The Photographers are administered by the Office of the Doorkeeper. Their function is to ensure that their services are available to the Members of the House who must respond appropriately to constituent requests and official responsibilities.

The office is staffed by six persons, all of whom perform photographic services. All files and records are maintained by the photographers and photographic technicians.

This office serves the House as a recorder of special and historical events, such as Joint Sessions of Congress. It supplies wire services, TV media, local news organizations and trade journals with photographic needs pertaining to the House. It researches and provides topical photographic materials for House Committees, Hearings and investigations. It operates darkrooms and laboratory facilities capable of developing film, preparing prints, mounting, finishing, restoring prints and other technical aspects of a self-contained processing facility.

Requests for services are arranged by the Director and the Deputy Director. Constant contact is maintained by use of a multi-phone system and a "beeper" paging system. Photographs are made on an individual basis by appointment.

SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES

These are limited to the official business of the House. Photographs are taken primarily within the Hill complex, except as time permits for functions that involve a group of Members. In addition, the staff participates in photographic coverage at White House bill-signing ceremonies, and as required, accompanies Members on trips in the United States and abroad so that necessary pictorial data and information may be collected. Other areas of activity include Inaugural events, major and routine Committee Hearings, investigations, visiting Heads of State, and any special event involving a Member of Congress in line of duty.

Black and white prints are provided to requesting Members, and color transparencies are made available for their use. These can also be made available to the media, publishers, and agencies preparing historical and educational presentations.

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Members utilize this service for photographs with individual constituents, constituent interest groups, local Distric newspapers and TV stations, and newsletters.

Stocks of most frequently requested photos are maintained for immediate dissemination, e. g. the Capitol, House and Senate Office Buildings. Requests come from U. S. Senators, Congressional Quarterly, Capitol Historical Society, Smithsonian Institution, World Book Encyclopedia, Veterans' organizations, Project HELP, as well as all media.

Direction and advice can be provided Members on matte spray prints, retouch prints and negatives, crop negatives and prints, as well as

All photographers must be able to recognize Members by face, name and state, and be aware of their personal preferences and requirements.

Mr. BENJAMIN. The next division.

Mr. MOLLOY. Gentlemen, that brings to an end the eight areas under my jurisdiction.

[Discussion off the record.]

Mr. BENJAMIN. Thank you.

OFFICE OF THE POSTMASTER

Mr. BENJAMIN. Now, the Postmaster.

Mr. HENSHAW. Yes, Mr. Chairman.

The Office of the Postmaster.

For salaries, including employment of substitute messengers and extra services of regular employees for the Office of the Postmaster, $1,284,700.

Mr. Chairman, the House Postmaster, Honorable Robert V. Rota, is here to discuss the operation of the House Post Office.

[The information follows:]

APPROPRIATIONS, ACTUAL EXPENDITURES, UNEXPENDED BALANCES

Mr. HENSHAW. It is my privilege to introduce the Postmaster, Mr. Rota.

Mr. BENJAMIN. Mr. Rota, we are going to accept your statement for the record and ask you to summarize it.

[The information follows:]

MR. CHAIRMAN AND MEMBERS OF THE SUBCOTITTEE, I WISH TO THANK YOU ESS

GIVING ME THE OPPORTUNITY TO APPEAR BEFORE YOU TODAY IN SUPPORT OF THE APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE HOUSE POST OFFICE.

AS IN THE PAST, OUR BUDGET REQUEST IS THE MINIMUM WHICH WE FEEL WE CAN OPERATE WITHIN AND STILL PROVIDE MEMBERS WITH THE VARIETY AND QUALITY OF SERVICES YOU NEED AND DESERVE.

THE TOTAL APPROPRIATION REQUESTED BY THE HOUSE POST OFFICE FOR THE 1980 FISCAL YEAR IS $1,284,700. THIS REPRESENTS AN INCREASE OF $107,600 OVER LAST YEAR'S BUDGET. THE INCREASE IS PRIMARILY THE RESULT OF MANDATORY COST-OF-LIVING AND LONGEVITY INCREASES.

DUE TO THE SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE IN MAIL VOLUME LAST YEAR, COMBINED WITH EXPANDED SERVICES TO HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING ANNEXES, IT WAS NECESSARY DURING 1078 TO REQUEST THE ADDITION OF FIVE EMPLOYEES.

AS YOU MAY RECALL, HOWEVER, THE FIVE-EMPLOYEE ADDITION WE MADE LAST YEAR WAS THE FIRST INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF MAIL HANDLERS SINCE I BECAME YOUR POSTMASTER IN 1972. FOR SIX YEARS, THE HOUSE POST OFFICE HAS STEADILY INCREASED THE AMOUNT OF MAIL PROCESSED ESTIMATED TO HAVE TRIPLED IN VOLUME FROM 1972 TO 1979 - WITHOUT ANY ADDITIONS TO STAFF. MORE SPECIFICALLY, THE VOLUME OF MAIL HAS INCREASED OVER 300% DURING THE PAST SIX YEARS, WHEREAS, THE 9% INCREASE IN PERSONNEL WHICH WAS REQUESTED LAST YEAR WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT SUCH AN INCREASE WAS REQUIRED. IN ADDITION TO INCREASING THE AMOUNT OF MAIL PROCESSED BY EACH HOUSE

POST OFFICE EMPLOYEE, WE HAVE BEEN ABLE TO EXPAND AND IMPROVE THE SERVICES OFFERED TO MEMBERS AND YOU CAN BE CERTAIN THAT I WILL CONTINUE TO SEEK WAYS TO PROVIDE EVEN MORE SERVICES TO YOU IN THE FUTURE.

AN EXAMPLE OF OUR MAIL HANDLERS EFFICIENCY WAS POINTED OUT BY THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE A FEW YEARS AGO. POSTAL SERVICE EMPLOYEES CAN PROCESS APPROXIMATELY 800 PIECES OF MAIL PER HOUR. HOUSE POST OFFICE

EMPLOYEES, HOWEVER, CAN PROCESS APPROXIMATELY 1200 FIECES OF AIL IN THE SAME TIME FRAME. THIS ADVANTAGE GIVES US GREATER MOBILITY WHEN IT COMES

TO SORTING THE MAIL.

IN ORDER FOR YOU TO EVALUATE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE HOUSE POST OFFICE, WE HAVE COMPILED STATISTICS WHICH ARE SET FORTH IN SEVEN

TABLES.

TABLE #1 DEMONSTRATES THE INCREASES IN THE VOLUME OF MAIL BEING PROCESSED BY THE HOUSE POST OFFICE. THIS TABLE ALSO SHOWS THE NUMBER OF MAIL STOPS AS WELL AS THE NUMBER OF MAIL HANDLERS EMPLOYED. ONE ITEM I WISH TO POINT OUT IS THAT FROM 1970 TO 1980 WE HAVE ADDED 953 ADDITIONAL MAIL STOPS. AGAIN, THIS WAS DONE WITH THE ADDITION OF ONLY 5 EMPLOYEES LAST YEAR.

AS NOTED AT THE TOP OF TABLE #1, INCOMING MAIL VOLUME

FIGURES ARE THOSE PREPARED BY THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE. THESE FIGURES REPRESENT ONLY THAT AMOUNT OF MAIL RECEIVED THROUGH REGULAR U.S. POSTAL SERVICE CHANNELS,

IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THESE FIGURES REPRESENT LESS THAN HALF OF THE TOTAL AMOUNT OF MAIL ACTUALLY PROCESSED BY THE HOUSE POST OFFICE. IN ADDITION TO MAIL RECEIVED THROUGH THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE, WE ALSO PROCESS MAIL DELIVERED DIRECTLY TO THE HOUSE POST OFFICE FROM PRIVATE ORGANIZATIONS; VARIOUS STATE AND FEDERAL AGENCIES AND DEPARTMENTS; BULK DELIVERED NEWSPAPERS' "DEAR COLLEAGUE" LETTERS; INSIDE MAIL; DAILY LEGISLATIVE CALENDARS AND CONGRESSIONAL RECORDS: AREA AND CONGRESSIONAL TELEPHONE BOOKS; LIBRARY OF CONGRESS AND WHITE HOUSE MAILINGS; PLUS OTHER SPECIAL MAILINGS REQUESTED BY THE MEMBERS. IN TOTAL, IT IS ESTIMATED THAT THE HOUSE POST OFFICE

DELIVERED IN EXCESS OF 100 MILLION PIECES OF MAIL THIS PAST YEAR.