Supplies and materials-increased from $35,000 to $47,000--- In addition, the demands of the 2 House Office Build- Total___. Total estimate for 1962_-_ $12,000 +38, 900 1, 639, 000 Mr. STEWART. For the House Office Buildings, we are asking a net decrease of $63,600. DELETIONS FROM 1961 APPROPRIATION The deductions are: Government contribution to employees' health benefits fund, decreased from $24,000 to $15,000, a decrease of $9,000. Annual painting decreased from $47,500 to $47,000, a decrease of $500. Maintenance of the air-conditioning systems decreased from $27,200 to $7,200, a decrease of $20,000. The decrease of $20,000 is due to dropping for 1962 of a nonrecurring item allowed under this allotment for 1961 for cleaning the air-conditioning masonry shafts in the old building. Replacement of revolving door, old building, a deduction of $8,000. This is a nonrecurring item allowed for 1961 and dropped for 1962. It provided for replacement of the old wooden revolving door at the First and C Streets entrance, first floor level, old building, with a new, modern, bronze revolving door. Mr. STEED. This reduction in the contribution to the employees' health benefits fund, you say that was brought about based on your experience with the program during the past year? Mr. STEWART. Yes, sir. Mr. STEED. Is it your idea that that has now settled itself at a fairly static position? Mr. STEWART. Yes, sir. Then there is another deduction of $40,000, that is a nonrecurring item allowed for 1961, for the installation of five revolving doors in the New House Office Building. I think you will all agree that this installation has made the lobby of the New House Office Building more comfortable. You do not get the hot air in the summer and the cold air in the winter that you did before. The next item is repairs and improvements, terrace landing, southeast corner, new building, a deduction of $25,000. This is a nonrecurring item allowed for 1961 and dropped for 1962. So the total deductions are $102,500. WAGE BOARD, WITHIN-GRADE, AND OVERTIME INCREASES The additions are: Wage-rate increases authorized by Public Law 763, 83d Congress, $16,255. Of this amount, an increase of $12,000 is requested for 1962 to meet on a full-year 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 December 25, 1960, in accordance with the provisions of Public Law 85-872, 85th Congress. 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 1962 in accordance with persent prevailing rates. The gross cost of these changes is $32,500. Of this cost, $20,500 is being absorbed through savings. An increase of $4,255 is requested for 1962 to meet the cost of withingrade promotions and other changes authorized by Public Law 763 under the wage-board system, for employees compensated under that act. The next item of increase is within-grade promotions authorized by the Classification Act of 1949, as amended, for employees compensated under that act, $2,245. Overtime and holiday pay increased by $3,000 to meet increased pay costs under that allotment resulting from base pay increases under Public Law 763 and the Classification Act. RETIREMENT FUND Contribution to retirement fund increased from $62,500 to $63,900, an increase of $1,400. This item is requested to cover the cost of Public Law 854, 84th Congress. The additional cost results from increase in basic pay rates. REPLACEMENT OF TERRACE LANDING Replacement of terrace landing, First and C Streets approach, Old House Office Building, $4,000. This is a nonrecurring item. The steps and landing at the First and C Streets approach or entrance to the Old House Office Building were constructed with the building was erected more than 50 years ago. The steps are in satisfactory condition, but the landing, which is 32 feet by 65 feet in size and constructed of concrete, with a granolithic finish, has now deter iorated to the point where it constitutes a hazard and should be replaced. Under the estimate of $4,000 requested for 1962, it is proposed to remove the existing landing and to construct a new landing in replacement thereof, consisting of 4-inch concrete base, with a 11⁄2inch granolithic surface. Mr. STEED. Are you having any water trouble there? Mr. STEWART. Our trouble is with the cracked and broken surface. We corrected, this past year, a bad condition on the southeast corner of the new building. Mr. STEED. Same sort of problem? Mr. STEWART. Yes, except there were leaks as well as broken surface on the other landing. Mr. RIDGELL. This is a defective surface condition. The other involved leaks as well as surface condition. SUPPLIES AND MATERIALS (LIGHT BULBS) Mr. STEWART. The next item is supplies and materials, increased from $35,000 to $47,000, an increase of $12,000, which is requested for 1962 to provide an annual allotment for the purchase of electric light bulbs and fluorescent tubes for the two House Office Buildings. For many years, the electric light bulbs for the Capitol, Senate, and House Office Buildings were bought under the "Capitol buildings" appropriation. With the installation of improved lighting and 60-cycle alternating current in the Senate Office Building and the addition of the New Senate Office Building, the demands of those buildings became such that a separate allotment is now provided for those two buildings under the "Senate Office Buildings" appropriation. With improved lighting being installed at the present time in the Capitol Building and with the extension of the east front of the Capitol to be provided for in 1962 and subsequent years, it is no longer possible to take care of any building other than the Capitol under the "Capitol buildings" appropriation. In addition, the demands of the two House Office Buildings have been materially increased by the addition of the garage in the courtyard of the old building and the cafeteria in the courtyard of the new building, and by committee use of the George Washington Inn. The point has therefore now been reached where it is necessary to request a separate allotment for electric light bulbs and fluorescent tubes for the two House Office Buildings under the "House Office Buildings" appropriation, and an additional amount of $12,000 under the supplies and materials allotment is accordingly requested for such purpose. Mr. STEED. Any questions? Mr. Bow. No questions at this point. Mr. STEED. That brings us to the Additional House Office Building, page 121 of the justifications and page 72 of the committee print. We will insert the complete justifications on this item. (The justifications follow:) CONTRACT AUTHORIZATION Public Law 24, 84th Congress, "Additional House Office Building Act of 1955.” Amount of contract authorization: To be determined by the House Office Building Commission. Amount of contract authorization appropriated to date Second Supplemental Appropriation Act, 1955. $5, 000, 000 10, 000, 000 7,500,000 22, 500, 000 16, 500, 000 Legislative Branch Appropriation Act, 1959_ Total appropriated_. Appropriation requested in the budget for the fiscal year 1962--- 13, 000, 000 5, 000, 000 79, 500, 000 6, 000, 000 This project is authorized by the Additional House Office Building Act of 1955, Public Law 24, 84th Congress, approved April 22, 1955. Under the provisions of the Authorization Act, the planning of the additional office building and other authorized changes and improvements and the determination of contract authorization are vested in the House Office Building Commission, consisting of Speaker Rayburn; Representative Vinson, of Georgia; and Representative Auchincloss, of New Jersey. The project is broken down into seven parts, as follows: Acquisition of property as a site for an additional office building and for additions to the Capitol Grounds. Construction and equipment of an additional office building. Changes, alterations, and remodeling of the Old House Office Building. Changes, alterations, and remodeling of the New House Office Building. Construction and equipment of security vaults and other underground structures. Subways and underground transportation systems. Landscape development of five squares acquired for additional House Office Building project. Numerous meetings have been held by the House Office Building Commission and various directives have been issued by the Commission to the Architect of the Capitol. The following is a report on accomplishments to date: Acquisition of property All properties directed by the House Office Building Commission to be acquired for the additional House Office Building project have been purchased. The properties consist of five squares, located immediately south and west of the present House Office Buildings, known as squares 635, south of 635, 637, 691, and 692, and two squares, located immediately east of the Old House Office Building, known as square 732. Title, in fee simple absolute, to these properties now vests in the United States of America. Square 635 has been completely cleared of structures and is one of the two squares on which the additional House Office Building is being erected. The other square (square 636) was already owned by the Government and, prior to commencement of the project, was used as a parking area for Members' automobiles. Square south of 635 has also been completely cleared of structures and is now used as a parking lot for automobiles. Square 637 has been cleared of all structures except the General Outdoor Advertising Building, now used by the Architect of the Capitol as a field construction office. Square 691 has been cleared of all structures except the George Washington Inn, which is now being used to provide temporary office and com |