The item of $40,000 for rental of warehouse space was reduced from $40,000 to $20,000 due to the fact that in the fiscal year 1976 warehouse space for the storage of furniture and other items for the House was made available in House Annex #2 (formerly known as the FBI building), thereby eliminating the need for rental of such space in the warehouse at #10 P Street S.W. This, in turn, resulted in a reduction of the 1976 appropriation estimate from $140,000 to $120,000. In the past 19 years, expenditures from this fund affecting the Senate have been made by the Architect with the approval of the Chairman of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, and expenditures affecting the House have been made by the Architect with the approval of the Speaker of the House. The funds have been made available each year with this understanding, so there has been rigid control over the use of this fund from the very start. Expenses under this fund include such items as urgent need for modification of rostrums, erection and relocation of partitions; rearrangement and installation of additional lighting; installation and modification of public address systems in committee rooms; alterations to offices, committee rooms, and other areas to meet unanticipated requirements of Committees, Senators, and Members, and from other changes resulting from expanded personnel, more extensive use of office equipment, and rearrangement of existing facilities in an effort to alleviate, through temporary expediencies, overcrowded occupancy conditions and immediate need for additional accommodations; and for emergency repairs to mechanical equipment to prevent any prolonged disruptions to service resulting from delays necessarily incident to the securing of supplemental appropriations for items costing comparatively small amounts. - Expenditures - Fiscal Year 1975 As indicated, for the fiscal year 1975, $140,000 was appropriated in the regular annual act for Contingent Expenses. In addition, $300,000 was appropriated for such purpose in the Further Urgent Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1975 a total of $440,000. 46 Of this total, $175,054 was expended, as follows: .... Alterations to House Ways and Means Committee, Longworth Building. Installation of count-down clocks at Rayburn subway terminals. 3,629 Alterations, House Committee on Post Office and Civil Service.. 5,180 Alterations, Agriculture Committee, Longworth Building...... Alterations, Joint Committee on Internal Revenue, Longworth Building.. Alterations to Rooms 2326-28, Rayburn Building. 1,200 Alterations to Room 201-A, House Annex #1 (Budget Office) 745 Alterations to House Ways and Means Committee, Capitol. 539 Installation of bronze identification name plates on exterior of Alterations to Room H-415, Capitol, Joint Committee on Atomic Energy.. The foregoing items were approved by the Speaker of the House for payment from the "Contingent Expenses account. Alterations to auditorium in Dirksen Building, for temporary use by Select Committee to study governmental activities with respect to Intelligence Activities approved by Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations... Installation of Visitors' directional map, Capitol Grounds, approved by the Speaker of the House.. - Rental of storage space, #10 P Street S.W., Public Law 93-180. 29,795 Total Expended Fiscal Year 1975. $175,054 47 During the first 6 months of the fiscal year 1976 (July 1, 1975 to January 1, 1976), allocations totaling $83,231 have been approved against the annual 1976 appropriation of $120,000 for the following purposes. Items authorized by Public Law 93-180, approved by the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration Rental of storage space in warehouse building located at #10 P Street S.W. for use of the Senate and Architect of the Items approved by the Speaker of the House $ 12,331 Alterations to TV control room, House Recording Studio, Longworth Building...... 3,400 Alterations to rooms assigned House Committee on the Budget, House Annex #1 (former Congressional Hotel). 6,800 Speech reinforcement system, House Committee on Post Office Alterations to rooms on House side of Capitol assigned to the Architect of the Capitol. 8,000 Items approved by the Chairman, Senate Committee on Appropriations Alterations to Room S-146 in Capitol, assigned to Senate Committee on Appropriations.. 27,600 Alterations to Room 2-B, Russell Building, Combined Airlines Ticket Office.... 7,000 Item approved by Speaker of the House Removal of large model of Capitol from Crypt in the Capitol to the lower Rotunda of the Cannon Building.. 4,100 As of January 1, 1976, the entire amount of the reappropriation of $100,000 has been allocated for the following purposes. Items approved by the Speaker of the House Alterations to space assigned House Committee on Ways and Means, Longworth Building.... Alterations, Subcommittee on Commerce and Finance, Alterations, Subcommittee on Armed Services, Rayburn Alterations, Committee on Agriculture, Longworth Building.. Alterations, Committee on Post Office and Civil Service, Alterations, Room H-313, Capitol Building, House Rules ...... Alterations, Room H-308, Capitol Building, House Committee on Ways and Means.. ..... Total allocation of funds approved as of 1/1/76. REPORT ON 1976 APPROPRIATION Mr. SHIPLEY. Give us a report on the allocation of the 1976 appropriation, Mr. White. Mr. WHITE. Mr. Chairman, I would like to update what is given here, which is on page 48 of the justifications. On January 1, when our justification book was prepared, we showed an available balance of $36,769. As of today, that balance is now $6,289. And the balance is there only because we don't have enough to do with that amount all of the things which we are being asked to do. This is an area of some concern to us that I would like to discuss in a little greater detail, Mr. Chairman, if that is appropriate. Mr. SHIPLEY. All right; this would be the place to do it. OBJECTIVES OF CONTINGENCY FUND Mr. WHITE. The contingent fund is intended to provide a means of taking care of the needs of the Congress that are unforeseen and that arise during the year, when we are unable to get appropriations to meet such needs within a short period. The funds are only capable of being used on the House side by authority of the Speaker of the House, and on the Senate side by authority of the chairman of the Senate Appropriations Committee. So that congressional control exists as to the expenditure. PAST YEAR SAVINGS Mr. SHIPLEY. You turned back some of this money last year, did you not! Mr. HENLOCK. We used all of it under the regular annual appropriation of $140,000 allowed for 1975, but you gave us a supplemental later in that year and much of that work couldn't be placed under contract in a timely manner due to conditions beyond our control. You gave us for 1976 a reappropriation of $100,000 of the unexpended balance of that supplemental appropriation. Mr. WHITE. We had received $300,000 in addition to $140,000 which is a total of $440,000. And then you reappropriated $100,000 of the $300,000. We were unable to utilize the balance of that in a way that we intended because the bulk of it was to be used for alterations in this building. This project involved relocating of the barbershop and expansion of the Ways and Means Committee facilities here, and several other items in connection with that program. Because those decisions were not made, for valid reasons, we were unable to expend the funds and those, with the exception of the $100,000 reappropriation, then went back to the Treasury. Mr. SHIPLEY. How much went back, that is what I was asking. Mr. WHITE. I don't know offhand; we could provide that. Mr. SHIPLEY. All right, provide it. Mr. WHITE. It was a substantial amount. Mr. SHIPLEY. Yes, provide it for the record if you don't have it. [The information follows:] $165,000. 67-595 - 76 - 49 |