Source: GPO
114th Congress } { Report HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 1st Session } { 114-110 ====================================================================== LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS BILL, 2016 _______ May 12, 2015.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed _______ Mr. Graves of Georgia, from the Committee on Appropriations, submitted the following R E P O R T together with ADDITIONAL VIEWS [To accompany H.R. 2250] The Committee on Appropriations submits the following report in explanation of the accompanying bill making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, and for other purposes. [excerpts on CRS] [...] HIGHLIGHTS OF THE BILL The Committee recommends $3,341,401,898 in discretionary resources for operations of the Legislative Branch of government (excluding Senate items). The fiscal year 2016 recommendation is the same as the current fiscal year level and is a decrease of $172,291,202 below the budget request as amended. Conforming to longstanding practice under which each body of Congress determines its own housekeeping requirements and the other concurs without intervention, funds for the Senate are not included in the bill as reported to the House. The budget request for the Senate for fiscal year 2016 including those under the Architect of the Capitol totals $1,015,150,816 as amended. This bill reflects a continued acknowledgment that the Legislative Branch must set itself as an example for fiscal restraint while continuing to serve the Nation. This bill will require strict fiscal discipline on the part of all congressional offices and all agency heads in the Legislative Branch. [...] LIBRARY OF CONGRESS The Committee recommends $591,431,000 for the operations of the Library of Congress. This is $33,071,000 below the budget request and is $510,000 above the current level. In addition to the appropriation, the Committee recommends offsetting collections of $42,127,000. Established by Congress in 1800, the Library of Congress is one of the largest libraries in the world, with a collection of more than 130,000,000 print, audio, and video items in 460 languages. Among its major programs are acquisitions, preservation, administration of U.S. copyright laws by the Copyright Office, research and analysis of policy issues for the Congress by the Congressional Research Service, and administration of a national program to provide reading material to the blind and physically handicapped. The Library maintains a significant number of collections and provides a range of services to libraries in the United States and abroad. A good business practice for any customer service organization is to periodically survey that customer base to determine if the products and services being provided are meeting the expectations of the customer. A proper survey can help the service provider to determine the strengths and weaknesses of the organization and what if any corrective action needs to be addressed. The Committee believes that such a survey of the Library's customer base would be beneficial. Therefore, the Committee directs the Library of Congress to commission an independent survey of all Members and committees of the House of Representatives to ascertain their fundamental and optimal requirements for services and support from the Library of Congress and especially the Congressional Research Service. A report and analysis of the survey results is to be provided to the Committees on Appropriations of the House no later than 180 days after enactment of this Act. [...] Congressional Research Service Appropriation, fiscal year 2015....................... $106,945,000 Budget request, fiscal year 2016...................... 111,956,000 Recommended in the bill............................... 106,945,000 The Committee recommends $106,945,000 for salaries and expenses of the Congressional Research Service (CRS). This amount is $5,011,000 below the budget request and is the same as the current level. CRS works for Members and committees of Congress to support their legislative, oversight, and representational functions by providing nonpartisan and confidential research and policy analysis. [...] 33. The bill contains language which provides that no funds in the Congressional Research Service can be used to publish or prepare material to be issued by the Library of Congress unless approved by the appropriate committees. [...] ADDITIONAL VIEWS OF NITA LOWEY AND DEBBIE WASSERMAN SCHULTZ The Legislative Branch appropriations bill is essential to Congress' ability to serve the Nation and fulfill its constitutional duties as an equal branch of government. Regrettably, this bill falls short in providing Congress with the resources needed to fulfill its constitutional duties. The Legislative Branch bill provides another year of flat funding, the third in a row. The bill reflects the Republican budget that set discretionary spending at levels not sufficient to grow the economy or invest in infrastructure. The President put forward a specific plan to avoid sequestration's harmful budget cuts and reduce the deficit in a balanced way. Unfortunately, the Republican Budget does not even meet the President's plan half way. [...] Debbie Wasserman Schultz. Nita M. Lowey. [all]Source: HR 2250
Union Calendar No. 78 114th CONGRESS 1st Session H. R. 2250 [Report No. 114-110] Making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2016, and for other purposes. [...] Congressional Research Service salaries and expenses For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of section 203 of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 166) and to revise and extend the Annotated Constitution of the United States of America, $106,945,000: Provided, That no part of such amount may be used to pay any salary or expense in connection with any publication, or preparation of material therefor (except the Digest of Public General Bills), to be issued by the Library of Congress unless such publication has obtained prior approval of either the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives or the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate. [...]