Order Code RS22731
July 14, 2008
Chief Administrative Officer of the House:
History and Organization
Jacob R. Straus
Analyst on the Congress
Government and Finance Division
Summary
The Chief Administrative Officer of the House (CAO) is an officer elected by the
House of Representatives at the beginning of each Congress. The office of the CAO
consists of three divisions: the Immediate Office of the CAO, Operations, and Customer
Solutions. Together, these divisions oversee human resources, financial services,
technology infrastructure, procurement, facilities management, and other House support
functions. The position of CAO was initially created at the beginning of the 104th
Congress to assume the duties previously performed by the director of non-legislative
and financial services, as well as to manage the operations of other House administrative
offices and support services.1
History of the Chief Administrative Officer
The CAO was established at the beginning of the 104th Congress as a replacement
for the director of non-legislative and financial services. The director of non-legislative
and financial services was established by H.Res. 423 during the 102nd Congress and given
authority over the “Office of Employee Assistance, Finance Office, pay and mileage of
Members, House Information Systems, Office Furnishings, Office Supply Service, Office
Systems Management, Placement Office, Special Services Office, Telecommunications,
Telephone Exchange, Typewriter Repair, Barber Shop, Beauty Shop, House Restaurant
System, Office of Photography, Inside Mail and Internal Mail Operations (including
coordination with postal substations to be operated by the United States Postal Service),
Guide Service, and Child Care Center, and the non-legislative functions of the Printing
Services, Recording Studio, and Records and Registration.”2
1 This report was originally written by Paul E. Dwyer, Specialist in American National
Government at CRS. Mr. Dwyer has retired, but the listed author updated the report and is
available to answer questions concerning its contents.
2 Sections 6 and 7 of H.Res. 423 (102nd Congress), “House Administrative Reform Resolution
(continued...)

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The 104th Congress abolished the appointed director of non-legislative and financial
services and created the office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO). To choose a
CAO nominee, the 105th Congress used an outside search firm to select James Eagan.
With Eagan’s resignation in the 110th Congress, the Speaker of the House personally
chose Daniel Beard.3 After the candidate for CAO is chosen, he or she is elected by the
House of Representatives.4 The CAO is subject to oversight by, but not the policy
direction of, the House Administration Committee.5
The CAO provides the infrastructure and support for Members and committees to
operate their offices. That includes managing employee payroll, benefits, child care,
parking, dining services, and installing furniture in Member offices.6
Structure of the CAO’s Office
The CAO’s office supervises the non-legislative functions of the House of
Representatives. CAO office divisions are organized along operational and mission lines
that include the immediate office of the CAO, operations, and customer solutions.7
Immediate Office. The immediate office includes the office of the chief
administrative officer and his support staff. It is responsible for oversight of the operations
and customer solutions divisions and directing studies ordered by the House leadership.
The immediate office also supervises the management of the three House media galleries,8
which provide facilities for press coverage of the House; assists Members of Congress
and staff with press inquiries and distribution of press releases;9 issues the CAO’s semi-
2 (...continued)
of 1992,” agreed to April 9, 1992. Section 6 created a new House Rule LII, director of non-
legislative and financial services.
3 Susan Davis and John McArdle, “Pelosi Picks New Clerk and CAO,” Roll Call, January 31,
2007, [http://www.rollcall.com/issues/52_72/news/16794-1.html], accessed July 11, 2008.
4 H.Res. 6 (104th Congress), agreed to January 4, 1995. Title II amending (Rule V) established
the Chief Administrative Office of the House. Codified today at Rule II, cl. 4, Constitution,
Jefferson’s Manual, and Rules of the House of Representatives, 110th Congress (Washington:
U.S. Government Printing Office, 2007).
5 “Rule II, cl. 4(a), (b), and (c), and Rule X, cl. 4(d)(1)(A),” Constitution, Jefferson’s Manual,
and Rules of the House of Representatives of the United States, 110th Congress (Washington:
U.S. Government Printing Office, 2007).
6 U.S. Congress, House Chief Administrative Officer, “What We Do,” Chief Administrative
Office of the House of Representatives, [http://cao.house.gov/what.shtml], accessed July 11,
2008.
7 Telephone conversation between the author and the office of the Chief Administrative Officer
of the House, Sept. 10, 2007.
8 The media galleries consist of the daily press gallery, the periodical press gallery, and the radio
and television correspondents gallery.
9 “Media Resources - United States House of Representatives, 110th Congress-1st Session,”
[http://www.house.gov/house/mediagallery.shtml], accessed July 11, 2008.

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annual report on the offices activities and accomplishments;10 and issues the “Statement
of Disbursements of the House.”11 The immediate office also maintains a public website,
[http://cao.house.gov].
Operations. Operations is responsible for developing and maintaining facilities and
systems that are used by the House of Representatives, including financial management,
procurement, technology, and human resources. In addition, operations staff serve as
consultants to Members’ offices on their internal operations and systems. Operations is
divided into four groups:
! Administration and Financial Services, handling procurement, financial
counseling, payroll and benefits, budget management, resources
management, human resources, and workplace safety;
! Workforce Services, handling employee and organizational development,
employee assistance, the House learning center, and House child care;
! House Information Resources, handling technology support, technology
infrastructure, business solutions, web solutions, facilities management,
informational security, and systems engineering; and
! Immediate Operations Office, handling business continuity and disaster
recovery, business improvement, portfolio management, and committee
hearing rooms renovation.12
In addition, operations manages projects that affect all House employees. These
include improving payroll and benefit services, introducing new financial and purchasing
systems, upgrading “HouseNet,”13 and updating the House messaging system.
Customer Solutions. Customer Solutions is responsible for simplifying the daily
work of congressional staff members through the CAO Customer Solutions Center
(CCSC), which includes FirstCall+.14 Customer Solutions is divided into three groups:
! Customer Solutions Delivery, handling the CCSC, the House recording
studio, the office supply store, the House gift shop, and photography;
10 “Rule II, cl. 4(b),” Constitution, Jefferson’s Manual, and Rules of the House of Representatives
of the United States, 110th Congress (Washington: U.S. Government Printing Office, 2007).
11 U.S. Congress, House, Statement of Disbursements of the House as compiled by the Chief
Administrative Officer from October 1, 2006 to December 31, 2006, 110th Cong., 1st sess., H.Doc.
110-9 (Washington: Government Printing Office, 2006).
12 U.S. Congress, House Chief Administrative Officer, “Operations,” CAO Semi-Annual Report,
110th Cong., 1st sess. [http://cao.house.gov/report/cao-ops.shtml], accessed July 11, 2008.
13 HouseNet, [http://housenet.house.gov], is the House of Representatives’ intranet site supported
by the CAO and is available only to House offices.
14 FirstCall+ consists of a call-in phone number (202-225-8000) and a walk-in customer service
center (B-227 Longworth House Office Building). FirstCall+ is designed to answer Member and
committee offices’ questions on ordering, acquisition, and production.

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! Assets, Furnishings and Logistics, handling acquisition, payments,
equipment maintenance, equipment inventory management, warehousing,
carpet, drapes, upholstery, cabinetry, finishing, and modular furniture;15
and
! Immediate Customer Solutions Office, handling the disbursement of
House resources and supplies and the management of customer
relationships.16
Customer Solutions is also responsible for office renovations and moving Members
of the House and their staff to new offices. This responsibility includes holding equipment
fairs to demonstrate new technology and products, and service fairs to highlight support
offices, including the Architect of the Capitol, the Library of Congress (including the
Congressional Research Service), the clerk of the House, and the sergeant at arms.
15 The CAO works with the General Services Administration’s (GSA’s) congressional service
representatives to coordinate office space and furnishings for district offices. See Judy Schneider
and Michael L. Koempel, Congressional Deskbook 2005-2007 109th Congress (Alexandria, VA:
TheCapitol.Net, 2005), p. 131.
16 U.S. Congress, House Chief Administrative Officer, “Customer Solutions,” CAO Semi-Annual
Report, 110th Cong., 1st sess. [http://cao.house.gov/report/cao-cs.shtml], accessed July 11, 2008.

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Table 1. Directors of Non-Legislative and Financial Services and
Chief Administrative Officers of the House of Representatives
Congress
Director of Non-Legislative and Financial Services
Date Appointed a
102nd (1991-1993)
Leonard P. Wishart, III
October 23, 1992
103rd (1993-1995)
Leonard P. Wishart, III
January 5, 1993
Randall B. Medlock
January 1994 b
Congress
Chief Administrative Officer
Date Elected
104th (1995-1997)
Scot M. Faulkner
January 4, 1995
Jeff Trandahl
November 22, 1996 c
105th (1997-1999)
Jeff Trandahl
January 9, 1997 d
James M. Eagen, III
July 31, 1997 e
106th (1999-2001)
James M. Eagen, III
January 6, 1999
107th (2001-2003)
James M. Eagen, III
January 3, 2001
108th (2003-2005)
James M. Eagen, III
January 7, 2003
109th (2005-2007)
James M. Eagen, III
January 4, 2005
110th (2007-2009)
James M. Eagen, III
January 4, 2007 f
Daniel P. Beard
February 6, 2007 g
Source: Clerk of the House, [http://clerk. house.gov/art_history/house_history/cao.html].
Notes:
a. In the 102nd Congress, H.Res. 423, “House Administrative Reform Resolution of 1992,” created the
director of non-legislative and financial services and established his or her joint appointment by the
Speaker of the House, the majority leader, and the minority leader, pursuant to Rule LII, cl. 1.
b. A specific appointment date is not available. Randall Medlock was appointed on a temporary basis
following the resignation of Leonard Wishart on January 21, 1994. See Congressional Quarterly
Almanac, 103rd Congress, 2nd Session, vol. L (Washington: Congressional Quarterly, Inc., 1994), p.
13, for additional information.
c. Appointed November 22, 1995. “Congressional (Speaker) Press Release,” Roll Call, November 25, 2006,
p. 16.
d. Appointed January 9, 1997 as acting CAO. See Congressional Record, 105th Congress, 1st Session,
January 9, 1997, p. 76.
e. Elected by H.Res. 207 on July 31, 1997.
f. Resigned February 14, 2007. See Congressional Record, 110th Congress, 1st Session, February 6, 2007,
p. H1230.
g. Elected by H.Res. 129 on February 6, 2007. See Congressional Record, 110th Congress, 1st Session,
February 6, 2007, p. H1230.

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