Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1998

Summary

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Congressional Operations Title II: Other Agencies Title III: General Provisions Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1998 - Makes appropriations for the legislative branch for FY 1998. Title I: Congressional Operations - Congressional Operations Appropriations Act, 1998 - Makes appropriations for the Senate for: (1) expense allowances; (2) representation allowances for the Majority and Minority leaders; (3) salaries of specified officers, employees, and committees; (4) agency contributions for employee benefits; (5) inquiries and investigations; (6) the U.S. Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control; (7) the Offices of the Secretary, Sergeant at Arms, and Doorkeeper of the Senate; (8) miscellaneous items; (9) the Senators' Official Personnel and Office Expense Account; (10) stationery; and (11) official mail costs. (Sec. 1) Authorizes the Secretary of the Senate to make advance payments under contracts to provide services or deliver articles for the U.S. Government without regard to requirements governing advances under Federal public finance law. (Sec. 3) Amends the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1973, to raise the limit on authorized mail, telegraph, telephone, stationery, office supplies, and home State office and travel expenses for Senators. Amends Federal law to make the Senators' Official Personnel and Office Expense Account available for the payment of franked mail expenses of Senators, beginning in FY 1998. Repeals a provision of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1991 which authorized transfers of a limited amount of funds for mass mail to such Account. (Sec. 4) Increases the aggregate amount authorized for Senate committees by S. Res. 54, 105th Congress. (Sec. 5) Provides for increases in the aggregate compensation paid to employees in Senate offices. Makes appropriations for: (1) the Joint Economic, Printing, and Taxation Committees; (2) the Office of the Attending Physician; and (3) the Capitol Police Board. (Sec. 101) Sets forth administrative provisions regarding the Capitol Police Board and requires the Board to establish unified schedules of rates of basic pay and a unified leave system for members and civilian employees. Appropriates funds for the Capitol Guide Service and Special Services Office and for statements of appropriations. Makes appropriations for: (1) the Office of Compliance; (2) the Congressional Budget Office; (3) the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) for salaries and expenses, Capitol buildings and grounds, Senate office buildings, and the Capitol power plant; (4) the Library of Congress for the Congressional Research Service's (CRS) salaries and expenses; and (5) the Government Printing Office (GPO) for congressional printing and binding. Title II: Other Agencies - Appropriates funds for: (1) the Botanic Garden; and (2) the Library of Congress for salaries and expenses, the Copyright Office, books for the blind and physically handicapped, and furniture and furnishings. (Sec. 201) Provides a limited amount of funds for the Library and CRS for attendance at meetings concerned with the function for which an appropriation is made. (Sec. 202) Prohibits the use of funds by the Library to administer any flexible or compressed work schedule which: (1) applies to any manager or supervisor in a position equal to or higher than a GS-15 grade; and (2) grants such individual the right to not be at work on a workday because of time worked on another workday. (Sec. 203) Establishes limits on: (1) the number of employees hired by the Library to perform reimbursable work for other agencies; and (2) funds for representation and reception expenses associated with the Library incentive awards program and overseas field offices. (Sec. 207) Establishes the Cooperative Acquisitions Program Revolving Fund for financing a Library program to acquire foreign publications and research materials on behalf of participating institutions on a cost-recovery basis. Makes appropriations for: (1) the AOC for Library buildings and grounds; (2) GPO for salaries and expenses of the Office of the Superintendent of Documents; and (3) the General Accounting Office. Sets forth authorized uses of, and limits on, such funds. Title III: General Provisions - Sets forth prohibitions on the use of funds appropriated by this Act. (Sec. 305) Authorizes appropriations as necessary to an account for awards and settlements authorized under the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995. (Sec. 308) Amends Federal law to treat Members of the Congress and their spouses, dependents, and staff as permanent residents and domiciliaries of the State represented by the Member even if such individuals are absent from, or maintain an abode outside of, such State. Confers the same rights and responsibilities on such persons as apply to other State residents. (Sec. 309) Amends Federal civil service law to apply severance pay provisions to employees of the Senate restaurants, other than temporary employees. Sets forth early retirement provisions with respect to such employees and entitles them to annuities. Requires the AOC to establish a program under which voluntary separation incentive payments may be offered to up to 50 eligible Senate restaurant employees for voluntary separation, through resignation or retirement, through FY 1999. Treats any AOC service of certain Senate restaurant employees who are involuntarily separated before FY 2000 as competitive service in the case of employees who apply for executive branch positions. Authorizes the AOC to establish a program to provide retraining, job placement, and counseling services to current and former Senate restaurant employees (other than reemployed annuitants or temporary employees).

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

1. 6 March 1997

   Committee

   Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Legislative Branch. Hearings held prior to introduction and/or referral.

   Source: Committee

2. 20 May 1997

   Committee

   Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Legislative Branch. Hearings held prior to introduction and/or referral.

   Source: Committee

3. 5 June 1997

   Committee

   Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Legislative Branch. Hearings held prior to introduction and/or referral.

   Source: Committee

4. 10 June 1997

   Committee

   Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Legislative Branch. Hearings held prior to introduction and/or referral. Hearings printed: S.Hrg. 105-264.

   Source: Committee

5. 15 July 1997

   Calendars

   Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 110.

   Source: Calendars

6. 15 July 1997

   Reported

   Committee on Appropriations ordered to be reported an original measure.

   Source: Committee

7. 15 July 1997

   Reported

   Committee on Appropriations. Original measure reported to Senate by Senator Bennett. With written report No. 105-47.

   Source: Committee

8. 15 July 1997

   Introduced

   Introduced in Senate

   Source: IntroReferral

9. 16 July 1997

   Floor

   Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent. (consideration: CR S7593-7602)

   Source: Floor

10. 16 July 1997

    Passed

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.

    Source: Floor

11. 29 July 1997

    Floor

    Senate vitiated previous passage. (consideration: CR S8216)

    Source: Floor

Votes

No vote records are attached yet.

Versions

• Placed on Calendar Senate · 15 July 1997 · Official file

Documents

4 official files

• Passed Senate amended

  summary · EN · 16 July 1997

  Open at official source

• Placed on Calendar Senate (text)

  Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 15 July 1997

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Placed on Calendar Senate (PDF)

  Placed on Calendar Senate · EN · 15 July 1997

  ViewDownloadOpen at official source

• Introduced in Senate

  summary · EN · 15 July 1997

  Open at official source

Sponsors

• Sen. Bennett, Robert F. [R-UT] · R · Sponsor
• · ssap00 · Standing

Related records

• related to → Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1998