Legislative Branch: FY2015 Appropriations
R. Eric Petersen
Specialist in American National Government
Ida A. Brudnick
Specialist on the Congress
May 20, 2014
Congressional Research Service
7-5700
www.crs.gov
R43557

---

Legislative Branch: FY2015 Appropriations

Summary
The legislative branch appropriations bill provides funding for the Senate; House of
Representatives; Joint Items; Capitol Police; Office of Compliance; Congressional Budget Office
(CBO); Architect of the Capitol (AOC); Library of Congress (LOC), including the Congressional
Research Service (CRS); Government Printing Office (GPO); Government Accountability Office
(GAO); and Open World Leadership Center.
The legislative branch FY2015 budget request of $4.471 billion was submitted on March 4, 2014.
By law, the President includes the requests submitted from the legislative branch in the annual
budget without change.
The House and Senate Appropriations Committees’ Legislative Branch Subcommittees held
hearings to consider the FY2015 legislative branch requests.
The House subcommittee held its markup on April 4, 2014, and the full committee held a markup
on April 9. One amendment was offered in the full committee, but failed. The bill, which would
provide $3.3 billion (not including Senate items), was reported on April 17 (H.R. 4487, H.Rept.
113-417).
The House passed H.R. 4487, Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2015, on May 1, 2014, by a
vote of 402-14.
Legislative branch funding, which peaked in FY2010, remains below the FY2009 level of $4.501
billion. In FY2014, funding levels were $4.259 billion. The FY2013 act funded legislative branch
accounts at the FY2012 enacted level, with some exceptions (also known as “anomalies”), less
across-the-board rescissions that applied to all appropriations in the act, and not including
sequestration reductions implemented on March 1. The FY2012 level represented a decrease of
$236.9 million (-5.2%) from the FY2011 level, which itself represented a $125.1 million decrease
(-2.7%) from FY2010. P.L. 112-10 (enacted on April 15, 2011) provided $4.543 billion for
FY2011 legislative branch operations. P.L. 111-68 (enacted on October 1, 2009) provided $4.656
billion for FY2010. The FY2010 Supplemental Appropriations Act (P.L. 111-212) provided an
additional $12.96 million for the Capitol Police.
The smallest of the appropriations bills, the legislative branch comprises approximately 0.4% of
total discretionary budget authority.

Congressional Research Service

---

Legislative Branch: FY2015 Appropriations

Contents
Most Recent Developments ............................................................................................................. 1
Status of FY2015 Appropriations .............................................................................................. 1
Submission of FY2015 Budget Request on March 4, 2014 ...................................................... 1
Senate and House Hearings on the FY2015 Budget Requests .................................................. 2
House Subcommittee Markup ................................................................................................... 2
House Committee Markup ........................................................................................................ 2
House Consideration of H.R. 4487 .................................................................................................. 3
Prior Year Funding ........................................................................................................................... 3
FY2015 Legislative Branch Funding Issues .................................................................................... 5
Senate ........................................................................................................................................ 6
Overall Funding................................................................................................................... 6
Senate Committee Funding ................................................................................................. 6
Senators’ Official Personnel and Office Expense Account ................................................. 6
House of Representatives .......................................................................................................... 6
Overall Funding................................................................................................................... 6
House Committee Funding .................................................................................................. 7
Members’ Representational Allowance ............................................................................... 7
Support Agency Funding ........................................................................................................... 7
U.S. Capitol Police .............................................................................................................. 7
Architect of the Capitol ....................................................................................................... 8
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) .................................................................................. 9
Library of Congress (LOC) ............................................................................................... 10
Government Accountability Office (GAO) ....................................................................... 12
Government Printing Office (GPO) .................................................................................. 12
Office of Compliance ........................................................................................................ 14
Open World Leadership Center ......................................................................................... 14
John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development ............................. 15

Tables
Table 1. Status of Legislative Branch Appropriations, FY2015 ...................................................... 1
Table 2. Dates of House and Senate Hearings on Legislative Branch Requests .............................. 2
Table 3. Legislative Branch Appropriations, FY2004-FY2014 ....................................................... 5
Table 4. Legislative Branch Appropriations, FY2012-FY2014 ..................................................... 17
Table 5. Senate Appropriations ...................................................................................................... 18
Table 6. House of Representatives Appropriations ........................................................................ 19
Table 7. Capitol Police Appropriations .......................................................................................... 21
Table 8. Architect of the Capitol Appropriations ........................................................................... 21
Table A-1. Overview of Legislative Branch Appropriations: FY1996-FY2015 ............................ 23

Congressional Research Service

---

Legislative Branch: FY2015 Appropriations

Appendixes
Appendix. Fiscal Year Information and Resources ........................................................................ 23

Contacts
Author Contact Information........................................................................................................... 25

Congressional Research Service

---

Legislative Branch: FY2015 Appropriations

Most Recent Developments
This section provides an overview of the current status of FY2015 legislative branch
appropriations, with subsections covering each action from the initial submission of the request
on March 4, 2014, to hearings held by the House and Senate Legislative Branch Subcommittees,
through the markups held by the House Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, and House
Committee on Appropriations, to passage of H.R. 4487, Legislative Branch Appropriations Act,
2015, by the House on May 1, 2014. It is followed by a section on prior year actions and funding,
which contains historical tables. The report then addresses the FY2015 budget requests, hearings,
and funding issues for individual legislative branch agencies and entities. Finally, Table 4 through
Table 8 list funding levels for FY2012-FY2014, and FY2015 budget requests and House-passed
levels for these accounts, while the Appendix lists House, Senate, and conference bills and
reports since FY1998.
Status of FY2015 Appropriations
Table 1. Status of Legislative Branch Appropriations, FY2015
Conference Report
Committee Markup





Approval

House
House
Senate
Senate Conference
House Senate Report
Passage
Report
Passage
Report House Senate
Public
Law
4/9/2014
4/17/14
5/1/14
(H.R. 4487)

(H.Rept. 113-
417)
(H.R. 4487)






Source: Congressional Research Service examination of LIS data.
Note: In recent years, the House has held a subcommittee markup, held on April 4, 2014, prior to the full
committee markup.
Submission of FY2015 Budget Request on March 4, 2014
The FY2015 U.S. Budget submitted on March 4, 2014, contained a request for $4.471 billion in
new budget authority for legislative branch activities.1
By law, the legislative branch request is submitted to the President and included in the budget
without change.2

1 Office of Management and Budget, Appendix, Budget of the United States Government, FY2015 (Washington: GPO,
2014), pp. 15-48.
2 Pursuant to 31 U.S.C. 1105, “Estimated expenditures and proposed appropriations for the legislative branch and the
judicial branch to be included in each budget ... shall be submitted to the President ... and included in the budget by the
President without change.” Division C of the FY2012 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 112-74) added language
to 31 U.S.C. 1107 relating to budget amendments, stating: “The President shall transmit promptly to Congress without
change, proposed deficiency and supplemental appropriations submitted to the President by the legislative branch and
the judicial branch.”
Congressional Research Service
1

---

Legislative Branch: FY2015 Appropriations

Senate and House Hearings on the FY2015 Budget Requests
Table 2 lists the dates of hearings of the legislative branch subcommittees in 2014. Prepared
statements of witnesses are available on the subcommittee websites.3
Table 2. Dates of House and Senate Hearings on Legislative Branch Requests

House of Representatives
Senate
Senate
—
March 25, 2014
House of Representatives
March 6, 2014
—
U.S. Capitol Police
March 24, 2014
March 25, 2014
Office of Compliance
—
—
Congressional Budget Office
March 4, 2014
March 11, 2014
Architect of the Capitol
March 4, 2014
April 8, 2014
Library of Congress, including the
March 5, 2014
April 8, 2014
Congressional Research Service
Government Printing Office
March 4, 2014
—
Government Accountability Office
March 5, 2014
March 11, 2014
Open World Leadership Center
—a
April 8, 2014
Members/Public Witnesses
—b —
Source: Congressional Research Service examination of House and Senate Appropriations Committee websites.
Note:
a. The Open World Leadership Center was discussed during House hearings on the Library of Congress, but
no Open World staff provided testimony.
b. The House subcommittee announced that it would accept testimony for the record from Members and
outside witnesses through March 7, 2014.
House Subcommittee Markup
On April 4, 2014, the House subcommittee met to mark up the FY2015 bill. The mark provided
$3.3 billion (not including Senate items, which are determined by the Senate). No amendments
were offered, and it was reported to the full committee by voice vote.
House Committee Markup
On April 9, 2014, the full House Appropriations Committee held a markup of the FY2015 bill.
One amendment was considered before the bill was ordered reported to the House. Representative
Moran proposed the creation of an optional housing stipend of $25 per day for Members who live
50 or more miles away from Washington, DC, which failed.

3 For House subcommittee witness statements, see http://appropriations.house.gov/files/?CatagoryID=34776 or
http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/CHRG-113hhrg81322/pdf/CHRG-113hhrg81322.pdf.
For Senate subcommittee witness statements and webcasts, see http://www.appropriations.senate.gov/ht-
legislative.cfm.
Congressional Research Service
2

---

Legislative Branch: FY2015 Appropriations

House Consideration of H.R. 4487
The House of Representatives took up consideration of H.R. 4487 on May 1, 2014. A number of
amendments were considered, including the following:
• An amendment offered by Representative Nugent to prohibit funding through the
Member Representational Allowance (MRA) of vehicle leasing, excluding
mobile district offices and short-term vehicle rentals. The amendment failed by a
vote of 196-221.
• An amendment offered by Representative Speier to appropriate $500,000 to
provide sexual harassment training for House offices, to be carried out by the
Office of Compliance, with funds offset from the general administration fund of
the Architect of the Capitol. The amendment was agreed to by voice vote.
• An amendment offered by Representative Gosar to reduce funding for the
Botanic Garden to FY2014 levels and to transfer funds to the spending reduction
account. The amendment was agreed to by a vote of 219-198.
• An amendment offered by Representative Broun of Georgia to reduce funding for
the Capitol Visitor Center by $243,000, returning it to FY2014 levels. The
amendment failed by a vote of 207-212.
• An amendment offered by Representative Duffy to defund the Open World
Leadership Center Trust Fund. The amendment failed by voice vote.
• An amendment offered by Representative Hall to prohibit funds from being used
to deliver printed copies of the Statement of Disbursements of the House to any
Member of the House. The amendment was agreed to by voice vote.
• An amendment offered by Representative Wenstrup to prohibit funding for the
delivery of printed copies of the House daily calendar to any Member of the
House. The amendment was agreed to by voice vote.
• An amendment offered by Representative Holt to appropriate $2.5 million to
reinstitute to the Office of Technology Assessment, offset from funds in the
House Historic Buildings Revitalization Trust Fund. The amendment failed by a
vote of 164-248.
H.R. 4487, as amended, was passed by the House by a vote of 402-14.
Prior Year Funding
FY2014
Neither a legislative branch appropriations bill, nor a continuing appropriations resolution (CR),
containing FY2014 funding was enacted prior to the beginning of the fiscal year on October 1,
2013. A funding gap, which resulted in a partial government shutdown, ensued for 16 days. The
funding gap was terminated by the enactment of a CR (P.L. 113-46) on October 17, 2013. The CR
Congressional Research Service
3

---

Legislative Branch: FY2015 Appropriations

provided funding through January 15, 2014.4 Following enactment of a temporary continuing
resolution on January 15, 2014 (P.L. 113-73), a consolidated appropriations bill was enacted on
January 17 (P.L. 113-76), providing $4.259 billion for the legislative branch for FY2014.
FY2013
FY2013 funding of approximately $4.061 billion was provided by P.L. 113-6, which was signed
into law on March 26, 2013.5 The act funded legislative branch accounts at the FY2012 enacted
level, with some exceptions (also known as “anomalies”), and less across-the-board rescissions
required by Section 3004 of P.L. 113-6. Section 3004 was intended to eliminate any amount by
which the new budget authority provided in the act exceeds the FY2013 discretionary spending
limits in Section 251(c)(2) of the Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as
amended by the Budget Control Act of 2011 and the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012.
Subsequent to the enactment of P.L. 113-6, OMB calculated that additional rescissions of 0.032%
of security budget authority, and 0.2% of nonsecurity budget authority, would be required. The
act did not alter the sequestration reductions implemented on March 1, which reduced most
legislative branch accounts by 5.0%.6 The accompanying OMB report indicated a dollar amount
of budget authority to be canceled in each account containing non-exempt funds.7
FY2012
Division G of the FY2012 Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 112-74) provided $4.307 billion
for the legislative branch. This level was $236.9 million (-5.2%) below the FY2011 enacted level.
P.L. 112-10 provided $4.543 billion for legislative branch operations in FY2011. This level
represented a $125.1 million decrease from the $4.668 billion provided in the FY2010 Legislative
Branch Appropriations Act (P.L. 111-68) and the FY2010 Supplemental Appropriations Act (P.L.
111-212). The FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act provided $4.402 billion. In FY2009, an
additional $25.0 million was provided for the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in the
American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009.8 P.L. 111-32, the FY2009 Supplemental
Appropriations Act, also contained funding for a new Capitol Police radio system ($71.6 million)
and for the Congressional Budget Office (CBO) ($2.0 million).9

4 The legislative branch previously experienced a funding gap in FY1996 (November 14-18, 1995).
5 FY2013 level from the CBO cost estimate for “Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014 (H.J.Res. 59), Including
the Amendment Reported by the House Committee on Rules on September 18, 2013 (H.Res. 352) Discretionary
spending (in millions of dollars)” (http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/cbofiles/attachments/hjres59amendment.pdf),
which lists a total for legislative branch budget authority of $4.061 billion, noting that it “includes effects of the 2013
sequestration.” This bill only contained a small anomaly for the legislative branch.
6 White House, President Obama, Sequestration Order for Fiscal Year 2013 Pursuant to Section 251A of the Balanced
Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, As Amended, March 1, 2013, available at http://www.whitehouse.gov/
sites/default/files/2013sequestration-order-rel.pdf.
7 Executive Office of the President, Office of Management and Budget, OMB Report to the Congress on the Joint
Committee Sequestration for Fiscal Year 2013, March 1, 2013, http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/
assets/legislative_reports/fy13ombjcsequestrationreport.pdf.
8 P.L. 111-5, February 17, 2009, 123 Stat. 191.
9 U.S. Congress, conference committee, Making Supplemental Appropriations for the Fiscal Year Ending September
30, 2009, and for Other Purposes, report to accompany H.R. 2346, 111th Cong., 1st sess., H.Rept. 111-151
(Washington: GPO, 2009), p. 117.
Congressional Research Service
4

---

Legislative Branch: FY2015 Appropriations

Table 3. Legislative Branch Appropriations, FY2004-FY2014
(budget authority in billions of dollars)
Fiscal
Year 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014
Current
3.528a 3.640b 3.793c 3.852d 3.970 4.501e 4.669f 4.543g 4.307 4.061h 4.259
Dollars
Constant
4.351 4.348 4.385 4.342 4.320 4.871 4.983 4.746 4.393 4.061 4.163
Dollars
Source: Congressional Research Service analysis of legislative branch appropriations acts and related budget
documents.
Notes: These figures exclude permanent budget authorities and contain supplementals and rescissions.
Permanent budget authorities, including funding for Member pay, are not included in the annual legislative branch
appropriations bill but are automatically funded each year. Constant 2013 dollars calculated using the “Total
Non-Defense” deflator in Table 10.1—Gross Domestic Product and Deflators Used in the Historical Tables: 1940–
2018 in the President’s budget.
a. This figure contains appropriations provided by P.L. 108-83 (the FY2004 Legislative Branch Appropriations
Act). Additional FY2004 provisions which did not contain appropriations were contained in P.L. 108-199
(the FY2004 Consolidated Appropriations Act).
b. This number contains appropriations provided by P.L. 108-447 (the Consolidated Appropriations Act,
FY2005, adjusted by a 0.80% rescission also contained in P.L. 108-447), and P.L. 109-13 (the FY2005
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act).
c. This number contains appropriations provided by P.L. 109-55 (the FY2006 Legislative Branch
Appropriations Act, adjusted by a 1.0% rescission contained in P.L. 109-148), and P.L. 109-234 (the FY2006
Emergency Supplemental Appropriations Act).
d. This number contains appropriations provided by P.L. 110-5 (the Revised Continuing Appropriations
Resolution, 2007), and funding for the House of Representatives, Government Accountability Office, U.S.
Capitol Police, Architect of the Capitol, and gratuity payments provided in P.L. 110-28 (the U.S. Troop
Readiness, Veterans’ Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007).
e. This number contains appropriations provided by P.L. 110-161 (the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act),
$25.0 million for the Government Accountability Office provided by P.L. 111-5 (the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009), and $73.6 million provided by P.L. 111-32 for the U.S. Capitol Police and the
Congressional Budget Office (the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2009).
f.
This number contains appropriations provided by P.L. 111-68 (the FY2010 Legislative Branch
Appropriations Act), and $12.96 mil ion in supplemental appropriations provided for the U.S. Capitol Police
in P.L. 111-212 (the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 2010).
g. This number does not include scorekeeping adjustment.
h. FY2013 level obtained from the CBO cost estimate for “Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2014
(H.J.Res. 59), Including the Amendment Reported by the House Committee on Rules on September 18,
2013 (H.Res. 352) Discretionary spending (in millions of dollars)” (http://www.cbo.gov/sites/default/files/
cbofiles/attachments/hjres59amendment.pdf), which lists a total for legislative branch budget authority of
$4.061 billion, noting that it “includes effects of the 2013 sequestration.” This bill only contained a small
anomaly for the legislative branch.
FY2015 Legislative Branch Funding Issues
The following sections discuss the various legislative branch accounts as well as issues discussed
during the hearings on the budget requests.
Congressional Research Service
5

---

Legislative Branch: FY2015 Appropriations

Senate
Overall Funding
The Senate requested $906.7 million for FY2015.
Additional information on the Senate account is presented in Table 5.
Senate Committee Funding
Appropriations for Senate committees are contained in two accounts:10
• The inquiries and investigations account contains funds for all Senate
committees except Appropriations. The Senate requested $134.0 million for
inquiries and investigations.
• The Committee on Appropriations account contains funds for the Senate
Appropriations Committee. The Senate requested $14.94 million.
Senators’ Official Personnel and Office Expense Account
The Senators’ Official Personnel and Office Expense Account (SOPOEA) provides each Senator
with funds to administer an office. It consists of an administrative and clerical assistance
allowance, a legislative assistance allowance, and an official office expense allowance. The funds
may be used for any category of expenses, subject to limitations on official mail.
The Senate requested $429.7 million for FY2015.
House of Representatives
Overall Funding
The House requested $1.201 billion for FY2015. The House-passed bill would provide $1.181
billion.
The House-passed FY2015 level of $1.1807 billion would represent a decrease of $20 million
from the FY2014 level of $1.1809 billion. The FY2012 level of $1.226 billion represented a
decrease of $85.7 million (-6.5%) from the FY2011 level of $1.311 billion. The FY2011 level
represented a decrease of $57.6 million (-4.2%) from the FY2010 level of $1.369 billion.
Additional information on headings in the House of Representatives account is presented in Table
6.

10 For additional information on committee funding, see CRS Report R40424, Senate Committee Expenditures
Resolutions, 113th Congress, and Funding Authorizations Since 1999, by Matthew E. Glassman.
Congressional Research Service
6

---

Legislative Branch: FY2015 Appropriations

House Committee Funding11
Funding for House committees is contained in the appropriation heading “committee employees,”
which comprises two subheadings.
The first subheading contains funds for personnel and nonpersonnel expenses of House
committees, except the Appropriations Committee, as authorized by the House in a committee
expense resolution. The House requested $126.3 million, and the House-passed bill would
provide $123.9 million, the same level provided in the FY2014 act. The FY2012 level of $126.0
million was a decrease of $8.6 million from the $134.5 million provided for FY2011. The
FY2011 level was a decrease of $5.3 million from the $139.9 million provided in FY2010.
The second subheading contains funds for the personnel and nonpersonnel expenses of the
Committee on Appropriations. The House requested $23.7 million, and the House-passed bill
would provide the same level of funding as the FY2014 act, $23.3 million. The FY2012 level of
$26.7 million was a decrease of $1.8 million from the FY2011 level of $28.5 million, which was
a decrease of $2.8 million from the FY2010 level of $31.3 million.
Members’ Representational Allowance12
The Members’ Representational Allowance (MRA) is available to support Members in their
official and representational duties. For FY2015, $565.4 million was requested, and the House-
passed bill would provide $554.3 million, the same level provided in the FY2014 act. The $573.9
million provided in FY2012 was $39.1 million less than the $613.1 million provided in FY2011.
The FY2011 level was a decrease of nearly $47.0 million from the $660.0 million provided in
FY2010.
Support Agency Funding
U.S. Capitol Police
The U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) are responsible for the security of the Capitol Complex,
including the U.S. Capitol, the House and Senate office buildings, the U.S. Botanic Garden, and
the Library of Congress buildings and adjacent grounds.
The USCP requested $355.7 million for FY2015. The House-passed bill would provide $348.0
million. In the FY2014 act, USCP received $338.5 million.
Previously, the FY2012 Consolidated Appropriations Act provided $340.1 million, the same level
as for FY2011.
Additional information on the USCP is presented in Table 7.

11 For additional information on committee funding, CRS Report RL32794, House Committee Funding Requests and
Authorizations, 104th-113th Congresses, by Matthew E. Glassman.
12 For additional information, see CRS Report R40962, Members’ Representational Allowance: History and Usage, by
Ida A. Brudnick.
Congressional Research Service
7

---

Legislative Branch: FY2015 Appropriations

Appropriations for the police are contained in two accounts—a salaries account and a general
expenses account. The salaries account contains funds for the salaries of employees; overtime
pay; hazardous duty pay differential; and government contributions for employee health,
retirement, Social Security, professional liability insurance, and other benefit programs. The
general expenses account contains funds for expenses of vehicles; communications equipment;
security equipment and its installation; dignitary protection; intelligence analysis; hazardous
material response; uniforms; weapons; training programs; medical, forensic, and communications
services; travel; relocation of instructors for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center; and
other administrative and technical support, among other expenses.
• Salaries—the Capitol Police requested $291.4 million for salaries. The House-
passed bill would provide $286.5 million. The FY2014 act provided $279.0
million.
• General Expenses—the Capitol Police requested $64.3 million for general
expenses. The House-passed bill would provide $61.5 million. The FY2014 act
provided $59.5 million.
Another appropriation relating to the Capitol Police appears within the Architect of the Capitol
account for Capitol Police buildings and grounds. USCP requested $25.6 million, and the House-
passed bill provides $19.5 million. The FY2014 act provided $19.3 million. Previously, $21.5
million was provided in FY2012, and the FY2011 enacted level was nearly $27.0 million.
Highlights of the House and Senate Hearings on the FY2015 Budget of the
U.S. Capitol Police
On March 24, 2014, the House subcommittee discussed the Capitol Police training requests, radio
modernization program, recent incidents in which USCP was involved, and overtime use, and
discrimination complaints issues related to door closures in the house side of the Capitol were
discussed extensively.
At a hearing on March 25, 2014, the Senate subcommittee discussed the incidents in which USCP
was involved, and questions of increased access as funding returned to post-sequestration levels.
Architect of the Capitol
The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is responsible for the maintenance, operation, development,
and preservation of the United States Capitol Complex, which includes the Capitol and its
grounds, House and Senate office buildings, Library of Congress buildings and grounds, Capitol
power plant, Botanic Garden, Capitol Visitor Center, and Capitol Police buildings and grounds.
The Architect is responsible for the Supreme Court buildings and grounds, but appropriations for
their expenses are not contained in the legislative branch appropriations bill.
Overall Funding Levels
Operations of the Architect are funded in the following 10 accounts: general administration,
Capitol building, Capitol grounds, Senate office buildings, House office buildings, Capitol power
plant, Library buildings and grounds, Capitol Police buildings and grounds, Capitol Visitor
Center, and Botanic Garden.
Congressional Research Service
8

---

Legislative Branch: FY2015 Appropriations

The Architect requested $660.9 million for FY2015. The House-passed bill would provide $473.5
million, not including funding for the Senate office buildings. The FY2014 act provided $602.0
million, which included $15.94 million for the next phase of the Capitol Dome restoration
project.
The FY2012 level of $567.5 million represented a decrease of $32.9 million (-5.5%) from the
FY2011 enacted level of $600.4 million (not including a rescission of $14.6 million in
unobligated amounts of prior year appropriations for the Capitol Visitor Center contained in the
FY2011 act). The FY2011 level represented a decrease of $1.2 million (-0.2%) from the $601.6
million provided in FY2010. In FY2010, a 21.7% increase (or $644.6 million) was requested, and
a 13.6% increase was provided ($601.6 million).13 In FY2009, a 55.4% increase ($642.7 million)
was requested, and a 28% increase ($529.6 million) was provided. The FY2008 budget authority
($413.5 million) represented a decrease of 8.1% from the $449.9 million (including supplemental
appropriations) provided in FY2007.
The FY2014 request for each of the AOC accounts is presented in Table 8.
Administrative Provisions
The House-passed bill contained an administrative provision preventing the use of scrims
containing photographs of building façades during restoration or construction projects performed
by AOC.
Highlights of the House and Senate Hearings on the FY2015 Budget of the
Architect of the Capitol
Among the items discussed at the House subcommittee hearing on March 4, 2014, were funding
for the Capitol Dome rehabilitation project, the prioritization of projects, and plans for the
renovation of the Cannon House Office Building.
At a hearing on April 8, 2014, the Senate subcommittee discussed the restoration of the Capitol
Dome, and the prioritization of projects.
Congressional Budget Office (CBO)
CBO is a nonpartisan congressional agency created to provide objective economic and budgetary
analysis to Congress. CBO cost estimates are required for any measure reported by a regular or
conference committee that may vary revenues or expenditures.14
CBO requested $6.1 million for FY2015. The House-passed bill would provide $45.7 million,
which was the level contained in the FY2014 act.

13 Under the Capitol Visitor Center Act of 2008 (P.L. 110-437), funding for the Capitol Guide Service was transferred
to the Architect of the Capitol.
14 The Congressional Budget Office is required to use estimates provided by the Joint Committee on Taxation for all
revenue legislation (Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985, P.L. 99-177, §273, 99 Stat.1098,
December 12, 1985; 2 U.S.C. §621 (et seq.)).
Congressional Research Service
9

---

Legislative Branch: FY2015 Appropriations

The FY2012 level of $43.8 million represented a decrease of 6.4% from the FY2011 level of
$46.8 million. CBO received $45.2 million for FY2010; $44.1 million was provided in the
FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act (P.L. 111-8), and $2.0 million, to remain available through
FY2010, was provided in the FY2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act (P.L. 111-32).
Highlights of the House and Senate Hearings on the FY2015 Budget of CBO
At the House hearing on March 4, 2014, the subcommittee discussed the volume of CBO
projections, and findings and projections in recent CBO products.
Among the items discussed at the March 11, 2014, Senate subcommittee hearing were the number
of requests received by CBO and its methodologies.
Library of Congress (LOC)
The Library of Congress serves simultaneously as Congress’s parliamentary library and the de
facto national library of the United States. Its broader services to the nation include the
acquisition, maintenance, and preservation of a collection of more than 155 million items15 in a
wide range of traditional and new media; service to the general public and scholarly and library
communities; administration of U.S. copyright laws by its Copyright Office; and administration
of a national program to provide reading material to the blind and physically handicapped. Its
direct services to Congress include the provision of legal research and law-related services by the
Law Library of Congress, and a broad range of activities by the Congressional Research Service
(CRS), including in-depth and nonpartisan public policy research, analysis, and legislative
assistance for Members and committees and their staff; congressional staff training; information
and statistics retrieval; and continuing legal education for Members of both chambers and
congressional staff.
The Library requested $599.4 million for FY2015. The House-passed bill would provide $601.3
million. The FY2014 act provided $578.98 million.
The FY2012 level of $587.3 million represented a decrease of $41.3 million (-6.6%) from the
FY2011 level of $628.7 million. The FY2011 level represented a decrease of $14.7 million
(-2.3%) from the $643.3 million provided in FY2010. The FY2010 level represented an increase
of 6.0% over the FY2009 level of $607.1 million,16 and the FY2009 level represented an increase
of approximately 7.8% over the $563.0 million provided in the FY2008 Consolidated
Appropriations Act. These figures do not include additional authority to spend receipts.17
The FY2015 budget contains the following headings:
• Salaries and expenses—The Library requested $420.9 million. The House-passed
bill would provide $424.1 million. The FY2014 act provided $405.7 million.
These figures do not include $6.35 million in authority to spend receipts. The

15 Figure obtained from the Annual Report of the Librarian of Congress for Fiscal Year 2012, Library of Congress,
Washington, DC, 2013, p. 5. Available at http://www.loc.gov/about/reports/.
16 This percentage is not adjusted for non-recurring costs, including the transfer of the Library of Congress Police to the
Capitol Police.
17 An example of receipts are fees paid to the LOC for copyright registration.
Congressional Research Service
10

---

Legislative Branch: FY2015 Appropriations

FY2012 level of $413.7 million (also not including $6.35 million in authority to
spend receipts) represented a decrease of $18.0 million (-4.2%) from the FY2011
level of $431.8 million. The FY2011 level was an $8.0 million decrease (-1.8%)
from the $439.8 million provided for FY2010.
• Copyright Office—the Library requested $19.5 million for the Copyright Office.
The House-reported bill would provide $20.7 million. The FY2014 act provided
$18.2 million. The FY2012 level of $16.1 million represented a decrease of $1.7
million (-9.5%). The FY2011 level of $17.8 million was a decrease of $3.0
million (-14.6%) from the $20.9 million provided for FY2010. These levels do
not include authority to spend receipts.
• Congressional Research Service—the FY2015 request contained $108.4 million
for CRS, and the House-passed bill would provide $106.1 million. The FY2014
act provided $105.4 million. The FY2012 level of $106.8 million represented a
decrease of $4.2 million (-3.8%) from the FY2011 level of $111.0 million. The
FY2011 level was a decrease of $1.5 million (-1.3%) from the $112.5 million
provided for FY2010.
• Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped—the Library requested $50.7
million, and the House-reported bill would provide $50.4 million. The FY2014
act provided $49.8 million. The FY2012 level of $50.7 million represented a
decrease of $17.4 million (-25.5%) from the $68.0 million provided for FY2011.
The FY2011 level was a decrease of $2.1 million (-3.0%) from the $70.2 million
provided for FY2010.
The Architect’s budget also contains funds for the Library buildings and grounds. The FY2014
request would have provided $62.8 million. The House-passed bill would provide $41.7 million.
The FY2014 act provided $53.4 million, including $18.2 million for the requested collection
storage module at Ft. Meade. The FY2012 Consolidated Appropriations Act provided $46.9
million, an increase of $1.2 million (2.6%) from the $45.7 million provided for FY2011. The
FY2011 level represented a 0.2% reduction (-$92,000) from the $45.8 million provided for
Library buildings and grounds in FY2010.
Administrative Provisions
The Library requested authority to obligate funds for reimbursable and revolving fund activities
and transfer authority. The bill passed in the House contained these provisions.
Highlights of the House and Senate Hearings on the FY2015 Budget of the
Library of Congress
At a hearing on March 5, 2014, the House subcommittee discussed issues in the Copyright Office,
management and planning within the Library, plans for the Twitter archive, and book
preservation.
At a hearing on April 8, 2014, the Senate subcommittee asked about core services of the Library,
the status of the Open World Leadership Center, and book preservation.
Congressional Research Service
11

---

Legislative Branch: FY2015 Appropriations

Government Accountability Office (GAO)
GAO responds to requests for studies of federal government programs and expenditures. GAO
may also initiate its own work.18
GAO requested $519.6 million for FY2015, not including offsetting collections. The House-
passed bill would provide funds at the level requested by the agency. In FY2014, GAO received
$505.4 million.
Previously, the FY2013 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act contained an
anomaly for GAO, providing it with $506.3 million, not including sequestration or the across-the-
board rescission. The FY2012 level of $511.3 million represented a decrease of $34.96 million
(-6.4%) from the $546.3 million provided for FY2011. The FY2011 level was a decrease of $10.6
million (-1.9%) from the $556.9 million GAO received in FY2010. GAO received $531.0 million
in the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act and an additional $25.0 million in P.L. 111-5 to cover
responsibilities under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. These levels do not
include offsetting collections.19
Administrative Provision
GAO requested language to establish a center for audit excellence within the agency. H.R. 4487,
as passed by the House, created the center to build institutional auditing capacity, promote good
governance, and provide training and technical assistance and services to state, local, and foreign
government auditors.
Highlights of House and Senate Hearings on the FY2015 Budget of the GAO
At the House hearing on March 5, 2014, the subcommittee discussed issues including the number
of requests accepted by GAO, savings achieved from GAO recommendations, and plans and
justification for the center for audit excellence.
The Senate subcommittee met on March 11, 2014, and discussed the number of requests received
from Congress, performance management, and plans for the center for audit excellence.
Government Printing Office (GPO)20
GPO requested $128.9 million for FY2015. The House-passed bill provides $122.6 million. The
agency received $119.3 million in the FY2014 act.
Previously, the FY2013 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act contained an
anomaly for GPO, providing it with $119.1 million, not including sequestration or the across-the-

18 GAO’s guidelines for initiating studies are contained in U.S. Government Accountability Office, GAO’s
Congressional Protocols, GAO-04-310G (Washington: GAO, 2004). Posted on the website of the Government
Accountability Office at http://www.gao.gov/special.pubs/d04310g.pdf.
19 Offsetting collections include funds derived from reimbursable audits and rental of space in the GAO building.
20 For additional information on GPO, see CRS Report R40897, Congressional Printing: Background and Issues for
Congress, by R. Eric Petersen and Amber Hope Wilhelm.
Congressional Research Service
12

---

Legislative Branch: FY2015 Appropriations

board rescission. The FY2012 level of $126.2 million represented a decrease of $8.9 million
(-0.6%) from the $135.1 million provided for FY2011, which was a decrease of $12.4 million
(-8.4%) from the $147.5 million for FY2010. The FY2010 level represented an increase of $6.9
million (4.9%) over the $140.6 million provided in the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act. The
FY2009 level represented an increase of $15.9 million (12.7%) over the $124.7 million provided
in the FY2008 Consolidated Appropriations Act.
GPO’s budget authority is contained in three accounts: (1) congressional printing and binding, (2)
Office of Superintendent of Documents (salaries and expenses), and (3) the revolving fund.
• Congressional printing and binding—GPO requested $85.4 million, and received
$79.7 million, equivalent to the amount provided in the FY2014 act. The FY2012
level of $90.7 million represented a decrease of $2.9 million (-3.1%) from the
$93.6 million provided for FY2011. The FY2010 appropriations act provided
$93.8 million.

• Office of Superintendent of Documents (salaries and expenses)—GPO requested
$32.2 million. The House-passed bill provides $31.5 million, as was provided by
the FY2014 act. The FY2012 level of $35.0 million was a decrease of $4.8
million (-12.1%) from the $39.8 million provided for FY2011. The FY2010
appropriations act provided $40.9 million.
• Revolving fund—the revolving fund supports the operation and maintenance of
the Government Printing Office.21 GPO requested, and the House-passed bill
provided, $11.3 million. In the FY2014 act Congress provided $8.1 million.
Previously, an anomaly in the FY2013 CR provided $4.0 million (not including
the sequestration reductions or the rescission), $500,000 was provided in
FY2012, the FY2011 act provided $1.66 million, and the FY2010 act provided
$12.8 million for the revolving fund.
The congressional printing and binding account pays for expenses of printing and binding
required for congressional use, and for statutorily authorized printing, binding, and distribution of
government publications for specified recipients at no charge. Included within these publications
are the Congressional Record; Congressional Directory; Senate and House Journals; memorial
addresses of Members; nominations; U.S. Code and supplements; serial sets; publications printed
without a document or report number, for example, laws and treaties; envelopes provided to
Members of Congress for the mailing of documents; House and Senate business and committee
calendars; bills, resolutions, and amendments; committee reports and prints; committee hearings;
and other documents.
The Office of Superintendent of Documents account funds the mailing of government documents
for Members of Congress and federal agencies, as statutorily authorized; the compilation of
catalogs and indexes of government publications; and the cataloging, indexing, and distribution of
government publications to the Federal Depository and International Exchange libraries, and to
other individuals and entities, as authorized by law.

21 For additional information, see CRS Report R40939, Legislative Branch Revolving Funds, by Ida A. Brudnick and
Jacob R. Straus.
Congressional Research Service
13

---

Legislative Branch: FY2015 Appropriations

Highlights of House and Senate Hearings on the FY2015 Budget of the
Government Printing Office
The House subcommittee met on March 4, 2014, to discuss GPO’s FY2015 budget request. The
topics discussed included activities of the agency during the funding lapse, costs of printing and
digital provision of government information, production of passports and secure credentials, the
revolving fund, equal employment opportunity complaints, and the Federal Digital System
(FDSys).
Office of Compliance
The Office of Compliance is an independent and nonpartisan agency within the legislative
branch. It was established to administer and enforce the Congressional Accountability Act, which
was enacted in 1995.22 The act applies various employment and workplace safety laws to
Congress and certain legislative branch entities.23
The Office of Compliance requested $4.2 million for FY2015. The House-passed bill would
provide $4.0 million. The agency received $3.9 million in the FY2014 act.
The FY2012 level represented a decrease of $260,000 (-6.4%) from the $4.08 million provided in
P.L. 112-10 for FY2011. The FY2011 level represented a decrease of $300,000 (-6.9%) from the
$4.4 million provided in FY2010. The FY2010 level represented an increase of 7.5% from the
$4.1 million provided in the FY2009 Omnibus, which was an increase of 21.8% over the FY2008
level of $3.3 million.
Open World Leadership Center
The Open World Leadership Center administers a program that supports democratic changes in
other countries by inviting their leaders to observe democracy and free enterprise in the United
States. The first program was authorized by Congress in 1999 to support the relationship between
Russia and the United States. The program encouraged young federal and local Russian leaders to
visit the United States and observe its government and society.
Established at the Library of Congress as the Center for Russian Leadership Development in
2000, the center was renamed the Open World Leadership Center in 2003, when the program was
expanded to include specified additional countries.24 In 2004, Congress further extended the

22 P.L. 104-1, 109 Stat. 3, January 23, 1995. The act, as amended, applies 12 civil rights, labor, and workplace safety
laws to Congress and certain legislative branch agencies. These laws are the Age Discrimination in Employment Act,
Americans with Disabilities Act, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Employee Polygraph Protection Act, Fair
Labor Standards Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, Federal Services Labor-Management Relations Act,
Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, Rehabilitation Act of 1970, Veterans’ employment and reemployment
rights at Chapter 43 of Title 38 of the U.S. Code, Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act, and Veterans Employment
Opportunities Act.
23 Among the office’s activities are administration of a dispute resolution process, investigation and enforcement of
occupational safety and health and disability provisions of the act, investigation of labor relations and enforcement of
applicable provisions, and development of educational programs regarding the act’s provisions.
24 P.L. 106-554, 114 Stat. 2763, 2763A-120, December 21, 2000; P.L. 108-7, 117 Stat. 382, February 20, 2003.
According to the 2003 act, the additional countries include “any country specified in §3 of the FREEDOM Support Act
(22 U.S.C. 5801),” and “Estonia, Latvia, and Lithuania.” The countries specified in 22 U.S.C. 5801 are Armenia,
(continued...)
Congressional Research Service
14

---

Legislative Branch: FY2015 Appropriations

program’s eligibility to other countries designated by the center’s board of trustees, subject to
congressional consideration.25 The center is housed in the Library and receives services from the
Library through an inter-agency agreement.
Open World requested $8.0 million for FY2015.
The House-passed bill provides $3.42 million. In discussion during the subcommittee markup of
the bill, subcommittee chair Tom Cole of Oklahoma stated that the reduction was developed in
consultation with House leadership, and represented the percentage of Russian participants in
Open World programs.
The FY2014 act provided $6.0 million.
Previously, the FY2013 Consolidated and Further Continuing Appropriations Act contained an
anomaly for Open World, providing it with $8.0 million, not including sequestration or the
across-the-board rescission.26 FY2012 level was $1.38 million (-12.1%) less than the $11.38
million provided in FY2011 (P.L. 112-10). The FY2011 level represented a decrease of $623,000
(-5.2%) from the $12.00 million provided for FY2010, and the FY2010 level represented a
decrease of $1.90 million (-13.7%) from the $13.90 million provided in the FY2009 Omnibus.
The FY2009 level was a $4.92 million increase (54.8%) over the $8.98 million provided in
FY2008, which was a decrease of $4.88 million (-35.2%) from the $13.86 million provided in
FY2007 and FY2006.
John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development
The center was created by Congress in 1988 to encourage public service by congressional staff
through training and development programs.27
The center requested $430,000 for FY2015, which was the level provided in the House-passed
bill, and in the FY2014 act.
Previously, $430,000, not including the across-board-rescission or sequestration, was provided for
the center in FY2013. The FY2013 Senate-reported bill would have provided the requested level
of $430,000. The FY2013 House-passed bill did not provide funding for the Stennis Center, and
the House report stated the following:
The fiscal year 2012 Conference Agreement (H.Rept. 112-331) directed that future budget
requests from the John C. Stennis Center be accompanied by an appropriately detailed
budget justification as requested in H.Rept. 112-148. The Committee did not receive such
justification and therefore has not provided the requested funding.28

(...continued)
Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Russia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, and
Uzbekistan.
25 P.L. 108-447, 118 Stat. 3192, December 8, 2004.
26 The rescission equaled 0.032% for security programs, as defined by 250(c)(4)(B) of the Balanced Budget and
Emergency Deficit Control Act of 1985.
27 2 U.S.C. 1105. See also http://www.stennis.gov/.
28 U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, FY2013 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill, H.Rept. 112-
(continued...)
Congressional Research Service
15

---

Legislative Branch: FY2015 Appropriations

The $430,000 and directive for budget justifications included in the FY2012 conference report
followed language in H.Rept. 112-148, the FY2012 House report, which stated the following:
The Center was created by Congress in 1988 with an appropriation of $7.5 million which
subsequently was transferred to the John C. Stennis Trust Fund and invested in non-
expendable corpus Special Issue Certificates of Indebtedness with the U.S. Treasury. As
reflected in the current Budget of the United States, the Center has $15 million invested with
the Treasury, and at a 2 percent return should generate $300,000 that can be utilized for the
annual operation of the program. Since the principal of the fund has doubled from the
original appropriation and with reduced funding within the Legislative Branch, the
Committee has provided zero funding for the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service
Training and Development.
The Committee directs that any further budget request from the John C. Stennis Center be
accompanied by an appropriately detailed budget justification.
The Stennis Center was funded at $430,000 in FY2011 (less 0.2% from an across-the-board
rescission), FY2010, FY2009, FY2008 (less 0.25% rescission from an across-the-board
rescission), and FY2007.
The Budget Control Act, the Legislative Branch Budget, and Tables 4-8
The following tables provide information on funding levels for the legislative branch overall, the Senate, the
House of Representatives, the Capitol Police, and the Architect of the Capitol.
FY2013 discretionary appropriations were considered in the context of the Budget Control Act of 2011 (BCA,
P.L. 112-25) that established discretionary spending limits for FY2012-FY2021 to achieve $1.2 trillion in savings
over 10 years. The BCA also tasked a Joint Select Committee to develop a federal deficit reduction plan for
Congress and the President to enact by January 15, 2012. The failure of Congress and the President to enact
deficit reduction legislation by that date triggered an automatic spending reduction process established by the
BCA, consisting of a combination of sequestration (across-the-board cuts) and lower discretionary spending
caps, to begin on January 2, 2013. Sequestration was delayed until March 1, 2013, and the required reductions
lowered, by enactment of the American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012 (P.L. 112-240). The modified
sequestration was implemented as scheduled on March 1, 2013, and it reduced most legislative branch
accounts by 5.0%. A bill providing government funding for the remainder of FY2013, P.L. 113-6, was signed
into law on March 26, 2013, and did not include provisions that altered the sequester.
In addition, Section 3004 of P.L. 113-6 was intended to eliminate any amount by which the new budget
authority provided in the act exceeds the FY2013 discretionary spending limits in Section 251(c)(2) of the
Balanced Budget and Emergency Deficit Control Act, as amended by the Budget Control Act of 2011 and the
American Taxpayer Relief Act of 2012. As enacted, this section provides two separate across-the-board
rescissions—one for nonsecurity budget authority and one for security budget authority—of 0%, to be applied
at the program, project, and activity level. The section requires the percentages to be increased if OMB
estimates that additional rescissions are needed to avoid exceeding the limits. Subsequent to the enactment of
P.L. 113-6, OMB calculated that additional rescissions of 0.032% of security budget authority, and 0.2% of
nonsecurity budget authority, would be required. Most of the legislative branch was subject to the nonsecurity
rescission, although the Open World Leadership Center was subject to the security rescission.


(...continued)
511, report to accompany H.R. 5882 (Washington: GPO, 2012), p. 20.
Congressional Research Service
16

---

Table 4. Legislative Branch Appropriations, FY2012-FY2014
(in thousands of dollars)
FY2013 from
FY2013 from
FY2014 House
FY2014 Senate
Report (enacted
Report
level not
(enacted level
including
including
FY2014
FY2014
FY2012
sequester or
rescission but
FY2014
House
Senate
FY2014
Entity
Enacted
rescission)
not sequester)
Request
Reported
Reported
Enacted
Title 1: Legislative Branch Appropriations
Senate $868,592
—a $867,048
$892,115
—a $871,997
$859,293
House of Representatives
1,225,680
1,225,680
—b 1,233,181
1,171,569 —b 1,180,908
Joint Itemsc 20,207
18,970
18,932
19,152
17,978
18,970
18,994
Capitol Policed 340,137
339,137
338,459
363,296
329,701
338,459
338,459
Office of Compliance
3,817
3,817
3,809
4,482
3,617
3,868
3,868
Congressional Budget Office
43,787
43,787
43,699
45,700
41,497
45,700
45,700
Architect of the Capitol
567,509
492,381
438,476b 681,667 507,994a 468,863b 602,030
Library of Congress, Including CRS
587,344
588,607
587,430
608,719
558,277
600,900
578,982
Congressional Research Service, Lib. of Cong.
106,790
106,790
106,576
109,979
101,408
108,841
105,350
Government Printing Office
126,200
119,132
118,894
128,478
115,140
119,300
119,300
Government Accountability Office
511,296 506,282 505,270
524,339
486,226 505,383
505,383
Open World Leadership Centere 10,000
8,000
7,997
10,061
1,000
4,000
6,000
Stennis Center for Public Service
430
430
429
430
0
430
430
Title II: General Provisions
0
0
0
0
0
0

Subtotal Legislative Branch
$4,304,999
3,346,223a 2,930,443b $4,511,620
$3,232,999a 2,977,870b 4,259,347
CBO Scorekeeping Adjustment
2,000
0 0
0
0
0
0
Total Legislative Branch
$4,306,999
3,346,223a 2,930,443b $4,511,620
$3,232,999a 2,977,870b 4,259,347
Source: P.L. 113-76, H.Rept. 112-331, S.Rept. 113-70 (including FY2013 funding levels including the rescission but not the sequester), H.Rept. 113-173 (including FY2013
funding levels not including the rescission or the sequester), and the FY2014 U.S. Budget.
CRS-17

---

Notes:
a. By tradition, the House does not consider appropriations for Senate operations or Senate Office Buildings.
b.
By tradition, the Senate does not consider appropriations for House operations or House Office Buildings.
c. The FY2013 budget request contains the fol owing under “Joint Items”: the Joint Economic Committee, the Joint Committee on Taxation, the Office of the
Attending Physician, and the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services. The FY2012 enacted level includes these items as well as $1.237 million for the Joint
Congressional Committee on Inaugural Ceremonies of 2013.
d. This account was effective with the FY2003 Legislative Branch Appropriation Act. Previously, Capitol Police funds were contained under the joint items account.
e. The center was named the Center for Russian Leadership Development prior to FY2004. Appropriations represent payments to the center’s trust fund.
Table 5. Senate Appropriations
(in thousands of dollars)
FY2013 from FY2014 Senate
FY2012
Report (enacted level including
FY2014
FY2015
Accounts
Enacted
rescission but not sequester)
Enacted
Request
Payments—Heirs of Deceased Members of
$0 $193
$174a $0
Congress
Expense Al owances and Representation
205
205
205
174
Salaries, Officers, and Employees
175,762
175,411
175,950
179,865
Office of Legislative Counsel
6,995
6,981
5,192
5,277
Office of Legal Counsel
1,449
1,446
1,109
1,126
Expense Al owances for Secretary of Senate, et al.
28
28
28
28
Contingent Expenses (subtotal)
684,153
682,784
676,635
720,182
Inquiries and Investigations
131,306
131,043
132,000
134,000
Senate Intl. Narcotics Caucus
488
487
494
520
Secretary of the Senateb
5,816
5,804
6,250
6,250
Sergeant at Arms/Doorkeeperc 130,722
130,461
128,210
128,210
Miscel aneous Items
19,360
19,321
19,400
21,178
Senators’ Official Personnel and Office Expense
396,180 395,388
390,000
429,724
Account
CRS-18

---

FY2013 from FY2014 Senate
FY2012
Report (enacted level including
FY2014
FY2015
Accounts
Enacted
rescission but not sequester)
Enacted
Request
Official Mail Costs
281
280
281
300
Total, Senate
$868,592
$867,048
859,293
906,654
Source: P.L. 113-76, H.Rept. 112-331, S.Rept. 113-70 (including FY2013 funding levels including the rescission but not the sequester), and the FY2015 U.S. Budget.
Notes:
a. Provided in P.L. 113-46.
b. Office operations of the Office of the Secretary of the Senate are also funded under “Salaries, Officers, and Employees.”
c. Office operations of the Office of Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper are also funded under “Salaries, Officers, and Employees.”
Table 6. House of Representatives Appropriations
(in thousands of dollars)
FY2013 from FY2014
House Report
(enacted level not
FY2015
FY2012
including sequester or
FY2014
FY2015
Passed by
Accounts
Enacted
rescission)
Enacted
Request
House
Payments—Heirs of Deceased Members of Congress
$0

$174
—
—
Salaries and Expenses, Total
$1,225,680
$1,225,680
$1,180,908
$1,200,510
$1,180,736
House Leadership Offices
23,277
29,095
22,278
22,724
22,278
House Leadership Offices (transition quarter)
5,818
—
—
—
—
Members’ Representational Al owance
573,939
573,939
554,318
565,404
554,318
Committee Employees (subtotal)
152,631
152,631
147,174
150,072
147,174
Standing Committees, Special and Select, except Appropriations
125,965
125,965
123,903
126,335
123,903
Appropriations Committee
26,666
26,666
23,271
23,736
23,271
Salaries, Officers, and Employees (subtotal)
177,628
177,628
172,655
175,226
171,345
Office of the Clerk
26,114
26,114
24,009
24,639
24,009
CRS-19

---

FY2013 from FY2014
House Report
(enacted level not
FY2015
FY2012
including sequester or
FY2014
FY2015
Passed by
Accounts
Enacted
rescission)
Enacted
Request
House
Office of the Sergeant at Arms
12,585
12,585
14,777
12,058
11,927
Office of Chief Administrative Officer
116,782
116,782
113,100
116,163
113,100
Office of Inspector General
5,045
5,045
4,742
4, 742
4, 742
Office of General Counsel
1,415
1,415
1,341
1,353
1,341
Office of the Chaplain
179
179
___a ___a ___a
Office of the Parliamentarian
2,060
2,060
1,952
1,971
1,952
Office of the Law Revision Counsel
3,258
3,258
3,088
4,114
4,088
Office of the Legislative Counsel
8,814
8,814
8,353
8,893
8,893
Office of Interparliamentary Affairs
859
859
814
814
814
Other Authorized Employees
347
347
479
479
479
Office of Historian
170
170
___a ___a ___a
Al owances and Expenses (subtotal)
292,387
292,387
284,309
287,084
285,620
Supplies, Materials, Administrative Costs and Federal Tort Claims
3,696
3,696
3,503
4,153
4,153
Official Mail for committees, leadership, administrative and
201 201 190
190
190
legislative offices
Government Contributions
264,848
264,848
258,081
258,081
256,636
Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery Emergency
17,112 17,112 16,217
16,217
16,217
Appropriations
Miscel aneous Items
760
760
720
720
720
Transition Activities
1,722
1,722
1,631
—
—
Wounded Warrior Program
2,500
2,500
2,500
2,500
2,500
Office of Congressional Ethics
1,548
1,548
1,467
1,485
1,467
House of Representatives, Total
$1,225,680
$1,225,680
$1,180,908
$1,200,510
$1,180,736
CRS-20

---

Sources: P.L. 113-76, H.Rept. 112-331, H.Rept. 113-173, H.R. 4487, and the FY2015 U.S. Budget.
a. The budget request and House subcommittee report contained funding for the positions of the Chaplain and the Historian within the heading for the salaries and
expenses of the Office of the Clerk.
Table 7. Capitol Police Appropriations
(in thousands of dollars)
FY2013 from
FY2014 House
FY2013 from
Report (enacted
FY2014 Senate
level not
Report (enacted
including
level including
FY2015
FY2012
sequester or
rescission but
FY2014
FY2015
House
Accounts
Enacted
rescission)
not sequester)
Enacted
Request
Passed
Salaries, Capitol Police
$277,133
$277,133
$276,579
$279,000
$291.403
286,500
General Expenses
63,004
62,004
61,880
59,459
64.260
61,459
Total, Capitol Police
$340,137
$339,137
$338,459
338,459
355.663
347,959
Source: P.L. 113-76, H.Rept. 112-331, S.Rept. 113-70 (including FY2013 funding levels including the rescission but not the sequester), H.Rept. 113-173 (including FY2013
funding levels not including the rescission or the sequester), and the FY2014 U.S. Budget.
Table 8. Architect of the Capitol Appropriations
(in thousands of dollars)
FY2013 from
FY2013 from
FY2014 House
FY2014 Senate
Report (enacted
Report (enacted
level not including
level including
FY2012
sequester or
rescission but
FY2014
FY2015
FY2015
Accounts
Enacted
rescission)
not sequester)
Enacted
Request
House Passed
General administration
$101,340
$97,340
$97,145
$90,277
$96,433
91,555
Capitol building
36,154
36,154
36,082
61,376
57,545
53,126
Capitol grounds
9,852
9,852
9,832
13,860
14,366
11,993
Senate office buildings
71,128
—a 70,986
72,990
109,221

House of Representatives






CRS-21

---

FY2013 from
FY2013 from
FY2014 House
FY2014 Senate
Report (enacted
Report (enacted
level not including
level including
FY2012
sequester or
rescission but
FY2014
FY2015
FY2015
Accounts
Enacted
rescission)
not sequester)
Enacted
Request
House Passed
House office buildings
94,154
94,154
—b 71,622
108,934
71,622
House Historic Buildings
30,000 30,000
—b 70,000
70,000
70,000
Revitalization Fund
Capitol power plantc
123,229
123,229
122,983
116,678
94,999
93,152
Library buildings and grounds
46,876
46,876
46,782
53,391
62,756
41,733
Capitol Police buildings and grounds
21,500
21,500
21,457
19,348
25,605
19,486
Botanic garden
12,000
12,000
11,976
11,856
15,686
15,022
Capitol Visitor Center
21,276
21,276
21,233
20,632
21,095
20,875
Total, Architect of the Capitol
567,509
$492,381a 438,476b $602,030
676,631 488,565
Source: P.L. 113-76, H.Rept. 112-331, S.Rept. 113-70 (including FY2013 funding levels including the rescission but not the sequester), H.Rept. 113-173 (including FY2013
funding levels not including the rescission or the sequester), and the FY2014 U.S. Budget.
Notes:
a. The House does not consider appropriations for Senate office buildings.
b. The Senate does not consider appropriations for House office buildings.
c. Not including offsetting collections.

CRS-22

---

Legislative Branch: FY2015 Appropriations

Appendix. Fiscal Year Information and Resources
Table A-1. Overview of Legislative Branch Appropriations: FY1996-FY2015
House, Senate, Conference, and CRS Reports and Related Legislative Vehicles
Fiscal
Enactment
CRS
Year House Senate Conference Enacted
Vehicle Title
Report
H.Rept.
2015
113-417
___ ___ ___
___
___
(H.R.
4487)
H.Rept.
S.Rept.
explanatory
P.L. 113-76
Consolidated
CRS Report R43151,
113-173
113-70
materials
Appropriations Act,
Legislative Branch:
2014
(H.R.
(S. 1283) inserted into the
2014
FY2014 Appropriations
2792)
Congressional
Record
(H.R. 3547)
H.Rept.
S.Rept.
P.L. 113-6
Consolidated and
CRS Report R42500,
2013
112-511
112-197
___
Further Continuing
Legislative Branch:
(H.R.
(H.R.
Appropriations Act,
FY2013 Appropriations
5882)
5882)
2013
H.Rept.
S.Rept.
H.Rept. 112-331
12/23/2011
Consolidated
CRS Report R41870,
112-148 112-80
(H.R. 2055)
(P.L. 112-74)
Appropriations Act,
Legislative Branch:
2012
(H.R.
(H.R.
2012
FY2012
2551)
2551)
Appropriations
S.Rept.
4/15/2011
Department of
CRS Report R41214,
111-294
(P.L. 112-10)
Defense and Ful -Year Legislative Branch:
2011 ___ (S. 3799)
___
Continuing
FY2011
Appropriations Act,
Appropriations
2011
H.Rept.
S.Rept.
H.Rept. 111-265
10/1/2009
Legislative Branch
CRS Report R40617,
111-160 111-29
(H.R. 2918)
(P.L. 111-68)
Appropriations Act,
Legislative Branch:
2010
(H.R.
(S. 1294)
2010
FY2010
2918)
Appropriations
explanatory
3/11/2009
Omnibus
CRS Report RL34490,
materials
(P.L. 111-8)
Appropriations Act,
Legislative Branch:
inserted into the
2009
FY2009
Congressional

Appropriations
2009 ___ ___ Record and
issued in a
committee print
(H.R.1105)
H.Rept.
S.Rept.
explanatory
12/26/2007
Consolidated
CRS Report RL34031,
110-198 110-89
materials
(P.L. 110-
Appropriations Act,
Legislative Branch:
2008
(H.R.


inserted into the 161)
2008
FY2008
2771)
(S. 1686) Congressional
Appropriations
Record
(H.R. 2764)
H.Rept.
S.Rept.
2/15/2007
Revised Continuing
CRS Report RL33379,
2007
109-485 109-267
___
(P.L. 110-5)
Appropriations
Legislative Branch:
(H.R.
(H.R.
Resolution, 2007
FY2007
5521)
5521)
Appropriations
Congressional Research Service
23

---

Legislative Branch: FY2015 Appropriations

Fiscal
Enactment
CRS
Year House Senate Conference Enacted
Vehicle Title
Report
H.Rept.
S.Rept.
H.Rept. 109-189
8/02/2005
FY2006 Legislative
CRS Report RL32819,
2006
109-139
109-89
(H.R. 2985)
(P.L. 109-55) Branch
Legislative Branch:
(H.R.
(H.R.
Appropriations Act
FY2006
2985)
2985)
Appropriations
H.Rept.
S.Rept.
H.Rept. 108-792
12/8/2004
Consolidated
CRS Report RL32312,
108-577
108-307
H.R. 4818
(P.L. 108-
Appropriations Act,
Appropriations for
2005
(H.R.
(S. 2666)
447)
2005
FY2005: Legislative
4755)
Branch
H.Rept.
S.Rept.
H.Rept. 108-279
9/30/2003
Legislative Branch
CRS Report RL31812,
108-186
108-88
(H.R. 2657)
(P.L. 108-83)
Appropriations Act,
Appropriations for
2004
(H.R.
(S. 1383)
2004
FY2004: Legislative
2657)
Branch
H.Rept.
S.Rept.
2/20/2003
Consolidated
CRS Report RL31312,
107-576
107-209
(P.L. 108-7)
Appropriations
Appropriations for
2003
(H.R.
(S. 2720)
___
Resolution, 2003
FY2003: Legislative
5121)
Branch
H.Rept.
S.Rept.
H.Rept. 107-259
11/12/2001
Legislative Branch
CRS Report RL31012,
107-169
107-37
(H.R. 2647)
(P.L. 107-68)
Appropriations Act,
Appropriations for
2002
(H.R.
(S. 1172)
2002
FY2002: Legislative
2647)
Branch
H.Rept.
S.Rept.
H.Rept. 106-796
12/21/2000
Consolidated
CRS Report RL30512,
2001
106-635
106-304
(H.R. 4516,
(P.L. 106-
Appropriations Act,
Appropriations for
(H.R.
(S. 2603) incorporated
554)
2001
FY2001: Legislative
4516)
into H.R. 4577)
Branch
H.Rept.
S.Rept.
H.Rept. 106-290
9/29/1999
Legislative Branch
CRS Report RL30212,
2000
106-156
106-75
(H.R. 1905)
(P.L. 106-57)
Appropriations Act,
Appropriations for
(H.R.
(S. 1206)
2000
FY2000: Legislative
1905)
Branch
H.Rept.
S.Rept.
H.Rept. 105-734
10/21/1998
Legislative Branch
CRS Report 98-212,
1999
105-595
105-204
(H.R. 4112)
(P.L. 105-
Appropriations Act,
Appropriations for
(H.R.
(S. 2137)
275)
1999
FY1999: Legislative
4112)
Branch
H.Rept.
S.Rept.
H.Rept. 105-254
10/7/1997
Legislative Branch
CRS Report 97-212,
1998
105-196
105-47
(H.R. 2209)
(P.L. 105-55)
Appropriations Act,
Appropriations for
(H.R.
(S. 1019)
1998
FY1998: Legislative
2209)
Branch
Source: Congressional Research Service.
Selected Websites
These sites contain information on the FY2015 legislative branch appropriations requests and
legislation, and the appropriations process:
House Committee on Appropriations
http://appropriations.house.gov/
Senate Committee on Appropriations
http://appropriations.senate.gov/
Congressional Research Service
24

---

Legislative Branch: FY2015 Appropriations

CRS Appropriations Products Guide
http://www.crs.gov/Pages/AppropriationsStatusTable.aspx?source=QuickLinks
Congressional Budget Office
http://www.cbo.gov
Government Accountability Office
http://www.gao.gov
Office of Management and Budget
http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/

Author Contact Information

R. Eric Petersen
Ida A. Brudnick
Specialist in American National Government
Specialist on the Congress
epetersen@crs.loc.gov, 7-0643
ibrudnick@crs.loc.gov, 7-6460


Congressional Research Service
25

---