Senate Committee Funding and Process, 114th Congress

Senate Committee Funding and Process, 114th Congress

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August 5, 2015
Senate Committee Funding and Process, 114th Congress
Overview
The Rules and Administration Committee may then hold
Funding for Senate committees (except for the Committee
hearings at which committee chairs, ranking minority
on Appropriations and the Select Committee on Ethics)
Members, and other Senators may testify. In recent
follows a two-step process of authorization and
Congresses, however, the committee has held hearings only
appropriation. Operating budgets for all standing and select
on certain requests, or has not held hearings. The Rules and
committees of the Senate (except for the Committee on
Administration Committee chair will normally introduce an
Appropriations and the Select Committee on Ethics) are
omnibus resolution incorporating the amounts requested by
authorized pursuant to a chamber funding resolution, and
each of the Senate committees in their individual
funding is provided by annual appropriations in the
resolutions. The Rules and Administration Committee will
Legislative Branch Appropriations bill and other
usually then meet to mark up the resolution and, after final
appropriations acts.
approval by the committee, report it to the Senate. In some
Congresses, the committee has issued an accompanying
On February 12, 2015, the Senate agreed by unanimous
written report. On occasions where both parties have been
consent to S.Res. 73, which authorized a total of $198.2
in agreement on the funding resolution, the Senate has
million for committee expenses, including $57.8 million for
discharged the committee from the consideration of the
the March 2015-September 2015 period, $99.1 million for
resolution by unanimous consent, without a formal
the October 2015-September 2016 period, and $41.3
committee markup or written report. In recent Congresses,
million for the October 2016-February 2017 period.
the Senate agreed to the funding resolution by unanimous
Additionally, the resolution authorized up to 7% of the total
consent with little, if any, floor discussion.
appropriation for committees to be available as special
reserves.
Authorization Trends
Figure 1 reports the aggregate Senate committee funding
The Senate Committee on Rules and Administration has
authorization level from the 101st through the 114th
jurisdiction over committee funding resolutions and issues
Congresses, in both nominal and constant (1989) dollars.
regulations governing committee expenditures and staff.
Since the 101st Congress, nominal aggregate Senate
Committee expenditures and staff are also regulated by
committee funding has increased by about 104%, from
Senate rules, especially Rule XXVI, paragraph 9, and Rule
$97.1 million to $198.2 million in the 114th Congress, for
XXVII, as well as by statute. Information on individual
an average increase of 8% per Congress. In constant
committees’ spending is published semi-annually in the
dollars, however, aggregate funding has increased by only
Report of the Secretary of the Senate.
8.2% during the same period, for a biennial average real
increase of less than 1%.
Authorization Process
In the two-year funding resolution agreed to at the
Figure 1. Aggregate Senate Committee
beginning of each Congress, the aggregate authorization for
Authorizations, 101st – 114th Congresses
each committee is apportioned among three calendar
periods—from March 1 to September 30 of the first year of
a Congress, from October 1 to September 30 of the
following year, and from October 1 to the following
February 28.
Under Senate Rule XXVI, paragraph 9, each Senate
committee (except Appropriations and Ethics) is required to
report a funding resolution providing for its expenses. Each
committee supports its request by submitting supplementary
materials, including those specified by the Committee on
Rules and Administration. In recent Congresses, that panel

has advised committees on the permissible increase, or
Source: Senate Committee Funding Resolutions, 101st-114th
required decrease, it hopes to impose on Senate committees,
Congress.
compared to the funding level in the previous Congress.
Appropriations
Committees requesting funds in excess of these guidelines
Funding for Senate committees is provided in the
have been asked to include a justification in their budget
Legislative Branch Appropriations bill. Line-item
submissions.
appropriations are not made for individual committees,
except the Committee on Appropriations. Instead, funding
is provided as a single total amount for all committees,
under the heading “Contingent Expenses of the Senate” and
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Senate Committee Funding and Process, 114th Congress
the subheading “Inquiries and Investigations.”
Usage
Consequently, the amount appropriated for committee
Data on committee expenditures were compiled using the
funding places a ceiling on total committee expenditures,
semi-annual Report of the Secretary of the Senate, which
but not on any individual committee’s expenditures. The
reports Senate expenditures disbursed during the previous
expenditures of individual committees are constrained
six months. The Report of the Secretary of the Senate
instead by their authorization.
aggregates expenditures for individual committees across
standard budget object classes used by the federal
In addition, authorizations for committee funds are made
government. These include Net Payroll Expenses; Travel
biennially beginning March 1 and appropriations are made
and Transportation; Rent, Communications, and Utilities;
annually beginning October 1. Therefore, for any individual
Printing and Reproduction; Other Contractual Services;
biennial funding resolution, funds may be drawn from
Supplies and Materials; and Acquisition of Assets. Figure 2
money appropriated in three different fiscal years.
reports aggregate committee spending by category during
the 112th Congress, the most recent Congress for which
For FY2015, $133.3 million was appropriated for Senate
complete data are available.
committees (except for the Committee on Appropriations
and the Select Committee on Ethics) in the Consolidated
Figure 2. Committee Expenditures, 112th Congress
and Further Continuing Appropriations Act, 2015.
Majority / Minority Distribution
Senate Rule XXVII requires that each committee’s staff
reflect the ratio of majority and minority committee
members and that the minority receive “fair consideration”
in the appointment of staff. A majority of the minority party
members of a committee may request at least one-third of
the personnel funds for hiring minority staff. This ratio is
calculated after excluding funds for staff that perform
administrative and clerical functions for the committee as a

whole, if any, as agreed to by the chair and ranking
As shown in the figure, “Net Payroll Expenses” accounted
minority Member.
for just over 96% of total committee spending. Beyond
these staff expenses, committees spent an aggregate of
In practice, in recent Congresses, the distribution of
1.3% of their expenditures on “Supplies and Materials,”
committee staff and resources has been determined through
0.7% on “Travel and Transportation,” and 1% on “Rent,
negotiation by the majority and minority leadership.
Communications, and Utilities.”
Committee staff may also be supplemented by consultants
and staff detailed to the committee from federal agencies,
For further information on Senate committee funding, see
subject to such restrictions as the Committee on Rules and
CRS Report R40424, Senate Committee Expenditures
Administration may impose.
Resolutions, 114th Congress, and Funding Authorizations
Additional Funding and Special Reserves
Since 1999; and CRS Report R43160, Senate Committee

Funding: Description of Process and Analysis of
If a committee requires additional funds after the omnibus
Disbursements.
resolution has been agreed to, funds may be requested
essentially in the same way as they were for its two-year
budget. Since the 106th Congress, the omnibus funding
Matthew E. Glassman, Analyst on the Congress
resolution has contained a special reserve from which
Lara E. Chausow, Research Assistant
unexpected funding needs by a Senate committee could be
IF10271
met, upon the request of its chair and ranking Member and
upon the approval of the chair and ranking Member of the
Rules and Administration Committee.

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Senate Committee Funding and Process, 114th Congress

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