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