposal and House and Senate Floor Action . . . . . . 15
House of Representatives . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Overall Funding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
House Committee Funding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Senate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Overall Senate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Senate Committee Funding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Support Agency Funding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Congressional Budget Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
General Accounting Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Library of Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
Congressional Research Service . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
Government Printing Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
For Additional Reading . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
CRS Reports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
Selected Web Sites . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37
List of Tables
Table 1. Legislative Branch Appropriations, FY1995 to FY2004 . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Table 2. Status of Legislative Branch Appropriations, FY2004 (H.R. 2657) . . . 3
Table 3. Legislative Branch Appropriations, FY2004 (P.L. 108-83;
H.R. 2657; S. 1383) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
Table 4. Capitol Police Appropriations, FY2004 (P.L. 108-83; H.R. 2657;
S. 1383) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Table 5. Architect of the Capitol Appropriations, FY2004 (P.L. 108-83;
H.R. 2657; S. 1383) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Table 6. Senate Appropriations, FY2004 (P.L. 108-83; H.R. 2657;S. 1383) . . . 29
Table 7. House of Representatives Appropriations, FY2004 (P.L. 108-83;
H.R. 2657) (108th Congress, 1st Session) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
Table 8. Legislative Branch Budget Authority Contained in Appropriations
Acts, FY1995-FY2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
Table 9. Legislative Branch Budget Authority Contained in Appropriations
Acts, FY1995-FY2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
Appropriations for FY2004:
Legislative Branch
Most Recent Developments
Conferees agreed to a FY2004 legislative branch appropriation of $3.548 billion
contained in H.R. 2547. The President signed the bill into law on September 30,
2003, P.L. 108-83, 117 Stat. 1007. The act also contains $937.6 million for FY2003
emergency supplemental appropriations (for non-legislative branch programs).
Introduction to the Legislative Branch
Appropriations Bill
The annual legislative branch appropriations bill contains two titles.
Appropriations for legislative branch agencies are contained in Title I. Title II
contains general administrative provisions, and from time to time appropriations for
legislative branch entities. For example, in the FY2003 Act Title II contained
funding for the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development
and the Congressional Award Act.
Congress changed the structure of the annual legislative branch appropriations
bill effective in FY2003. Prior to enactment of the FY2003 bill, and effective in
FY1978, the legislative branch appropriations bill was divided into two titles. Title
I, Congressional Operations, contained budget authorities for activities directly
serving Congress. Included in this title were the budgets of the House, the Senate,
Joint Items (joint House and Senate activities), the Office of Compliance, the
Congressional Budget Office (CBO), the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) (except the
Library of Congress (LOC) buildings and grounds), the Congressional Research
Service (CRS) within the Library of Congress, and congressional printing and
binding activities of the Government Printing Office (GPO).
Title II, Related Agencies, contained budgets for activities not directly
supporting Congress. Included in this title were budgets of the Botanic Garden, the
Library of Congress (except the Congressional Research Service), the Library
buildings and grounds maintained by the Architect of the Capitol, the Government
Printing Office (except congressional printing and binding costs), and the General
Accounting Office (GAO). Periodically since FY1978, the bill contained additional
titles for such purposes as capital improvements and special one-time functions.
CRS-2
In addition to activities funded in the annual legislative branch appropriations
bill, there are legislative budget authorities that include permanent budget authority
for both federal funds and trust funds, and non-legislative entities.
Permanent federal funds are available as the result of previously enacted
legislation and do not require annual action.1
Permanent trust funds are monies held in accounts credited with collections
from specific sources earmarked by law for a defined purpose. Trust funds do not
appear in the annual legislative bill since they are not budget authority. They are
included in the U.S. Budget either as budget receipts or offsetting collections.2
The Budget also contains non-legislative entities within the legislative branch
budget. They are funded in other appropriation bills, but are placed in the legislative
section by the Office of Management and Budget for bookkeeping purposes.3
1
FY2004 estimated legislative branch permanent federal fund authority was $351 million,
comprised of House and Senate Member pay ($109 million); House and Senate use of
foreign currencies ($8 million); and Library of Congress payments to copyright owners
($234 million). Source is the FY2004 U.S. Budget (with figures rounded to the nearest
million).
2
FY2004 estimated permanent trust fund authority was $37 million, comprised of Library
of Congress gift and trust fund accounts ($16 million); U.S. Capitol Preservation
Commission trust funds ($1 million); Architect of the Capitol, U.S. Botanic Garden, gifts
and donations ($2 million); John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and
Development trust funds ($3 million), and the Russian Leadership Development trust funds
($15 million). Source is the FY2004 U.S. Budget (which contains figures rounded to the
nearest million).
3
The FY2004 U.S. Budget contains $80 million in federal funds for non-legislative entities,
with one exception, under two headings: (1) "U.S. Tax Court" ($40 million), and (2) "other
legislative branch agencies - legislative branch boards and commissions" ($19 million),
which includes the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom ($3 million); a
subcategory titled "other legislative branch boards and commissions" ($3 million); and
payment to the Russian Leadership Development Center trust fund ($15 million).
For a more accurate picture of the legislative branch budget, as contained in the annual
legislative branch appropriations bill, the total FY2004 legislative branch appropriation
figure in the FY2004 U.S. Budget must be adjusted. This is accomplished by subtracting
non-legislative funds and permanent federal and trust funds. Non-legislative funds are those
for entities that are funded in other appropriations bills, but for bookkeeping purposes are
counted as legislative branch funds by the Office of Management and Budget. The FY2004
U.S. Budget contains a legislative budget authority request of $4.2 billion. After subtracting
non-legislative entities ($80 million), permanent federal funds ($351 million), and
permanent trust funds ($37 million), the total is $3.7 billion.
CRS-3
Table 1. Legislative Branch Appropriations, FY1995 to FY2004
(budget authority in billions of current dollars)a
Fiscal Years
1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004
2.378 2.184 2.203 2.288 2.581b 2.486c 2.730d 3.252e 3.461f 3.548g
a. These figures represent current dollars, exclude permanent budget authorities, and contain
supplementals and rescissions. Permanent budget authorities are not included in the annual
legislative branch appropriations bill but, rather, are automatically funded annually.
b. Includes budget authority contained in the FY1999 regular annual Legislative Branch
Appropriations Act (P.L. 105-275), the FY1999 emergency supplemental appropriation (P.L.
105-277), and the FY1999 supplemental appropriation (P.L. 106-31).
c. Includes budget authority contained in the FY2000 regular annual Legislative Branch
Appropriations Act (P.L. 106-57); a supplemental and a 0.38% rescission in P.L. 106-113; and
supplementals in P.L. 106-246 and P.L. 106-554.
d. This figure contains: (1) FY2001 regular annual appropriations contained in H.R. 5657, legislative
branch appropriations bill; (2) FY2001 supplemental appropriations of $118 million and a
0.22% across-the-board rescission contained in H.R. 5666, miscellaneous appropriations bill;
and (3) FY2001 supplemental appropriations of $79.5 million contained in H.R. 2216 (P.L. 107-
20). H.R. 5657 and H.R. 5666 were incorporated by reference in P.L. 106-554, FY2001
Consolidated Appropriations Act. The first FY2001legislative branch appropriations bill, H.R.
4516, was vetoed Oct. 30, 2000. The second legislative branch appropriations bill, H.R. 5657,
was introduced Dec. 14 and incorporated in P.L 106-554. in P.L. 106-554. This figure does not
reflect any terrorism supplementals funds released pursuant to P.L. 107-38.
e. This figure contains regular annual appropriations in P.L. 107-68; transfers from the legislative
branch emergency response fund pursuant to P.L. 107-117; and FY2002 supplemental
appropriations in P.L. 107-206.
f. This figure contains regular annual appropriations in P.L. 108-7, FY2003 Omnibus Appropriations
Act, and supplemental appropriations in P.L. 108-11.
g. This figure contains regular annual appropriations in P.L. 108-83.
Status of FY2004 Appropriations
Table 2. Status of Legislative Branch Appropriations, FY2004
(H.R. 2657)
Conference Report
Committee Markup Approval
House House Senate Senate Conference Public
House Senate Report Passage Report Passage Report House Senate Law
07/01/03 07/10/03 09/18/03 09/30/03
06/26/03 07/01/03 09/24/03 09/24/03
H.Rept. 07/09/03 S.Rept. 07/11/03 H.Rept. P.L.
(371-56) (vv)
108-186 108-88 108-279 108-83
Action on the FY2004 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill
Submission of FY2004 Budget Request by the President. On February
3, 2003, President Bush issued the FY2004 U.S. Budget containing an estimate of
$3.76 billion for operations of the legislative branch. Subsequently, the request was
later revised to $3.78 billion due to modifications by legislative branch agencies,
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which reflected an increase of 9.1% ($315.5 million) over the FY2003 appropriation
of $3.46 billion. A substantial part of the increase was to meet mandatory expenses
required by law, including additional funding for salaries and related expenses and
increased costs of goods and services for internal operations of legislative branch
agencies.
Hearings on FY2004 Budget Requests. The House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations held most of their hearings on FY2004 legislative
branch agency requests in March, April, and May 2003. An additional hearing is to
be held on the Capitol Visitors' Center as announced by the chairman of the House
Subcommittee on Legislative, Committee on Appropriations indicated on May 20,
2003. The most recent hearings were held May 20 and 21, 2003, by the House
Subcommittee on Legislative during which Members heard testimony and questioned
the Capitol Police Board and Architect of the Capitol.
Report of FY2004 Bill By House Committee on Appropriations (H.R.
2657). As reported by the House Appropriations Committee on July 1, 2003, the
House bill contained4
! an overall reduction of 1.2% from the FY2003 appropriation for
legislative branch activities, except those of the Senate, to $2.70
billion from $2.73 billion;
! a reduction of 11.8% in the budget of the Capitol Police, to $211.8
million from $240.2 million; and
! a reduction of 24.8% in the budget of the Architect of the Capitol,
excluding funds for Senate Office Buildings, to $294.9 million from
$392.3 million;
The Committee marked up the bill and ordered it reported on June 26.
Passage of FY2004 Bill by the House (H.R. 2657). On July 9, the House
passed a scaled down bill, H.R. 2657 (394-26), containing an overall decrease of
1.2%, excluding funds for Senate operations, and freezing funding for the Capitol
Police, by reducing the expenses account and increasing the salaries account by 8.8%.
New funding was withheld pending completion of a master plan for the police force.
Funds for the Architect of the Capitol were increased slightly, with additional funds
to be considered as Congress determined were needed for the Capitol Visitors' Center
and other pending construction projects. The House bill did not contain funds for the
center.
H.R. 2657 passed with an amendment prohibiting the use of funds in the bill for
supplemental dental and vision health insurance benefits for House Members and
employees. This language was contained as an amendment to H.R. 2657 in the nature
4
U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Legislative Branch Appropriations
Bill, 2004, report to accompany H.R. 2657, 108th Cong., 1st sess., H.Rept. 108-186
(Washington: GPO, 2003), 44p.
CRS-5
of a substitute to the rule providing for consideration of H.R. 2657 (H.Res. 311). The
rule was agreed to by a vote of 411-13.
Report of FY2004 Bill by Senate Committee on Appropriations (S.
1383). As reported in the Senate on July 10, S. 1383 contained
! an overall increase of 2.7%, for legislative branch operations,
excluding funds for the House, to $2.51 billion from $2.44 billion;
! a slight decrease in the budget for the Capitol Police, to $240.0
million from $240.2 million, which included a reduction in general
expenses account and an 18.6% increase in the salaries account; and
! a reduction of 9.6% in the budget of the Architect of the Capitol,
excluding funds for House office buildings, $357.8 million from
$396.2 million; the FY2004 Architect's figure contains a one-time
appropriation of $47.8 million for the Capitol Visitors' Center.
Absent the $47.8 million appropriation, the Architect's budget would
reflect a decrease of 21.7%, to $310.0 million from $396.2 million in
FY2003.
During markup on July 9, the Senate Committee on Appropriations added $2.044
billion in FY2003 emergency supplemental appropriations in a new title, Title III, of
S. 1383. This funding included
! $1.55 billion for disaster relief, $50 million for NASA ;
! $314 million for wildfire suppression;
! $10 million for flood control;
! $100 million for AmeriCorps; and
! $20 million for activities funded in the general provisions section of
Title III.
Passage of FY2004 Bill by the Senate (S. 1383; H.R. 2657). On July
11, the Senate passed H.R. 2657, which was amended to contain the language of S.
1383, by a vote of 85-7. As passed by the Senate, H.R. 2657 contained a 2.7%
increase, not including appropriations for House operations. Like the House, the
Senate version contained a reduction in the police expenses account, but provided an
18.6% increase in the police salaries account. The Senate reduced the Architect's
budget by 9.6%. The reduction from FY2003 was greater if the one-time
appropriation of $47.8 million for the Capitol Visitors' Center contained in the
Architect's FY2004 appropriation is not counted.
The Senate did not consider amendments relating to funding for the legislative
branch; it did consider amendments relating to programs funded in the FY2003
emergency supplemental which was added in Title III of H.R. 2657 by the Senate
Appropriations Committee.
Report of Conference on H.R. 2657. On September 18, conferees filed
their report on H.R. 2657 (H.Rept. 108-279) after having agreed to $3.548 billion for
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legislative branch activities, contained in Titles I and II. As reported from conference,
Titles I and II contained
! an overall increase of 2.5% in legislative branch appropriations, to
$3.548 million from $3.461 million in FY2003;
! a reduction of 8.0% in the budget of the Capitol Police, to $221.1
million from $240.2 million;
! a reduction of 11.3% in the budget of the Architect of the Capitol, to
$405.4 million from $456.8 million; and
! an appropriation of $36.839 million and a transfer of $12.0 million
for completion of the Capitol Visitors' Center.
Pending FY2004 Legislative Branch Language and
Supplemental Appropriations in the FY2004
Consolidated Appropriation Bill (H.R. 2673)
Legislative branch administrative and funding language is contained in H.R.
2673, the FY2004 consolidated appropriation bill. The conference report on H.R.
2673 was agreed to by the House on December 8; the report is scheduled for Senate
consideration on January 20, 2004. Provisions relating to legislative branch activities
are contained in Division H of the bill.5 These provisions
! give the Attending Physician authority and responsibility for
oversight and coordination of the use of "medical assets" to respond
to bioterrorist incidents and other public health emergencies that
occur within the Capitol building and grounds; authorize the
Attending Physician to impose a quarantine and to declare deaths
(Section 151; for bill text see Congressional Record, vol. 149,
November 25, 2003, p. H12442);
! authorize the Architect of the Capitol to enter into an agreement to
"acquire by lease" any part of the property at 499 South Capitol
Street, SW, Washington, DC, for use by the Capitol Police; specify
that such property be considered within the definition of the Capitol
grounds (Section 152; for bill text see Congressional Record, vol.
149, November 25, 2003, p. H12442);
! establish a "United States Group," composed of 12 Senators, to meet
annually with representatives of China to discuss "common problems
in the interest of relations" between the two countries that would be
known as the "United States-China Interparliamentary Group"; direct
the President pro tempore to appoint Senators to the group upon
5
This summary does not address provisions in other divisions of the bill directing the
General Accounting Office to audit or otherwise review executive branch programs.
CRS-7
recommendations of the Senate majority and minority leaders;
authorize $100,000 to be appropriated for expenses each fiscal year
in which Congress makes an appropriation; authorize the use of
$75,000 from the Senate contingent fund in FY2004 for specified
official expenses; and appropriate $100,000 for expenses of the
Interparliamentary Group in FY2004 (Section 153; for bill text see
Congressional Record, vol. 149, November 25, 2003, pp. H12442-
H12443);
! establish a "United States Group," composed of 12 Senators, to meet
annually with representatives of Russia to discuss "common problems
in the interest of relations" between the two countries that would be
known as the "United States-Russia Interparliamentary Group"; direct
the President pro tempore to appoint Senators to the group upon
recommendations of the Senate majority and minority leaders;
authorize $100,000 to be appropriated for expenses for each fiscal
year in which Congress makes an appropriation; authorize the use of
$75,000 from the Senate contingent fund in FY2004 for specified
official expenses; and appropriate $100,000 for expenses of the
Interparliamentary Group in FY2004 (Section 153; for bill text see
Congressional Record, vol. 149, November 25, 2003, p. H12443);
! authorize a maximum of $50,000 in the Senate contingent fund to be
used each fiscal year for reimbursement to the Senate chaplain for
expenses incurred in the purchase of food and food-related items
while performing the duties of office; repeal the chaplain expense
revolving fund (Section 155; for bill text see Congressional Record,
vol. 149, November 25, 2003, p. H12443);
! establish a House of Representatives revolving fund containing
appropriations and donations made to the fund, and interest on its
balance; require the House Chief Administrative Officer to authorize
expenditures from the fund, upon notification to the House
Committee on Appropriations (Section 156; for bill text see
Congressional Record, vol. 149, November 25, 2003, p. H12443);
and
! require a 0.59% across the board rescission in FY2004 legislative
branch appropriations (contained in P.L. 108-83) to be applied
proportionately to each account, and to programs, projects, and
activities within each account;6 require the Office of Management and
6
Section 168(a) also requires a rescission of $1.8 billion in unobligated balances of amounts
made available in appropriations for the Department of Defense, and in P.L. 107-38 and P.L.
107-117, both of which contained emergency terrorism funding for the federal government,
some of which was released to the legislative branch for security enhancements. Any
unobligated amounts made available in P.L. 107-38 and P.L. 107-117 might be subject to
this particular rescission. The Office of Management and Budget is to determine the
accounts, programs, projects, and activities from which funds will be rescinded. P.L. 107-38
(continued...)
CRS-8
Budget to submit within 30 days of enactment of H.R. 2673 a report
to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations that specifies
"the account and amount of each rescission" (Section 168(b)(c); for
bill text see Congressional Record, vol. 149, November 25, 2003, p.
H12445).
Action on FY2003 Supplemental Appropriations for
the Legislative Branch (P.L. 108-11;H.R. 1559)
Soon after approving the FY2003 regular annual legislative branch
appropriations (P.L. 108-7), and prior to consideration of the FY2004 legislative
branch budget, Congress cleared an FY2003 supplemental (H.R. 1559, P.L. 108-11)
containing $125 million for the legislative branch emergency response fund.7
Appropriations were made available as follows:
! $11.0 million -- House of Representatives, committee employees
(standing committees, special and select), for salaries and expenses;
! $37.8 million -- Capitol Police, general expenses, "for increasing
emergency costs of the security requirements for the United States
Capitol Complex related to protecting the occupants and visitors;"
! $111,000 -- Office of Compliance, salaries and expenses, "to cover
contracted services of hearings officers and mediators for the
increasing number of hearings;"
! $63.9 million -- Architect of the Capitol, Capitol police buildings
and grounds, "for the property purchase, design, and the beginning of
construction for a new Capitol Police headquarters,"
! $5.5 million -- Library of Congress, salaries and expenses, "to
implement a public address system for the Library's buildings to
assure effective communications in all emergency situations;"
! $1.9 million -- Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service,
"to support the planning, design, and implementation of the
Congressional Research Service portion of the alternate computer
facilities;"
! $4.9 million -- General Accounting Office, salaries and expenses, "to
support the implementation of important security enhancements
required within the GAO facility."8
6
(...continued)
contained $40 billion in emergency terrorism appropriations, $376.9 million of which was
released by the President for legislative branch security enhancements. P.L. 107-117
authorized the transfer of an additional $256.1 million from funds made available in P.L.
107- 38 for additional legislative branch security enhancements.
7
P.L. 108-11, 117 Stat. 586, April 16, 2003.
8
U.S. Congress, Conference Committees, 2003, Making Supplemental Appropriations for
the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2003, conference report to accompany H.R. 1559,
108th Cong., 1st sess., H.Rept. 108-55 (Washington: GPO, 2003), pp. 38-39.
CRS-9
FY2004 Legislative Branch Funding Issues
Capitol Complex Security -- U.S. Capitol Police
Funding Issues. In recent years, Congress has undertaken to strengthen the
capabilities of the Capitol Police by providing increased funding; the FY2002 budget
was increased by 47.1%, and the FY2003 budget by 38.6%.
The Capitol Police requested a 20.9% increase of $50.3 million for FY2004.9
Conferees, however, agreed to withhold additional funds and actually reduce the
Capitol Police appropriation by 8.0%, to $221.1 million from $240.2 million in
FY2003.10 The conference figure reflects an increase of 4.4% from the appropriation
contained in the House bill, and a decrease of 7.9% from that contained in the Senate
bill.
The FY2004 Capitol Police appropriation funds 1,993 positions, including 1,592
sworn staff and 401 civilian employees. Language authorizes 30 positions to be
converted from sworn to civilian positions. Conferees also directed the Capitol Police
to recruit 75 new personnel as follows: five positions for the chief, three of which are
to be mid-level attorneys in the Office of General Counsel; 33 positions, three of
which are to be intelligence analysts and 13 positions for the Security Services
Bureau; and 37 positions for the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer.
Conferees noted "that should the Capitol Police strategic plan, and associated
staffing plan, be completed and approved by the House and Senate Appropriations
Committees, during fiscal year 2004, there is ample funding from the Emergency
Response Fund for new sworn positions."11
The Capitol Police appropriation is contained in two accounts:12
9
The FY2004 request of the Capitol Police for $290.5 million reflected additional funds for
Capitol complex security enhancements including $61 million for an alternate computer
facility as a backup during an emergency, and funds for 301 additional sworn officers and
346 professionals to "staff all law enforcement areas around the Capitol complex" and
"provide sufficient intelligence capabilities, robust physical security and response functions
as well as adequate administrative and logistical support services within the Police
Department."(Written testimony of Terrance Gainer, Chief, U.S. Capitol Police, U.S.
Congress, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Legislative Branch,
Legislative Branch Appropriations for FY2004, hearings, 108th Cong., 1st sess., May 1, 2003
(not yet published).
10
The FY2003 appropriation reflects a one-time wartime supplemental appropriation of
$37.8 million which was contained in P.L. 108-11.
11
U.S. Congress, Conference Committees, 2004, Making Appropriations for the Legislative
Branch for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2004, and for Other Purposes, conference
report to accompany H.R. 2657, 108th Cong., 1st sess., H. Rept. 108-279 (Washington: GPO,
2003), p. 42.
12
Effective in FY2003, appropriations for Capitol Police salaries and expenses accounts in
the annual legislative branch appropriation bill are contained in a stand-alone account.
(continued...)
CRS-10
! salaries account, which conferees funded at $197.6 million, a 13.2%
increase from $174.5 million; the House funded the salaries account
at $189.9 million, an increase of 8.8% (request was a 25.1%
increase), and the Senate funded the account at $207.0 million, an
increase of 18.6%;
! general expenses account, which conferees funded at $23.5 million,
a decrease of 15.8% from $27.9 million; the House funded the
account at $21.9 million, a decrease of 21.5% (request was a 158.8%
increase), and the Senate funded the account at $33.0 million, an
increase of 18.2%.
A separate appropriation under the Architect of the Capitol account contains $3.3
million for Capitol Police buildings and grounds, the same amount contained in both
the House and Senate bills. This represents a significant decrease from the FY2003
appropriation of $63.9 million.13
Among other Capitol Police provisions contained in P.L. 108-83 are those
! authorizing the recruitment and training of sworn positions for
assignment to the Library of Congress, including 23 positions in
FY2004;
! restating a requirement that the Capitol Police notify and consult with
the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations on plans that
"result in the redistribution, reprogramming, or reallocation of FTE's
or funds in a manner different from that presented in each budget
year's appropriation hearings; position reports to the Committees; and
the final approved budget;"14
! authorizing any counsel providing legal assistance and representation
to the Capitol Police to appear in any federal or state court;
! directing that hazardous materials response team members assisting
the Capitol Police be treated as members of the force in order to
receive retirement benefits that are comparable to benefits available
to other federal firefighters and law enforcement personnel;
12
(...continued)
Previously, the appropriation was contained within the joint items account. Also effective
in FY2003, a new account was created for Capitol Police buildings and grounds within the
appropriation for the Architect of the Capitol.
13
The FY2003 appropriation contains a regular annual appropriation of $23.9 million and
a supplemental appropriation of $40 million.
14
U.S. Congress, Conference Committees, 2004, Making Appropriations for the Legislative
Branch for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2004, and for Other Purposes, conference
report to accompany H.R. 2657, 108th Cong., 1st sess., H.Rept. 108-279 (Washington: GPO,
2003), p. 42.
CRS-11
! providing for a "more effective and efficient" transfer of Library of
Congress police to the Capitol Police force;15
! redefining and extending the physical jurisdiction of the Capitol
Police over traffic within and around the Capitol grounds to limit and
prohibit trucks, referred to as the "truck interdiction program;"
! directing the Capitol Police Board to make regulations regarding
"implementation, execution and maintenance" of the truck
interdiction program and to submit its regulations to the Committee
on House Administration and the Senate Committee on Rules and
Administration for approval; and
! directing that FY2004 basic training expenses of the Capitol Police
at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center be paid from
Department of Homeland Security funds.
Capitol Complex Security -- Capitol Visitors' Center
Conferees agreed to a $48.839 million additional appropriation for the Capitol
Visitors' Center, funded under the Architect of the Capitol account. The appropriation
is similar to the amount considered necessary to complete construction of the center,
based upon a review by the General Accounting Office (GAO) and a GAO
"assessment of a cost-to-complete estimate prepared by a third party with expertise
in construction cost analysis."16 Of this amount, $1.039 million is marked for
operational costs, and $48.550 million is no-year money. The Senate version of the
FY2004 bill contained an appropriation of $47.8 million for the center; the House did
not provide funds for the center.
The actual new appropriation for FY2004 is $36.839 million, since conferees
authorized $12.0 million to be transferred to the center' appropriation from previously
appropriated funds made available for Capitol Police buildings and grounds also
funded under the Architect of the Capitol account.
Conferees also
! directed the General Accounting Office (GAO) to conduct quarterly
performance reviews of construction progress to determine adherence
and changes to the center's expenses and schedule, to support
oversight by the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations
and the Capitol Preservation Commission;
15
U.S. Congress, Conference Committees, 2004, Making Appropriations for the Legislative
Branch for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2004, and for Other Purposes, conference
report to accompany H.R. 2657, 108th Cong., 1st sess., H.Rept. 108-279 (Washington: GPO,
2003), pp. 42-43.
16
U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Legislative Branch Appropriations,
2004, report to accompany S. 1383, 108th Cong., 1st sess., S.Rept. 108-88 (Washington:
GPO, 2003), p. 35.
CRS-12
! limited federal funds that can be obligated or spent on a tunnel
connecting the center with the Library of Congress to $10.0 million;
! prohibited the expenditure of funds by the Architect of the Capitol for
construction of the tunnel until a plan for obligation of funds
(showing purpose, amount, and schedule) is approved by the
chairmen and ranking members of the House and Senate Committees
on Appropriations; and
! "urged" those responsible for exhibits in the center to consult with the
Library of Congress "to ensure that the exhibit presents history of the
Congress as well as the role of the congress in the preservation of the
cultural and artistic heritage of the American people."17
Senate report language addressed concerns of the Senate with several aspects of
management of the project, expressing reservations about providing additional funds
"without better management practices." The Senate requested the Architect to impose
necessary controls on construction of the Capitol Visitors' Center (CVC), stating that
the top priority of the Architect is to ensure completion in a timely and financially
responsible manner; directed the Architect to "develop a risk mitigation plan, and
institute a global project cost coding and tracking system for all costs, to ensure to the
extent practicable there will not be additional cost requirements to complete the
project in a timely fashion without jeopardizing quality."
The Senate further prohibited the Architect from obligating any of the $$47.8
million contained in the report without receipt of (1) a recommendation by the Capitol
Preservation Commission, and (2) approval of an spending plan by the House and
Senate Committees on Appropriations.18
Interest in the construction of the Capitol Visitors' Center reflects a heightened
interest by some Members of Congress in making the necessary appropriations
available so that construction of the center can be completed in 2005.19 Congressional
leadership broke ground for the center on June 20, 2000, and construction began in
early 2002. Revised construction cost estimates have increased the original budget of
$265 million to $373.5 million.20 A total of $308.5 million in federal appropriations
17
U.S. Congress, Conference Committees, 2004, Making Appropriations for the Legislative
Branch for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2004, and for Other Purposes, conference
report to accompany H.R. 2657, 108th Cong., 1st sess., H.Rept. 108-279 (Washington: GPO,
2003), p. 49.
18
U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Legislative Branch Appropriations,
2004, report to accompany S. 1383, 108th Cong., 1st sess., S.Rept. 108-88 (Washington:
GPO, 2003), pp. 35-36.
19
For a more detailed discussion on costs of and background on the center, see CRS Report
RL31121, The Capitol Visitors' Center: An Overview, by Stephen Stathis.
20
Testimony of Alan M. Hantman, Architect of the Capitol, U.S. Congress, Senate
Committee on Rules and Administration, Oversight of the Operations of the Secretary of the
Senate, and Architect of the Capitol, hearing, 108th Cong., 1st sess., Mar. 19, 2003 (not yet
(continued...)
CRS-13
have been made for the center's construction, and an additional $65 million in private
funds is reportedly available.
Architect of the Capitol Operations
Funding Issues. Conferees agreed to $405.4 million for activities of the
Architect of the Capitol, a decrease of $51.4 million (-11.3%) from the FY2003
appropriation of $456.8 million. Operations of the Architect are funded in nine
accounts. The FY2004 appropriations for these accounts and the percentage changes
from FY2003 are as follows:
! general administration -- $77.1 million (+30.7%);
! Capitol building -- $28.2 million (-14.5%);
! Capitol grounds -- $6.9 million (-17.1%);
! Senate office buildings -- $63.4 million (-1.7%);
! House office buildings -- $62.8 million (+3.7%);
! Capitol power plant -- $81.5 million (-34.4%);21
! Library buildings and grounds -- $39.2 million (+5.1%);
! Capitol Police buildings and grounds -- $3.3 million (-94.8%);22 and
! Botanic garden -- $6.2 million (+2.1%).
From time to time, other projects of the Architect are funded in separate accounts
of the bill under the Architect, as is the case in the FY2004 Act which makes available
$48.839 million for completion of the Capitol Visitors' Center (CVC). That figure
reflects a new appropriation of $36.839 million combined with $12.0 million made
available by conferees in a transfer from the Capitol Police buildings and grounds
account under the Architect of the Capitol.
Prior to FY2004, Congress funded separate accounts under the Architect in
FY2002, including $70.0 million for the CVC and $1.3 million for the Congressional
Cemetery.
Conferees on the FY2004 bill also
! directed the AOC to issue control and administrative procedures and
processes to prevent waste and fraud in the use of funds by offices
under his jurisdiction;
! encouraged the AOC to cooperate with other legislative branch
entities to increase the "volume and visibility" of artwork which
20
(...continued)
published).
21
This appropriation is in addition to $4.4 million made available from receipts credited to
this account as reimbursements.
22
The substantial decrease reflects a higher than usual FY2003 appropriations, which
contains a $63.9 million supplemental for Capitol Police buildings and grounds provided in
P.L. 108-11, 117 Stat. 586, Apr. 16, 2003, FY2003 Emergency Wartime Supplemental
Appropriation Act.
CRS-14
reflects the contributions of African-Americans throughout the
history of the United States;
! deferred action on personnel and costs associated with energy service
at the Capitol Power Plant until completion of a study by the AOC on
the organization and administration of his office (as directed in the
House report on H.R. 2657);
! directed that the study of the AOC on organization and administration
of his office be "comprehensive" and address "all aspects of AOC
central and administrative staff, including any administrative
positions that have been established in the offices of the
superintendents to ensure that duplicative services do not occur; that
all positions are required to conduct business; and that they are
aligned with the AOC strategic plan;"23
! funded replacement os high voltage switchgear for the Senate ($2.0
million), the House ($3.6 million), and the Library of Congress ($1.8
million);
! provided $275,000 for upgrades to the emergency evacuation and
notification system in the Capitol Complex;
! provided $6.0 million for phase two of the U.S. Capitol Master Plan;
! provided $9.5 million for modernization of elevators in the House;
$4.3 million to upgrade the House data center;
! directed the General Accounting Office (GAO) to review the master
plan of the Capitol Power Plant, its operations and management, and
report its findings and recommendations on the "adequacy of the
master plan, the capacity and efficiency of plant operations, the
reliability and security of its distribution infrastructure, as well as the
status of the expansion projects;"24
! provided $22.0 million for the West Refrigeration Plant Expansion
project at the Capitol Power Plant; and
23
U.S. Congress, Conference Committees, 2004, Making Appropriations for the Legislative
Branch for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2004, and for Other Purposes, conference
report to accompany H.R. 2657, 108th Cong., 1st sess., H.Rept. 108-279 (Washington: GPO,
2003), p. 44.
24
U.S. Congress, Conference Committees, 2004, Making Appropriations for the Legislative
Branch for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2004, and for Other Purposes, conference
report to accompany H.R. 2657, 108th Cong., 1st sess., H. Rept. 108-279 (Washington: GPO,
2003), p. 46. This language reflects conferees concerns over the Plant's operations,
particularly the maintenance, security, and status of utilities infrastructure, efficiency of
energy consumption, and use of personnel.
CRS-15
! provided transfer authority for an alternate computing facility.
FY2004 Budget Proposal and House and Senate Floor Action. The
original FY2004 budget proposal for the Architect was $513.9 million, an increase of
$57.1 million (12.5%) from $456.8 million in FY2003, including a FY2003
supplemental of $63.9 million for Capitol Police buildings and grounds.25 The
proposal also authorized the Architect to use $4.4 million in reimbursements made
to his office for utilities provided to nonlegislative branch agencies.26
Most of the increase was for general administration of activities of the Architect
(+169.0%), maintenance of the Capitol building (+58.8%), and enhancements to the
Botanic Garden (+80.1%). In testimony before the Senate Appropriations Committee
in May 2003, the Architect stated that the most significant factor in the FY2004
budget increase is the purchase of an alternate computer facility to be shared by
legislative branch agencies ($61.0 million).27
The request also reflected a significant decrease for the Capitol police buildings
and grounds appropriation (-95.4%), primarily due to a FY2003 supplemental of $40.1
million for a new police headquarters. Other reductions were to be made in funds for
the Capitol power plant (-17.8%) and maintenance of the Capitol grounds (-15.9%).
The House version of the FY2004 bill contained a reduction of 9.6% in the
budget of the Architect, excluding funds for Senate office buildings, to $357.8 million
from $396.2 million.
The Senate version contained a decrease of 9.6%, excluding funds for House
office buildings, to $357.8 million from $396.2 million in FY2003. The FY2004
figure contains an appropriation of $47.8 million for the Capitol Visitors' Center.
House of Representatives
Overall Funding. The FY2004 appropriation for House internal operations
is $1.01 billion, an increase of 5.8% over the FY2003 funding level of $960.9
million,28 and a reduction of 2.4% from the House budget request. Most of the
increase is for mandatory expenses, those required by law to meet such expenses as
25
The FY2003 appropriation reflects partial funding for a new police headquarters, the cost
of leasing temporary space until completion of the headquarters, and construction of a
tactical training facility in Cheltenham, Maryland for sole use of the Capitol Police.
26
Written testimony of Alan Hantman, Architect of the Capitol, U.S. Congress, Senate
Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, Legislative Branch
Appropriations for FY2004, hearings, 108th Cong., 1st sess., May 1, 2003 (not yet published).
27
The Architect was authorized to acquire buildings and facilities for a back-up computer
center, subject to availability of appropriations, in P.L. 107-206, sec. 905(a).
28
The FY2003 figure contains an $11 million supplemental for standing committees (P.L.
108-11, 117 Stat. 586, April 16, 2003, FY2003 Emergency Wartime Supplemental
Appropriation Act).
CRS-16
the annual salary adjustment and related costs, plus increased costs of goods and
services. Among increases are those for
! Members' representational allowances to assist Members in their
official duties, an increase of 8.0%;
! salaries and expenses for House leadership offices, an increase of
9.8%;
! salaries of House administrative officers, their employees and other
personnel, an increase of 3.2%;
! Office of the Chief Administrative Officer of the House, an increase
of 5.5%; and
! allowances and expenses heading (which includes supplies; official
mail for committees, leadership and administrative offices; and
mandatory House contributions to insurance and retirement programs
for House employees), an increase of 8.9%.
Among other provisions of P.L. 108-83 are those that
! established the House Office of Interparliamentary Affairs with
jurisdiction over visits to the House by participants in
interparliamentary exchanges, members of foreign legislative bodies,
and permanent officials of foreign governments;
! required unused funds available to Members for their representational
allowances to be used to reduce the deficit; and
! prohibited the use of funds in the Act to provide supplemental dental
or vision health insurance benefits to Members and other House
employees.
House conferees included language in the conference report regarding the role
of the Office of House Finance in the annual budget preparation process.29 They
directed the Finance Office to set deadlines for the receipt of budget information,
including reprogramming activities, from House entities. They also expressed the
Appropriations Committee's expectation that each House entity will "provide its
utmost support in meeting Office of Finance deadlines," necessitating at times "an
immediate response with little or no advance notification." Conferees noted that in
the event a House entity "is not available to respond to the Finance Office, the
Committee expects the Finance Office to provide their independent analysis to the
Committee."30
29
The House Finance Office, under jurisdiction of the Chief Administrative Officer of the
House, is responsible for collecting budget requests and other data from House entities.
30
U.S. Congress, Conference Committees, 2004, Making Appropriations for the Legislative
(continued...)
CRS-17
House Committee Funding. The FY2004 appropriation for House
committee operations is $132.1 million, a decrease of 4.7% from the FY2003
appropriation of $138.6 million.31
Funding for House committees is contained in the appropriation heading,
committee employees, that comprises two subheadings. The first subheading contains
funds for personnel and non-personnel expenses of House committees, except the
Appropriations Committee, as authorized by the House in a committee expense
resolution. The FY2004 appropriation is $107.2 million.
The second subheading contains funds for the personnel and non-personnel
expenses of the Committee on Appropriations. The FY2004 appropriation is $24.9
million.
Senate
Overall Senate. The Senate's FY2004 appropriation of $716.8 million is an
8.0% increase over FY2003 ($663.4 million). A significant factor in the increase is
funding for mandatory expenses related to insurance and retirement programs for
Senate employees. Among other increases are those for
! official personnel and office expense account, to assist Senators in
their official duties, an increase of 6.8%;
! activities of the Senate Sergeant at Arms, funded under "salaries,
officers, and employees") including six additional positions for
enhanced Senate security, an increase of 6.1%;
! activities of the Senate Sergeant at Arms, funded under "contingent
expenses of the Senate," an increase of 18.2%; the increase primarily
reflects expenses related to a "fit-out" of the new Senate warehouse
and mail processing facility ($6.3 million), purchase of computer
equipment and software for offices of Senators and committees
($10.3 million), relocation of the Senate Recording Studio to the
Capitol Visitors' Center (CVC) ($5.2 million), continuation of
technology upgrades in the Senate Recording Studio ($3.8 million),
enhanced security for Senators' state offices ($2.7 million), move and
upgrades of the audio system infrastructure in the Senate chamber in
connection with the CVC ($2.5 million), and procurement and
30
(...continued)
Branch for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2004, and for Other Purposes, conference
report to accompany H.R. 2657, 108th Cong., 1st sess., H.Rept. 108-279 (Washington: GPO,
2003), pp. 40-41.
31
The FY2003 appropriation contains an $11 million FY2003 supplemental.
CRS-18
maintenance of correspondence management systems in Senators'
offices ($4.3 million);32
! activities of the Secretary of the Senate funded under "salaries,
officers, and employees," an increase of 7.1%;
! activities of the Secretary of the Senate funded under "contingent
expenses of the Senate," a decrease of 68.0%; and
! salaries of officers and their employees and mandatory Senate
contributions to insurance and retirement programs for most Senate
employees, an increase of 7.1%.
Among other provisions of P.L. 108-83 are those that
! made $500,000 available for a pilot postal patron mail program which
allows mailing of postcards by Senators to provide notices of town
meetings which they will attend;33
! struck the limitation on expenses for the Conference of the Majority
and the Conference of the Minority;
! defined the authority of the Senate Commission on Art in the
acceptance of monetary gifts and in the acquisition of art and
historical items for display in the Senate wing of the Capitol and in
Senate office buildings; and established a Senate Curatorial Advisory
Board and a Senate Preservation Fund;
! authorized the Senate Sergeant at Arms to provide services and
furnish equipment to certain Senate entities on a reimbursable basis;
! provided authority to the Senate Committee on Rules and
Administration to authorize the installation of data communication
lines and other internet connections in the home of each Senator and
in the homes of two employees designated by a Senator; and
! authorized Senators from states with high cost of living expenses
(contiguous states) to provide additional funds to employees located
in their states, and limited the additional allowances to 25% of the
basic salary of employees.
32
U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Legislative Branch Appropriations,
2004, report to accompany S. 1383, 108th Cong., 1st sess., S.Rept. 108-88 (Washington:
GPO, 2003), pp. 14-15.
33
Language limits a Senator's mailing allocation of these funds to 50% of the mailing cost.
The remaining expenses are to be paid by a Senator from other funds available to him/her.
CRS-19
Language in the Senate Appropriations Committee report encouraged the
Secretary of the Senate to study Senate employee pay, hiring, and benefits, and made
$65,000 available for this purpose.34
Among the FY2004 budget requests were those for $5.9 million for a year's
maintenance of recent security enhancements to the alternate computing facility and
temporary assistance in processing of packages to the Senate until the new mail
processing facility off the Capitol Complex is completed, and an additional $4.7
million to support the Senate's computer infrastructure.35
Senate Committee Funding.
Appropriations for Senate committees are contained in two Senate accounts:
! the inquiries and investigations account, which contains funds for all
Senate committees except Appropriations, $118.5 million, an
increase of 8.2%; and
! the Committee on Appropriations account, $12.8 million, an increase
of 13.6%.
Support Agency Funding
Congressional Budget Office. Conferees agreed to a 6.1% increase in the
FY2004 appropriation for the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), to $33.8 million
from $31.9 million. Among other activities and personnel costs the appropriation
funds are two additional FTE positions. The House bill contained $33.8 million, an
increase of 6.0%, and the Senate bill contained $33.6 million, an increase of 5.3%.
Conferees agreed to the House provision for CBO, along with other members of
the Federal Accounting Standards Advisory Board, to contribute its appropriate share
of the expenses of the Board.
The FY2004 CBO request was $34.0 million, an increase of 6.6%, allowing for
236 positions. The agency requested three new positions, increasing staff from 233
to 236, to enhance CBO's "ability to make economic forecasts and project tax
receipts;" continue the agency's visiting scholars' program for post doctoral fellows
and academics with specialized expertise; and allow staff promotions and merit
increases and performance-based pay increases for managers and senior analysts who
do not receive annual across the board pay adjustments.36
34
U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Legislative Branch Appropriations,
2004, report to accompany S. 1383, 108th Cong., 1st sess., S.Rept. 108-88 (Washington:
GPO, 2003), p. 11.
35
Written testimony of William H. Pickle, Senate Sergeant at Arms, U.S. Congress, Senate
Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, Legislative Branch
Appropriations for FY2004, hearings, 108th Cong., 1st sess., May 1, 2003 (not yet published).
36
Written testimony of Douglas Holtz-Eakin, Director, Congressional Budget Office, U.S.
Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Legislative, Legislative
(continued...)
CRS-20
General Accounting Office. Conferees appropriated $460.3 million to the
General Accounting Office (GAO) for FY2004. These funds reflect $466.3 million
in direct appropriations and an offset of $6.0 million in receipts, which is an increase
of 1.6% from $453.1 million made available for FY2003.37
The House appropriated $458.5 million, an increase of 1.2% , and the Senate,
$462.1 million, an increase of 2.0%. Both houses approved GAO's request to fund
3,269 FTEs, and authorized the Comptroller General to receive payments from the
Securities and Exchange Commission for GAO audits of the Commission's finances.
Language in the conference report
! directed GAO to report to Congress with regard to the impact on
GAO's mission and capabilities if it were to assume a role in
technology assessment for the legislative branch; directed the report
be submitted to the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations
by December 15, 2003;38 and
! authorized GAO, and other members of the Federal Accounting
Standards Advisory Board, to contributed their appropriate shares of
the Board's expenses.
The FY2004 GAO request was $466.6 million, an increase of 3.0%, and, as
originally proposed, contained $4.8 million for security enhancements at GAO
facilities. Congress approved this appropriation in the FY2003 supplemental earlier
in calendar year 2003.39 GAO also requested authority to use an additional estimated
$6.0 million in revenues, which was approved by both houses in their versions of the
FY2004 legislative funding bill.
36
(...continued)
Branch Appropriations for FY2004, hearings, 108th Cong., 1st sess., April 9, 2003
(Washington: GPO, 2003), pp. 657-658; 669-674. The director requested $365,000 (1.1%
of the request) for the agency's required contribution to the Federal Accounting Standards
Board. This amount, however, was expected to be offset by cost reductions for other federal
agencies contributing to the Board, whose contributions would decrease because of CBO's
contribution. Conferees agreed with the House bill provision to provide authority to CBO
and other members of the Board to pay their appropriate share of the Board's expenses.
37
The FY2003 figure reflects $456.0 million in appropriations, and an offset of $3.0 million
in receipts.
38
Conferees noted that over the past two years, GAO studied the need for development of
technology assessment capabilities within the legislative branch, with the finding that such
capabilities would "enhance the ability of key congressional committees to address complex
technical issues in a more timely and effective manner." U.S. Congress, Conference
Committees, 2004, Making Appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the Fiscal Year
Ending September 30, 2004, and for Other Purposes, conference report to accompany H.R.
2657, 108th Cong., 1st sess., H.Rept. 108-279 (Washington: GPO, 2003), pp. 51-52.
39
The $4.8 million appropriation was contained in P.L. 108-11, 117 Stat. 586, Apr. 16,
2003, FY2003 Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations.
CRS-21
The director of GAO noted during hearings earlier this year that the increase was
primarily to fund mandatory pay and uncontrollable costs of goods. According to the
director, the FY2004 budget proposal placed major emphasis on workforce
development, including additional employee training and development programs to
ensure "the ability to attract, retain and reward high-quality staff." The budget also
contained a recommendation that Congress pass legislation to "facilitate GAO's
continuing efforts to recruit and retain top talent, develop a more performance-based
compensation system, realign our workforce, and facilitate our succession planning
and knowledge transfer efforts."40
Library of Congress. Conferees appropriated $526.1 million for operation
of the Library of Congress (LOC), including the Congressional Research Service
(CRS). This appropriation reflects the Library's authority to spend $36.5 million in
receipts, and an increase of 4.6% over $503.2 million made available for FY2003.
The House bill made available $522.6 million, an increase of 3.8% over FY2003;
the Senate bill made available $522.8 million, an increase of 3.9%.
The House Appropriations Committee funded 4,300 FTE positions, an FTE
count that had been projected by the LOC;41 the Senate did not specify the number of
FTEs funded in its appropriation. Conferees referred to 4,155 FTE positions funded
in the bill, but did not comment on the number of FTEs funded in the account, "Books
for the Blind and Physically Handicapped.42
In addition to appropriations for the regular administration of services and
programs of the LOC, the conference agreement includes
! $2.8 million for an alternate computer facility, primarily for
emergencies;
! 8.8 million for the Adventures of the American Mind project;
! $905,000 for the Integrated Library System;
! $500,000 for the Lincoln-Douglas debates project;
! 11.1 million for the National Audio-Visual Conservation Center;
! $500,000 for final funding of the Louisiana Purchase Bicentennial
celebration; and
! a statement of conferees' expectation that during the upcoming
merger of the LOC and Capitol Police "security of the Capitol
40
Written testimony of David Walker, Comptroller General, General Accounting Office,
U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Legislative,
Legislative Branch Appropriations for FY2004, hearings, 108th Cong., 1st sess., Apr. 9, 2003
(Washington: GPO, 2003), pp. 768-769.
41
U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Legislative Branch Appropriations
Bill, 2004, report to accompany H.R. 2657, 108th Cong., 1st sess., H.Rept. 108-186
(Washington: GPO, 2003), p. 22.
42
U.S. Congress, Conference Committees, 2004, Making Appropriations for the Legislative
Branch for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2004, and for Other Purposes, conference
report to accompany H.R. 2657, 108th Cong., 1st sess., H.Rept. 108-279 (Washington: GPO,
2003), pp. 49-59.
CRS-22
complex will take the highest priority, overriding jurisdictional
concerns."43
Among other issues were those addressed by the Senate Committee on
Appropriations which
! directed the LOC to restructure its annual budget justification
submitted to Congress; and
! limited changes in the Global Legal Information Network (GLIN) to
necessary modifications that would "provide an online digital law
library of the official, authentic text of laws and related legal
information for exclusive use by government authorities from
jurisdictions around the globe or international organizations that
contribute official authenticated texts of laws, regulations, and related
legal material to the database."44
The House Committee on Appropriations, in its report on H.R. 2657, directed the
Librarian of Congress to develop an interagency agreement with the superintendent
of the Washington, D.C. public schools for making surplus books and periodicals
available to the school system.45
The FY2004 request of the Librarian of Congress was $540.1 million, an increase
of $36.9 million (7.4%) from the FY2003 appropriation of $503.2 million.46 In
addition, the Librarian requested congressional authorization to use $29.7 million in
FY2004 from receipts. According to the Librarian, the increase was partially
necessary "to improve physical security and support collections security and
management (including the construction of the national Audio-Visual Conservation
Center at Culpeper, VA); to support the Copyright Office's reengineering efforts; and
to enhance access to CRS products and increase CRS research capacity in critical
areas."47
43
U.S. Congress, Conference Committees, 2004, Making Appropriations for the Legislative
Branch for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2004, and for Other Purposes, conference
report to accompany H.R. 2657, 108th Cong., 1st sess., H.Rept. 108-279 (Washington: GPO,
2003), p. 50.
44
U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Legislative Branch Appropriations,
2004, report to accompany S. 1383, 108th Cong., 1st sess., S.Rept. 108-88 (Washington:
GPO, 2003), p. 39.
45
U.S. Congress, Conference Committees, 2004, Making Appropriations for the Legislative
Branch for the Fiscal Year Ending September 30, 2004, and for Other Purposes, conference
report to accompany H.R. 2657, 108th Cong., 1st sess., H.Rept. 108-279 (Washington: GPO,
2003), p. 23.
46
The FY2003 appropriation contains $495.8 million in regular annual appropriations and
$88.3 million in FY2003 supplemental appropriations.
47
Written testimony of James Billington, Librarian of Congress, U.S. Congress, Senate
Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, Legislative Branch
Appropriations for FY2004, hearings, 108th Cong., 1st sess., Apr.10, 2003 (not yet
(continued...)
CRS-23
Congressional Research Service. Conferees agreed to a 3.9% increase
in funding for the Congressional Research Service, to $91.7 million from $88.3
million, which funds 729 FTE positions.48 The appropriation is the same as that
approved by the Senate. The House bill contained $93.6 million, an increase of 6.1%.
Conferees dropped a Senate provision authorizing voluntary separation incentives,
suggesting that CRS place the request in its FY2005 budget submission. Language
in the Senate report requested CRS to use available personnel funds to pay for contract
services during FY2004.
The FY2004 request of CRS was $96.3 million, an increase of 9.1%. over the
FY2003 appropriation of $88.3 million. According to the CRS director, the request
allowed the agency to provide continuity of operations in the event of an emergency
through a "secure technical infrastructure;" to enhance its "research capability to
procure, create, maintain and manipulate the large data sets upon which CRS analysts
rely to conduct their public policy assessments of legislative proposals and specific
program implementation;" and to make available to managers the means and
incentives to "encourage staff retention."49
Government Printing Office. Conferees agreed to the Senate's
recommendation of $135.6 million for FY2004 for the Government Printing Office
(GPO). The funds are a 13.9% increase over FY2003's funding level of $119.0
million. Funds are appropriated in three accounts - congressional printing and
binding, Office of Superintendent of Documents (salaries and expenses), and, from
time to time, the revolving fund. The agency's FY2004 appropriations are:
! Congressional printing and binding -- $91.1 million, an increase of
$1.6 million (1.7%) over the FY2003 appropriation of $89.6 million;
! Office of Superintendent of Documents (salaries and expenses) --
$34.5 million, an increase of $5.0 million (16.9%) over the
appropriation of $29.5 million;50 and
! Government Printing Office Revolving Fund -- $10.0 million.51
The additional $10.0 million is a one-time expense to meet the expenses of a
retirement separation incentive program which the agency implemented in April 2003.
47
(...continued)
published).
48
The FY2003 appropriation contained $86.4 million in regular annual appropriations and
$1.9 million in FY2003 supplemental appropriations.
49
Written testimony of Daniel Mulhollan, Director, Congressional Research Service, U.S.
Congress, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Legislative Branch,
Legislative Branch Appropriations for FY2004, hearings, 108th Cong., 1st sess., Apr. 10,
2003 (not yet published).
50
Of this amount, $4.1 million was requested for upgrades to technology used by GPO
Access.
51
Congress most recently transferred money ($4 million) to the fund in FY2002.
CRS-24
The public printer estimated the resulting savings to be $18.0 million per year after
the investment is made.52
The House bill contained $130.6 million, an increase of 9.6% over FY2003; the
Senate bill contained a 13.9% increase, the same increase requested by GPO.
The FY2004 Government Printing Office request was $135.6 million, an
increase of $16.5 million (13.9%) over the FY2003 appropriation of $119.0 million.
52
Testimony of Bruce R. James, Public Printer, Government Printing Office, U.S. Congress,
House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Legislative, Legislative Branch
Appropriations for FY2004, hearings, 108th Cong., 1st sess., May 20, 2003 (Washington:
GPO, 2003), p. 1173.
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Table 3. Legislative Branch Appropriations, FY2004 (P.L. 108-83; H.R. 2657; S. 1383)
(in thousands of dollars)
FY2004 House
FY2004 Request for
FY2003 Bill, As Passed FY2004 Senate FY2004
Entity Legislative/FY2003 for
Enacteda (As Marked for Bill, As Passed Conference
Emerg. Supplementals
Supplementals)
Title 1: Legislative Branch Appropriations
Senate $663,404 $746,249 --d $718,369 $716,769
g
House of Representatives 960,871 1,039,638 1,014,464 -- 1,014,464
Joint Items 17,297 17,877 17,694 19,127 19,127
b
Capitol Police 240,208 290,510 211,830 240,000 221,100
Office of Compliance 2,157 2,518 2,255 2,255 2,255
Congressional Budget Office 31,892 33,993 33,820 33,612 33,820
e h
Architect of the Capitol 456,782 561,720 294,933 357,794 405,369
Library of Congress, Including Congressional
Research Service 503,175 540,135 522,592 522,747 526,105
Congressional Printing Office 119,025 135,567 130,567 135,567 135,567
General Accounting Office 453,051 466,621 458,533 462,112 460,322
c
Open World Leadership Center 12,915 14,815 13,000 14,000 13,500
Subtotal, Title 1 3,460,777 3,849,643 2,699,688 2,505,583 3,548,398
Title II: General Provisions
John Stennis Center 298 0 0 0 0
Congressional Award Act 248 0 0 0 0
Subtotal, Title II 546 0 0 0 0
Total Legislative Branch (Titles I and II) 3,461,323 3,849,643 2,699,688f 2,505,583i 3,548,398
CRS-26
FY2004 House
FY2004 Request for
FY2003 Bill, As Passed FY2004 Senate FY2004
Entity Legislative/FY2003 for
Enacteda (As Marked for Bill, As Passed Conference
Emerg. Supplementals
Supplementals)
Title III: FY2003 Emergency Supplemental
Judiciary, Courts of Appeals, District Courts, and
Other, Judicial Services -- $32,193 $32,193 -- $32,193
Dept. of Defense - Civil, Dept. of the Army, Corps of
Engineers, flood control and coastal emergencies -- -- 60,000 10,000 60,000
Dept. of Homeland Security, Emergency
Preparedness and Response, Disaster Relief Fundk -- 1,550,000 1,550,000 1,550,000 441,701
Dept. of Interior, Bureau of Land Management,
Wildland fire management, fire suppression
operations -- 36,000 36,000 61,000 36,000
Dept. of Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services,
Resource Management -- -- 5,000 -- 5,000
Dept. of Agriculture, Forest Service, Wildland fire
management, fire suppression operations -- 253,000 283,000 253,000 283,000
Independent Agencies, National Aeronautics and
Space Administration, human space flight -- 50,000 50,000 50,000 50,000
Independent Agencies, Corporation for National and
Community Service Programs, operating expenses
(Americorp) -- -- 100,000 --
General Provisions -- -- 9,700 20,000 29,700
Total Emergency Supplemental (Title III) -- 1,921,193 2,025,893 2,044,000 937,593
Source: House Committee on Appropriations.
a. FY2003 funds are contained in (1) P.L. 108-8, FY2003 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, and (2) P.L. 108-11, FY2003 Emergency Wartime Supplemental
Appropriations Act.
b. This is a new account, effective with the FY2003 legislative appropriation bill. Previously, Capitol Police funds were contained under the joint items account.
c. The center was named the Russian Leadership Program prior to FY2004.
CRS-27
d. The House does not consider appropriations for internal Senate operations.
e. The House does not consider appropriations for Senate office buildings contained in the budget of the Architect of the Capitol.
f. This figure does not contain funds for internal Senate operations, which are funded in a separate account, or for Senate office buildings, which are contained in the budget
of the Architect of the Capitol.
g. The Senate does not consider appropriations for internal House operations.
h. The Senate does not consider appropriations for House office buildings contained in the budget of the Architect of the Capitol.
i. This figure does not contain funds for internal House operations, which are funded in a separate account, or for House office buildings, which are contained in the budget
of the Architect of the Capitol.
CRS-28
Table 4. Capitol Police Appropriations, FY2004 (P.L. 108-83;
H.R. 2657; S. 1383)
(in thousands of dollars)
FY2004 FY2004
FY2003 FY2004 FY2004
House Bill, Senate Bill,
Accounts Enacteda Request Conference
As Passed As Passed
Salaries, Capitol Police 174,533 218,268 189,913 207,000 197,600
General Expenses, Total 65,675 72,242 21,917 33,000 23,500
Total, Capitol Police 240,208 290,510 211,830 240,000 221,100
Source: House Committee on Appropriations.
a. FY2003 funds are contained in (1) P.L. 108-8, FY2003 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act ($27,917,000), and (2)
P.L. 108-11, FY2003 Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act ($37,758,000).
Table 5. Architect of the Capitol Appropriations, FY2004
(P.L. 108-83; H.R. 2657; S. 1383)
(in thousands of dollars)
FY2004 FY2004
FY2003 FY2004 FY2004
Accounts House Bill, Senate Bill,
Enacteda Request Conference
As Passed As Passed
Architect of the Capitol
General administration $58,957 $158,570 $84,513 71,697 77,053
Capitol building 32,985 52,368 23,307 27,777 28,188
Capitol Grounds 8,302 6,986 6,886 6,986 6,886
c
Senate office buildings 64,449 66,063 -- 63,388 63,388
e
House office buildings 60,564 66,779 54,564 -- 62,816
Capitol power plant 124,300 102,157 81,543 88,979 81,543
Library buildings and grounds 37,277 47,108 34,750 41,620 39,159
b
Capitol Police buildings and grounds 63,885 2,970 3,308 3,308 3,308
Transfer Out (-12,000)
Botanic garden 6,063 10,919 6,062 6,239 6,189
Capitol Visitors' Center 0 0 0 47,800 36,839
Transfer In (+12,000)
d f
Total, Architect of the Capitol 456,782 513,920 294,933 357,794 405,369
Source: House Committee on Appropriations.
a. FY2003 funds are contained in (1) P.L. 108-8, FY2003 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, and (2) P.L. 108-11,
FY2003 Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act.
b. This figure includes a $39.985 million supplemental appropriation contained in P.L. 108-11, FY2003
Emergency Wartime Supplemental Appropriations Act. The regular annual appropriation was $23.9 million,
to remain available until September 2007.
c. The House does not consider appropriations for Senate office buildings.
d. This figure does not include appropriations for Senate office buildings.
e. The Senate does not consider appropriations for House office buildings.
f. This figure does not include appropriations for House office buildings.
CRS-29
Table 6. Senate Appropriations, FY2004 (P.L. 108-83; H.R. 2657;S. 1383)
(in thousands of dollars)
FY2004 FY2004
Enacted FY2004 FY2003
Accountsa House, Senate,
FY2003b Request Conference
As Passed As Passed
Payment - Heirs of Deceased Members 150 0 -- 0 0
Expense Allowances and Representation 158 158 -- 158 158
Salaries, Officers, and Employees 117,041 127,809 -- 125,307 125,307
Office of Legislative Counsel 4,581 4,768 -- 4,843 4,843
Office of Legal Counsel 1,176 1,222 -- 1,222 1,222
Expense Allowances for Secretary of Senate,
et al. 12 12 -- 24 24
Contingent Expenses (subtotal) 540,286 612,280 -- 586,815 585,215
Inquiries and Investigations 109,450 118,462 -- 118,462 118,462
Senate Intl. Narcotics Caucus 520 520 -- 520 520
c
Secretary of the Senate 7,077 1,700 -- 2,265 2,265
d
Sgt. at Arms/Doorkeeper 114,423 149,969 -- 136,843 135,243
Miscellaneous Items 18,355 19,268 -- 18,425 18,425
Senators' Official Personnel and
Office Expense Account 290,161 322,061 -- 310,000 310,000
Official Mail Costs 300 300 -- 300 300
Total, Senate 663,404 746,249 -- 718,369 716,769
Source: House Committees on Appropriations
a. The Senate account contains seven appropriations headings, which are highlighted in bold.
b. FY2003 funds are contained in (1) P.L. 108-8, FY2003 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, and (2) P.L. 108-11, FY2003 Emergency wartime supplemental appropriations
act.
c. Office operations of the Office of the Secretary of the Senate are also funded under "Salaries, Officers, and Employees."
d. Activities of the Office of Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper are also funded under "Salaries, Officers, and Employees."
CRS-30
Table 7. House of Representatives Appropriations, FY2004 (P.L. 108-83; H.R. 2657)
(108th Congress, 1st Session)
(in thousands of dollars)
FY2004 FY2004
FY2003 FY2004 FY2004
Accountsa House, Senate,
Enactedb Request Conference
As Passed As Passed
Payments to Widows and Heirs of Deceased Members of
Congress 0 0 0 -- 0
Salaries and Expenses, Total 960,871 1,039,638 1,014,464 -- 1,014,464
House Leadership Offices 16,530 17,094 17,094 -- 18,142
Members' Representational
Allowancesc 476,536 523,454 514,454 -- 514,454
d
Committee Employees (subtotal) 138,621 132,484 130,984 -- 132,114
Standing Committees, Special and Select, except
Appropriations 103,421 107,558 106,058 -- 107,188
Standing Committees, Special and Select, except
Appropriations, FY2003 supplemental 11,000 -- -- -- --
Appropriations Committee 24,200 24,926 24,926 -- 24,926
Salaries, Officers, and Employees (subtotal) 152,027 171,291 158,324 -- 156,896
Office of the Clerk 20,032 19,387 18,632 -- 19,452
Office of the Sergeant at Arms 5,097 6,471 5,471 -- 5,471
Office of Chief Administrative Officer 105,363 123,053 113,141 -- 111,141
Office of Inspector General 3,947 4,147 3,847 -- 3,847
Office for Emergency Planning, Preparedness,
and Operations 6,000 6,000 5,000 -- 5,200
Office of General Counsel 894 926 926 -- 926
Office of the Chaplain 149 153 153 -- 153
Office of the Parliamentarian (subtotal) 1,464 1,560 1,560 -- 1,560
CRS-31
FY2004 FY2004
FY2003 FY2004 FY2004
Accountsa House, Senate,
Enactedb Request Conference
As Passed As Passed
Office of the Parliamentarian (1,279) (1,363) (1,363) -- (1,363)
Compilation of House Precedents (185) (197) (197) -- (197)
Office of the Law Revision Counsel 2,168 2,263 2,263 -- 2,263
Office of the Legislative Counsel 5,852 6,233 6,233 -- 6,233
Corrections Calendar Office 915 948 948 -- --
Office of Interparliamentary Affairs -- -- -- -- 500
Other Authorized Employees: Technical
Assistants, Office of Attending Physician 146 150 150 -- 150
Allowances and Expenses (subtotal) 177,157 195,315 193,608 -- 192,858
Supplies, Materials, Administrative Costs and
Federal Tort Claims 3,384 3,975 3,975 -- 3,975
Official Mail for committees, leadership,
administrative and legislative offices 410 410 410 -- 410
Government Contributions 172,673 190,240 188,533 -- 187,783
Miscellaneous Items 690 690 690 -- 690
House of Representatives, Total 960,871 1,039,638 1,014,464 -- 1,014,464
Sources: House Committee on Appropriations
a. The appropriations bill contains two House accounts: (1) payments to widows and heirs of deceased Members of Congress and (2) salaries and expenses.
b. FY2003 funds are contained in (1) P.L. 108-8, FY2003 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, and (2) P.L. 108-11, FY2003 Emergency Wartime
Supplemental Appropriations Act.
c. This appropriation heading was new in the FY1996 bill. The heading represents a consolidation of (1) the former heading Members' clerk hire; (2) the former
heading official mail costs; and (3) the former subheading official expenses of Members, under the heading allowances and expenses.
d. This appropriation heading was new in the FY1996 bill. The heading represents a consolidation of (1) the former heading committee employees; (2) the
former heading standing committees, special and select; (3) the former heading Committee on Budget (studies); and (4) the former heading Committee
on Appropriations (studies and investigations).
CRS-32
Table 8. Legislative Branch Budget Authority Contained in Appropriations Acts, FY1995-FY2002
(Does not include permanent budget authority; in thousands of current dollars)
Note: This table reflects the title structure of the legislative branch appropriation bill prior to the FY2003 bill in which most appropriations were
combined in one title. For purposes of comparison from FY1995 through FY2002, this table follows the former bill structure. An upcoming
version of this report will contain historical data in the new bill structure.
FY1995 F Y1996b FY1997 FY1998 FY1999c FY2000j FY2001k FY2002
a
Title I: Congressional Operations
Senate 460,581 426,919 441,208 461,055 474,891d 487,370 522,023 641,385
e
House of Representatives 728,736 670,561 684,098 709,008 740,481 757,993 830,449 921,507
f
Joint Items 85,489 81,839 88,581 86,711 204,916 100,854 121,860 188,204
Office of Compliance 0 2,500 2,609 2,479 2,086 1,992 1,851 2,059
Office of Technology Assessment 21,320 6,115 - - - - - -
Congressional Budget Office 23,001 24,288 24,532 24,797 25,671 26,121 28,430 30,780
Architect of the Capitol, except Library
Buildings and Grounds 157,190 142,970 140,674 192,156 289,746g 213,474 194,813 327,593
Congressional Research Service,
Library of Congress 60,084 60,084 62,641 64,603 67,124 70,973 73,430 81,454
Congressional Printing and Binding,
Government Printing Office 84,724 83,770 81,669 81,669 74,465 73,297 81,205 81,000
U.S. Capitol Historical Society - - - - - - - 1,000
Total, Title I 1,621,125 1,499,046 1,526,012 1,622,478 1,879,380 1,732,211 1,854,061 2,274,982
a
Title II: Other Agencies
Botanic Garden 3,230 3,053 36,402 3,016 3,052 3,438 3,321 5,646
Library of Congress, except CRS 262,866 264,616 269,117 282,309 296,516 323,380 438,297 407,709
Architect, Library Buildings and
Grounds 12,483 12,428 9,753 11,573 13,672h 19,857 15,935 21,753
Architect, Capitol Visitors' Center - - - - - - - 70,000
CRS-33
FY1995 F Y1996b FY1997 FY1998 FY1999c FY2000j FY2001k FY2002
Architect, Cong. Cemetery - - - - - - - 1,250
Government Printing Office, except
Congressional Printing and Binding 31,607 30,307 29,077 29,077 29,264 29,872 33,893 33,639
i
General Accounting Office 446,743 374,406 332,520 339,499 359,268 377,561 384,020 429,444
Center for Russian Leadership
Development - - - - - - - 8,000
Total, Title II 756,929 684,810 676,869 665,474 701,771 754,108 875,466 977,441
Grand Total 2,378,054 2,183,856 2,202,881 2,287,952 2,581,152 2,486,319 2,729,527 3,252,423
Sources: Budget authorities for FY1995-FY2002 are from the House Appropriations Committee. FY1995 budget authorities reflect rescissions and a supplemental contained in P.L.
104-19, 109 Stat. 219-221, July 27, 1995, FY1995 Supplemental and Rescissions Act (H.R. 1944). FY1996 budget authorities reflect rescissions contained in P.L. 104-208, 110 Stat.
3009-510-511, Sept. 30, 1996, FY1997 Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act (H.R. 3610). FY1998 budget authorities represent supplementals contained in P.L. 105-174, May
1, 1998, and an $11 million transfer to the Government Printing Office (GPO) from the GPO revolving fund. FY1999 budget authorities contain emergency supplemental appropriations
in P.L. 105-277, and supplemental appropriations in P.L. 106-31. FY2000 budget authorities contain a supplemental and a 0.38% rescission in P.L. 106-113. Totals reflect rounding.
FY1999 budget authority contains $223.7 million in emergency supplemental appropriations (P.L. 105-277), and $3.8 million for expenses of a House page dormitory and $1.8 million
for expenses of life safety renovations to the O'Neill House Office Building (P.L. 106-31). The FY1999 appropriation also contains a rescission of $3.5 million, and a supplemental
for the same amount in P.L. 106-31.
The legislative branch appropriations acts do not contain permanent federal funds or permanent trust funds. Permanent federal funds were: FY1995, $343,000; FY1996, $302,000;
FY1997, $325,000; FY1998, $333,000; FY1999, $358,000; and FY2000, $279,000. Permanent trust funds were: FY1995, $16,000; FY1996, $31,000; FY1997, $29,000; FY1998,
$29,999; FY1999, $47,000; and FY2000, $51,000. Sources are the U.S. Budget and the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations.
The formula for conversion to constant dollars is as follows: 2001 Consumer Price Index (CPI) number divided by each year's CPI number multiplied by that year's budget
authority. Source for 1995-2000 index figures is the Bureau of Labor Statistics. Source for 2001 estimate is the Congressional Budget Office.
Notes:
a. Prior to FY1978, the legislative branch appropriations act contained numerous titles. Effective in FY1978, Congress restructured the legislative bill so that it would "more adequately
reflect actual costs of operating the U.S. Congress than has been true in the past years" (H.Rept. 95-450, FY1978 Legislative Appropriations). As a result, the act was divided
into two titles. Title I, Congressional Operations, was established to contain appropriations for the actual operation of Congress. Title II, Related Agencies, was established to
contain the budgets for activities not considered as providing direct support to Congress. Periodically, the act has contained additional titles for such purposes as capital
improvements and special one-time functions.
b. FY1996 figures contain rescissions in the Omnibus Consolidated Appropriations Act, FY1997 (P.L. 104-208, Sept. 28, 1996). Provisions applicable to legislative branch budget
authority in P.L. 104-208 appear in Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 142, Sept. 28, 1996, pp. H11778-H11779.
CRS-34
c. Includes budget authority contained in the FY1999 regular annual Legislative Branch Appropriations Act (P.L. 105-275), $223.7 million in FY1999 emergency supplemental
appropriations in P.L. 105-277, and $5.6 million in FY1999 supplemental appropriations in P.L. 106-31.
d. Includes $5.5 million in emergency supplementals under the sergeant at arms for completion of Year-2000 computer conversion (P.L. 105-277).
e. Includes $6.373 million in emergency supplementals under the chief administrative officer for completion of Year -- 2000 computer conversion (P.L. 105-277), and includes a
rescission of $3.5 million from the House heading "salaries, officers, and employees" and a supplemental appropriation of $3.5 million for the chief administrative officer for
replacement of the House payroll system (P.L. 106-31).
f. Includes $106,782,000 for emergency security enhancements funded under the Capitol Police Board's general expenses account (P.L. 105-277). The total Joint Items figure also
includes $2 million for the Trade Deficit Review Commission.
g. This figure includes $100 million for design and construction of a Capitol visitors' center, funded under the Architect of the Capitol's Capitol buildings account, in "salaries and
expenses" (P.L. 105-277), and includes $3.8 million for expenses of a House page dormitory and $1.8 million for expenses for life safety renovations to the O'Neill House Office
Building (P.L. 106-31).
h. Includes $1 million for the Congressional Cemetery.
i. Includes $5 million in emergency supplemental appropriations under the salaries and expenses account of the General Accounting Office for completion of the Year-2000 computer
conversion (P.L. 105-277).
j. Includes regular annual appropriations (P.L. 106-57) and a 0.38% rescission and supplemental in P.L. 106-113.
k. This column contains: (1) FY2001 regular annual appropriations contained in H.R. 5657, legislative branch appropriations bill; FY2001 supplemental appropriations of $118 million
and a 0.22% across-the-board rescission contained in H.R. 5666, miscellaneous appropriations bill; and (3) FY2001 supplemental appropriations of $79.5 million contained in
H.R. 2216 (P.L. 107-20). H.R. 5657 and H.R. 5666 were incorporated by reference in P.L. 106-554, FY2001 Consolidated Appropriations Act. The first FY2001 legislative
branch appropriations bill, H.R. 4516, was vetoed Oct. 30, 2000.
CRS-35
Table 9. Legislative Branch Budget Authority Contained in Appropriations Acts, FY1995-FY2002
(Does not include permanent budget authority; in thousands of constant 2002 (est.) dollars)
FY1995 FY1996b FY1997 FY1998 FY1999c FY2000j FY2001k FY2002
a
Title I: Congressional Operations
Senate 549,473 494,372 499,448 514,076 518,106 514,176 535,596 641,385
House of Representatives 869,382 776,510 774,399 790,544 807,865 799,683 852,041 921,507
Joint Items 101,988 94,770 100,274 96,683 223,563 106,401 125,029 188,204
Office of Compliance - 2,895 2,953 2,764 2,276 2,102 1,900 2,059
Office of Technology
Assessment 25,435 7,081 - - - - - -
Congressional Budget Office
27,440 28,126 27,770 27,649 28,007 27,558 29,170 30,780
Arch. of the Capitol, except
Library Buildings and Grounds 187,528 165,559 159,243 214,254 316,113 225,215 199,879 327,593
Congressional Research
Service, Library of Congress 71,680 69,577 70,910 72,033 73,233 74,877 75,340 81,454
Congressional Printing and
Binding, Government Printing
Office 101,076 97,006 92,449 91,061 81,242 77,329 83,317 81,000
U.S. Capitol Historical Society - - - - - - - 1,000
Total, Title I 1,934,002 1,735,896 1,727,446 1,809,064 2,050,405 1,827,341 1,902,272 2,274,982
Title II: Other Agencies a
Botanic Garden 3,853 3,535 41,207 3,363 3,330 3,627 3,408 5,646
Library of Congress, except
CRS 313,599 306,425 304,640 314,775 323,499 341,166 449,693 407,709
Architect, Library
Buildings/Grounds 14,892 14,392 11,040 12,904 14,917 20,950 16,350 21,753
Architect, Capitol Visitors
Center - - - - - - - 70,000
Architect, Cong. Cemetery - - - - - - - 1,250
CRS-36
FY1995 FY1996b FY1997 FY1998 FY1999c FY2000j FY2001k FY2002
Government Printing Office,
except Congressional Printing
and Binding 37,707 35,096 32,915 32,421 31,927 31,515 34,775 33,639
General Accounting Office 532,964 433,562 376,413 378,542 391,962 398,327 394,005 429,444
Center for Russian Leadership
Development - - - - - - - 8,000
Total, Title II 903,016 793,010 766,216 742,005 765,635 795,585 898,231 977,441
Grand Total 2,837,018 2,528,906 2,493,662 2,551,069 2,816,040 2,622,926 2,800,503 3,252,423
See notes at end of Table 8.
CRS-37
For Additional Reading
CRS Reports
CRS Report RL31012. Legislative Branch Appropriations for FY2003, by Paul
Dwyer.
CRS Report RL30212. Legislative Branch Appropriations for FY2002, by Paul
Dwyer.
CRS Report 98-212. Legislative Branch Appropriations for FY2001, by Paul Dwyer.
Selected Web Sites
These sites contain information on the FY2003 and FY2004 legislative branch
appropriations requests and legislation, and the appropriations process.
House Committee on Appropriations
[http://www.house.gov/appropriations]
Senate Committee on Appropriations
[http://www.senate.gov/~appropriations/]
CRS Appropriations Products Guide
[http://www.crs.gov/products/appropriations/apppage.shtml]
Congressional Budget Office
[http://www.cbo.gov]
General Accounting Office
[http://www.gao.gov]
Office of Management & Budget
[http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/]
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