Senate Report 115-137 - LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS, 2018

[Senate Report 115-137]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]

Calendar No. 184
115th Congress } { Report
SENATE
1st Session } { 115-137
======================================================================

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS, 2018

_______

July 27, 2017.--Ordered to be printed

Mr. James Lankford, from the Committee on Appropriations, submitted the
following

REPORT

[To accompany S. 1648]

The Committee on Appropriations reports the bill (S. 1648)
making appropriations for the legislative branch for the fiscal
year ending September 30, 2018, and for other purposes, reports
favorably thereon and recommends that the bill do pass.

Amount of new budget (obligational) authority

Total of bill as reported to the Senate................. $3,170,655,234
Amount of 2017 appropriations........................... 3,048,218,234
Amount of 2018 budget estimate.......................... 3,458,623,278
Bill as recommended to Senate compared to--
2017 appropriations................................. +122,437,000
2018 budget estimate................................ -287,968,044

CONTENTS

----------
Page
General Statement and Summary.................................... 4
Title I:
Legislative Branch Appropriations:
Senate:
Expense Allowances................................... 6
Representation Allowances for the Majority and
Minority Leaders................................... 6
Salaries, Officers, and Employees.................... 7
Office of the Legislative Counsel of the Senate...... 13
Office of Senate Legal Counsel....................... 14
Expense Allowances of the Secretary of the Senate,
Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, and
Secretaries for the Majority and Minority of the
Senate............................................. 14
Contingent Expenses of the Senate.................... 14
Administrative Provisions............................ 24
Joint Items:
Joint Economic Committee............................. 25
Joint Committee on Taxation.......................... 25
Office of the Attending Physician.................... 26
Office of Congressional Accessibility Services....... 26
Capitol Police:
Salaries............................................. 27
General Expenses..................................... 28
Office of Compliance: Salaries and Expenses.............. 28
Congressional Budget Office: Salaries and Expenses....... 29
Architect of the Capitol:
Capital Construction and Operations.................. 30
Capitol Building..................................... 31
Capitol Grounds...................................... 31
Senate Office Buildings.............................. 32
Capitol Power Plant.................................. 33
Library Buildings and Grounds........................ 35
Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds and Security....... 35
Botanic Garden....................................... 36
Capitol Visitor Center............................... 36
Administrative Provisions............................ 37
Library of Congress:
Salaries and Expenses................................ 38
Copyright Office..................................... 40
Congressional Research Service....................... 41
Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped....... 42
Administrative Provisions............................ 43
Government Publishing Office:
Congressional Publishing............................. 44
Public Information Programs of the Office of
Superintendent of Documents........................ 44
Government Publishing Office Business Operations
Revolving Fund..................................... 45
Government Accountability Office: Salaries and Expenses.. 45
Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund.................. 46
John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and
Develop-
ment................................................... 46
Title II: General Provisions..................................... 47
Compliance With Paragraph 7, Rule XVI, of the Standing Rules of
the Sen-
ate............................................................ 48
Compliance With Paragraph 7(c), Rule XXVI of the Standing Rules
of the Senate.................................................. 48
Compliance With Paragraph 12, Rule XXVI, of the Standing Rules of
the Senate..................................................... 49
Budgetary Impact of Bill......................................... 59
Comparative Statement of Budget Authority........................ 60

GENERAL STATEMENT AND SUMMARY

The Legislative Branch appropriations bill provides funding
for the Congress and for the agencies that serve the Congress.
The agencies funded through this bill provide oversight of
executive branch agencies, including objective, nonpartisan,
and timely audits and analysis of Federal programs. The funding
in this bill also ensures that the public has permanent access
to printed and electronic information products of the Federal
Government.
All accounts in the bill have been examined in detail to
ensure that the funding provided is appropriate for the
agencies to carry out their responsibilities and to continue to
respond to Congress in a timely and accurate manner. Details on
the accounts, the funding levels provided, and the Committee's
justification for the funding levels are included in the
report.
Conforming to longstanding practice under which each body
of Congress determines its own housekeeping requirements and
the other concurs without intervention, funds for the House are
not included in the bill as reported to the Senate.
The Committee recommends new budget (obligational)
authority of $3,170,655,234 for the legislative branch for
fiscal year 2018. This amount excludes House items as per
normal protocol. This total is $260,752,278 below the budget
request and $122,437,000 above the fiscal year 2017
appropriation.
The bill includes $899,773,581 for the operations of the
Senate, which is $48,483,795 below the fiscal year 2018
request. The bill includes $454,014,724 for the Architect of
the Capitol to maintain, improve, and construct buildings and
facilities for the Congress. The recommendation for the
Architect of the Capitol is $125,800,276 below the fiscal year
2018 request. The recommendation would allow for comprehensive
repairs and life-safety systems improvements. The bill also
includes $422,500,000 for the Capitol Police; $562,771,695 for
the Government Accountability Office; $638,873,234 for the
Library of Congress; and $117,068,000 for the Government
Publishing Office.
Security.--The Committee recommendation continues to
support the Legislative Branch of government, Congress and its
support agencies while providing critical investments in
security for both the physical protection of the Congress, as
well as internal protections to Senate networks and data.
Within the recommendation, additional funding is provided
to the Capitol Police, allowing flexibility to respond to the
dynamic nature of threats faced today, and to continue to
prioritize the safety of Members of Congress, their staff, and
the millions of visitors to the Capitol each year. The increase
provides for additional sworn officers to enhance pre-screening
capabilities, and the ability to civilianize certain positions
giving immediate utility to sworn officers currently in those
positions.
The recommendation also provides funding to the Senate
Sergeant at Arms to enhance the cybersecurity posture of the
Senate, to defend the institution from outside threats and
provide resources to better prevent inside threats. The
Senate's internal network will be better protected and
individual Senator's offices will have access to increased
training and resources.
While threats, both internal and external, are ever present
and emergent in the environment in which Congress operates, a
balance must be struck in granting access, respecting privacy
and maintaining security. It is important to note that
providing these necessary security enhancements allows for the
continued transparency of government, participation in
government, continuity of government, and protection of
internal deliberations, all of which are vital to the
democratic process.
The Committee recommendation also provides funding to the
support agencies of the Legislative Branch to continue to
invest in information technology infrastructure and security
enhancements.
Inspector General Budgets.--The Committee believes it is
important to ensure independence between Legislative Branch
Inspector Generals [IG] and their respective reporting agencies
and expects to see a separate section in each agency's fiscal
year 2019 budget justification reflecting a detailed budget
request for the agency's IG Office. Additionally, the Committee
directs each IG to keep the Committee fully apprised of its
funding needs, and the Committee directs each agency not to
interfere with or require approval for such communications.
Reprogramming Guidelines.--The Committee expects all
agencies to notify the Committee of any significant departures
from budget plans presented to the Committee in any agency's
budget justifications. In particular, agencies funded through
this bill are required to notify the Committee prior to each
reprogramming of funds in excess of the lesser of 10 percent or
$750,000 between programs, projects or activities, or in excess
of $750,000 between object classifications (except for shifts
within the pay categories, object class 11, 12, and 13 or as
further specified in each agency's respective section). This
includes cumulative reprogrammings that together total at least
$750,000 from or to a particular program, activity, or object
classification as well as reprogramming of FTEs or funds to
create new organizational entities within the Agency or to
restructure entities which already exist. The Committee desires
to be notified of reprogramming actions which involve less than
the above-mentioned amounts if such actions would have the
effect of changing an agency's funding requirements in future
years or if programs or projects specifically cited in the
Committee's reports are affected.
Full-Time Equivalents.--The Committee directs that budget
justifications sent to the Committee shall include a comparison
of FTEs based on the number of FTEs supported by the funding
provided in the current enacted appropriations legislation and
the number of FTEs that would be supported by the funding
requested for the following fiscal year.

TITLE I

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS

SENATE

Expense Allowances

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $174,840
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 174,840
Committee recommendation................................ 189,840

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $189,840 for
the expense allowances of the Vice President, the President pro
tempore and President pro tempore emeritus of the Senate, the
majority and minority leaders, the majority and minority whips,
the chairmen of the majority and minority conference
committees, and the chairmen of the majority and minority
policy committees. The recommendation is identical to both the
fiscal year 2018 request and the fiscal year 2017
appropriation. The recommended allowances are as follows:
For the expense allowance of the Vice President, the
Committee recommends an amount of $18,760.
For the expense allowance of the President Pro Tempore, the
Committee recommends an amount of $37,520.
For the expense allowance of the President Pro Tempore
Emeritus, the Committee recommends an amount of $15,000.
For the expense allowance of the majority and minority
leaders, the Committee recommends $39,920 for each leader, for
a total of $79,840.
For the expense allowance of the majority and minority
whips, the Committee recommends $9,980 for each whip, for a
total of $19,960.
For the expense allowance for the chairmen of the majority
and minority conference committees, the Committee recommends
$4,690 for each chairman, for a total of $9,380.
For the expense allowance for the chairmen of the majority
and minority policy committees, the Committee recommends $4,690
for each chairman, for a total of $9,380.
Expenditures from all the foregoing allowances are made
upon certification from the individuals for whom the allowances
are authorized, and are reported semiannually in the report of
the Secretary of the Senate.

Representation Allowances for the Majority and Minority Leaders

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $28,140
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 28,140
Committee recommendation................................ 28,140

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $28,140 for
representation allowances for the majority and minority
leaders. The recommendation is identical to both the fiscal
year 2018 request and the fiscal year 2017 appropriation.
This allowance was established in the Supplemental
Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 1985 (Public Law 99-88). The
funds were authorized to be used by the majority and minority
leaders solely for the discharge of their appropriate
responsibilities in connection with official visits to the
United States by members of foreign legislative bodies and
representatives of foreign governments and intergovernmental
agencies. The recommended amount is to be divided equally
between the two leaders.
Expenditures from this allowance are made upon
certification of the leaders and are reported in the semiannual
report of the Secretary of the Senate.

Salaries, Officers, and Employees

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $182,287,812
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 190,530,812
Committee recommendation................................ 194,709,812

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $194,709,812
for the subaccounts funded under the overall account for the
salaries of officers and employees of the Senate. The
recommendation is $12,422,000 above the fiscal year 2017
appropriation and $4,179,000 above the fiscal year 2018
request.
It should be noted that except for a handful of positions
in the Offices of the Secretary and the Sergeant at Arms that
are required by statute, specific staffing levels are not
stipulated either by the budget request or by the Committee's
recommendation. Rather, lump-sum allowances are provided to
fund staffing levels each office finds necessary and
appropriate for the performance of its duties. Estimated
staffing levels for offices funded under this appropriation for
fiscal year 2018 are approximately 1,348 positions.

SALARIES, OFFICERS, AND EMPLOYEES
[Estimated staffing levels--fiscal years 2017 and 2018]
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year
Fiscal year 2018 Committee
2017 recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office of the Vice President............ 2,417,248 2,417,248
Office of the President Pro Tempore..... 723,466 723,466
Office of the President Pro Tempore .............. 309,000
Emeritus...............................
Offices of the majority and minority 5,255,576 5,255,576
leaders................................
Offices of the majority and minority 3,359,424 3,359,424
whips..................................
Conference committees................... 3,316,000 3,316,000
Offices of the secretaries of the 817,402 817,402
conference of the majority and the
conference of the minority.............
Policy Committees....................... 3,385,810 3,385,810
Office of the Chaplain.................. 436,886 436,886
Office of the Secretary................. 24,772,000 25,132,000
Office of the Sergeant at Arms and 73,090,000 78,565,000
Doorkeeper.............................
Offices of the secretaries for the 1,810,000 1,810,000
majority and minority..................
-------------------------------
Totals............................ 132,335,812 140,669,812
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Any change from the allocation of funds in the subaccounts
within this appropriation is subject to the approval of the
Committee.
The total amount appropriated is allocated to the various
offices of the Senate as displayed under the headings for the
offices that follow.

OFFICE OF THE VICE PRESIDENT

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $2,417,248
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 2,480,248
Committee recommendation................................ 2,417,248

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $2,417,248 to
fund the salaries of the administrative and clerical staff of
the Office of the Vice President in connection with his duties
as the President of the Senate.

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $723,466
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 743,466
Committee recommendation................................ 723,466

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $723,466 for
the Office of the President Pro Tempore.

OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT PRO TEMPORE EMERITUS

Appropriation, 2017.....................................................
Budget Estimate, 2018...................................................
Committee recommendation................................ $309,000
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $309,000 for
the Office of the President Pro Tempore Emeritus.

OFFICES OF THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY LEADERS

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $5,255,576
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 5,389,576
Committee recommendation................................ 5,255,576

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $5,255,576 for
the offices of the majority and minority leaders. The amount
recommended is to be equally divided, providing $2,627,788 for
each office.
The administrative and clerical staffs funded by this
appropriation were authorized under the provisions of Public
Law 91-145, effective November 1, 1969.

OFFICES OF THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY WHIPS

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $3,359,424
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 3,449,424
Committee recommendation................................ 3,359,424

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $3,359,424 for
the offices of the majority and minority whips. It is to be
equally divided, providing $1,679,712 for each office.
The authority for the administrative and clerical staff
funded by this appropriation was created by Public Law 84-242,
effective July 1, 1955.

COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $15,142,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 15,142,000
Committee recommendation................................ 15,142,000

For the salaries of the staff of the Committee on
Appropriations, the Committee recommends an appropriation of
$15,142,000.

CONFERENCE COMMITTEES

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $3,316,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 3,402,000
Committee recommendation................................ 3,316,000

For the administrative and clerical staffs of the majority
and minority conference committees, the Committee recommends an
appropriation of $3,316,000. The appropriation provides
$1,658,000 in salaries for the staff of each conference
committee. The chairman of each conference committee may
transfer to or from amounts provided for salaries of each
conference to the account for conference committee expenses
within the ``Miscellaneous Items'' appropriation.

OFFICES OF THE SECRETARIES OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE MAJORITY AND THE
CONFERENCE OF THE MINORITY

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $817,402
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 839,402
Committee recommendation................................ 817,402

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $817,402 for
the majority and minority conference secretaries.
These offices were created by section 6 of Senate
Resolution 17, agreed to January 10, 1977, and two positions in
each office were first funded in the Supplemental
Appropriations Act, 1977 (Public Law 95-26).
Section 102 of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1979
(Public Law 96-38), abolished the specific positions and
established a lump-sum allowance for the employment of staff,
effective October 1, 1979. The amount recommended is to be
divided equally between the majority secretary and the minority
secretary.

POLICY COMMITTEES

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $3,385,810
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 3,475,810
Committee recommendation................................ 3,385,810

For the salaries of the administrative and clerical staffs
of the majority and minority policy committees, the Committee
recommends an appropriation of $3,385,810. The appropriation
provides $1,692,905 in salaries for the staff of each
committee.
The chairman of each policy committee may transfer to or
from amounts provided for salaries of each policy committee to
the account for policy committee expenses within the
``Miscellaneous Items'' appropriation.

OFFICE OF THE CHAPLAIN

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $436,886
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 449,886
Committee recommendation................................ 436,886

For the Office of the Chaplain, the Committee recommends an
appropriation of $436,886. The amount recommended provides the
salaries for the Chaplain of the Senate and support staff to
assist the Chaplain with his pastoral duties. The Fiscal Year
1988 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, Public Law 100-202,
established the rate of pay for the Chaplain at Executive Level
IV.
The Office of the Chaplain may transfer to or from amounts
provided for salaries to the account for expenses within the
``Miscellaneous Items'' appropriation.

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $24,772,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 25,771,000
Committee recommendation................................ 25,132,000

The Committee recommends $25,132,000 for salaries of the
Office of the Secretary. Fiscal year 2018 staffing levels are
estimated at 248 positions.
This appropriation provides funds for four statutory
positions (Secretary of the Senate, Assistant Secretary of the
Senate, Financial Clerk of the Senate, and Parliamentarian of
the Senate) and lump-sum allowances for the employment and
adjustment of salaries of personnel in the Office of the
Secretary of the Senate, as authorized by Public Law 97-51,
effective October 1, 1981 (2 U.S.C. 6539).
The following departmental guidelines for fiscal year 2018
have been submitted by the Secretary to the Committee. The
departmental budgets under executive offices include: the
Executive Office of the Secretary of the Senate, Page School,
Senate Security, Information Systems, and Web Technology. The
departmental budgets grouped under administrative services
include: conservation and preservation, curator, disbursing
office, gift shop, historical office, human resources,
interparliamentary services, library, printing and document
services, public records, chief counsel for employment, and the
stationery room. The departmental budgets grouped under
legislative and legal services include: the bill clerk, daily
digest, enrolling clerk, journal clerk, legislative clerk,
Official Reporters of Debate, captioning services, executive
clerk, LIS project office, and Parliamentarian.
The Committee provides these funds to the Secretary of the
Senate without apportionment in the interest of facilitating
financial management duties and restructuring that occurs from
time to time. The Committee expects to be notified in writing
in a timely manner of any changes to the staffing levels,
distribution of staff or related funding.

OFFICE OF THE SERGEANT AT ARMS AND DOORKEEPER

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $70,900,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 73,090,000
Committee recommendation................................ 78,565,000

This appropriation provides funds for the salaries of three
statutory positions (Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper, Deputy
Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper, and Administrative Assistant
to the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper) and lump-sum allowances
for employment and adjustments of salaries of personnel in the
Office of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, as
authorized by Public Law 97-51, effective October 1, 1981 (2
U.S.C. 6597).
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $78,565,000
for fiscal year 2018, which supports a staffing level of 910
FTEs, an increase of 63 from the current level, including the
conversion of 33 contractor positions to Federal employees. The
additional staff and funding will fully support the initiative
to expand the Senate's cybersecurity capabilities. The
Committee expects to be briefed quarterly on the status of this
initiative.
The Sergeant at Arms is the chief law enforcement officer,
the chief protocol officer and an executive officer of the
Senate. To fulfill these responsibilities, the Sergeant at Arms
operates through four principal units:
--The Office of Protective Services and Continuity [OPSAC]
prepares the Senate to respond to a full spectrum of
emergencies that may disrupt normal business
operations. This preparation includes programs that
support life safety, intelligence, security, and
continuity of operations policies and programs
throughout the U.S. Senate, including Senate home state
offices, as well as strategic and analytic assistance
to the Sergeant at Arms in his capacity as Chairman or
Member of the Capitol Police Board and Chief Law
Enforcement Officer of the Senate.
--Capitol Operations is responsible for many of the services
provided within the Capitol building that support the
day-to-day operation of the Senate. Services include
Chamber operations maintained by the Doorkeepers;
official business visitor processing provided by the
Senate Appointment Desks; as well as credentialing and
interfacing with the news media via the Senate Media
Galleries. In addition, the Senate Recording Studio
provides audio and video services.
--The Operations Division provides an array of services to
the Senate community to include, identification,
transportation, parking, and photographic services;
printing, publishing, graphic design, and framing
services; and USPS mail screening, and mailing and
package delivery services. Operations furnishes and
maintains the Senate side of the Capitol Building and
supports the maintenance of Senate state offices.
--The Office of the Chief Information Officer [CIO] builds,
operates, and supports the Senate's information
infrastructure. The CIO is responsible for information
security, technology infusion, telecommunications,
helpdesk, IT systems to support COOP and COG,
enterprise computing systems, data networks, web
services and hosting, system development, and office
equipment.
Executive and other offices provide general management,
human resource, financial and training support to the Senate.
The offices and personnel covered by this appropriation are
shown in the following table.

Office of Protective Services and Continuity............ 30 FTE
Capitol Operations...................................... 122
Operations.............................................. 296
Chief Information Officer............................... 341
Executive and administrative offices.................... 121
_______

Total............................................... 910

The Committee provides these funds to the Sergeant at Arms
without apportionment in the interest of facilitating financial
management duties and restructuring that occurs from time to
time. The Committee expects to be notified in writing in a
timely manner of any changes to the staffing levels,
distribution of staff or related funding.
Cybersecurity.--The Committee finds that providing state of
the art cybersecurity for Senate networks and equipment is of
the utmost importance in order to protect from state-sponsored
attacks, prevent insider threats, and ensure the privacy of
deliberations and communications involved in the legislative
process. The Committee provides a total of $27,400,000 for SAA
cybersecurity efforts covering Senate networks and Senate
users, an increase of $12,500,000 above the fiscal year 2017
enacted level. The Committee notes that the bill also includes
an additional $4,000,000 within the Senators' Official
Personnel and Office Expense Account to support the related
cybersecurity efforts directly within Senators' offices.
The Committee directs SAA to utilize funds provided for
fiscal year 2018 to: enhance protections of the Senate network
by hiring an estimated 23 new full-time equivalent staff;
enable enhanced third party auditing of Senate network
configurations for privacy and integrity; enable annual
cybersecurity audits for all Senate offices; provide enhanced
cybersecurity training for each Senate office; institute
protections against insider threats; and institute and
operationalize enhanced privacy protections within the Senate
network. Specifically, the Committee directs SAA to examine
opportunities to enhance training for Senate users, such as
courses offered by the Department of Homeland Security and
other outside groups. The Committee directs SAA to also examine
how system administrators can best gain access to high level
training in order for the Senate to maintain a qualified and
certified network of system administrators. The Committee
expects that such training costs should be covered by the SAA
to the extent practicable. Finally, the Committee directs SAA
to designate a Chief Privacy Officer. The Committee directs the
SAA to submit a spend plan to the Committee within 90 days of
enactment on how funds provided for fiscal year 2018 are
allocated to the required activities described above and also
to ongoing efforts related to cybersecurity.
Multi-Factor Authentication System for Congressional
Staff.--The Committee instructs the Senate Sergeant at Arms to
produce a report to Senate Committee on Appropriations within
180 days of the enactment of this Act estimating the cost of
implementing a multi-factor authentication system for Senate
staff, including in State offices, to access Senate data and
networks that meets the same standards mandated of Federal
agencies in Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12.
Senators' Personal Cybersecurity Working Group.--The
Committee finds that threats to Senators' personal security
also extend to Senators' cybersecurity. Given the mounting
evidence that Senators are being targeted for hacking, which
could include exposure of personal data, the Committee directs
that a working group shall be established to identify, develop,
and recommend options to provide enhanced cybersecurity for
Senators' personal communications devices and accounts. Privacy
protections must be a component of each option. The working
group shall be comprised of the Senate Committee on Rules and
Administration, the Senate Select Committee on Ethics, the
offices of the Majority and Minority Leaders, the Senate
Committee on Appropriations, and the Senate Sergeant At Arms.
Representation must be bipartisan. The working group shall
consult outside experts, incorporate best practices, and work
to harness existing Federal resources to the greatest extent
practicable. The working group is directed to provide a report
to the Committee within 180 day of enactment on specific
options that could be implemented to improve cybersecurity
protections for Senators. Such report must include an analysis
of an option or options that would provide for a direct
provision of services by the Senate Sergeant At Arms upon
voluntary election by an individual Senator.

OFFICES OF THE SECRETARIES FOR THE MAJORITY AND MINORITY

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $1,810,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 1,810,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,810,000

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $1,810,000 for
the offices of the secretaries for the majority and minority.
The appropriation is to be equally divided, providing $905,000
for each office.

AGENCY CONTRIBUTIONS

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $49,952,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 54,488,000
Committee recommendation................................ 54,364,000

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $54,364,000
for agency contributions for employees paid under certain
appropriations, including ``Salaries, officers, and
employees,'' ``Joint Economic Committee,'' ``Office of the
Legislative Counsel of the Senate,'' and ``Office of Senate
Legal Counsel.''
Agency contributions include the Senate's contributions as
an employer to the Civil Service Retirement System, the Federal
Employees' Retirement System, the Thrift Savings Plan, Federal
employee group life insurance, Federal employee health
insurance programs, and FICA. The Senate is required by law to
make these payments, and the total required is dependent upon
the number of Senate employees, their compensation levels, the
benefit programs in which they are enrolled, and the extent of
the benefits elected.

Office of the Legislative Counsel of the Senate

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $5,808,500
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 6,115,000
Committee recommendation................................ 6,115,000

For the Office of the Legislative Counsel of the Senate,
the Committee recommends an appropriation of $6,115,000. This
amount provides for the salaries and expenses of the office.
The increase provided allows the office to keep up with the
increasing demand to help draft legislation of the quality and
at the pace the Senate demands. The Committee recommendation
provides the funding necessary for agency contributions for
employees paid under this appropriation, under the heading,
``Agency Contributions'' under the appropriation, ``Salaries,
officers, and employees.''

Office of Senate Legal Counsel

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $1,120,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 1,147,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,147,000

The Office of Senate Legal Counsel was established pursuant
to section 701 of Public Law 95-521. The Committee recommends
an appropriation of $1,147,000 for the Office of Senate Legal
Counsel. The amount provided pays for the salaries and expenses
of the office. The Committee recommendation provides the
funding necessary for agency contributions for employees paid
under this appropriation, under the heading, ``Agency
Contributions'' under the appropriation ``Salaries, officers,
and employees.''

Expense Allowances of the Secretary of the Senate, Sergeant at Arms and
Doorkeeper of the Senate, and Secretaries for the Majority and Minority
of the Senate

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $28,440
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 28,440
Committee recommendation................................ 28,440

Section 119 of Public Law 97-51 authorized an expense
allowance for the Secretary of the Senate, the Sergeant at Arms
and Doorkeeper of the Senate, the Secretary for the Majority,
and the Secretary for the Minority. Since fiscal year 1983, the
amount has been provided through a direct appropriation. The
Committee recommends an appropriation of $28,440 providing an
allowance of $14,220 for each office.

Contingent Expenses of the Senate

INQUIRIES AND INVESTIGATIONS

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $133,265,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 135,799,075
Committee recommendation................................ 133,265,000

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $133,265,000
for inquiries and investigations by Senate standing, special,
and select committees of which $26,650,000 shall be available
until September 30, 2019. The recommendation is equal to the
fiscal year 2017 appropriation and $2,534,075 below the fiscal
year 2018 request.
This appropriation funds the liquidation of obligations
incurred by committees under the authorization provided in
Committee funding resolutions.

U.S. SENATE CAUCUS ON INTERNATIONAL NARCOTICS CONTROL

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $508,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 520,000
Committee recommendation................................ 508,000

The Committee recommends $508,000 for the expenses of the
U.S. Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control.
Established in 1985 by the Foreign Relations Authorization Act
(Public Law 99-93), the Caucus was created to monitor and
promote international compliance with narcotics control
treaties and monitor and encourage U.S. Government and private
programs seeking to expand international cooperation against
drug abuse. The Caucus is composed of seven Senators, four from
the majority party and three from the minority party, with a
chairman from the majority party and a co-chairman from the
minority party.
Opioid Abuse Epidemic.--As communities nationwide continue
to face an opioid abuse epidemic which has resulted in
staggering increases of fatal overdoses, the Committee
appreciates the Caucus's ongoing oversight of both
international and domestic counter narcotics efforts. The
Committee encourages the Caucus to continue these efforts
specifically in regards to trafficking supply chain routes
commonly used by transnational and domestic criminal
organizations to produce, manufacture, and transport narcotics,
including, but not limited to, heroin, fentanyl, carfentanil,
and cocaine.

SECRETARY OF THE SENATE

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $10,250,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 10,536,000
Committee recommendation................................ 10,536,000

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $10,536,000
for expenses of the Office of the Secretary. The recommendation
is $286,000 above the fiscal year 2017 appropriation and equal
to the fiscal year 2018 request. Of the total provided, the
Committee recommends an appropriation of $3,500,000 to remain
available until expended for the Financial Management
Information System Modernization and $7,036,000 to remain
available until September 30, 2022, of which $5,136,000 is for
the Senate Information Services program.
The Committee provides these funds to the Secretary of the
Senate without apportionment in the interest of facilitating
financial management duties and restructuring that occurs from
time to time. The Committee expects to be notified in writing
in a timely manner of any cumulative changes in excess of 10
percent to the funding levels between programs, projects or
avtivities.
Typical expenditures of the Secretary of the Senate
include:
Consultants.--Funding is provided for not to exceed two
individual consultants as authorized by section 110 of Public
Law 95-94, August 5, 1977, which amends section 101 of Public
Law 95-26, May 4, 1977. Consultants employed under this
authority shall not be paid in excess of the per diem
equivalent of the highest gross rate of annual compensation
which may be paid to employees of a standing committee of the
Senate.
Legal Reference Volumes.--Funding is provided to furnish
U.S. Senators with volumes of the U.S. Code Annotated or U.S.
Code service, pocket parts and supplements, as authorized by
Public Law 92-51, July 9, 1971.
The Disbursing Office is responsible for providing the U.S.
Code Annotated or the U.S. Code Service to Senators when they
assume office and upon receipt of a written request of a
Senator.
Contractual Legal and Administrative Services and
Miscellaneous Expenses.--Funding is provided for various
contractual, administrative, and miscellaneous expenses
incurred by the Office of the Secretary. In addition, the
Office of the Secretary has incurred various types of legal and
other expenses which have been authorized by the Senate.
Funding is provided for contractual and other expenses
necessary to update and publish the Senate's legislative
precedents and procedure documentation. Administrative services
and miscellaneous expenses are housekeeping expenses of the
Office of the Secretary.
Travel and Registration Fees.--Funding is provided for
travel expenses and registration fees incurred by the Secretary
of the Senate and the employees of the Office of the Secretary.
This line item excludes funding for travel expenses for the
Federal Election Campaign Act under the Office of Public
Records, which is provided separately under the authority of
Public Law 92-342.
The authority for the travel portion of this account was
provided for by section 101 of Public Law 94-59, July 25, 1975.
Orientation and Training.--Funding is provided for expenses
incurred by the Secretary of the Senate to conduct orientation
seminars or similar meetings for Senators, Senate officials, or
members of staffs of Senators or Senate officials, not to
exceed $30,000 under the authority of 2 U.S.C. 6514.
The Office of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the
Senate is also authorized under these provisions to conduct
seminars or similar meetings in the same manner and to the same
extent as the Office of the Secretary of the Senate.
Postage.--This account also provides funding for postage
for the Office of the Secretary of the Senate for special
delivery, registered mail, and additional postage not covered
under the frank.
Education of Senate Pages.--Funding is provided for the
education of Senate pages. Senate Resolution 184, July 29,
1983, authorized the Secretary of the Senate to enter into a
contract, agreement, or other arrangement with the board of
education of the District of Columbia, or to provide such
educational services and items in such other manner as the
Secretary may deem appropriate. Public Law 98-125, October 13,
1983, amended Public Law 98-51, July 14, 1983, striking out the
heading and paragraph ``Education of Pages'' under the heading
``Joint Items'', and redesignated the funds provided in Public
Law 98-51.
Stationery.--Funding is provided for stationery supplies
for the Office of the Secretary of the Senate. The funds
provided have been allocated to the various departments of the
Office of the Secretary.
Senate Commission on Art.--Funding is provided for the
Senate Commission on Art, authorized by Public Law 100-696,
November 18, 1988, to acquire any work of art, historical
object, documents or material relating to historical matters,
or exhibits for placement or exhibition within the Senate wing
of the Capitol, any Senate office building, or in rooms,
spaces, or corridors thereof, and to publish a Senate
historical objects inventory and calendar of exhibits on
display within the Senate wing of the Capitol and Senate office
buildings.
The Senate Commission on Art was formerly the Commission on
Arts and Antiquities, which was authorized by Senate Resolution
382, October 1, 1968, as amended by Senate Resolution 95, April
1, 1977, and Senate Resolution 400, March 23, 1988.
Representation Expenses.--Funding is provided, not to
exceed $50,000, to the Secretary of the Senate to coordinate
and carry out responsibilities in connection with foreign
parliamentary groups or other foreign officials visiting the
United States. Authorized by section 2 of Public Law 101-163,
November 21, 1989.
Office of Conservation and Preservation.--Funding is
provided for the Office of Conservation and Preservation to
develop and coordinate programs directly related to the
conservation and protection of Senate records and materials for
which the Secretary of the Senate has statutory authority.
Book Preservation.--Funding is provided for the Office of
Conservation and Preservation to use outside sources for the
preservation and protection of the Senate book collection,
including historically valuable documents under the care of the
Secretary of the Senate.
Office of Public Records.--Funding is provided for expenses
of the Office of Public Records. This office has evolved
through various pieces of legislation and various
responsibilities authorized by the Federal Election Campaign
Act, as amended, the Ethics in Government Act, as amended, and
the Lobbying Disclosure Act, as amended. Public Law 92-342,
July 10, 1972, authorizes the Secretary of the Senate to
procure technical support services, consultants, use of
detailed employees and travel expenses in carrying out her
duties under the Federal Election Campaign Act of 1971. The
Office of Public Records is mentioned for the first time in
Public Law 93-145, November 1, 1973, which authorizes the
Secretary of the Senate to appoint and fix the compensation of
a superintendent and other positions for the Office of Public
Records. In addition, under the authority of Public Law 95-521,
October 26, 1978 (Ethics in Government Act) reports filed under
section 101 shall be available for public inspection and a copy
of the report shall be provided to any person upon request. Any
person requesting a copy of a report may be required to pay a
reasonable fee to cover the cost of reproduction. Any moneys
received by the Secretary shall be deposited into the Office of
Public Records Revolving Fund under the authority of Public Law
101-163, November 21, 1989. The office also performs functions
such as registration of mass mailings.
Disbursing Office.--Funding is provided for expenses
incurred in the operation of the disbursing office. Typical
expenses for this office include online access charges for the
Department of the Treasury systems, notary bonds, seals and
supplies, necessary supplies in conjunction with the various
machinery maintained in the office, which are not available in
the stationery room, and necessary insurance policies required
for the protection of the disbursing officer of the Senate for
moneys assigned to his/her accountability.
Office of Captioning Services.--Funding is provided for the
closed captioning of the televised Senate floor proceedings for
the hearing impaired. Closed captioning was first authorized
under Public Law 101-163, November 21, 1989.
Senate Chief Counsel for Employment.--Funding is provided
for the Office of the Senate Chief Counsel for Employment. This
office is a nonpartisan office formed in May 1993 at the
direction of the joint leadership and is charged with providing
legal advice and representation of Senate offices in all areas
of employment law.

SERGEANT AT ARMS AND DOORKEEPER OF THE SENATE

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $126,535,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 131,573,000
Committee recommendation................................ 130,076,000

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $130,076,000
for expenses of the Sergeant at Arms, to remain available until
September 30, 2022, which is $3,541,000 above the fiscal year
2017 appropriation and $1,497,000 below the fiscal year 2018
request.
The following table compares the fiscal year 2018 Committee
recommendation for the component categories within this account
to the fiscal year 2018 budget request.

EXPENSES--OFFICE OF THE SERGEANT AT ARMS AND DOORKEEPER
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year Committee
2018 request recommendation Difference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Office of Protective Service and Continuity..................... $6,039,000 $6,039,000
Capitol Operations.............................................. 3,559,000 3,559,000
Operations...................................................... 22,400,000 22,400,000
Chief Information Officer....................................... 98,604,000 97,107,000 ($1,497,000)
Executive and Other Offices..................................... 971,000 971,000
-----------------------------------------------
Grand Total............................................... 131,573,000 130,076,000 (1,497,000)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $20,870,349
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 18,870,349
Committee recommendation................................ 18,870,349

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $18,870,349
for miscellaneous items to remain available until September 30,
2019. Any deviation of more than 10 percent cumulatively from
the stated levels for each item will require the customary
prior approval of the Committee.
The following table sets forth the apportionment of funds
under this appropriation:

FISCAL YEAR 2018 BUDGET--MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS APPORTIONMENT SCHEDULE
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2018 Committee
Item request recommendation Difference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Resolution and reorganization reserve..................... $3,000,000 $3,000,000 ................
...........
Unallocated............................................... 6,000,000 6,000,000 ................
...........
Reserve for contingencies (miscellaneous items)........... 800,000 800,000 ................
...........
Employees' compensation fund reimbursement (worker's ................ ................ ................
compensation)............................................ ........... ........... ...........
Reception of foreign dignitaries (S. Res. 247, dated 30,000 30,000 ................
February 7, 1962, as amended by S. Res. 370, dated ...........
October 10, 2000).......................................
Foreign travel--Members and employees (S. Res. 179, dated 125,000 125,000 ................
May 25, 1977)............................................ ...........
Federal employees compensation account (Public Law 96-499, 1,230,000 1,230,000 ................
dated December 5, 1980) (Unemployment Compensation)...... ...........
Conferences for the Majority and Minority (Public Laws: 97- 300,000 300,000 ................
51, dated January 3, 1983; 101-250, dated November 5, ...........
1990; and 107-68, dated November 12, 2001)...............
Policy Committees for the Majority and Minority (Public 150,000 150,000 ................
Law 104-53, dated November 19, 1995)..................... ...........
Postage\1\................................................ 6,000 6,000 ................
...........
Stationery\2\............................................. 16,500 16,500 ................
...........
Communications\3\......................................... 72,000 72,000 ................
...........
Consultants--including agency contributions (2 U.S.C. 6501 5,000,000 5,000,000 ................
as amended).............................................. ...........
National Security Working Group (S. Res. 480, November 21, 700,000 700,000 ................
2004) (expires December 31, 2012)........................ ...........
Committee on Appropriations (Public Law 105-275, dated 950,000 950,000 ................
October 21, 1998)........................................ ...........
Office of the Chaplain (Public Law 108-199, dated January 50,000 50,000 ................
23, 2004)................................................ ...........
Senate Child Care Center:
Agency Contribution costs authorized by Public Laws 420,000 420,000 ................
102-90, dated August 14, 1991 and 103-50, dated July ...........
2, 1993..............................................
Training classes, conferences, and travel expenses as 20,849 20,849 ................
authorized by Public Law 104-197, dated September 16, ...........
1996.................................................
-----------------------------------------------------
Total............................................. 18,870,349 18,870,349 ................
...........
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

\1\Postage Apportionment (Fiscal year 2018):
President of the Senate.............................. $2,700
Secretary for the Majority........................... 1,100
Secretary for the Minority........................... 1,100
Chaplain............................................. 1,100
---------------

TOTAL.............................................. 6,000
\2\Stationery Apportionment (Fiscal year 2018):
President of the Senate.............................. $8,000
Conference of the Majority........................... 300
Conference of the Minority........................... 300
Chaplain............................................. 700
Senate Chamber....................................... 7,200
---------------

TOTAL.............................................. 16,500
\3\Communications Apportionment (Fiscal year 2018):
Office of the Vice President......................... $1,000
Secretary for the Majority........................... 10,000
Secretary for the Minority........................... 10,000
Office of the Chaplain............................... 1,000
Majority Leader...................................... 15,000
Minority Leader...................................... 15,000
Majority Whip........................................ 10,000
Minority Whip........................................ 10,000
---------------

TOTAL.............................................. 72,000

Veterans Hiring.--The Committee continues to encourage
Members of Congress and their offices to look favorably on
congressional job applicants with previous United States
military service. Through their service, many veterans gain
valuable leadership skills, perseverance, and perspective that
can enhance the legislative process. The Committee encourages
Members to incorporate these veterans' unique skills by
increasing the number of veterans hired in their congressional
offices. The Committee also encourages Congress to evaluate the
potential for a congressional veterans fellowship program.
Resolution and Reorganization Reserve.--This line item is
used to cover the costs of Senate resolutions and public laws
that authorize expenditures from the contingent fund of the
Senate that do not have specific appropriations for such
purpose.
Reserve for Contingencies.--This line item includes payment
for gratuities for family members of deceased Senate employees;
damage to automobiles in the Senate parking lots; contractual,
legal, and administrative services; and miscellaneous expenses,
and is controlled by the Committee on Rules and Administration.
Employees' Compensation Fund Reimbursements (Worker's
Compensation).--Reimbursements made to the U.S. Department of
Labor for total benefits and other payments made on behalf of
Senate employees from the employees' compensation fund. A
provision has been included under general provisions allowing
this payment to be made from expired balances, a practice that
is consistent with the other agencies of the legislative
branch.
Reception of Foreign Dignitaries.--The Committee on Foreign
Relations is authorized to expend not to exceed $30,000 each
fiscal year to receive foreign dignitaries under the authority
of Senate Resolution 247, agreed to February 7, 1962, as
amended.
Foreign Travel: Members and Employees.--Senate Resolution
179, agreed to May 25, 1977, authorized payment from the
contingent fund of the Senate, of the domestic portion of
transportation costs and travel expenses incurred by Members
and employees of the Senate when engaged in authorized foreign
travel.
Federal Employees' Compensation Account (Unemployment
Compensation).--This line item provides for expenses incurred
for the Senate to reimburse the Federal employees' compensation
account, pursuant to Public Law 96-499, approved December 5,
1980, for unemployment compensation payments made to Senate
employees.
Conferences for the Majority and Minority.--The amount
recommended provides for the expenses of the majority and
minority conference committees.
Policy Committees for the Majority and Minority.--The
amount recommended provides for the expenses of the majority
and minority policy committees.
Postage.--Provides for postage allowances for the President
of the Senate, Secretary of the Majority, Secretary of the
Minority, and Senate Chaplain.
Stationery.--Provides funds for stationery and office
supplies for the President of the Senate, conference committees
of the Senate, Office of the Chaplain, and the Senate Chamber.
Communications.--Provides funds for cellular telephone and
mobile data devices and services for the Office of the Vice
President, Secretary for the Majority, Secretary for the
Minority, Office of the Chaplain, Majority Leader, Minority
Leader, Majority Whip, and Minority Whip.
Consultants: Including Agency Contributions.--Provides
authority for the appointment and payment of consultants to the
majority and minority leaders, President pro tempore, President
pro tempore emeritus and the legislative counsel. The following
summarizes the current authority and limitations:
Majority leader: Nine consultants at not to exceed the
daily rate for maximum standing committee rate. All of the
consultants may be appointed at an annual rate of compensation
not to exceed the maximum annual rate for a standing committee.
Minority leader: Nine consultants at not to exceed the
daily rate for maximum standing committee rate. All of the
consultants may be appointed at an annual rate of compensation
not to exceed the maximum annual rate for a standing committee.
Legislative counsel (subject to President Pro Tempore
approval): Two consultants at not to exceed the daily rate for
maximum standing committee rate. All of the consultants may be
appointed at an annual rate of compensation not to exceed the
maximum annual rate for a standing committee.
President Pro Tempore: Three consultants at not to exceed
the daily rate for maximum standing committee rate. The
consultants may be appointed at an annual rate of compensation
not to exceed the maximum annual rate for a standing committee.
President Pro Tempore Emeritus: One consultant at not to
exceed the daily rate for maximum standing committee rate. The
consultant may be appointed at an annual rate of compensation
not to exceed the maximum annual rate for a standing committee.
Senate National Security Working Group.--Provides funding
for the Senate National Security Working Group, under the
authority of Senate Resolution 75, agreed to March 25, 1999.
The Senate National Security Working Group was formerly the
Senate Arms Control Observer Group.
Committee on Appropriations.--Pursuant to Public Law 105-
275 provides funding for administrative expenses for the
Committee on Appropriations.
Senate Employees' Child Care Center: Agency
Contributions.--Provides for the payment of agency contribution
costs as authorized by Public Law 102-90, approved August 14,
1991, and Public Law 103-50, approved July 2, 1993, for
employees of the Senate Employees Child Care Center. The Senate
Employees' Child Care Center is intended primarily for the
children of members and employees of the Senate.
Senate Employees' Child Care Center: Training Classes and
Conference Costs.--Provides for the reimbursement of any
individual employed by the Senate Employees' Child Care Center
for the cost of training classes and conferences in connection
with the provision of child care services and for travel,
transportation, and subsistence expenses incurred in connection
with the training classes and conferences, as authorized by
Public Law 104-197, approved September 16, 1996.
Student Loan Repayment Program.--$6,000,000 is provided for
this program for fiscal year 2018 for the repayment of student
loans, for eligible employees at the discretion of the
employing office, to enhance recruitment and retention of
Senate staff. The bill includes a provision making a technical
change to the program.
Senate Internships.--The Committee believes that Senate
internships should be available to the broadest possible pool
of candidates who have the ability and interest to serve. The
Committee intends to seek information on the extent to which
paid internships would expand opportunity and how such programs
might be implemented to the benefit of Member and Committee
offices and their constituents.
Transit Subsidy for Interns.--The Committee is aware that
the Senate community has expressed an interest in providing
Senate interns the benefit of the public transportation subsidy
and strongly supports this sentiment. The Committee directs the
Secretary of the Senate, in coordination with the Committee on
Rules and Administration, to identify the changes necessary to
both Senate Resolutions and regulations to enable expenditures
for public transportation benefits from the contingent fund of
the Senate to unpaid interns. The Committee asks the
Secretary's office to report back to the Committee following
completion of this effort.

SENATORS' OFFICIAL PERSONNEL AND OFFICE EXPENSE ACCOUNT

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $390,000,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 452,634,720
Committee recommendation................................ 404,000,000

The Committee recommends an appropriation for fiscal year
2018 of $404,000,000 for the Senators' Official Personnel and
Office Expense Account [SOPOEA]. The recommendation is
$14,000,000 above the fiscal year 2017 appropriation and
$48,634,720 below the fiscal year 2018 request. Of the funding
provided, $19,122,504 is available until September 30, 2019.
This account funds salaries and benefits of Senators'
staffs as well as the office expense allowance for Senators'
offices. The SOPOEA is comprised of three components. Two of
these are for salaries of personnel in Senators' offices.
The allowance for administrative and clerical assistance is
based on the population of States, beginning with States with a
population of fewer than 5 million people to States with a
population of 28 million or more. The table illustrates the
allowances per population category and the States which fall
into those categories. The estimate for fiscal year 2018 totals
$274,438,948.
The second component of the salaries allowance is for
legislative assistance to Senators, as authorized by Public Law
95-94. This allowance provides funding for three positions in
each Senator's office for a total of $482,958 per office, or
$48,295,800 for all 100 Senators.
The third component of the SOPOEA account is for official
office expenses and totals $19,122,504. Each Senator's office
is allocated an amount for office expenses, as displayed in the
following table. In addition, an amount of $188,000 is provided
to cover additional expenses that may be incurred in the event
of the death or resignation of a Senator, and to provide for
transitional expenses during election years subject to
regulations set by the Committee on Rules and Administration
with respect to official mail.
It should be noted that the amounts provided for the
various components of the SOPOEA are interchangeable. Amounts
provided for salaries may be used for expenses, and vice versa,
subject to regulations set by the Committee on Rules and
Administration with respect to official mail. It should also be
noted that the figures in the following table are preliminary,
and that official notification of member budgets is issued by
the Financial Clerk of the Senate after enactment of this bill.
The following table illustrates the several components of
the SOPOEA, and assumes the estimated 2.4 percent COLA for
calendar year 2018, and a 1 percent increase for cybersecurity
as described below. These allocations are subject to change
based on the final disposition of the fiscal year 2018 COLA.

COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION FOR SENATORS' OFFICIAL PERSONNEL AND OFFICE EXPENSE ALLOWANCE FISCAL YEAR 2018
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Administrative
and clerical Legislative O.O.E.A. Total
State assistance assistance allowance 1/1/ allowance 1/1/
allowance 1/1/ allowance 1/1/ 2018 2018
2018 2018
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Alabama......................................... $2,587,374 $482,958 $173,376 $3,243,708
Alaska.......................................... 2,587,374 482,958 239,818 3,310,150
Arizona......................................... 2,739,558 482,958 198,683 3,421,199
Arkansas........................................ 2,587,374 482,958 160,167 3,230,499
California...................................... 4,112,084 482,958 457,275 5,052,317
Colorado........................................ 2,663,462 482,958 182,786 3,329,206
Connecticut..................................... 2,587,374 482,958 152,702 3,223,034
Delaware........................................ 2,587,374 482,958 122,428 3,192,760
Florida......................................... 3,722,623 482,958 305,245 4,510,826
Georgia......................................... 3,043,930 482,958 207,910 3,734,798
Hawaii.......................................... 2,587,374 482,958 266,877 3,337,209
Idaho........................................... 2,587,374 482,958 157,922 3,228,254
Illinois........................................ 3,196,113 482,958 249,639 3,928,710
Indiana......................................... 2,739,558 482,958 183,338 3,405,854
Iowa............................................ 2,587,374 482,958 161,067 3,231,399
Kansas.......................................... 2,587,374 482,958 159,153 3,229,485
Kentucky........................................ 2,587,374 482,958 167,235 3,237,567
Louisiana....................................... 2,587,374 482,958 176,393 3,246,725
Maine........................................... 2,587,374 482,958 140,666 3,210,998
Maryland........................................ 2,739,558 482,958 164,590 3,387,106
Massachusetts................................... 2,739,558 482,958 186,564 3,409,080
Michigan........................................ 3,043,930 482,958 218,246 3,745,134
Minnesota....................................... 2,663,462 482,958 178,745 3,325,165
Mississippi..................................... 2,587,374 482,958 159,192 3,229,524
Missouri........................................ 2,739,558 482,958 186,006 3,408,522
Montana......................................... 2,587,374 482,958 154,407 3,224,739
Nebraska........................................ 2,587,374 482,958 152,698 3,223,030
Nevada.......................................... 2,587,374 482,958 169,250 3,239,582
New Hampshire................................... 2,587,374 482,958 136,278 3,206,610
New Jersey...................................... 2,891,742 482,958 193,689 3,568,389
New Mexico...................................... 2,587,374 482,958 159,167 3,229,499
New York........................................ 3,673,937 482,958 304,444 4,461,339
North Carolina.................................. 3,043,930 482,958 208,137 3,735,025
North Dakota.................................... 2,587,374 482,958 143,335 3,213,667
Ohio............................................ 3,120,024 482,958 236,643 3,839,625
Oklahoma........................................ 2,587,374 482,958 170,858 3,241,190
Oregon.......................................... 2,587,374 482,958 182,441 3,252,773
Pennsylvania.................................... 3,196,113 482,958 244,007 3,923,078
Rhode Island.................................... 2,587,374 482,958 132,101 3,202,433
South Carolina.................................. 2,587,374 482,958 167,631 3,237,963
South Dakota.................................... 2,587,374 482,958 144,342 3,214,674
Tennessee....................................... 2,739,558 482,958 186,078 3,408,594
Texas........................................... 4,063,397 482,958 362,559 4,908,914
Utah............................................ 2,587,374 482,958 164,695 3,235,027
Vermont......................................... 2,587,374 482,958 129,818 3,200,150
Virginia........................................ 2,891,742 482,958 187,436 3,562,136
Washington...................................... 2,815,648 482,958 208,662 3,507,268
West Virginia................................... 2,587,374 482,958 138,969 3,209,301
Wisconsin....................................... 2,663,462 482,958 181,638 3,328,058
Wyoming......................................... 2,587,374 482,958 145,946 3,216,278
TOTAL..................................... 139,689,419 24,147,900 9,561,252 173,398,571
===============================================================
x2 x2 x2 x2
---------------------------------------------------------------
GRAND TOTAL..................................... 279,378,838 48,295,800 19,122,504 346,797,142
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

According to the most recent employment data compiled by
the Secretary of the Senate, as of June 30, 2017, there were
4,101 individuals employed in Senators' offices throughout the
United States and covered by this appropriation.
In addition to providing funds for compensation of
employees within Senators' offices, this appropriation also
provides for agency contributions for those employees; that is,
the Senate's share, as an employer, of the various employee
benefit programs for which Senate employees are eligible. These
payments are mandatory, and fluctuate according to the programs
in which employees are enrolled, the level of compensation, and
the degree of participation. Budget requests for this account
prepared by the Financial Clerk must be based on both
experience and evaluation of trends. The fiscal year 2018
funding level for this account anticipates $112,944,000 in
agency contribution costs.
The Committee provides an additional 1 percent increase for
office allocations in acknowledgement and support of increasing
costs related to providing cybersecurity for Senator's offices.
The amount recommended by the Committee for the SOPOEA is
less than would be required to cover all obligations that could
be incurred under the authorized allowances for all Senators.
The Committee is able to recommend an appropriation of a lesser
amount than potentially necessary because Senators typically do
not obligate funds up to the absolute ceiling of their
respective allowances. However, an increase in the
appropriation is necessary in fiscal year 2018 due to updated
expenditure projections.

OFFICIAL MAIL COSTS

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $300,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 300,000
Committee recommendation................................ 300,000

For the official mail costs of the Senate, the Committee
recommends an appropriation of $300,000 which is equal to the
fiscal year 2017 appropriation and the fiscal year 2018
request.

Administrative Provisions

Sec. 101. This provision requires that amounts remaining in
the Senators' Official Personnel and Office Expense Account be
used for deficit reduction or to reduce the Federal debt.
Sec. 102. This provision exempts the Senate from the
requirements of 41 U.S.C. 6101.
Sec. 103. This provision relates to the cost of living
adjustments for Members of Congress.
Sec. 104. This provision is a technical change to the
Student Loan program.
Sec. 105. This provision relates to electronic filings with
the Federal Election Commission.

JOINT ITEMS

Joint Economic Committee

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $4,203,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 4,203,000
Committee recommendation................................ 4,203,000

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $4,203,000 for
the Joint Economic Committee [JEC]. The recommendation is equal
to the fiscal year 2017 appropriation and the fiscal year 2018
request. The Joint Economic Committee was created by the
Employment Act of 1946. The primary tasks of the JEC are to
review economic conditions and to recommend improvements in
economic policy. The JEC performs research and economic
analysis, and monitors and analyzes current economic,
financial, and employment conditions.

Joint Committee on Taxation

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $10,095,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 11,169,000
Committee recommendation................................ 10,095,000

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $10,095,000
for salaries and expenses of the Joint Committee on Taxation.
The recommendation is equal to the fiscal year 2017
appropriation and $1,445,000 below the fiscal year 2018
request.
The Joint Committee is established under the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986 to:
--investigate the operation and effects of internal revenue
taxes and the administration of such taxes;
--investigate measures and methods for the simplification of
such taxes;
--make reports to the House Committee on Ways and Means and
the Senate Committee on Finance (or to the House and
the Senate) on the results of such investigations and
studies and to make recommendations; and
--review any proposed refund or credit of income or estate
and gift taxes or certain other taxes set forth in Code
section 6405 in excess of $2,000,000. In addition to
these functions that are specified in the Internal
Revenue Code, the Congressional Budget Act of 1974
requires the Joint Committee to provide revenue
estimates for all tax legislation considered by either
the House of Representatives or the Senate.

Office of the Attending Physician

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $3,838,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 3,838,000
Committee recommendation................................ 3,838,000

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $3,838,000 for
the Office of the Attending Physician. The recommendation is
equal to the fiscal year 2017 appropriation the fiscal year
2018 request. The Office was first established by House
Resolution 253, adopted December 5, 1928.

Office of Congressional Accessibility Services

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $1,429,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 1,444,000
Committee recommendation................................ 1,429,000

The Committee recommends $1,429,000 for the Office of
Congressional Accessibility Services. This office is a
successor to the Special Services Office following enactment of
the Capitol Visitor Center Act of 2008.
The Office of Congressional Accessibility Services [OCAS]
provides and coordinates accessibility services for individuals
with disabilities, including Members of Congress, staff, and
visitors to the U.S. Capitol complex. These services include
sign language interpreting, adaptive tours, and wheelchair
loans. OCAS also provides information regarding accessibility
for individuals with disabilities, as well as related training
and staff development to Members of Congress and employees of
the Senate and House of Representatives.

CAPITOL POLICE

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $393,300,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 422,307,000
Committee recommendation................................ 422,500,000

The United States Capitol Police [USCP] is charged with the
protection of the United States Congress, its legislative
processes, Members, employees, visitors and facilities within
the U.S. Capitol complex from crime, disruption or terrorism,
so that the Congress may fulfill its constitutional
responsibilities in a safe and open environment.
The Committee recommends $422,500,000 for the USCP. The
recommendation is $29,200,000 above the fiscal year 2017
appropriation and $193,000 above the fiscal year 2018 request.
Within the recommendation, $7,500,000 is included for
enhanced personal security for Members of Congress in
accordance with additional needs identified by the USCP in
response to the shooting in Alexandria, Virginia on June 14,
2017. As that event highlighted, evolving threats include the
physical targeting of Members of Congress, both off the Capitol
campus and outside of official business hours. In addition to
securing the Capitol campus, the Committee finds that ensuring
the continuity of government must include protecting the
physical security of Members of Congress using a risk-based
approach.
To ensure that funding provided to USCP and the Senate
Sergeant At Arms [SAA] supports this mission, the Committee
directs the USCP and the SAA to develop and implement a plan to
assign specific, designated staff to be responsible for
communication with Member offices and outside organizations in
order to identify events, gatherings, field hearings, domestic
travel, and other occasions that might pose a risk to Member
security, to assess that risk, and, if warranted, to provide
appropriate security for such occasion. The Committee directs
that the USCP and SAA provide a written report to the Committee
within 60 days of enactment on the details of such plan and the
timeline for fully implementing such plan. In addition, the
Committee directs the USCP and SAA to develop a training plan
for DC-based and home state based Senate staff who routinely
accompany Members off campus and on travel so that staff are
well prepared to handle any emergency that arises in the course
of traveling with a Member.
Security Assessment.--The dynamic threat environment
requires continual monitoring and assessment in order to best
protect constituents, visitors, and Members of Congress. The
Committee appreciates the USCP's constant vigilance in these
efforts. The Committee directs the USCP to provide, within 180
days of enactment, a report summarizing the most recent
comprehensive security assessment of the most current threats
to the Capitol complex and to Members outside of the complex.
The report should describe how current spending and requested
spending specifically support identified risks and related
mitigation efforts. The report should also include strategies
for protecting Members off campus, for responding to threats
received online, and working with local law enforcement.
K-9 Explosive Ordnance Dogs.--The USCP use K-9 explosive
ordnance dogs at multiple posts for searching vehicles entering
the Capitol complex. The Committee finds that these animals are
a critical component of ensuring the safety of Members, staff,
and visitors throughout the complex. The dogs perform their
functions in all weather conditions, including the extreme heat
of the summer months. The conditions, combined with the high
volume of vehicular traffic, can be distracting for the dogs
and could potentially reduce their effectiveness on post. The
Committee directs the USCP to work with the Architect of the
Capitol to implement measures designed to protect the health
and increase the productivity of these working animals in order
to maintain the security of the Capitol complex.

Salaries

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $325,300,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 347,096,000
Committee recommendation................................ 347,700,000

The amount provided covers salaries, benefits, and overtime
costs. USCP personnel are also eligible for hazardous duty pay
and comparability pay similar to locality pay adjustments
granted other Federal law enforcement personnel in the
Washington, DC, area.
The Committee recommends $347,700,000 for USCP salaries,
which is $22,400,000 above the fiscal year 2017 appropriation
and $604,000 above the fiscal year 2018 request. The Committee
recommendation provides half year funding for an additional 72
sworn and 48 civilian officers.
USCP Office of Inspector General.--The Committee includes
funds to support not less than six FTEs within the USCP Office
of Inspector General. The Committee notes that additional
oversight of the USCP is conducted by the Government
Accountability Office to supplement the work of the USCP Office
of Inspector General, as needed.
Overtime.--The Committee recommends no more than
$45,000,000 for overtime in fiscal year 2018. This provides for
approximately 564,646 hours of additional duty.
The Committee notes that overtime pay is a standard
practice law enforcement entities utilize to respond to
unscheduled and unanticipated events. However, the Committee
finds that keeping overtime pay at a minimum should continue to
be a goal of the USCP. The Committee appreciates the efforts of
the USCP to better track and manage overtime pay in order to
keep overtime costs to a minimum. The Committee directs the
USCP to continue to keep the Committee apprised of these
efforts.
The Committee directs the USCP to provide for overtime in
accordance with the budget request, as provided for in the
following table.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hours
Funding estimated
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Scheduled, (including training)......... $44,170,000 $658,580
Unscheduled............................. 2,590,000 40,000
LOC--non-reimbursable events............ 240,000 3,700
-------------------------------
Total............................. 45,000,000 702,280
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The recommendation does not include funds for USCP overtime
for requirements associated with major construction projects
undertaken by the Architect of the Capitol [AOC] as those funds
are provided to the AOC as part of the overall project costs
for those major projects and are paid to the USCP on a
reimbursable basis. The Committee expects the USCP to operate
within the designated funding level for requirements associated
with each project. The Committee directs the USCP to provide
for any additional requirement costs beyond that allocation.

General Expenses

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $68,000,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 75,211,000
Committee recommendation................................ 74,800,000

Expenses include office supplies and equipment,
communications, motor vehicles, uniforms and equipment,
investigations, training, and miscellaneous items.
The Committee recommends $74,800,000 for general expenses,
which is $6,800,000 above the fiscal year 2017 appropriation
and $411,000 below the fiscal year 2018 request.

OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE

Salaries and Expenses

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $3,959,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 4,055,902
Committee recommendation................................ 3,959,000

The Office of Compliance [OOC] is an independent
nonpartisan agency established to administer and enforce the
Congressional Accountability Act [CAA]. The OOC administers the
dispute resolution system established to resolve disagreements
that arise under the CAA; carries out an education and training
program for the regulated community on the rights and
responsibilities of the CAA; and advises Congress on needed
changes and amendments to the CAA. The OOC General Counsel has
independent investigatory and enforcement authority for certain
violations of the CAA.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $3,959,000 for
the salaries and expenses of the OOC, which is equal to the
fiscal year 2017 enacted level and $96,902 below the fiscal
year 2018 request.

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE

Salaries and Expenses

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $46,500,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 49,945,000
Committee recommendation................................ 48,100,000

The Congressional Budget Office [CBO] is responsible for
providing to the Congress objective, nonpartisan, and timely
analyses to aid in economic and budgetary decisions on the wide
array of programs covered by the Federal budget, and the
information and estimates required for the congressional budget
process.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $48,100,000
for the CBO. The recommendation is $1,600,000 above the fiscal
year 2017 appropriation and $1,875,000 below the fiscal year
2018 request.
The recommendation includes $1,100,000 for the relocation
of CBO's data center. Funding is also provided for four
additional analysts to support healthcare analysis, economic
analysis, and scorekeeping.

ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL

The Office of the Architect of the Capitol [AOC] is
responsible to the United States Congress for the maintenance,
operation, development, and preservation of 16.5 million square
feet of buildings and more than 450 acres of land throughout
the Capitol complex. This includes the Capitol, the Capitol
Visitor Center, the House and Senate office buildings, the
Library of Congress buildings, the U.S. Botanic Garden, the
Capitol Power Plant, and other facilities. The AOC also
provides professional expertise with regard to the preservation
of architectural and artistic elements entrusted to its care,
and provides recommendations concerning design, construction,
and maintenance of the facilities and grounds.
The Committee has recommended a funding level of
$454,014,724 for activities of the Architect of the Capitol,
excluding the House Office Buildings account. The
recommendation is $38,858,724 above the fiscal year 2017
appropriation and $141,993,276 below the fiscal year 2018
request.
The following table compares the Committee recommendation
for the AOC accounts to the fiscal year 2018 request, excluding
the House Office Buildings account.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2018 Committee
Item request recommendation Difference
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Capital Construction and Operations....................... $98,360,000 $91,589,000 $(6,771,000)
Capitol Building.......................................... 54,898,000 46,125,000 (8,773,000)
Capitol Grounds........................................... 14,279,000 11,880,000 (2,399,000)
Senate Office Buildings................................... 110,037,000 110,346,000 +309,000
Capitol Power Plant....................................... 108,205,000 102,628,724 (5,576,276)
Library Buildings and Grounds............................. 121,182,000 27,443,000 (93,739,000)
Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds, and Security........... 54,177,000 30,833,000 (23,344,000)
Botanic Garden............................................ 13,400,000 12,613,000 (787,000)
Capitol Visitor Center.................................... 21,470,000 20,557,000 (913,000)
-----------------------------------------------------
Total............................................... 596,008,000 454,014,724 (150,993,276)
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Outdoor Recycling.--The Committee commends the efforts of
the Architect of the Capitol and the United States Capitol
Police [USCP] for implementing outdoor recycling programs on
the Capitol grounds while maintaining security of the complex.
The Committee encourages the Architect of the Capitol and the
USCP to continue to collaborate and work together to expand
these efforts where appropriate in high-traffic areas across
the Capitol complex.
Financial Management.--The Committee commends the AOC for
earning an unmodified audit opinion, without any material
weaknesses, on its financial statements for fiscal year 2016.
The AOC was also recognized with the CEAR award: Celebrating
Excellence in Accounting Reporting. An unmodified opinion is
the highest rating that may be received from an external
auditor, and the AOC has earned this rating for 13 consecutive
years. This positive independent assessment of the agency's
financial stewardship of taxpayer resources demonstrates the
agency's strong financial foundation as it embarks on major
restoration and renovation projects.
Office of Inspector General.--The Committee is encouraged
by the substantial progress made by the Architect of the
Capitol Inspector General [AOC IG] to improve communications
with Congress, conform with Generally Accepted Government
Auditing Standards, and commit to independence. The Committee
looks forward to benefiting from the AOC IG's future findings
and recommendations to improve the efficiency and effectiveness
of the AOC's operations. The Committee feels strongly that the
AOC IG must maintain a staffing level commensurate with the
scale of AOC's vast portfolio of operations, constructions, and
contract oversight. Within funds provided, the Committee
directs the AOC IG to employ not fewer than 14 full-time
equivalent positions during fiscal year 2018. The Committee
also directs the AOC to ensure that sufficient funding is
available for contracts and other expenses identified by the
AOC IG to fulfill its mission. Finally, the Committee
reiterates that the independence of the AOC IG is of the utmost
importance.

Capital Construction and Operations

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $92,957,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 98,360,000
Committee recommendation................................ 91,589,000

The Capital Construction and Operations appropriation
provides funding for salaries and related benefits of the
Architect, officers, administrative and support staff,
including engineering and architecture employees. This account
also provides for administrative items such as agency-wide
contractual services; surveys and studies; information
technology; and safety engineering operations.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $91,589,000
for capital construction and operations. The recommendation is
$1,368,000 below the fiscal year 2017 appropriation and
$6,771,000 below the fiscal year 2018 request.

Capitol Building

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $32,584,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 54,898,000
Committee recommendation................................ 46,125,000

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $46,125,000
for necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and operation
of the Capitol, which is $13,541,000 above the fiscal year 2017
appropriation and $8,773,000 below the fiscal year 2018
request. Of the amount recommended, $22,125,000 shall remain
available until September 30, 2022.
Miscellaneous Improvements Notifications.--The Committee
appreciates the AOC's efforts to document and notify the
Committee of ``Miscellaneous Improvements'' projects, which are
completed projects that costs less than $5,000 for labor and
materials. The Committee directs the AOC to provide quarterly
reports on Miscellaneous Improvements projects, including a
description and cost of each project and the status of total
funding set aside for this purpose.
The following table displays the budget detail.

CAPITOL BUILDING
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amount Committee
Item requested recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fiscal Year 2018 Operating Budget

-------------------------------
Subtotal, Operating Budget........ $25,842,000 $24,000,000
===============================

Fiscal Year 2018 Project Budget

Exterior Stone & Metal Preservation, 17,125,000 17,125,000
East Facade, Phase IV..................
Senate Reception Room Restoration & 4,598,000 -
Conservation...........................
Conservation of Fine and Architectural 599,000 -
Art....................................
Minor Construction...................... 5,000,000 5,000,000
-------------------------------
Subtotal, Project Budget.......... 29,056,000 22,125,000
===============================
Total, Capitol Building........... 54,898,000 46,125,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Capitol Grounds

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $12,826,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 14,279,000
Committee recommendation................................ 11,880,000

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $11,880,000
for Capitol Grounds for the care and improvements of the
grounds surrounding the Capitol, the Senate and House office
buildings, and the Capitol Power Plant. The recommendation is
$946,000 below the fiscal year 2017 appropriation and
$2,399,000 below the fiscal year 2018 request. Of the amount
recommended, $2,000,000 shall remain available until September
30, 2022.
The following table displays the budget detail:

CAPITOL GROUNDS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amount Committee
Item requested recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fiscal Year 2018 Operating Budget

-------------------------------
Subtotal, Operating Budget........ $10,138,000 $9,880,000
===============================

Fiscal Year 2018 Project Budget

Capitol Square Infrastructure Repair.... 2,141,000 -
Minor Construction...................... 2,000,000 2,000,000
-------------------------------
Subtotal, Project Budget.......... 4,141,000 2,000,000
===============================
Total, Capitol Grounds............ 14,279,000 11,880,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Senate Office Buildings

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $88,406,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 110,037,000
Committee recommendation................................ 110,346,000

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $110,346,000
for maintenance of the Senate office buildings. The
recommendation is $21,970,000 above the fiscal year 2017
appropriation and $309,000 above the fiscal year 2018 request.
Of the amount recommended, $49,884,000 shall remain available
until September 30, 2022.
The following table displays the budget detail:

SENATE OFFICE BUILDINGS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amount Committee
Item requested recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal Year 2018 Operating Budget

-------------------------------
Subtotal, Operating Budget........ $60,153,000 $60,462,000
===============================

Fiscal Year 2018 Project Budget

Exterior Envelope Repair & Restoration, 16,947,000 16,947,000
Phases IV & V, RSOB....................
Senate Underground Garage Renovations & 28,937,000 28,937,000
Landscape Restoration, Phase III.......
Minor Construction...................... 4,000,000 4,000,000
-------------------------------
Subtotal, Project Budget.......... 49,884,000 49,884,000
===============================
Total, Senate Office Buildings.... 110,037,000 110,346,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Russell Senate Office Building.--The Committee appreciates
that the AOC has continued to make significant progress on
implementing solutions recommended by a Blue Ribbon Panel to
address potential fire hazards in the Russell Senate Office
Building. The Committee directs the AOC to provide a work plan
detailing funding and timeline for full completion of the
remainder of the project within 30 days of enactment.
Senate Restaurants.--The Committee continues to be deeply
troubled by findings by the Architect of the Capitol [AOC] and
the Department of Labor [DOL] that the food service provider
for the Senate underpaid many of its employees by
misclassifying their work duties. The Committee notes that, as
a result of these labor violations, the DOL initiated debarment
proceedings to prevent the contractor and its principal officer
from serving as Federal contractors. The Committee is concerned
about the possibility of continued problems with contract
compliance, especially related to treatment of employees.
It is noted that the Architect has committed, including in
written correspondence to and meetings with Members of the
United State Senate, to fully institute comprehensive reforms
of the AOC's oversight of Senate restaurant contracts. Reforms
include, but are not limited to: increasing the number of
dedicated AOC staff to the oversight of restaurant contracts
and ensuring such staff maintain a close and continuing
connection to the Senate community; coordinating detailed,
ongoing audits of employee wage rates and wage classifications;
determining if areas of improvement to the contractor's pay
administration practices exist so that information is readily
available and transparent to contract employees; facilitating
training on applicable labor laws for both AOC staff and
relevant contract staff; ensuring the contractor maintains a
full-time, dedicated human resources manager on site; and
ensuring specific improvements in contractor communications
with its employees, including for communications to be
available in multiple languages, as needed, and ensuring
contractor employees have convenient access to report possible
violations.
The Committee directs the AOC to continue to closely
monitor contract compliance, including routinely reviewing wage
classifications, and to fully operationalize such monitoring
into standard operating procedures. The Committee also directs
AOC to immediately report any inconsistencies to the Committee
on Appropriations and the Committee on Rules and Administration
and to consider all recourses in ensuring compliance and
accountability with the contract. Finally, the Committee
directs the AOC Inspector General to monitor and evaluate AOC's
oversight of contract compliance and monitoring of employee
compensation and overall working conditions.

Capitol Power Plant

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $86,646,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 108,205,000
Committee recommendation................................ 102,628,724

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $102,628,724
for the operations of the Capitol Power Plant. This is
supplemented by $9,000 in reimbursements, for a total of
$111,628,724. The recommendation is $15,982,724 above the
fiscal year 2017 appropriation and $5,576,276 below the fiscal
year 2018 request. Of the amount provided, $25,487,724 shall
remain available until September 30, 2022.
The Power Plant provides heat, light, power, and air-
conditioning for the Capitol, Senate and House office
buildings, and the Library of Congress buildings; heat, light,
and power for the Botanic Garden and the Senate and House
Garages; light for the Capitol Grounds' street, park, and
floodlighting system; steam heat for the Government Publishing
Office and Washington City Post Office, also known as Postal
Square; and steam heat and air-conditioning for the Union
Station complex, Folger Shakespeare Library, the Thurgood
Marshall Federal Judiciary Building, and the U.S. Supreme Court
Building on a reimbursable basis.
Within the operating budget, the recommended amount for the
purchase of electricity from the local private utility, payment
to the government of the District of Columbia for the provision
of water and sewer services, and the procurement of boiler
fuel, is displayed in the following table.

FISCAL YEAR 2018 ESTIMATED UTILITY COSTS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Cost
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Purchase of electrical energy........................... $26,055,000
Purchase of natural gas................................. 14,570,000
Purchase of steam....................................... 750,000
Purchase of chilled water............................... 750,000
Purchase of oil......................................... 1,411,000
Purchase of solid fuel.................................. 500,000
Water and Sewer payments................................ 7,500,000
Utilities for Postal Square............................. 725,000
Energy Saving Performance Contracts..................... 13,403,000
---------------
Energy Reduction Services Contract...................... 650,000
---------------
Total............................................. 66,314,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The balance of this appropriation supports a workforce to
operate and maintain the Power Plant.
The following table displays the budget detail:

CAPITOL POWER PLANT
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amount Committee
Item requested recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fiscal Year 2018 Operating Budget

---------------------------------
Subtotal, Operating Budget...... $78,637,000 $77,141,000
=================================

Fiscal Year 2018 Project Budget

WRP Chiller System Replacement, RPR, 20,721,000 19,190,000
Phase IV, CPP........................
City Water Piping Replacement......... 2,866,000 2,297,724
Cogeneration Management Program....... 964,000 -
Boiler Feedwater Piping Replacement... 1,017,000 -
Minor Construction.................... 4,00,000 4,00,000
---------------------------------
Subtotal, Project Budget........ 29,568,000 25,487,724
=================================
Total, Capitol Power Plant...... 108,205,000 102,628,724
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Library Buildings and Grounds

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $47,080,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 121,182,000
Committee recommendation................................ 27,443,000

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $27,443,000
for the care and maintenance of the Library buildings and
grounds by the Architect of the Capitol, of which $2,500,000
shall remain available until September 30, 2021. The
recommendation is $19,637,000 below the fiscal year 2017
appropriation and $93,739,000 below the fiscal year 2018
request.
The following table displays the budget detail:

LIBRARY BUILDINGS AND GROUNDS
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amount Committee
Item requested recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fiscal Year 2018 Operating Budget

-------------------------------
Subtotal, Operating Budget........ $27,373,000 $24,943,000
===============================

Fiscal Year 2018 Project Budget

Collection Storage Module 6, Ft. Meade.. 45,000,000 -
North Exit Stair B, Phase II, TJB....... 17,577,000 -
Copper Roof Replacement and Fall 12,496,000 -
Protection, Phase I, JAB...............
Emergency Lighting System Upgrade, TJB.. 7,195,000 -
Emergency Generator Replacement, TJB.... 6,240,000 -
Fire Alarm and Availability Upgrade, 1,577,000 -
JMMB...................................
Exterior Envelope Repair and 1,224,000 -
Restoration, JAB.......................
Minor Construction...................... 2,500,000 2,500,000
-------------------------------
Subtotal, Project Budget.......... 93,809 2,500,000
===============================
Total, Library Buildings & Grounds 121,182,000 27,443,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds, and Security

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $20,033,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 54,177,000
Committee recommendation................................ 30,833,000

The Committee recommends $30,833,000 for Capitol Police
Buildings, Grounds, and Security, which is $10,800,000 above
the fiscal year 2017 appropriation and $23,344,000 below the
fiscal year 2018 request. Of this amount, $13,300,000 shall
remain available until September 30, 2022.
The following table displays the budget detail:

CAPITOL POLICE BUILDINGS, GROUNDS, AND SECURITY
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amount Committee
Item requested recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fiscal Year 2018 Operating Budget

-------------------------------
Subtotal, Operating Budget........ $21,949,000 $17,533,000
===============================

Fiscal Year 2018 Project Budget

Chiller Replacement and Chilled Water 14,687,000 -
System Expansion, Phase I, ACF.........
Barrier Lifecycle and Perimeter Security 8,300,000 8,300,000
Kiosk Replacement, Phase II............
USCP Conduit Installation Phase II, OSP. 2,743,000 -
Foundation Alarm Installation, OSP...... 1,498,000 -
Minor Construction...................... 5,000,000 5,000,000
-------------------------------
Subtotal, Project Budget.......... 32,228,000 13,300,000
===============================
Total, Capitol Police Buildings & 54,117,000 30,833,000
Grounds..........................
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Botanic Garden

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $14,067,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 13,400,000
Committee recommendation................................ 12,613,000

The Committee recommends $12,613,000 for salaries and
expenses of the Botanic Garden. The recommendation is
$1,454,000 below the fiscal year 2017 appropriation and
$787,000 below the fiscal year budget request 2018 request. Of
this amount, $2,600,000 shall remain available until September
30, 2022.
The following table displays the budget detail:

BOTANIC GARDEN
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amount Committee
Item requested recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fiscal Year 2018 Operating Budget

-------------------------------
Subtotal, Operating Budget........ $10,800,000 $10,013,000
===============================

Fiscal Year 2018 Project Budget

Minor Construction...................... 2,600,000 2,600,000
-------------------------------
Subtotal, Project Budget.......... 2,600,000 2,600,000
===============================
Total, Botanic Garden............. 13,400,000 12,613,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Capitol Visitor Center

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $20,557,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 21,470,000
Committee recommendation................................ 20,557,000

The Committee recommends a total of $20,557,000 for the
operation of the Capitol Visitor Center. The recommendation is
equal to the fiscal year 2017 appropriation and $913,000 below
the fiscal year 2018 request.
The following table displays the budget detail:

CAPITOL VISITOR CENTER
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Amount Committee
Item requested recommendation
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Fiscal Year 2018 Operating Budget

-------------------------------
Subtotal, Operating Budget........ $21,470,000 $20,557,000
===============================
Total, Capitol Visitor Center..... 21,470,000 20,557,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Administrative Provisions

Sec. 110. This provision prohibits payment of bonuses to
contractors behind schedule or over budget.
Sec. 111. This provision prohibits the expenditure of funds
for scrims containing photographs of building facades for
projects performed by the Architect of the Capitol.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

The Library of Congress is the largest library in the world
and an unmatched source of information for Congress, the
American people and beyond. The Library acquires, registers,
preserves, protects and makes accessible the creative record of
the United States. It is the main research arm of the United
States Congress and its resources and services are used by
millions of people every month. Its mission is to support the
Congress in fulfilling its constitutional duties and to further
the progress of knowledge and creativity for the benefit of the
American people. The Library's collections include more than
162 million items (books, photographs, maps, sound recordings,
films, sheet music, legal materials) in 470 languages. Digital
technology is transforming the way the Library does its work,
and the institution plays an important leadership role in
superimposing digital library collections and services on those
that are analog based. The Library of Congress houses the
Congressional Research Service, U.S. Copyright Office, National
Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped, Law
Library of Congress, and numerous other programs and services.
The Committee recommends a total of $638,873,234 for the
Library of Congress, an increase of $6,915,000 above the fiscal
year 2017 appropriation and $62,643,766 below the fiscal year
2018 request.
In addition to the appropriation, the Library estimates
receipts of $52,655,000, funds from gifts and trusts totaling
$16,593,000, and reimbursable and revolving funds totaling
$190,642,000. Total funds available to support Library
operations, including the Architect of the Capitol account, are
expected to be approximately $926,206,234 in fiscal year 2018
under the Committee recommendation.
Congressional Accountability Act Coverage for Library
Employees.--The Committee includes a provision which provides
Library of Congress employees coverage under the Congressional
Accountability Act. Employees of the Library will have the
option to utilize the services of the Office of Compliance,
while maintaining the current Library and collective bargaining
agreement processes. It is the intent of the Committee to offer
Library employees a fair opportunity to resolve workplace
issues similar to other Legislative Branch agencies.

Salaries and Expenses

Appropriations, 2017:
Salaries and expenses............................... $457,017,000
Authority to spend receipts......................... 6,350,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Net, salaries and expenses........................ 450,667,000
========================================================
____________________________________________________
Budget estimate, 2018:
Salaries and expenses............................... 504,260,000
Authority to spend receipts......................... 6,350,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Net, salaries and expenses........................ 497,910,000
========================================================
____________________________________________________
Committee recommendation:
Salaries and expenses............................... 457,017,000
Authority to spend receipts......................... 6,350,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Net, salaries and expenses........................ 450,667,000
========================================================
____________________________________________________

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $450,667,000
for salaries and expenses of the Library of Congress and
approves authority to spend receipts of $6,350,000 in fiscal
year 2018, for a total of $457,017,000. The recommendation is
equal to the above the fiscal year 2017 appropriation and
$47,650,000 below the fiscal year 2018 request. Included within
this recommendation, as requested by the Library for fiscal
year 2018, is $20,000,000 for the second phase of relocating
the Library's primary computing facility; $5,817,000 to begin
the Library's enterprise investment in IT; and $297,000 for
expanded IT audit capabilities for the Library's Office of
Inspector General. The Committee expects the Library to provide
a detailed spend plan, including any increase in FTE levels for
the IT modernization intended to be addressed with the funds
provided in fiscal year 2018.
Veterans History Project.--The Committee recommends an
appropriation of $1,923,000 for the Library of Congress'
Veterans History Project [VHP]. VHP, which marked its 15th
anniversary in 2015, oversees a nationwide effort to build an
archive of oral histories, from World War I through current
conflicts, by collecting, preserving, and making available the
personal stories of American war veterans and the civilian
workers who support them. The VHP collection includes
submissions from every State and is the largest oral history
project in the United States recently surpassing 100,000
collections in February of 2016. Through an active national
outreach effort to volunteer organizations, institutions, and
individuals across the country, VHP gained new participants and
acquired 4,430 new collections in fiscal year 2016.
Teaching with Primary Sources.--The Committee recommends an
appropriation of $8,444,000 for the Library of Congress'
Teaching with Primary Sources program [TPS]. TPS is a teacher
training initiative that encourages educators to incorporate
the Library's online primary sources into school curricula.
Library staff harness the power of primary sources as teaching
tools by providing educators with methods and materials that
build student literacy skills, content knowledge, and critical
thinking abilities. TPS has successfully worked with educators
in 49 States, the District of Columbia, and American Samoa. The
Committee notes that the Library sponsors many educational
lectures and events and encourages the Library to incorporate
excerpts from these presentations into the curriculum materials
it develops.
Preservation.--The Committee notes that the Library
utilizes multiple preservation strategies to extend the life of
its vast collections for future generations to enjoy, including
building and operating climate-controlled storage facilities,
preparing new acquisitions for commercial binding and shelving,
deacidification, and digital reformatting. During 2016, the
Library executed over 9.5 million preservation actions on its
books, serials, prints, photographs, audio-visual and other
high value, high use, and at-risk items. In 2016, the Library
and the Architect of the Capitol began construction of a fifth
climate-controlled storage facility at Fort Meade, Maryland.
The Committee supports the Library's preservation efforts and
directs the Library to continue funding for ongoing
preservation activities at not less than the current level for
each ongoing preservation strategy.
National Film and Sound Recording Preservation Programs.--
The Committee recognizes the important work of the National
Film Preservation Program and the National Sound Recording
Preservation Program, including the federally chartered
National Film and National Recording Preservation Foundations.
Consistent with the authorizing statute, the Foundations
utilize both public and private matching funds to provide
grants to a wide array of educational and non-profit
organizations that help preserve historical and cultural
artifacts that would otherwise disappear or be destroyed over
time. Given that these programs were reauthorized under the
Library of Congress Sound Recording and Film Preservation
Programs Reauthorization Act of 2016 (Public Law 114-217), the
Committee expects that the Library will provide support to
these programs.
Revolving Fund Updates.--The Committee appreciates the
Library's interest in modernizing and finding new ways to
sustain important, yet expensive services, including those
associated with the audiovisual conservation center. The
Committee believes that any request for authorization to
collect a fee for those services should be accompanied by a
full description of the scope of services provided for, which
fees would be assessed, as well as the impact that such fees
may have on the users of those services and the Library's
collection. If the Library decides to pursue further updates to
the revolving fund statute, the Committee directs the Library
to prepare a comprehensive plan that outlines the services for
which fees would be assessed, the proposed schedule for
implementation of any potential user fees, and an impact study
to determine the effects on the Library's collection and all
existing contributors. The Library should provide this report
to the Committee as well as the Senate Committee on Rules and
Administration.

salaries and expenses

Appropriations, 2017:
Salaries and expenses............................... $68,825,000
Authority to spend receipts......................... 39,548,000
Prior year unobligated balances..................... 6,179,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Net, salaries and expenses........................ 23,098,000
========================================================
____________________________________________________
Budget estimate, 2018:
Salaries and expenses............................... 77,709,000
Authority to spend receipts......................... 38,864,000
Prior year unobligated balances..................... 7,429,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Net, salaries and expenses........................ 31,416,000
========================================================
____________________________________________________
Committee recommendation:
Salaries and expenses............................... 68,825,000
Authority to spend receipts......................... 41,305,000
Prior year unobligated balances..................... 2,260,000
--------------------------------------------------------
____________________________________________________
Net, salaries and expenses........................ 25,260,000
========================================================
____________________________________________________

The United States Copyright Office plays an important role
in our Nation's intellectual property system. Copyright law is
the foundation for the creation and dissemination of American
artistic works, leading to substantial economic and cultural
benefits. The Copyright Office serves multiple central roles in
the copyright system, overseeing the registration of
copyrighted works, administering the copyright law, and
providing counsel to Congress on copyright policy.
The Committee recommends the direct appropriation of
$25,260,000 for the Copyright Office; approves authority to
spend receipts of $41,305,000 in fiscal year 2018; and approves
authority to spend prior year unobligated balances of
$2,260,000, for a total of $68,825,000. The recommendation for
total funding available is $2,162,000 above the fiscal year
2017 appropriation and $6,156,000 below the fiscal year 2018
request.
Information Technology Modernization.--The recommendation
includes $3,629,000 for Copyright Office IT modernization,
fully funding the request. The Committee commends the
collaboration of the Copyright Office with the Library's Office
of Chief Information Officer [OCIO] in the overall IT
modernization effort for the Library, and looks forward to the
forthcoming revised IT modernization plan for the Office. The
Committee directs the Copyright Office and the Library's OCIO
to continue to work together to achieve efficiencies in shared
services, while allowing for mission specific modernization to
be the responsibility of the Copyright Office.
The Committee expects the Copyright Office to provide a
detailed spend plan for the IT enhancements intended to be
addressed with the funds provided in fiscal year 2018.

Congressional Research Service

salaries and expenses

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $107,945,234
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 119,279,000
Committee recommendation................................ 112,698,234

The Committee recommends an appropriation of $112,698,234
for the Congressional Research Service. The recommendation is
$4,753,000 above the fiscal year 2017 appropriation and
$6,791,000 below the fiscal year 2018 request.
Congressional Research Service Modernization.--The
Committee recognizes the tremendous value that the
Congressional Research Service [CRS] has added to Congress by
providing objective, authoritative, nonpartisan, and
confidential research and analysis on the breadth of policy
issues considered during each legislative session since its
inception in 1914. Included in the Committee's recommendation
is $4,000,000 to begin modernization of CRS's mission-specific
information systems to increase efficiency of the office while
protecting confidentiality of congressional data.
Public Access to CRS Reports.--The bill includes a
provision directing the Library of Congress's Congressional
Research Service [CRS] to make available to the public all non-
confidential CRS reports on a website operated and maintained
by the Government Publishing Office [GPO]. Non-confidential CRS
reports include any CRS report containing research or analysis
that is currently available for general congressional access on
the CRS Congressional Intranet, or that would be made available
on the CRS Congressional Intranet in the normal course of
business. Non-confidential CRS reports do not include reports
prepared in direct response to a Congressional office request
for custom analysis or research. CRS reports are funded by
taxpayers and should be made available to citizens, schools and
libraries across the country. Publishing of CRS reports will
not impede CRS's core mission and is in keeping with the
Committee's priority of full transparency to the American
people. Within 60 days of enactment of this act CRS, in
consultation with GPO, shall provide to the relevant oversight
Committees, including the House and Senate Appropriations
Committees, a plan for making these reports available by the
end of Fiscal Year 2018, well as any associated cost estimates.
Supporting Areas of High Congressional Demand.--The
Committee appreciates CRS finding innovative ways to meet
congressional demand in a resource constrained environment.
Therefore, the recommendation provides $753,000 for eight
additional support staff to handle routine requests, allowing
senior staff to focus on more highly analytical research.
Service to Congressional District Offices.--The Committee
recognizes that the Congressional Research Service [CRS]
provides an invaluable service that ranges from timely,
analytical responses to congressional requests to organized
briefings and trainings on various issue areas to Members of
Congress and their staff in Washington, DC. However, District
Office staff, compared to their Washington, DC. counterparts,
have limited opportunities to participate in these briefings
and trainings simply because they do not live in Washington,
DC. The Committee recognizes that utilizing current
technologies, such as livestreaming or use of Webinars, may
increase access for District Staff to participate in these
learning opportunities that develop professional skillsets and
provide critical information to better assist constituents.
Therefore, the Committee directs CRS to undertake a study that
explores the requirements of supporting live-webcasts of
briefings and includes options in providing this type of
service to District Offices. It is expected that CRS report to
the Committee no later than 180 days on their findings.
Information Products.--The Committee recognizes that the
Congressional Research Service [CRS] produces reliable and
highly sought after analytical products. However, given time
constraints, Members and staff are not always able to read and
benefit from many of the lengthier reports. Current media shows
that there are useful examples of information delivery that CRS
could incorporate into its service to the Congress. The
Committee directs CRS to survey how to repackage its products
utilizing different forms of information delivery to produce
more user-friendly formats for ``reading on the go'' scenarios
and to report to the Committee when these information delivery
systems might be incorporated into the suite of products and
services that CRS provides.

Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

salaries and expenses

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $50,248,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 52,815,000
Committee recommendation................................ 50,248,000

This appropriation supports a national reading program for
eligible residents of the United States and U.S. citizens
living overseas who are blind or physically handicapped. Books
and magazines in braille and various recorded formats are
produced by the National Library Service for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped for distribution through a network of
State and locally supported libraries. At present, 55 regional
libraries in 49 States, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico,
and the U.S. Virgin Islands house and circulate books and
magazines to eligible readers. Thirty-two subregional libraries
in 10 States, and Guam, assist at the local public library
level. In addition, 14 Advisory and Outreach Centers assist
regional libraries in provision of services. Fifty-two of the
regional libraries and four separate cooperating agencies
distribute sound reproducers. Two multi-State centers, under
contract to the National Library Service, store and distribute
books and other materials in their geographical region. The
program supports a readership of approximately 800,000.
The Committee recommends an appropriation of $50,248,000
for salaries and expenses for Books for the Blind and
Physically Handicapped. The recommendation is equal to the
fiscal year 2017 appropriation and $2,567,000 below the fiscal
year 2018 request.
eReader Program.--The Committee continues to recognize the
importance of having accessible reading materials available to
U.S. citizens and residents who are unable to read printed
material due to blindness or physical limitations. In addition,
the Committee remains encouraged that the National Library
Services for the Blind and Physically Handicapped [NLS] will
move forward and conduct a pilot program in fiscal year 2018
that will provide NLS with the necessary information to
progress on establishing a long-term electronic refreshable
Braille display lending program. If the NLS continues along its
proposed timeline, the Committee is expected to receive a
request by the NLS in fiscal year 2019 for a $5,000,000 request
for electronic refreshable Braille display technology, which
will allow the NLS to procure approximately 10,000 eReaders for
its lending program.

Administrative Provisions

Sec. 120. The Committee has included a routine
administrative provision regarding reimbursable and revolving
funds carried in prior years.
Sec. 121. The Committee has included a provision updating
revolving fund returns to allow the Library of Congress to
accept fees for services currently provided.
Sec. 122. The Committee has included a provision allowing
the Library of Congress to accept gifts of goods and services.
Sec. 123. The Committee has included a provision providing
coverage for Library of Congress employees under the
Congressional Accountability Act.
Sec. 124. The Committee has included a provision making
non-confidential CRS reports available to the public.

GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE

The U.S. Government Publishing Office [GPO] is the Federal
Government's primary centralized resource for gathering,
cataloging, producing, providing, and preserving published
information in all its forms. By law and tradition, the GPO's
mission is to provide expert publishing and printing services
to all three branches of Government; to provide, in partnership
with Federal depository libraries, permanent public access to
the printed and electronic information products of all three
branches of the Federal Government; and to sell copies of
authentic printed and electronic documents and other government
information products to the public.
GPO's core mission dates to 1813 when Congress determined
that information regarding the work of the Federal Government
should be available to all Americans. Over 200 years later,
GPO's mission remains unchanged. However, the means for
producing and distributing that information has transformed
dramatically with the advent of the digital revolution.
Today, GPO provides free online public access to more than
1.5 million searchable titles, including the Budget of the U.S.
Government, the Code of Federal Regulations, the Congressional
Record, and congressional bills, hearings, and reports. GPO
also provides access to Government information in digital
format through apps, eBooks, and related technologies. Since
2009, GPO has experienced more than 1.5 billion digital
retrievals from its Federal Digital System [FDsys], and in
February 2017 GPO introduced the next generation of its digital
information system, govinfo.gov, symbolizing the evolution of
how Americans access Government information in the digital era.

Congressional Publishing

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $79,736,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 79,528,000
Committee recommendation................................ 79,528,000

The appropriation for Congressional Publishing supports
transparency of the congressional process by funding digital
and print publication of congressional proceedings, including
the Congressional Record, bills, amendments, Committee reports,
and hearing transcripts. This appropriation also supports the
direct publication and printing needs of Congress.
The Committee recommends $79,528,000 for congressional
publishing. The recommendation is $208,000 below the fiscal
year 2017 appropriation and equal to the 2018 request.
The following table compares the component categories
within this account for fiscal year 2017 and the fiscal year
2018 request. The Committee has not recommended separate
amounts for each activity in order to give GPO the flexibility
to meet changing requirements.

CONGRESSIONAL PUBLISHING
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fiscal year 2017 Fiscal year 2018
enacted requested
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Congressional Record Publications. $20,955,000 $21,957,000
Miscellaneous publications........ 2,830,000 2,818,000
Miscellaneous publishing and 20,685,000 19,090,000
services.........................
Details to Congress............... 4,419,000 4,419,000
Document envelopes and document 538,000 525,000
franks...........................
Business and committee calendars.. 2,475,000 3,738,000
Bills, resolutions, and amendments 6,298,000 5,977,000
Committee reports................. 2,892,000 2,360,000
Documents......................... 1,295,000 1,146,000
Hearings.......................... 17,465,000 17,879,000
Committee prints.................. 1,278,000 1,166,000
Transfers......................... (1,394,000) (1,547,000)
-------------------------------------
Total....................... 79,736,000 79,528,000
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Public Information Programs of the Office of Superintendent of
Documents

salaries and expenses

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $29,500,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 29,000,000
Committee recommendation................................ 29,000,000

This appropriation provides for salaries and expenses
associated with the distribution of electronic and printed
Government documents to depository and international exchange
libraries, the cataloging and indexing of Government
publications, and the distribution of electronic and printed
publications authorized by law at the request of Members of
Congress and other Government agencies.
The Committee recommends $29,000,000 for salaries and
expenses of the Public Information Programs of the Office of
the Superintendent of Documents. The recommendation is $500,000
below the fiscal year 2017 appropriation and equal to the
fiscal year 2018 request.
The Committee supports GPO's introduction of its next
generation information system, govinfo.gov, as well as the
agency's other information technology systems, given that these
efforts continue to reduce costs.

Government Publishing Office Business Operations Revolving Fund

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $7,832,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 8,540,000
Committee recommendation................................ 8,540,000

The Committee recommends $8,540,000 for the Government
Publishing Office [GPO] Business Operations Revolving Fund. The
recommendation is $708,000 above the fiscal year 2017
appropriation and equal to the fiscal year 2018 request.
The Committee supports continued investment in the
Revolving Fund as the most efficient solution to both cutting
costs and ensuring efficient online access to government
documents. One reason GPO is able to meet the increased work
demands and continually reduce costs is through its constant
focus on capital investments to modernize information systems,
production equipment, and major facility repairs.

GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE

Salaries and Expenses

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $544,505,919
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 590,678,000
Committee recommendation................................ 562,771,695

The U.S. Government Accountability Office [GAO] is an
independent nonpartisan agency that was established by the
Budget and Accounting Act of 1921 to act as an auditor for
Congress and investigate how the Federal Government spends
taxpayer dollars.
The function of GAO includes auditing agency operations to
determine whether Federal funds are being spent efficiently and
effectively; investigating allegations of illegal and improper
activities; reporting on how well Government programs and
policies are meeting their objectives; performing policy
analyses and outlining options for congressional consideration;
and issuing legal decisions and opinions, such as bid protest
rulings and reports on agency rules.
The Committee recommends funding of $562,771,695 for
salaries and expenses of the Government Accountability Office.
The recommendation is $18,265,776 above the fiscal year 2017
appropriation and $27,906,305 below the fiscal year 2018
request. The funding provided will support current staffing
levels and the highest priority information technology
infrastructure and security improvements included in the budget
request.
Additionally, $23,800,000 is authorized in offsetting
collections derived from rent receipts and reimbursements for
conducting financial audits of Government corporations, for a
total of $586,571,695.
Within 1 year of enactment, the U.S. Government
Accountability Office [GAO] shall issue a report to the
Committee that examines the extent to which reports are posted
and accessible on websites of Offices of Inspectors General as
required by section 8M of the Inspector General Act of 1978, as
amended.

OPEN WORLD LEADERSHIP CENTER TRUST FUND

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $5,600,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 5,800,000
Committee recommendation................................ 5,600,000

The Committee recommends $5,600,000 as a payment to the
Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund, which is equal to the
fiscal year 2017 appropriation and $200,000 below the fiscal
year 2018 request. The Center for Russian Leadership
Development was established on December 21, 2000 (Public Law
106-554) as a legislative branch entity. The Fiscal Year 2003
Consolidated Appropriation Resolution (Public Law 108-7)
carried legislation (section 1401) changing the name to the
Open World Leadership Center and expanding the mission of the
program to include Newly Independent States of the former
Soviet Union including the Baltic States. The mission of the
Center is to enable emerging leaders in Russia and Newly
Independent States at all levels of civic life to gain
significant, first-hand exposure to the American free market
economic system and the operation of American democratic
institutions through visits to comparable governments and
communities in the United States.
While the Committee recognizes the ongoing U.S. national
interest in maintaining constructive relations with the Russian
people, the Committee includes a provision that limits the Open
World Leadership Center to using appropriated funds only for
Russian participants engaging in free market development,
humanitarian activities, and civic engagement, and not for
senior officials of the central Government of Russia.

JOHN C. STENNIS CENTER FOR PUBLIC SERVICE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

Appropriations, 2017.................................... $430,000
Budget estimate, 2018................................... 430,000
Committee recommendation................................ 430,000

The John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and
Development was created by Congress in 1988. The mandate of the
Center is to promote and strengthen public service. The
Committee recommends the budget request of $430,000 as
authorized by 2 U.S.C. 1105, for the Center's congressional
staff training and development programs.

TITLE II

GENERAL PROVISIONS

Included are several routine general provisions carried
annually in the bill (sections 201-207), as follows:
Section 201 bans the use of appropriated funds for service
and maintenance of private vehicles, except under such
regulations as may be promulgated by the House Administration
Committee and the Senate Rules and Administration Committee,
respectively.
Section 202 limits the availability for obligation of
appropriations to the fiscal year for which it is expressly
provided in the bill accompanying this report.
Section 203 provides that any pay rate and title
designation for a staff position created in this act, and not
specifically established by the Legislative Pay Act of 1929, is
to be made permanent law by this act. Further, any pay rate and
title change for a position provided for in the 1929 Act is to
be made permanent law by this act and any changes in the
official expenses of Members, officers, and committees, and in
the clerk hire of the House and Senate are to be made permanent
law by this act.
Section 204 bans the use of funds for contracts unless such
contracts are matters of public record and are available for
public inspection.
Section 205 authorizes legislative branch entities
participating in the Legislative Branch Financial Managers
Council [LBFMC] to finance the costs of the LBFMC.
Section 206 prohibits unauthorized transfers of funds to
other agencies.
Section 207 ensures continuation of the staff-led tours of
the Capitol.

COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 7, RULE XVI, OF THE STANDING RULES OF THE
SENATE

Paragraph 7 of rule XVI requires that Committee reports on
general appropriations bills identify, with particularity, each
Committee amendment to the House bill ``which proposes an item
of appropriation which is not made to carry out the provisions
of an existing law, a treaty stipulation, or an act or
resolution previously passed by the Senate during that
session.''
The Committee has recommended no such funding.

COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 7(c), RULE XXVI OF THE STANDING RULES OF THE
SENATE

Pursuant to paragraph 7(c) of rule XXVI, on July 27, 2017,
the Committee ordered favorably reported an original bill (S.
1648) making appropriations for the legislative branch for the
fiscal year ending September 30, 2018, and for other purposes,
provided, that the bill be subject to amendment and that the
bill be consistent with the subcommittee funding guidance, and
provided that the Chairman of the Committee or his designee be
authorized to offer the substance of the original bill as a
Committee amendment in the nature of a substitute to the House
companion measure, by a recorded vote of 31-0, a quorum being
present. The vote was as follows:
Yeas Nays
Chairman Cochran
Mr. McConnell
Mr. Shelby
Mr. Alexander
Ms. Collins
Ms. Murkowski
Mr. Graham
Mr. Blunt
Mr. Moran
Mr. Hoeven
Mr. Boozman
Mrs. Capito
Mr. Lankford
Mr. Daines
Mr. Kennedy
Mr. Rubio
Mr. Leahy
Mrs. Murray
Mrs. Feinstein
Mr. Durbin
Mr. Reed
Mr. Tester
Mr. Udall
Mrs. Shaheen
Mr. Merkley
Mr. Coons
Mr. Schatz
Ms. Baldwin
Mr. Murphy
Mr. Manchin
Mr. Van Hollen

COMPLIANCE WITH PARAGRAPH 12, RULE XXVI, OF THE STANDING RULES OF THE
SENATE

Paragraph 12 of rule XXVI requires that Committee reports
on a bill or joint resolution repealing or amending any statute
or part of any statute include ``(a) the text of the statute or
part thereof which is proposed to be repealed; and (b) a
comparative print of that part of the bill or joint resolution
making the amendment and of the statute or part thereof
proposed to be amended, showing by stricken-through type and
italics, parallel columns, or other appropriate typographical
devices the omissions and insertions which would be made by the
bill or joint resolution if enacted in the form recommended by
the Committee.''
In compliance with this rule, the following changes in
existing law proposed to be made by the bill are shown as
follows: existing law to be omitted is enclosed in black
brackets; new matter is printed in italic; and existing law in
which no change is proposed is shown in roman.

TITLE 2--THE CONGRESS

Chapter 5--Library of Congress

Sec. 160. Disbursement of gifts, etc., to Library

Nothing in sections 154 to 162 and 163 of this title shall
be construed as prohibiting or restricting the Librarian of
Congress from accepting in the name of the United States gifts
or bequests [of money for immediate disbursement] in the
interest of the Library, its collections, or its service[.], of
the following: (1) nonpersonal services; (2) voluntary and
uncompensated personal services not to exceed $10,000 per
person, per year in value; and (3) gifts or bequests of money
for immediate disbursement. Such gifts or bequests, after
acceptance by the librarian, shall be paid by the donor or his
representative to the Treasurer of the United States, whose
receipts shall be their acquittance. The Treasurer of the
United States shall enter them in a special account to the
credit of the Library of Congress and subject to disbursement
by the librarian for the purposes in each case specified. The
Librarian shall make an annual public report regarding gifts
accepted under this section.

* * * * * * *

Sec. 166. Congressional Research Service

(d) Duties of Service; assistance to Congressional committees;
list of terminating programs and subjects for
analysis; legislative data, studies, etc.;
information research; digest of bills, preparation;
legislation, purpose and effect, and preparation of
memoranda; information and research capability,
development

(7) upon request made by any committee or Member of
the Congress, to prepare and transmit to such committee
or Member a concise memorandum with respect to one or
more legislative measures upon which hearings by any
committee of the Congress have been announced, which
memorandum shall contain a statement of the purpose and
effect of each such measure, a description of other
relevant measures of similar purpose or effect
previously introduced in the Congress, and a recitation
of all action taken theretofore by or within the
Congress with respect to each such other measure; [and]

(8) to develop and maintain an information and
research capability, to include Senior Specialists,
Specialists, other employees, and consultants, as
necessary, to perform the functions provided for in
this subsection[.]; and

(9) to comply with the requirements of, and provide
information and technological assistance consistent
with, section 124 of the Legislative Branch
Appropriations Act, 2018.

* * * * * * *

(i) Special report to Joint Committee on the Library

The Director of the Congressional Research Service shall
prepare and file with the Joint Committee on the Library at the
beginning of each regular session of Congress a separate and
special report covering, in summary and in detail, all phases
of activity of the Congressional Research Service for the
immediately preceding fiscal year[.], and shall include in the
report a description of the efforts made by the Director to
make additional Congressional Research Service products that
are not custom products or services available to the Director
of the Government Publishing Office for publication on the
website established and maintained under section 124 of the
Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2018.

* * * * * * *

Sec. 182b. [Revolving fund for gift shop, decimal classification, photo
duplication, and related services] Revolving fund
for sales shop and other services

(a) Establishment

There is hereby established in the Treasury a revolving
fund for the following programs and activities of the
Librarian:

(1) Decimal classification development.

(2) The operation of a gift shop or other sales of
items associated with collections, exhibits,
performances, and special events of the Library of
Congress.

(3) Document reproduction and microfilming services.

(4) Special events and programs.

(5) Training.

* * * * * * *

Sec. 182c. Revolving fund for FEDLINK program and Federal Research
program

(f) Programs described

(1) FEDLINK

In this section, the ``FEDLINK program'' is the program of
the Library of Congress under which the Librarian provides the
following services on behalf of participating Federal
libraries, Federal information centers, other entities of the
Federal Government, tribal governments (as defined in 40 U.S.C.
502(c)(2)(B)) and the District of Columbia:

* * * * * * *

Chapter 24--Congressional Accountability

Subchapter I--General

Sec. 1301. Definitions

Except as otherwise specifically provided in this chapter,
as used in this chapter:

(3) Covered employee
The term ``covered employee'' means any employee of--

* * * * * * *

(H) the Office of Compliance; [or]

(I) the Office of Technology Assessment[.];
or

(J) the Library of Congress, except for
section 220.

* * * * * * *

(9) Employing office

The term ``employing office'' means--

* * * * * * *

(C) any other office headed by a person with
the final authority to appoint, hire,
discharge, and set the terms, conditions, or
privileges of the employment of an employee of
the House of Representatives or the Senate;
[or]

(D) the Office of Congressional Accessibility
Services, the United States Capitol Police, the
Congressional Budget Office, the Office of the
Architect of the Capitol, the Office of the
Attending Physician, the Office of Compliance,
and the Office of Technology Assessment[.]; or

(E) the Library of Congress, except for
section 220.

* * * * * * *

Subchapter II--Extension of Rights and Protections

Part A--Employment Discrimination, Family and Medical Leave, Fair Labor
Standards, Employee Polygraph Protection, Worker Adjustment and
Retraining, Employment and Reemployment of Veterans, and Intimidation

Sec. 1314. Rights and protections under Employee Polygraph Protection
Act of 1988

(a) Polygraph practices prohibited

(2) Definitions

For purposes of this section, the term ``covered
employee'' shall include employees of the Government
Accountability Office [and the Library of Congress] and
the term ``employing office'' shall include the
Government Accountability Office [and the Library of
Congress].

* * * * * * *

Sec. 1315. Rights and protections under Worker Adjustment and
Retraining Notification Act

(a) Worker adjustment and retraining notification rights

(2) Definitions

* * * * * * *

Sec. 1316. Rights and protections relating to veterans' employment and
reemployment

(a) Employment and reemployment rights of members of uniformed
services

(2) Definitions

For purposes of this section--

(A) the term ``eligible employee'' means a
covered employee performing service in the
uniformed services, within the meaning of
section 4303(13) of title 38, whose service has
not been terminated upon occurrence of any of
the events enumerated in section 4304 of title
38,

(B) the term ``covered employee'' includes
employees of the Government Accountability
Office [and the Library of Congress], and

* * * * * * *

Part B--Public Services and Accommodations Under Americans with
Disabilities Act of 1990

Sec. 1331. Rights and protections under Americans with Disabilities Act
of 1990 relating to public services and
accommodations; procedures for remedy of violations

(a) Entities subject to this section

The requirements of this section shall apply to--

* * * * * * *

(9) the Office of Compliance; [and]

(10) the Office of Technology Assessment[.]; and

(11) the Library of Congress.

* * * * * * *

Part C--Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970

Sec. 1341. Rights and protections under Occupational Safety and Health
Act of 1970; procedures for remedy of violations

(a) Occupational safety and health protections

(2) Definitions

For purposes of the application under this section of the
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 [29 U.S.C. 651 et
seq.]--

(A) the term ``employer'' as used in such Act means
an employing office;

(B) the term ``employee'' as used in such Act means a
covered employee;

(C) the term ``employing office'' includes the
Government Accountability Office[, the Library of
Congress,] and any entity listed in subsection (a) of
section 1331 of this title that is responsible for
correcting a violation of this section, irrespective of
whether the entity has an employment relationship with
any covered employee in any employing office in which
such a violation occurs; and

(D) the term ``employee'' includes employees of the
Government Accountability Office [and the Library of
Congress].

* * * * * * *

Subchapter IV--Administrative and Judicial Dispute-Resolution
Procedures

Sec. 1401. Procedure for consideration of alleged violations

Except as otherwise provided, the procedure for
consideration of alleged violations of part A of subchapter II
consists of--

(1) counseling as provided in section 1402 of this
title;

(2) mediation as provided in section 1403 of this
title; and

(3) election, as provided in section 1404 of this
title, of [either]--

(A) a formal complaint and hearing as
provided in section 1405 of this title, subject
to Board review as provided in section 1406 of
this title, and judicial review in the United
States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit
as provided in section 1407 of this title, [or]

(B) a civil action in a district court of the
United States as provided in section 1408 of
this title[.], or

(C) in the case of an Library claimant (as
defined in section 404(a)), a proceeding
described in section 404(b)(3) that relates to
the violation at issue.

* * * * * * *

Sec. 1404. Election of proceeding

(a) Definitions.--In this section:

(1) Direct act.--The term ``direct Act'' means an
Act (other than this Act), or provision of the Revised
Statutes, that is specified in section 201, 202, 203,
or 210.

(2) Direct provision.--The term ``direct
provision'' means a provision (including a definitional
provision) of a direct Act that applies the rights or
protections of a direct Act (including rights and
protections relating to nonretaliation or noncoercion)
to a library claimant.

(3) Library claimant.--The term ``Library
claimant'' means--

(A) with respect to a direct provision
(other than a provision described in
subparagraph (B)), an employee of the Library
of Congress who is covered by that direct
provision, and

(B) with respect to a direct provision that
applies the rights or protections of title II
or III of the Americans with Disabilities Act
of 1990 (42 U.S.C. 12131 et seq., 12181 et
seq.), an individual who is eligible to provide
services for or receive services from the
Library of Congress and who is covered by that
provision.

[Not] (b) Election After Proceedings Initially Brought
Under This Act.--Not later than 90 days, but not sooner than 30
days, after the end of the period of mediation, a covered
employee [may either] who initially requested counseling and
mediation under this title may elect to--

(1) file a complaint with the Office in accordance
with section 1405 of this title, [or]

(2) file a civil action in accordance with section
1408 of this title in the United States district court
for the district in which the employee is employed or
for the District of Columbia[.], or

(3) in the case of a Library claimant, bring the
claim, complaint, or charge that is brought for a
proceeding before the corresponding Federal agency,
under the corresponding direct provision.

(c) Election After Proceedings Initially Brought Under
Other Civil Rights or Labor Law.--A library claimant who
initially brings a claim, complaint, or charge under a direct
provision for a proceeding before a Federal agency may, prior
to requesting a hearing under the agency's procedures, elect
to--

(1) bring any civil action relating to the claim,
complaint, or charge, that is available to the Library
claimant,

(2) file a complaint with the Office in accordance
with section 405, or

(3) file a civil action in accordance with section
408 in the United States district court for the
district in which the employee is employed or for the
District of Columbia.

* * * * * * *

Sec. 1415. Payments

(a) Awards and settlements

Except as provided in subsection (c), only funds which are
appropriated to an account of the Office in the Treasury of the
United States for the payment of awards and settlements may be
used for the payment of awards and settlements under this
chapter. There are appropriated for such account such sums as
may be necessary to pay such awards and settlements. Funds in
the account are not available for awards and settlements
involving the Government Accountability Office[,] or the
Government Publishing Office[, or the Library of Congress].

* * * * * * *

Chapter 45--Congressional Pay and Benefits

Subchapter III--Senate

Part A--Amount and Type

Sec. 4579. Student loan repayment program for Senate employees

(a) Definitions

(1) Departure date.--The term ``departure date''
means the earlier of--

(A) the date on which the term of a
departing Senator or Vice President ends; or

(B) the date on which the departing Senator
or Vice President will retire or resign.

(2) Departing senator or vice president.--The term
``departing Senator or Vice President'' means a Senator
or Vice President who will not serve in the next term
due to retirement, resignation, a decision to not seek
reelection, or a failure to secure reelection.

[(1)] (3) Eligible employee

The term ``eligible employee'' means an individual, except
as provided under subsection (b)(3)--

(A) who is an employee of the Senate; and

(B) whose rate of pay as an employee of the Senate, on
the date on which such eligibility is determined, does not
exceed the [rate of basic pay for an employee for a position at
ES-1 of the Senior Executive Schedule as provided for in
subchapter VIII of chapter 53 of title 5 (including any
locality pay adjustment applicable to the Washington, D.C.-
Baltimore Maryland consolidated metropolitan statistical
area).] rate of basic pay payable for a position at level IV of
the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United
States Code.

[(2)] (4) Employee of the Senate

* * * * * * *

[(3)] (5) Employing office

* * * * * * *

[(4)] (6) Secretary

* * * * * * *

[(5)] (7) Student loan

* * * * * * *

(b) Senate student loan repayment program

(1) Service agreements

(A) In general

The head of an employing office and an eligible
employee may enter into a written service agreement
under which--

(i) the employing office shall agree to
repay, by direct payments on behalf of the
eligible employee, any student loan
indebtedness of the eligible employee that is
outstanding at the time the eligible employee
and the employing office enter into the
agreement, subject to this section; and

(ii) the eligible employee shall agree to
complete the [1-year] required period of
employment described in subsection (c)(1) with
the employing office in exchange for the
student loan payments.

(1) Period of employment

[The term] (A) In general.--Except as provided in
subparagraph (B), the term of the required period of
employment under a service agreement under this section
shall be 1 year. On completion of the required period
of employment under such a service agreement, the
eligible employee and the employing office may enter
into additional service agreements for successive 1-
year periods of employment.

(B) Departing senators and vice presidents.--After
the date that is 1 year before the departure date of a
departing Senator or Vice President, the departing
Senator or Vice President may enter into a service
agreement under this section with an eligible employee
of the office of the Senator or Vice President
(including an eligible employee who has completed a
required period of employment under a previous service
agreement) that includes a required period of
employment that--

(i) is less than 1 year; and

(ii) shall end on the last day of the last
full pay period ending on or before the
departure date of the departing Senator or Vice
President.

* * * * * * *

(d) Loss of eligibility for student loan payments and
obligation to reimburse

(2) Termination of agreement

The duty of an eligible employee to fulfill the required
period of employment under the service agreement shall be
terminated if--

(A) funds are not made available to cover the cost of
the student loan repayment program carried out under
this section; [or]

(B) the employee and the head of the employing office
involved mutually agree to terminate the service
agreement under subsection (f)(7)[.]; or

(3) Another employing office

An employing office who hires an eligible employee during a
required period of employment (including a required period of
employment described in subsection (c)(1)(B)) under such a
service agreement may assume the remaining obligations (as of
the date of the hiring) of the employee's prior employing
office under the agreement.
------

TITLE 41--PUBLIC CONTRACTS

SUBTITLE II--OTHER ADVERTISING AND CONTRACT PROVISIONS

Chapter 61--Advertising

Sec. 6102. Exceptions from advertising requirement

(h) Congressional Budget Office.--The Director of the
Congressional Budget Office may enter into agreements or
contracts without regard to section 6101 of this title.

(i) Senate.--Section 6101 of this title does not apply to
agreements, contracts or purchases by any office of the Senate.
------

TITLE 52--VOTING AND ELECTIONS

SUBTITLE III--FEDERAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE

Chapter 301--Federal Election Campaigns

Subchapter I--Disclosure of Federal Campaign Funds

Sec. 30102. Organization of political committees

[(g) Filing with and receipt of designations, statements, and
reports by Secretary of Senate; forwarding to
Commission; filing requirements with Commission;
public inspection and preservation of designations,
etc.

(1) Designations, statements, and reports required to be
filed under this Act by a candidate for the office of Senator,
by the principal campaign committee of such candidate, and by
the Republican and Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committees
shall be filed with the Secretary of the Senate, who shall
receive such designations, statements, and reports, as
custodian for the Commission.

(2) The Secretary of the Senate shall forward a copy of any
designation, statement, or report filed with the Secretary
under this subsection to the Commission as soon as possible
(but no later than 2 working days) after receiving such
designation, statement, or report.

(3) All designations, statements, and reports required to
be filed under this Act, except designations, statements, and
reports filed in accordance with paragraph (1), shall be filed
with the Commission.

(4) The Secretary of the Senate shall make the
designations, statements, and reports received under this
subsection available for public inspection and copying in the
same manner as the Commission under section 30111(a)(4) of this
title, and shall preserve such designations, statements, and
reports in the same manner as the Commission under section
30111(a)(5) of this title.]

(g) Filing With the Commission.--All designations,
statements, and reports required to be filed under this Act
shall be filed with the Commission.

BUDGETARY IMPACT OF BILL

PREPARED IN CONSULTATION WITH THE CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE PURSUANT TO SEC. 308(a), PUBLIC LAW 93-344, AS
AMENDED
[In millions of dollars]
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Budget authority Outlays
-------------------------------------------------------
Committee Amount in Committee Amount in
guidance\1\ bill guidance\1\ bill
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Comparison of amounts in the bill with Committee
guidance to its subcommittees of amounts for 2018:
Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch:
Mandatory........................................... 143 143 143 \2\143
Discretionary....................................... 4,490 3,171 4,459 \2\3,313
Security........................................ ............ ............ NA NA
Nonsecurity..................................... 4,490 3,171 NA NA
Projection of outlays associated with the
recommendation:
2018................................................ ............ ............ ............ \3\2,701
2019................................................ ............ ............ ............ 402
2020................................................ ............ ............ ............ 120
2021................................................ ............ ............ ............ 35
2022 and future years............................... ............ ............ ............ 3
Financial assistance to State and local governments for NA ............ NA ............
2018...................................................

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\There is no section 302(a) allocation to the Committee on Appropriations for fiscal year 2018.
\2\Includes outlays from prior-year budget authority.
\3\Excludes outlays from prior-year budget authority.

NA: Not applicable.

COMPARATIVE STATEMENT OF NEW BUDGET (OBLIGATIONAL) AUTHORITY FOR FISCAL YEAR 2017 AND BUDGET ESTIMATES AND AMOUNTS RECOMMENDED IN THE BILL FOR FISCAL
YEAR 2018
[In thousands of dollars]
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Senate Committee recommendation
compared with (+ or -)
Item 2017 Budget estimate Committee ---------------------------------
appropriation recommendation 2017
appropriation Budget estimate
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
TITLE I--LEGISLATIVE BRANCH

SENATE

Expense allowances:
Vice President................................................. 19 19 19 ............... ...............
President Pro Tempore of the Senate............................ 38 38 38 ............... ...............
President Pro Tempore Emeritus of the Senate................... ............... ............... 15 +15 +15
Majority Leader of the Senate.................................. 40 40 40 ............... ...............
Minority Leader of the Senate.................................. 40 40 40 ............... ...............
Majority Whip of the Senate.................................... 10 10 10 ............... ...............
Minority Whip of the Senate.................................... 10 10 10 ............... ...............
Chairman of the Majority Conference Committee.................. 5 5 5 ............... ...............
Chairman of the Minority Conference Committee.................. 5 5 5 ............... ...............
Chairman of the Majority Policy Committee...................... 5 5 5 ............... ...............
Chairman of the Minority Policy Committee...................... 5 5 5 ............... ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, expense allowances................................. 177 177 192 +15 +15

Representation Allowances for the Majority and Minority Leaders.... 28 28 28 ............... ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Expense allowances and representation................. 205 205 220 +15 +15
====================================================================================
Salaries, Officers and Employees

Office of the Vice President....................................... 2,417 2,480 2,417 ............... -63
Office of the President Pro Tempore................................ 723 743 723 ............... -20
Office of the President Pro Tempore Emeritus....................... ............... ............... 309 +309 +309
Offices of the Majority and Minority Leaders....................... 5,256 5,390 5,256 ............... -134
Offices of the Majority and Minority Whips......................... 3,359 3,449 3,359 ............... -90
Committee on Appropriations........................................ 15,142 15,142 15,142 ............... ...............
Conference committees.............................................. 3,316 3,402 3,316 ............... -86
Offices of the Secretaries of the Conference of the Majority and 817 839 817 ............... -22
the Conference of the Minority....................................
Policy committees.................................................. 3,386 3,476 3,386 ............... -90
Office of the Chaplain............................................. 437 450 437 ............... -13
Office of the Secretary............................................ 24,772 25,771 25,132 +360 -639
Office of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper...................... 70,900 73,090 78,565 +7,665 +5,475
Offices of the Secretaries for the Majority and Minority........... 1,810 1,810 1,810 ............... ...............
Agency contributions and related expenses.......................... 49,952 54,488 54,040 +4,088 -448
Outlays............................................................ ............... ............... ............... ............... ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Salaries, officers and employees...................... 182,287 190,530 194,709 +12,422 +4,179
====================================================================================
Office of the Legislative Counsel of the Senate

Salaries and expenses.............................................. 5,809 6,115 6,115 +306 ...............

Office of Senate Legal Counsel

Salaries and expenses.............................................. 1,120 1,147 1,147 +27 ...............

Expense Allowances of the Secretary of the Senate, Sergeant at Arms 28 28 28 ............... ...............
and Doorkeeper of the Senate, and Secretaries for the Majority and
Minority of the Senate: Expense allowances........................

Contingent Expenses of the Senate

Inquiries and investigations....................................... 133,265 135,799 133,265 ............... -2,534
Expenses of United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics 508 520 508 ............... -12
Control...........................................................
Secretary of the Senate............................................ 10,250 10,536 10,536 +286 ...............
Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate...................... 126,535 131,573 130,076 +3,541 -1,497
Miscellaneous items................................................ 20,870 18,870 18,870 -2,000 ...............
Senators' Official Personnel and Office Expense Account............ 390,000 452,635 404,000 +14,000 -48,635

Official Mail Costs

Expenses........................................................... 300 300 300 ............... ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Contingent expenses of the Senate..................... 681,728 750,233 697,555 +15,827 -52,678
====================================================================================
Total, Senate................................................ 871,177 948,258 899,774 +28,597 -48,484
====================================================================================
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

Payment to Widows and Heirs of Deceased Members of Congress (FY17 174 ............... ............... -174 ...............
PL 114-223, Sec.142)\1\...........................................
====================================================================================
Outlays............................................................ ............... ............... ............... ............... ...............

JOINT ITEMS

Joint Economic Committee........................................... 4,203 4,203 4,203 ............... ...............
Joint Committee on Taxation........................................ 10,095 11,169 10,095 ............... -1,074

Office of the Attending Physician

Medical supplies, equipment, expenses, and allowances.............. 3,838 3,838 3,838 ............... ...............

Office of Congressional Accessibility Services

Salaries and expenses.............................................. 1,429 1,444 1,429 ............... -15
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Joint items........................................... 19,565 20,654 19,565 ............... -1,089
====================================================================================
CAPITOL POLICE

Salaries........................................................... 325,300 347,096 347,700 +22,400 +604
General expenses................................................... 68,000 75,211 74,800 +6,800 -411
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Capitol Police........................................ 393,300 422,307 422,500 +29,200 +193
====================================================================================
OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE

Salaries and expenses.............................................. 3,959 4,056 3,959 ............... -97

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE

Salaries and expenses.............................................. 46,500 49,945 48,100 +1,600 -1,845
ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL (AOC)

Capital Construction and Operations................................ 92,957 98,360 91,589 -1,368 -6,771
Capitol building................................................... 32,584 54,898 46,125 +13,541 -8,773
Capitol grounds.................................................... 12,826 14,279 11,880 -946 -2,399
Senate office buildings............................................ 88,406 110,037 110,346 +21,940 +309

House of Representatives buildings:
Capitol Power Plant................................................ 95,646 117,205 111,629 +15,983 -5,576
Offsetting collections......................................... -9,000 -9,000 -9,000 ............... ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Capitol Power Plant................................ 86,646 108,205 102,629 +15,983 -5,576

Library buildings and grounds...................................... 47,080 121,182 27,443 -19,637 -93,739
Capitol police buildings, grounds and security..................... 20,033 54,177 30,833 +10,800 -23,344
Botanic Garden..................................................... 14,067 13,400 12,613 -1,454 -787
Capitol Visitor Center............................................. 20,557 21,470 20,557 ............... -913
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Architect of the Capitol.............................. 415,156 596,008 454,015 +38,859 -141,993
====================================================================================
LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Salaries and expenses.............................................. 457,017 504,260 457,017 ............... -47,243
Authority to spend receipts.................................... -6,350 -6,350 -6,350 ............... ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Salaries and expenses.............................. 450,667 497,910 450,667 ............... -47,243

Copyright Office, Salaries and expenses............................ 68,825 77,709 68,825 ............... -8,884
Authority to spend receipts.................................... -39,548 -38,864 -41,305 -1,757 -2,441
Prior year unobligated balances................................ -6,179 -7,429 -2,260 +3,919 +5,169
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Subtotal, Copyright Office................................... 23,098 31,416 25,260 +2,162 -6,156

Congressional Research Service, Salaries and expenses.............. 107,945 119,279 112,698 +4,753 -6,581
Books for the blind and physically handicapped, Salaries and 50,248 52,815 50,248 ............... -2,567
expenses..........................................................
Copyright Office funding flexibility information technology ............... 2,000 ............... ............... -2,000
(Sec.1103(b))(CBO estimate).......................................
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Library of Congress................................... 631,958 703,420 638,873 +6,915 -64,547
====================================================================================
GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE

Congressional publishing........................................... 79,736 79,528 79,528 -208 ...............
Public Information Programs of the Superintendent of Documents, 29,500 29,000 29,000 -500 ...............
Salaries and expenses.............................................
Government Publishing Office Business Operations Revolving Fund.... 7,832 8,540 8,540 +708 ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Government Publishing Office.......................... 117,068 117,068 117,068 ............... ...............
====================================================================================
GOVERNMENT ACCOUNTABILITY OFFICE

Salaries and expenses.............................................. 567,856 614,478 586,572 +18,716 -27,906
Offsetting collections......................................... -23,350 -23,800 -23,800 -450 ...............
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total, Government Accountability Office...................... 544,506 590,678 562,772 +18,266 -27,906
====================================================================================
OPEN WORLD LEADERSHIP CENTER TRUST FUND

Payment to the Open World Leadership Center (OWLC) Trust Fund...... 5,600 5,800 5,600 ............... -200

JOHN C. STENNIS CENTER FOR PUBLIC SERVICE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT

Stennis Center for Public Service.................................. 430 430 430 ............... ...............

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS

Scorekeeping adjustment (CBO estimate)\2\.......................... -1,000 ............... -2,000 -1,000 -2,000
====================================================================================
Grand total.................................................. 3,048,393 3,458,624 3,170,656 +122,263 -287,968
====================================================================================
RECAPITULATION

Senate............................................................. 871,177 948,258 899,774 +28,597 -48,484
Joint Items........................................................ 19,565 20,654 19,565 ............... -1,089
Capitol Police..................................................... 393,300 422,307 422,500 +29,200 +193
Office of Compliance............................................... 3,959 4,056 3,959 ............... -97
Congressional Budget Office........................................ 46,500 49,945 48,100 +1,600 -1,845
Architect of the Capitol........................................... 415,156 596,008 454,015 +38,859 -141,993
Library of Congress................................................ 631,958 703,420 638,873 +6,915 -64,547
Government Publishing Office....................................... 117,068 117,068 117,068 ............... ...............
Government Accountability Office................................... 544,506 590,678 562,772 +18,266 -27,906
Open World Leadership Center....................................... 5,600 5,800 5,600 ............... -200
Stennis Center for Public Service.................................. 430 430 430 ............... ...............
Administrative Provisions 2/....................................... -1,000 ............... -2,000 -1,000 -2,000
Prior year outlays................................................. ............... ............... ............... ............... ...............
====================================================================================
Grand total.................................................. 3,048,219 3,458,624 3,170,656 +122,437 -287,968
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
\1\Fiscal year 2017 funds provided in Continuing Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 114-223).
\2\Fiscal year 2017 is Sec. 175 of Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2017 (Public Law 114-254).

[all]