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Congressional Research Service 7-5700 www.crs.gov RL33379 Summary Congress provided $3.785 billion in FY2007 appropriations for the legislative branch in the Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2007, which was enacted on February 15, 2007. Additional funding was subsequently provided in the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007, which was enacted on May 25, 2007. From October 1, 2006, the beginning of the 2007 fiscal year, until the enactment of the Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution, the legislative branch operated under a series of continuing resolutions. Continuing appropriations were initially provided at the conference stage in the FY2007 Defense Appropriations Act, as Division B (entitled "Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2007"). This measure, signed into law on September 29 (P.L. 109-289), made funds available until November 17, 2006. P.L. 109-369, signed on November 17, 2006, extended funding until December 8, 2006. The FY2007 Further Continuing Appropriations Act, P.L. 109-383, signed on December 9, 2006, provided funds for the legislative branch through February 15, 2007. Both the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations reported their versions of the FY2007 legislative branch appropriations bill, H.R. 5521, in June 2006. On June 7, the House passed its version of H.R. 5521 with $3.027 billion in new obligational authority (excluding Senate items), a 3.7% increase over the FY2006 budget. On June 22, 2006, the Senate Appropriations Committee reported its version providing $3.98 billion in new budget authority (including both House and Senate items). The Senate amount represented an increase of $187 million (4.9%) over FY2006 and $258 million less than requested. The bill was not considered on the Senate floor during the 109th Congress. Earlier in 2006, the chairman of the full House Committee on Appropriations (Representative Jerry Lewis) and the chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, Committee on Appropriations (Senator Wayne Allard), indicated the probability of another tight budget. This view was reflected in the bill reported by both committees. Legislative branch entities requested $4.23 billion in new budget authority for FY2007. The request reflected a 12.3% increase over the $3.77 billion approved by Congress for FY2006. By comparison, Congress approved a 4.5% increase for FY2006, which followed a 1.2% increase approved for FY2005. Contents Most Recent Developments 1 Introduction to the Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill 1 Changes in Structure of Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill Effective in FY2003 1 Activities and Programs Related to the Legislative Branch but Not Funded in the Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill 2 Elimination of House Subcommittee on Legislative Branch in February 2005 and Reinstatement in January 2007 3 Status of FY2007 Appropriations 3 Action on the FY2007 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill (H.R. 5521) 4 Submission of FY2007 Budget Request on February 6, 2006 4 Congressional Caps on FY2007 Legislative Branch Discretionary Funds 5 Senate and House Hearings on FY2007 Budget 5 House Markup and Report of FY2007 Bill (H.R. 5521) 5 House Passage of the FY2007 Bill (H.R. 5521) 6 Senate Markup and Report of FY2007 Bill (H.R. 5521) 7 Action on FY2006 Supplemental Appropriations (H.R. 4939): House of Representatives and Architect of the Capitol 7 FY2007 Legislative Branch Funding Issues 7 Capitol Complex Security—U.S. Capitol Police 7 FY2007 Funding Provisions 7 FY2007 Staffing Support 8 Administrative Provisions in House Bill 8 Capitol Police Appropriation for Buildings and Grounds 8 Capitol Complex Security—Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) 9 House Appropriations Committee Markup and Report (FY2007) 9 Senate Appropriations Markup and Report (FY2007) 10 FY2007 Funding Request 10 Senate Appropriations Oversight Hearings (February, April, May, June, August, September, and November 2006) 10 House Appropriations Hearing (March 2006) 12 Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing (March 2006) 12 Application of Performance Standards to Legislative Branch Agencies 13 Architect of the Capitol Operations 14 Funding Levels 14 House of Representatives 15 Overall Funding 15 House Committee Funding 15 Members' Representational Allowance 15 Staffing Issues 15 Senate 16 Overall Funding 16 Senate Committee Funding 16 Support Agency Funding 16 Congressional Budget Office (CBO) 16 Highlights of House Hearing on FY2007 Budget of the CBO 17 Library of Congress (LOC) 17 Congressional Research Service (CRS) 18 Government Accountability Office (GAO) 19 Government Printing Office (GPO) 19 Highlights of House Hearing on FY2007 Budget of GPO 20 Other Funding 21 Office of Compliance 21 Open World Leadership Center 21 John B. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development 22 For Additional Reading 1 CRS Report 1 Selected Websites 1 Tables Table 1. Status of Legislative Branch Appropriations, FY2007 3 Table 2. Legislative Branch Appropriations, FY1995-FY2006 3 Table 3. Legislative Branch Appropriations, FY2007 22 Table 4. Capitol Police Appropriations, FY2007 23 Table 5. Architect of the Capitol Appropriations, FY2007 23 Table 6. Senate Appropriations, FY2007 24 Table 7. House of Representatives Appropriations, FY2007 26 Contacts Author Contact Information 1 Key Policy Staff 2 Most Recent Developments FY2007 funding for the legislative branch was contained in the Revised Continuing Appropriations Resolution, 2007, which was enacted on February 15, 2007. This act continued funding at the FY2006 levels for those items not specifically identified. Chapter 7 of Title II altered spending for some legislative branch accounts and included additional legislative language. Supplemental FY2007 appropriations were contained in the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriations Act, 2007, which was enacted on May 25, 2007. From the start of the fiscal year on October 1, 2006, until the passage of P.L. 110-5, the legislative branch operated under three interim continuing resolutions. Introduction to the Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill The annual legislative branch appropriations bill usually comprises two titles. Appropriations for legislative branch agencies are contained in Title I. These entities, as they appear 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 (CVC); Library of Congress, including the Congressional Research Service; Government Printing Office; Government Accountability Office; and Open World Leadership Program. Title II contains general administrative provisions and, from time to time, appropriations for legislative branch entities. For example, Title II of the FY2003 act contained funds for the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development and the Congressional Award Act. On occasion, the bill may include a third title for out-of-the-ordinary provisions. For example, the FY2006 legislative branch appropriations bill contains language providing for the continuity of congressional representation in the event of an emergency. Changes in Structure of Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill Effective in FY2003 Congress changed the structure of the annual legislative branch appropriations bill effective in FY2003. Prior to that time, beginning with FY1978, the legislative branch appropriations bill was structured differently. Title I, Congressional Operations, contained budget authority for activities directly serving Congress. Included in this title were the budgets of the Senate; House of Representatives; Joint Items; Office of Compliance; Congressional Budget Office; Architect of the Capitol, except funds for Library of Congress buildings and grounds; Congressional Research Service (but not other funding for the Library of Congress); and congressional printing and binding activities of the Government Printing Office. Title II, Related Agencies, contained budgets for activities considered by the Committee on Appropriations not to support directly Congress, including those for the Botanic Garden; Library of Congress (except the Congressional Research Service, which was funded in Title I); Library of Congress buildings and grounds maintained by the Architect of the Capitol; Government Printing Office (except congressional printing and binding costs, which was funded in Title I); and Government Accountability Office, formerly named the General Accounting Office. Periodically from FY1978 through FY2002 the annual legislative appropriations bill contained additional titles for such purposes as capital improvements and special one-time functions. Activities and Programs Related to the Legislative Branch but Not Funded in the Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill In addition to activities funded in the annual legislative branch appropriations bill, funds are contained in the legislative branch section of the U.S. Budget for other programs and entities. These include permanent budget authority for both federal and trust funds, and for non-legislative entities. Permanent federal funds are available as the result of previously enacted legislation and do not require annual action. Permanent trust funds are monies held in accounts credited with collections from specific sources earmarked by law for a defined purpose. Trust funds do not appear in the annual legislative bill because they are not budget authority. They are included in the U.S. Budget, prepared by the Office of Management and Budget, either as budget receipts or offsetting collections. The U.S. Budget also contains non-legislative entities within the legislative branch budget. They are funded in other appropriation bills but counted as legislative branch funds by the Office of Management and Budget for bookkeeping purposes. For a more accurate picture of the legislative branch budget as contained in the annual legislative branch appropriation bill, the total legislative branch request of $4.693 billion in the FY2007 U.S. Budget must be adjusted. This is accomplished by subtracting permanent federal and trust funds, non-legislative entities' funds, intergovernmental funds, and including offsetting receipts and intrafund transactions. After making these adjustments, the request for entities funded in the pending regular annual appropriation bill is $4.230 billion. Elimination of House Subcommittee on Legislative Branch in February 2005 and Reinstatement in January 2007 Prior to the 109th Congress, the legislative branch appropriations bill was handled by the House Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, Committee on Appropriations. Under a House Appropriations Committee reorganization plan released on February 9, 2005, the subcommittee was abolished and its jurisdiction assumed by the full Appropriations Committee. Although changes were made in the structure of the Senate Committee on Appropriations, announced in March 2005, the Subcommittee on Legislative Branch was retained. The House Subcommittee on Legislative Branch was reestablished for the 110th Congress. Status of FY2007 Appropriations Table 1. Status of Legislative Branch Appropriations, FY2007 Committee Markup House Report House Passage Senate Report Senate Passage Cont. Res. Cont. Resolution Approval Public Law House Senate House Senate 5/25/06 06/22/06 06/01/06 (H.Rept. 109-485)06/07/06 (361-53)06/22/06 (S.Rept. 109-267)___H.J.Res. 201/31/072/14/07P.L. 110-5 2/15/07 Table 2. Legislative Branch Appropriations, FY1995-FY2006 (budget authority in billions of current dollars)a Fiscal Years 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2.378 2.184 2.203 2.288 2.581b 2.486c 2.730d 3.252e 3.461f 3.528g 3.640h 3.765i These figures represent current dollars, exclude permanent budget authorities, and contain supplementals and rescissions. Permanent budget authorities are not included in the annual legislative branch appropriations bill, but rather, are automatically funded each year. Includes budget authority contained in the FY1999 regular annual Legislative Branch Appropriations Act (P.L. 105-275), the FY1999 emergency supplemental appropriation (P.L. 105-277), and the FY1999 supplemental appropriation (P.L. 106-31). Includes budget authority contained in the FY2000 regular annual Legislative Branch Appropriations Act (P.L. 106-57); a supplemental and a 0.38% rescission in P.L. 106-113; and supplementals in P.L. 106-246 and P.L. 106-554. This figure contains (1) FY2001 regular annual appropriations contained in H.R. 5657, legislative branch appropriations bill; (2) FY2001 supplemental appropriations of $118 million and a 0.22% across-the-board rescission contained in H.R. 5666, miscellaneous appropriations bill; and (3) FY2001 supplemental appropriations of $79.5 million contained in H.R. 2216 (P.L. 107-20). H.R. 5657 and H.R. 5666 were incorporated by reference in P.L. 106-554, FY2001 Consolidated Appropriations Act. The first FY2001legislative branch appropriations bill, H.R. 4516, was vetoed Oct. 30, 2000. The second legislative branch appropriations bill, H.R. 5657, was introduced Dec. 14, 2000, and incorporated in P.L. 106-554. This figure does not reflect any terrorism supplementals funds released pursuant to P.L. 107-38. This figure contains regular annual appropriations in P.L. 107-68; transfers from the legislative branch emergency response fund pursuant to P.L. 107-117; and FY2002 supplemental appropriations in P.L. 107-206. This figure contains regular annual appropriations in P.L. 108-7, FY2003 Omnibus Appropriations Act, and supplemental appropriations in P.L. 108-11. This figure contains regular annual appropriations in P.L. 108-83, FY2004 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act. Additional FY2004 provisions which did not contain appropriations were contained in P.L. 108-199, the FY2004 Consolidated Appropriations Act. This figure contains regular annual appropriations in P.L. 108-447, Consolidated Appropriations Act, FY2005 (adjusted by a 0.80% rescission also contained in P.L. 108-447), and P.L. 109-13, FY2005 Emergency Supplemental. This figure contains regular annual appropriations in P.L. 109-55, FY2006 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, adjusted by a 1.0 % rescission contained in P.L. 109-148. Action on the FY2007 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill (H.R. 5521) Submission of FY2007 Budget Request on February 6, 2006 On February 5, 2006, the President submitted the FY2007 U.S. Budget containing $4.23 billion in new obligational budget authority for legislative branch activities, a 12.3% increase. A substantial portion of the 12.3% increase requested by legislative branch entities is to meet (1) mandatory expenses, which include funding for annual salary adjustments required by law and related personnel expenses, such as increased government contributions to retirement based on increased pay, and (2) expenses related to increases in the costs of goods and services due to inflation. On April 6, 2006, the President transmitted to Congress budget amendments to the FY2007 requests of the Senate, the Joint Economic Committee, and the Capitol Guide Service and Special Services Office. Congressional Caps on FY2007 Legislative Branch Discretionary Funds As required by law, both houses considered separate 302(b) budget allocations for legislative branch discretionary and mandatory funds in FY2007. The House allocation of $4.030 billion in discretionary budget authority for the legislative branch represents a 7.0% increase over the enacted FY2006 discretionary budget authority of $3.765 billion. The Senate allocation of $3.980 billion, a 5.7% increase over FY2006. Senate and House Hearings on FY2007 Budget Hearings were held by the Senate Subcommittee on Legislative Branch, Committee on Appropriations, on March 1, 2006, on budgets of the Library of Congress, the Congressional Research Service, and the Open World Leadership Center. Hearings on budget requests were held on March 15 for the Secretary of the Senate, the Architect of the Capitol, and the Capitol Visitor Center; on April 5 for the Senate Sergeant at Arms, Capitol Police Board, and Capitol Guide Service; on April 26 for the Government Accountability Office; and on May 3 for the Government Printing Office, the Congressional Budget Office, and the Office of Compliance. House hearings were held by the full Committee on Appropriations on March 10, 2006, on budget requests of the Government Printing Office, the Library of Congress, the Congressional Research Service, the Open World Leadership Center, and the Government Accountability Office; and on March 14 on requests of the House of Representatives, the Architect of the Capitol, and the Office of Compliance. House Markup and Report of FY2007 Bill (H.R. 5521) The House Appropriations Committee met to mark up H.R. 5521, the FY2007 bill, on May 25, 2006, and during consideration adopted three amendments to the draft bill by voice vote: a manager's amendment that addressed funding for the John C. Stennis Center, disposal of unwanted telecommunications equipment, archiving of Members' official records, use of E-85 ethanol fuel, and support for the Library of Congress's Newsline program; an amendment offered by Representative Jim Moran prohibiting the use of funds for establishment or operation of a smoking area in the cafeteria of the Rayburn House Office Building; and an amendment offered by then-Ranking Member David Obey expressing his displeasure with Architect of the Capitol Alan M. Hantman, and proposing placement of the Architect's office under receivership of the Comptroller General until a new Architect of the Capitol is appointed next year. New budget authority contained in the mark up (not including Senate budget authority, which is determined by chamber) was $3.027 billion. Accounts were increased or reduced from FY2006 levels as follows: House of Representatives, +4.4%; Joint Items, +25.5%; Capitol Police, +4.9%; Office of Compliance, +2.2%; Congressional Budget Office, +3.5%; Architect of the Capitol (excluding Senate items), +1.5%; Library of Congress, +2.8%; Congressional Research Service, +2.6%; Government Printing Office, +6.4%; Government Accountability Office, +2.2%; and Open World Leadership Center, -3.3%. House Passage of the FY2007 Bill (H.R. 5521) On June 7, the House passed H.R. 5521 by a vote of 361-53. Floor consideration followed adoption of the rule on the bill, H.Res. 849 (H.Rept. 109-487), on June 6 by voice vote. The rule waived all points of order against the bill and made in order only those amendments printed in the committee report, which included an amendment to be offered by Representative Ginny Brown-Waite to decrease the pending funding increase for the Capitol Tour Guide Service by half, to $6,294,000; an amendment to be offered by Representative Susan Davis to add $1 million to the National Library Service for the Blind and Physically Handicapped (NLS), to be offset through a $1 million reduction in funding for the Capital Guide Service and Special Services Office; an amendment to be offered by Representative Michael McCaul to decrease Government Printing Office Congressional Printing and Binding funds by $3 million, and increase the Capitol Police salaries fund by $3 million; an amendment to be offered by Representative Brian Baird to provide $2.4 million for the electronic mapping of the Capitol complex, including the Capitol, the House and Senate office buildings, tunnels, parking facilities, and other areas identified by the Capitol Police. According to the amendment, funds would be offset by funds appropriated for the printing and binding of government publications by the Government Printing Office; an amendment to be offered by Representative Joel Hefley to cut discretionary spending in the bill by 1% across-the-board; an amendment to be offered by Representative Emanuel Cleaver to prohibit funds made available for Members' Representational Allowances in the bill from providing directly for any personal vehicle that is not an alternatively fueled vehicle; and an amendment to be offered by Representative Martin Meehan to prohibit funds in the bill from being used to establish or operate a smoking area in House Office Buildings. During floor consideration of the bill on June 7, only one of the permitted amendments was offered, and it was subsequently withdrawn. Representative Brian Baird spoke in support of his proposal to provide $2.4 million to fund the electronic mapping of the Capitol complex before noting his intention to withdraw the amendment in deference to concerns raised by the committee. He said that electronic mapping could assist first responders in the event of an emergency and indicated his intention to work with the committee on this issue in the future. The other permitted amendments were not offered, possibly, as some press accounts indicated, because the time for general debate had been moved forward. Senate Markup and Report of FY2007 Bill (H.R. 5521) The Senate Appropriations Committee marked up and reported its version of H.R. 5521 on June 22. In its report, Senator Wayne Allard, chairman of the Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch during the 109th Congress, noted that the committee's bill provides $3.98 billion in new budget authority, a 5.0% increase ($187 million) over the FY2006 budget and a $258.5 million reduction of agency requests. The committee reported H.R. 5521 as an amendment in the nature of a substitute. No amendments were considered. Action on FY2006 Supplemental Appropriations (H.R. 4939): House of Representatives and Architect of the Capitol During consideration of the FY2006 emergency supplemental appropriations bill, H.R. 4939, appropriators denied requests of the House of Representatives and Architect of the Capitol for additional FY2006 funds totaling $41.2 million ($36.2 million for the House and $5.0 million for the Architect). H.R. 4939, without the additional funds, passed the House on March 16, 2006, and the Senate on May 4. Supplemental FY2006 funds for other purposes of the Architect, however, were approved by the Senate during floor consideration of H.R. 4939. After concerns relating to the safety of utility tunnels under the Capitol Complex were raised by the Office of Compliance, Senator Wayne Allard offered an amendment (S.Amdt. 3701) on behalf of himself, Senator Richard Durbin, and Senator Barbara Mikulski. Their amendment, which provides $27.6 million to the Architect of the Capitol "Capitol Power Plant" account for emergency repairs to the tunnels, was agreed to on April 27, 2006 (voice vote). The amendment was retained by conferees, whose report was agreed to by the House on June 13, and the Senate on June 15. H.R. 4939 was signed by the President into law later on June 15. FY2007 Legislative Branch Funding Issues Capitol Complex Security—U.S. Capitol Police FY2007 Funding Provisions Under P.L. 110-5, Congress provided $255.6 million for the U.S. Capitol Police. An additional $10 million was provided for the general expenses account in the FY2007 supplemental appropriations act for a radio modernization program. In H.R. 5521, the House approved $259.1 million for the Capitol Police. This figure represented a $12.1 million (4.9%) increase over the FY2006 funding level of $246.96 million, and $36 million less than the $295.08 million requested. The Senate Committee on Appropriations recommended $272.4 million, which represented a 10.3% increase over FY2006 levels. Appropriations for the police are contained in two accounts: salaries account, for which $217.1 million was appropriated; $220.6 million was made available in the House-passed bill (an increase of 2.5%, or $5.3 million, over FY2006), and $231.2 million was recommended in the bill reported by the Senate committee, (an increase of 7.4%, or $15.9 million, over FY2006); the request was $246.7 million; and general expenses account, for which $38.5 million was provided in P.L. 110-5; that was the level made available in the House-passed bill (an increase of $6.8 million, or 21.5%, over FY2006 funds), while $41.2 million was recommended in the bill reported by the Senate committee (an increase of 30.1%, or $9.52 million, over FY2006); the request was $48.4 million. An additional $10 million was provided in the FY2007 supplemental appropriations act for this account. The salaries account contains funds for the salaries of employees, including overtime, hazardous duty pay differential, and government contributions for employee health, retirement, social security, professional liability insurance, and other benefit programs. The general expenses account contains funds for expenses of vehicles, communication equipment, security equipment and its installation, dignitary protection, intelligence analysis, hazardous material response, uniforms, weapons, training programs, medical, forensic, and communications services, travel, relocation of instructors for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, and other administrative and technical support, among other expenses. FY2007 Staffing Support House-approved funding supports the staffing level of 1668 sworn FTEs, which includes 10 FTEs for the Library of Congress, and supports 414 civilian FTEs. The Senate bill also provides for 1668 sworn officers, plus 21 officers for the Capitol Visitor Center, and supports 417 civilian FTEs. Senate language transfers 82 officers from the Library of Congress police force and establishes a timeline for completion of the pending police force merger, which was first mandated by the FY2003 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act (P.L. 108-7). Administrative Provisions in House Bill The House bill contains administrative provisions allowing the transfer of funds between the two accounts, subject to approval of the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations (usual language each year); increasing the authorization for tuition reimbursement per individual from $40,000 to $60,000; and authorizing the Capitol Police Chief to make advance payments for subscription services. Capitol Police Appropriation for Buildings and Grounds A second appropriation relating to the Capitol Police appears within the Architect of the Capitol account for Capitol Police buildings and grounds. This account contains funds for operations of the Capitol Police headquarters, leased space in government buildings, chemical and explosive storage facility, off-site delivery facility, canine facility, and a vehicle-maintenance and hazardous device facility. Congress appropriated $11.768 million for this account in P.L. 110-5. The House-approved budget of $11.6 million contained in H.R. 5521 provided $8.6 million less than the $20.2 million requested and $3.1 million below the level provided for FY2006; the Senate Appropriations Committee recommended $12.5 million, a 15.5% reduction ($2.3 million) below the FY2006 level. Capitol Complex Security—Capitol Visitor Center (CVC) House Appropriations Committee Markup and Report (FY2007) On May 25, 2006, the House Appropriations Committee marked up and ordered reported its version of the FY2007 legislative branch funding bill. During the markup of the bill, the committee by a voice vote approved an amendment by Representative Obey to transfer "all authorities previously exercised by the Architect of the Capitol, including but not limited to the execution and supervision of contracts; and the hiring, supervising, training, and compensation of employees," to the Comptroller General of the United States or his designee, effective October 1, 2006, until the "confirmation of a new Architect of the Capitol." Obey's amendment, to be included in the final FY2007 funding bill sent to the President, would have to be agreed to by Senate appropriators, and by a majority of both the House and Senate. The action was prompted by serious concerns about Hantman's management of the Capitol Visitors Center project and worker safety issues. The bill reported by the House Appropriations Committee and approved by the House would have provided $46.2 million in additional funding for the Capitol Visitors Center project. This amount included $16.0 million for CVC personal services and operations, $4.5 million for CVC fit-outs, and $25.6 million for construction. The total figure, which was $5.0 million more than the request, "reflects the Government Accountability Office's estimate of the cost to complete which is higher than the Architect's most current estimate." In its report, the Committee explained that it was "becoming increasingly concerned about the project's continuing schedule slippages and increasing costs being reported by the Government Accountability Office, the Architect of the Capitol's inability to fix water leaks, and the late discovery of major security and life safety issues affecting the project, including the recent disclosure that the new utility tunnel being constructed may not meet applicable life safety requirements." Because of these concerns, the Architect was directed to provide by July 31, 2006, "a report to the Committee on the major schedule, cost, quality, and coordination issues affecting the CVC project and the steps being taken and planned to address these issues." The Architect was told to include in the report: "(1) an assessment of the effects of recent schedule slippages on the Architect's proposed opening dates for the Capitol Visitor Center and the House and Senate expansion spaces and the steps being taken to prevent further schedule slippages, including the effectiveness of efforts being taken to address trade stacking, late completion of shop drawings, design and scope changes late in the project, and missed milestones; (2) an updated estimate by the Architect's construction management contractor of the cost to complete the project, reasons for cost increases to date, and steps being taken to prevent further cost increases and assure that adequate information is available on the causes of delays; and (3) steps being taken to coordinate with appropriate authorities to ensure that security and life safety issues that can affect the project's schedule, cost, functionality, security, and safety are identified and addressed expeditiously." Also, the report was to "address the steps being taken regarding water leaks in the facility and life safety issues associated with the new utility tunnel being constructed to serve the Capitol Visitor Center." In addition, the Committee requested the "GAO to continue to monitor these issues." Senate Appropriations Markup and Report (FY2007) As reported in the Senate on June 22, 2006 (S.Rept. 109-267), H.R. 5521 provides $25.6 million for completion of the Capitol Visitor Center and $14 million for fit out and operation costs. Language provides that the Architect of the Capitol may not obligate any of these funds without approval by the House and Senate Committees on Appropriations. The Senate bill does not contain the House language, proposed by Representative Obey, transferring the Architect's duties to the Comptroller General. Both the House and Senate bills, however, authorize a new statutory position of Inspector General within the Office of the Architect of the Capitol. FY2007 Funding Request The legislative branch budget request submitted for inclusion in the President's FY2007 budget contained an additional $20.6 million for the Capitol Visitor Center project and $20.575 million for CVC operational costs. The request included the following caveat: "That the Architect of the Capitol may not obligate any of the funds which are made available for the Capitol Visitor Center project without an obligation plan approved by the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and House of Representatives." Also, the FY2007 legislative branch budget request contained $3.41 million for "supplies, materials, and other costs relating to the House portion of expenses for the Capitol Visitor Center." Senate Appropriations Oversight Hearings (February, April, May, June, August, September, and November 2006) On February 15, April 27, May 24, June 28, August 2, September 21, and November 15, 2006, the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch held a series of hearing