be illuminated. Right now on a sunny day the sun rays strike some of the paintings. As you stand in front of these paintings you see a reflection making it difficult to see the painting. The idea is to develop a plaque describing the painting somewhat like the Declaration of Independence plaque that is now in the rotunda. This plaque would set out in front of the wall with a light located behind it that would throw up lighting to counteract the downlighting that comes from above. Îf this scheme were carried forward one should then be able to see the paintings. We propose to flank these plaques by two of the type of settees we have now. We do not have enough of these settees to do that now. Some of these settees have been on loan to St. Elizabeths Hospital for quite a number of years. We have ascertained we can get our settees back to carry out this plan if the Congress should decide to do so. If such a scheme is carried forward it would create more interest in these paintings which is now rather discouraging due to the fact that it is very difficult to see these paintings at times. Mr. REIFEL. Would you do the same thing with each of the paintings? Mr. ČAMPIOLI. Yes, sir. Mr. REIFEL. This would tend to protect any pilfering or scratching of the paintings themselves. Mr. CAMPIOLI. That is correct. We would propose a rope barrier at each end that would keep persons at a safe distance but still allow them to see the paintings adequately. At times when all the space is needed in the rotunda we would then push these settees back to the wall to obtain the maximum floor space. Mr. REIFEL. This evening opening of the Capitol rotunda, which is one of the main places that is visited after 6 o'clock, if it becomes popular, it seems to me that this ought to be given some higher priority than other things in the beautification of the Capitol. Mr. ANDREWS. If the gentleman will yield, is there any money in this budget for any of that work? Mr. STEWART. No, sir. Mr. ANDREWS. Do you have estimates on what it would cost? Mr. CAMPIOLI. The estimates we have were prepared by our own personnel. Approximately $40,000 for lighting and approximately $175,000 for scaffolding and painting. But no estimate for stone cleaning. Mr. REIFEL. That is all the questions I have, Mr. Chairman. ACQUISITION OF PROPERTY, CONSTRUCTION, AND EQUIPMENT, ADDITIONAL HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING 1. Acquisition of property, protection, maintenance, 2. Construction and equipment of an additional office 3. Subway and subway transportation system and 4. Underground garages, squares 637 and 691 6. Changes, alterations and remodeling, Cannon House 7. Furniture and furnishings for Rayburn House Office 8. Administration, miscellaneous, contingencies and Financing: Unobligated balance available, start of year: 21.40 Appropriation.. 21.49 Contract authorization. 808 24.49 Contract authorization. 592 6, 192 Mr. ANDREWS. Page 90 in the committee print. Do you have a statement, Mr. Stewart? Mr. STEWART. Yes, sir. Would you like me to read it? Mr. ANDREWS. Very well. REPORT ON ADDITIONAL HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING PROJECT APPROPRIATIONS AND BALANCES Mr. STEWART. A total of $134,500,000 has been appropriated for this project, to date. As of April 1, 1966, obligations totaling $126,524,278 have been incurred, leaving an available balance of $7,975,722. Of this balance, $4,920,000 is reserved for remodeling the Cannon House Office Building; $996,000 is held in reserve pending decision of the House Office Building Commission Board of Contract Appeals with respect to claims filed by McCloskey & Co. under the contract for the foundations for the Rayburn Building; and the balance is reserved for settlement of pending claims under other contracts, for completion and furnishing of spaces assigned or to be assigned subsequent to original occupancy of the Rayburn Building, for occupancy changes, and for administrative and miscellaneous expenses. SCOPE OF PROJECT The appropriations made available, to date, for this project have provided for: Acquisition of eight squares of property in the vicinity of the House Office Buildings and clearing of structures from all of such squares, with the exception of the Congressional Hotel which is being operated by the Knott Hotels Corp. under a 10-year lease; contruction, furnishing, and equipment of the Rayburn House Office Building, and landscaping the grounds about the same; construction of a subway and subway transportation system between the Rayburn Building and the Capitol, with subway terminals at both buildings; construction of pedestrian tunnels between the Rayburn and Longworth Buildings; construction of underground garages in squares 637 and 691, and land scaping the areas above the garages; changes, alterations, and remodeling of the Cannon House Office Building; and initial changes and improvements in the Longworth House Office Buildings; also, for administrative, contingent, and miscellaneous expenses. PROPERTIES ACQUIRED Of the 8 squares acquired, 1 square has been combined with a square owned by the Government at the time the project was authorized and these 2 squares constitute the site on which the Rayburn Building has been erected; 2 squares are being used for construction of underground garages, accommodating 1,276 automobiles and maintenance shops; 1 square is being used as a parking lot; another square is shortly to be converted to a parking lot; 1 square is occupied, in part, by the Congressional Hotel, and the remainder of the square is used as a parking lot; 2 squares have been designated by Public Law 89-260 as the site for the James Madison Memorial Library of Congress Building. RAYBURN HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING The Rayburn Building was accepted for beneficial occupancy, January 15, 1965. The contract was originally due for completion in August 1964, but due to change orders during the course of the work, covering modifications and additions, the contractor was entitled to and granted an extension of time to January 15, 1965the date on which the building was accepted for beneficial occupancy. The foundation and structural steel contracts for the Rayburn Building have been paid in full and, of a total contract price of $55,114,765 for the superstructure for this building, all but $75,000 has been paid to the contractor. This amount will be paid when all record drawings have been submitted and other minor items adjusted, at which time final acceptance will be made of the building. OCCUPANCY Occupancy of the Rayburn Building by the Architect's field office was commenced in January 1964; by House personnel transferred from the George Washington Inn in March 1964; by Congressman Halleck in January 1965 and by other Members of the House in February 1965; by standing committees of the House in March 1965. Occupancy of all congressional suites and standing committee rooms was completed by April 1965; 600 spaces in the garage in the Rayburn Building were occupied in October 1964; the remaining 1,000 spaces in February 1965. The cafeteria was placed in operation March 1, 1965; the gymnasium and swimming pool, March 11, 1965. DESCRIPTION OF BUILDING The Rayburn Building contains 2,375,000 square feet, of which 1,002,000 square feet is garage space accommodating 1,600 automobiles. The net usable space, excluding the garage, is 935,000 square feet. The Rayburn Building contains 169 three-room suites for Members, 9 standing committee rooms, 22 subcommittee rooms, 1 select committee room, 18 committee anterooms, 51 committee staff rooms, miscellaneous office rooms, including offices for liaison personnel; post office facilities; press and television facilities; telephone and telegraph rooms, stationery room, Library of Congress book station, first aid rooms, shipping and receiving facilities; storage, shops, lockers, and other facilities for the building maintenance force; the House recording studio; a cafeteria and dining rooms providing 750 seating accommodations; 2 gymnasiums-1 for men and 1 for women; a swimming pool; and other miscellaneous accommodations. The building is served by 30 elevators, of which 25 are passenger elevators, 4 are combination passenger-freight elevators, and 1 a freight elevator; also, by 23 escalators. It is connected to the Longworth Building by two pedestrian tunnels, and to the House wing of the Capitol by a subway and subway transportation system. SUBWAY AND SUBWAY TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM The new subway tunnel, extending from the Rayburn Building to the west side of the House wing of the Capitol, in which two subway cars each seating 24 passengers operate, was opened to pedestrian traffic February 23, 1965, as were also the new subway terminals; and the 3 new passenger elevators, providing service from the subway terminal at the Capitol end of the subway to the House wing of the Capitol, west side, were also placed in service February 23, 1965. The new subway cars were placed in service April 1, 1965. One item that contributed heavily to the cost of this subway and terminals was extensive underpinning required at the west side of the Capitol to permit construction of a subway terminal at this location. UNDERGROUND GARAGES IN SQUARE 637 AND 691 A three-level underground garage is being constructed in each of these two squares. A space, 10 by 20 feet, is being allowed generally for each automobile. The 2 garages will accommodate a total of 1,276 automobiles. Part of the upper levels of one of the garages will house the maintenance shops of the Architect of the Capitol and the Clerk of the House, having duties in connection with the daily operation and functioning of the three House office buildings. All automobiles will enter and leave each garage by an entrance and exit to each garage on D Street. The garages will be connected to the Rayburn, Longworth, and Cannon Buildings by two pedestrian tunnels and by a service tunnel. The two garages will be interconnected by a vehicular tunnel. The area above each garage will be landscaped with a fountain, walks, grass areas, and plant material. Both garages, under the terms of the original contract, were due for completion in April 1966. They are now expected to be completed and ready for use by Fall 1966. Any claims for extensions of contract time will be carefully reviewed and weighed by the Architect of the Capitol and his staff before a decision is reached as to whether or not the contractor is entitled to any time extension. |