112-10 ) provides $4.54 billion for legislative branch activities for FY2011. From October 1, 2010, until the enactment of this legislation on April 11, 2011, the legislative branch operated on continuing resolutions. 111-242 (through December 3, 2010), P.L. 111-322 (through March 4, 2011), P.L. These include the following:
P.L. The FY2011 legislative branch budget request, which was submitted to Congress on February 1, 2010, contains $5.12 billion in new budget authority, an approximately 10% increase over the FY2010 enacted level. The House and Senate Appropriations Committees Subcommittees on the Legislative Branch each held hearings during which the agency requests were examined. Previously, the FY2010 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act provided $4.656 billion for FY2010 legislative branch operations, and the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act provided $4.4 billion. In FY2009, an additional $25 million was provided for the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. 111-32 , the FY2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act, also contained funding for the police radio system ($71.6 million) and Congressional Budget Office ($2 million). The FY2010 Supplemental Appropriations Act ( P.L. These entities, as they have appeared in the annual appropriations bill, are the Senate; House of Representatives; Joint Items; Capitol Police; Office of Compliance; Congressional Budget Office; Architect of the Capitol, including the Capitol Visitor Center; Library of Congress, including the Congressional Research Service; Government Printing Office; Government Accountability Office; and Open World Leadership Program. 111-68 ) contained language (1) prohibiting the use of funds for the maintenance or care of private vehicles; (2) limiting funds provided in the act to FY2010 unless otherwise specified; (3) addressing the rate of compensation of staff; (4) making contracts for consulting services a matter of public record and available for public inspection, with certain exceptions; (5) providing funds for awards and settlements under the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995; (6) addressing cost-sharing for the Legislative Branch Financial Managers Council (LBFMC); (7) providing for landscape maintenance by the Architect of the Capitol; (8) limiting transfers except as provided by law; and (9) prohibiting the use of funds to restrict guided tours of the Capitol led by House and Senate staff and interns, except for temporary suspensions with the direction or approval of the Capitol Police Board. P.L. P.L. P.L. 112-10. 111-212 provided an additional $12.96 million. P.L. Chief Phillip D. Morse discussed the salary miscalculation related to night differential pay and holiday and overtime pay, and the subcommittees noted that the Capitol Police inspector general would be examining the issue. P.L. P.L. P.L. P.L. P.L.
The legislative branch operated on continuing resolutions from October 1, 2010 (P.L. 111-242, P.L. 111-290, P.L. 111-317, P.L. 111-322, P.L. 112-4, and P.L. 112-6) until the enactment of P.L. 112-10 on April 11, 2011. P.L. 112-10 provides $4.54 billion for legislative branch activities.
The legislative branch appropriations bill provides funding for the Senate; House of Representatives; Joint Items; Capitol Police; Office of Compliance; Congressional Budget Office; Architect of the Capitol, including the Capitol Visitor Center; Library of Congress, including the Congressional Research Service; Government Printing Office; Government Accountability Office; and Open World Leadership Program.
Approximately $5.12 billion was requested for legislative branch operations in FY2011, an increase of 10% over the FY2010 level of $4.656 billion, which was provided in P.L. 111-68 (enacted October 1, 2009). The FY2010 Supplemental Appropriations Act (P.L. 111-212) provided an additional $12.96 million for the Capitol Police.
The Subcommittees on the Legislative Branch of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees both held hearings during which Members considered the legislative branch requests. Among issues that have been considered during hearings are the following:
the Capitol Police salary miscalculation related to night differential pay and holiday and overtime pay; the Capitol Police radio project, including timing and infrastructure support by the Architect of the Capitol; deferred maintenance issues around the Capitol Complex; technology assessments; staffing issues related to recruitment and retention, requests for additional full-time-equivalents (FTE), diversity, and space; and the potential impact of a flat budget on agency priorities and missions.
Previously, 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. The FY2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act (P.L. 111-32) provided $71.6 million for the new U.S. Capitol Police radio system and $2 million for the Congressional Budget Office.