The subject of new facilities for the Government Printing Office has been under discussion for more than 20 years without much progress being made toward resolution of the problem of trying to operate an efficient cost effective manufacturing operation in a complex of multi-story buildings ranging in age from 76 to 39 years.

The reason for vacating the present buildings, which, by the way, are in very good condition and would make excellent non-manufacturing quarters, are more valid today than they were in 1956 when the need was first seen.

Notwithstanding project construction cost escalation to about $188 million for the new building, we have had commensurate escalations in savings which will still allow us to amortize the project in approximately ten years.

We continue to receive project support from the Joint Congressional Committee on Printing, the D. C. Government, the National Capital Planning Commission, all GPO labor unions, the Printing Industries of America, Incorporated, the Joint Industry Government Advisory Board, Washington Board of Trade, Building and Construction Trade Council, the Greater Washington Central Labor Council of the AFL-CIO, as well as other widely recognized public and private organizations.

Additionally, the General Services Administration has prepared an environmental impact statement on the proposed relocation, and it has been on file with the Council on Environmental Quality since September 17, 1976, without, to our knowledge, a negative comment, a fact that we believe connotes public approval.

With all the support we have been able to muster for this project, it is significant to note that in his letter designating the proposed new building as a Public Building, the President of the United States saw fit to endorse GPO relocation.

The present complex of four buildings housing the GPO, together with leased space at three additional locations, does not permit us to operate a manufacturing facility efficiently. A printing plant receives and outputs tons of paper materials daily which must move from stage to stage in the manufacturing operation. The movement is costly under the best of conditions, but in a building where tons of material must move vertically on 36 elevators, instead of horizontally, as would be possible in a new building, the costs are prohibitive and the delays are not conducive to good service.

The present buildings are structurally in good condition, but the ceiling heights are low and the usable floor space is reduced by the location of support columns and utility shafts which inhibit the placement of modern in-line press and bindery equipment. When we do install modern in-line production operations, we are unable to get the full benefit of reduced material handling because of the combination of low ceilings, innumerable columns and shafts, and the necessary use of elevators to move materials from floor to floor.

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The project will increase the efficiency of our services to the Congress and the other customer agencies, provide the community with an improved economic base, provide a major public building project at a time when the construction industry needs a boost, and give our employees a better and healthier working environment in compliance with OSHA standards.

Any businessman in the private sector would quickly embrace the proposition when he could attain all of these advantages and amortize a new building totaling nearly $188 million, minus the value of the present building, by reducing his production costs and saving in excess of $17 million a year.

We feel that the project is necessary if we are ever to attain our goals, mandated by the Appropriations Committees of the House and the Senate, of reducing the cost of printing and distributing government documents.

REVOLVING FUND

Mr. BENJAMIN. Revolving Fund.

Page VI-1 of the justifications. We will insert the budget schedule in the record.

[The information follows:]

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

REVOLVING FUND

The Government Printing Office is hereby authorized to make such expenditures, within the limits of funds available and in accord with the law, and to make such contracts and commitments without regard to fiscal year limitations as provided by section 104 of the Government Corporation Control Act, as amended, as may be necessary in carrying out the programs and purposes set forth in the budget for the current fiscal year for the "Government Printing Office revolving fund": Provided, That not to exceed $5,000 may be expended on the certification of the Public Printer in connection with special studies of governmental printing, binding, and distribution practices and procedures: Provided further, That during the current fiscal year the revolving fund shall be available for the hire of two passenger motor vehicles and the purchase of one passenger motor vehicle. (Legislative Branch Appropriation Act, 1979.)