Order Code RL33220
Support Offices in the House of Representatives:
Roles and Authorities
Updated May 22, 2008
Ida A. Brudnick
Analyst on the Congress
Government and Finance Division
Support Offices in the House of Representatives:
Roles and Authorities
Summary
Article I of the Constitution, in Sections 2 and 3, authorizes the House of
Representatives and Senate to choose their own officers. The number of such
congressional support personnel, as well as their specific responsibilities, is left to
the discretion of the chambers. Over time, both chambers have authorized a number
of offices that assist them, collectively or individually, in their work. These offices
perform legislative, administrative, financial, and ceremonial functions. They also
ensure the protection of Congress and preserve its institutional memory.
The roles of House support offices have been established by House Rules,
statute, and custom. They are also shaped by the congressional authorities with
policy, oversight, and funding responsibilities for the offices. These include the
House Appropriations Committee, the House Administration Committee, the House
Office Building Commission, and the Office of the Speaker.
This report is an overview of the different roles performed and the
organizational authorities that govern the “daily operations” offices in the House of
Representatives. Certain entities shared with the Senate, like the Government
Accountability Office, the Congressional Budget Office, and the Congressional
Research Service, are included in this report, although the focus here is on their
services to the House. The report is organized by function, with sections on offices
supporting legislative duties; administrative, operational, and financial offices; legal
and regulatory offices; ceremonial and historical offices; and security offices. Offices
with responsibilities in more than one area are addressed in successive sections.
More detailed information on select offices is also available in additional CRS
products identified throughout. This report will be updated as circumstances warrant.
Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Offices Assisting Legislative Duties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Legislative Branch Agencies: CRS, CBO, and GAO . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Clerk of the House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Office of the Legislative Counsel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Office of the Parliamentarian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Office of the Law Revision Counsel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Administrative, Operational, and Financial Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Clerk of the House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Chief Administrative Officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Sergeant at Arms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Office of Interparliamentary Affairs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
House Office Building Commission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Architect of the Capitol, the Superintendent of
House Office Buildings, Electricians, and Engineers . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Legal and Regulatory Offices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Inspector General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Office of Compliance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Office of General Counsel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Offices Supporting Ceremonial Traditions and the Preservation
of Institutional Memory . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Clerk of the House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
House Chaplain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
Sergeant at Arms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Historian of the House . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18
Offices Assisting in Security and the Maintenance of Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Sergeant at Arms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Office of Emergency Planning, Preparedness, and Operations . . . . . . . . . . 19
Office of the Attending Physician . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
Support Offices in the House of
Representatives: Roles and Authorities
Introduction
Article I of the Constitution, in Sections 2 and 3, authorizes the House of
Representatives and Senate to choose their own officers. The number of such
congressional support personnel, as well as their specific responsibilities, is left to
the discretion of each chamber. Over time, both chambers have authorized a number
of offices to assist them, collectively or individually, in their work. These offices
perform legislative, administrative, financial, and ceremonial functions. They also
ensure the protection of Congress and preserve its institutional memory.
The roles of House support offices have been established by House Rules,
statute, and custom. They may also be shaped by congressional authorities with
oversight, funding, or appointing responsibility for the offices. The House
Administration Committee, for example, has jurisdiction over legislation pertaining
to services to the House.1 The committee is also charged with providing policy
direction for the Inspector General and oversight of the Clerk, Sergeant at Arms,
Chief Administrative Officer, and the Inspector General.2 The committee may
approve a reorganization of these offices. It also frequently distributes “Dear
Colleague” letters to communicate its response to internal operational issues relating
to these and other support offices.
The House Appropriations Committee, Subcommittee on Legislative Branch,
through its consideration of the annual spending measure for the legislative branch,
also shapes the chamber’s internal operations.3 Guidance from the committee may
be found in hearings, the House report accompanying the legislative branch
appropriations bill, the bill text, and the conference committee report. The Speaker,
as the appointing authority for some of these offices, also has influence over their
work.
This report is an overview of the relationships among, and different roles and
functions performed by, the “daily operations” offices in the U.S. House of
Representatives. The organizational authorities are also addressed. Certain entities
1 House Rule X, clause 1(j), 110th Cong., H.Res. 6, adopted Jan. 5, 2007.
2 House Rule X, clause 4, 110th Cong., H.Res. 6, adopted Jan. 5, 2007.
3 The House Appropriations Committee was reorganized in Feb. 2005, and the
Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch was eliminated. The legislative branch
appropriations bill for FY2006, and all its accompanying report language and directives, was
considered by the full House Appropriations Committee. The House Subcommittee on
Legislative Branch was reestablished for the 110th Congress.
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shared with the Senate, like the legislative support agencies, are included in this
report, although it focuses whenever possible on their service to the House. Offices
with responsibilities in more than one area are dealt with in successive sections.
More detailed information on select offices is available in additional Congressional
Research Service products identified throughout.
Offices Assisting Legislative Duties
Members of the U.S. House of Representatives and their staff have numerous
avenues for assistance in legislative matters. Support offices are available to
participate in all stages of the legislative process, from background research on public
policy issues, to the drafting of potential bills, through the submission, consideration,
and evaluation of proposed legislation. The three legislative branch agencies, the
Congressional Research Service (CRS), Congressional Budget Office (CBO), and the
Government Accountability Office (GAO), serve both chambers. Other legislative
support offices are dedicated mainly to serving the House of Representatives.
Legislative Branch Agencies: CRS, CBO, and GAO
Three agencies are dedicated to serving the legislative branch in legislative,
representational, and oversight matters: the Congressional Research Service (CRS),
the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), and the Government Accountability Office
(GAO). These agencies each assist committees, Members of both chambers, and
their staff by providing nonpartisan research and analysis.
The Congressional Research Service (CRS) is the public policy research arm of
Congress. It provides nonpartisan, confidential analysis exclusively for Members of
Congress. Its staff of approximately 700 conducts briefings on specific policy issues,
arranges regular educational seminars on a variety of legislative topics, produces
reports on current legislative issues, delivers expert testimony before congressional
committees, and prepares customized written analyses in response to specific
inquiries. Originally established as the Legislative Reference Service in 1914, the
Congressional Research Service was renamed and given expanded research and
analytic duties with the passage of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970.4 The
Librarian of Congress, after consultation with the Joint Committee on the Library,
appoints the director of CRS.
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) provides estimates of the costs of bills,
joint resolutions, and amendments. These estimates are required for any measure
reported by a regular or conference committee that may vary revenues or
expenditures, although estimates may be issued at other stages of the legislative
process upon request.5 CBO issues the projected effect of the measure for the current
4 P.L. 63-127, ch. 141, July 16, 1914; P.L.79-601, ch. 753, title II, sec. 203, Aug. 2, 1946,
60 Stat. 836; P.L.91-510, title III, sec. 321(a), Oct. 26, 1970, 84 Stat. 1181; 2 U.S.C. 166.
5 The Congressional Budget Office is required to use estimates provided by the Joint
(continued...)
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and four ensuing fiscal years. Since passage of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act
of 1995,6 CBO has also been charged with estimating the impact of these reported
measures on state and local governments for the same time period. CBO also
provides estimates of the nation’s spending and revenue over the next 10 years; an
analysis of the President’s annual budget proposal; Monthly Budget Reviews, which
track the monthly status of outlays, receipts, and the deficit or surplus throughout the
year; studies requested by congressional committees and subcommittees; and,
resources permitting, requests from individual Members. Along with the House and
Senate Budget Committees, CBO was established as part of the Congressional
Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974.7 It currently has approximately 230
employees. Its director is appointed by the Speaker of the House and the President
pro tempore of the Senate, acting jointly, after consideration of recommendations
made by the House and Senate Budget Committees. (For more information, see CRS
Report RL31880, Congressional Budget Office: Appointment and Tenure of the
Director and Deputy Director, by Robert Keith and Mary Frances Bley.)
The Government Accountability Office (GAO), formerly known as the General
Accounting Office, was originally established by the Budget and Accounting Act of
1921.8 With approximately 3,200 employees, GAO is directed by the Comptroller
General of the United States, who is appointed for a 15-year term by the President,
with the advice and consent of the Senate. GAO assists in congressional oversight
by evaluating the performance of government policies and programs. GAO also
conducts financial and management audits and makes recommendations for
corrective legislation and actions. Its Office of Investigations examines allegations
of fraud, misconduct, and waste. Some GAO work is prescribed in mandates,
including statutes, congressional resolutions, conference reports, and committee
reports. Requests also come from the congressional leadership, committee chairs and
ranking minority members, and only in rare instances, individual Members, with
priority in those cases going to Members on a committee of jurisdiction. GAO
informs these requesters within 10 days whether or not the request can be undertaken.
GAO may also initiate its own work.9 If a congressional request results in a written
report, the requester may ask that its public release be restricted for 30 calendar days
after issuance.10 Restrictions may be lifted, after consultation with the requester, if
5 (...continued)
Committee on Taxation for all revenue legislation (Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit
Control Act of 1985, P.L. 99-177, sec. 273, Dec. 12, 1985, 99 Stat.1098; 2 U.S.C. 621 (et
seq)).
6 P.L.104-4, sec. 2, March 22, 1995, 109 Stat. 48; 2 U.S.C. 1501.
7 P.L. 93-344, sec. 201, July 12, 1974, 88 Stat.302; 2 U.S.C. 658.
8 Originally created as the General Accounting Office (Budget and Accounting Act of 1921,
June 10, 1921, 42 Stat.23, 31 U.S.C. 702(a)). Renamed by the GAO Human Capital Reform
Act of 2004, P.L. 108-271, 118 Stat. 811.
9 P.L. 97-258, Sept. 13, 1982; 96 Stat. 893; 31 U.S.C. 717.
10 GAO’s guidelines for responding to congressional requests, releasing related reports, and
testifying before committees and subcommittees are contained in U.S. Government
Accountability Office, GAO’s Congressional Protocols, GAO-04-310G (Washington:
(continued...)
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related legislation is under consideration in either chamber. (For more information,
see CRS Report RL30349, GAO: Government Accountability Office and General
Accounting Office, by Frederick M. Kaiser.)
Clerk of the House
The Clerk of the House is an elected officer of the House who performs
legislative, administrative, educational, and preservation duties. A Clerk has been
elected at the start of each Congress since 1789. The Committee on House
Administration provides oversight for this office.11 Nine offices assist the Clerk in
areas currently under the Clerk’s jurisdiction. Two of these offices are directly
involved in the daily legislative operations of the House.
The first, the Office of Legislative Operations, assists the Clerk in fulfilling
duties related to the handling of House documents. These include a mandate that the
Clerk “attest and affix the seal of the House to all writs, warrants and subpoenas
issued by order of the House and certify the passage of all bills and joint resolutions,”
and present House-originated bills and Joint Resolutions to the President.12
Within this office are five clerks: bill clerks receive introduced bills and
amendments; enrolling clerks prepare the official engrossed copy of House-passed
bills, transmit messages to the Senate regarding approved legislation, and prepare the
official enrolled copy of any House-originated bill or resolution; journal clerks
compile the minutes of proceedings in the House, fulfilling the requirement in Article
I, Section V of the Constitution that “each House shall keep a Journal of its
Proceedings”; reading clerks read all of the bills, resolutions, and amendments before
the House; and the tally clerks operate the electronic roll call voting system.
The other legislative function under the Clerk’s direction is the production of
the Congressional Record and supervision of the official reporters, who have
provided verbatim transcripts of congressional debate for this publication since 1873.
(For more information, see CRS Report 98-761, Clerk of the House: Legislative and
Administrative Duties, by Lorraine H. Tong; CRS Report 98-266, Congressional
Record: Its Production, Distribution, and Accessibility by Mildred Amer, and the
Clerk of the House website, available at [http://clerk.house.gov].)
Office of the Legislative Counsel
The House Office of the Legislative Counsel provides impartial and confidential
drafting services to all Members and committee offices. The office is charged with
assisting clients “in the achievement of a clear, faithful, and coherent expression of
10 (...continued)
GAO, 2004). Posted on the website of the Government Accountability Office at
[http://www.gao.gov/special.pubs/d04310g.pdf], last visited on May 22, 2008.
11 House Rule X, clause 4, 110th Cong., H.Res. 6, adopted Jan. 5, 2007.
12 House Rule II, clause 2(d), 110th Cong., H.Res. 6, adopted Jan. 5, 2007.
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legislative policies” and is prohibited from advocating any position.13 With the
exception of amendments made in order by the Rules Committee under special rules,
there is no general requirement that Members utilize this service for their drafting
needs.14
The office may be involved in several stages of the legislative process. It may
assist conference committee managers in the drafting of a bill or the accompanying
explanatory statement. It also aids House committees and subcommittees in drafting
bills. Finally, the office may assist individual Members in drafting bills and
amendments, subject to time constraints.
Originally established as the Legislative Drafting Service with the Revenue Act
of 1918,15 the office currently operates under provisions set forth in the Legislative
Reorganization Act of 1970.16 The office is headed by the Legislative Counsel of the
House, who is appointed by the Speaker and currently assisted by approximately 40
attorneys. (For more information, see CRS Report RS20735, Office of Legislative
Counsel: House, by Matthew Glassman, and the Office of the Legislative Counsel
website, available at [http://legcoun.house.gov].)
Office of the Parliamentarian
The Office of the Parliamentarian provides advice on the interpretation of House
Rules and precedents. A parliamentarian has been appointed by the Speaker each
Congress since 1927. The position has remained strictly nonpartisan, as evidenced
by the long tenures of the occupants: Lewis Deschler, the first parliamentarian,
served from 1928-1974; William Holmes Brown, 1974-1994; Charles W. Johnson,
III, 1994-2004; and John V. Sullivan, 2004-present. These four parliamentarians
have served under 15 successive Speakers, and after the initial occupant, all
subsequent appointees have had significant experience in the office before assuming
its leadership. The parliamentarian is assisted by a small staff of procedural experts.
The Speaker, or other designated presiding officer, is responsible for ruling on
questions of order in the House. The parliamentarian or an assistant is always present
when the House or Committee of the Whole is in session, ready to assist in
13 Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970, P.L. 91-510, Title V, sec. 501, Oct. 26, 1970, 84
Stat. 1201; 2 U.S.C. 281.
14 This requirement is often stated in the “Dear Colleague” letters that announce the Rules
Committee may meet to grant a Special Rule. For example, in a Aug. 31, 2007, “Dear
Colleague,” Members were informed that any amendments to H.R. 1908, the Patent Reform
Act of 2007, must be submitted by Sept. 5, 2007. The letter stipulated that “amendments
should be drafted by Legislative Counsel and also should be reviewed by the Office of the
Parliamentarian to be sure that the amendments comply with the rules of the House.” Posted
on the website of the House Committee on Rules at [http://www.rules.house.gov/
announcement_details.aspx?NewsID=2977]. The requirement is also printed in the
Congressional Record.
15 40 Stat.1141. The office was renamed with the passage of the Revenue Act of 1924 (43
Stat.353).
16 P.L. 91-510, Oct. 26, 1970, 84 Stat. 1201; 2 U.S.C. 281.
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determining appropriate rulings and responses. The parliamentarian sits on the top
tier of the House dais, located to the presiding officer’s right. The Rules of the
House are not self-enforcing, and any Member alleging a violation must rise to make
a point of order and insist upon enforcement. Although no requirement exists that
the House follows the advice of the parliamentarian, and Members may appeal
certain types of rulings, in most cases the parliamentarian’s advice is considered
definitive.17
In addition to procedural interpretations during debate, the office advises the
Speaker on referring proposed legislation to the appropriate committees, based on the
House Rules and precedents. Individual Members may also make an inquiry with the
Office of the Parliamentarian. These inquiries may concern, for example, questions
of jurisdiction before a bill is introduced. The parliamentarian may also assist offices
in understanding the meaning and application of specific procedural tools.
The office also oversees the revision of the House Rules and Manual, officially
titled Constitution, Jefferson’s Manual and Rules of the House of Representatives,
which is usually authorized by resolution each Congress. This manual is a
compilation of source material on parliamentary procedure. (For more information,
see CRS Report RS20544, The Office of the Parliamentarian in the House and
Senate, by Colton C. Campbell and Stanley Bach; CRS Report 98-307, Points of
Order, Rulings, and Appeals in the House of Representatives, by Valerie Heitshusen;
and CRS Report 98-175, House Committee Jurisdiction and Referral: Rules and
Practice, by Judy Schneider.)
Office of the Law Revision Counsel
The Office of the Law Revision Counsel revises, prepares, and publishes the
United States Code, which is an arrangement by subject matter of all general and
permanent U.S. laws. Most of the work of the office is subsequent to the legislative
process. Its main legislative duty consists of submitting to the Committee on the
Judiciary one title of the Code at a time, reflecting a complete compilation and
revision of the law, including any amendments. It may also submit to the committee
recommendations for the repeal of obsolete provisions and for technical or clarifying
corrections. The Committee on the Judiciary may then consider incorporating the
submissions of the office into a bill to report to the House.18
17 For additional information on the practices governing appeals, see House Rules and
Manual, H. Doc.108-241, 108th Cong., 2nd session. (Washington: GPO, 2005), pp. 344-345
or CRS Report 98-307, Points of Order, Rulings, and Appeals in the House of
Representatives, by Valerie Heitshusen. Appeals may not be made, for example, in response
to parliamentary inquiries, decisions concerning recognition, the dilatoriness of motions, the
chair’s count of the number rising to demand a roll call vote, or the determination that a
Member’s time in debate has expired.
18 Recent examples include H.R. 1442, 109th Cong. and H.R. 4319, 108th Cong., which
concern the codification of Title 46, “Shipping.” When H.R. 2068 of the 107th Cong.
became P.L. 107-217 on Aug. 21, 2002 (116 Stat.1062), it positively codified Title 40 of the
U.S. Code, “Public Buildings, Property, and Works.”
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The office was first authorized by the Committee Reform Amendments of 1974
(H.Res. 988), which was enacted into permanent law by P.L. 93-544.19 It is located
in the Ford House Office Building and is led by the Law Revision Counsel, who is
appointed by the Speaker. (For more information, see CRS Report 98-401, House
Administrative Officers and Officials, by Lorraine H. Tong, and the Office of the Law
Revision Counsel website, available at [http://uscode.house.gov/].)
Administrative, Operational, and Financial Offices
With four House Office Buildings, slightly more than 10,700 employees,20 and
visits from dignitaries and tourists alike, the U.S. House of Representatives has had
to look beyond its purely legislative functions and develop a means of ensuring the
institution’s smooth operation. The administrative support offices address various
needs of Members and staff, ensure the proper maintenance of the House facilities,
and facilitate the exchange of information both within the Capitol and beyond.
Clerk of the House
In addition to certain legislative, ceremonial, and preservation duties, the Clerk
of the House performs various administrative functions. These are carried out under
the oversight of the Committee on House Administration.
At the commencement of every session of Congress, the Clerk is charged with
compiling and delivering to all Members “a list of the reports that any officer or
Department is required to make to Congress,” citing the relevant authority.21 The
Clerk is also responsible for distributing the House Calendars each legislative day
and, after the close of a session, a copy of the Journal to each Member, the President,
and state legislatures, as requested. Upon the death, resignation, or expulsion of any
Member, the Clerk is responsible for managing that Member’s office until a
successor is elected.22 The Clerk also prepares semiannual reports on the operations
and finances of his office, subject to the review of the Committee on House
Administration.
Various offices under the Clerk perform significant administrative functions.
The Capitol Services Group maintains the Republican and Democratic Cloakrooms
and certain other Members’ areas. Through the Office of Publication Services, the
Clerk handles orders for official letterhead and envelopes and oversees the
production of official directories. The Legislative Computer Systems office
19 Dec. 27, 1974, 88 Stat. 1777; 2 U.S.C. 285 et seq.
20 Figures obtained from U.S. Office of Personnel Management, Federal Employment
Statistics Report, September 2007, Table 9, Federal Civilian Employment and Payroll (in
thousands of dollars) by Branch, Selected Agency, and Area, available online at
[https://www.opm.gov/feddata/html/2007/september/table9.asp].
21 House Rule II, 110th Cong., H.Res. 6, adopted Jan. 5, 2007.
22 For additional information, see CRS Report RL34347, Members of Congress Who Die in
Office: Historic and Current Practices, by R. Eric Petersen and Jennifer E. Manning.
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maintains the electronic voting system and provides technical support for the Clerk’s
offices. The electronic system was provided for in the language of the Legislative
Reorganization Act of 1970, and its use is governed by clause 1 of House Rule XX.23
The Legislative Resource Center (LRC) provides information and printed records
both to the House and the general public within its library.24 The LRC also maintains
and provides access to public disclosure documents, including financial and travel
forms, as well as the registration of lobbyists.
The Clerk also administers the House Page Program, which brings high school
students from around the country to serve as messengers for the chamber. The House
Page Board supervises the program.25 Pages may serve for one of the semester or
summer sessions. These students, who must meet minimum age and academic
requirements, are each sponsored by a Representative. (For more information, see
CRS Report 98-758: Pages of the United States Congress: Selection, Duties, and
Program Administration, by Mildred Amer and the Page Program website, available
at [http://pageprogram.house.gov/].)
Finally, the Office of House Employment Counsel provides legal advice on
employment practices within the chamber to the employing offices. The office was
established by the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act of FY2002 in response to
the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA).26 The CAA applied certain
labor, civil rights, and workplace laws to legislative branch employees and
established the Office of Compliance to administer and enforce its implementation
and mediate disputes.27 The House Employment Counsel provides legal assistance
to employing offices in the House and may review personnel policies and decisions.
The counsel may also provide legal representation for these offices. Like the House
General Counsel, who provides legal representation concerning other aspects of the
official duties of Members, officers, and employees, the House Employment Counsel
may appear before any court of the United States, with the exception of the Supreme
23 P.L. 91-510, Oct. 26, 1970, 84 Stat.1140. The Speaker announced on Jan. 15, 1973, that
the system would be operative effective Jan. 23, 1973 (Congressional Record, vol. 119,
January 15, 1973, p. 1054-57).
24 The Committee on House Administrative may approve reorganizations within the Office
of the Clerk. For example, the creation of the LRC was approved by the Committee on
House Oversight (now Administration) in May 1995 (U.S. Congress, House Committee on
House Oversight, Report on the Activities of the Committee on House Oversight of the
House of Representatives, committee print, 104th Cong., 2nd sess. (Washington: GPO, 2003)
p. 82).
25 The board was established by P.L. 97-377 (based on H.Res. 611, 97th Cong.) and consists
of the Clerk, the House Sergeant at Arms, two Members appointed by the Speaker, and one
Member appointed by the minority leader (2 U.S.C. 88b-2).
26 P.L. 107-68, sec. 119, Nov. 12, 2001, 115 Stat.573; in response to P.L. 104-1, Jan. 23,
1995, 109 Stat. 4; 2 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.
27 For more information on the Office of Compliance, see section on legal and regulatory
offices.
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Court, “without compliance with any requirements for admission to practice before
such court.”28
Chief Administrative Officer
The Office of the Chief Administrative Officer was established at the beginning
of the 104th Congress to assume the duties of the Director of Non-legislative and
Financial Services.29 The Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) executes both
administrative and financial duties. Elected by the House, the CAO is subject to the
oversight of the Committee on House Administration.30 (For more information, see
CRS Report RS22731, Chief Administrative Officer of the House: History and
Organization, by Jacob R. Straus, and the Chief Administrative Officer’s website,
available at [http://cao.house.gov/index.shtml].)
The CAO’s office operates the First Call Customer Service Center, which is the
initial point of contact for House offices requiring the assistance of the Office of the
Chief Administrative Officer. First Call handles orders for tapes of proceedings on
the House Floor, the filing of Dear Colleague letters, administration of the mass
transit benefit program, reservation and arrangement of rooms for special events, and
other general information requests.
The CAO’s office houses the Administrative Counsel, who provides legal
research and advice for offices under the CAO. The counsel also examines district
office and long-term automobile leases to ensure compliance with House Rules and
the regulations set forth by the Committee on House Administration, which publishes
these requirements. A Member is personally liable for payments for any lease not in
compliance, and guidelines in the Members’ Handbook stipulate that
the House will not authorize disbursement of funds to make payments under the
terms of the lease agreement until the Administrative Counsel has reviewed the
lease agreement and has signed the Attachment. Similarly, the Administrative
Counsel must review any proposed substantive amendment ... before the House will
authorize any payment pursuant to such an amendment.31
The CAO’s office also performs various functions related to employee
assistance and management. These include operating the resume referral and
outplacement service, disbursing monthly pay and benefits for Members and staff,
administering the House child care center,32 and offering various employee
development and training programs.
28 2 U.S.C. 130f (provisions relating to the House Employment Counsel); 2 U.S.C. 1408
(provisions relating to the General Counsel).
29 This position had been created with the House Administrative Reform Resolution of 1992,
H.Res. 423, 102nd Cong.
30 House Rule X, clause 4, 110th Cong., H.Res. 6, adopted Jan. 5, 2007.
31 Member’s Congressional Handbook, on the website of the Committee on House
Administration at [http://cha.house.gov/], last visited on May 22, 2008.
32 2 U.S.C. 2062.
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Another responsibility of the CAO is the provision of information technology
(IT) and telecommunication support for Members, committees, officers, and staff.
Technical support representatives within the office may act as liaisons between
systems administrators and vendors and may advise on purchases. The office
oversees information security issues, offers training sessions in the House Learning
Center, and assists offices in establishing and maintaining their websites.
The CAO also oversees additional House support services, including the three
press galleries (the periodical press gallery, the press gallery, and the radio/TV
correspondents’ gallery); the recording studio; the photography office; the furniture
support service office; the supply store; and the gift shop. The CAO’s office houses
a Contractor Management department and is responsible for the acquisition of goods
and services for the House.
The CAO is responsible for financial and budgetary operations of the House.
Financial counselors in the CAO’s office advise Members, committees, officers, and
other offices of the House on the use of their official expenses. Additional staff
within the CAO’s office assist in the maintenance of the systems necessary to process
the financial operations of the House and prepare the CAO’s appropriations requests
and monitor the House budget.
The CAO’s financial duties also require that the office maintain records of all
financial operations of the House, including receipts and disbursement data
pertaining to House funds, and assists in the preparation of the quarterly Statement
of Disbursements of the House. As part of his financial duties, the CAO must submit
this report within 60 days after the last day of each quarter and contains detailed,
itemized information on each disbursement of the House of Representatives.33
Descriptions in the report include the quantity and price of any item purchased and
the name of the recipient. In entries that describe services rendered, the title of
employee is included. The report also includes information on any unexpended
balances.
Sergeant at Arms
The House Sergeant at Arms is an elected officer who performs administrative,
ceremonial, and protective roles. He is subject to the oversight of the Committee on
House Administration. Along with the Architect of the Capitol and the Sergeant at
Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, the House Sergeant at Arms is a member of the
Capitol Guide Board, which is responsible for overseeing the Capitol Guide
Service.34
Other administrative duties of the Office of the Sergeant at Arms include the
issuance of identification badges and pins. Its Garage and Parking Security division
33 A conforming amendment in the House of Representatives Administrative Reform
Technical Corrections Act transferred this duty from the Clerk of the House to the Chief
Administrative Officer (P.L. 104-186 sec. 106, Aug. 20, 1996, 110 Stat.1722; 2 U.S.C. 104a
and 104b).
34 P.L. 91-510, Oct. 26, 1970, 84 Stat.1190; 2 U.S.C. 2166.
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administers the parking program and enforces the rules of the House Garages, under
the guidance of the Committee on House Administration. (For more information on
the security role of the Sergeant at Arms, see security and maintenance of order
section of this report; also CRS Report 98-835, House Sergeant at Arms: Legislative
and Administrative Duties, by Lorraine H. Tong and the Sergeant at Arms website,
available to House Members and staff at [http://sgtatarms.house.gov].)
Office of Interparliamentary Affairs
The House of Representatives Office of Interparliamentary Affairs was
established with the passage of the FY2004 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act.35
Its duties include facilitating official visits from foreign parliamentarians to the
House of Representatives and, along with the Sergeant at Arms and the Clerk of the
House, assisting delegations of Members of the House to foreign nations. The office
is also charged with coordinating the participation of the House of Representatives
in other interparliamentary exchanges and organizations. The office is led by a
director who is appointed by the Speaker.
House Office Building Commission
The section of the U.S. Code governing the operations and maintenance of the
Capitol complex states that
the House of Representatives Office Building ... shall be under the control and
supervision of the Architect of the Capitol, subject to the approval and direction
of a commission consisting of the Speaker of the House of Representatives and
two other Representatives in Congress, to be appointed by the Speaker.36
In the past, the two other appointed seats have traditionally been occupied by the
majority and minority leaders. The House Office Building Commission was first
authorized by an act approved on March 4, 1907. This was soon followed by a joint
resolution governing the room assignment process in the House, approved on May
28, 1908. This resolution placed room assignments under the control of the
Superintendent of House Office Buildings, subject to the approval and direction of
the commission.
The commission may issue rules and regulations that govern the use and
occupancy of all rooms in the House Office Buildings. These regulations include,
for example, a prohibition on smoking in certain areas and on soliciting political
contributions in any House facility. On April 17, 2008, the House Office Building
Commission approved a new policy banning items in hallways.37 Along with the
Committee on House Administration and the Architect of the Capitol, the House
Office Building Commission has assisted in the consideration of parking issues.
35 P.L. 108-83, sec. 103, Sept. 30, 2003, 117 Stat.1016; 2 U.S.C. 130-2.
36 2 U.S.C. 2001.
37 The Apr. 17, 2008, letter signed by the members of the House Office Building
Commission is available to House employees at [https://housenet.house.gov].
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The commission also has authority over the approval of the acquisition or
leasing of new buildings and facilities.38 Recent responsibilities in this area have
included overseeing the planning for the alternative computing facility and expansion
space included in the Capitol Visitor Center.
Architect of the Capitol, the Superintendent of
House Office Buildings, Electricians, and Engineers
The Architect of the Capitol operates and maintains the buildings and grounds
of the U.S. Capitol.39 The Architect is responsible for the Capitol Power Plant,
subject to the direction of the House Office Building Commission.40 He is also a
member of the Capitol Guide Board.41 (For more information on the Architect of the
Capitol, see CRS Report RL32820, Architect of the Capitol: Appointment, Duties,
and Current Issues, by Mildred Amer, and the Architect of the Capitol website,
available at [http://www.aoc.gov/].)
The Architect is authorized to employ a Superintendent of the House Office
Buildings to serve under his jurisdiction. The Superintendent is responsible for the
maintenance of the Ford, Rayburn, Longworth, and Cannon House Office Buildings,
as well as the Page Dormitory. The Superintendent supervises the biennial office
lottery and moves, coordinates the House recycling program, and oversees the
general maintenance of the House buildings. The electricians and engineers in the
House of Representatives are responsible for the lighting, heating, and ventilation of
the House side of the Capitol. They are “subject exclusively to the orders, and in all
respects under the direction, of the Architect of the Capitol, subject to the control of
the Speaker; and no removal or appointment shall be made except with his
approval.”42
House Commission on Congressional Mailing Standards
Also known as the Franking Commission, the House Commission on
Congressional Mailing Standards is directed to “provide guidance, assistance, advice,
and counsel, through advisory opinions or consultations, in connection with the
38 Under the FY2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act, the Architect of the Capitol must
notify and receive approval from both the House Office Building Commission and the
House Committee on Appropriations to use appropriated funds for the leasing of space for
the House of Representatives (P.L. 110-161, Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 2243, 2 U.S.C. 1822).
39 The legal responsibilities of the Architect of the Capitol are dispersed through several
titles of the United States Code. References to AOC duties are included in Title II
(Congress), Title V (Government Organization and Employees), Title XXXVI (Patriotic
Societies and Observances), Title XL (Public Buildings, Property, and Works), Title XLI
(Public Contracts), and Title XLII (Public Health and Welfare).
40 36 Stat.1414, March 4, 1911; 2 U.S.C. 2162.
41 P.L. 91-510, 84 Stat.1190, Oct. 26, 1970; 2 U.S.C. 2166.
42 19 Stat.348, March 3, 1877; 2 U.S.C. 1833.
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mailing or contemplated mailing of franked mail.”43 The commission is composed
of six members appointed by the Speaker, with membership evenly split among the
parties. Oversight is provided by the Committee on House Administration. For
further information, visit [http://cha.house.gov/franking.aspx].
Legal and Regulatory Offices
Three support offices, including the Inspector General, the Office of
Compliance, and the Office of General Counsel, work to ensure that the House of
Representatives maintains proper oversight over its internal activities and complies
with legal requirements regarding employment and other practices.
Inspector General
The U.S. House of Representatives employs an Inspector General (IG), who is
charged with conducting “periodic audits of the financial and administrative activities
of the House and joint entities.”44 The IG informs the House officer or support office
director who is the subject of these audits as to the results and may suggest remedial
actions. The IG must submit reports to Congress on each audit, highlighting any
irregularities. Information concerning possible violations must be reported to the
Committee on Standards of Official Conduct.
The office was established in the 103rd Congress, pursuant to House Resolution
423, 102nd Congress. In the 104th Congress, the IG gained the authority to conduct
additional audits that had previously been the responsibility of the Government
Accountability Office (then General Accounting Office).45 The IG is jointly
appointed by the Speaker, majority leader, and the minority leader and is subject to
the oversight and receives policy direction from the Committee on House
Administration.46 For further information, visit [http://www.house.gov/IG/].
Office of Compliance
The Office of Compliance was established to enforce and administer the
Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA).47 The act applies certain labor,
civil rights, and workplace laws48 to legislative branch employees.49 The CAA covers
43 The Commission was established by P.L. 93-191, Dec. 18, 1973; 2 U.S.C. 501.
44 House Rule II, clause 6, 110th Cong., H.Res. 6, adopted Jan. 5, 2007.
45 House of Representatives Administrative Reform Technical Corrections Act, P.L.104-186,
sec. 204, August 20, 1996, 110 Stat.1733.
46 House Rule II, clause 6, 110th Cong., H.Res. 6, adopted Jan. 5, 2007.
47 P.L. 104-1, Jan. 23, 1995, 109 Stat. 4; 2 U.S.C. 1301 et seq.
48 The laws applied by the CAA include the following:
The Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967 (P.L. 90-202, 29 U.S.C. 621 et
seq.);
(continued...)
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employees working in district or state offices as well as those in Washington, DC.
Certain entities may be exempt from specific provisions.
Under the Congressional Accountability Act, employing offices retain discretion
over certain workplace policies including, for example, work schedules, salaries, and
vacation. Employing offices may also be subject to additional standards set by the
House of Representatives, Senate, civil service, or other internal authority, as
applicable.
The office also provides a means of dispute resolution for employees who allege
violations of the CAA. The office is charged with educating employees of the
legislative branch about their rights and obligations regarding employment and access
practices. To this end, the office has produced a handbook on the application of the
CAA, as well as a number of reports on the results of its investigations of
congressional compliance. The office must report annually to Congress statistics on
its activities and biennially on the applicability of federal employment and access
laws to the legislative branch.
A Board of Directors, composed of five individuals appointed jointly by the
Speaker of the House of Representatives, the majority leader of the Senate, and the
minority leaders in both chambers, heads the office. The office is subject to the
oversight of the Committee on House Administration and by the Senate’s
Committees on Rules and Administration and on Homeland Security and
G o v e r n m e n t a l A f f a i r s . F o r a d d i t i o n a l i n f o r m a t i o n , v i s i t
[http://www.compliance.gov/].
48 (...continued)
The Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (P.L. 101-336, 42 U.S.C. 12101 et seq.);
Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (P.L. 88-352, 42 U.S.C. 2000e et seq.);
The Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988 (P.L. 100-347, 29 U.S.C. 2001 et
seq.);
The Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 (52 Stat. 1060, 29 U.S.C. 201 et seq.);
The Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (P.L. 103-3, 29 U.S.C. 2611 et seq.);
Chapter 71 (relating to Federal service labor-management relations) of Title 5 of the
U.S. Code;
The Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (P.L. 91-596, 29 U.S.C. 651 et seq.);
The Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (P.L. 93-112, 29 U.S.C. 701 et seq.);
Chapter 43 (relating to veterans’ employment and reemployment) of Title 38 of the
U.S. Code;
The Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act (P.L. 100-379, 29 U.S.C.
2101 et seq.).
The CAA was amended in 1998 to include select provisions of the Veterans
Employment Opportunities Act (P.L. 105-339; 2 U.S.C. 1316a).
49 This definition includes employees of the House of Representatives, the Senate, the Office
of the Architect of the Capitol, the Capitol Guide Service, the Capitol Police, the
Congressional Budget Office, the Office of the Attending Physician, and the Office of
Compliance. Certain provisions apply to the Government Accountability Office and the
Library of Congress.
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Office of General Counsel
House Rule II, clause 8 provides authorization for the Office of General
Counsel. Led by the General Counsel, this office provides legal assistance and
representation to Members, committees, officers, and employees of the House of
Representatives on matters pertaining to their official duties. These may include
advising offices on confidentiality issues, release of constituent information, requests
from executive branch agencies, and the issuance and response to subpoenas.
Assistance to offices with employment and labor issues, however, falls within the
jurisdiction of the Office of House Employment Counsel in the Office of the Clerk.
Similarly, routine leasing agreements for automobiles and district offices are
reviewed by the Administrative Counsel within the Office of the Chief
Administrative Officer.
The assistance of the office in responding to subpoenas received by Members
or employees is governed by House Rule VIII, which requires the recipient to notify
the Speaker and subsequently the House of any such action. The office may also
assist in the preparation of committee subpoenas.
The General Counsel is authorized to appear before any court of the United
States, with the exception of the Supreme Court, “without compliance with any
requirements for admission to practice before such court.”50 The services of the
office are provided without regard to political affiliation.
The office was first established by H.Res. 423, adopted April 9, 1992, and later
incorporated into the Rules of the House of Representatives adopted for the 103rd
Congress, on January 5, 1993. The Speaker, with the consultation of the Bipartisan
Legal Advisory Group, directs the office and appoints its staff. (House access only:
[http://generalcounsel.house.gov].)
Offices Supporting Ceremonial Traditions and the
Preservation of Institutional Memory
A number of offices in each chamber share responsibility for maintaining the
ceremonial traditions of the U.S. House of Representatives and the preservation of
its institutional memory.
Clerk of the House
The Clerk of the House has a ceremonial role at the commencement of the first
session of each Congress. At this meeting, the Clerk must examine credentials, call
the roll, and record the presence of all Members, delegates, and the Resident
50 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act FY2000, P.L. 106-57, sec. 101, Sept. 29, 1999,
113 Stat.414; 2 U.S.C. 130f.
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Commissioner. Pending the election of a Speaker, the Clerk must also “preserve
order and decorum and decide all questions of order, subject to appeal.”51
Additional ceremonial and preservation duties of the Clerk are carried out by the
Office of History and Preservation.52 This office performs various curatorial duties
concerning House artwork and artifacts, assists House offices with records
management, and produces historical publications.
Under the direction of the House Fine Arts Board, the Clerk is “responsible for
the administration, maintenance, and display of the works of fine art and other
property” of the House of Representatives.53 The curatorial services division assists
in this duty by recommending acquisitions, maintaining artwork, and researching the
collection.
The Clerk is also responsible for administering the archiving of records of the
House of Representatives and sits on the Advisory Committee on the Records of
Congress.54 In order to assist in this responsibility, the History and Preservation
office is available to consult with Members and committees on records management
practices. The purpose of these consultations is both to assist an office in its daily
operations and to help preserve historically relevant documents. While the files
generated by a Member’s personal office are the property of the Member, committees
are required to archive their official records.55
Committee records requiring archiving include those relating to bills and
resolutions, oversight, administrative matters, and file copies of reference materials,
such as hearings and reports. House Rule VII directs the Clerk to receive noncurrent
records of each House committee at the end of each Congress. More recent records
remain onsite, and older records are transferred to the Archivist of the United States.
51 House Rule II, clause 2, 110th Cong., H.Res. 6, adopted Jan. 5, 2007.
52 In a business meeting on June 26, 2002, the Committee on House Administration passed
a committee resolution approving the proposal for the office as a new division within the
Clerk’s office. U.S. Congress, House Committee on House Administration, Report on the
Activities of the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives,
committee print, 107th Cong., 2nd sess. (Washington: GPO, 2003), p. 18.
53 The House Fine Arts Board is comprised of the House of Representatives members of the
Joint Committee on the Library and is chaired by the chairman of the Committee on House
Administration. P.L. 100-696, title X, sec. 1001, Nov. 18, 1988, 102 Stat.4611; 2 U.S.C.
2121 and 2122.
54 The Advisory Committee was created by the Treasury, Postal Service and General
Government Appropriations Act, FY1991(P.L. 101-509, November 5, 1009, 44 U.S.C.
2701). The Office of History and Preservation, along with the Senate Historical Office and
Center for Legislative Archives at the National Archives and Records Administration, also
contributes a member to the Society of American Archivists Congressional Papers
Roundtable, [http://www.archivists.org/saagroups/cpr/bylaws.asp].
55 The rules governing the eventual transfer of non-current committee records to the National
Archives and Records Administration were established in the Legislative Reorganization
Act of 1946, P.L.79-601, sec.140; and the Federal Records Act of 1950, P.L.81-754, title
V; 44 U.S.C. 2118 and 44 U.S.C. 2107.
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These records are preserved in the Center for Legislative Archives at the National
Archives and Records Administration but remain the property of the House. The
Clerk authorizes the archivist to release documents for public examination according
to the guidelines established in the Rule. The Clerk has the authority to determine
that release of a record would be detrimental to the public interest or inconsistent
with the rights and privileges of the House. Although rare, if such a determination
is made, the Clerk must notify in writing the chairman and ranking minority member
of the Committee on House Administration, and the decision is subject to subsequent
House and committee orders. Committee chairs may submit a list of staff members
who are authorized to retrieve retired committee records.
Members may choose to transfer their personal records to a repository at the
end of their service in the House. In a records management guideline for Members,
the Clerk has outlined factors to consider when preparing a deed of gift and placing
restrictions on access to materials. The Chief Administrative Officer, under the
direction of the Committee on House Administration, may arrange for the
transportation of these personal materials back to the Member’s district.56
The History and Preservation office also maintains the Biographical Directory
of the United States Congress. This source allows users to search Members from the
Continental Congress through the present based on criteria such as name, state,
position, party, or time of service. The source also lists research collections of the
Member’s personal papers, if applicable. An online version is available at
[http://bioguide.congress.gov/biosearch/biosearch.asp]. Other historical publications,
including the new edition of Women in Congress, are also produced by this office.
House Chaplain
The House of Representatives has had an elected chaplain since 1789. The
House Chaplain offers a prayer to begin each day’s session, which is followed by the
approval of the Journal and the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance.57 In addition
to offering his own prayers, the chaplain coordinates the visits of guest chaplains.
These guests are recommended in writing to the House Chaplain by individual House
Members and, in the past, have represented a diversity of religious faiths. Members
may submit one request per session of Congress, and arrangements are made
approximately two months in advance. Once a date has been assigned, the chaplain
sends a letter to the guests explaining procedures for the day, the parameters of
prayer, and prior submission requirements. Prayers before the House are printed in
the Congressional Record. (For more information, see CRS Report RS20427, House
and Senate Chaplains, by Mildred Amer and the House Chaplain’s website, available
at [http://chaplain.house.gov].)
56 H.Res. 1297, 95th Cong.; made permanent by the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act
for FY1983, P.L. 98-51, sec. 111, July 14, 1983; 2 U.S.C. 59d.
57 Approval of the Journal may be postponed under clause 8 of Rule XX. The order and
priority of business is governed by House Rule XIV, clause 1, 110th Cong., H.Res. 6,
adopted Jan. 5, 2007.
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Sergeant at Arms
The House Sergeant at Arms is charged with maintaining the decorum of the
chamber. The Sergeant at Arms is the guardian of the Mace, an artifact that
symbolizes his office. The Mace is carried to a pedestal on the Speaker’s right at the
beginning of each day. It remains there while the House is in session and is lowered
when the House resolves itself into the Committee of the Whole. The Mace may be
wielded by the Sergeant at Arms to maintain order and decorum in the chamber.
The Special Events and Protocol Division within the office assists the Sergeant
at Arms in preparation for ceremonial occasions, including presidential
inaugurations, joint sessions and meetings of Congress, and visits of foreign
dignitaries. When necessary, the office will assist the Sergeant at Arms in
supervising funeral arrangements for Members of Congress.
Historian of the House
House Rule II provides for the establishment of an Office of the Historian. A
rule providing for the Historian was originally adopted during the 101st Congress.58
It had been preceded by the Office of the Bicentennial, which coordinated the
planning for the 200th anniversary of the House.59 The Historian and other employees
of the office are appointed by the Speaker.
The Librarian of Congress was authorized by the History of the House
Awareness and Preservation Act of 1999 to arrange for a new history of the chamber,
in consultation with the Committee on House Administration.60 In 2002, Librarian
of Congress James H. Billington announced the appointment of Robert V. Remini
as a Distinguished Visiting Scholar of American History in the John W. Kluge Center
at the Library of Congress in order to undertake this project.61 After a long vacancy
in the position of House Historian, Dr. Remini was appointed by the Speaker in 2005
to fill this role.62
58 This was found in the former clause 10 of Rule I (H.Res. 5, Jan. 3, 1989).
59 This office was first authorized by H.Res. 621, 97th Cong., Dec. 17, 1982. The
Congressional Operations Appropriation Act, FY1985, P.L. 98-367, established the office
in law until it ceased to exist, which was mandated to be no later than Sept. 30, 1989.
60 P.L. 106-99, Nov. 12, 1999, 113 Stat.1330; 2 U.S.C. 183.
61 “Robert V. Remini to Write History of the House of Representatives,” News from the
Library of Congress, Public Affairs Office, Sept. 23, 2002. On the website of the Library
of Congress at [http://www.loc.gov/today/pr/2002/02-124.html].
62 Ben Pershing, “Hastert Taps Scholar,” Roll Call, May 2, 2005.
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Offices Assisting in Security and the
Maintenance of Order
The Capitol Police, under the direction of the Capitol Police Board, has been
delegated primary responsibility for security on Capitol Hill.63 The House and Senate
Appropriations Committees provide oversight of funding, administration, operations,
and policies, with the Committee on House Administration and the Speaker
providing additional oversight on matters pertaining to the House. Three offices in
the House of Representatives, including the Sergeant at Arms; the Office of
Emergency Planning, Preparedness, and Operations; and the Office of the Attending
Physician, work with the police to ensure the safety and comfort of Members, their
staff, and visitors.
Sergeant at Arms
Along with the Architect of the Capitol, the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper
of the Senate, and the Chief of the Capitol Police (acting in an ex-officio, non-voting
capacity), the House Sergeant at Arms provides guidance for security measures and
policy across the Capitol by serving as a member of the Capitol Police Board. The
Legislative Branch Appropriations Act for FY2003 redefined the board, stating that
its purpose “is to oversee and support the Capitol Police in its mission and to advance
coordination between the Capitol Police and the Sergeant at Arms of the House of
Representatives and the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, in their law
enforcement capacities, and the Congress.”64
The Office of Police Services assists the Sergeant at Arms with coordinating
daily security needs with the Capitol Police. Examples of its duties include arranging
for protective details for House leadership, requesting security clearances for
appropriate staff, coordinating a security presence at hearings upon request, and
supervising logistics for major events involving Members.
The Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives is also required to “attend
the House during its sittings and maintain order under the direction of the Speaker
or other presiding officer.”65 This is a duty the Sergeant at Arms has executed since
1789. The Sergeant at Arms is also charged with enforcing the rules of access to the
Hall of the House as well as the room above it.
Office of Emergency Planning, Preparedness, and Operations
The House Office of Emergency Planning, Preparedness, and Operations
(OEPPO) is “responsible for mitigation and preparedness operations, crisis
63 60 Stat.719, July 31, 1946; 2 U.S.C. 1961.
64 P.L. 108-7, Division H, Legislative Branch Appropriations, sec. 1014, Feb. 20, 2003, 117
Stat.361; 2 U.S.C. 1901.
65 House Rule II, clause 3, 110th Cong., H.Res. 6, adopted Jan. 5, 2007.
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management and response, resource services, and recovery operations.”66 The office
has facilitated the designation of Office Emergency Coordinators (OEC) in each
office. The office works with these coordinators to distribute an “Emergency Go
Kit” to each office. The OECs assist in emergency planning by developing an
individual office plan, which may be reviewed by the OEPPO. The office also
conducts safety training courses and assists in the planning for continuity of
operations in the event that House facilities are not available.
Authorization for the office was provided in the Department of Defense and
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations for Recovery from and Response to
Terrorist Attacks on the United States Act of 2002.67 The Speaker, in consultation
with the minority leader, provides the policy direction and oversight of the office and
may request a detail of personnel from any federal agency, on a reimbursable basis.
A director carries out the daily operations of the office, under the supervision of the
House of Representatives Continuity of Operations Board. The board is comprised
of three House officers, including the Clerk, the Sergeant at Arms, and the Chief
Administrative Officer. (For more information, see CRS Report RL31594,
Congressional Continuity of Operations (COOP): An Overview of Concepts and
Challenges, by R. Eric Peterson and Jeffrey W. Seifert and the OEPPO website,
available to House Members and staff at [http://oeppo.house.gov].)
Office of the Attending Physician
The Office of the Attending Physician provides emergency medical assistance
for Members of Congress, Justices of the Supreme Court, staff, and visitors. Care
may range from performing minor first aid services to administering treatment until
a patient may be transported to a local hospital. The office also participates in the
planning for, and response to, any disaster that may occur. After the anthrax attacks
in 2001, for example, the office coordinated the testing and care of affected staffers.68
The Office of the Attending Physician offers CPR and first aid courses and arranges
educational health fairs for congressional staff. The office also provides travel
immunization advice for official congressional travel.
Additional services are offered to Members for an annual fee. Services include
routine exams, consultations, and certain diagnostic tests. The office does not
provide vision or dental care, and prescriptions may be written but not dispensed.
Fees are established by the Committee on House Administration, upon the
recommendation of an independent consulting actuary.69 Fees, and further
descriptions of services, may be announced in “Dear Colleague” letters.
66 P.L. 107-117, Jan. 10, 2002, 115 Stat.2318, 2 U.S.C. 130i.
67 P.L. 107-117, Jan. 10, 2002, 115 Stat.2318, 2 U.S.C. 130i.
68 H.Res. 536, 107th Cong., commended the Office of the Attending Physician, the Capitol
Police, and others for their efforts during the anthrax attack.
69 Authority granted to Committee in House Administrative Reform Resolution of 1992,
H.Res. 423, 102nd Cong.
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The office is led by a medical officer from the U.S. Navy, a tradition begun in
1928.70 Expenses are provided for as a joint expense of the House and Senate in the
annual Legislative Branch Appropriations Acts. The FY2008 Consolidated
Appropriations Act provided an allowance for the Attending Physician, four medical
officers, and 13 additional assistants. While these personnel remain on the payroll
of the Navy, the legislative branch bills include a “reimbursement to the Department
of the Navy for expenses incurred for staff and equipment assigned to the Office of
the Attending Physician,” to be credited to the applicable appropriation.71 (For more
information, see CRS Report RS20305, The Office of Attending Physician in the U.S.
Congress, by Mildred L. Amer and the Attending Physician website, available to
House Members and staff at [http://attendingphysician.house.gov].)
70 H.Res. 253, 70th Cong.
71 See, for example, P.L. 110-161, Dec. 26, 2007, 121 Stat. 2226.