Clerk session vote number: 417
Description: Legislative Branch Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2002
Bill summary: Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2002 - Makes appropriations for the legislative branch for FY 2002.
Title I: Congressional Operations
- Congressional Operations Appropriations Act, 2002 - Makes FY 2002 appropriations for the Senate 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)
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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. 101) Amends the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1977 to change the number of consultants: (1) from four to six that the Majority and Minority Leaders may appoint; and (2) from one to not more than two in the case of the President pro tempore.
(Sec. 102) Allows the head of an employing office of the Senate and an eligible Senate employee to enter into a written service agreement, subject to specified conditions, under which the: (1) office shall agree to repay (by direct payments on behalf of such employee) any student indebtedness of the employee that is outstanding at the time they entered into the agreement. Requires the employee to agree to complete a one-year required period of employment (described in this Act) with the employing office in exchange for the student loan payments. Authorizes appropriations.
(Sec. 104) Amends the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1996 to change the fiscal year designation of the appropriation to which payment must be charged for local and long distance telecommunications services provided to a Senator, an Officer of the Senate, and any Senate entity the funds of which are disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate.
(Sec. 105) Increases from $75,000 to $100,000 the payment from the Senate contingent fund for the Conference of Majority and the Conference of Minority expenses.
(Sec. 106) Increases by $50,000 the allowance for administrative and clerical assistance.
(Sec. 107) Amends the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1993 to authorize the Secretary of the Senate to transfer from the Senate Gift Shop Fund to the Capitol Preservation Fund the net profits from sale of items by the Senate Gift Shop which are intended to benefit the Capitol Visitor Center.
(Sec. 108) Amends
S.Res. 382
(90th Congress) to vest responsibility in the U.S. Capitol Preservation Commission for the supervision and maintenance of the Old Supreme Court Chamber.
Removes the $15,000 limit on fiscal year appropriations for the Commission.
(Sec. 109) Allows the Secretary and the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate to procure temporary help services for up to 30 days from a private sector source. Declares that temporary help shall not be or be considered a Federal employee for any purpose.
(Sec. 110) Amends the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1991 to prohibit a Senator or Member of the House of Representatives from maintaining or using, directly or indirectly, an unofficial office account or defraying official expenses in the House, or official expenses for franked mail, employee salaries, office space, furniture, or equipment and any associated information technology services (excluding handheld communications devices) in the Senate.
(Sec. 111) Increases by $150,000 the limitation on the amount made available in
S.Res. 54
(107th Congress) to the Committee on Rules and Administration for FY 2002 expenses.
(Sec. 112) Authorizes a Senate employing office to provide a monthly transportation subsidy to a Senate employee up to the maximum monthly amount authorized under the Internal Revenue Code.
Makes appropriations for the House of Representatives for: (1) payment to the widow and children of Floyd Spence, late a Representative from South Carolina; (2) salaries and expenses of the House leadership offices, committees (including the Committee on Appropriations), officers and employees, and the Child Care Center; and (3) Members' representational allowances.
(Sec. 113) Transfers the following four majority and minority positions from the Clerk of the House to the Speaker of the House: (1) the chief of floor service; (2) two assistant floor chiefs; and (3) one cloakroom attendant.
(Sec. 114) Amends the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1987 to require that: (1) receipts from disposal of used or surplus furniture and equipment by the Chief Administrator Officer of the House (CAO) be deposited in the Treasury for credit to the appropriate House account; and (2) in the case of receipts from the sale or disposal of any audio or video transcript prepared by the House Recording Studio, the appropriate House account shall be the account of the CAO.
(Sec. 115) Makes amounts appropriated under this Act for "House of Representatives Salaries and Expenses - Members' Representational Allowances" available for FY 2002 only. Requires amounts remaining after all payments are made under such allowances for FY 2002 to be deposited in the Treasury and used for deficit reduction or, if there is no Federal budget deficit, for reducing the Federal debt.
(Sec. 116) Makes the usual day for paying salaries in or under the House the last day of each month, except that if the last day of a month falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or a legal public holiday, the CAO shall pay such salaries on the first weekday which precedes the last day.
(Sec. 117) Increases by $40,000 the aggregate amount otherwise authorized to be appropriated for a fiscal year for the lump-sum allowance for the Office of the Speaker of the House for FY 2002 and each succeeding fiscal year.
(Sec. 118) Establishes, with respect to FY 2002 and each succeeding fiscal year, two additional positions in each of the following House offices: (1) the Clerk; (2) the Chief Administrative Officer; and (3) the Sergeant at Arms.
Provides that the duty of such personnel shall be to ensure the continuity of the operations of the House during periods of emergency, in accordance with the direction of the head of the Office in which the position is established.
(Sec. 119) Amends the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to entitle the House Employment Counsel of the House and any other counsel in the Office of the House Employment Counsel, including any counsel specially retained by such Office for the purpose of providing legal assistance and representation to employing offices of the House under such Act, to enter an appearance in any State or political subdivision thereof without compliance with any requirements for admission to practice before any Federal, State, or local court (except the U.S. Supreme Court).
Makes appropriations for: (1) the Joint Economic and Taxation Committees; (2) the Office of the Attending Physician; (3) the Capitol Police Board; (4) the Capitol Guide Service and Special Services Office; (5) the Office of Compliance; (6) the Congressional Budget Office; (7) the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) for salaries and expenses, Capitol buildings and grounds, Senate and House office buildings, and the Capitol power plant; (8) the Library of Congress for Congressional Research Service salaries and expenses; and (9) the Government Printing Office (GPO) for congressional printing and binding (including transfer of funds).
(Sec. 121) Authorizes the U.S. Capitol Police to accept contributions of meals and refreshments in support of their activities during a period of emergency (as determined by the Capitol Police Board).
(Sec. 122) Amends the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2001, as amended by the Department of Transportation and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2001, to provide that the salary of the Chief Administrative Officer of the Capitol Police's salary shall be determined by the Chief of the Capitol Police (currently, the Capitol Police Board) and shall not exceed $1,000 less than the Chief's annual salary.
(Sec. 123) Deems to be in compliance with Federal law any obligation or expenditure of funds made before this Act's enactment by the House or the Capitol Police Board for meals, refreshments, and other support and maintenance in response to a biological or other threat made after September 11, 2001 in compliance with Federal law.
(Sec. 124) Authorizes the Capitol Police Board to incur obligations and make expenditures out of available appropriations for meals, refreshments, and other support and maintenance for the Capitol Police when, in the judgement of the Capitol Police Board, they are necessary to respond to emergencies involving the safety of human life or the protection of property.
(Sec. 125) Authorizes the Director of the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), by regulation, to apply Federal civil service training law as necessary to provide for training of CBO employees.
(Sec. 126) Amends the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1997 to allow the CBO to dispose of surplus or obsolete property by inter-agency transfer, donation, sale, trade-in, or discarding (currently, only by inter-agency transfer, donation, or discarding).
(Sec. 127) Authorizes the CBO to establish and maintain a program under which the Office may agree to repay (by direct payments on behalf of the employees) all or a portion of any student loan previously taken out by such employee in an amount not to exceed: (1) $6,000 for any employee in any calendar year; or (2) a total of $40,000 for any employee altogether.
Prohibits CBO from reimbursing an employee for repayments made by such employee before CBO enters into an agreement with the employee under this Act.
Requires any amount repaid by, or recovered from, an individual under this Act and its implementing regulations to be credited to the appropriation account available for CBO salaries and expenses at the time of repayment or recovery.
(Sec. 128) Authorizes the AOC to: (1) secure, through multi-year rental, lease, or other appropriate agreement, the property located at 67 K Street, S.W., Washington, D.C., for use of legislative branch agencies, and to incur any necessary incidental expenses including maintenance, alterations, and repairs in connection therewith; and (2) expend AOC appropriated funds earmarked for legislative branch agencies operations and support purposes to include the U.S. Capitol Police as may be required for such purposes.
(Sec. 129) Revises the annual salary of: (1) the AOC from level III of the Executive Schedule to the lesser of the annual salary for the Sergeant at Arms of the House or the annual salary for the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate; and (2) the Assistant AOC from level IV of the Executive Schedule to $1,000 less than that of the AOC.
Amends the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1991 to authorize the AOC to fix the salary of not more than 12 positions under AOC jurisdiction at a rate not to exceed the highest total rate of pay for the Senior Executive Service, for the locality involved.
Requires: (1) the Comptroller General to conduct a comprehensive management study of the AOC operations for a report to the AOC and specified congressional committees; and (2) the AOC, after submittal of such study, to develop and submit to such committees a management improvement plan which addresses the study and indicates how the personnel for whom the AOC fixes the salary will support such plan.
(Sec. 130) Prohibits the AOC from entering into or administering any construction contract with a value greater than $50,000 unless it requires the payment of liquidated damages in an amount determined according to a specified formula in the event that completion of the project is delayed because of the contractor. Outlines the daily liquidated damage payment rate.
(Sec. 131) Allows the AOC: (1) to make purchases and enter contracts for supplies or services without advertising for proposals if the amount involved does not exceed $100,000; and (2) to procure services, equipment, and construction for security related projects in the most efficient manner he determines appropriate.
(Sec. 132) Directs the AOC to develop and maintain an accounting and financial management system which complies with Federal accounting principles and meets other specified requirements.
(Sec. 133) Provides that, with the exception of individuals subject to specified hiring conditions, no funds may be used by the AOC beyond 90 days after this Act's enactment to employ any temporary employee within a category which does not provide temporary employees with the same eligibility for life insurance, health insurance, retirement, and other benefits provided to temporary employees who are hired for a period exceeding one year in length. States that nothing in this Act may be construed to require the AOC to provide duplicative benefits for any employee.
Amends Federal law to allow the AOC to establish procedures for AOC employees to make allotments and assignments of amounts out of his or her pay for such purposes as the AOC considers appropriate.
(Sec. 134) Designates specified land located on the Capitol Grounds as the Congressional Award Youth Park.
Requires the AOC to sponsor a competition for the design of the Park, based on AOC developed specifications.
(Sec. 135) Amends the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1993 to increase from $14.5 million to $16.5 million the cap on donations that may be accepted and made available for obligation by the AOC for constructing, equipping, and maintaining the National Garden.
Title II: Other Agencies
- Appropriates funds for FY 2002 for: (1) the Botanic Garden for salaries and expenses; (2) the Library of Congress for salaries and expenses, the Copyright Office, Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, and furniture and furnishings; (3) the AOC for a Capitol Visitor Center, the Congressional Cemetery, and for Library buildings and grounds; (4) salaries and expenses of the GPO's Office of Superintendent of Documents (including transfer of funds); (5) the General Accounting Office (earmarking $1 million for a pilot program in technology assessment); and (6) a payment to the Russian Leadership Development Center Trust Fund.
Specifies administrative provisions for the Library of Congress identical or similar to corresponding provisions of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2001.
(Sec. 202) Prohibits the Library from using funds appropriated in this Act to administer any flexible or compressed work schedule which: (1) applies to any manager or supervisor in a position the grade or level of which is equal to or higher than GS-15; and (2) grants such manager or supervisor the right to not be at work for all or a portion of a workday because of time worked on another workday.
(Sec. 206) Reduces the obligational authority of the Library for FY 2002 for reimbursable and revolving fund activities funded from sources other than appropriations to the Library in appropriation Acts for the legislative branch.
Authorizes the Librarian of Congress, under specified conditions, to temporarily transfer funds appropriated in this Act under the heading "Library of Congress Salaries and Expenses" to the revolving fund for the FEDLINK Program and the Federal Research Program established under the Library of Congress Fiscal Operations Improvement Act of 2000.
(Sec. 209) Amends the Abraham Lincoln Bicentennial Commission Act to allow the Commission, for purposes of carrying out the Act, to accept and use gifts of money, property, and services, and to accept and use voluntary services as the Commission deems necessary.
Authorizes the head of a Federal agency or other Federal appointing authority, upon Commission request, to detail, on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis, any of its employees to assist the Commission in carrying out its duties under the Act. Provides that any such detail of an employee shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.
(Sec. 210) Amends the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1999 to extend: (1) until October 1, 2004, the early retirement incentive payments authorities for Government Printing Office employees; and (2) until September 30, 2004, the voluntary separation incentive payments authorities for such employees.
Title III: General Provisions
- Sets forth authorized or prohibited uses of funds appropriated by this Act identical or similar to corresponding provisions of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2001.
(Sec. 305) Sets forth Buy American requirements.
(Sec. 310) Amends the House Employees Position Classification Act to provide that, for purposes of applying a certain adjustment made for 2002 and each succeeding year, positions under the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) shall include positions of the U.S. Capitol telephone exchange under the CAO.
(Sec. 311) Authorizes the AOC to maintain and improve the landscape features, excluding streets and sidewalks, 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.
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Bill titles: Making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2002, and for other purposes.; Congressional Operations Appropriations Act, 2002
Links for more info on the vote: congress.gov