། t The statement referred to is as follows: Miscellaneous items, 1963-July 1, 1962 to Apr. 30, 1963 Mr. ROBERTS. These allocations will be taken up in their order and explained briefly as follows: (1) Miscellaneous equipment, supplies, and materials, such as hand towels, paper towels, paper cups, toilet paper, soap, cleaning powder, cleaning equipment, and any other miscellaneous articles that may be required. (1-A) Photostatic and duplication work, including Members' identification cards. (I-B) Official blank checks for the use of the Clerk's Office and the Office of the Sergeant at Arms. (1-C) Special office equipment, maintenance and repairs. (2) Newspapers for the Speakers' and Members' lobby. (3) Standard or manual typewriter machines. (3-A) Typewriter repairs (manual). (4) Ice. (5) Laundry service, including hand towels, for the House side of the Capitol, and both House Office Buildings. (6) Covers gratuities, as authorized by the Legislative Appropriation Act of 1955. (7) Miscellaneous payrolls by House resolutions, payable out of the contingent fund of the House, until otherwise provided by law. (8) Material and equipment for folding, in handling speeches, pamphlets, and other necessary work required of the House Folding Room. (9) Payment of premiums on official bonds required for the protection of the offices and personnel of the Sergeant at Arms, the Clerk of the House, and Postmaster. (10) The House restaurant, for which $60,000 is specifically provided in the appropriation paragraph for payment to the Architect of the Capitol, as authorized by law, toward the upkeep and operation of House restaurants. (11) Exchange, operation, and repair of the Clerk's motor vehicles. (12) Exchange, operation, and repairs of the Post Office motor vehicles. (13) Exchange, operation, and repairs of the Folding Room motor truck. (14) Hire of automobile for the Sergeant at Arms. (15) Stationery for standing committees, officers, and departments of the House. (16) Electrical and mechanical office equipment for the Members. including committees, officers, and departments of the House. (17) Services and repairs to electrical and mechanical office equipment furnished under allocation No. 16. (18) Rental of office space for Members of Congress in their home districts, as provided in the appropriation paragraph. (19) Official expenses of Members not to exceed $150 quarterly for office expenses incurred outside the District of Columbia. (20) Government contribution for Federal employees' group life insurance. (21) Government contribution for civil service retirement fund. (22) Contested election cases. (23) Former Speaker's automobile. (24) Government contribution for Federal employees' health benefits program. For the fiscal year 1964, we budgeted $2,825,000, compared with $2.601,203.23 appropriated for 1963, or an increase of $223,797.77. I again wish to repeat that all of these allocations are for certain exceptions, mostly arbitrary, that may be changed upward or downward, depending upon conditions that may arise throughout the full fiscal year. I might further state for the information of the committee that all disbursements made from the appropriation for "Miscellaneous items" must receive my personal approval, and also the approval of the Committee on House Administration. 1963 FUNDS TRANSFERRED TO 1962 Mr. STEED. How are you running on your miscellaneous items this year? I note you had to borrow some money from 1963 to pay off the 1962 accounts, did you not? Mr. MEGILL. Yes, sir. That is shown at the base of the statement we just submitted. Mr. STEED. How much was that! Mr. MEGILL. $87,482.77. Mr. STEED. How much will that leave you? Mr. MEGILL. It will be more than that we will turn back because we are already in need of transferring some more out of 1963 to meet 1962 bills. Bills are still coming in for 1962. Mr. GIBSON. We have bills in our office for over $3,000 for 1962. FINANCIAL STATUS OF 1963 FUNDS Mr. STEED. As of the moment how are you standing on your 1963 accounts? Mr. GIBSON. My accounts do not take into consideration the supplemental. As of April 30 we have $338,358.50 miscellaneous items, 1963. We have a supplemental coming of $88,685. From experience we do not expect this will be enough to take care of the miscellaneous items, 1963, that will come in during the year. Mr. STEED. When you get all the rest of the 1962 accounts paid, what total for the year will it give you? Mr. GIBSON. That would be hard to judge. They are still coming. Mr. STEED. What you have already paid and what you already know you have to pay, what does that total for 1962? Mr. GIBSON. What we have already expended for 1962 is roughly $2.3 million. Mr. STEED. What made the 1962 demand so heavy? Mr. GIBSON. Just growth. Mr. MEGILL. The increased number of employees coming in has created expenditures in the Government contribution for retirement, the Government contribution for insurance, and the Government contribution for the health program. In each case you increase the personnel you increase the item here. There has been an increase in the amount of electrical and mechanical equipment supplied the Members that is gradually increasing and causing increases in those categories. There has been an increase in the amount of gratuities granted by the House to deceased employees. There are four major items of increase, which I have named, but right down the line there are increases. This is the heart, actually, of your contingent fund. We are taking from the current year's appropriation to pay past bills. This may be the place to mention that in four items telephone and telegraph, reporting of hearings, special and select committees, and miscellaneous items we should have language permitting us to transfer from what you appropriate in 1964 to pay the 1963 bills. Mr. STEED. Why is there this long-time lag before the bills are Mr. GIBSON. The main reason is such items as (16) and (17) for electrical and mechanical equipment. The Clerk's office gets requests for this equipment and a lot of the companies are in the West or Midwest and there is a delay in billing. Also, you have the item for Members' official expenses and rental of office space. They do not have to put that in every quarter or every month and we have that back billing. I have that figure for you for 1962; $2,550,000 was appropriated and as of April 30 there was expended $2,636,315.96. We still have bills coming in. We have about $3,000 of bills in the office right now. MEMBERS USE OF DISTRICT OFFICE SPACE RENTAL AND EXPENSE ALLOWANCES Mr. STEED. How many Members are availing themselves of items under (18) and (19)? Mr. MEGILL. Item (18) is for rental of office space. In fiscal year 1961, 208 Members rented offices in their congressional districts, 5 Members having 2 offices under contract. In fiscal year 1962, 218 Members rented offices in their congressional districts, 6 Members having 2 offices under contract. As of March 31, 1963, 299 Members were renting offices in their congressional districts, 5 Members having 2 offices under contract. Item (19) is for official expenses of Members for office expenses incurred outside the District of Columbia. In fiscal year 1961, 370 Members received expense allowances under this item; in fiscal year 1962, 380 Members; and as of March 31, 1963, there were 400 Members. EMPLOYEE PARTICIPATION IN RETIREMENT, HEALTH AND LIFE INSURANCE PROGRAMS Mr. STEED. While you are on that, from this list can you read the number of employees participating in the group health program? Mr. MEGILL. Yes. As of December 31, 1960, there were 2,273; as of December 31, 1961, there were 2,554; as of December 31, 1962, there were 2,618; as of March 31, 1963, there were 2,624; and as of April 30, 1963, there were 2,629. Mr. STEED. Will you also read for the record those who are taking part in the retirement program? Mr. MEGILL. As of December 31, 1958, there were 2,172; as of December 31, 1959, there were 2,265; as of December 31, 1960, there were 2,309; as of December 31, 1961, there were 2,383; as of December 31, 1962, there were 2,533. Would you like the figures on the life insurance program? Mr. STEED. Yes. Mr. MEGILL. Those participating in the life insurance program as of December 31, 1961-we are giving it by the calendar year—were 3,350; and as of December 31, 1962, 3,485. In connection with this, Mr. Chairman, it might be interesting to point out that all Members do not use the district offices expense. EXTRA TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH ALLOWANCE Mr. STEED. When the extra units for the telephone and telegraph were granted the first time, that was paid out of this item, was it not? Mr. ROBERTS. Yes. Mr. STEED. Has that been shifted over to the regular telephone and telegraph item under this bill? Mr. ROBERTS. We are asking you to do that. Mr. STEED. How much extra charge was made on this fund this year for this item? Mr. MEGILL. Under this resolution? Mr. STEED. Yes; for 10,000 extra units. Mr. GIBSON. It will run approximately $170,000. Mr. MEGILL. That is our estimate. Mr. GIBSON. I figured it by taking last year's appropriation and adding one-eighth. Mr. STEED. Where does that show on this tabulation on page 17 of your statement? Mr. MEGILL. That is under another item, "Telephone and telegraph," that we are coming to. Mr. STEED. When did this become effective? Mr. MEGILL. The additional 10,000 units became effective in the last Congress and it was indicated in the resolution that it should be made permanent law. For that reason this committee is being requested by the clerk to include it in the list of resolutions to be made permanent law, and if that is done we will credit the Members with the other 10,000 units. Otherwise we cannot, as the resolution of one Congress is not binding on the next Congress. Mr. ROBERTS. The resolution was approved July 25, 1962. EXPENSES UNDER HOUSE RESOLUTION 348 Mr. STEED. What has been used out Resolution 348 on page 34 of the bill? under that item? of the $5,000 under House Has any money been used Mr. GIBSON. In the 87th Congress, Mr. Chairman, out of the $5,000 appropriated they had a balance of $4,273.97, so very little was expended. Mr. STEED. Has any been expended since? Mr. GIBSON. In the 88th Congress? Mr. STEED. Yes. Mr. GIBSON. I do not believe so; no, sir. None has been expended in the 88th Congress. REASONS FOR REQUESTED APPROPRIATION INCREASE Mr. STEED. Could you summarize the major reasons why you are asking for this increase of $225,000 this year over last year for this appropriation? |