Summary: GAO testified on S. 1325, a bill which proposes changes to laws that specify the benefits granted to former Presidents. Many of the changes proposed were suggested in a prior GAO report and testimony. Since passage of the Presidential Libraries Act, there are seven Presidential libraries with fiscal year 1983 budget requests of $15.3 million for their operation and maintenance. The size, uses, and costs of most Presidential libraries exceed what was anticipated at the time the Act was passed. S. 1325 responds to these concerns by limiting the size of a Presidential library. The size limitation should provide for adequate space to preserve Presidential papers and make them available for research and allow for a modest and carefully planned museum. Under the bill, the Former Presidents Act will govern arrangements for outgoing Presidents and the Presidential Transition Act will deal only with incoming transition operations. GAO believes that a provision should be added to the bill that requires a President to request an appropriation for any fiscal year in which his term will expire to provide sufficient funds to carry out the provisions of the Former Presidents Act. The bill should also specify that expenditures under the Former Presidents Act be approved in advance by the Administrator of General Services, except for minor cash expenses. If Congress intends the Government to bear the costs of shipment of personal effects of former Presidents to their new residences, statutory language to that effect should be added to the bill. GAO suggested certain modifications to a section of S. 1325 which would restrict the authorization of Secret Service protection to former Presidents and their families. S. 1325 incorporated a GAO recommendation to base a surviving former President's spousal allowance on a percentage of the annual rate provided to former Presidents. GAO also made other recommendations related to legislation covering outgoing Presidential transitions: a time limitation of 1 fiscal year should be placed on the detail of Federal employees to assist Presidents after they leave office; the authorization of payments of travel expenses for former Presidents and their staff members should be covered by authorizing legislation rather than through appropriations; and, to clarify the authority for the use of military or chartered aircraft by a former President, the appropriation provision should be changed.
