ADDITIONS Wage-rate increases authorized by Public Law 763, 83d Cong--. Under the provisions of Public Law 763, 83d Cong., 527 laborers and mechanics on the House Office Buildings roll are compensated on a wage-board, prevailing-rate basis. Public Law 763 provides that the compensation for such employees shall be adjusted from time to time as nearly as is consistent with the public interest in accordance with prevailing rates. An increase of $56,990 is requested for 1968 to meet on a fullyear basis the cost of increased wage rates established for these wage-board positions as a result of a general survey of government and industrial employees' wages in the Washington metropolitan area, conducted during the past year. The new rates went into effect Dec. 4, 1966, in accordance with the provisions of Public Law 85-872, 85th Cong. This increase is necessary in order that the House Office Buildings Wage-Board employees may be compensated on a full-year basis in the fiscal year 1968 in accordance with present prevailing rates. An increase of $41,912 is requested for 1968 to meet the cost of within-grade promotions and other changes authorized by Public Law 763 under the Wage-Board system, for employees compensated under that act. Within-grade promotions and other changes authorized by the Classification Act of 1949, as amended, for employees compensated under that act--- Increased pay costs due to Public Law 89-504, approved July 18, 1966, "Federal Salary and Fringe Benefits Act of 1966”_ The increases authorized by this Act cost, on an annual basis, $45,000. This total amount was absorbed through lapse savings for 1967, thereby eliminating the need for a supplemental appropriation for this item for the fiscal year 1967. Now that the buildings are fully staffed, these savings cannot be effected again next year, so that it is necessary to request the full amount of $45,000 for the fiscal year 1968 in order to cover the cost of these increases in that year. 28 additional employees to staff the new underground garages in squares 637 and 691_.. The underground garages in squares 637 and 691 are now nearing completion and are expected to be in use by July 1967, or shortly thereafter. The 2 garages will accommodate a total of 1.276 automobiles. Each garage is a 3-level underground garage. A space, 10 by 20 feet, is being allowed generally for each automobile. Part of the upper levels of the garage in square 637 will house the maintenance shops of the Architect of the Capitol and the Clerk of the House, required to be maintained for the daily operation and functioning of the 3 House office buildings. All automobiles will enter and leave each garage by an entrance and exit to each garage on D Street. The garages are connected to the Rayburn, Longworth, and Cannon Buildings by 2 pedestrian tunnels and by a service tunnel, and are interconnected by a vehicular tunnel. Existing law requires these garages to be operated and maintained by the Architect of the Capitol under the direction of the House Office Building Commission. The Additional House Office Building Act of 1955, Public Law 24, 84th Cong. (40 U.S.C. 175) provides that the Rayburn House Office Building and all other facilities constructed under authority of such act shall be subject to the provisions of law relating to the control, supervision, and care of the House Office Building contained in the act approved Mar. 4, 1907, as amended. The garage in the Rayburn Building, in the Cannon Building, and the 2 underground garages in squares 637 and 691, located directly south of the House Office Buildings, are all facilities constructed under authority of the Additional House Office Building Act of 1955 and, as such, come under the control and supervision of the Architect of the Capitol, subject to the direction of the House Office Building Commission as provided in the 1907 act. $98, 902 5, 244 45, 000 145, 200 The act of March 4, 1907 (40 U.S.C. 175), to which reference is made, provides that the employment of all service, other than officers and privates of the Capitol Police, that may be appropriated by the Congress, necessary for the protection, care, and occupancy of the House Office Building, shall be under the control and supervision of the Architect of the Capitol, subject to the approval of the House Office Building Commission. It further provides that the Architect of the Capitol shall submit annually to Congress estimates in detail for all services, other than officers and privates of the Capitol Police, and for all other expenses in connection with the House Office Building, necessary for its protection, care, and occupancy; and provides that the House Office Building Commission shall prescribe rules and regulations to govern the Architect of the Capitol in making all such employments, together with rules and regulations governing the use and occupancy of all rooms and space in such building. In addition, the act of May 28, 1908 (40 U.S.C. 184) provides that all unoccupied space in the House Office Building shall be assigned by the Architect of the Capitol under the direction of the House Office Building Commission and subject to the control of the House of Representatives. At the direction of the chairman of the Commission, a budget amendment has been submitted for the fiscal year 1968 requesting funds under the Architect of the Capitol for the fiscal year 1968 for the maintenance, staffing, and operation of the underground garages in squares 637 and 691. This action has been taken in compliance with the provisions of the aforecited laws. In addition to the base pay cost of $145,200 required for the 28 employees requested, other related pay costs, totaling $69.000, for overtime pay, health insurance, life insurance, retirement, night differential and Sunday premium pay, explained under those headings in the justifications, bring the total maintenance and operation costs necessary for these 2 garages to $214,200 per annum. Garage attendants: Breakdown of 28 positions requested Shift: 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. : 1 garage foreman, W-8, at $6,365 per annum....... 2 garage assistants, W-6, at $5,866 per annum each_. 6 garage attendants, W-4, at $5,034 per annum each_. Total Shift: 4 p.m. to midnight: 1 garage foreman, W-7, at $6,126 per annum. 2 garage assistants, W-5, at $5,616 per annum, each__ Total Shift: Midnight to 8 a.m.: 1 garage foreman, W-6, at $5,866 per annum. 3 garage attendants, W-4, at $5,034 per annum each_____ Total Garage cleaning force: $6.365 11.732 30, 204 48.301 6,126 11.232 30.204 47.562 5,866 15, 102 20.968 2 Air-conditioning mechanics, wage-board 10, at $6,677 per annum each It has been the practice for many years to operate the Capitol Power Plant's refrigeration plant, during the cooling season, from early April to late November, only during the periods 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., daily. Under this 16-hour operating schedule, it has been necessary, before the buildings supplied by the refrigeration plant can be provided with comfortable conditions, to extract, during the period 7 a.m. to 8:30 a.m., the residual heat that is absorbed by the system during the shutdown period. This means that the Capitol, Senate, and House office buildings, and other buildings supplied with cooling from the refrigeration plant, are without cooling during the period 11 p.m. to 8:30 a.m., daily, and working conditions during such period are most uncomfortable. For many years, prior to the occupancy of the Rayburn Building, the charwomen in the House office buildings worked only 3 hours a day-5 a.m. to 8 a.m. Since occupancy of the Rayburn Building, their workday has been lengthened to 6 hours2 a.m. to 8 a.m., daily. There are 177 charwomen working this period. During the period, midnight to 8 a.m., there are also working in the three House office buildings a number of night laborers and mechanics. During these hours, there are also working in the Senate office buildings 100 charwomen, and in the Capitol 17 charwomen, as well as a force of night laborers and mechanics. In addition, Members of Congress and their staffs who commence work in their offices earlier than 8:30 a.m. are registering complaints of discomfort. Since chilled water is not available and the air-supply fans are not operating during the shutdown periods, there is virtually no circulation of air in the buildings at such time, since the windows in the air-conditioned buildings are permanently closed. It is therefore recommended that funds be allowed for 1968 for the necessary additional personnel to keep the refrigeration plant at the Capitol Power Plant and the air-conditioning systems in the Capitol group of buildings in operation on a 24-hour-a-day basis. If this recommendation is approved, it will be necessary to add 3 mechanics to the Capitol Power Plant roll; 2 mechanics to the House office buildings roll; and 4 mechanics to the Senate office buildings roll. The cost of adding the 2 mechanics to the House office building maintenance appropriation is $13,354. Overtime pay allotment increased from $317,500 to $438,800_ Of this increase, $69.000 additional is required to cover overtime costs for the 3 buildings, on a full-staffed basis; $41,800 to cover overtime costs for the 28 employees proposed to be added to the staff for maintenance and operation of the garages in squares 637 and 691; and $10,500 results from transfer of such amount from the "Pay above the stated annual rate" allotment. Next year being leap year, there would normally be 2 excess basic workdays to be compensated. However, in the fiscal year 1968, the 2 excess days fall on a Saturday and Sunday. Most of the employees under the Architect of the Capitol are required to work 4 hours on Saturdays at time and 1⁄2 pay, and a skeleton maintenance force is required to work on Sundays, also at time and pay. It is estimated that the amount normally provided under the "Pay above the stated annual rate" allotment, covering 1 full 8-hour day for all employees, will equal and offset the cost of work required on the excess Saturday and Sunday in 1968. Accordingly, the amount of $10,500 allowed under that allotment for 1967 has been deleted from that allotment for 1968 and transferred for 1968 to the "Overtime pay" allotment. $13, 354 121, 300 78-653-67 Nightwork differential increased from $55,000 to $64,800_ This increase is requested to cover the cost of night differential pay for 19 of the proposed 28 additional employees requested to staff the underground garages in squares 637 and 691 during the hours 4 p.m. to midnight and from midnight to 8 a.m. Under the provisions of existing law, wage-board employees who work during these hours are entitled to 10 percent additional pay over their day rates. Sunday premium pay increased from $24,000 to $27,800‒‒‒ This increase is requested to cover the cost of premium pay for the 28 employees requested to staff the underground garages in squares 637 and 691 when they work on Sundays. Under the provisions of the Federal Salary and Fringe Benefits Act of 1966, employees who work on Sundays are required to be paid 25 percent additional pay over their regular weekday rates. Contribution to health benefits fund increased from $37,500 to $40,500 This increase is requested to cover the cost of Government contribution to the employees' health benefits fund for the 28 additional employees requested to staff the underground garages in squares 637 and 691. This item is required by Public Law 86382, 86th Cong., Federal Employees' Health Benefits Act of 1959, approved September 28, 1959. Contribution to Employees' life insurance fund increased from $9,200 to $9,800_. This increase is requested to cover the cost of Government contribution to the employees' life insurance fund for the 28 additional employees requested to staff the underground garages in squares 637 and 691. This item is required by Public Law 598, 83d Cong., Federal Employees' Group Life Insurance Act of 1954. Contribution $208,500 to retirement fund increased from $190,200 to Of this increase, $8,300 results from increase in basic pay rates, and $10,000 is requested to cover the cost of Government contribution to retirement fund for the 28 additional employees requested to staff the underground garages in squares 637 and 691. The item is required by Public Law 854, 84th Cong., title IV, Civil Service Retirement Act Amendments of 1956. Subtotal, additions____ Total estimate for 1968 (including $237,000 budget amend- $9,800 3, 800 3, 000 600 18, 300 +464, 500 4, 517, 000 Mr. ANDREWS. Suppose you proceed with the item. Begin with the $45,000 on page 94. INCREASED PAY COSTS Mr. HENLOCK. The $45,000 item represents increased pay costs due to Public Law 89-504, approved July 18, 1966, "Federal Salary and Fringe Benefits Act of 1966." The increases authorized by this act cost, on an annual basis, $45,000. This total amount was absorbed through lapse savings for 1967, thereby eliminating the need for a supplemental appropriation for this item for the fiscal year 1967. Now that the buildings are fully staffed, these savings cannot be effected again next year, so that it is necessary to request the full amount of $45,000 for the fiscal year 1968 in order to cover the cost of these increases in that year. Mr. ANDREWS. What would you attribute your ability to absorb the full amount to? What is the difficulty in getting people? Mr. Ridgell? Mr. RIDGELL. With the large crew there is considerable turnover and we have quite a few employees who stay out. Absenteeism among charwomen averages 25 a day. That is 900 hours a week. Some of it is annual leave. Some of it is sick leave. A good bit of it is without pay. Mr. ANDREWS. How many charwomen do you have in those three buildings? Mr. RIDGELL. 177. Mr. ANDREWS. That is positions? Mr. RIDGELL. Yes, sir. Mr. ANDREWS. You say that you have 25 a day out? Mr. RIDGELL. Yes, sir. Roughly 25 women. They work 6 hours a day and the pay is close to $2 an hour. It is $2 an hour. We average 25 a day out. Mr. HENLOCK. Mr. Chairman, of that $45,000, $36,000 came from savings on the 16 elevator operator positions that you allowed on a 6-month basis for the Rayburn Building, so that they would be available when Congress is in session to operate the elevators in the Rayburn Building should other than automatic operators be desired by the Congress or the House Office Building Commission during such period. Mr. ANDREWS. What is your difficulty in getting people over there, Mr. Ridgell? Mr. RIDGELL. I do not believe we have difficulty, Mr. Chairman. We keep pretty well full up. Mr. ANDREWS. Do you have an authorization for 177 positions? Mr. HENLOCK. There are 630 in all for the three House office buildings. Mr. ANDREWS. I am talking about charwomen. NEW POSITIONS FOR UNDERGROUND GARAGES Mr. ANDREWS. What about this item for 28 new jobs at a total estimate of $214,200? Mr. HENLOCK. These 28 employees are requested to staff the two new underground garages in squares 637 and 691. These garages are nearing completion and expected to be in use by July 1967. We have previously told you that they will accommodate 1,276 automobiles. They will also contain shops. An important point we want to stress, Mr. Chairman, is that existing law requires these garages to be operated and maintained by the Architect of the Capitol under the direction of the House Office Building Commission. The Additional House Office Building Act of 1955, Public Law 24, 84th Congress-40 U.S.C 175provides that the Rayburn House Office Building and all other facilities constructed under authority of such act shall be subject to the provisions of law relating to the control, supervision, and care of the House Office Building contained in the act approved March 4, 1907, as amended. The garage in the Rayburn Building, in the Cannon Building, and the two underground garages in squares 637 and 691, located directly south of the House Office Buildings, are all facilities constructed under authority of the Additional House Office Building Act of 1955 and, as such, come under the control and supervision of the Architect of the Capitol, subject to the direction of the House Office Building Commission as provided in the 1907 act. The act of March 4, 1907 (40 U.S.C. 175), to which reference is made, provides that the employment of all service, other than officers and privates of the Capitol Police, that may be appropriated by the Congress, necessary for the protection, care, and occupancy of the House Office Building, shall be under the control and supervision of the |