[Senate Report 112-9] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] 112th Congress Report SENATE 1st Session 112-9 ====================================================================== AUTHORIZING EXPENDITURES BY COMMITTEES OF THE SENATE _______ March 31, 2011.--Ordered to be printed _______ Mr. Schumer, from the Committee on Rules and Administration, submitted the following R E P O R T [To accompany S. Res. 81] The Committee on Rules and Administration having considered an original resolution (S. Res. 81) authorizing expenditures by committees of the Senate for the periods March 1, 2011, through September 30, 2011, and October 1, 2011, through September 30, 2012, and October 1, 2012, through February 28, 2013, having considered the same, reports favorable thereon without amendment and recommends that the resolution do pass. Chairman's Statement Since the 101st Congress, the Rules Committee has favorably reported out and the Senate has agreed to an omnibus biennial committee funding authorization for the standing, special, and select committees of the Senate. This procedure has consistently received strong support from committee chairmen and ranking members. During the 1990s, pursuant to Rule XXVII, most committees allocated their funding two-thirds for the majority and one- third for the minority. During the past decade, starting with the 107th Congress, biennial negotiations over the allocation ratios for committee funding produced Leadership guidance, which the Rules Committee used to develop committee budget guidelines. The 109th Congress Leadership colloquy of January 6, 2005 set a minimum for the minority of 40 percent of personnel funds after allocations for non-designated administrative and clerical staff. The minority leader stated in the colloquy that he hoped never in the future would it be any lower, no matter which party is in control of the Senate. In the 112th Congress, on February 3, 2011, the Leadership agreed on a new funding approach to be used in the 112th and their intention that it be used in future Congresses in place of biennial negotiations. That funding approach is based on the party division of the Senate, but recognizes the majority's need for resources commensurate with its responsibilities in administering the committee. The Leadership agreed that 10 percent of the total majority and minority baseline salary amount, after allocations for non-designated administrative and clerical staff, would be set aside for the majority. The remaining 90 percent would be divided according to the party division of the Senate. For the 112th Congress, the party division for funding purposes is 53 to 47. Committee office space follows the same approach, with 10 percent of the total space set aside for the majority, and the remaining 90 percent divided according to the party division of the Senate. The Leadership colloquy further specified that regardless of the party division of the Senate, however, the minority share would never be less than 40 percent, and the majority would never exceed 60 percent including the 10 percent set aside for the majority. This approach provides greater stability to committees when Senate party ratios alter or the Senate majority changes from one party to another. The February 3, 2011, Joint Leadership colloquy and letter, submitted by the Majority Leader and the Minority Leader, are included below for informational purposes. Colloquy Mr. Reid. Mr. President, over the last 20 years, the apportionment of committee funding has gone from a straight two-thirds for majority and one-third for minority during the 1990s, regardless of the size of the majority and minority, to biannual negotiations during the past decade. It is my intention that the approach adopted for this Congress will be used in the future. This new funding allocation for Senate committees is based on the party division of the Senate, with 10 percent of the total majority and minority salary baseline going to the majority for administrative expenses. However, regardless of the party division of the Senate, it is also intended that the minority share will never be less than 40 percent, and the majority share will never exceed 60 percent. Mr. McConnell. It is my intention also that this new approach will serve us for this Congress and future Congresses. In addition, we are making a transition to restore Special Reserves to its historic purpose. We know that we will face tight budgets for the foreseeable future and cannot expect increases in funding. We have to move toward funding authorizations that are in line with our actual resources and I look forward to working with my friend, the majority leader, to accomplish this. Mr. Reid. I thank my friend, the Republican leader, and ask unanimous consent that a joint leadership letter be printed in the Record. Joint Leadership Letter We mutually commit to the following for the 112th Congress: The budgets of the Committees of the Senate, including Joint and Special Committees, and all other subgroups, shall be apportioned to reflect the ratio of the Senate as of this date, including an additional ten percent (10%) to be allocated to the Chairmen for administrative expenses, to be determined by the Rules Committee. However, the amount of funding authorized for each individual Committee in the 112th Congress is being reduced by the amount that was allocated to that Committee from Special Reserves in the last Congress. Special Reserves is being restored to its historic purpose. Requests for funding will only be considered when submitted by a Committee Chairman and Ranking Member for unanticipated, non- recurring needs. Such requests shall be granted only upon the approval of the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Rules Committee. Funds for Committee expenses shall be available to each Chairman consistent with Senate rules and practices of the 111th Congress. The Chairman and Ranking Member of any Committee may, by mutual agreement, modify the apportionment of Committee funding and office space. The division of Committee office space shall be commensurate with this funding agreement. Background Beginning in the 106th Congress, the biennial committee funding cycle was divided into 3 segments: the 7-month period from March 1 through September 30 of the first calendar year of the Congress; the 12-month period from October 1 of the first calendar year through September 30 of the second calendar year; and the 5-month period from October 1 of the second calendar year through the last day of February of the third calendar year. S. Res. 81 continues this practice. S. Res. 81, the ``omnibus'' committee funding resolution for the 112th Congress, was reported in lieu of Senate Resolutions 50, 52, 53, 54, 56, 57, 58, 59, 61, 62, 64, 66, 67, 68, 69, 71, and 79, which were reported by the Senate committees in conformance with paragraph 9 of Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate and referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. An original resolution, S. Res. 70, authorizing expenditures by the Committee on Rules and Administration, is on the Senate calendar (Order No. 8) and is obviated by passage of S. Res. 81, since funding for the Rules Committee's expenditures in the 112th Congress is included in the omnibus funding resolution. The total funding target for majority and minority salary baselines for each of fiscal years 2011, 2012, and 2013, will be $100,000,000 plus the actual amount approved for cost of living adjustments (COLAs) in fiscal years 2009 and 2010. The funding will be allocated according to the ratios in the Leadership colloquy. There are no amounts authorized for COLAs in the 112th Congress for fiscal years 2011, 2012 and 2013. Therefore, committees were advised not to include COLAs in their budgets. Further, special reserves will not be available to each chairman/ranking member on request as they were in the 111th Congress. As stated in the February 3, 2011, Joint Leadership letter, the special reserves fund is being restored to its historic purpose. Requests for funding from special reserves will be considered only when submitted by a Committee chairman and ranking member for unanticipated, non-recurring needs. The request must be approved by the chairman and ranking member of the Rules Committee. Similar to procedures used during the previous four Congresses, the Rules Committee offered committees the opportunity to streamline the authorization process. Committees whose budget requests were within guidelines specified by the Joint Leadership agreement and whose questionnaires were jointly signed by the chairman and ranking member were not required to testify on their funding resolution before the Rules Committee. Committees that wished to request funds that exceeded the guidelines were directed to submit to the Rules Committee a letter, signed by the chairman and ranking member, that specified the budget amount and asked for a hearing. All committees funded by S. Res. 81 submitted budgets and questionnaires that conformed to the guidelines. For the 112th Congress, the Rules Committee prepared an original funding resolution incorporating a budget amount at the guidelines level for every committee included in the resolution. The Senate passed the omnibus committee funding resolution, S. Res. 81, on March 2, 2011, by unanimous consent and without amendment. Sec. 1. Aggregate Authorization (a) In General--For purposes of carrying out the powers, duties, and functions under the Standing Rules of the Senate, and under the appropriate authorizing resolutions of the Senate there is authorized for the period March 1, 2011, through September 30, 2011, in the aggregate of $70,790,674, for the period October 1, 2011, through September 30, 2012, in the aggregate of $121,355,435, and for the period October 1, 2012, through February 28, 2013, in the aggregate of $50,564,763, in accordance with the provisions of this resolution, for standing committees of the Senate, the Special Committee on Aging, the Select Committee on Intelligence, and the Committee on Indian Affairs. Sec. 2. Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FY 2011 (7 FY 2012 FY 2013 (5 mths) (12 mths) mths) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Salary Baseline.................. $2,727,993 $4,676,559 $1,948,566 2011 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2012 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2013 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... Consultants...................... 0 0 0 Training......................... 0 0 0 Official Mail.................... 6,047 10,367 4,320 Administrative Expenses.......... 66,039 113,210 47,171 -------------------------------------- Budget Authority 112th Congress.. 2,800,079 4,800,136 2,000,057 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sec. 3. Committee on Armed Services ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FY 2011 (7 FY 2012 FY 2013 (5 mths) (12 mths) mths) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Salary Baseline.................. $4,681,305 $8,025,095 $3,343,790 2011 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2012 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2013 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... Consultants...................... 14,583 25,000 10,417 Training......................... 4,667 8,000 3,333 Official Mail.................... 4,083 7,000 2,917 Administrative Expenses.......... 45,231 77,539 32,308 -------------------------------------- Budget Authority 112th Congress.. 4,749,869 8,142,634 3,392,765 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sec. 4. Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FY 2011 (7 FY 2012 FY 2013 (5 mths) (12 mths) mths) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Salary Baseline.................. $4,202,004 $7,203,434 $3,001,431 2011 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2012 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2013 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... Consultants...................... 11,667 20,000 8,333 Training......................... 700 1,200 500 Official Mail.................... 1,400 2,400 1,000 Administrative Expenses.......... 88,417 151,572 63,155 -------------------------------------- Budget Authority 112th Congress.. 4,304,188 7,378,606 3,074,419 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sec. 5. Committee on the Budget ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FY 2011 (7 FY 2012 FY 2013 (5 mths) (12 mths) mths) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Salary Baseline.................. $4,432,576 $7,598,701 $3,166,125 2011 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2012 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2013 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... Consultants...................... 0 0 0 Training......................... 0 0 0 Official Mail.................... 10,746 18,421 7,675 Administrative Expenses.......... 45,919 78,718 32,799 -------------------------------------- Budget Authority 112th Congress.. 4,489,241 7,695,840 3,206,599 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sec. 6. Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FY 2011 (7 FY 2012 FY 2013 (5 mths) (12 mths) mths) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Salary Baseline.................. $4,536,453 $7,776,777 $3,240,324 2011 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2012 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2013 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... Consultants...................... 0 0 0 Training......................... 0 0 0 Official Mail.................... 11,932 20,455 8,523 Administrative Expenses.......... 88,048 150,939 62,891 -------------------------------------- Budget Authority 112th Congress.. 4,636,433 7,948,171 3,311,738 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sec. 7. Committee on Energy and Natural Resources ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FY 2011 (7 FY 2012 FY 2013 (5 mths) (12 mths) mths) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Salary Baseline.................. $3,847,006 $6,594,867 $2,747,861 2011 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2012 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2013 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... Consultants...................... 0 0 0 Training......................... 0 0 0 Official Mail.................... 9,129 15,649 6,520 Administrative Expenses.......... 68,164 116,853 48,689 -------------------------------------- Budget Authority 112th Congress.. 3,924,299 6,727,369 2,803,070 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sec. 8. Committee on Environment and Public Works ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FY 2011 (7 FY 2012 FY 2013 (5 mths) (12 mths) mths) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Salary Baseline.................. $3,496,021 $5,993,178 $2,497,157 2011 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2012 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2013 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... Consultants...................... 4,667 8,000 3,333 Training......................... 1,167 2,000 833 Official Mail.................... 8,416 14,427 6,011 Administrative Expenses.......... 102,121 175,064 72,943 -------------------------------------- Budget Authority 112th Congress.. 3,612,391 6,192,669 2,580,278 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sec. 9. Committee on Finance ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FY 2011 (7 FY 2012 FY 2013 (5 mths) (12 mths) mths) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Salary Baseline.................. $5,207,439 $8,927,039 $3,719,599 2011 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2012 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2013 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... Consultants...................... 17,500 30,000 12,500 Training......................... 5,833 10,000 4,167 Official Mail.................... 10,480 17,965 7,485 Administrative Expenses.......... 92,556 158,667 66,111 -------------------------------------- Budget Authority 112th Congress.. 5,333,808 9,143,671 3,809,862 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sec. 10. Committee on Foreign Relations ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FY 2011 (7 FY 2012 FY 2013 (5 mths) (12 mths) mths) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Salary Baseline.................. $4,290,736 $7,355,549 $3,064,812 2011 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2012 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2013 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... Consultants...................... 0 0 0 Training......................... 0 0 0 Official Mail.................... 9,380 16,080 6,700 Administrative Expenses.......... 93,288 159,920 66,633 -------------------------------------- Budget Authority 112th Congress.. 4,393,404 7,531,549 3,138,145 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sec. 11. Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FY 2011 (7 FY 2012 FY 2013 (5 mths) (12 mths) mths) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Salary Baseline.................. $5,991,404 $10,270,978 $4,279,574 2011 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2012 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2013 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... Consultants...................... 0 0 0 Training......................... 0 0 0 Official Mail.................... 14,236 24,405 10,169 Administrative Expenses.......... 109,673 188,010 78,338 -------------------------------------- Budget Authority 112th Congress.. 6,115,313 10,483,393 4,368,081 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sec. 12. Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FY 2011 (7 FY 2012 FY 2013 (5 mths) (12 mths) mths) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Salary Baseline.................. $6,768,833 $11,603,715 $4,834,882 2011 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2012 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2013 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... Consultants...................... 0 0 0 Training......................... 0 0 0 Official Mail.................... 15,689 26,895 11,206 Administrative Expenses.......... 118,237 202,692 84,455 -------------------------------------- Budget Authority 112th Congress.. 6,902,759 11,833,302 4,930,543 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sec. 13. Committee on the Judiciary ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FY 2011 (7 FY 2012 FY 2013 (5 mths) (12 mths) mths) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Salary Baseline.................. $6,599,943 $11,314,188 $4,714,245 2011 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2012 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2013 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... Consultants...................... 0 0 0 Training......................... 0 0 0 Official Mail.................... 15,097 25,881 10,784 Administrative Expenses.......... 69,199 118,626 49,428 -------------------------------------- Budget Authority 112th Congress.. 6,684,239 11,458,695 4,774,457 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sec. 14. Committee on Rules and Administration ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FY 2011 (7 FY 2012 FY 2013 (5 mths) (12 mths) mths) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Salary Baseline.................. $1,821,891 $3,123,242 $1,301,351 2011 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2012 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2013 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... Consultant....................... 0 0 0 Training......................... 0 0 0 Official Mail.................... 4,634 7,944 3,310 Administrative Expenses.......... 14,192 24,329 10,137 -------------------------------------- Budget Authority 112th Congress.. 1,840,717 3,155,515 1,314,798 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sec. 15. Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FY 2011 (7 FY 2012 FY 2013 (5 mths) (12 mths) mths) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Salary Baseline.................. $1,676,785 $2,874,489 $1,197,704 2011 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2012 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2013 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... Consultant....................... 0 0 0 Training......................... 0 0 0 Official Mail.................... 3,753 6,434 2,681 Administrative Expenses.......... 52,322 89,694 37,370 -------------------------------------- Budget Authority 112th Congress.. 1,732,860 2,970,617 1,237,755 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sec. 16. Committee on Veterans' Affairs ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FY 2011 (7 FY 2012 FY 2013 (5 mths) (12 mths) mths) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Salary Baseline.................. $1,572,204 $2,695,207 $1,123,003 2011 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2012 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2013 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... Consultants...................... 0 0 0 Training......................... 0 0 0 Official Mail.................... 3,888 6,665 2,777 Administrative Expenses.......... 26,146 44,821 18,675 -------------------------------------- Budget Authority 112th Congress.. 1,602,238 2,746,693 1,144,455 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sec. 17. Special Committee on Aging ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FY 2011 (7 FY 2012 FY 2013 (5 mths) (12 mths) mths) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Salary Baseline.................. $1,887,516 $3,235,742 $1,348,226 2011 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2012 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2013 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... Consultants...................... 0 0 0 Training......................... 0 0 0 Official Mail.................... 3,923 6,725 2,802 Administrative Expenses.......... 45,675 78,300 32,625 -------------------------------------- Budget Authority 112th Congress.. 1,937,114 3,320,767 1,383,653 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sec. 18. Select Committee on Intelligence ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FY 2011 (7 FY 2012 FY 2013 (5 mths) (12 mths) mths) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Salary Baseline.................. $4,151,379 $7,116,650 $2,965,271 2011 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2012 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2013 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... Consultants...................... 37,917 65,000 27,083 Training......................... 1,167 4,000 4,000 Official Mail.................... 7,317 12,544 5,227 Administrative Expenses.......... 51,333 86,000 33,500 -------------------------------------- Budget Authority 112th Congress.. 4,249,113 7,284,194 3,035,081 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Sec. 19. Select Committee on Indian Affairs ------------------------------------------------------------------------ FY 2011 (7 FY 2012 FY 2013 (5 mths) (12 mths) mths) ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Salary Baseline.................. $1,407,919 $2,413,575 $1,005,657 2011 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2012 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... 2013 COLA........................ ........... ........... ........... Consultants...................... 0 0 0 Training......................... 0 0 0 Official Mail.................... 3,959 6,786 2,828 Administrative Expenses.......... 70,731 121,253 50,522 -------------------------------------- Budget Authority 112th Congress.. 1,482,609 2,541,614 1,059,007 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Overtime Committees have been advised that any overtime costs mandated by the Congressional Accountability Act must be absorbed within salary baselines funded in S. Res. 81. Cost-of-Living Adjustments There are no amounts authorized for COLAs in the 112th Congress for fiscal years 2011, 2012 and 2013. Therefore, committees were advised not to include COLAs in their budgets. It is the intent of the Rules Committee that amounts for COLAs shall only be available to the extent they are authorized by the order of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate pursuant to 2 U.S.C. section 60a-1, and provided sufficient funds are appropriated to pay for such expenses. Certification of Committee Expenses Committee biennial funding resolutions prior to March 1, 1995 stipulated that vouchers were not required for the disbursement of salaries of committee employees who were paid at an annual rate of pay. In addition, vouchers were not required for certain types of official expenses which could be certified as owed to Senate support offices providing such goods and services to Senate committees. The practice was to identify in the funding resolution which Senate support office was authorized to certify such expenses as due for payment. Examples of certifiable expenses include, but are not limited to, telecommunications, stationery supplies, official mail, metered charges on copying equipment, and expenses for Senate Recording and Photographic Services. However, section 1 of the FY 1994 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill provided permanent language in statute addressing this issue (2 U.S.C. 68-8). Therefore, the specific authorization for certifications is no longer required in committee biennial funding resolutions and the language in section 1 of S. Res. 54 (107th Congress) has been modified by deleting section 1(b)(2) with the heading, VOUCHERS NOT REQUIRED. Printing and Binding Committee expenditures for printing and binding include the costs of preparation and publishing of documents in electronic and/or print format by GPO personnel. Although printing and binding funds are not included in individual committee budgets, the Committee on Rules and Administration advises all committees to be judicious in the use of these funds. Printing and binding costs for committees authorized in S. Res. 81 decreased from the end of the 110th Congress to the end of the 111th Congress by $1,854,175.00. The Committee reminds all Senate committees to adhere strictly to the provisions of Title 44 governing the printing and binding of documents. A committee may not procure more than 300 copies of a hearing, or other documents germane thereto, except as authorized by 44 U.S.C. 703. Section 703 provides that extra copies not exceeding $700 in cost may be obtained upon an order of the Joint Committee on Printing; extra copies at a cost of $700 to $1,200 must be authorized by simple resolution of the Senate; and cost exceeding $1,200 requires approval of both houses of Congress by concurrent or joint resolution. Such resolutions requesting printing are referred to the Committee on Rules and Administration. ``Extra copies'' means additional numbers ordered at the time of original printing. Reprinting a document at a later time must be treated as a new publication. Charges incurred by committees for GPO employees detailed as printers decreased 30.5% between the 110th and 111th Congresses. The Rules Committee encourages committees to continue reducing costs associated with GPO detailees while still ensuring the priority services and support they need. Effective with the 112th Congress, committees wishing to obtain or continue the services of a GPO detailee are required to obtain prior approval in writing from the Committee on Rules and Administration. Every effort should be made to control costs by limiting overtime as much as possible. Committees that incur overtime charges on a continuing basis are strongly advised to evaluate their printing operation with an eye to minimizing a printer's overtime except on a temporary basis when the extraordinary cost can be justified by the need for timely delivery of the committee's legislative papers. Cost of Government Printing Office Employees Detailed as Printers 111TH CONGRESS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 2009 2010 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Committee on Agriculture, $79,482.00 $68,656.00 Nutrition, and Forestry.......... Committee on Armed Services....... 0.00 0.00 Committee on Banking, Housing, and 149,565.00 104,632.00 Urban Affairs.................... Committee on the Budget........... 65,859.00 54,979.99 Committee on Commerce, Science, 139,752.00 54,577.85 and Transportation............... Committee on Energy and Natural 141,489.00 124,420.00 Resources........................ Committee on Environment and 138,456.00 123,571.92 Public Works..................... Committee on Finance.............. 71,058.00 100,006.99 Committee on Foreign Relations.... 140,391.00 113,649.98 Committee on Health, Education, 71,019.00 57,298.00 Labor, and Pensions.............. Committee on Homeland Security and 68,019.00 58,806.00 Governmental Affairs............. Committee on the Judiciary........ 99,246.00 59,293.00 Committee on Rules and 0.00 0.00 Administration................... Committee on Small Business and 0.00 0.00 Entrepreneurship................. Committee on Veterans' Affairs.... 70,596.00 63,329.00 Special Committee on Aging........ 65,793.00 58,405.00 Select Committee on Intelligence.. 0.00 0.00 Select Committee on Indian Affairs 70,161.00 63,554.00 ------------------------------------- Total....................... $1,370,886.00 $1,105,179.73 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Detailed Employees Sections 2 through 19 of the omnibus resolution include specific authorizing language on the use of detailed employees on either a reimbursable or non-reimbursable basis. This language, which has been included in previous biennial funding resolutions since 1989, continues the practice of permitting the detail or assignment of personnel from departments or agencies of the Federal government to the staff of a committee with or without reimbursement of that person's salary. Pursuant to Standing Rule XXVII, paragraph 4, ``No committee shall appoint to its staff any experts or other personnel detailed or assigned from any department or agency of the Government, except with the written permission of the Committee on Rules and Administration.'' The Committee on Rules and Administration monitors expenditures associated with the use of detailed employees in order to evaluate overall committee spending.Special Reserves For the 112th Congress, S. Res. 81 authorizes a special reserve fund within the appropriations account, ``Expenses of Inquiries and Investigations.'' Special Reserves is being restored to its historic purpose. Requests for funding will be considered only when submitted by a Committee chairman and ranking member for unanticipated, non-recurring needs. Such requests shall be granted only upon the approval of the chairman and ranking member of the Rules Committee. History of Special Reserves. When biennial funding cycles began in 1989, the Rules Committee authorized the use of unexpended funds from one authorization to the next. The Committee in 1991 informed all Senate committees in Senate Report 102-15, and during the debate on S. Res. 62 (102nd Congress), that committees could retain 50 percent of their funds unexpended as of February 28, 1993, to cover non- recurring needs that enhanced efficiency in the committee. When S. Res. 71, the Omnibus Committee Funding Resolution for the 103rd Congress, was considered by the Senate, it was amended to contain language that no committee of the Senate was permitted to carry forward unexpended balances beyond March 1, 1995. While S. Res. 54 (105th Congress) did not permit committees to carry forward funds, it did continue to provide a special reserve into which the unexpended balances of the committees were transferred, after obligations incurred during the prior funding period were paid. In order to preserve the flexibility of the Committee on Rules and Administration to meet the unforeseen needs of Senate committees, S. Res. 49 and S. Res. 189 in the 106th Congress continued the practice of making special reserve funding available for unanticipated, non-recurring needs of each committee when necessary. In the colloquy of January 12, 2007, the Senate Leadership agreed for the 110th Congress that, under the circumstances of a continuing resolution for FY 07, to provide each ranking member, if requested, an allocation equal to 49% of the 10% administrative funds that were available to the committee chairman in the 109th Congress. A total of $4,794,387 was requested and authorized in the 110th Congress to fulfill the colloquy. This funding was added to the budget baselines of the respective committees for the 111th Congress. In the Joint Leadership letter of January 15, 2009, the Leadership agreed that for the 111th Congress, 89 percent of special reserves would be available to each chair/ranking member for administrative expenses, if requested, to be allocated at a 60 percent to 40 percent ratio, majority/ minority respectively. This allowed individual minority committee funding levels to remain unchanged, if special reserves were requested. Therefore, no committee budget was allocated to reduce the minority committee budget below that of FY 08. The Special Reserves Fund for the 111th Congress was almost entirely dedicated to fulfilling the guidance of the Joint Leadership letter and colloquy of January 15, 2009. Therefore, contrary to circumstances in previous Congresses, the Rules Committee had little flexibility with regard to additional requests from the special reserves fund. The Rules Committee determined that an additional five percent (5%) of special reserves may have been required to satisfy the intent of the colloquy and authorized use of those funds. Amendment to S. Res. 73 in the 111th Congress. S. Res. 73, which was agreed to on March 10, 2009, provided special reserves to be available to meet unpaid obligations which a committee may be called upon to incur above the amount authorized. In FY 09, for the period March 1, 2009, through September 30, 2009, $4,375,000 was originally made available. However, under the Leadership colloquy of January 15, 2009, $4,132,668 or 94% of the Special Reserves for FY 09 was committed from these funds to supplement the original authorization provided to each committee by each section of S. Res. 73 and therefore leaving only $242,332 in available funds for any committee to request. On May 20, 2009, the Committee on the Judiciary wrote to the Chair and Ranking Member of the Committee on Rules and Administration and requested $600,000 to meet the unanticipated expenses it expected to incur following the announcement that Justice David Souter was resigning from the United States Supreme Court. However, this action required the passage of S. Res. 152, agreed to May 19, 2009, which amended section 20(a)(1) of S. Res. 73 and increased by $500,000 to $4,875,000 the amount of Special Reserves available in FY 09. On May 21, 2009, the chairman and ranking member of the Committee on Rules and Administration approved the pending request from the Judiciary Committee. On April 23, 2010, the Committee on the Judiciary again wrote to the Committee on Rules and Administration and requested $300,000 to meet the unanticipated expenses it expected to incur following the announcement that Justice John Paul Stevens was retiring from the United States Supreme Court. Sufficient funds were available for FY 10 and on April 29, 2010, the Chairman and Ranking Member of the Committee on Rules and Administration approved the pending request from the Judiciary Committee. Legislative Review by Senate Committees Rule XXVI, section 8b of the Standing Rules of the Senate requires that, in each odd-numbered year, each committee shall submit to the Senate, not later than March 31st, a report on the activities of that committee during the Congress ending at noon on January 3rd of such year. Policy on Committee Work and Housing for Committee Staff Pursuant to each committee's authorizing resolution, funds are made available from the Contingent Fund of the Senate to assist a committee in carrying out its powers, duties, and functions under the Standing Rules of the Senate. These responsibilities include holding hearings, reporting such hearings, and making investigations as authorized by paragraphs 1 and 8 of Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate. Therefore, committee staff may not engage in work other than committee business. In addition, it remains the policy of the Rules Committee that all committee staff paid by committee funds will be housed in committee space. Space allocations will be strictly tied to authorized committee staff and detailed employees approved by the Committee on Rules and Administration. Committee Office Automation Resources The Senate Sergeant at Arms (SAA) will fund office automation needs for committees on a per capita basis which includes authorized staff and detailed employees identified in the committee budget submission. This fund is referred to as the Economic Allocation Fund (EAF). Upon submission and approval by the Rules Committee of staffing levels, committees will be able to purchase items to meet their business requirements from the standard, approved products available from the SAA. Non-standard hardware or software requests will be at committee expense and must include costs for maintenance, service, and support. Any non-standard purchases in excess of $500 must be approved in advance by the Rules Committee. A Committee chairman shall ensure that each full-time employee and full-time, authorized detailed employee on the committee be provided with a workstation and have appropriate access to related office equipment. The funding levels provided will be sufficient to provide for regular replacement of hardware, as well as purchases of software updates. Any computers in excess of authorized levels must be returned to the SAA. Committees that request funding above and beyond the per capita basis are required to submit a complete office automation plan based upon its business requirements and the level of authorized staff and detailed employees identified in the committee budget submission. To assist the Rules Committee and the SAA in accurately projecting computer services funding (acquisition, installation, maintenance, and support), these committees must complete Information Technology Resources Worksheets to accompany their budget submissions. Upon review of these documents, the Rules Committee will notify the committee of the approved funding level. In the use of these funds, the Committee on Rules and Administration and SAA recommend that all committee chairmen adopt energy-efficient office equipment, including the use of virtual servers available through the SAA. These provide relief for offices by eliminating a server footprint in the work space and the accompanying noise and heat; support all critical continuity requirements of an office; and are available at a lower cost compared to the implementation of physical servers. Committee Office Automation Resources ECONOMIC ALLOCATION FUND--112TH CONGRESS ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Committee Allocation ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Aging................................................... $144,000.00 Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry.................... 144,000.00 Appropriations.......................................... 516,000.00 Armed Services.......................................... 248,000.00 Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs..................... 260,000.00 Budget.................................................. 268,000.00 Commerce, Science, and Transportation................... 352,000.00 Energy and Natural Resources............................ 244,000.00 Environment and Public Works............................ 240,000.00 Ethics.................................................. 60,000.00 Finance................................................. 508,000.00 Foreign Relations....................................... 356,000.00 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions.................. 460,000.00 Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs.............. 632,000.00 Indian Affairs.......................................... 104,000.00 Intelligence............................................ 478,156.38 Joint Economic.......................................... 196,000.00 Judiciary............................................... 616,000.00 Rules and Administration................................ 112,000.00 Small Business.......................................... 156,000.00 Veterans' Affairs....................................... 132,000.00 ------------------------------------------------------------------------ Consultants This resolution specifies the available funding to hire consultants, as otherwise authorized by statute. Committee Legislative Assistance In the past the Rules Committee received inquiries regarding staff representatives on committees. With respect to providing funds for legislative assistance, the position of the Committee on Rules and Administration is that such funds are already incorporated into Members' personal office accounts for the purpose of providing assistance with such committee duties. The legislative assistance allowance was established in the 94th Congress by passage of S. Res. 60, agreed to on June 12, 1975. It authorized each Senator serving on a committee to hire staff to assist them in connection with their membership on one or more committees. This new authorization was preserved and continued in S. Res. 4 in the 95th Congress, when the Senate reorganized the committee system by passing amendments to the Standing Rules of the Senate regarding the jurisdiction and size of committees. Later in the 95th Congress, the committee legislative assistance was made permanent and codified into law by section 111 of P.L. 95-94. This provision, as amended by P.L. 100-137 and P.L. 102-392, currently provides funding for three positions in each Senator's office at an annual rate of $169,459 each for a total of $508,377 per office, or $50,837,700 for all 100 Senators in FY 09. These funds may be adjusted each fiscal year by the authorized cost of living adjustment for Senate offices by the order of the President Pro Tempore. Archiving Under Senate Rule XXVI(10)(a) and 2 U.S.C. 72(a)(d), committee records are the property of the Senate. At the end of each Congress, non-current committee records are transferred to the Archives [Senate Rule XI(1) and 44 U.S.C. 2118]. To ensure the preservation of the Senate's permanently valuable records, the Rules Committee requests that each committee submit to the Rules Committee their National Archives Records Transfer Report.