Architect of the Capitol: Appointment, Duties, and Current Issues

Architect of the Capitol: Appointment, Duties, and Current Issues

Order Code RL32820
Architect of the Capitol:
Appointment, Duties, and Current Issues
Updated October 16, 2008
Mildred Amer
Specialist on the Congress
Government and Finance Division

Architect of the Capitol: Appointment, Duties,
and Current Issues
Summary
The office of Architect of the Capitol (AOC) dates from 1793, when construction of
the Capitol building began. The responsibilities of the office have grown
substantially over time. In recent years, changes have also taken place in management
and staffing policies. The AOC is appointed by the President and subject to Senate
confirmation. Alan M. Hantman, FAIA, the most recent Architect, served from
January 30, 1997, to February 4, 2007. Pursuant to law, he was confirmed for a 10-
year term. He declined to seek reappointment. Stephen T. Ayers, AIA, currently
serves as Acting Architect of the Capitol until a permanent successor is installed. A
bicameral congressional advisory commission is required to recommend to the
President at least three candidates to fill the vacant AOC post.
By law, the Architect, supported by such staff as may be authorized by
Congress, operates and maintains the buildings and grounds of the Capitol complex.
The AOC is a member of the Capitol Police Board, participates in reviews of Capitol
Hill security, and his staff implements the various security enhancements in the
Capitol complex. The AOC also supervises all construction and improvements to the
Capitol complex, including the new Capitol Visitor Center (CVC).
The 110th Congress faces a number of issues dealing with the Architect of the
Capitol and the responsibilities of the office. Among them are the following:
! appointing of a new AOC to fill the currently vacant position;
! completing, opening, managing, and administering the new CVC;
! reducing energy consumption within the Capitol complex to help
conserve natural resources and reduce costs; and
! addressing the health effects on workers said to be associated with
the deterioration of steam and chilled water tunnels on Capitol Hill.
In addition, the House and Senate have passed H.R. 5159 to establish the Office
of the Capitol Visitor Center within the Office of the Architect of the Capitol. This
measure is awaiting the President’s signature. This office is to be headed by the
Chief Executive Officer for Visitor Services to manage and administer the CVC.
On July 30, 2008, H.R. 6656, the Architect of the Capitol Appointment Act, was
introduced to require that the AOC be appointed by the leadership of Congress rather
than the President.
This report discusses the responsibilities of the AOC, traces the statutory
evolution of the office, summarizes the status of current and recent projects, and
reviews selected issues before the 110th Congress. An appendix provides websites for
biographical information about each of the persons who have served as Architect of
the Capitol. The report will be updated as changing circumstances warrant. See also
CRS Report RL31121, The Capitol Visitor Center: An Overview, by Stephen Stathis.

Contents
Responsibilities of the Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Overview of Responsibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Responsibilities on the House Side of the Capitol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Responsibilities on the Senate Side of the Capitol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Statutory Evolution of the Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Current and Recent Projects . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Selected Issues in the 110th Congress . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Appointment of a New Architect of the Capitol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Completion and Opening of the Capitol Visitor Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Management of the Capitol Visitor Center . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13
Hazards in the Capitol’s Utility Tunnel System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14
“Greening” the Capitol . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15
Statutory Inspector General . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
Appendix. Architects of the Capitol Since 1793 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19

Architect of the Capitol: Appointment,
Duties, and Current Issues
The Architect of the Capitol (AOC) is an office nearly as old as the federal
government. With the exception of a 22-year period from June 25, 1829 to June 11,
1851, the office has existed under various names since 1793.1 The AOC is
responsible to Congress for “the maintenance, operation, development, and
preservation of the United States Capitol Complex, which includes the Capitol, the
congressional office buildings, the Library of Congress buildings, the Supreme Court
building, the U.S. Botanic Garden, the Capitol Power Plant, and other facilities.”2
The AOC carries out its bicameral, nonpartisan responsibilities using its own staff
and its contracting authority for architectural, engineering, and other professional
services.3
The AOC reports on projects and operations to six separate congressional
panels, as well as to several other entities on other issues.4 Statutory authorization for
the Architect’s work falls primarily under the jurisdiction of four congressional
standing committees (House Administration, House Transportation and
Infrastructure, Senate Environment and Public Works, and Senate Rules and
Administration). Several other House and Senate committees, commissions, boards,
1 The term “Architect of the Capitol” also refers to some of the early occupants of the office
who were known as “Surveyor of the Public Buildings” or “Superintendent of the Capitol.”
For more information, see William Allen, History of the United States Capitol (Washington:
GPO, 2001), pp. 27, 50-51, 398, and 400-401.
2 Architect of the Capitol, “About Us,” available at [http://www.aoc.gov/aoc/index.cfm].
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).
3 The Architect’s principal office is located in Room SB-15 of the Capitol. Additional
information about services performed by the office can be obtained at 202-228-1793 and at
the website of the Architect [http://www.aoc.gov].
4 U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on the Legislative
Branch, Legislative Branch Appropriations for 2000, hearings, 106th Cong., 1st sess., Feb.
3, 1999 (Washington: GPO, 1999), pp. 385, 404. These include the House and Senate
Appropriations Committees as well as the House Administration Committee, the House
Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, the Senate Environment and Public Works
Committee, and the Senate Rules and Administration Committee.

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and other entities supervise specific functions. Funding for the AOC’s office comes
primarily from appropriations acts for the legislative branch.5
The 110th Congress faces several issues concerning the Architect of the Capitol
and matters for which the office is responsible. Among them are the following:
! appointing a new AOC to fill the currently vacant position;
! completing, opening, managing, and administering the new CVC;
! reducing energy consumption within the Capitol complex to help
conserve natural resources, reduce costs, and protect the
environment; and
! addressing the health effects on workers associated with the
deterioration of steam and chilled water tunnels on Capitol Hill.
To assist Congress in its consideration of those issues, this report discusses the
responsibilities of the AOC, traces the statutory evolution of the office, summarizes
the status of current and recent projects, and reviews selected issues pending before
the 110th Congress. An appendix provides websites for brief biographical information
about each of the 10 individuals who have served as Architect of the Capitol.
Responsibilities of the Office
The Architect, whose current salary is $167,800 per annum,6 heads an office that
employs a workforce of approximately 2,200 people, including an executive team of
a deputy architect/chief operating officer,7 a chief administrative officer, a chief
5 Other funding sources represent a small share of total funding. For example, funding for
the AOC’s responsibilities with respect to the Supreme Court and the Federal Judicial
Center comes from the Financial Services and General Government appropriations bill.
6 Pursuant to P.L. 107-68, §129, 115 Stat. 579, the salary of the Architect of the Capital is
equal to the lesser of the salaries of the Sergeant at Arms of the House or the Sergeant at
Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate.
7 In 2003, Congress created the post of deputy architect/chief operating officer (COO), who
was to “be responsible to the AOC for the overall direction, operation, and management of
the Office of the AOC, including implementing the office’s goals and missions; providing
overall organization management to improve the office’s performance.” (P.L. 108-7 § 1203,
117 Stat. 373) Subsequently, in the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005 (P.L. 108-447),
Congress eliminated funding for the deputy architect’s office because of conferees’ concern
that “little had been accomplished through the then-new Chief Operating Officer.” To
replace the deputy architect/COO, the conferees directed the AOC to contract with a private
sector executive search firm to recruit a new individual. They further directed that a panel
composed of the comptroller general, public printer, chief administrative officer of the
House, a designee from the office of the Senate Sergeant at Arms, and the Architect of the
Capitol review the applicants and forward a recommendation on at least three applicants to
the AOC for his review. U.S. Congress, House, Making Appropriations for Foreign
Operations, Export Financing, and Related Programs for the Fiscal Year Ending September
30, 2005, and for Other Purposes, conference report to accompany H.R. 4818, H.Rept.
108-792 (Washington: GPO, 2004), p. 1349. In October 2005, Stephen Ayers was appointed
(continued...)

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financial officer, an inspector general, and other senior management officials.8 A
substantial number of individuals in skilled craft and trade positions are part of the
AOC workforce.
Overview of Responsibilities
The AOC is charged with the operation, maintenance, and improvement of the
U.S. Capitol and adjacent buildings and grounds — some 400 acres of land and 15
million square feet of building floor area in the Capitol building, the House and
Senate office buildings, Library of Congress buildings, the Supreme Court, the House
and Senate page residence facilities, the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary
Building, the Capitol Power Plant, all Capitol Police facilities, and the Robert A. Taft
Memorial. Further, the Architect oversees the superintendents of the House and
Senate office buildings.
The Architect is also responsible for the planning and development of the
Capitol Visitor Center, security improvements within the Capitol complex,
conservation and care of art in the Capitol, and physical arrangements for both the
presidential inauguration and other ceremonies and concerts held in the buildings or
on the grounds. He is acting director of the Botanic Garden, under the supervision of
the Joint Committee on the Library.
The Architect serves as a member of the Capitol Police Board and the Capitol
Guide Board (in both cases with the House and Senate Sergeants at Arms).
Appropriations for the Office of the Architect include salaries for employees in the
congressional flag office, House and Senate fitness centers, and House and Senate
health service facilities.9 The Architect also has authority to acquire and lease
warehouse space, and directs the master plan for future development of the Capitol
Complex.
Preservation and care of art in the Capitol is also overseen by the Architect,
under the direction of the Joint Committee on the Library. The display of works of
7 (...continued)
as the acting deputy architect/COO. In March 2006, following an interview process before
a selection panel composed of the chief administrative officer of the House of
Representatives, the comptroller general, the Senate Sergeant at Arms, and senior AOC
officials, Mr. Ayers was selected as the deputy architect/COO. Pursuant to P.L. 108-7,
§1203(h), the deputy architect is paid at a rate not to exceed $1,500 less than the annual rate
of pay for the AOC. Mr. Ayers also currently serves as the Acting Architect of the Capitol.
8 Conversation on September 12, 2007, with Eva Malecki, AOC communications officer;
and U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Legislative Branch Appropriations
for 2007, hearings, 109th Cong., 2nd sess., Mar. 14, 2006 (Washington: GPO, 2006), p. 673.
These positions include 12 positions at a salary not to exceed the highest rate for the Senior
Executive Service (currently $191,300), and nine positions not to exceed 135% of the
minimum rate payable for GS-15 of the General Schedule (currently $128,776). See 2
U.S.C. 1849.
9 The health service facilities are available to Members, staff, and tourists who visit the
Capitol.

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art in the House side of the Capitol and House office buildings is a responsibility of
the Architect, subject to direction (in consultation with the House Office Building
Commission) from the House Fine Arts Board, whose members are also the House
members of the Joint Committee on the Library. Comparable authority for the Senate
is lodged with the Senate Commission on Art. The Architect is also an ex-officio
member of the Capitol Preservation Commission.
The AOC is responsible for implementing the Congressional Accountability Act
(P.L. 104-1, 109 Stat. 3) as it applies to workers under his jurisdiction. He must
implement labor, worker safety, and environmental requirements and respond to
related labor-management issues. Pursuant to the Americans With Disabilities Act
(P.L. 101-336, 104 Stat. 327), the AOC implements the removal of architectural
barriers throughout the Capitol complex.
Responsibilities of the AOC that extend beyond the Capitol buildings and
grounds include providing maintenance, repair, and reconstruction services for the
Supreme Court building and grounds, including the Oliver Wendell Holmes gardens
and the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building. These responsibilities are
carried out under the supervision of the Chief Justice. Also, under the supervision of
the Chief Justice, the Architect may lease unused judicial building space to other
federal agencies.

The Architect serves on the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, District
of Columbia Zoning Commission, National Capital Memorial Commission, National
Institute for the Conservation of Cultural Property, and Art Advisory Committee to
the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority.
Responsibilities on the House Side of the Capitol
The operations, maintenance, and repair of the House side of the Capitol and the
House office buildings are under the authority of the AOC, subject to direction from
the Speaker and the House Office Building Commission, consisting of the Speaker
and the House majority and minority leaders. The Committee on House
Administration also has oversight over the AOC with regard to administrative
matters affecting the House side of the Capitol. The Architect previously served as
a member of the House Page Board, which directs the House page program,
dormitory, and school, but he was formally removed from the board with the
enactment of the FY1999 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act.10
The Architect is in charge of elevator operators on the House side of the Capitol
and the Rayburn Building subway system. He manages the revolving fund account
for the operation of the House Wellness Center (fitness center) and is also
responsible for the Capitol Power Plant, subject to direction by the House Office
Building Commission. The power plant provides heating and cooling service not only
to House office buildings and the House side of the Capitol, but also to the Senate
office buildings, Library of Congress, Supreme Court, Thurgood Marshall Federal
Judiciary Building, Union Station, Folger Shakespeare Library, Government Printing
10 P.L. 105-275, 112 Stat. 2438.

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Office, and the former District of Columbia Main Post Office, now called Postal
Square.
Responsibilities on the Senate Side of the Capitol
Responsibility for the maintenance, repair, and reconstruction of the Senate side
of the Capitol and the Senate office buildings is exercised by the Architect, under
direction of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration. Other duties include
staffing, supervision, and management of the Senate health and fitness facility and
parking garages; construction and maintenance of the subway system linking the
Capitol with the Senate office buildings; and maintenance of the Daniel Webster
Senate Page Residence and School. Moreover, under the direction of the Sergeant at
Arms, the Architect supervises leased space for the Senate computer center and the
service department in the Postal Square Building adjacent to Union Station.
Since August 1961, Senate restaurant operations have been under the
jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol. Pursuant to P.L. 87-822, the management
of the Senate restaurants was transferred from the Committee on Rules and
Administration to the Architect.11 Moreover, under the Architect’s management,
Senate restaurant employees have been afforded all benefits associated with federal
government employment.12
The provisions of the 1961 Act also allow the Committee on Rules and
Administration to remove the restaurants from the Architect’s jurisdiction.
Accordingly, during the 110th Congress, the chair and ranking Member of the
committee authorized the AOC to enter into a contract with a private entity for the
operation of the Senate restaurant system.13 This was done after legislation was
enacted to continue federal benefits for certain Senate restaurant employees.14 The
change is expected by the end of 2008.
Statutory Evolution of the Office
The origins of the office of the AOC can be traced to the Residence Act of 1790
(1 Stat. 130), which authorized a presidential commission to oversee the creation of
the city of Washington and the construction of the first government buildings.15 The
11 2 U.S.C. § 2042.
12 See CRS Report RL34495, Continuation of Employment Benefits for Senate Restaurant
Employees, by Jacob Straus.
13 Conversation with an official of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration, Oct.
7, 2008; and Emily Yehle, “Senate Restaurants Poised For Privatized Ownership,” Roll Call,
June 5, 2008, pp. 1, 42.
14 P.L. 110-279, 122 Stat. 2604, July 17, 2008.
15 Unpublished document: “The Architects of the Capitol Since 1793,” by William Allen,
(continued...)

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act, which also laid the foundation for the AOC’s responsibilities for the oversight
of the Capitol building, authorized the President to appoint three commissioners for
as long as necessary “to provide suitable buildings for the accommodation of
Congress.”16 In 1793, these commissioners staged a competition for the design of the
Capitol. The winner was Dr. William Thornton, an amateur architect who was born
in the West Indies and educated in Scotland. He received $500 and a city lot.
Architect Stephen Hallet also submitted a competitive design. At the request
of the three commissioners, he revised his proposal extensively. To recognize
Hallet’s substantial work on his submission, the commission decided to award Hallet
the same prize as the winner.17 Hallet was subsequently hired to supervise the
construction of the Capitol. However, Dr. Thornton is honored as the “first architect”
of the Capitol because his design was accepted by President George Washington in
1793.18 Dr. Thornton held no government position as a result of winning the
architectural competition.
In March 1803, President Jefferson created the temporary position of “Surveyor
of Public Buildings” to oversee repairs and construction of the Capitol building and
appointed Benjamin Latrobe, an architect and engineer who is considered the second
Architect of the Capitol.19 He served until 1811, when construction funds were
depleted. He was rehired in 1815 to serve as “architect in charge of Capitol repairs”
following the British burning of the Capitol in 1814. He resigned in 1817 and was
replaced by Charles Bulfinch, who was appointed by the commissioner of public
buildings (with the approval of the President) and served until 1829 when the Capitol
and its landscape were “declared complete.” The services of an architect were no
longer needed, and the position was eliminated.20
Although Congress abolished the office in 1828 (4 Stat. 266), the President was
authorized to continue the office long enough to complete the work on the Capitol
building already in progress (4 Stat. 363). The duties of the office were then
transferred to the commissioner of public buildings and grounds, who also had
responsibility for other public buildings in the city of Washington.
When Congress made the decision to extend the north and south wings of the
Capitol in 1850, the Architect’s office was reestablished, with the President given the
authority of making the appointment (9 Stat. 538). Thomas Walter, the next Architect
of the Capitol, was appointed in 1851, although the commissioner of public buildings
15 (...continued)
staff historian in the office of the AOC. Available from the author of this CRS report.
16 Ibid.
17 Pamela Scott, “Stephen Hallet’s Designs for the United States Capitol,” Winterthur
Portfolio, vol. 27 (Summer - Autumn 1992), p. 147.
18 Unpublished document: “History of the Office of Architect of the Capitol,” by William
Allen, staff historian in the office of the AOC. Available from the author of this CRS report.
19 Ibid.
20 Ibid.

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continued to care for the existing building and grounds. Subsequent acts frequently
referred to the “Architect of the Capitol” or to the “Architect of the Capitol
Extension.”
On August 15, 1876, Congress transferred the duties performed by the
commissioner of public buildings and grounds related to the Architect of the Capitol
and provided permanent authority for the care of the Capitol. That enactment
delegated to the Architect responsibility for the “care and superintendence of the
Capitol including, lighting, and [required him to] submit through the Secretary of the
Interior, estimates thereof.” It also provided that “all the duties relative to the Capitol
building heretofore performed by the Commissioner of public buildings and grounds,
shall hereafter be performed by the Architect of the Capitol, whose office shall be in
the Capitol Building” (19 Stat. 147).
Subsequently, the Urgent Deficiency Appropriations Act for 1902 changed the
title of the office to “Superintendent of the Capitol Building and Grounds.” It
assigned to the position all the power and authority previously exercised by the
Architect of the Capitol, and once again the appointment was to be made by the
President. Under the act, “no change in the architectural features of the Capitol
building or the landscape features of the Capitol grounds shall be made except on
plans to be approved by Congress.” (32 Stat. 20) In 1921, Congress restored the title
of the office to “Architect of the Capitol,” which it remains (41 Stat. 1291).
Current and Recent Projects
Following the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, and the later discovery
of anthrax spores on Capitol Hill, the AOC was involved in a series of high-profile
activities. These included major security improvements within the Capitol complex,
and the relocation of congressional employees during remediation of anthrax
contamination in several congressional office buildings.21 These activities were
undertaken through the AOC’s managerial responsibilities over the Capitol complex
as well as through his membership on the Capitol Police Board, which oversees
security in the Capitol complex.
In addition to the construction of the Capitol Visitor Center, the renovation of
the U.S. Botanic Garden Conservatory, and the construction of the National Garden,
the office of the AOC has been involved in numerous other projects throughout the
Capitol complex, including restoration of the West Central Front of the Capitol and
of the Olmstead Terraces, rehabilitation and inspection of the Capitol Dome,
maintenance of the Statue of Freedom, the Supreme Court modernization project, and
21 Statement of Rep. Charles Taylor, chairman, House Legislative Branch Appropriations
Subcommittee, in U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on
Legislative Branch Appropriations, Legislative Branch Appropriations for 2003, hearings,
107th Cong., 2nd sess., Apr. 25, 2002 (Washington: GPO, 2002), p. 359. See also “Senate
Offices Refumigated But Still Closed,” The New York Times, Jan. 1, 2002, p. A12; and Ben
Pershing, “Anthrax Fears Sweep Hill,” Roll Call, October 18, 2001, p. 3.

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maintenance and improvements to all of the other buildings under the Architect’s
jurisdiction.22
Finally, the AOC staff, which maintains the historic Lincoln catafalque,
prepared the Capitol and coordinated with the congressional leadership for the events
surrounding the lying in state of President Ronald Reagan in 2004 and President
Gerald Ford in 2007 and the lying in honor of civil rights activist Rosa Parks in 2005.
Selected Issues in the 110th Congress
The 110th Congress is faced with a number of issues concerning the Architect
of the Capitol and matters for which the office is responsible. Some of the most
important issues are discussed below.
Appointment of a New Architect of the Capitol
On July 31, 2006, AOC Alan Hantman, FAIA,23 announced his intention to
leave office. On February 4, 2007, he retired from the position after 10 years of
service. Currently, the position of the AOC is vacant. Deputy AOC/Chief Operating
Officer, Stephen T. Ayers, AIA, is serving as Acting Architect.24
Prior to 1989, the Architect was selected by the President for an unlimited term
without any formal action by Congress. On November 21, 1989, a provision in the
FY1990 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act revised this procedure, empowering
the President to nominate the AOC for a 10-year term, subject to the advice and
consent of the Senate.25 The 1989 act created a bicameral congressional advisory
commission to recommend to the President at least three candidates for the AOC
post. The advisory commission is composed of the Speaker of the House, the
President pro tempore of the Senate, and the majority and minority leaders of both
houses, as well as the chairs and ranking members of the Senate Committee on Rules
and Administration, Committee on House Administration, and House and Senate
Committees on Appropriations.26 The 1989 act also required the then-incumbent
Architect, George White, FAIA, to be reconfirmed (if he chose to remain in office)
no later than November 21, 1995, the sixth anniversary of the enactment of the
statute. White chose to retire on that date.
22 Testimony of Allan Hantman, architect of the Capitol, in U.S. Congress, House
Committee on Appropriations, Legislative Branch Appropriations for 2007, hearings, 109th
Cong., 2nd sess., Mar. 14, 2006 (Washington: GPO, 2006), pp. 477-785; and
[http://www.aoc.gov/projects/index.cfm].
23 FAIA denotes an individual who is a fellow of the American Institute of Architects.
24 [http://www.aoc.gov]; and Elizabeth Brotherton and John McArdle, “Next Architect ‘10
to 14 Months’ Away,” Roll Call, Feb. 1, 2007, pp. 1, 20. Note: AIA designates an individual
who is a member of the American Institute of Architects.
25 P.L. 101-163, 103 Stat. 1068, 40 U.S.C. §162-1.
26 Appropriations Committee members were added to the commission in 1995 by P.L.
104-19, 109 Stat. 220.

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When the prospect of a vacancy arose in 1995, concerns were voiced about the
criteria for selecting a new AOC — concerns that parallel those heard today.
Questions were raised within and outside Congress and in the media whether the new
AOC needed to be a licensed architect and whether professional management training
and experience were needed. Some argued that “because of their training and work
experience, architects have extensive practical skills in creative management
solutions, so the decision shouldn’t have to come down to a choice between an
architect and a manager: Architects are management experts.”27 The American
Institute of Architects (AIA), then as now, expressed its preferences for a licensed
architect with experience in management, procurement, and historic restoration.28 In
1995, according to press accounts, the AIA sent congressional leaders a list of nine
potential AOC nominees for consideration.29
On January 6, 1997, President Clinton, the first President to make an
appointment under the new AOC succession law, nominated Alan Hantman, who
became the first Architect subject to Senate confirmation.30
At the time, Hantman was vice president for architecture, planning, and
construction for the Rockefeller Center Management Corporation and manager of the
New York City Rockefeller Complex. During his confirmation hearings before the
Senate Rules and Administration Committee, he heard complaints about the Capitol
complex, from the “unsightly security barriers to the Capitol’s poorly designed
additions.”31 Other concerns centered on additional security issues, the way tourists
line up to visit the Capitol, the newly designed meeting rooms on the “C” level of the
Capitol, and privatization of the AOC’s workforce.32 Hantman was confirmed by the
Senate on January 30, 1997.33
During Hantman’s service, GAO and others criticized the office of the AOC for
its management practices, rising costs and missed deadlines associated with the
Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) and other projects, and alleged health and safety
violations in the utility tunnels beneath the Capitol complex.34 The House-passed
27 Bruce Wentworth [architect/guest observer], “New Architect Should Be Both A Manager
And An Expert Builder,” Roll Call, June 1, 1995, p. 5.
28 Juliet Eilperin, “Nine Architects Make Short List,” Roll Call, Apr. 27, 1995, pp. 1, 16
29 Juliet Eilperin, “Search for Architect’s Successor Pits Management Experts vs.
Visionaries,” Roll Call, May 8, 1995, pp. 1, 42.
30 U.S. President (Clinton), “Nominations Submitted to the Senate, Week Ending Friday,
Jan. 10, 1997,” Weekly Compilation of Presidential Documents, vol. 33, no. 2, Jan. 13, 1997,
p. 34.
31 Juliet Eilperin, “Architect to Nix Cars on the East Front,” Roll Call, Jan. 30, 1997, pp. 1,
16.
32 Ibid.
33 Congressional Record, vol. 143, Jan. 30, 1997, pp. 1305-1307.
34 See, for example, testimony of David M. Walker, comptroller general, U.S. General
Accounting Office, before the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on the
(continued...)

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version of the FY2007 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill (H.R. 5521) contained
a provision to strip Hantman of his responsibilities and give them to the comptroller
general or his designee:35
Sec. 210. For fiscal year 2007 only, all authorities previously exercised by the
Architect of the Capitol, including but not limited to the execution and
supervision of contracts; and the hiring, supervising, training, and compensation
of employees, shall be vested in the Comptroller General of the United States or
his designee: Provided, That this delegation of authority shall terminate with the
confirmation of a new Architect of the Capitol.
This provision illustrated the frustration of many in Congress over the perceived
management deficiencies of the AOC. Although the language was included in H.R.
5521 when it passed the House in June 2006, it did not become law since the bill
never came to a vote in the Senate.
To fill the current AOC vacancy, the American Institute of Architects (AIA),
the National Trust for Historic Preservation, and others urge the selection of a
licensed architect.36 The AIA also announced that it has issued a petition asking
Congress to choose a licensed professional architect as the next AOC.37 Others
34 (...continued)
Legislative Branch, Priority Attention Needed to Manage Schedules and Contracts, GAO
report GAO-05-714T (Washington: May 17, 2005); U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on
Appropriations, Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, Progress of Construction of the
Capitol Visitors Center, 2005, hearings, 109th Cong., 1st sess., May 17, 2005 (Washington:
GPO, 2005), pp. 9-11; U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Legislative
Branch Appropriations Bill, 2007, report to accompany H.R. 5521, 109th Cong., 2nd sess.,
H.Rept. 109-485 (Washington: GPO, 2006), pp. 15-16, 25-26, 49-51; U.S. Congress, Senate
Committee on Appropriations, Legislative Branch Appropriations, 2007, report to
accompany H.R. 5521, 109th Cong., 2nd sess, S.Rept. 109-267 (Washington: GPO, 2006), pp.
29, 34; Jackie Kucinich, “GAO Faults AOC Management for Rising Costs, Delays in
Projects,” The Hill, Sept. 22, 2005, p. 4; John McArdle, “Hantman Leaves Mixed Legacy,”
Roll Call, August 2, 2006, pp. 1, 14; Jackie Kucinich, “The Architect Strikes Back,” The
Hill, June 28, 2006, p. 3; and “Manager Wanted” (editorial), The Hill, August 2, 2006, p.
16.
35 U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Legislative Branch Appropriations,
2007, report to accompany H.R. 5521, 109th Cong., 2nd sess., H.Rept. 109-485 (Washington:
GPO, 2006), pp. 49-50; and John McArdle, “Hantman Fight Overshadows Leg. Branch
Bill,” Roll Call, May 30, 2006, p. 3.
36 American Institute of Architects, “The Architect of the Capitol Should be an Architect,”
[http://www.aia.org/aoc]. See also “Tell the President to Choose an Architect,” The Angle,
vol. 5, no. 22, Oct. 11, 2007, [http://www.aia.org/aoc_angle]; Reps. Earl Blumenauer and
Phil English, “Architect Should be Selected for AOC Position” (editorial), Roll Call, June
5, 2007, p. 4; and John McArdle, “Finalist for AOC’s Top Job Delivered to President Bush,”
Roll Call, August 13, 2007, pp. 3, 35.
37 American Institute of Architects, “The Architect of the Capitol Should be an Architect,”
[http://www.aia.org/aoc]. The petition is available at [http://www.aia.org/aoc_petition].

CRS-11
request that the AOC nominee have a strong background in management because the
job responsibilities are broader than building design and construction.38
Congress has long recognized the breadth and complexity of the AOC’s
responsibilities. The AOC is the only joint administrative officer of Congress with
direct management responsibilities over aspects of the internal operations of the
legislative branch. The position requires a knowledge of historic preservation while
managing the care, security, modernization, and improvements of the existing
buildings in the Capitol complex (including the surrounding grounds and the art
collections inside); managing new construction, including the letting of contracts;
and managing a large workforce while following labor, fair hiring, and other
workplace-related laws. The AOC administers medical services and employs the
nursing staff who work with the Office of Attending Physician in providing care to
Members, staff, and visitors. All of that must be done within budget constraints of
funds appropriated by Congress. Thus, the AOC must be able to perform a variety of
duties not ordinarily associated with typical architectural practice.39
Outgoing AOC Alan Hantman stated after he had announced his retirement:
The job of the AOC is clearly more than just blueprints ... [the AOC] has to be
somebody who has a real sense of stewardship, a sense of history in the place and
pride in the place, and a sense of what facilities management is all about. They
would have to understand that we are here to serve Congress.… Whoever the
person is, they need to be a good communicator.40

When Hantman decided not to seek reappointment, his departure was the
impetus for a commission, required by the 1989 act, to begin the process to
recommend replacement candidates to the President. Although there have been no
formal congressional announcements, press accounts have reported that Congress
submitted the required list of three names to the President, who must then forward
the name of one candidate to the Senate for confirmation.41 On October 24, 2007,
however, a press report said that one of the three candidates submitted by Congress
38 See, for example, the statement of Rep. Zach Wamp, ranking member of the House
Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee, in U.S. Congress, House Legislative
Branch Appropriations Subcommittee, Capitol Visitor Center, hearings, 110th Cong., 1st
sess., July 31, 2007 (not yet published); John McArdle, “More Problems Prompt Effort to
Revamp AOC,” Roll Call, August 2, 2007, pp. 3, 24; and “Architect Should be Selected for
AOC Position” (editorial), Roll Call, June 5, 2007, p. 4.
39 Paul S. Rundquist, statement before the Senate Rules and Administration Committee,
unpublished hearings, February 29, 1996. During hearings to review the operations of the
AOC, Dr. Rundquist discussed the then-new selection process for the AOC and the potential
criteria for the nomination and confirmation of a new Architect. Statement available from
the author of this CRS report.
40 John McArdle, “Hantman’s Present Reflected in AOC Past,” Roll Call, August 14, 2006,
pp. 1, 18.
41 John McArdle, “Members to Begin AOC Search in Lame Duck,” Roll Call, Oct. 17, 2006,
pp. 3, 12; and John McArdle, “Finalist for AOC’s Top Job Delivered to President Bush,”
Roll Call, August 13, 2007, pp. 3, 35.

CRS-12
had withdrawn his name from consideration and that the bicameral congressional
commission would need to identify a replacement candidate. A spokesman for the
Senate Rules and Administration Committee is reported to have said, “The
commission is evaluating the best way to proceed.”42 Subsequently, another press
report indicated that a new Architect would unlikely be chosen before the expected
December 2008 opening of the CVC.43 When the President’s nomination is sent for
Senate advice and consent, it is likely to be referred to the Senate Rules and
Administration Committee.
On July 30, 2008, the Architect of the Capitol Appointment Act of 2008 (H.R.
6656) was introduced to shift the appointment of the AOC from the President to the
congressional leadership.44 Under this measure, AOC would still serve a 10-year
term.
Completion and Opening of the Capitol Visitor Center
Since 1991, Congress has discussed the need to enhance the experience and
comfort of Capitol tourists and to strengthen security around the Capitol. Pursuant
to that discussion and subsequent authorization, the AOC and his staff were charged
with the design, all aspects of procurement, and construction of a new Capitol Visitor
Center (CVC).45 Congressional leaders broke ground for the subterranean CVC on
June 20, 2000. The terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, the discovery of anthrax
spores in congressional office buildings, and the identification of additional
congressional requirements have led to numerous changes and additional costs for
the CVC. The price has steadily increased beyond the original plans, and the opening
has been postponed several times. Some Members of Congress, GAO, and the press
have criticized the AOC because of the delays and increasing costs.46 These problems
42 Howard Gantman, staff director of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration,
quoted in Elizabeth Brotherton, “AOC Selection Process Takes Step Backward,” Roll Call,
Oct. 24, 2007, p. 1.
43 Elizabeth Brotherton, “With AOC Selection on Hold, Ayers Steps Up,” Roll Call, Feb.
4, 2008, pp. 3, 24.
44 The leadership specified in this legislation includes the Speaker of the House, the majority
leader of the Senate, the minority leaders of the House and Senate, and the chairs and
ranking members of the congressional committees with jurisdiction over the AOC.
45 For more information on the CVC project, see CRS Report RL31121, The Capitol Visitor
Center: An Overview, by Stephen Stathis.
46 See, for example, testimony of David M. Walker, comptroller general, U.S. General
Accounting Office, before the Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on the
Legislative Branch, Priority Attention Needed to Manage Schedules and Contracts, GAO
report GAO-05-714T (Washington: May 17, 2005); U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on
Appropriations, Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, Progress of Construction of the
Capitol Visitor Center, 2005, hearings, 109th Cong., 1st sess., May 17, 2005 (Washington:
GPO, 2005), pp. 9-11; U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Legislative
Branch Appropriations Bill, 2007, report to accompany H.R. 5521, 109th Cong., 2nd sess.,
H.Rept. 109-485 (Washington: GPO, 2006), pp. 15-16, 25-26, 49-51; U.S. Congress, Senate
Committee on Appropriations, Legislative Branch Appropriations, 2007, report to
(continued...)

CRS-13
are reported to be among the reasons Alan Hantman did not seek reappointment as
AOC.47
During a hearing before the House Legislative Branch Appropriations
Subcommittee, on September 25, 2007, Stephen Ayers, Acting AOC, and Terrell G.
Dorn from GAO, announced that they had reached a consensus on the opening and
cost of the CVC.48 The opening is approximately to be in December 2008 at a cost
of $621 million.49
Management of the Capitol Visitor Center
On March 5, 2008, the House passed H.R. 5159, the Capitol Visitor Center Act
of 2008.50 The bill calls for the establishment of the Office of the Capitol Visitor
Center within the Office of the Architect of the Capitol. The office, which is to be
headed by the Chief Executive Officer for Visitor Services, is to provide for the
46 (...continued)
accompany H.R. 5521, 109th Cong., 2nd sess, S.Rept. 109-267 (Washington: GPO, 2006), pp.
29, 34; Jackie Kucinich, “GAO Faults AOC Management for Rising Costs, Delays in
Projects,” The Hill, Sept. 22, 2005, p. 4; John McArdle, “Hantman Leaves Mixed Legacy,”
Roll Call, Aug. 2, 2006, pp. 1, 14; Jackie Kucinich, “The Architect Strikes Back,” The Hill,
June 28, 2006, p. 3; “Manager Wanted” (editorial), The Hill, Aug. 2, 2006, p. 16; John
McArdle, “AOC Takes More Heat on the CVC,” Roll Call, Oct. 19, 2005, p. 3; Jackie
Kucinich, “Sen. Allard Says Architects’s Reputation Is On the Line On CVC,” The Hill,
Oct. 19, 2005, p. 3; Daphne Retter, “Vote To Strip Architect’s Office of Power Underscores
Ire Over the Visitor’s Center,” CQ Today, May 26, 2006, p. 6.
47 John McArdle, “Hantman Leaves Mixed Legacy,” Roll Call, August 2, 2006, pp. 1, 14.
48 Testimony of Stephen T. Ayers, acting Architect of the Capitol, and Terrell G. Dorn,
director of physical infrastructure issues, Government Accountability Office, in U.S.
Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Legislative Branch,
Capitol Visitor Center, hearings, 110th Cong., 1st sess., Sept. 25, 2007 (not yet published).
See also U.S. Government Accountability Office, Capitol Visitor Center: Update on Status
of Project’s Schedule and Cost as of September 25, 2007, GAO-07-1249T, Sept. 25, 2007,
pp. 2-5; and Elizabeth Brotherton, “It’s a Deal: Visitor Center to Open in 2008,” Roll Call,
Sept. 26, 2007, pp. 3, 17.
49 [http://www.aoc.gov/cvc/upload/Fact_Sheet_opening_date_07_08.pdf], visited July 31,
2008; testimony of Stephen T. Ayers, acting Architect of the Capitol, and Terrell G. Dorn,
director of physical infrastructure issues, Government Accountability Office, in U.S.
Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Legislative Branch,
Capitol Visitor Center, hearings, 110th Cong., 1st sess., Sept. 25, 2007 (not yet published).
See also U.S. Government Accountability Office, Capitol Visitor Center: Update on Status
of Project’s Schedule and Cost as of September 25, 2007, GAO-07-1249T, Sept. 25, 2007,
pp. 2-5; and Elizabeth Brotherton, “It’s a Deal: Visitor Center to Open in 2008,” Roll Call,
Sept. 26, 2007, pp. 3, 17.
50 “Capitol Visitor Center Act of 2008,” Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 154, Mar.
5, 2008, pp. H1249-H1254.

CRS-14
effective management and administration of the Capitol Visitor Center.51 This
measure, which does not affect the role of the office of the AOC in maintaining the
CVC facility, also transfers the Capitol Guide Service to the Office of the CVC and
establishes the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services to coordinate the
services for Members of Congress, staff, and visitors to the Capitol who have
disabilities.52
The Senate passed H.R. 5159 on September 27, 2008, after substituting its own
language.53 On October 2, 2008, the House, by unanimous consent, accepted the
Senate version of the measure.54 The most important difference in the two versions
was the authority granted the Chief Executive Officer for Visitor Services in the
House-passed version.55 The Senate version, which the House accepted, emphasizes
the exclusive jurisdiction of the AOC for the “care and superintendence”of the
CVC.56
Hazards in the Capitol’s Utility Tunnel System
In April 2007, the office of the AOC removed its utility tunnel crew working in
the tunnels of the Capitol Power Plant system that supplies steam and chilled water
to the Capitol complex.57 The move came after long-standing complaints from some
Members of Congress, the 10-member tunnel crew, and the Office of Compliance
(OOC) about unsafe conditions for the workers who must go into the tunnels.58
These conditions include cracked and falling concrete and loose asbestos. The AOC’s
reported failure to fix the problems that raised employee safety issues led the OOC
51 U.S. Congress, Committee on House Administration, Capitol Visitor Center Act of 2008,
report to accompany H.R. 5159, 110th Cong., 2nd sess., H.Rept. 110-535 (Washington: GPO,
2008).
52 “Capitol Visitor Center Act of 2008,” Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 154, Mar.
5, 2008, p. H1249. Tours led by staff in Members’ offices would not be changed by the
bill’s provisions.
53 “Capitol Visitor Center Act of 2008,” Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 154, Sept.
27, 2008, pp. S9881-S9883; and “Text of Amendment (SA5674),” Congressional Record,
daily edition, vol. 154, Sept. 27, 2008, S10011-S10015.
54 “Capitol Visitor Center Act of 2008,” Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 154, Oct.
2, 2008, pp. H10673-H10677.
55 For a more in-depth discussion of the two versions of H.R. 5159, see CRS Report
RL31121, The Capitol Visitor Center: An Overview, by Stephen Stathis, pp. 66-67.
56 Text of Amendment (SA5674),” Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 154, Sept. 27,
2008, S10015.
57 John McArdle, “AOC Pulls Crew Out of Tunnels,” Roll Call, Apr. 11, 2007, p. 3.
58 U.S. Congress, House Appropriations Committee, Legislative Branch Appropriations,
2007, report to accompany H.R. 5521, 109th Cong., 2nd sess., H.Rept. 109-485 (Washington:
GPO, 2006), pp. 15, 21-22; and U.S. Congress, House Appropriations Committee,
Legislative Branch Appropriations for 2008, hearings, pt. 2, 110th Cong., 1st sess., Mar. 1,
2007 (Washington: GPO, 2007), pp. 193-194.

CRS-15
to file its first formal complaint since the office opened in 1996.59 The complaint was
filed in February 2006.
Following this complaint, the AOC and OOC reached an agreement requiring
the AOC to conduct an immediate baseline survey of all health and safety hazards in
the tunnels and to develop “a comprehensive site-management plan to establish
milestones and estimated costs for a five-year hazard-abatement effort.”60 In June
2007, according to a press report, the tunnel crew and the office of the AOC also
agreed on a settlement related to alleged harassment and retaliation as a result of their
appeals to Congress about their working conditions.61
In the 109th Congress, the House Appropriations Committee directed the AOC
to provide quarterly reports on its plans to enhance the safety of workers who must
go into the tunnels, and directed GAO to continue to monitor the office as it
implements plans for tunnel repairs.62
The next AOC will face continuing issues related to the health and safety of
tunnel workers and the requirements imposed by Congress to repair problems and
prevent a recurrence of unsafe conditions.
“Greening” the Capitol
The Energy Policy Act of 2005 requires the AOC to develop, update, and
implement a cost-effective energy conservation and management plan for all
congressional buildings to meet the energy performance requirements of the act.63
The act also requires the reduction of energy consumption by 2% below the baseline
set in FY2003. Accordingly, projects undertaken by the AOC in the past few years
have resulted in a reduction of energy consumption by 6.5% in FY2006, exceeding
the goal of a 2% reduction annually.64
On March 1, 2007, Speaker Nancy Pelosi and other congressional leaders
directed the House chief administrative officer (CAO) to take steps toward
59 U.S. Congress, House Appropriations Committee, Legislative Branch Appropriations for
2008, hearings, pts. 2- 3, 110th Cong., 1st sess., Apr. 26-27, 2007 (Washington: GPO, 2007),
pp. 296-302 and 377-389; and John McArdle, “Ex-Tunnel Chief Says Steam Pipes Pose
Risk,” Roll Call, July 25, 2007, pp. 3, 26.
60 John McArdle, “AOC, OOC Agree to Plan for Tunnels,” Roll Call, May 10, 2007, pp. 3,
16.
61 John McArdle, “Half of Tunnel Crew Left AOC,” Roll Call, July 11, 2007, pp. 1, 20.
62 U.S. Congress, House Appropriations Committee, Legislative Branch Appropriations,
2007, report to accompany H.R. 5521, 109th Cong., 2nd sess., H.Rept. 109-485 (Washington:
GPO, 2006), pp. 21-22.
63 P.L. 109-58, 119 Stat. 605.
64 Information provided by an AOC spokesperson, September 27, 2007. See also statement
by Stephen Ayers, acting architect of the Capitol, in U.S. Congress, House Appropriations
Committee, Legislative Branch Appropriations for 2008, hearings, pt. 2, 110th Cong., 1st
sess., Feb. 16, 2007 (Washington: GPO, 2007), p. 99.

CRS-16
“greening” of the House buildings in the Capitol complex.65 On June 21, 2007, the
Speaker announced the completion of the final “Green the Capitol” report by the
CAO. The report is a plan for reducing House carbon emissions by the end of the
110th Congress and for reducing House energy consumption by 50% in the next 10
years.66 Evaluating and implementing the “greening” recommendations will
inevitably involve the AOC because of the Architect’s responsibility for the
maintenance and operations of congressional buildings.
Statutory Inspector General
In December 2007, Congress established a statutory, independent inspector
general (IG) within the office of the AOC.67 This provision was included in P.L. 110-
161, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2008, which contained FY2008
appropriations for the legislative branch.68
Under the new statutory mandate, the IG has independence and protections to
conduct and supervise audits and investigations related to the AOC, provide
leadership and coordination and recommend policies to promote economy and
efficiency in the office, and keep the AOC and Congress informed about problems
and deficiencies in the administration of programs and operations in the office of the
AOC.69 The statutory IG, to be appointed by the AOC in consultation with the IGs
of the Library of Congress, Government Printing Office, Government Accountability
Office, and US Capitol Police, will be compensated an annual rate of pay equal to
$1500 less than the annual rate of pay of the AOC.70 The law required that the IG
position be filled within 180 days of enactment.
The statutory IG provision was originally included in the FY2008 Legislative
Branch Appropriations bill (H.R. 2771, §1202) reported from the House
Appropriations Committee and passed by the House. The House committee report
stated the following:
Because of longstanding continuing lapses in management practices … the
committee has reached its limit with the ongoing difficulties in the Architect’s
office such as the delays and escalating costs of the Capitol Visitor Center; cost
overruns and time delays on almost every other project, as well as the complete
65 Nancy Pelosi, “Greening the Capitol,” available at [http://speaker.house.gov/
issues?id=0023]. The full report by the chief administrative officer is available at
[http://cao.house.gov/greenthecapitol/thereport.shtml] and on the Speaker’s website at
[http://www.speaker.gov/pdf/GTCreport.pdf].
66 Ibid.
67 For more information on the office of inspectors general, refer to CRS Report 98-379,
Statutory Offices of Inspector General: Past and Present, by Fred Kaiser.
68 U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Consolidated Appropriations Act,
committee print to accompany H.R. 2764, 110th Cong.,1st sess. (Washington: GPO, 2008),
pp. 1869-1870.
69 Ibid.
70 Ibid.

CRS-17
management breakdown, failure of appropriate oversight responsibilities, and
total disregard for the human element surrounding the Capitol Power Plant utility
tunnels.71
The House committee also said creation of the new statutory IG was “to increase the
ability of IG function to provide badly needed oversight and review of current
operations [in the office of the AOC].”72
The Senate Appropriations Committee reported similar language in its version
of the FY2008 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill (S. 1686, §1202), which was
not acted on by the full Senate.73 The Senate committee report stated that its
recommendation for a statutory AOC inspector general “is intended to promote
integrity and efficiency in AOC programs, and detect and prevent fraud, waste, and
abuse.”74
In both H.R. 2771 and S. 1686, Section 1202 provided for the creation, staffing,
and independence of the proposed IG, who would be directed to insure that the AOC
is using appropriate management practices and accounting standards.
A similar position was also proposed in the 109th Congress. It was included in
the FY2007 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill (H.R. 5521) passed by the
House.75 At that time, the House Appropriations Committee expressed concern over
the lack of progress by the AOC in determining opportunities for “outsourcing” some
of its operations and the ongoing difficulties with the construction of the CVC.76
Moreover, just as it did again in the 110th Congress, the committee noted “the
longstanding lapses in management practices in the office [of the AOC].”77
The Senate Appropriations Committee also recommended the creation of the
inspector general position in its report on H.R. 5521, and the bill was placed on the
71 U.S. Congress, House Committee on Appropriations, Legislative Branch Appropriations,
2008, report to accompany H.R. 2771, 110th Cong., 1st sess., H.Rept. 110-198 (Washington:
GPO, 2007), p. 17.
72 Ibid.
73 U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Legislative Branch Appropriations,
2008, report to accompany S. 1686, 110th Cong., 1st sess., S.Rept. 110-89 (Washington:
GPO, 2007), p. 34.
74 Ibid.
75 Congressional Record, daily edition, vol. 152, June 7, 2006, pp. H3434-3435 and H3465-
H3466.
76 U.S. Congress, House Appropriations Committee, Legislative Branch Appropriations,
2007, report to accompany H.R. 5521, 109th Cong., 2nd sess., H.Rept. 109-485 (Washington:
GPO, 2006), pp. 14-15.
77 Ibid., p. 15.

CRS-18
legislative calendar on June 22, 2006.78 The Senate, however, took no further action
on H.R. 5521.79
Thus, it was not until the 110th Congress, in P.L. 110-161, that a statutory,
independent IG was established in the office of the AOC. The position was filled in
August 2008.80
78 U.S. Congress, Senate Committee on Appropriations, Legislative Branch Appropriations
Bill, 2007, report to accompany H.R. 5521, 109th Cong., 2nd sess., S.Rept. 109-267
(Washington: GPO, 2006), p. 39.
79 The provision for an IG was not included in the FY2007 appropriations for the legislative
branch that was eventually enacted as part of the Revised Continuing Appropriations
Resolution, 2007 (P.L. 110-5).
80 See [http://www.aoc.gov/aoc/cfo/committee/Carol-Bates.cfm], visited Sept. 18, 2008.

CRS-19
Appendix. Architects of the Capitol Since 1793
Ten persons have held the position of Architect of the Capitol. The term
Architect of the Capitol also refers to some of the early occupants of the office who
were known as Commissioner, Surveyor of Public Buildings, or Superintendent of
the Capitol.81 Each incumbent is listed below.
Name
Dates of Service
Biographical Information at
William Thornton
1793
[http://www.aoc.gov/aoc/architects/thornton.cfm]
Benjamin Latrobe
1803-1811
[http://www.aoc.gov/aoc/architects/latrobe.cfm]
1815-1817
Charles Bulfinch
1818-1829
[http://www.aoc.gov/aoc/architects/bulfinch.cfm]
Thomas Walter
1851-1865
[http://www.aoc.gov/aoc/architects/walter.cfm]
Edward Clark
1865-1902
[http://www.aoc.gov/aoc/architects/clark.cfm]
Elliott Woods
1902-1923
[http://www.aoc.gov/aoc/architects/woods.cfm]
David Lynn
1923-1954
[http://www.aoc.gov/aoc/architects/lynn.cfm]
J. George Stewart
1954-1970
[http://www.aoc.gov/aoc/architects/stewart.cfm]
George White
1971-1995
[http://www.aoc.gov/aoc/architects/white.cfm]
Alan Hantman
1997-2007
[http://www.aoc.gov/aoc/architects/hantman.cfm]
Sources: U.S. Architect of the Capitol, Architects of the Capitol since 1793,
[http://www.aoc.gov/aoc/architects/index.cfm]; and William Allen, History of the United States
Capitol (Washington: GPO, 2001).

81 For more information, see William Allen, History of the United States Capitol
(Washington: GPO, 2001), pp. 27, 50-51, 398, and 400-401.