House Report 115-696 - LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2019

[House Report 115-696]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

115th Congress } { REPORT
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session } { 115-696

======================================================================

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2019

_______

May 21, 2018.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed

_______

Mr. Yoder, from the Committee on Appropriations,
submitted the following

R E P O R T

together with

ADDITIONAL VIEWS

[To accompany H.R. 5894]

The Committee on Appropriations submits the following
report in explanation of the accompanying bill making
appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes.

INDEX TO BILL AND REPORT

Page Number

Bill Report
Highlights of Bill.........................................
2
Title I--Legislative Branch Appropriations................. 2
3
House of Representatives........................... 2
3
Joint Items: 10
7
Joint Economic Committee................... 10
7
Joint Committee on Taxation................ 11
7
Office of the Attending Physician.......... 11
8
Office of Congressional Accessibility
Services............................... 12
8
Capitol Police..................................... 12
8
Office of Compliance............................... 13
9
Congressional Budget Office........................ 14
10
Architect of the Capitol (except Senate Office
Buildings)..................................... 14
11
Library of Congress................................ 24
16
Government Publishing Office....................... 29
20
Government Accountability Office................... 33
22
Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund............ 35
23
John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training
and Development................................ 35
23
Title II--General Provisions............................... 36
23
Bill-wide Reporting Requirements...........................
23
Additional Views...........................................
47

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BILL

The Committee recommends $3,811,132,960 in discretionary
resources for operations of the Legislative Branch of
government (excluding Senate items). The fiscal year 2019
recommendation is $132,678,541 above the current fiscal year
level and $94,017,832 below the budget request.
Conforming to longstanding practice under which each body
of Congress determines its own housekeeping requirements and
the other concurs without intervention, funds for the Senate
are not included in the bill as reported to the House. The
budget request for the Senate for fiscal year 2019 including
those under the Architect of the Capitol totals $1,068,867,040.
This bill reflects a continued acknowledgment that the
Legislative Branch must set itself as an example for fiscal
restraint while continuing to serve the Nation. This bill will
require strict fiscal discipline on the part of all
Congressional offices and all agency heads in the Legislative
Branch.

Legislative Branch-Wide Matters

Reprogramming Guidelines: It is expected that all agencies
notify the Committees on Appropriations of the House and the
Senate of any significant departures from budget plans
presented to the Committees in any agency's budget
justifications. In particular, agencies funded through this
bill are required to notify the Committees prior to each
reprogramming of funds in excess of the lesser of 10 percent or
$750,000 between programs, projects or activities, or in excess
of $750,000 between object classifications (except for shifts
within the pay categories, object class 11, 12, and 13 or as
further specified in each agency's respective section). This
includes cumulative reprogrammings that together total at least
$750,000 from or to a particular program, activity, or object
classification as well as reprogramming FTEs or funds to create
new organizational entities within the Agency or to restructure
entities which already exist. The Committees desire to be
notified of reprogramming actions which involve less than the
above-mentioned amounts if such actions would have the effect
of changing an agency's funding requirements in future years or
if programs or projects specifically cited in the Committee's
reports are affected.
Staffing Data in Budget Documents: Legislative branch FTE
data is not consistently reported across the Legislative Branch
agencies when submitting their budget justifications. The
Committee directs the legislative branch agencies to include
data on FTE levels that would actually be supported by the
associated request or enacted funding levels. The Committee
continues to direct the Legislative Branch Financial Managers
Council to coordinate on a plan for aligning FTE levels with
the Legislative branch agencies for consistency in reporting.
Zero Base Budgeting: The Committee continues to direct all
agencies of the Legislative Branch to develop budget requests
from a zero base. The Committee believes that this valuable
budgeting process has given agencies the opportunity to take a
fresh look at all areas of their operations and make funding
reductions and alignments within the current budget base. The
Committee believes that there are continued opportunities to
realize meaningful savings by carefully reviewing each agency's
budget requirements from a zero base.
Committee Requests, Furloughs and Performance Based Merit
Increases: The Committee directs that adherence to the language
carried in House Reports 112-148, 112-511 and 113-417
pertaining to Committee Requests and Furloughs to be continued
unless otherwise so directed. Performance Based Merit Increases
are not to exceed the maximum allowable for agencies with a
certified SES performance appraisal system.
Data Centers: The Committee understands that Legislative
Branch Agencies use information technology (IT) infrastructure
to support critical functions to carry out their statutory
missions, including functions essential to carrying out the
constitutional responsibilities of the Legislative Branch.
IT infrastructure may be located in data centers covering
several geographic regions or using several types of cloud
services. Regardless of how such infrastructure is provisioned,
an agency's IT infrastructure must satisfy the following
requirements: must meet `concurrently maintainable'
requirements of data centers certified from the Uptime
Institute or equivalent certifying authority; must maintain
continuous operation against an `all hazards' risk evaluation;
and, must incorporate technical communications capabilities to
ensure that all necessary IT resources required to support the
mission of the Legislative Branch can interoperate effectively
with the House, Senate, and other agencies under `all hazards'
conditions.

TITLE I--LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Salaries and Expenses

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $1,200,000,766
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 1,256,972,035
Committee recommendation.............................. 1,232,143,035
Change from enacted level......................... +32,142,269
Change from request............................... -24,829,000

The Committee recommends $1,232,143,035 for salaries and
expenses of the House of Representatives.

House Leadership Offices

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $22,278,891
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 22,278,891
Committee recommendation.............................. 25,378,875
Change from enacted level......................... +3,099,984
Change from request............................... +3,099,984

The Committee recommends $25,378,875 for salaries and
expenses of staff in House leadership offices.
Increase reflects amounts previously provided to House
Leadership Offices under the heading ``Allowances and Expenses,
Supplies, Materials, Administrative Costs and Federal Tort
Claims'' have been combined with the associated accounts under
the heading ``House Leadership Offices''.
The allocation by office follows:

Office of the Speaker................................. $7,123,634
Office of the Majority Floor Leader................... 2,642,739
Office of the Majority Whip........................... 2,197,163
Republican Conference................................. 2,186,819
Office of the Minority Floor Leader................... 7,751,946
Office of the Minority Whip........................... 1,700,079
Democratic Caucus..................................... 1,776,495

Members' Representational Allowances

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $562,632,498
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 573,630,000
Committee recommendation 573,630,000
Change from enacted level......................... +10,997,502
Change from request............................... 0

The Committee recommends $573,630,000 for the salaries and
expenses of the Members Representational Allowances. This level
of funding will allow the MRAs to operate at authorized levels
as approved by the Committee on House Administration.

Committee Employees

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $150,279,373
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 150,016,144
Committee recommendation.............................. 151,016,144
Change from enacted level......................... +736,771
Change from request............................... +1,000,000

The Committee recommends $151,016,144 in total for
Committee Employees.
This account includes funding for salaries and expenses of
Committees including equipment, telecommunications, printing,
contract services, and supplies. Funding is available until
December 31, 2019.
This amount makes available $4,000,000 for committee room
renovations.
Included in the total is $23,112,971 for the Committee on
Appropriations.

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $0
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 0
Committee recommendation.............................. 230,000
Change from enacted level......................... +230,000
Change from request............................... +230,000

The Committee recommends $230,000 for salaries and expenses
of the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission.

Salaries, Officers and Employees

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $204,356,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 222,833,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 217,845,000
Change from enacted level......................... +13,489,000
Change from request............................... -4,988,000

The Committee recommends $217,845,000 for the salaries and
expenses of House officers and employees of the various
activities funded through this consolidated item.
The following table summarizes the funding allocation
provided to each component of the account:

Office of the Clerk................................... $28,305,000

Witness Disclosure Forms: House rules require non-
governmental witnesses appearing before any committee of the
House to disclose recent grants or contracts from the Federal
or foreign governments. In implementing this requirement,
committees are using PDF forms to gather the information. This
format often results in witnesses' hand writing their
information on the disclosure forms, sometimes not legible. The
Committee intends to work with the Committee on House
Administration to develop and make available to all committees
a disclosure document in webform to ensure the required
information is typed and clearly readable.
Member Bioguide: Currently the only publically available
structure to the Member Bioguide data is HTML. This presents
challenges for individuals and outside groups that wish to
programmatically make use of the information. The Committee is
aware of and encouraged by the Office of Clerk's efforts to
publish the Bioguide data in machine readable format. The
Committee has been informed that the target completion for this
initiative is December 2018.

Office of the Sergeant At Arms........................ $18,773,000
Office of the Chief Administrative Officer............ 147,558,000

House Child Care Center Expansion: The Committee is
encouraged by the construction progress to date at the new
House Child Care Center location. While physically expanding
the Center will reduce the lengthy waitlist and create more
opportunities for families to utilize the facility, it also
provides an opportunity to examine and evaluate the operations
of the Center. The Chief Administrative Officer is encouraged
to work with the House Child Care Center Advisory Board in
evaluating current operations and with the expectation any
recommendations be implemented in conjunction with the full
physical expansion of the Center.
CAO Tracking of Metrics: The Committee directs the CAO
Logistics and Support division (L&S) to identify and create,
accurately maintain, and report on the operating measures that
reflect the demand for L&S services, the costs to meet the
demand (e.g., labor, materials, equipment), the length of time
to fulfill service request, and the satisfaction of those
receiving L&S services.
Food Waste Reduction: The United States Department of
Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency set a joint
goal of reducing food waste by 50 percent by the year 2030. The
Committee believes that the House should help to meet this goal
and, whenever possible, ensure that food waste generated at
House food services does not end up in a landfill. The
Committee urges the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) to
explore composting and donation options for House food
services.
Healthy Food Options: The Committee requests the CAO ensure
the House's food offerings include food and nutrition options
that support healthier choices such as: a variety of fruit and
vegetable options; whole grain-rich options; plant-based
proteins; lean protein entrees; more visible access to freely
available drinking water; and meals, entrees, and sides with
less sodium.
Study on House Salaries: Not later than 12 months after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Chief Administrative Officer
shall contract with an independent external entity to produce
and submit to the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives a report that: reviews the salaries and
benefits of personal office and committee staff in the House of
Representatives against their Executive branch and private
sector counterparts to evaluate 1) whether staff receive
similar pay for similar work, and 2) if there is a disjunction,
the extent and nature of that disjunction, broken out by job
responsibilities; and reviews the salaries of personal office
and committee staff in the House of Representatives to evaluate
in the aggregate whether 1) men and women with similar job
responsibilities, experience, and qualifications receive
similar pay for similar work, and 2) whether people form
different ethnic or racial groups receive similar pay for
similar work. This review should focus on personal and
committee offices.

Office of the Inspector General....................... $5,019,000
Office of General Counsel............................. 1,502,000
Office of the Parliamentarian......................... 2,026,000
Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the House....... 3,327,000
Office of the Legislative Counsel of the House........ 9,937,000
Office of Interparliamentary Affairs.................. 814,000
Other authorized employees............................ 584,000

Allowances and Expenses

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $260,454,004
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 288,214,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 264,043,016
Change from enacted level......................... +3,589,012
Change from request............................... -24,170,984

The Committee recommends a total of $264,043,016 for
allowances and expenses.
The following table summarizes the funding allocation
provided to each major component of the account:

Supplies, materials, administrative costs and Federal $525,016
tort claims..........................................
Official mail (committees, administrative, and 190,000
leadership offices)..................................
Government Contributions.............................. 239,000,000
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery............. 16,186,000
Transition Activities................................. 3,000,000
Wounded Warrior Program............................... 2,750,000

Wounded Warrior Program: The Chief Administrative Officer
(CAO) managed Wounded Warrior program is one of the House's
most supported initiatives. The program currently provides 85
two-year fellowship positions for wounded veterans in
Congressional offices. The Committee believes that with
effective management of the program and continued support in
appropriations, sufficient funding exists to expand the program
by an additional 25 fellowship positions. The Committee is also
aware that the CAO is evaluating the program and may be making
some recommendations as a result. The Committee is interested
in the CAO's observations of the program and any
recommendations to improve it. The CAO is directed to present
any recommendations to the Committee within 90 days of
enactment.

Office of Congressional Ethics........................ $1,670,000
Miscellaneous items................................... 722,000

Administrative Provisions

Section 110 provides for unspent amounts remaining in
Members' Representational Allowances account to be used for
deficit or debt reduction.
Section 111 prohibits the delivery of bills and
resolutions.
Section 112 prohibits the delivery of printed copies of the
Congressional Record.
Section 113 places a limitation on amount available to
lease vehicles.
Section 114 places a limitation on printed copies of the
U.S. Code.
Section 115 prohibits the delivery of reports of
disbursements.
Section 116 prohibits the delivery of the daily calendar.
Section 117 prohibits delivery of congressional pictorial
directory.
Section 118 eliminates allowances for former Speakers.
Section 119 prohibits cost of living adjustment for Members
of Congress.
Section 120 authorizes transfers among House Leadership
Offices.

JOINT ITEMS

JOINT ECONOMIC COMMITTEE

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $4,203,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 4,203,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 4,203,000
Change from enacted level......................... 0
Change from request............................... 0

The Committee recommends $4,203,000 for the salaries and
expenses of the Joint Economic Committee.
The Joint Economic Committee was created by the Employment
Act of 1946. The primary tasks of the Committee are to review
economic conditions and to recommend improvements in economic
policy. The Committee performs research and economic analysis
and monitors and analyzes current economic, financial, and
employment conditions.

JOINT COMMITTEE ON TAXATION

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $11,169,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 11,169,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 11,169,000
Change from enacted level......................... 0
Change from request............................... 0

The Committee recommends $11,169,000 for the salaries and
expenses of the Joint Committee on Taxation (JCT).
The Joint Committee on Taxation operates under the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 and its predecessors dating to the Revenue
Act of 1926. It has responsibility to (1) investigate the
operation and effects of internal revenue taxes and the
administration of such taxes; (2) investigate measures and
methods for the simplification of such taxes; (3) make reports
to the House Committee on Ways and Means and the Senate
Committee on Finance (or to the House and the Senate) on the
results of such investigations and studies and to make
recommendations; and (4) review any proposed refund or credit
of income or estate and gift taxes or certain other taxes set
forth in Code section 6405 in excess of $2,000,000 ($5,000,000
in the case of a C corporation). In addition to these functions
that are specified in the Internal Revenue Code, the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 requires the Joint Committee
to provide revenue estimates for all tax legislation considered
by either the House or the Senate.

OFFICE OF THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $3,838,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 3,798,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 3,798,000
Change from enacted level......................... -40,000
Change from request............................... 0

The Committee recommends $3,798,000 for the Office of the
Attending Physician.

OFFICE OF CONGRESSIONAL ACCESSIBILITY SERVICES

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $1,444,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 1,486,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 1,486,000
Change from enacted level......................... +42,000
Change from request............................... 0

The Committee recommends $1,486,000 for the operation of
the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services.
The Office of Congressional Accessibility Services provides
and coordinates a variety of accessibility services for
individuals with disabilities including Members of Congress,
staff and visitors in the United States Capitol Complex.

CAPITOL POLICE

Salaries

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $351,700,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 374,804,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 374,804,000
Change from enacted level......................... +23,104,000
Change from request............................... +0

The Committee recommends $374,804,000 for the personnel
salaries, benefits, and overtime requirements, to include the
cost of overtime necessary for providing training.
The increase includes necessary half year funds to provide
full year funding for those sworn hired from fiscal year 18
funding to staff the House Garage Security initiative and
limited prescreening; half year funding to fully fund 48
civilian positions hired from fiscal year 18 funding that will
replace positions currently staffed by sworn officers, who will
be redeployed to meet critical mission requirements and provide
immediate personnel utility; and additional half year funds in
fiscal year 19 for the hiring of 72 sworn and 21 civilian
positions for additional sworn prescreeners at office buildings
and the implementation of ESP screening at the CVC, as well as
one position for the USCP Office of Inspector General.
New Posts: The Committee continues to direct the USCP to
notify the Committee on Appropriations of the House when new
posts are created, including the annualized cost of maintaining
the new post, and how the cost will be offset.
Use of Grounds: The Committee understands the need to
maintain safety and order on the Capitol grounds and commends
the Capitol Police for their efforts. Given the family-style
neighborhood that the Capitol shares with the surrounding
community the Committee continues to instruct the Capitol
Police to forebear enforcement of 2 U.S.C. 1963 (``An act to
protect the public property, turf, and grass of the Capitol
Grounds from injury'') and the Traffic Regulations for the
United States Capitol Grounds when encountering snow sledders
on the grounds.
Mandatory Retirement Age: The Committee directs the USCP to
provide a written report to the Committee within 180 days of
enactment on the feasibility and impact of permanently raising
the USCP sworn employee mandatory retirement age from 57 years
of age to 60 years of age. The report should address the young
and vigorous law enforcement standard; the potential impact to
benefits afforded to USCP sworn employees under the Capitol
Police Retirement Act, the Social Security benefit, the Federal
Employees Retirement System benefit, and the Thrift Savings
Plan annuity; the long-term financial impact on the USCP if
enacted; and provide benchmark data against other Federal law
enforcement agencies to ensure Federal law enforcement parity
for the USCP will not be impacted should the mandatory
retirement age be raised to 60 years of age.

General Expenses

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $74,800,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 81,554,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 81,554,000
Change from enacted level......................... +6,754,000
Change from request............................... 0

The Committee recommends $81,554,000 for general expenses
to support the responsibilities for law enforcement, Capitol
complex physical and technological security, dignitary
protection, intelligence analysis, event management, hazardous
material/devices, information technology, and other specialized
responses, as well as logistical and administrative support.

OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE

Salaries and Expenses

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $4,959,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 4,552,757
Committee recommendation.............................. 5,410,000
Change from enacted level......................... +451,000
Change from request............................... +857,243

The Committee recommends $5,410,000 for salaries and
expenses of the Office of Compliance.
The Office of Compliance was established to administer and
enforce the Congressional Accountability Act (Public Law 104-
91). The Act applies various employment and workplace safety
laws to Congress and certain Legislative Branch entities.
Additional Resources: This act makes available additional
resources to the Office of Compliance (OOC) to help address the
increase in requests for in-person training, enhancements to
the OOC's on-line training modules, and to help address the
overall increase in caseload. It is a top priority of the
Committee's that employing authorities are held accountable for
employee rights that are violated, as well as, making sure
employees know and understand their rights and have access to a
dispute resolution process that is fair and easy to navigate.
The Committee also stands by to ensure the OOC has adequate
resources to implement Congressional Accountability Act reform
were it to be passed by Congress.

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE

Salaries and Expenses

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $49,945,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 50,737,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 50,737,000
Change from enacted level......................... +792,000
Change from request............................... 0

The Committee recommends $50,737,000 for salaries and
expenses of the Congressional Budget Office.
This office is responsible for producing independent
analyses of budgetary and economic issues to support the
Congressional budget process. Each year, the agency produces
dozens of reports, including its outlook on the budget and
economy, and hundreds of cost estimates for proposed
legislation.
Responsiveness: The Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
provides nonpartisan, budgetary and economic analysis to
support the work of the Congress and its reports and analysis
can have far reaching policy implications. The Committee
expects CBO, to the greatest extent practicable, to ensure a
high level of responsiveness to committees, leadership, and
individual Members. There is support for the work that CBO has
done in the area of responsiveness thus far, as well as support
for the agency's goals to continue its improved responsiveness
efforts. Those efforts include developing analysts who can move
from one topic to another when demand surges for analysis of a
particular topic, developing deeper expertise in certain topics
so that the agency is better positioned to analyze new
proposals in those areas in a more timely manner, expanding its
use of team approaches in which work on large and complicated
proposals is shared, and assisting rank and file Members of
Congress in the development of legislation. The Committee
recommends CBO consider factors such as the number of co-
sponsors for legislation when prioritizing which legislation
receives a cost estimate beyond what is mandated in statute and
requested by Committees. The Committee directs CBO to provide
periodic updates to the Committee on progress specifically in
the area of increased responsiveness to Member requests.

Administrative Provision

Section 130 provides relocation reimbursement authority to
new employees.

ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL

(EXCLUDING SENATE OFFICE BUILDINGS)

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $610,491,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 687,889,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 642,004,000
Change from enacted level......................... +31,513,000
Change from request............................... -45,885,000

The Committee recommends $642,004,000 for the activities of
the Architect of the Capitol (AOC). Excluded are Senate items
which are traditionally left for consideration by that body.
Within the recommended level the Committee continues its
prioritization of projects that: (1) promote the safety and
health of workers and occupants, (2) decrease the deferred
maintenance backlog, and (3) invest to achieve future energy
savings.
The AOC is responsible for the maintenance, operation,
development, and preservation of the United States Capitol
Complex. This includes mechanical and structural maintenance of
the Capitol, Congressional office buildings, the Library of
Congress buildings, the U.S. Botanic Garden, the Capitol Power
Plant, and other facilities, as well as the upkeep and
improvement of the grounds surrounding the Capitol complex.
Energy and Sustainability Program: The Committee continues
to be supportive of, and encouraged by, the Architect of the
Capitol's (AOC) robust energy savings and sustainability
initiatives across their jurisdictions.
Since fiscal year 2003 the AOC has facilitated energy
reduction across the Capitol campus by more than 30% with the
goal of 50% reduction by fiscal year 2025. A large driver of
those energy savings has been the AOC's entrance into several
Energy Saving Performance Contracts which has made possible
more investments in infrastructure efficiencies and saved the
AOC more than $100 million in cost avoidance. The AOC has also
instituted waste reduction, recycling, and composting programs
that has reduced building occupant waste by 44% and diverted
construction waste by 90%.
The Committee directs the AOC to study what further
measures can be taken to conserve resources and promote a more
sustainable campus. This study should focus on further
decreasing water and electricity use; reducing waste; and
improving or expanding recycling and composting practices in
the Capitol complex. Any feasible, cost-neutral practices
should be implemented. The study should also analyze whether
the Congress could save taxpayer money through more widespread
installation of solar panels to generate electricity.
The following table summarizes the allocation of funds by
appropriation account:

Capital Construction and Operations................... $103,962,000
Capitol Building...................................... 44,379,000
Capitol Grounds....................................... 16,761,000
House Office Buildings................................ 187,098,000
House Historic Buildings Revitalization Trust Fund.... 10,000,000
Capitol Power Plant................................... 118,980,000
Library Buildings and Grounds......................... 70,201,000
Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds and Security........ 52,542,000
Botanic Garden........................................ 14,759,000
Capitol Visitor Center................................ 23,322,000

Capitol Construction and Operations

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $93,478,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 103,962,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 103,962,000
Change from enacted level......................... +10,484,000
Change from request............................... 0

The Committee recommends $103,962,000 for personnel
services, equipment, communications, and other central support
activities of the AOC.

Capitol Building

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $45,300,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 46,154,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 44,379,000
Change from enacted level......................... -921,000
Change from request............................... -1,775,000

The Committee recommends $44,379,000 for the operation,
maintenance, and care of the U.S. Capitol and Capitol Visitor
Center (CVC).

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
Item recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Expenses................................... $26,648,000
Projects:
Security Improvements, House Chamber, USC........ 4,857,000
Senate Reception Room Restoration and 4,750,000
Conservation, USC...............................
Fire Alarm System Upgrade, USC................... 2,525,000
Conservation of Fine and Architectural Art....... 599,000
Minor Construction............................... 5,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Capitol Grounds

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $13,333,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 17,978,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 16,761,000
Change from enacted level......................... +3,428,000
Change from request............................... -1,217,000

The Committee recommends $16,761,000 for the care of the
grounds surrounding the Capitol.

Gardens: The Committee is interested in identifying
additional locations on Capitol grounds that may be suitable
for more gardens. The AOC is directed to share its current and
future initiatives with the Committee.

House Office Buildings

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $207,294,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 190,098,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 197,098,000
Change from enacted level......................... -10,196,000
Change from request............................... +7,000,000

The Committee recommends $197,098,000 for the operation,
maintenance, and care of the Rayburn, Cannon, Longworth, Ford,
O'Neill House Office Buildings, and the House underground
garages. $7,000,000 will be derived from the House Office
Building Fund for operations and maintenance of the O'Neill
House Office Building.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
Item recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Expenses.................................. $59,546,000
Projects:
Garage Interior Rehabilitation, Phase IV, RHOB... 32,721,000
Security Enhancements, Phase 4, HOB.............. 15,171,000
Security Enhancements, Phase 5, HOB.............. 7,000,000
CAO Project Support.............................. 3,660,000
Restoration and Renovation, CHOB................. 62,000,000
House Historic Buildings Revitalization Trust 10,000,000
Fund............................................
Minor Construction............................... 7,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

House Historic Buildings Revitalization Trust Fund: The
bill includes $10,000,000 for the House Historic Buildings
Revitalization Trust Fund. Public Law 111-68 established the
Fund to finance major repairs and renovations to facilities of
the House. Subject to approval by the Committee on
Appropriations of the House, the AOC may use these funds for
major renovation projects to preserve and maintain the
performance of the iconic buildings of the House of
Representatives.
Cannon House Office Building: The Cannon Renewal Project's
Phase I of the renovation covering the building bordering New
Jersey Avenue, SE is currently in progress and scheduled to be
completed in November 2018. Phases 2 through 4 to renovate the
remaining 3 sections of the building will be completed in
subsequent 2-year intervals with final project completion
planned in November 2024. The Committee provides $62,000,000 to
continue the established funding strategy.
Rayburn House Office Building Garage Rehabilitation: The
Committee provides $32,721,000 for the fourth and final phase
of the rehabilitation program for the Rayburn House Office
Building garage. There is severe corrosion of the reinforcing
steel and spalling and delaminating of the concrete slabs and
columns. This project provides structural and architectural
modifications for life safety, accessibility, lighting,
electrical, mechanical, plumbing, fire protection, and security
system upgrades.

Capitol Power Plant

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $115,694,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 127,980,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 127,980,000
Offsetting collections................................ -9,000,000
Change from enacted level......................... +12,286,000
Change from request............................... 0

The Committee recommends $127,980,000 for the operations of
the Capitol Power Plant which is the centralized provider of
utility services for the Capitol campus.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
Item recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Expenses................................... $91,688,000
Projects:
Cooling Tower Renovation and Electrical Upgrades, 21,215,000
RPR, Phase IV...................................
Pipe Expansion Joint Improvements, G Tunnel...... 4,930,000
Tunnel Waterproofing, Y Tunnel................... 4,709,000
Switchgear B & Pump Replacement, RPR, Phase VI... 724,000
Condenser Water Pump and HVAC Replacement, RPR, 714,000
Phase VII.......................................
Minor Construction............................... 4,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Library Buildings and Grounds

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $74,873,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 113,427,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 70,201,000
Change from enacted level......................... -4,672,000
Change from request............................... -43,226,000

The Committee recommends $70,201,000 for the care and
maintenance of the Thomas Jefferson Building; James Madison
Memorial Building; John Adams Building; Packard Campus, Ft.
Meade Collection Storage Facility; National Library Services
Facility and the St. Cecilia Special Services Facilities
Center.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
Item recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Expenses................................... $28,122,000
Projects:
North Exit Stair B, Phase II, TJB................ 18,090,000
Emergency Lighting System Upgrade, TJB........... 7,490,000
Book Conveyor System Removal and In-Fill, JMMB... 4,762,000
Exterior Masonry and Envelope Repairs, TJB....... 2,149,000
Exterior Masonry and Envelope Repairs, JAB....... 1,676,000
Fire Alarm and Audibility Upgrade, JMMB.......... 1,622,000
ESPC Management Program, LBG..................... 1,790,000
National Library Service Relocation Design and 2,000,000
Initial Construction............................
Minor Construction............................... 2,500,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds, and Security

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $34,249,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 59,309,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 52,542,000
Change from enacted level......................... +18,293,000
Change from request............................... -6,767,000

The Committee recommends $52,542,000 for the maintenance,
care and operation of buildings, grounds and security
enhancements of the USCP and AOC security operations.
Alternate Computing Facility: The Committee directs the
Architect of the Capitol (AOC) to develop and present a multi-
year strategic plan for the use of the Alternate Computing
Facility (ACF) and associated cost estimates to meet the plan.
The Committee directs the AOC to work with their stakeholders
and committees of jurisdiction when developing the plan.
Additionally, as part of the analysis for developing the
strategic plan the AOC is directed to work with the Uptime
Institute or equivalent certifying authority to have a third-
party assessment of the data center at the ACF.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Committee
Item recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Operating Expenses................................... $25,937,000
Projects:
Chiller Replacement and Chilled Water System 5,710,000
Expansion, Phase I, ACF.........................
Barrier Lifecycle and Perimeter Security Kiosk 8,300,000
Replacement, Phase III..........................
Perimeter Security Fence Modification, OSP....... 4,595,000
South Door Screening Center Design and Initial 3,000,000
Construction, USC...............................
Minor Construction............................... 5,000,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Botanic Garden

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $13,800,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 14,659,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 14,759,000
Change from enacted level......................... +959,000
Change from request............................... +100,000

The Committee recommends $14,759,000 for the improvement,
operation, care, and maintenance of the USBG Conservatory;
National Garden; Administration Building; Bartholdi Park and
Fountain; heritage and other plant collections, and the USBG
Production Facility at D.C. Village.
Urban Agriculture: The Committee continues to support the
Botanic Garden's expansion of urban agriculture education and
outreach programs. Included is continued funding for these
efforts, such as the feasibility study and pilot project for
which the Botanic Garden received funding in Public Law 115-
141.

Capitol Visitor Center

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $21,470,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 23,322,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 23,322,000
Change from enacted level......................... +1,852,000
Change from request............................... 0

The Committee recommends $23,322,000 for the operations of
the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC). The CVC was established to
provide a secure public environment to welcome and manage a
large number of visitors and to protect the Capitol, its
occupants, and guests in an atmosphere of open access.
There are no capital projects in fiscal year 2019.

Administrative Provisions

Section 140 prohibits payment of bonuses to contractors
behind schedule or over budget.
Section 141 prohibits expenditure of funds for scrims for
projects performed by the Architect of the Capitol.
Section 142 allows interagency transfers of funds to
support the security needs of Congress.
Section 143 amends the small purchase threshold.
Section 144 authorizes details of employees.
Section 145 authorizes employees to accept reimbursement of
expenses for attending meetings and other functions in an
official capacity. The Architect of the Capitol is directed to
update its Ethics Order to incorporate this new authority as
well as including the requirement applicable to executive
branch agencies that the Architect of the Capitol submit semi-
annual reports on all expenses paid in amounts greater than
$250.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Established by Congress in 1800, the Library of Congress is
one of the largest libraries in the world, with a collection of
more than 162,000,000 print, audio, and video items in 470
languages. Among its major programs are acquisitions,
preservation, administration of U.S. copyright laws by the
Copyright Office, research and analysis of policy issues for
the Congress by the Congressional Research Service, and
administration of a national program to provide reading
material to the blind and physically handicapped. The Library
maintains a significant number of collections and provides a
range of services to libraries in the United States and abroad.
Increased funding is for information technology modernization
within the Library, the Copyright Office, and the Congressional
Research service.
Visitor Experience: The Visitor Experience Plan for the
Library of Congress' Thomas Jefferson Building is an initiative
that continues to have support in Congress. The proposed
project will enhance the Library's ability to bring the
nation's collections and history out of the vaults and into
public spaces. With enhancements to exhibition spaces and
development of learning centers, the Library can maximize the
experience for its nearly two million annual visitors. The
proposed funding for this initiative involves a public/private
partnership, which has been a successful strategy for many
similar institutions' efforts to showcase our nation's
treasures. Included is $20,000,000 for enhancements to the
public exhibits and visitor services at the Library.
Congress.gov Calendar: Not later than 90 days after the
date of enactment of this Act, the Library of Congress and the
Government Publishing Office shall update the Congress.gov
website to include a calendar for Senate and House of
Representatives committee hearings and markups. That calendar,
updated continuously as new information is available, shall
include at least the following information about every hearing
and markup taking place in the Senate and House of
Representatives: the committee name; the subcommittee name (if
appropriate); the meeting topic; witnesses (if any);
legislation under consideration (if any); a link to legislation
under consideration (if any); a link to the committee or
subcommittee's website; and a link to where video or audio (if
any) from the proceedings are or will become available. The
calendar shall be organized chronologically, and viewable as an
individual day as well as a weekly view.
Law Library Digitization: The Committee commends the Law
Library for continuing to provide support to the time-sensitive
and complex needs of the Congress, the Supreme Court, Executive
Branch agencies, courts, practicing attorneys, state bars,
state and local governments, American businesses, scholars,
journalists, and those with legal research needs. The Committee
urges the Law Library to engage in a digitization strategy as
part of the Library's overall digitization strategy to increase
online access to major parts of its collections, such as the
U.S. Serial Sets and Supreme Court Records and briefs.
Preservation: Recognizing that the Library's extremely
diverse collections require a well balanced approach of
preservation assessment, treatment, reformatting, environmental
storage and protective housing, the Committee directs that the
mass deacidification program be maintained at a reasonable
level of activity for a balanced preservation program.
Outreach: The Committee encourages the Library of Congress
to increase cooperative partnerships, fellowship opportunities,
and curriculum program associations with community colleges,
Historically Black Colleges and Universities, Hispanic-serving
institutions, Asian American and native American Pacific
Islander-serving institutions, American Indian Tribally
controlled colleges and universities, Alaska native and Native
Hawaiian-serving institutions, predominantly Black
institutions, Native American-serving institutions, Nontribal
institutions, and other minority-serving institutions.
National Film and Sound Recording Preservation Programs:
The Committee recognizes the important work of the National
Film and Sound Recording Preservation Programs, including the
federally chartered National Film and National Recording
Preservation Foundations. Consistent with the authorizing
statute, the Foundations utilize both public and private
matching funds to provide grants to a wide array of educational
and non-profit organizations that help preserve historical and
cultural artifacts that would otherwise disappear or be
destroyed over time. Given that these programs were
reauthorized, the Committee expects that the library will
provide full support to these programs.
Veterans History Project: The Committee expects the
Veterans History Project to be funded at least at the fiscal
year 2018 level. The Committee recognizes the critical
importance of the Veterans History Project as a way to collect,
preserve and make accessible the personal accounts of American
war veterans for the benefit of future generations. As the
Veterans History Project relies on volunteers to collect and
submit veteran's stories, the Committee encourages the Library
of Congress to do further outreach with schools, Girl and Boy
Scout programs, and Veterans Service Organizations and
nonprofit and community stakeholders serving veterans from
historically underrepresented groups to enhance the project.
Civic Education: The Committee recognizes the importance of
civic education and the role the Library of Congress has played
to increase access to civic education resources on U.S. civics
and history. The Committee is encouraged by work the Library of
Congress has already done to increase civic participation. The
Committee believes that the Library of Congress should expand
their civic education resources through the Teaching with
Primary Sources program to also include materials targeted to
post-secondary classrooms. The Committee directs the Library of
Congress to provide a plan on how the Library of Congress's
resources and web presence can be used to expand civic
education and civic participation.

Salaries and Expenses

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $470,667,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 469,169,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 487,818,272
Offsetting collections................................ 6,000,000
Total available....................................... 493,818,272
Change from enacted level......................... +17,151,272
Change from request............................... +18,649,272

The Committee recommends $487,818,272, plus authority to
spend $6,000,000 in receipts, for salaries and expenses.

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $28,446,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 38,646,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 43,589,000
Offsetting collections................................ 45,490,000
Prior Year Unobligated Balances....................... 4,328,000
Total available....................................... 93,407,000
Change from enacted level......................... +15,143,000
Change from request............................... +4,943,000

The Committee recommends $43,589,000 plus authority to
spend $45,490,000 in receipts, and $4,328,000 in prior year
unobligated balances for salaries and expenses of the Copyright
Office.
Copyright Modernization: The Committee continues to support
the collaborative work between the United States Copyright
Office (USCO) and the Library of Congress's Office of the Chief
Information Officer's Office (OCIO). Copyright modernization is
something the Committee fully supports and will continue to
provide requested resources towards. The Committee does have
concerns that thus far the investments have not yielded many
public-facing Copyright modernization enhancements. However,
the Committee's understanding is that the Copyright
modernization work to date has been behind the scenes building
a strong foundation for the long-term modernization strategy.
When appropriate USCO is encouraged to engage with stakeholders
both in the Congressional-community and beyond to highlight the
progress that has already been made and to outline clear
benchmarks for progress moving forward.
Copyright Expertise: The Committee understands the
Copyright Office has offered its expertise on copyright matters
to the Executive Branch, including participation in
international discussions, and expects the Office to continue
that important role. Consistent with historical practice, the
Committee expects the Library to continue to defer to the
copyright expertise of the Register of Copyrights.

Congressional Research Service

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $119,279,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 113,621,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 125,688,000
Change from enacted level......................... +6,409,000
Change from request............................... +12,067,000

The Committee recommends $125,688,000 for salaries and
expenses of the Congressional Research Service (CRS). CRS works
for Members and Committees of Congress to support their
legislative, oversight, and representational functions by
providing nonpartisan and confidential research and policy
analysis.
Technology Assessment Study: The Committee has heard
testimony on, and received dozens of requests advocating for
restoring funding to the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA),
and more generally on how Congress equips itself with the deep
technical advice necessary to understand and tackle the growing
number of science and technology policy challenges that face
our country. The Committee directs the Congressional Research
Service (CRS) to engage with the National Academy of Public
Administration or a similar external entity to produce a report
detailing the current resources available to Members of
Congress within the Legislative Branch regarding science and
technology policy. This study should also assess the potential
need within the Legislative Branch to create a separate entity
charged with the mission of providing nonpartisan advice on
issues of science and technology. Furthermore, the study should
also address if the creation of such entity duplicate services
already available to Members of Congress. CRS should work with
the Committee in developing the parameters of the study and
once complete, the study should be made available to CRS's
committees of jurisdiction.
Congressional Staff Education: The Committee appreciates
the work the Congressional Research Service (CRS) does in
providing classes and seminars to both Members and staff. The
Committee also appreciates the New Member Seminar CRS holds
each Congress to orientate new Members to issues they are most
concerned about. In an effort to train new congressional staff,
the Committee recommends CRS expand its training offerings to
include a new staffers seminar on issues relating to the same
topics new Members are briefed on. CRS is directed to have a
plan on the implementation of the pilot program 180 days after
enactment. In discharging its responsibilities to Congress, CRS
should ensure positions taken by the House or the Senate in
litigation or otherwise are included in its products, classes
and seminars to Members and staff.

Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $51,498,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 51,192,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 52,783,000
Change from enacted level......................... +1,285,000
Change from request............................... +1,591,000

The Committee recommends $52,783,000 for salaries and
expenses of the National Library Service for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped (NLS).
The NLS has administered a free national reading program
for blind and physically handicapped residents of the United
States and U.S. citizens living abroad since 1931. NLS provides
direction for the production of books and magazines in braille
and recorded formats and audio playback machines for
distribution through a nationwide network of 55 regional and 33
sub-regional libraries.
eReader Program: In 2016 Congress authorized the National
Library Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS)
to provide readers for electronic braille (Public Law 114-219).
The Committee included report language in the fiscal year 2017
omnibus and the fiscal year 2018 omnibus supporting the NLS
approach of a pilot program to study braille eReaders, and with
information learned from the pilot, work with the network of
participating NLS libraries to scale the braille eReader
program up so that it can deliver the increased accessibility
that Congress intended. The Committee again directs the NLS to
share the results of that pilot with the Committee in order to
identify what, if any, additional resources will be required to
implement the braille eReaders program nationwide.

Administrative Provision

Section 150 authorizes obligational authority for
reimbursable and revolving funds.

GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE

GPO provides publishing and dissemination services for
Federal government publications to Congress, Federal agencies,
Federal depository libraries, and the American public.
The Committee commends GPO for its continuing use of
digital technology to support the information requirements of
Congress, including the ongoing development of a new XML-based
composition system, which to date has resulted in the release
in beta of a capability for the composition of congressional
bills as well as the capability for the composition of the 2018
edition of the U.S. Code; a project to convert a subset of
enrolled bills; public laws, and the Statutes at Large into
USLM format, which is expected to be completed in 2018; the
planned retirement of GPO's Federal Digital System (FDsys) by
the end of 2018 and its replacement by GPO's new website,
govinfo, which provides permanent public access to more than
2.2 million Government titles including congressional
information; and the agency's completion of work to digitize
all issues of the Congressional Record dating back to its
introduction in 1873. Additionally, the Committee supports
GPO's investments in newer, more cost-effective equipment for
publishing congressional documents. Together, these efforts
have helped GPO constrain the costs of its operations while
expanding Government information access options to the American
people, bringing greater openness and transparency to Congress
and the Government.
Statutes at Large: The Committee continues to support the
work of the Legislative Branch Bulk Data Task Force,
particularly in its efforts to convert Statutes at Large into
United States Legislative Markup XML (USLM) format. Currently
the Government Publishing Office (GPO) is in the process of
converting all Statutes at Large from the 108th Congress
forward into USLM XML format. Also available online in
searchable PDF format are all Statutes at Large from 1951-2002.
The Committee directs the GPO to assess the costs associated
with converting Statutes at Large from 1789-2002 into the USLM
XML format.

Congressional Publishing

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $79,528,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 79,000,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 79,000,000
Change from enacted level......................... -528,000
Change from request............................... 0

The Committee recommends $79,000,000 for Congressional
Publishing. This account funds the costs of publishing
congressional information products in both digital and print
formats. The amount is provided as a lump sum to cover various
categories of printing.

Public Information Programs of the Superintendent of Documents

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $29,000,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 32,000,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 32,000,000
Change from enacted level......................... +3,000,000
Change from request............................... 0

The Committee recommends $32,000,000 for the salaries and
expenses of the Public Information Programs of the
Superintendent of Documents.
The Public Information Programs of the Superintendent of
Documents account funds the mailing of government documents for
Members of Congress and Federal agencies, as statutorily
authorized; the compilation of catalogs and indexes of
government publications; and the cataloging, indexing, and
providing of government publications in digital and tangible
formats to the Federal Depository and International Exchange
libraries and to other individuals and entities, as authorized
by law.

Business Operations Revolving Fund

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $8,540,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 6,000,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 6,000,000
Change from enacted level......................... -2,540,000
Change from request............................... 0

The Committee recommends $6,000,000 for the Business
Operations Revolving Fund.
The operations of the Government Publishing Office are
financed through the Business Operations Revolving Fund. This
business-like fund is used to pay GPO's costs in performing
congressional and agency publishing, information product
procurement, and publications dissemination activities. The
fund is reimbursed from payments from customer agencies, sales
to the public, appropriations to the fund, and transfers from
GPO's two annual appropriations.
The bill continues language authorizing the operation of
the revolving fund and authority to hire or purchase
automobiles, advisory councils, and consultants.

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE

Salaries and Expenses

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $578,916,653
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 616,101,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 578,916,653
Offsetting Collections................................ 23,800,000
Total available....................................... $602,716,653
Change from enacted level......................... 0
Change from request............................... -37,184,347

The Committee recommends $578,916,653 in direct
appropriations for the Government Accountability Office (GAO),
plus $23,800,000 in offsetting collections derived from
reimbursements for conducting financial audits of government
corporations and rental of space in the GAO building.
This level of funding will enable an increase of 80 FTE
over the fiscal year 2018 level and will allow an enhanced
focus on cybersecurity issues and the threats to the nation's
critical infrastructure, continued focus on a range of rapidly
evolving science and technology issues; bolster reviews of the
increased investment in Department of Defense programs; and
assess the challenges associated with growing health care
costs.
GAO was established by the Budget and Accounting Act of
1921. GAO works for Congress by responding to requests for
studies of Federal Government programs and expenditures. GAO
may also initiate its own work.
Duplicative Government Programs: Each year the Committee
receives requests to direct the Government Accountability
Office (GAO) to produce a report to Congress identifying
duplicative programs throughout the Federal government. Since
passage of Public Law 111-139 in 2010 the GAO has been mandated
to produce such a report. In a yearly report the GAO identifies
Federal programs, agencies, offices and initiatives that have
duplicative goals or activities. Since 2011 the GAO has
presented 645 actions in 249 areas for Congress or executive
branch agencies to reduce, eliminate, or better manage
fragmentation, overlap or duplication. To date, Congress and
the executive branch have addressed 329 of those actions
resulting in roughly $135 billion in financial benefits.
Whistleblower Resource Study: The Committee believes
whistleblowers serve Congress as important sources of
information about Federal waste, fraud, abuse and malfeasance.
There are many avenues that are in place today for
whistleblowers to make their concerns known. For example the
Committee on Oversight and Government Reform has a Blow the
Whistle webpage, the Government Accountability Office maintains
a Fraud Hotline and many personal offices of Members of
Congress routinely receive information from whistleblowers. The
Committee also believes it is important to protect
whistleblowers and ensure that those handling the information
provided have the resources they need and are aware of best
practices when working with whistleblowers.
The Committee directs the Government Accountability Office
(GAO) to produce a report that identifies what avenues
currently exist within the Legislative Branch for
whistleblowers to communicate with Congress; identify best
practices for Congressional staff when interacting with
whistleblowers; and how best to get the information to the
proper entity of jurisdiction so it can be investigated. The
report should be provided to the Committee within 270 days of
enactment.

Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $5,600,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 5,800,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 5,600,000
Change from enacted level......................... 0
Change from request............................... -200,000

The Committee recommends $5,600,000 for salaries and
expenses of the Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund.

John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development

Appropriation, fiscal year 2018....................... $430,000
Budget request, fiscal year 2019...................... 430,000
Committee recommendation.............................. 430,000
Change from enacted level......................... 0
Change from request............................... 0

The Committee recommends $430,000 for salaries and
expenses. The Center provides Congressional staff training and
development opportunities while it continues to achieve its
broader mission to promote and strengthen public service
leadership in America.

TITLE II--GENERAL PROVISIONS

Includes language regarding maintenance and care of private
vehicles, fiscal year limitation, rates of compensation and
designation, consulting services, the Legislative Branch
Financial Managers Council, a limitation on transfers, guided
tours of the Capitol, and the spending reduction account.

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES REPORT REQUIREMENTS

The following items are included in accordance with various
requirements of the Rules of the House of Representatives:

Full Committee Votes

Pursuant to the provisions of clause 3(b) of rule XIII of
the House of Representatives, the results of each roll call
vote on an amendment or on the motion to report, together with
the names of those voting for and those against are printed
below:

Statement of General Performance Goals and Objectives

Pursuant to clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the following is a statement of
general performance goals and objectives for which this measure
authorizes funding:
The Committee on Appropriations considers program
performance, including a program's success in developing and
attaining outcome-related goals and objectives, in developing
funding recommendations.

Rescissions

Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the following details the rescissions
in the accompanying bill:
The accompanying bill contains no rescissions.

Transfer of Funds

Pursuant to clause 3(f)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the
House of Representatives, the following lists the transfers of
funds included in the accompanying bill:
Indefinite transfer authority is authorized for: Joint
items disbursed by the Chief Administrative Officer of the
House; Library of Congress; Congressional Publishing; the
Superintendent of Documents; Capital Police programs; the
Architect of Capitol security programs; and House Leadership
Offices.

Disclosure of Earmarks and Congressionally Directed Spending Items

Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House
of Representatives, this bill, as reported, contains no
Congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff
benefits as defined in clause 9 of rule XXI.

Compliance with Rule XIII, Cl. 3(e) (Ramseyer Rule)

In compliance with clause 3(e) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, 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 change is
proposed is shown in roman):

SECTION 906 OF THE 2002 SUPPLEMENTAL APPROPRIATIONS ACT FOR FURTHER
RECOVERY FROM AND RESPONSE TO TERRORIST ATTACKS ON THE UNITED STATES

Sec. 906. (a) There is hereby established in the Treasury of
the United States an account for the Architect of the Capitol
to be known as ``Capitol Police Buildings and Grounds''
(hereinafter in this section referred to as the ``account'').
[(b) Funds in the account shall be used by the Architect of
the Capitol for all necessary expenses for the maintenance,
care, and operation of buildings and grounds of the United
States Capitol Police.]
(b) Funds in the account shall be used by the Architect of
the Capitol for all necessary expenses for--
(1) resilience and security programs of the Architect
of the Capitol; and
(2) the maintenance, care, and operation of
buildings, grounds, and security enhancements for
facilities of the United States Capitol Police and for
other facilities associated with such resilience and
security programs at any location.
(c)(1) For carrying out the purposes of the account, the
Architect of the Capitol may receive transfers of
appropriations from any agency or instrumentality of the United
States Government upon the approval of--
(A) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives, in the case of a transfer from an
office of the House of Representatives;
(B) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, in
the case of a transfer from an office of the Senate; or
(C) the Committees on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives and the Senate, in the case of a
transfer from any other office of the Government.
(2) Amounts transferred under this subsection shall be merged
with the account and made available under this section.
(3) This subsection shall apply with respect to fiscal year
2019 and each succeeding fiscal year.
[(c)] (d) This section shall apply with respect to fiscal
year 2002 and each succeeding fiscal year. Any amounts provided
to the Architect of the Capitol prior to the date of the
enactment of this Act for the maintenance, care, and operation
of buildings of the United States Capitol Police during fiscal
year 2002 shall be transferred to the account.

* * * * * * *

----------

SECTION 1201 OF THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2003

Sec. 1201. Small Purchase Contracting Authority.--(a) In
General.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law--
(1) section 3709 of the Revised Statutes of the
United States (41 U.S.C. 5) shall apply with respect to
purchases and contracts for the Architect of the
Capitol as if the reference to ``$25,000'' in paragraph
(1) of such section were a reference to ``[$100,000]
$250,000''; and
(2) the Architect may procure services, equipment,
and construction for security related projects in the
most efficient manner he determines appropriate.
(b) Effective Date.--This section shall apply to fiscal year
2003 and each fiscal year thereafter.

HOUSE RESOLUTION 1238, NINETY-FIRST CONGRESS

Resolved, [That the Speaker of the House of Representatives
in the Ninety-first Congress (hereafter referred to in this
resolution as the ``Speaker'') is entitled to retain for the
period of two years immediately following the expiration of his
term of office as a Representative in Congress in the Ninety-
first Congress, the complete and exclusive use of one office
selected by him in order to facilitate the administration,
settlement, and conclusion of matters pertaining to or arising
out of his incumbency in office as a Representative in Congress
and as Speaker of the House of Representatives. Such office
shall be located in the United States and shall be furnished
and maintained by the Government in a condition appropriate for
his use.
[SEC. 2. The Speaker is entitled to have the applicable
accounts of the House of Representatives be available for
payment of, for the period of two years immediately following
the expiration of his term of office as a Representative in
Congress in the Ninety-first Congress, an allowance equal to
the Members' Representational Allowance (to be paid in the same
manner as such Allowance) for office and other expenses
incurred in connection with the administration, settlement, and
conclusion of matters pertaining to or arising out of his
incumbency in office as a Representative in Congress and as
Speaker of the House of Representatives.
[SEC. 4. (a) The Speaker may send mail as franked mail
under sections 4161 and 4164 of title 39, United States Code,
and send and receive mail as franked mail under section 4162 of
that title, for an additional period of eighteen months
immediately following the close of the period specified in
those sections following the expiration of his term of office
as a Representative in Congress in the Ninety-first Congress.
The postage on such mail, including registry fees if
registration is required, shall be paid and credited as
provided by section 4167(a) of title 39, United States Code.
When the provisions of sections 3210, 3211, 3213, and 3216(a)
of title 39, United States Code, as enacted by the Postal
Reorganization Act, become effective, the references in this
subsection to sections 4161, 4162, 4164, and 4167(a) of title
39, United States Code, shall be deemed references to sections
3210, 3211, 3213, and 3216(a) of that title, respectively.
[(b) For the period of two years immediately following the
expiration of his term of office as a Representative in
Congress in the Ninety-first Congress, the Speaker shall be
entitled to the benefits afforded by section 733 of title 44,
United States Code.
[SEC. 5. In order to provide staff assistance to the
Speaker in connection with the administration, settlement, and
conclusion of matters pertaining to or arising out of his
incumbency in office as a Representative in Congress and as
Speaker of the House of Representatives, the contingent fund of
the House is hereby made available, for the period of two years
immediately following the expiration of the term of office of
the Speaker as a Representative in Congress in the Ninety-first
Congress, for payment of the salaries of an Administrative
Assistant, who shall be paid at a basic per annum rate of not
to exceed the then current rate for step 11 of level 13 of the
House Employees Schedule, as determined by the Speaker, a
Secretary, who shall be paid at a basic per annum rate of not
to exceed the then current rate for step 8 of level 12 of such
Schedule, as determined by the Speaker, and an additional
Secretary, who shall be paid at a gross per annum rate of not
to exceed the then current rate for step 7 of level 11 of such
Schedule, as determined by the Speaker, designated and
appointed by the Speaker to serve as members of his office
staff in such two-year period. Each person so designated and
appointed shall be held and considered, for the duration of
such appointment, as--
[(1) an ``employee'' for the purposes of subchapter I
of chapter 81 (relating to compensation for work
injuries) of title 5, United States Code; and
[(2) a ``congressional employee'' within the meaning
of section 2107 of title 5, United States Code, for the
purposes of--
[(A) subchapter III (relating to civil
service retirement) of chapter 83 of such
title,
[(B) chapter 87 (relating to Federal
employees group life insurance) of such title,
and
[(C) chapter 89 (relating to Federal
employees group health insurance) of such
title.]
[SEC. 8. The entitlements of a former Speaker of the House
of Representatives under this resolution shall be available--
[(1) in the case of an individual who is a former
Speaker on the effective date of this section, for 5
years, commencing on such effective date; and
[(2) in the case of an individual who becomes a
former Speaker after such effective date, for 5 years,
commencing at the expiration of the term of office of
the individual as a Representative in Congress.]
----------

PUBLIC LAW 93-532

AN ACT RELATING TO FORMER SPEAKERS OF THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of
the United States of America in Congress assembled, That (a)
the provisions of H. Res. 1238, Ninety-first Congress, as
enacted into permanent law by the Supplemental Appropriations
Act, 1971 (84 Stat. 1989), are hereby extended to, and made
applicable with respect to, each former Speaker of the House of
Representatives, as long as he determines there is need
therefor, commencing at the expiration of his term of office as
Representative in Congress.
[(b) Subsection (a) shall not apply with respect to any
former Speaker of the House of Representatives for any period
during which such former Speaker holds an appointive or
elective office or position in or under the Federal Government
or the government of the District of Columbia to which is
attached a rate of pay other than a nominal rate or to any
former Speaker separated from the service by reason of
expulsion from the House.]
----------

SECTION 101 OF THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1993

Administrative Provisions

SEC. 101. (a) Amounts appropriated for any fiscal year for
the House of Representatives under the heading ``ALLOWANCES AND
EXPENSES'' may be transferred among and merged with the various
categories of allowances and expenses under such heading,
effective upon the expiration of the 21-day period (or such
alternative period that may be imposed by the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives) which begins on
the date such Committee has been notified of the transfer.
(b) Amounts appropriated for any fiscal year for the House
of Representatives under the heading ``SALARIES, OFFICERS AND
EMPLOYEES'' may be transferred among and merged with the
various offices and activities under such heading, effective
upon the expiration of the 21-day period (or such alternative
period that may be imposed by the Committee on Appropriations
of the House of Representatives) which begins on the date such
Committee has been notified of the transfer.
(c)(1) Amounts appropriated for any fiscal year for the
House of Representatives under the headings specified in
paragraph (2) may be transferred among and merged with such
headings, effective upon the expiration of the 21-day period
(or such alternative period that may be imposed by the
Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives)
which begins on the date such Committee has been notified of
the transfer.
(2) The headings referred to in paragraph (1) are ``House
Leadership Offices'', ``Members'' Representational
Allowances'', ``Committee Employees'', ``Salaries, Officers and
Employees'', ``Allowances and Expenses'', the heading for any
joint committee under the heading ``Joint Items'' (to the
extent that amounts appropriated for the joint committee are
disbursed by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of
Representatives), and ``Office of the Attending Physician''.
(d) Amounts appropriated for any fiscal year for the House
of Representatives under the heading ``Allowances and
Expenses'' may be transferred to the Architect of the Capitol
and merged with and made available under the heading ``House
Office Buildings'', subject to the approval of the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(e) Amounts appropriated for any fiscal year for the House
of Representatives under any heading other than the heading
``Members'' Representational Allowances'' may be transferred to
the Architect of the Capitol and merged with and made available
under the heading ``House Historic Buildings Revitalization
Trust Fund'', subject to the approval of the Committee on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
(f) Amounts appropriated for any fiscal year for the House
of Representatives under the heading ``House Leadership
Offices'' may be transferred among and merged with the various
offices and activities under such heading, effective upon the
expiration of the 21-day period (or such alternative period
that may be imposed by the Committee on Appropriations of the
House of Representatives) which begins on the date such
Committee has been notified of the transfer.
----------

Changes in the Application of Existing Law

Pursuant to clause 3(f)(1)(A) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, the following statements are
submitted describing the effect of provisions in the
accompanying bill that directly or indirectly change the
application of existing law:
1. The bill provides that certain appropriation items
remain available for more than one year, where programs or
projects are continuing in nature under the provisions of
authorizing legislation but for which that legislation does not
specifically authorize such extended availability.
2. The bill includes a number of provisions which place
limitations on or change or extend existing limitations,
appropriations, or authorizations, and which under some
circumstances might be construed as changing the application of
existing law.
3. The bill continues the practice of providing official
reception and representation allowances for officers and
offices of the Legislative Branch.
4. The bill authorizes disbursal of funds for various
agencies.
5. The bill authorizes transfer authority between accounts
for certain agencies in the bill.
6. The bill includes language allowing the use of funds for
studies and examinations of executive agencies and temporary
personnel services. Funds can also be available for
reimbursement to agencies for services performed.
7. The bill includes language providing funds for the
Family Room, the Superintendent of Garages, Office of Emergency
Management, and preparing the Digest of Rules.
8. The bill includes language providing funds for House
motor vehicles, interparliamentary receptions, and gratuities.
9. The bill requires unspent funds remaining in Members'
Representational Allowances to be used for deficit or debt
reduction.
10. The bill includes language that prohibits funds being
used for the delivery of bills and resolutions to Members
offices.
11. The bill includes language that prohibits funds being
used for the delivery of the Congressional Record to Member
offices.
12. The bill includes language that places a limitation on
the amount that a Member can spend on a leased vehicle per
month.
13. The bill includes language that places a limitation on
printed copies of the U.S. Code for the House of
Representatives.
14. The bill includes language that prohibits funds being
used for the delivery of the Reports of Disbursements to Member
offices.
15. The bill includes language that prohibits funds being
used for the delivery of the daily calendar to Member offices.
16. The bill includes language that prohibits funds being
used for the delivery of the congressional pictorial directory
to Member offices.
17. The bill includes language that repeals the
authorizations for former speakers.
18. This bill provides language relating to cost of living
adjustment for Members of Congress.
19. The bill provides transfer authority among House
Leadership Offices.
20. The bill authorizes allowances for employees of the
Office of the Attending Physician and provides reimbursement to
the Department of the Navy.
21. The bill authorizes expenses of the Capitol Police for
motor vehicles, communications and other equipment, uniforms,
weapons, supplies, materials, training, medical services,
forensic services, stenographic services, personal and
professional services, the employee assistance program, the
awards program, postage, communication services, travel
advances, and relocation expenses.
22. The bill provides that the cost of Capitol Police basic
training at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center be paid
by the Department of Homeland Security.
23.The bill includes language that authorizes relocation
expenses for employees of the Congressional Budget Office.
24. The bill allows the Architect of the Capitol to
purchase or exchange, maintain, and operate two passenger motor
vehicles.
25. The bill includes authorization allowing reimbursements
for chilled water and steam provided to the Government
Publishing Office, the Washington City Post Office, the Supreme
Court, the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building, Union
Station Complex, and the Folger Shakespeare Library to be
credited to the AOC Capitol Power Plant appropriation and made
available for obligation.
26. The bill allows the Architect of the Capitol to expend
funds to maintain, care for, and operate the National Garden.
27. The bill contains language that prohibits the Architect
of the Capitol from expending funds for scrims containing
photographs of building facades during restoration or
construction projects.
28. The bill prohibits paying bonuses for contractors who
are behind schedule or over budget.
29. The bill provides transfer authority for Architect of
the Capitol security programs.
30. The bill provides increase in threshold for small
purchase contracting authority for the Architect of the
Capitol.
31. The bill provides details of employees under joint
agency agreements authorization with the Architect of the
Capitol.
32. The bill provides acceptance of travel expenses from
non-federal sources for employees of the Architect of the
Capitol.
33. The bill provides the authority to expend funds
collected under the authority of 2 U.S.C. 150 and to the
balance to remain available until expended.
34. The bill establishes that the amount available for
obligation by the Library of Congress is reduced by offsetting
collections.
35. The bill provides funds for the digital collections and
educational curricula program, and the American Folklife
Center.
36. The bill allows the Library of Congress to hire or
purchase one passenger motor vehicle.
37. The bill allows funds from offsetting collections to be
used for the Library's Copyright Office.
38. The bill includes language authorizing the expenditure
of receipts, with the exception of salaries and benefits, for
the administration of the Copyright Royalty Judges program.
39. The bill contains language which provides that no funds
in the Congressional Research Service can be used to publish or
prepare material to be issued by the Library of Congress unless
approved by the appropriate committee, with an exception.
40. The bill provides funds to provide newspapers to the
blind and physically handicapped.
41. The bill contains language under the Library of
Congress placing a limitation on obligations for Reimbursable
and Revolving Fund activities.
42. The bill contains language restricting the use of funds
appropriated to the Government Publishing Office for the
permanent edition of the Congressional Record for individual
Representatives and Senators, Resident Commissioners, or
Delegates, and language providing that appropriations
recommended shall be available for the payment of obligations
incurred under appropriations for similar purposes for
preceding fiscal years, limiting the printing of certain
documents to a time certain, and authorizing the transfer of
unobligated balances.
43. The bill includes authorization of appropriations for
Congressional Publishing.
44. The bill includes language authorizing the Public
Information Programs of the Superintendent of Documents to pay
for printing certain publications in prior years for the
depository library program. There is language authorizing the
transfer of unexpended balances.
45. There is language authorizing the operation of the
Government Publishing Office revolving fund, and which
authorizes travel expenses for advisory councils, the purchase
of not more than 12 passenger motor vehicles and that the
revolving fund may be used to provide information in any
format.
46. The bill includes language relating to the Government
Accountability Office, authorizing the direct procurement of
expert and consultant services under 5 U.S.C. 3109 at certain
rates; authorizing the hire of one passenger motor vehicle, as
required by 31 U.S.C. 1343; authorizing the Government
Accountability Office to make advance payments in foreign
countries in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3324; and providing
certain benefits, including rental of living quarters in
foreign countries. Appropriations are authorized for
administrative expenses of any other member department or
agency to finance an appropriate share of the costs of the
National Intergovernmental Audit Forum or a Regional
Intergovernmental Audit Forum.
47. The bill includes language prohibiting the use of funds
in the Act for the maintenance or care of private vehicles
except for emergency assistance and cleaning as may be provided
under regulations relating to parking facilities for the House
issued by the Committee on House Administration and for the
Senate by the Committee on Rules and Administration.
48. The bill provides no part of the funds appropriated in
this Act shall remain available for obligation beyond fiscal
year 2019 unless expressly so provided in this Act.
49. The bill provides that whenever any office or position
not specifically established by the Legislative Pay Act of 1929
is appropriated for herein, or whenever the rate of
compensation or designation of any position appropriated for
herein is different from that specifically established for such
position by such Act, the rate of compensation and the
designation of the position, either appropriated for or
provided herein, shall be the permanent law with respect
thereto: Provided that the provisions herein for the various
items of official expenses of Members, officers, and committees
of the Senate and House, and clerk hire for Senators and
Members shall be the permanent law with respect thereto.
50. The bill requires that certain information regarding
consulting services shall be a matter of public record.
51. The bill authorizes Legislative Branch entities to
share the costs of the Legislative Branch Financial Managers
Council.
52. The, bill limits the transfer of funds in this Act.
53. The bill prohibits funds in this Act being used to
eliminate or restrict staff led guided tours.

Appropriations Not Authorized by Law

Pursuant to clause 3(f)(1)(B) of rule XIII of the Rules of
the House of Representatives, the following lists the
appropriations in the accompanying bill which are not
authorized by law for the period concerned:
The accompanying bill contains appropriations not
authorized by law:

Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission,........................... $230,000

Comparison with the Budget Resolution

Section 308(a)(1)(A) of the Congressional Budget Act
requires the report accompanying a bill providing new budget
authority to contain a statement comparing the levels in the
bill to the suballocations submitted under section 302(b) of
the Act for the most recently agreed to concurrent resolution
on the budget for the applicable fiscal year. The following
table provides this information:

[in millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
302(b) Allocation This Bill
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget Authority Outlays Budget Authority Outlays
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Discretionary....................... 4,880 4,770 3,811\1\ 3,926
Mangatory........................... 145 145 145\1\ 145
Total............................... 5,025 4,915 3,956 4,071
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Includes outlays from both House and Senate prior-year budget authority. Note--Bill amounts exclude
discretionary Senate-related items.

Five-Year Outlay Projections

In compliance with section 208(a)(1)(B) of the
Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-344), as
amended, the following table contains five-year projections
prepared by the Congressional Budget Office of outlays
associated with the budget authority provided in the
accompanying bill:

Budget Authority...................................... $3,811
Outlays:
2019.............................................. \1\3,125
2020.............................................. 432
2021.............................................. 56
2022 and future years............................. 20

\1\Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority.

Assistance to State and Local Governments

Pursuant to section 308(a)(1)(C) of the Congressional
Budget Act of 1974, (Public Law 93-344), as amended, the amount
of financial assistance to State and local governments is as
follows:
The accompanying bill contains no funding for State and
local assistance programs.

Program Duplication

No provision of this bill establishes or reauthorizes a
program of the Federal Government known to be duplicative of
another Federal program, a program that was included in any
report from the Government Accountability Office to Congress
pursuant to section 21 of Public Law 111-139, or a program
related to a program identified in the most recent Catalog of
Federal Domestic Assistance.

Directed Rule Making

The bill does not direct any rule-making to the Executive
Branch.

ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF NITA LOWEY AND TIM RYAN

The fiscal year 2019 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill
provides $3.81 billion, excluding Senate items. Under the
leadership of Subcommittee Chairman Yoder and Appropriations
Committee Chairman Frelinghuysen, the vast majority of
Legislative Branch agencies receive their full budget requests
in this bill. We are able to achieve this because of the
bipartisan budget cap agreement reached earlier this year.
After nearly a decade of austerity, we are finally beginning to
reverse the harm caused by sequestration.
Among the critical needs addressed in this bill are the
security of Members of Congress, their staff, visitors and
constituents both in Washington and in district offices; the
House of Representatives' response to the pervasive sexual
harassment that has finally been acknowledged in workplaces and
industries nationwide; the backlog of deferred maintenance on
the Capitol campus, which only becomes more expensive to
address the longer we wait; and, the oversight capacity of the
Federal government's watchdog agency, the Government
Accountability Office.
Although this bill generally meets the needs of Legislative
Branch agencies and was written in a largely cooperative and
bipartisan manner, there are several areas that evince a
prioritization of buildings over people. For example, while the
Library of Congress receives an appropriation above its budget
request, the unrestricted amount appropriated for the salaries
and expenses of the Library's employees and operations is $6.2
million below the request. This will necessitate the Library
slowing or pausing hiring throughout the year in order to stay
within their budget as stated by the Librarian of Congress
during her testimony in April 2018.
We also wish the bill invested more in Congress as an
institution. When we fail to keep pace with the private sector,
the Executive Branch, and the Senate, we lose or fail to
attract talented professionals who are essential to the
legislative process, and we strain the House's ability to serve
the American people. We hope the majority will work with us on
these concerns.
Beyond the Legislative Branch bill, we remain gravely
disappointed in the dysfunctional state of the overall budget
process under Republican control of Congress.
The Bipartisan Budget Agreement enacted early this year
provided relief from unworkable discretionary spending caps.
The agreement was supposed to provide the country with
stability following a year of shutdowns, last-minute veto
threats, and general uncertainty in government. That stability
lasted long enough for Congress to pass a bipartisan Omnibus
appropriations bill for fiscal year 2018 and then Republican
chaos reigned again. The President threatened to veto the bill,
unhappy with Congress' large investments in programs to help
low and middle income Americans and rejection of his campaign-
promised border wall.
Even after the President backed off his threat and signed
the bill, the administration and even Republican leadership in
Congress who voted for the Bipartisan Budget Act and the
Omnibus bill have continued to attempt to undo those bipartisan
agreements. Now, the majority is seeking to pass a rescissions
bill to undo funding and mollify an angry President. We have
been told by OMB Director Mick Mulvaney that this is the first
of many rescission packages meant to bring spending in line
with the President's priorities, ignoring Congressional action
that dismissed the President's fiscal year 2017 and fiscal year
2018 draconian budget requests.
In addition to the unacceptable rescissions proposals, the
majority's lack of transparency with regards to how it will
allocate the fiscal year 2019 discretionary budget also
endangers future bipartisan compromise. The majority has
abandoned longstanding committee practice to provide the
Members and the public with a budget blueprint for domestic
spending, known as 302(b) allocations. Members are being asked
to vote on bills without having the full picture on what impact
each bill will have on other bills. We are very concerned about
what that means for programs in other bills that have yet to be
considered and Democrats can only be left to assume that the
majority is siphoning money from bills at the end of the
process like the State and Foreign Operations bill and the
Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education appropriations
bill.
In summary, while this bill is a good product and deserves
our support, the overall budget process under which we are
proceeding is dysfunctional. The American people deserve
better, and we hope the majority will return to regular order
so the remaining appropriations bills can be written to attract
the level of bipartisan support the fiscal year 2019
Legislative Branch bill had in committee.
Tim Ryan.
Nita M. Lowey.

ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF NITA LOWEY

I am pleased that the majority agreed to eliminate the
Office of the Former Speaker, as requested by Leader Pelosi,
herself a former speaker, in her April 26 letter to myself and
Ranking Member Tim Ryan. As I noted both at the Subcommittee
and full Appropriations Committee markups of the Legislative
Branch bill, taxpayers should not be on the hook to fund an
office for former speakers; the money is better invested
elsewhere.
Leader Pelosi's letter on this subject is included below.
Nita M. Lowey.

[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]