	Most Recent Developments

On September 29, 1999, the President signed a $2.457 billion FY2000 legislative branchappropriations bill into Public Law 106-57 (113 Stat. 1905, which passed on June 10 (214-197), contained $1.862 billion, excluding funds for Senate internal activities and Senate activities of the architect of the Capitol.This appropriation was a $54.8 million decrease from the appropriation reported earlier by theHouse Appropriations Committee. The reduction was contained in an amendment agreed to by theHouse. The total legislative appropriation passed by the House was a reduction of $190 million,or 9.3%, from the FY1999 funding level of $2.052 billion, also excluding Senate items. The Senate-passed bill, S. 1206, contained $1.679 billion, excluding funds for House internal activities and House activities of the architect of the Capitol. This was a reduction of $114 million,or 6.4%, from the FY1999 appropriation of $1.793 billion, also excluding funds for House items. Subsequently, the FY2000 legislative budget was rescinded by 0.38% in H.R. 3194, the FY2000 Consolidated Appropriations Act, signed into Public Law 106-113 on November 29, 1999. An FY1999 supplemental appropriation of $5.6 million was made available to the architect of the Capitol in P.L. 106-31 , which was signed on May 21, 1999. The total FY2000 budget represented a decrease of $135.2 million, or6.6%, from the FY1999 level of $2.052, also excluding Senate activities. The Committee's press releaseissued on May 21 noted that the bill reduced the number of FTE staff positions by 98,making a cumulative FTE reduction of 4,412, or 16%, since 1994. On August 4, 1999, confereesapproved a $2.457 billion for the legislative branch budget, a reduction of 4.8%, or$124.1 million, from the FY1999 budget of $2.581 billion. The act-
rescinded $3.5 million in FY1999 appropriations of the House of Representatives under the account salaries and expenses, within the headingsalaries, officers and employees, and made available the same amount of $3.5 millionfor the House chief administrative officer to replace the House payrollsystem;
made available $3.8 million to the architect of the Capitol for necessary expenses of a House page dormitory; (8)
made available $1.8 million to the architect of the Capitol for necessary expenses for life safety renovations to the O'Neill House OfficeBuilding;
authorized adjustments in certain leadership allowances (effective in FY2000);
authorized each office under the heading House leadership offices to transfer any amounts appropriated for the office among the categories ofallowances and expenses for the office, excluding funds appropriated for officialexpenses (applicable in FY1999); and,
established a pilot Russian leadership program in FY1999 under the "leadership of the Librarian of Congress to bring up to 3,000 emergingRussian political leaders to the United States...to give Russian leaders from all levelsof government first hand exposure to the American free market economic system andoperation of American democratic institutions." What additional funds might be needed for securityenhancement for the Capitol, other congressional buildings, and adjacent grounds? How much should be appropriated for the Office of theArchitect's request to undertake capital improvements? Technology Issues

House and Senate Legislative Information Systems. (35)
As reported by the House Appropriations Committee, H.R.
On September 29, 1999, the President signed a $2.457 billion FY2000 legislative branch appropriations bill into P.L. 106-57 (113 Stat. 408). This represented a reduction of 4.8%, or $124.1million, from the FY1999 budget of $2.581 billion.
The House bill, H.R. 1905, contained $1.862 billion, excluding funds for Senate activities and Senate activities of the architect of the Capitol. This appropriation was a $54.8 million decrease fromthat reported by the House Appropriations Committee. The reduction was contained in anamendment agreed to by the House. The total legislative appropriation passed by the House was areduction of $190 million, or 9.3%, from the FY1999 funding level of $2.052 billion, also excludingSenate items.
As reported to the House, H.R. 1905 contained $1.917 billion, excluding funds for Senate items. This was a reduction of $135.2 million, or 6.6%, from the FY1999 level of $2.052 billion, also excluding Senate items . The bill reduced FTE staff positions by 98, making a cumulativereduction of 4,412, or 16%, since 1994.
The Senate-passed bill, S.1206, contained $1.679 billion, excluding funds for House internal activities and House activities of the architect of the Capitol. This was a reduction of $114 million,or 6.4%, from the FY1999 appropriation of $1.793 billion, also excluding funds for House items .
Subsequently, the FY2000 legislative budget was rescinded by 0.38% in P.L. 106-113 , Consolidated Appropriations Act, signed on November 29, 1999.
An FY1999 supplemental appropriation of $5.6 million was made available to the architect ofthe Capitol in P.L. 106-31 , which was signed on May 21, 1999. The act contained $3.8 million forthe "necessary expenses of a House page dormitory" and $1.8 million for life safety renovations tothe O'Neill House Office Building.
Among issues under consideration were:
What additional staff and funds might be necessary to ensure that Congress's computers are Year-2000 compliant?
What funds are needed for technology development, including electronicdocument printing and development of a legislative information system?
What attention should be given to the support agencies' staff recruitment toreplace employees who are eligible for retirement in the immediate future?
How much should funding be increased for security enhancement for theCapitol, other congressional buildings, and adjacent grounds?
How much should be appropriated for the Office of the Architect of theCapitol's request to undertake capital improvements?
At an appropriation level of $2.457 billion for FY2000, the legislative budget comprises 0.15% of the total federal budget.
Key Policy Staff
Division abbreviations: GOV/FIN = Government and Finance