	Most Recent Developments

Congress appropriated $2.649 billion for legislative branch operationsin FY2001, a 6.6% increase overthe FY2000 appropriation of $2.486 billion. The FY2001 funding level includes the appropriation in theregular annual legislative branch appropriations bill; a supplemental appropriation of $118 million in amiscellaneous appropriations bill; and a rescission of 0.22%. Regular FY2001 Appropriations . The first regular FY2001 legislative branch appropriations bill( H.R. 4516 ) approved by Congress was vetoed by President Clinton in late October 2000. Seven weeks later, on December 14, a new legislative branch appropriations bill ( H.R. 5657 ),which contained the funding levels as approved in the original bill, was introduced and incorporated byreference in the FY2001 Consolidated Appropriations Act ( H.R. 4577 ). The latter act wassigned into law ( P.L. 106-554 ) on December 21, 2000. During initial consideration of the regular legislative branch bill, the House Appropriations Committee,in compliance with budget allocation restrictions, established funding for FY2001 at 5.5% less than the levelappropriated for FY2000. When the Senate took up the bill it approved an overall 3.7 % increase. TheHouse later restored most of the funds cut at the committee level when it adopted a manager's amendmentcontaining an additional $95.7 million in funding during floor consideration of the House bill. Thecompromise bill approved by the conference committee provided for a 2.1% over FY2000. Additional Regular Appropriations and Rescission . A second bill ( H.R. 5666 ), whichcontained an additional $118 million in regular FY2001 legislative branch appropriations funds, and a 0.22%across-the-broad cut in FY2001 appropriations, was also incorporated by reference into P.L. 106-554 ). Major Issues Driving Discussions on the FY2001 Bill

Among the major funding issues considered and resolved were actionsto:
increase funds for the Capitol Police for 100 - 115 additional officersto implement the Capitol Police Board's security plan; temporarily transfer administrationof the Capitol Police to a chief administrative office, under jurisdiction of the GeneralAccounting Office (subsequently changed to jurisdiction of the U.S. CapitolPolice);
merge the Library of Congress police and the Government PrintingOffice police with the Capitol Police (provision deleted in conference); provide adequatefunds for electronic document printing, the digital online program of the Library ofCongress, and enhancements to the legislative information system;
fund the support agencies' staff succession programs to replaceemployees eligible for retirement in the immediate future; and authorize the comptrollergeneral greater authority for flexibility in a reduction-in-force and for voluntary earlyretirement authority and separation payments (provision deleted in conference). General Accounting Office Budget. Print.
Congress appropriated $2.649 billion for legislative branch operations in FY2001, a 6.6% increase over the FY2000 appropriation of $2.486 billion. The FY2001 funding level includes theappropriation in the regular annual legislative branch appropriations bill; a supplementalappropriation of $118 million in a miscellaneous appropriations bill; and a rescission of 0.22%.
Regular FY2001 Appropriations . The first regular FY2001 legislative branch appropriations bill ( H.R. 4516 ) approved by Congress was vetoed by President Clinton in late October2000. Seven weeks later, on December 14, a new legislative branch appropriations bill( H.R. 5657 ), which contained the funding levels as approved in the original bill, wasintroduced and incorporated by reference in the FY2001 Consolidated Appropriations Act( H.R. 4577 ). The latter act was signed into law ( P.L. 106-554 ) on December 21, 2000.
During initial consideration of the regular legislative branch bill, the House Appropriations Committee, in compliance with budget allocation restrictions, established funding for FY2001 at5.5% less than the level appropriated for FY2000. When the Senate took up the bill it approved anoverall 3.7 % increase. The House later restored most of the funds cut at the committee level whenit adopted a manager's amendment containing an additional $95.7 million in funding during floorconsideration of the House bill. The compromise bill approved by the conference committeeprovided for a 2.1% over FY2000.
Among the major funding issues considered were actions to:
increase funds for the Capitol Police to employ 100-115 additional officers toimplement the Capitol Police Board's security plan;
temporarily transfer administration of the Capitol Police to a chiefadministrative officeunder jurisdiction of the General Accounting Office;
merge Library of Congress and Government Printing Office policewith the CapitolPolice;
provide adequate funds for electronic document printing, the digitalonline programof the Library of Congress, and enhancements to the legislative information system;
fund the support agency staff succession programs to replaceemployees eligible forretirement in the immediate future; and
authorize GAO greater flexibility in reductions-in-force and earlyretirements andseparation payments.
Additional Regular Appropriations and Rescission. A second bill ( H.R. 5666 ), whichcontained an additional $118 million in regular FY2001 legislative branch appropriations funds, and a 0.22%across-the-broad cut in FY2001 appropriations, was also incorporated by reference into P.L. 106-554 .
Key Policy Staff
Division abbreviations: GOV/FIN = Government and Finance