	Most Recent Developments

The FY2010 legislative branch appropriations bill provided $4.656 billion. It was signed by the President and became P.L. 111-68 on October 1, 2009. The conference report ( H.Rept. 111-265 ) was agreed to in the Senate on September 30, 2009 (Roll No. On September 25, 2009, the House agreed to the conference report on H.R. Debate followed adoption of the rule ( H.Res. On September 23, 2009, the House had ordered the previous question (Roll No. 733, 240-171) and agreed by voice vote to a conference with the Senate. A motion to instruct conferees failed (Roll No. 734, 191-213), and the House appointed conferees. Approximately $5.0 billion was requested for legislative branch operations in FY2010, an increase of 14.5% over the $4.4 billion provided in the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act. The Subcommittees on the Legislative Branch of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees each held hearings during which Members considered the legislative branch requests. The House passed H.R. 2918 , the FY2010 legislative branch appropriations bill, on June 19, 2009. The Senate passed the bill, with a substitute amendment, on July 6, 2009. The subcommittee version contained $3.675 billion, not including Senate items. 2918 . Senate Action

The Senate Appropriations Committee held a markup on June 18, 2009, and reported an original bill for legislative branch appropriations. The Senate bill ( S. 1294 ) contained $3.136 billion, not including House items. 2918 . FY2009 Supplemental Appropriations

In FY2009, an additional $25 million was provided for the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. P.L. 2346 both contained $71.6 million for the new U.S. Capitol Police radio system. The conference agreement contained the police radio and the Congressional Budget Office funding. Rule for Consideration of the House Bill

On June 16, 2009, the House Committee on Rules issued a "Dear Colleague" letter stating that the committee expected to meet on June 18, 2009, to report a rule for consideration of the FY2010 legislative branch appropriations bill. The Rules Committee met on June 18, 2009, and reported H.Res. 111-32 , the FY2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act. Administrative Provisions

The FY2010 budget request includes language, some of which was revised or resubmitted from the FY2009 request, that would 
1. grant the AOC authority to implement specified procedures established in the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act; 2. allow the AOC to retain proceeds from the lease of its facilities to commercial entities; 3. allow the AOC to enter into multi-year leases; 4. allow the AOC to incur expenses and accept donations related to in certain emergencies, as determined by the Capitol Police Board; 5. allow the AOC to retain funds from energy and water savings for other conservation projects; 6. authorize the AOC to dispose of, and retain receipts from the sale of, surplus or obsolete property; 7. establish an AOC Senior Executive Service; 8. continue a flexible work schedule program; 9. amend the statute governing the authority for death gratuities for survivors of AOC employees; 10. provide early retirement authority; 11. authorize the hiring of disabled veterans through a non-competitive process; 12. provide for the acceptance of voluntary student services; 13. allow the AOC to enter into agreements with private entities for the benefit of the Botanic Garden; and 14. extend the Capitol grounds to include an additional parcel of D.C. that is now used for AOC and USCP parking. Highlights of the House and Senate Hearings on the Architect of the Capitol

At the House hearing on April 23, 2009, the subcommittee discussed the condition of buildings around the Capitol Complex and deferred-maintenance issues, with a particular focus on the House garages and repairs to the plumbing, roof, electrical equipment, and exterior stone of the Cannon House Office Building. The House-passed bill would have provided $146.2 million, or a 4.0% increase. Office of Compliance

The Office of Compliance is an independent and nonpartisan agency within the legislative branch.
Approximately $5.0 billion was requested for legislative branch operations in FY2010, an increase of 14.5% over the FY2009 enacted level. The Subcommittees on the Legislative Branch of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees held hearings during which Members considered the legislative branch requests.
On September 23, 2009, the House ordered the previous question (Roll No. 733, 240-171) and agreed by voice vote to a conference with the Senate on H.R. 2918, the FY2010 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill. A motion to instruct conferees failed (Roll No. 734, 191-213), and the House appointed conferees. The House Rules Committee met on September 24, 2009, to adopt a rule for consideration of the conference report. The committee reported the rule (H.Res. 772) and the House adopted it the following day. Following adoption of the rule, the House passed the conference report on H.R. 2918.
The House passed H.R. 2918, with amendments, on June 19, 2009. The House bill would have provided nearly $3.675 billion, not including Senate items. The Senate Appropriations Committee held a markup and reported an original bill for legislative branch appropriations on June 18, 2009. The Senate bill (S. 1294) contained $3.136 billion, not including House items. The Senate agreed to the House bill, as amended, on July 6, 2009, and appointed conferees.
The conference report (H.Rept. 111-265) provides $4.656 billion. It was agreed to in the House on September 25 and in the Senate on September 30. It was signed by the President and became P.L. 111-68 on October 1, 2009.
Among issues that have been considered during hearings on the FY2010 budget in the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, Subcommittees on the Legislative Branch, are the following:
the need for the new U.S. Capitol Police radio system and the timing of funding; deferred maintenance issues around the Capitol complex; the effect of the Office of Compliance citations on the Architect's project prioritization and budget request; employment issues, including pay, recruitment and retention, diversity, and equal employment opportunity concerns; and the future of the Open World Leadership Program, including the location of the program within the legislative branch and the selection of participant countries.
The FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act (P.L. 111-8, enacted on March 11, 2009) provided $4.4 billion for legislative branch activities. This represents an approximately 11% increase over the nearly $4 billion approved by Congress for FY2008. In FY2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-5) provided an additional $25 million for the Government Accountability Office and the FY2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act (P.L. 111-32) provided $71.6 million for the new U.S. Capitol Police (USCP) radio system and $2 million for the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).
This report will not be updated.