Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2015 - Title I: Legislative Branch - Makes appropriations to the Senate for FY2015 for: (1) expense allowances; (2) representation allowances for the Majority and Minority Leaders; (3) salaries of specified officers, employees, and committees (including the Committee on Appropriations); (4) agency contributions for employee benefits; (5) inquiries and investigations; (6) the U.S. Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control; (7) the Offices of the Secretary and of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate; (8) miscellaneous items; (9) the Senators' Official Personnel and Office Expense Account; and (10) official mail costs.
(Sec. 1) Amends the Revised Statutes to repeal the requirement that stationery for the Senate be purchased according to a bidding process.
(Sec. 2) Amends the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971 to require that all designations, statements, and reports required to be filed by a candidate for the Senate, by the candidate's principal campaign committee, and by the Republican and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committees be filed directly with the Federal Election Commission (FEC). (Currently, they must be filed with the Secretary of the Senate, who receives them as custodian for the FEC.)
Makes appropriations to the House of Representatives for FY2015 for: (1) salaries and/or expenses of the House leadership offices, committees (including the Committee on Appropriations), and officers and employees; and (2) Members' representational allowances.
(Sec. 101) Requires deposit in the Treasury of any amounts of a Member's representational allowance remaining after all payments are made, to be used for federal deficit reduction, or, if there is no deficit, federal debt reduction.
(Sec. 102) Prohibits the use of funds made available in this Act to deliver a printed copy of a bill, joint resolution, or resolution to the office of a Member of the House of Representatives unless the Member requests a copy.
(Sec. 103) Prohibits the use of funds made available in this Act to deliver a printed copy of any version of the Congressional Record to the office of a Member.
(Sec. 104) Prohibits the use of funds made available in this Act by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House to make any payments from any Members' Representational Allowance for the leasing of a vehicle (except mobile district offices) in an aggregate amount that exceeds $1,000 for the vehicle in any month.
(Sec. 105) Prohibits the use of funds made available in this Act to provide an aggregate number of more than 50 printed copies of any edition of the U.S. Code to all House offices.
Makes appropriations for salaries and/or expenses of: (1) the Joint Economic Committee; (2) the Joint Committee on Taxation; (3) the Office of the Attending Physician; (4) the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services; (5) the Capitol Police; (6) the Office of Compliance; (7) the Congressional Budget Office (CBO); and (8) the Architect of the Capitol (AOC), including for the care and operation of Capitol buildings and grounds, Senate office buildings, House office buildings, the Capitol power plant, the Library of Congress buildings and grounds, the Capitol Police buildings, grounds, and security, the Botanic Garden, and the Capitol Visitor Center.
(Sec. 1001) Amends the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to revise requirements for the Office of Compliance program of education for Members of Congress and other employing authorities of the legislative branch respecting the laws applying to them as well as a program to inform individuals of their rights under such laws.
Modifies the requirement that the Office distribute its telephone number, address, and the procedures for consideration of alleged violations of rights and protections under specified laws to the residences of covered employees. Requires instead that the information and procedures be distributed to the covered employees by the end of each fiscal year.
(Sec. 1101) Authorizes the AOC, subject to the direction of the Joint Committee of Congress on the Library, to enter into: (1) cooperative agreements with entities to support the Botanic Garden; and (2) a no-cost agreement with a qualified entity to conduct, or provide support for, an educational exhibit, program, class, or outreach that benefits the Botanic Garden's educational mission.
Appropriates funds for: (1) the Library of Congress for salaries and expenses, the Copyright Office, Congressional Research Service (CRS), and Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped; (2) the Government Publishing Office (GPO) for congressional publishing; (3) GPO for public information programs of the Office of Superintendent of Documents; (4) the Government Publishing Office Business Operations Revolving Fund; (5) the Government Accountability Office (GAO) for salaries and expenses; (6) a payment to the Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund; and (7) a payment to the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Development Trust Fund.
(Sec. 1201) Establishes an upper limit of $203.057 million for the FY2015 obligational authority of the Library of Congress with regard to certain reimbursable and revolving fund activities.
(Sec. 1202) Authorizes the transfer of FY2015 Library of Congress appropriations between any subheading under the heading "Library of Congress," up to 10% per category, upon the approval of congressional appropriations committees.
(Sec. 1301) Redesignates the Government Printing Office as the Government Publishing Office.
Renames: (1) the Public Printer as the Director of the Government Publishing Office, and (2) the Deputy Public Printer as the Deputy Director.
Revises requirements with respect to the qualifications and duties of the Director and the Deputy Director.
(Sec. 1401) Requires the Comptroller General (GAO) to establish the Center for Audit Excellence within GAO to:
Authorizes GAO to:
Prohibits GAO from accepting or using such a gift if its acceptance or use would compromise or appear to compromise GAO's integrity.
Expresses the sense of Congress that the Center should be staffed primarily by GAO personnel not otherwise engaged in carrying out other GAO duties, so as to ensure that the Center's operation will not have a negative impact on GAO's ability to maintain a consistently high level of service to Congress.
Establishes in the Treasury (as a separate GAO account) the Center for Audit Excellence Account consisting of fees deposited by GAO and such other amounts as may be appropriated under law.
Makes amounts in the Account available to GAO in amounts specified in appropriations Acts and without fiscal year limitation to carry out this Act.
Authorizes appropriations.
Prohibits GAO from operating the Center until:
Title II: General Provisions - Specifies authorized and prohibited uses of funds appropriated by this Act identical or similar to corresponding provisions of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2014.
(Sec. 206) Authorizes the AOC to maintain and improve the landscape features, excluding streets, in specified grassy areas of Washington, DC, SW.
(Sec. 208) Prohibits the use of funds made available to the AOC in this Act to eliminate or restrict guided tours of the U.S. Capitol led by congressional employees and interns.
Allows temporary suspension or restriction of such tours for security or related reasons to the same extent as guided tours of the U.S. Capitol led by the AOC.
(Sec. 209) Prohibits a Member of Congress from receiving a cost of living adjustment to the Member's salary under the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 during FY2015.
(Sec. 210) Bars the use of funds made available in this Act to make bonus awards to contractors for work on projects for which the contractor is behind schedule or over budget, unless the head of the agency determines that any such deviations are due to unforeseeable events or are not significant within the context of the project.
(Sec. 211) Bars the use of funds made available in this Act to pay for the painting of portraits of a federal officer or employee, including the President, the Vice President, a Member of Congress (including a Delegate or a Resident Commissioner to Congress), the head of an executive branch agency, or the head of an office of the legislative branch.
[Congressional Bills 113th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.R. 4487 Reported in House (RH)]
Union Calendar No. 307
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4487
[Report No. 113-417]
Making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 2015, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
April 17, 2014
Mr. Cole, from the Committee on Appropriations, reported the following
bill; which was committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
Making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 2015, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled, That the following sums
are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise
appropriated, for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year ending
September 30, 2015, and for other purposes, namely:
TITLE I--LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
Salaries and Expenses
For salaries and expenses of the House of Representatives,
$1,180,736,000, as follows:
House Leadership Offices
For salaries and expenses, as authorized by law, $22,278,891,
including: Office of the Speaker, $6,645,417, including $25,000 for
official expenses of the Speaker; Office of the Majority Floor Leader,
$2,180,048, including $10,000 for official expenses of the Majority
Leader; Office of the Minority Floor Leader, $7,114,471, including
$10,000 for official expenses of the Minority Leader; Office of the
Majority Whip, including the Chief Deputy Majority Whip, $1,886,632,
including $5,000 for official expenses of the Majority Whip; Office of
the Minority Whip, including the Chief Deputy Minority Whip,
$1,459,639, including $5,000 for official expenses of the Minority
Whip; Republican Conference, $1,505,426; Democratic Caucus, $1,487,258:
Provided, That such amount for salaries and expenses shall remain
available from January 3, 2015 until January 2, 2016.
Members' Representational Allowances
Including Members' Clerk Hire, Official Expenses of Members, and
Official Mail
For Members' representational allowances, including Members' clerk
hire, official expenses, and official mail, $554,317,732.
Committee Employees
Standing Committees, Special and Select
For salaries and expenses of standing committees, special and
select, authorized by House resolutions, $123,903,173: Provided, That
such amount shall remain available for such salaries and expenses until
December 31, 2016, except that $2,300,000 of such amount shall remain
available until expended for committee room upgrading.
Committee on Appropriations
For salaries and expenses of the Committee on Appropriations,
$23,271,004, including studies and examinations of executive agencies
and temporary personal services for such committee, to be expended in
accordance with section 202(b) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of
1946 and to be available for reimbursement to agencies for services
performed: Provided, That such amount shall remain available for such
salaries and expenses until December 31, 2016.
Salaries, Officers and Employees
For compensation and expenses of officers and employees, as
authorized by law, $171,344,864, including: for salaries and expenses
of the Office of the Clerk, including the positions of the Chaplain and
the Historian, and including not more than $25,000 for official
representative and reception expenses, of which not more than $20,000
is for the Family Room and not more than $2,000 is for the Office of
the Chaplain, $24,009,473; for salaries and expenses of the Office of
the Sergeant at Arms, including the position of Superintendent of
Garages and the Office of Emergency Management, and including not more
than $3,000 for official representation and reception expenses,
$11,926,729 of which $4,344,000 shall remain available until expended;
for salaries and expenses of the Office of the Chief Administrative
Officer including not more than $3,000 for official representation and
reception expenses, $113,100,000, of which $4,000,000 shall remain
available until expended; for salaries and expenses of the Office of
the Inspector General, $4,741,809; for salaries and expenses of the
Office of General Counsel, $1,340,987; for salaries and expenses of the
Office of the Parliamentarian, including the Parliamentarian, $2,000
for preparing the Digest of Rules, and not more than $1,000 for
official representation and reception expenses, $1,952,249; for
salaries and expenses of the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the
House, $4,087,587, of which $1,000,000 shall remain available until
expended for the completion of the House Modernization Initiative; for
salaries and expenses of the Office of the Legislative Counsel of the
House, $8,892,975, of which $540,000 shall remain available until
expended for the completion of the House Modernization Initiative; for
salaries and expenses of the Office of Interparliamentary Affairs,
$814,069; for other authorized employees, $478,986.
Allowances and Expenses
For allowances and expenses as authorized by House resolution or
law, $285,620,336, including: supplies, materials, administrative costs
and Federal tort claims, $4,152,789; official mail for committees,
leadership offices, and administrative offices of the House, $190,486;
Government contributions for health, retirement, Social Security, and
other applicable employee benefits, $256,635,776, to remain available
until March 31, 2016; Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery,
$16,217,008 of which $5,000,000 shall remain available until expended;
transition activities for new members and staff, $3,737,000, to remain
available until expended; Wounded Warrior Program $2,500,000, to remain
available until expended; Office of Congressional Ethics, $1,467,030;
and miscellaneous items including purchase, exchange, maintenance,
repair and operation of House motor vehicles, interparliamentary
receptions, and gratuities to heirs of deceased employees of the House,
$720,247.
Administrative Provisions
Sec. 101. (a) Requiring Amounts Remaining in Members'
Representational Allowances To Be Used for Deficit Reduction or To
Reduce the Federal Debt.--Notwithstanding any other provision of law,
any amounts appropriated under this Act for ``HOUSE OF
REPRESENTATIVES--Salaries and Expenses--Members' Representational
Allowances'' shall be available only for fiscal year 2015. Any amount
remaining after all payments are made under such allowances for fiscal
year 2015 shall be deposited in the Treasury and used for deficit
reduction (or, if there is no Federal budget deficit after all such
payments have been made, for reducing the Federal debt, in such manner
as the Secretary of the Treasury considers appropriate).
(b) Regulations.--The Committee on House Administration of the
House of Representatives shall have authority to prescribe regulations
to carry out this section.
(c) Definition.--As used in this section, the term ``Member of the
House of Representatives'' means a Representative in, or a Delegate or
Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.
delivery of bills and resolutions
Sec. 102. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used
to deliver a printed copy of a bill, joint resolution, or resolution to
the office of a Member of the House of Representatives (including a
Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress) unless the Member
requests a copy.
delivery of congressional record
Sec. 103. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used
to deliver a printed copy of any version of the Congressional Record to
the office of a Member of the House of Representatives (including a
Delegate or Resident Commissioner to the Congress).
limitation on amount available to lease vehicles
Sec. 104. None of the funds made available in this Act may be used
by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives to
make any payments from any Members' Representational Allowance for the
leasing of a vehicle, excluding mobile district offices, in an
aggregate amount that exceeds $1,000 for the vehicle in any month.
limitation on printed copies of u.s. code to house
Sec. 105. None of the funds made available by this Act may be used
to provide an aggregate number of more than 50 printed copies of any
edition of the United States Code to all offices of the House of
Representatives.
JOINT ITEMS
For Joint Committees, as follows:
Joint Economic Committee
For salaries and expenses of the Joint Economic Committee,
$4,203,000, to be disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate.
Joint Committee on Taxation
For salaries and expenses of the Joint Committee on Taxation,
$10,004,000, to be disbursed by the Chief Administrative Officer of the
House of Representatives.
For other joint items, as follows:
Office of the Attending Physician
For medical supplies, equipment, and contingent expenses of the
emergency rooms, and for the Attending Physician and his assistants,
including:
(1) an allowance of $2,175 per month to the Attending
Physician;
(2) an allowance of $1,300 per month to the Senior Medical
Officer;
(3) an allowance of $725 per month each to three medical
officers while on duty in the Office of the Attending
Physician;
(4) an allowance of $725 per month to 2 assistants and $580
per month each not to exceed 11 assistants on the basis
heretofore provided for such assistants; and
(5) $2,486,000 for reimbursement to the Department of the
Navy for expenses incurred for staff and equipment assigned to
the Office of the Attending Physician, which shall be advanced
and credited to the applicable appropriation or appropriations
from which such salaries, allowances, and other expenses are
payable and shall be available for all the purposes thereof,
$3,371,000, to be disbursed by the Chief Administrative Officer
of the House of Representatives.
Office of Congressional Accessibility Services
Salaries and Expenses
For salaries and expenses of the Office of Congressional
Accessibility Services, $1,387,000, to be disbursed by the Secretary of
the Senate.
CAPITOL POLICE
salaries
For salaries of employees of the Capitol Police, including
overtime, hazardous duty pay, and Government contributions for health,
retirement, social security, professional liability insurance, and
other applicable employee benefits, $286,500,000 of which overtime
shall not exceed $23,425,000 unless the Committee on Appropriations of
the House and Senate are notified, to be disbursed by the Chief of the
Capitol Police or his designee.
general expenses
For necessary expenses of the Capitol Police, including motor
vehicles, communications and other equipment, security equipment and
installation, 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, relocation
of instructor and liaison personnel for the Federal Law Enforcement
Training Center, and not more than $5,000 to be expended on the
certification of the Chief of the Capitol Police in connection with
official representation and reception expenses, $61,459,000, to be
disbursed by the Chief of the Capitol Police or his designee: Provided,
That, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the cost of basic
training for the Capitol Police at the Federal Law Enforcement Training
Center for fiscal year 2015 shall be paid by the Secretary of Homeland
Security from funds available to the Department of Homeland Security.
OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE
Salaries and Expenses
For salaries and expenses of the Office of Compliance, as
authorized by section 305 of the Congressional Accountability Act of
1995 (2 U.S.C. 1385), $3,959,000, of which $450,000 shall remain
available until September 30, 2016: Provided, That not more than $500
may be expended on the certification of the Executive Director of the
Office of Compliance in connection with official representation and
reception expenses.
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
Salaries and Expenses
For salaries and expenses necessary for operation of the
Congressional Budget Office, including not more than $6,000 to be
expended on the certification of the Director of the Congressional
Budget Office in connection with official representation and reception
expenses, $45,700,000.
ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL
General Administration
For salaries for the Architect of the Capitol, and other personal
services, at rates of pay provided by law; for surveys and studies in
connection with activities under the care of the Architect of the
Capitol; for all necessary expenses for the general and administrative
support of the operations under the Architect of the Capitol including
the Botanic Garden; electrical substations of the Capitol, Senate and
House office buildings, and other facilities under the jurisdiction of
the Architect of the Capitol; including furnishings and office
equipment; including not more than $5,000 for official reception and
representation expenses, to be expended as the Architect of the Capitol
may approve; for purchase or exchange, maintenance, and operation of a
passenger motor vehicle, $91,555,000.
Capitol Building
For all necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and operation
of the Capitol, $53,126,000, of which $28,817,000 shall remain
available until September 30, 2019.
Capitol Grounds
For all necessary expenses for care and improvement of grounds
surrounding the Capitol, the Senate and House office buildings, and the
Capitol Power Plant, $11,993,000, of which $2,000,000 shall remain
available until September 30, 2019.
House Office Buildings
For all necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and operation
of the House office buildings, $71,622,000, of which $7,000,000 shall
remain available until September 30, 2019.
In addition, for a payment to the House Historic Buildings
Revitalization Trust Fund, $70,000,000, to remain available until
expended.
Capitol Power Plant
For all necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and operation
of the Capitol Power Plant; lighting, heating, power (including the
purchase of electrical energy) and water and sewer services for the
Capitol, Senate and House office buildings, Library of Congress
buildings, and the grounds about the same, Botanic Garden, Senate
garage, and air conditioning refrigeration not supplied from plants in
any of such buildings; heating the Government Printing Office and
Washington City Post Office, and heating and chilled water for air
conditioning for the Supreme Court Building, the Union Station complex,
the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building and the Folger
Shakespeare Library, expenses for which shall be advanced or reimbursed
upon request of the Architect of the Capitol and amounts so received
shall be deposited into the Treasury to the credit of this
appropriation, $93,152,000, of which $8,686,000 shall remain available
until September 30, 2019: Provided, That not more than $9,000,000 of
the funds credited or to be reimbursed to this appropriation as herein
provided shall be available for obligation during fiscal year 2015.
Library Buildings and Grounds
For all necessary expenses for the mechanical and structural
maintenance, care and operation of the Library buildings and grounds,
$41,733,000, of which $16,542,000 shall remain available until
September 30, 2019.
Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds, and Security
For all necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and operation
of buildings, grounds and security enhancements of the United States
Capitol Police, wherever located, the Alternate Computer Facility, and
AOC security operations, $19,486,000, of which $1,000,000 shall remain
available until September 30, 2019.
Botanic Garden
For all necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and operation
of the Botanic Garden and the nurseries, buildings, grounds, and
collections; and purchase and exchange, maintenance, repair, and
operation of a passenger motor vehicle; all under the direction of the
Joint Committee on the Library, $15,022,946, of which $5,122,946 shall
remain available until September 30, 2019: Provided, That of the amount
made available under this heading, the Architect of the Capitol may
obligate and expend such sums as may be necessary for the maintenance,
care and operation of the National Garden established under section
307E of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1989 (2 U.S.C.
2146), upon vouchers approved by the Architect of the Capitol or a duly
authorized designee.
Capitol Visitor Center
For all necessary expenses for the operation of the Capitol Visitor
Center, $20,875,000.
Administrative Provision
scrims
Sec. 1001. None of the funds made available by this Act may be
used for scrims containing photographs of building facades during
restoration or construction projects performed by the Architect of the
Capitol.
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS
Salaries and Expenses
For necessary expenses of the Library of Congress not otherwise
provided for, including development and maintenance of the Library's
catalogs; custody and custodial care of the Library buildings; special
clothing; cleaning, laundering and repair of uniforms; preservation of
motion pictures in the custody of the Library; operation and
maintenance of the American Folklife Center in the Library; activities
under the Civil Rights History Project Act of 2009; preparation and
distribution of catalog records and other publications of the Library;
hire or purchase of one passenger motor vehicle; and expenses of the
Library of Congress Trust Fund Board not properly chargeable to the
income of any trust fund held by the Board, $424,057,000, of which not
more than $6,000,000 shall be derived from collections credited to this
appropriation during fiscal year 2015, and shall remain available until
expended, under the Act of June 28, 1902 (chapter 1301; 32 Stat. 480; 2
U.S.C. 150) and not more than $350,000 shall be derived from
collections during fiscal year 2015 and shall remain available until
expended for the development and maintenance of an international legal
information database and activities related thereto: Provided, That the
Library of Congress may not obligate or expend any funds derived from
collections under the Act of June 28, 1902, in excess of the amount
authorized for obligation or expenditure in appropriations Acts:
Provided further, That the total amount available for obligation shall
be reduced by the amount by which collections are less than $6,350,000:
Provided further, That of the total amount appropriated, not more than
$12,000 may be expended, on the certification of the Librarian of
Congress, in connection with official representation and reception
expenses for the Overseas Field Offices: Provided further, That of the
total amount appropriated, $8,231,000 shall remain available until
expended for the digital collections and educational curricula program.
Copyright Office
salaries and expenses
For all necessary expenses of the Copyright Office, $54,303,000, of
which not more than $27,971,000, to remain available until expended,
shall be derived from collections credited to this appropriation during
fiscal year 2015 under section 708(d) of title 17, United States Code:
Provided, That the Copyright Office may not obligate or expend any
funds derived from collections under such section, in excess of the
amount authorized for obligation or expenditure in appropriations Acts:
Provided further, That not more than $5,611,000 shall be derived from
collections during fiscal year 2015 under sections 111(d)(2),
119(b)(2), 803(e), 1005, and 1316 of such title: Provided further, That
the total amount available for obligation shall be reduced by the
amount by which collections are less than $33,582,000: Provided
further, That not more than $100,000 of the amount appropriated is
available for the maintenance of an ``International Copyright
Institute'' in the Copyright Office of the Library of Congress for the
purpose of training nationals of developing countries in intellectual
property laws and policies: Provided further, That not more than $6,500
may be expended, on the certification of the Librarian of Congress, in
connection with official representation and reception expenses for
activities of the International Copyright Institute and for copyright
delegations, visitors, and seminars: Provided further, That
notwithstanding any provision of chapter 8 of title 17, United States
Code, any amounts made available under this heading which are
attributable to royalty fees and payments received by the Copyright
Office pursuant to sections 111, 119, and chapter 10 of such title may
be used for the costs incurred in the administration of the Copyright
Royalty Judges program, with the exception of the costs of salaries and
benefits for the Copyright Royalty Judges and staff under section
802(e).
Congressional Research Service
salaries and expenses
For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of section 203
of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 166) and to
revise and extend the Annotated Constitution of the United States of
America, $106,095,000: Provided, That no part of such amount may be
used to pay any salary or expense in connection with any publication,
or preparation of material therefor (except the Digest of Public
General Bills), to be issued by the Library of Congress unless such
publication has obtained prior approval of either the Committee on
House Administration of the House of Representatives or the Committee
on Rules and Administration of the Senate.
Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped
salaries and expenses
For salaries and expenses to carry out the Act of March 3, 1931
(chapter 400; 46 Stat. 1487; 2 U.S.C. 135a), $50,429,000: Provided,
That of the total amount appropriated, $650,000 shall be available to
contract to provide newspapers to blind and physically handicapped
residents at no cost to the individual.
Administrative Provision
reimbursable and revolving fund activities
Sec. 1101. (a) In General.--For fiscal year 2015, the obligational
authority of the Library of Congress for the activities described in
subsection (b) may not exceed $203,058,000.
(b) Activities.--The activities referred to in subsection (a) are
reimbursable and revolving fund activities that are funded from sources
other than appropriations to the Library in appropriations Acts for the
legislative branch.
GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE
Congressional Printing and Binding
(including transfer of funds)
For authorized printing and binding for the Congress and the
distribution of Congressional information in any format; expenses
necessary for preparing the semimonthly and session index to the
Congressional Record, as authorized by law (section 902 of title 44,
United States Code); printing and binding of Government publications
authorized by law to be distributed to Members of Congress; and
printing, binding, and distribution of Government publications
authorized by law to be distributed without charge to the recipient,
$79,736,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall not be available
for paper copies of the permanent edition of the Congressional Record
for individual Representatives, Resident Commissioners or Delegates
authorized under section 906 of title 44, United States Code: Provided
further, That this appropriation shall be available for the payment of
obligations incurred under the appropriations for similar purposes for
preceding fiscal years: Provided further, That notwithstanding the 2-
year limitation under section 718 of title 44, United States Code, none
of the funds appropriated or made available under this Act or any other
Act for printing and binding and related services provided to Congress
under chapter 7 of title 44, United States Code, may be expended to
print a document, report, or publication after the 27-month period
beginning on the date that such document, report, or publication is
authorized by Congress to be printed, unless Congress reauthorizes such
printing in accordance with section 718 of title 44, United States
Code: Provided further, That any unobligated or unexpended balances in
this account or accounts for similar purposes for preceding fiscal
years may be transferred to the Government Printing Office revolving
fund for carrying out the purposes of this heading, subject to the
approval of the Committees on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives and Senate: Provided further, That notwithstanding
sections 901, 902, and 906 of title 44, United States Code, this
appropriation may be used to prepare indexes to the Congressional
Record on only a monthly and session basis.
Office of Superintendent of Documents
salaries and expenses
(including transfer of funds)
For expenses of the Office of Superintendent of Documents necessary
to provide for the cataloging and indexing of Government publications
and their distribution to the public, Members of Congress, other
Government agencies, and designated depository and international
exchange libraries as authorized by law, $31,500,000: Provided, That
amounts of not more than $2,000,000 from current year appropriations
are authorized for producing and disseminating Congressional serial
sets and other related publications for fiscal years 2013 and 2014 to
depository and other designated libraries: Provided further, That any
unobligated or unexpended balances in this account or accounts for
similar purposes for preceding fiscal years may be transferred to the
Government Printing Office revolving fund for carrying out the purposes
of this heading, subject to the approval of the Committees on
Appropriations of the House of Representatives and Senate.
Government Printing Office Revolving Fund
For payment to the Government Printing Office Revolving Fund,
$11,348,000, to remain available until expended, for information
technology development and facilities repair: Provided, That the
Government Printing Office is hereby authorized to make such
expenditures, within the limits of funds available and in accordance
with law, and to make such contracts and commitments without regard to
fiscal year limitations as provided by section 9104 of title 31, United
States Code, as may be necessary in carrying out the programs and
purposes set forth in the budget for the current fiscal year for the
Government Printing Office Revolving Fund: Provided further, That not
more than $7,500 may be expended on the certification of the Public
Printer in connection with official representation and reception
expenses: Provided further, That the revolving fund shall be available
for the hire or purchase of not more than 12 passenger motor vehicles:
Provided further, That expenditures in connection with travel expenses
of the advisory councils to the Public Printer shall be deemed
necessary to carry out the provisions of title 44, United States Code:
Provided further, That the revolving fund shall be available for
temporary or intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5,
United States Code, but at rates for individuals not more than the
daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay for level V of the
Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title: Provided further,
That activities financed through the revolving fund may provide
information in any format: Provided further, That the revolving fund
and the funds provided under the headings ``Office of Superintendent of
Documents'' and ``Salaries and Expenses'' may not be used for
contracted security services at the Government Printing Office's
passport facility in the District of Columbia.
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE
Salaries and Expenses
For necessary expenses of the Government Accountability Office,
including not more than $12,500 to be expended on the certification of
the Comptroller General of the United States in connection with
official representation and reception expenses; temporary or
intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States
Code, but at rates for individuals not more than the daily equivalent
of the annual rate of basic pay for level IV of the Executive Schedule
under section 5315 of such title; hire of one passenger motor vehicle;
advance payments in foreign countries in accordance with section 3324
of title 31, United States Code; benefits comparable to those payable
under sections 901(5), (6), and (8) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980
(22 U.S.C. 4081(5), (6), and (8)); and under regulations prescribed by
the Comptroller General of the United States, rental of living quarters
in foreign countries, $519,622,000: Provided, That, in addition,
$23,750,000 of payments received under sections 782, 3521, and 9105 of
title 31, United States Code, shall be available without fiscal year
limitation: Provided further, That this appropriation and
appropriations for administrative expenses of any other department or
agency which is a member of the National Intergovernmental Audit Forum
or a Regional Intergovernmental Audit Forum shall be available to
finance an appropriate share of either Forum's costs as determined by
the respective Forum, including necessary travel expenses of non-
Federal participants: Provided further, That payments hereunder to the
Forum may be credited as reimbursements to any appropriation from which
costs involved are initially financed.
Administrative Provision
center for audit excellence
Sec. 1201. (a) Center for Audit Excellence.--
(1) Establishment.--Chapter 7 of title 31, United States
Code, is amended by adding at the end the following new
subchapter:
``SUBCHAPTER VII--CENTER FOR AUDIT EXCELLENCE
``Sec. 791. Center for audit excellence
``(a) Establishment.--The Comptroller General shall establish,
maintain, and operate a center within the Government Accountability
Office to be known as the `Center for Audit Excellence' (hereafter in
this subchapter referred to as the `Center').
``(b) Purpose and Activities.--
``(1) In general.--The Center shall build institutional
auditing capacity and promote good governance by providing
affordable, relevant, and high-quality training, technical
assistance, and products and services to qualified personnel
and entities of governments (including the Federal government,
State and local governments, tribal governments, and
governments of foreign nations), international organizations,
and other private organizations.
``(2) Determination of qualified personnel and entities.--
Personnel and entities shall be considered qualified for
purposes of receiving training, technical assistance, and
products or services from the Center under paragraph (1) in
accordance with such criteria as the Comptroller General may
establish and publish.
``(c) Fees.--
``(1) Permitting charging of fees.--The Comptroller General
may establish, charge, and collect fees (on a reimbursable or
advance basis) for the training, technical assistance, and
products and services provided by the Center under this
subchapter.
``(2) Deposit into separate account.--The Comptroller
General shall deposit all fees collected under paragraph (1)
into the Center for Audit Excellence Account established under
section 792.
``(d) Gifts of Property and Services.--The Comptroller General may
accept and use conditional or non-conditional gifts of property (both
real and personal) and services (including services of guest lecturers)
to support the operation of the Center, except that the Comptroller
General may not accept or use such a gift if the Comptroller General
determines that the acceptance or use of the gift would compromise or
appear to compromise the integrity of the Government Accountability
Office.
``(e) Sense of Congress Regarding Personnel.--It is the sense of
Congress that the Center should be staffed primarily by personnel of
the Government Accountability Office who are not otherwise engaged in
carrying out other duties of the Office under this chapter, so as to
ensure that the operation of the Center will not have a negative impact
on the ability of the Office to maintain a consistently high level of
service to Congress.
``Sec. 792. Account
``(a) Establishment of Separate Account.--There is established in
the Treasury as a separate account for the Government Accountability
Office the `Center for Audit Excellence Account', which shall consist
of the fees deposited by the Comptroller General under section 791(c)
and such other amounts as may be appropriated under law.
``(b) Use of Account.--Amounts in the Center for Audit Excellence
Account shall be available to the Comptroller General, in amounts
specified in appropriations Acts and without fiscal year limitation, to
carry out this subchapter.
``Sec. 793. Authorization of Appropriations
``There are authorized to be appropriated such sums as may be
necessary to carry out this subchapter.''.
(2) Clerical amendment.--The table of sections for chapter
7 of title 31, United States Code, is amended by adding at the
end the following:
``subchapter vii--center for audit excellence
``791. Center for Audit Excellence.
``792. Account.
``793. Authorization of appropriations.''.
(b) Approval of Business Plan.--The Comptroller General may not
begin operating the Center for Audit Excellence under subchapter VII of
chapter 7 of title 31, United States Code (as added by subsection (a))
until--
(1) the Comptroller General submits a business plan for the
Center to the Committees on Appropriations of the House of
Representatives and Senate; and
(2) each such Committee approves the plan.
OPEN WORLD LEADERSHIP CENTER TRUST FUND
For a payment to the Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund for
financing activities of the Open World Leadership Center under section
313 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2001 (2 U.S.C. 1151),
$3,420,000.
JOHN C. STENNIS CENTER FOR PUBLIC SERVICE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT
For payment to the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service
Development Trust Fund established under section 116 of the John C.
Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development Act (2
U.S.C. 1105), $430,000.
TITLE II--GENERAL PROVISIONS
Sec. 201. No part of the funds appropriated in this Act shall be
used 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 of Representatives issued
by the Committee on House Administration and for the Senate issued by
the Committee on Rules and Administration.
Sec. 202. No part of the funds appropriated in this Act shall
remain available for obligation beyond fiscal year 2015 unless
expressly so provided in this Act.
Sec. 203. Whenever in this Act any office or position not
specifically established by the Legislative Pay Act of 1929 (46 Stat.
32 et seq.) is appropriated for or the rate of compensation or
designation of any office or position appropriated for is different
from that specifically established by such Act, the rate of
compensation and the designation in this Act shall be the permanent law
with respect thereto: Provided, That the provisions in this Act for the
various items of official expenses of Members, officers, and committees
of the Senate and House of Representatives, and clerk hire for Senators
and Members of the House of Representatives shall be the permanent law
with respect thereto.
Sec. 204. The expenditure of any appropriation under this Act for
any consulting service through procurement contract, under section 3109
of title 5, United States Code, shall be limited to those contracts
where such expenditures are a matter of public record and available for
public inspection, except where otherwise provided under existing law,
or under existing Executive order issued under existing law.
Sec. 205. Amounts available for administrative expenses of any
legislative branch entity which participates in the Legislative Branch
Financial Managers Council (LBFMC) established by charter on March 26,
1996, shall be available to finance an appropriate share of LBFMC costs
as determined by the LBFMC, except that the total LBFMC costs to be
shared among all participating legislative branch entities (in such
allocations among the entities as the entities may determine) may not
exceed $2,000.
Sec. 206. The Architect of the Capitol, in consultation with the
District of Columbia, is authorized to maintain and improve the
landscape features, excluding streets, in the irregular shaped grassy
areas bounded by Washington Avenue, SW on the northeast, Second Street,
SW on the west, Square 582 on the south, and the beginning of the I-395
tunnel on the southeast.
Sec. 207. None of the funds made available in this Act may be
transferred to any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United
States Government, except pursuant to a transfer made by, or transfer
authority provided in, this Act or any other appropriation Act.
Sec. 208. (a) Except as provided in subsection (b), none of the
funds made available to the Architect of the Capitol in this Act may be
used to eliminate or restrict guided tours of the United States Capitol
which are led by employees and interns of offices of Members of
Congress and other offices of the House of Representatives and Senate.
(b) At the direction of the Capitol Police Board, or at the
direction of the Architect of the Capitol with the approval of the
Capitol Police Board, guided tours of the United States Capitol which
are led by employees and interns described in subsection (a) may be
suspended temporarily or otherwise subject to restriction for security
or related reasons to the same extent as guided tours of the United
States Capitol which are led by the Architect of the Capitol.
Sec. 209. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, no
adjustment shall be made under section 610(a) of the Legislative
Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 31) (relating to cost of living
adjustments for Members of Congress) during fiscal year 2015.
spending reduction account
Sec. 210. The amount by which the applicable allocation of new
budget authority made by the Committee on Appropriations of the House
of Representatives under section 302(b) of the Congressional Budget Act
of 1974, excluding Senate items, exceeds the amount of proposed new
budget authority is $0.
This Act may be cited as the ``Legislative Branch Appropriations
Act, 2015''.
Union Calendar No. 307
113th CONGRESS
2d Session
H. R. 4487
[Report No. 113-417]
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
Making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year
ending September 30, 2015, and for other purposes.
_______________________________________________________________________
April 17, 2014
Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union
and ordered to be printed
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 557, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Wenstrup amendment No. 7.
DEBATE - Pursuant to the provisions of H. Res. 557, the Committee of the Whole proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Holt amendment No. 8.
POSTPONED PROCEEDINGS - At the conclusion of debate on the Holt amendment, the Chair put the question on adoption of the amendment and by voice vote, announced that the noes prevailed. Mr. Holt demanded a recorded vote and the Chair postponed further proceedings on the question of adoption of the amendment until later in the legislative day.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - The Chair announced that the unfinished business was the question on adoption of amendments which had been debated earlier and on which further proceedings had been postponed.
The House rose from the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union to report H.R. 4487.
The previous question was ordered pursuant to the rule. (consideration: CR H3390)
The House adopted the amendments en gross as agreed to by the Committee of the Whole House on the state of the Union.
Mr. Ruiz moved to recommit with instructions to the Committee on Appropriations. (consideration: CR H3390-3392; text: CR H3390)
DEBATE - The House proceeded with 10 minutes of debate on the Ruiz motion to recommit with instructions. The instructions contained in the motion seek to require the bill to be reported back to the House with an amendment to provide additional funds to hire Wounded Warriors and the Books for the Blind and Handicapped program.
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The previous question on the motion to recommit with instructions was ordered without objection. (consideration: CR H3391)
On motion to recommit with instructions Failed by recorded vote: 194 - 222 (Roll no. 192).
Roll Call #192 (House)Passed/agreed to in House: On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 402 - 14 (Roll no. 193).
Roll Call #193 (House)On passage Passed by the Yeas and Nays: 402 - 14 (Roll no. 193).
Roll Call #193 (House)Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.
Received in the Senate and Read twice and referred to the Committee on Appropriations.
Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Legislative Branch. Approved for full committee consideration with an amendment favorably.
Committee on Appropriations. Ordered to be reported with an amendment in the nature of a substitute favorably.
Committee on Appropriations. Reported by Senator Shaheen with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 113-196.
Committee on Appropriations. Reported by Senator Shaheen with an amendment in the nature of a substitute. With written report No. 113-196.
Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 436.