{ "id": "RL33379", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "number": "RL33379", "active": true, "source": "EveryCRSReport.com, University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "versions": [ { "source": "EveryCRSReport.com", "id": 444249, "date": "2007-10-01", "retrieved": "2016-04-06T22:39:09.278585", "title": "Legislative Branch: FY2007 Appropriations", "summary": "Congressional Research Service\n7-5700\nwww.crs.gov\nRL33379\nSummary\nCongress provided $3.785 billion in FY2007 appropriations for the legislative branch in the Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2007, which was enacted on February 15, 2007. Additional funding was subsequently provided in the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans\u2019 Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007, which was enacted on May 25, 2007.\nFrom October 1, 2006, the beginning of the 2007 fiscal year, until the enactment of the Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution, the legislative branch operated under a series of continuing resolutions. Continuing appropriations were initially provided at the conference stage in the FY2007 Defense Appropriations Act, as Division B (entitled \u201cContinuing Appropriations Resolution, 2007\u201d). This measure, signed into law on September 29 (P.L. 109-289), made funds available until November 17, 2006. P.L. 109-369, signed on November 17, 2006, extended funding until December 8, 2006. The FY2007 Further Continuing Appropriations Act, P.L. 109-383, signed on December 9, 2006, provided funds for the legislative branch through February 15, 2007.\nBoth the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations reported their versions of the FY2007 legislative branch appropriations bill, H.R. 5521, in June 2006. On June 7, the House passed its version of H.R. 5521 with $3.027 billion in new obligational authority (excluding Senate items), a 3.7% increase over the FY2006 budget. On June 22, 2006, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported its version providing $3.98 billion in new budget authority (including both House and Senate items). The Senate amount represented an increase of $187 million (4.9%) over FY2006 and $258 million less than requested. The bill was not considered on the Senate floor during the 109th Congress.\nEarlier in 2006, the chairman of the full House Committee on Appropriations (Representative Jerry Lewis) and the chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, Committee on Appropriations (Senator Wayne Allard), indicated the probability of another tight budget. This view was reflected in the bill reported by both committees.\nLegislative branch entities requested $4.23 billion in new budget authority for FY2007. The request reflected a 12.3% increase over the $3.77 billion approved by Congress for FY2006. By comparison, Congress approved a 4.5% increase for FY2006, which followed a 1.2% increase approved for FY2005.\nContents\nMost Recent Developments\t1\nIntroduction to the Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill\t1\nChanges in Structure of Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill Effective in FY2003\t1\nActivities and Programs Related to the Legislative Branch but Not Funded in the Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill\t2\nElimination of House Subcommittee on Legislative Branch in February 2005 and Reinstatement in January 2007\t3\nStatus of FY2007 Appropriations\t3\nAction on the FY2007 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill (H.R. 5521)\t4\nSubmission of FY2007 Budget Request on February 6, 2006\t4\nCongressional Caps on FY2007 Legislative Branch Discretionary Funds\t5\nSenate and House Hearings on FY2007 Budget\t5\nHouse Markup and Report of FY2007 Bill (H.R. 5521)\t5\nHouse Passage of the FY2007 Bill (H.R. 5521)\t6\nSenate Markup and Report of FY2007 Bill (H.R. 5521)\t7\nAction on FY2006 Supplemental Appropriations (H.R. 4939): House of Representatives and Architect of the Capitol\t7\nFY2007 Legislative Branch Funding Issues\t7\nCapitol Complex Security\u2014U.S. Capitol Police\t7\nFY2007 Funding Provisions\t7\nFY2007 Staffing Support\t8\nAdministrative Provisions in House Bill\t8\nCapitol Police Appropriation for Buildings and Grounds\t8\nCapitol Complex Security\u2014Capitol Visitor Center (CVC)\t9\nHouse Appropriations Committee Markup and Report (FY2007)\t9\nSenate Appropriations Markup and Report (FY2007)\t10\nFY2007 Funding Request\t10\nSenate Appropriations Oversight Hearings (February, April, May, June, August, September, and November 2006)\t10\nHouse Appropriations Hearing (March 2006)\t12\nSenate Appropriations Committee Hearing (March 2006)\t12\nApplication of Performance Standards to Legislative Branch Agencies\t13\nArchitect of the Capitol Operations\t14\nFunding Levels\t14\nHouse of Representatives\t15\nOverall Funding\t15\nHouse Committee Funding\t15\nMembers\u2019 Representational Allowance\t15\nStaffing Issues\t15\nSenate\t16\nOverall Funding\t16\nSenate Committee Funding\t16\nSupport Agency Funding\t16\nCongressional Budget Office (CBO)\t16\nHighlights of House Hearing on FY2007 Budget of the CBO\t17\nLibrary of Congress (LOC)\t17\nCongressional Research Service (CRS)\t18\nGovernment Accountability Office (GAO)\t19\nGovernment Printing Office (GPO)\t19\nHighlights of House Hearing on FY2007 Budget of GPO\t20\nOther Funding\t21\nOffice of Compliance\t21\nOpen World Leadership Center\t21\nJohn B. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development\t22\nFor Additional Reading\t1\nCRS Report\t1\nSelected Websites\t1\n\nTables\nTable 1. Status of Legislative Branch Appropriations, FY2007\t3\nTable 2. Legislative Branch Appropriations, FY1995-FY2006\t3\nTable 3. Legislative Branch Appropriations, FY2007\t22\nTable 4. Capitol Police Appropriations, FY2007\t23\nTable 5. Architect of the Capitol Appropriations, FY2007\t23\nTable 6. Senate Appropriations, FY2007\t24\nTable 7. House of Representatives Appropriations, FY2007\t26\n\nContacts\nAuthor Contact Information\t1\nKey Policy Staff\t2\n\nMost Recent Developments\nFY2007 funding for the legislative branch was contained in the Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2007, which was enacted on February 15, 2007. This act continued funding at the FY2006 levels for those items not specifically identified. Chapter 7 of Title II altered spending for some legislative branch accounts and included additional legislative language. Supplemental FY2007 appropriations were contained in the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans\u2019 Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007, which was enacted on May 25, 2007. From the start of the fiscal year on October 1, 2006, until the passage of P.L. 110-5, the legislative branch operated under three interim continuing resolutions.\nIntroduction to the Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill\nThe annual legislative branch appropriations bill usually comprises two titles. Appropriations for legislative branch agencies are contained in Title I. These entities, as they appear in the annual appropriations bill, are the Senate; House of Representatives; Joint Items; Capitol Police; Office of Compliance; Congressional Budget Office; Architect of the Capitol, including the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC); Library of Congress, including the Congressional Research Service; Government Printing Office; Government Accountability Office; and Open World Leadership Program.\nTitle II contains general administrative provisions and, from time to time, appropriations for legislative branch entities. For example, Title II of the FY2003 act contained funds for the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development and the Congressional Award Act.\nOn occasion, the bill may include a third title for out-of-the-ordinary provisions. For example, the FY2006 legislative branch appropriations bill contains language providing for the continuity of congressional representation in the event of an emergency.\nChanges in Structure of Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill Effective in FY2003\nCongress changed the structure of the annual legislative branch appropriations bill effective in FY2003. Prior to that time, beginning with FY1978, the legislative branch appropriations bill was structured differently. Title I, Congressional Operations, contained budget authority for activities directly serving Congress. Included in this title were the budgets of the Senate; House of Representatives; Joint Items; Office of Compliance; Congressional Budget Office; Architect of the Capitol, except funds for Library of Congress buildings and grounds; Congressional Research Service (but not other funding for the Library of Congress); and congressional printing and binding activities of the Government Printing Office.\nTitle II, Related Agencies, contained budgets for activities considered by the Committee on Appropriations not to support directly Congress, including those for the Botanic Garden; Library of Congress (except the Congressional Research Service, which was funded in Title I); Library of Congress buildings and grounds maintained by the Architect of the Capitol; Government Printing Office (except congressional printing and binding costs, which was funded in Title I); and Government Accountability Office, formerly named the General Accounting Office. Periodically from FY1978 through FY2002 the annual legislative appropriations bill contained additional titles for such purposes as capital improvements and special one-time functions.\nActivities and Programs Related to the Legislative Branch but Not Funded in the Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill\nIn addition to activities funded in the annual legislative branch appropriations bill, funds are contained in the legislative branch section of the U.S. Budget for other programs and entities. These include permanent budget authority for both federal and trust funds, and for non-legislative entities.\nPermanent federal funds are available as the result of previously enacted legislation and do not require annual action.\nPermanent 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 because they are not budget authority. They are included in the U.S. Budget, prepared by the Office of Management and Budget, either as budget receipts or offsetting collections.\nThe U.S. Budget also contains non-legislative entities within the legislative branch budget. They are funded in other appropriation bills but counted as legislative branch funds by the Office of Management and Budget for bookkeeping purposes.\nFor a more accurate picture of the legislative branch budget as contained in the annual legislative branch appropriation bill, the total legislative branch request of $4.693 billion in the FY2007 U.S. Budget must be adjusted. This is accomplished by subtracting permanent federal and trust funds, non-legislative entities\u2019 funds, intergovernmental funds, and including offsetting receipts and intrafund transactions. After making these adjustments, the request for entities funded in the pending regular annual appropriation bill is $4.230 billion.\nElimination of House Subcommittee on Legislative Branch in February 2005 and Reinstatement in January 2007\nPrior to the 109th Congress, the legislative branch appropriations bill was handled by the House Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, Committee on Appropriations. Under a House Appropriations Committee reorganization plan released on February 9, 2005, the subcommittee was abolished and its jurisdiction assumed by the full Appropriations Committee. Although changes were made in the structure of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, announced in March 2005, the Subcommittee on Legislative Branch was retained. The House Subcommittee on Legislative Branch was reestablished for the 110th Congress.\nStatus of FY2007 Appropriations\nTable 1. Status of Legislative Branch Appropriations, FY2007\nCommittee Markup\nHouse Report\nHouse Passage\nSenate Report\nSenate Passage\nCont. Res.\nCont. Resolution Approval\nPublic Law\n\nHouse\nSenate\n\n\n\n\n\nHouse\nSenate\n\n\n5/25/06\n06/22/06\n06/01/06\n(H.Rept. 109-485)06/07/06\n(361-53)06/22/06\n(S.Rept. 109-267)___H.J.Res. 201/31/072/14/07P.L. 110-5\n2/15/07\nTable 2. Legislative Branch Appropriations, FY1995-FY2006\n(budget authority in billions of current dollars)a\nFiscal Years\n\n1995\n1996\n1997\n1998\n1999\n2000\n2001\n2002\n2003\n2004\n2005\n2006\n\n2.378\n2.184\n2.203\n2.288\n2.581b\n2.486c\n2.730d\n3.252e\n3.461f\n3.528g\n3.640h\n3.765i\n\nThese 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 each year.\nIncludes 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).\nIncludes 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.\nThis 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, 2000, and incorporated in P.L. 106-554. This figure does not reflect any terrorism supplementals funds released pursuant to P.L. 107-38.\nThis 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.\nThis figure contains regular annual appropriations in P.L. 108-7, FY2003 Omnibus Appropriations Act, and supplemental appropriations in P.L. 108-11.\nThis figure contains regular annual appropriations in P.L. 108-83, FY2004 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act. Additional FY2004 provisions which did not contain appropriations were contained in P.L. 108-199, the FY2004 Consolidated Appropriations Act.\nThis figure contains regular annual appropriations in P.L. 108-447, Consolidated Appropriations Act, FY2005 (adjusted by a 0.80% rescission also contained in P.L. 108-447), and P.L. 109-13, FY2005 Emergency Supplemental.\nThis figure contains regular annual appropriations in P.L. 109-55, FY2006 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, adjusted by a 1.0 % rescission contained in P.L. 109-148.\nAction on the FY2007 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill (H.R. 5521)\nSubmission of FY2007 Budget Request on February 6, 2006\nOn February 5, 2006, the President submitted the FY2007 U.S. Budget containing $4.23 billion in new obligational budget authority for legislative branch activities, a 12.3% increase. A substantial portion of the 12.3% increase requested by legislative branch entities is to meet (1) mandatory expenses, which include funding for annual salary adjustments required by law and related personnel expenses, such as increased government contributions to retirement based on increased pay, and (2) expenses related to increases in the costs of goods and services due to inflation. On April 6, 2006, the President transmitted to Congress budget amendments to the FY2007 requests of the Senate, the Joint Economic Committee, and the Capitol Guide Service and Special Services Office.\nCongressional Caps on FY2007 Legislative Branch Discretionary Funds\nAs required by law, both houses considered separate 302(b) budget allocations for legislative branch discretionary and mandatory funds in FY2007. The House allocation of $4.030 billion in discretionary budget authority for the legislative branch represents a 7.0% increase over the enacted FY2006 discretionary budget authority of $3.765 billion. The Senate allocation of $3.980 billion, a 5.7% increase over FY2006.\nSenate and House Hearings on FY2007 Budget\nHearings were held by the Senate Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, Committee on Appropriations, on March 1, 2006, on budgets of the Library of Congress, the Congressional Research Service, and the Open World Leadership Center. Hearings on budget requests were held on March 15 for the Secretary of the Senate, the Architect of the Capitol, and the Capitol Visitor Center; on April 5 for the Senate Sergeant at Arms, Capitol Police Board, and Capitol Guide Service; on April 26 for the Government Accountability Office; and on May 3 for the Government Printing Office, the Congressional Budget Office, and the Office of Compliance.\nHouse hearings were held by the full Committee on Appropriations on March 10, 2006, on budget requests of the Government Printing Office, the Library of Congress, the Congressional Research Service, the Open World Leadership Center, and the Government Accountability Office; and on March 14 on requests of the House of Representatives, the Architect of the Capitol, and the Office of Compliance.\nHouse Markup and Report of FY2007 Bill (H.R. 5521)\nThe House Appropriations Committee met to mark up H.R. 5521, the FY2007 bill, on May 25, 2006, and during consideration adopted three amendments to the draft bill by voice vote:\na manager\u2019s amendment that addressed funding for the John C. Stennis Center, disposal of unwanted telecommunications equipment, archiving of Members\u2019 official records, use of E-85 ethanol fuel, and support for the Library of Congress\u2019s Newsline program;\nan amendment offered by Representative Jim Moran prohibiting the use of funds for establishment or operation of a smoking area in the cafeteria of the Rayburn House Office Building; and\nan amendment offered by then-Ranking Member David Obey expressing his displeasure with Architect of the Capitol Alan M. Hantman, and proposing placement of the Architect\u2019s office under receivership of the Comptroller General until a new Architect of the Capitol is appointed next year.\nNew budget authority contained in the mark up (not including Senate budget authority, which is determined by chamber) was $3.027 billion.\nAccounts were increased or reduced from FY2006 levels as follows: House of Representatives, +4.4%; Joint Items, +25.5%; Capitol Police, +4.9%; Office of Compliance, +2.2%; Congressional Budget Office, +3.5%; Architect of the Capitol (excluding Senate items), +1.5%; Library of Congress, +2.8%; Congressional Research Service, +2.6%; Government Printing Office, +6.4%; Government Accountability Office, +2.2%; and Open World Leadership Center, -3.3%.\nHouse Passage of the FY2007 Bill (H.R. 5521)\nOn June 7, the House passed H.R. 5521 by a vote of 361-53. Floor consideration followed adoption of the rule on the bill, H.Res. 849 (H.Rept. 109-487), on June 6 by voice vote. The rule waived all points of order against the bill and made in order only those amendments printed in the committee report, which included\nan amendment to be offered by Representative Ginny Brown-Waite to decrease the pending funding increase for the Capitol Tour Guide Service by half, to $6,294,000;\nan amendment to be offered by Representative Susan Davis to add $1 million to the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), to be offset through a $1 million reduction in funding for the Capital Guide Service and Special Services Office;\nan amendment to be offered by Representative Michael McCaul to decrease Government Printing Office Congressional Printing and Binding funds by $3 million, and increase the Capitol Police salaries fund by $3 million;\nan amendment to be offered by Representative Brian Baird to provide $2.4 million for the electronic mapping of the Capitol complex, including the Capitol, the House and Senate office buildings, tunnels, parking facilities, and other areas identified by the Capitol Police. According to the amendment, funds would be offset by funds appropriated for the printing and binding of government publications by the Government Printing Office;\nan amendment to be offered by Representative Joel Hefley to cut discretionary spending in the bill by 1% across-the-board;\nan amendment to be offered by Representative Emanuel Cleaver to prohibit funds made available for Members\u2019 Representational Allowances in the bill from providing directly for any personal vehicle that is not an alternatively fueled vehicle; and\nan amendment to be offered by Representative Martin Meehan to prohibit funds in the bill from being used to establish or operate a smoking area in House Office Buildings.\nDuring floor consideration of the bill on June 7, only one of the permitted amendments was offered, and it was subsequently withdrawn. Representative Brian Baird spoke in support of his proposal to provide $2.4 million to fund the electronic mapping of the Capitol complex before noting his intention to withdraw the amendment in deference to concerns raised by the committee. He said that electronic mapping could assist first responders in the event of an emergency and indicated his intention to work with the committee on this issue in the future.\nThe other permitted amendments were not offered, possibly, as some press accounts indicated, because the time for general debate had been moved forward.\nSenate Markup and Report of FY2007 Bill (H.R. 5521)\nThe Senate Appropriations Committee marked up and reported its version of H.R. 5521 on June 22. In its report, Senator Wayne Allard, chairman of the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch during the 109th Congress, noted that the committee\u2019s bill provides $3.98 billion in new budget authority, a 5.0% increase ($187 million) over the FY2006 budget and a $258.5 million reduction of agency requests. The committee reported H.R. 5521 as an amendment in the nature of a substitute. No amendments were considered.\nAction on FY2006 Supplemental Appropriations (H.R. 4939): House of Representatives and Architect of the Capitol\nDuring consideration of the FY2006 emergency supplemental appropriations bill, H.R. 4939, appropriators denied requests of the House of Representatives and Architect of the Capitol for additional FY2006 funds totaling $41.2 million ($36.2 million for the House and $5.0 million for the Architect). H.R. 4939, without the additional funds, passed the House on March 16, 2006, and the Senate on May 4.\nSupplemental FY2006 funds for other purposes of the Architect, however, were approved by the Senate during floor consideration of H.R. 4939. After concerns relating to the safety of utility tunnels under the Capitol Complex were raised by the Office of Compliance, Senator Wayne Allard offered an amendment (S.Amdt. 3701) on behalf of himself, Senator Richard Durbin, and Senator Barbara Mikulski. Their amendment, which provides $27.6 million to the Architect of the Capitol \u201cCapitol Power Plant\u201d account for emergency repairs to the tunnels, was agreed to on April 27, 2006 (voice vote). The amendment was retained by conferees, whose report was agreed to by the House on June 13, and the Senate on June 15. H.R. 4939 was signed by the President into law later on June 15.\nFY2007 Legislative Branch Funding Issues\nCapitol Complex Security\u2014U.S. Capitol Police\nFY2007 Funding Provisions\nUnder P.L. 110-5, Congress provided $255.6 million for the U.S. Capitol Police. An additional $10 million was provided for the general expenses account in the FY2007 supplemental appropriations act for a radio modernization program.\nIn H.R. 5521, the House approved $259.1 million for the Capitol Police. This figure represented a $12.1 million (4.9%) increase over the FY2006 funding level of $246.96 million, and $36 million less than the $295.08 million requested. The Senate Committee on Appropriations recommended $272.4 million, which represented a 10.3% increase over FY2006 levels.\nAppropriations for the police are contained in two accounts:\nsalaries account, for which $217.1 million was appropriated; $220.6 million was made available in the House-passed bill (an increase of 2.5%, or $5.3 million, over FY2006), and $231.2 million was recommended in the bill reported by the Senate committee, (an increase of 7.4%, or $15.9 million, over FY2006); the request was $246.7 million; and\ngeneral expenses account, for which $38.5 million was provided in P.L. 110-5; that was the level made available in the House-passed bill (an increase of $6.8 million, or 21.5%, over FY2006 funds), while $41.2 million was recommended in the bill reported by the Senate committee (an increase of 30.1%, or $9.52 million, over FY2006); the request was $48.4 million. An additional $10 million was provided in the FY2007 supplemental appropriations act for this account.\nThe salaries account contains funds for the salaries of employees, including overtime, hazardous duty pay differential, and government contributions for employee health, retirement, social security, professional liability insurance, and other benefit programs.\nThe general expenses account contains funds for expenses of vehicles, communication equipment, security equipment and its installation, dignitary protection, intelligence analysis, hazardous material response, uniforms, weapons, training programs, medical, forensic, and communications services, travel, relocation of instructors for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, and other administrative and technical support, among other expenses.\nFY2007 Staffing Support\nHouse-approved funding supports the staffing level of 1668 sworn FTEs, which includes 10 FTEs for the Library of Congress, and supports 414 civilian FTEs. The Senate bill also provides for 1668 sworn officers, plus 21 officers for the Capitol Visitor Center, and supports 417 civilian FTEs. Senate language transfers 82 officers from the Library of Congress police force and establishes a timeline for completion of the pending police force merger, which was first mandated by the FY2003 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act (P.L. 108-7).\nAdministrative Provisions in House Bill\nThe House bill contains administrative provisions allowing the transfer of funds between the two accounts, subject to approval of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations (usual language each year); increasing the authorization for tuition reimbursement per individual from $40,000 to $60,000; and authorizing the Capitol Police Chief to make advance payments for subscription services.\nCapitol Police Appropriation for Buildings and Grounds\nA second appropriation relating to the Capitol Police appears within the Architect of the Capitol account for Capitol Police buildings and grounds. This account contains funds for operations of the Capitol Police headquarters, leased space in government buildings, chemical and explosive storage facility, off-site delivery facility, canine facility, and a vehicle-maintenance and hazardous device facility.\nCongress appropriated $11.768 million for this account in P.L. 110-5. The House-approved budget of $11.6 million contained in H.R. 5521 provided $8.6 million less than the $20.2 million requested and $3.1 million below the level provided for FY2006; the Senate Appropriations Committee recommended $12.5 million, a 15.5% reduction ($2.3 million) below the FY2006 level.\nCapitol Complex Security\u2014Capitol Visitor Center (CVC)\nHouse Appropriations Committee Markup and Report (FY2007)\nOn May 25, 2006, the House Appropriations Committee marked up and ordered reported its version of the FY2007 legislative branch funding bill. During the markup of the bill, the committee by a voice vote approved an amendment by Representative Obey to transfer \u201call authorities previously exercised by the Architect of the Capitol, including but not limited to the execution and supervision of contracts; and the hiring, supervising, training, and compensation of employees,\u201d to the Comptroller General of the United States or his designee, effective October 1, 2006, until the \u201cconfirmation of a new Architect of the Capitol.\u201d Obey\u2019s amendment, to be included in the final FY2007 funding bill sent to the President, would have to be agreed to by Senate appropriators, and by a majority of both the House and Senate. The action was prompted by serious concerns about Hantman\u2019s management of the Capitol Visitors Center project and worker safety issues.\nThe bill reported by the House Appropriations Committee and approved by the House would have provided $46.2 million in additional funding for the Capitol Visitors Center project. This amount included $16.0 million for CVC personal services and operations, $4.5 million for CVC fit-outs, and $25.6 million for construction. The total figure, which was $5.0 million more than the request, \u201creflects the Government Accountability Office\u2019s estimate of the cost to complete which is higher than the Architect\u2019s most current estimate.\u201d\nIn its report, the Committee explained that it was \u201cbecoming increasingly concerned about the project\u2019s continuing schedule slippages and increasing costs being reported by the Government Accountability Office, the Architect of the Capitol\u2019s inability to fix water leaks, and the late discovery of major security and life safety issues affecting the project, including the recent disclosure that the new utility tunnel being constructed may not meet applicable life safety requirements.\u201d\nBecause of these concerns, the Architect was directed to provide by July 31, 2006, \u201ca report to the Committee on the major schedule, cost, quality, and coordination issues affecting the CVC project and the steps being taken and planned to address these issues.\u201d The Architect was told to include in the report: \u201c(1) an assessment of the effects of recent schedule slippages on the Architect\u2019s proposed opening dates for the Capitol Visitor Center and the House and Senate expansion spaces and the steps being taken to prevent further schedule slippages, including the effectiveness of efforts being taken to address trade stacking, late completion of shop drawings, design and scope changes late in the project, and missed milestones; (2) an updated estimate by the Architect\u2019s construction management contractor of the cost to complete the project, reasons for cost increases to date, and steps being taken to prevent further cost increases and assure that adequate information is available on the causes of delays; and (3) steps being taken to coordinate with appropriate authorities to ensure that security and life safety issues that can affect the project\u2019s schedule, cost, functionality, security, and safety are identified and addressed expeditiously.\u201d Also, the report was to \u201caddress the steps being taken regarding water leaks in the facility and life safety issues associated with the new utility tunnel being constructed to serve the Capitol Visitor Center.\u201d In addition, the Committee requested the \u201cGAO to continue to monitor these issues.\u201d\nSenate Appropriations Markup and Report (FY2007)\nAs reported in the Senate on June 22, 2006 (S.Rept. 109-267), H.R. 5521 provides $25.6 million for completion of the Capitol Visitor Center and $14 million for fit out and operation costs. Language provides that the Architect of the Capitol may not obligate any of these funds without approval by the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations.\nThe Senate bill does not contain the House language, proposed by Representative Obey, transferring the Architect\u2019s duties to the Comptroller General. Both the House and Senate bills, however, authorize a new statutory position of Inspector General within the Office of the Architect of the Capitol.\nFY2007 Funding Request\nThe legislative branch budget request submitted for inclusion in the President\u2019s FY2007 budget contained an additional $20.6 million for the Capitol Visitor Center project and $20.575 million for CVC operational costs. The request included the following caveat: \u201cThat the Architect of the Capitol may not obligate any of the funds which are made available for the Capitol Visitor Center project without an obligation plan approved by the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and House of Representatives.\u201d Also, the FY2007 legislative branch budget request contained $3.41 million for \u201csupplies, materials, and other costs relating to the House portion of expenses for the Capitol Visitor Center.\u201d\nSenate Appropriations Oversight Hearings (February, April, May, June, August, September, and November 2006)\nOn February 15, April 27, May 24, June 28, August 2, September 21, and November 15, 2006, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch held a series of hearing", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORTS", "active": true, "formats": [ { "format": "HTML", "encoding": "utf-8", "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/RL33379", "sha1": "4c75f3cff17dbc35ad2c98761fcf1d9f8607d09c", "filename": "files/20071001_RL33379_4c75f3cff17dbc35ad2c98761fcf1d9f8607d09c.html", "images": null }, { "format": "PDF", "encoding": null, "url": "http://www.crs.gov/Reports/pdf/RL33379", "sha1": "79c474877f37c487099796da01c89cb03dc200df", "filename": "files/20071001_RL33379_79c474877f37c487099796da01c89cb03dc200df.pdf", "images": null } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc812435/", "id": "RL33379_2006Jun07", "date": "2006-06-07", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Legislative Branch: FY2007 Appropriations", "summary": null, "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20060607_RL33379_215164919474fa9d1bcb8ec2be4c17f0791302ca.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20060607_RL33379_215164919474fa9d1bcb8ec2be4c17f0791302ca.html" } ], "topics": [] }, { "source": "University of North Texas Libraries Government Documents Department", "sourceLink": "https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc822706/", "id": "RL33379_2006Jun02", "date": "2006-06-02", "retrieved": "2016-03-19T13:57:26", "title": "Legislative Branch: FY2007 Appropriations", "summary": "This report is a guide to the regular appropriations bills that Congress considers each year. It is designed to supplement the information provided by the House Committee on Appropriations and Senate Subcommittee on Legislative Branch of the Senate Committee on Appropriations. It summarizes the current legislative status of the bill, its scope, major issues, funding levels, and related legislative activity.", "type": "CRS Report", "typeId": "REPORT", "active": false, "formats": [ { "format": "PDF", "filename": "files/20060602_RL33379_7d734898c9daed59f3f772b6355dea5ccf99aaf6.pdf" }, { "format": "HTML", "filename": "files/20060602_RL33379_7d734898c9daed59f3f772b6355dea5ccf99aaf6.html" } ], "topics": [ { "source": "LIV", "id": "Appropriations", "name": "Appropriations" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Congress", "name": "Congress" }, { "source": "LIV", "id": "Federal budgets", "name": "Federal budgets" } ] } ], "topics": [ "American Law", "Appropriations", "Economic Policy" ] }