[House Report 112-624]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
112th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 112-624
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TO REVISE THE AUTHORITY OF THE LIBRARIAN OF CONGRESS TO ACCEPT GIFTS
AND BEQUESTS ON BEHALF OF THE LIBRARY, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES
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July 26, 2012.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
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Mr. Daniel E. Lungren of California, from the Committee on House
Administration, submitted the following
R E P O R T
[To accompany H.R. 6122]
The Committee on House Administration, to whom was referred
the bill (H.R. 6122) to revise the authority of the Librarian
of Congress to accept gifts and bequests on behalf of the
Library, and for other purposes, having considered the same,
report favorably thereon without amendment and recommend that
the bill do pass.
Background and Need for the Legislation
The Librarian of Congress was authorized in 1925 to accept
gifts of money. That authority has remained essentially
unchanged. The Library has been offered various types of
donations, not suitable to be handled as Trust Funds, that it
lacked proper authority to accept. These include: donations of
IT equipment, audiovisual equipment, and volunteer services
outside of the American Folklife Center or the Center for the
Book.
H.R. 6122 authorizes the Librarian of Congress to accept
gifts of securities for immediate disbursement, personal
property valued at $25,000 or less, nonpersonal services, and
voluntary and uncompensated personal services. Any donation of
securities requires that the Librarian sell the securities and
provide the donor with a receipt of the proceeds of the sale.
Under the bill, the Librarian is further required to disclose a
description of each gift or bequest valued at $1,000 or more in
the Annual Report of the Library of Congress.
Introduction and Referral
On July 12, 2012, Congressman Daniel E. Lungren of
California introduced H.R. 6122, which was referred to the
Committee on House Administration.
Hearings
There were no legislative hearings held on H.R. 6122.
Committee Consideration
On July 19, 2012, the Committee on House Administration met
to consider H.R. 6122. The Committee ordered the bill reported
favorably to the House by voice vote, with a quorum present.
Committee Record Votes
In compliance with House Rule XIII, clause 3(b), requiring
the results of each record vote on an amendment or motion to
report, together with the names of those voting for and
against, to be printed in the Committee report, the Committee
states that there were no record votes during the Committee's
consideration of H.R. 6122.
Committee Oversight Findings and Recommendations
In compliance with House Rule XIII, clause 3(c)(1), the
Committee states that the findings and recommendations of the
Committee, based on oversight activities under House Rule X,
clause 2(b)(1), are incorporated into the general discussion
section of this report.
Statement of Budget Authority and Related Items
The bill does not provide new budget authority, new
spending authority, new credit authority, or an increase or
decrease in revenues or tax expenditures and a statement under
House Rule XIII, clause 3(c)(2), and section 308(a)(1) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 is not required.
Congressional Budget Office Cost Estimate
In compliance with House Rule XIII, clause 3(c)(3), the
Committee states, with respect to the bill, H.R. 6122, that the
Director of the Congressional Budget Office did not submit a
cost estimate and comparison under section 402 of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974.
Performance Goals and Objectives
In compliance with House Rule XIII, clause 3(c)(4), the
Committee states that the general discussion section of this
report includes a statement of the general performance goals
and objectives, including outcome-related goals and objectives,
for which H.R. 6122 authorizes funding.
Advisory on Earmarks
In accordance with House Rule XXI, clause 9, the Committee
states that H.R. 6122 does not contain any congressional
earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits as
defined in clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of rule XXI.
Changes in Existing Law Made by the Bill
In compliance with House Rule XIII, clause 3(e), the
Committee states that H.R. 6122 changes in existing law made by
the bill, as reported, are shown as follows (existing law
proposed to be omitted is enclosed in black brackets, new
matter is printed in italic, existing law in which no changes
is proposed is shown in roman):
SECTION 4 OF THE ACT OF MARCH 3, 1925
CHAP. 423.--AN ACT To create a Library of Congress Trust Fund Board,
and for other purposes.
Sec. 4. [Nothing] (a) Acceptance and Disbursement of Gifts.--
Nothing in this Act shall be construed as prohibiting or
restricting the Librarian of Congress from accepting [in the
name of the United States gifts or bequests of money for
immediate disbursement in the interest of the Library, its
collections, or its service.] in the name of the United States
and in the interest of the Library, its collections, or its
service, gifts or bequests of money for immediate disbursement,
personal property valued at $25,000 or less, nonpersonal
services, or voluntary and uncompensated personal services. In
the case of a gift of securities, the Librarian shall sell the
gift and provide the donor with a receipt from the proceeds of
the sale. Such gifts or bequests of money, after acceptance by
the librarian, shall be paid by the donor or his representative
to the Treasurer of the United States, whose receipts shall be
their acquittance. The Treasurer of the United States shall
[enter them] enter the gift, bequest, or proceeds in a special
account to the credit of the Library of Congress and subject to
disbursement by the librarian for the purposes in each case
specified.
Upon agreement by the Librarian of Congress and the Board, a
gift or bequest accepted by the Librarian under the first
paragraph of this section may be invested or reinvested in the
same manner as provided for trust funds under the second
paragraph of section 2.
(b) Public Report on Accepted Gifts.--In each Annual Report
of the Library of Congress, the Librarian of Congress shall
include a description of each gift or bequest accepted under
this section during the year involved which is valued at $1,000
or more.