Appropriations for FY2005: Legislative Branch (CRS Report for Congress)
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| Release Date |
Dec. 13, 2004 |
| Report Number |
RL32312 |
| Report Type |
Report |
| Authors |
Paul E. Dwyer, Government and Finance Division |
| Source Agency |
Congressional Research Service |
Summary:
Congress agreed to a 1.2% increase in its budget authority for FY2005, appropriating $3.57
million,
subject to a 0.80% rescission. Although legislative branch agencies requested an overall 12.5%
increase, the chairmen and some members of the House and Senate Subcommittees on Legislative
Branch indicated early in budget discussions the probability of a fairly flat FY2005 budget.
Subsequently, during markup the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations approved a
freeze on FY2005 legislative branch budget authority. The House bill ( H.R. 4755 )
contained a -0.1% change from FY2004, excluding Senate items; the Senate's version of
H.R. 4755 , amended to contain the language of S. 2666 , contained a
+0.33% change, excluding House items. Both bills fell below the 1.3% increase agreed to earlier
this year by the House and Senate for discretionary agencies and programs under jurisdictions of the
House and Senate Subcommittees on Legislative Branch. Among elements under consideration
during discussions on the FY2005 budget were
impact of a flat budget funded at the FY2004 level with additional
appropriations to pay for mandatory expenses (annual salary increases and related increased
personnel costs), and for costs of goods and services increased due to
inflation;
impact of a budget funded at the FY2004 level with no additional funds for
mandatory expenses and inflationary increases;
impact of a tight budget on funding to equip and startup the Capitol Visitors'
Center (CVC) (the House bill did not contain funds, while the Senate bill contained $7.6 million;
conferees authorized a transfer up to $10.6 million to the CVC;
impact of funding restrictions on implementation of additional security
enhancements within and around the Capitol complex, including funding for the Capitol
Police;
elimination of the Joint Economic Committee (proposed but postponed in
House Subcommittee markup; not considered in full committee markup);
authorization for the Government Accountability Office (GAO), formerly
named the General Accounting Office, to study statutory jurisdictions of the joint economic and
taxation committees to determine possible overlap (included in the House bill, but specifically not
supported in the Senate bill);
elimination of the Capitol Hill mounted police force (adopted during House
Subcommittee markup, but supported in Senate report language); and
extension of dental and vision benefits to Members and House employees
(proposed for employees but postponed during House Subcommittee markup); considered and agreed
to in full committee markup (applicable to both employees and Members).
