WikiLeaks Document Release http://wikileaks.org/wiki/CRS-RS22616 February 2, 2009 Congressional Research Service Report RS22616 House Committee Funding, 110th Congress R. Eric Petersen, Government and Finance Division April 16, 2007 Abstract. This report summarizes requests from individual committees and funding levels reported by the Committee on House Administration, and compares 110th Congressreported levels to authorizations for House committees in the 109th Congress. ¢ http://wikileaks.org/wiki/CRS-RS22616 Prepared for Members and Committees of Congress ¢ Pursuant to House Rule X, clause 6, the House Administration Committee reports an omnibus, biennial "primary expense resolution" to cover the expenses of each standing and select committee (except the Appropriations Committee). The resolution is based in part on committee requests for funds to cover necessary expenses for the two years of a Congress. On March 8, 2007, the House adopted H.Res. 202, providing for the expenses of certain committees of the House of Representatives in the 110th Congress by a vote of 269 to 150. This report summarizes requests from individual committees and funding levels reported by the Committee on House Administration, and compares 110th Congress-authorized levels to authorizations for House committees in the 109th Congress. CRS Report RL32794, House Committee Funding Requests and Authorizations, 104th-110th Congresses, by R. Eric Petersen, provides historical and analytical data on funding requests and authorizations for House committees since 1995. http://wikileaks.org/wiki/CRS-RS22616 P ursuant to House Rule X, clause 6, the House Administration Committee reports an omnibus, biennial "primary expense resolution" to cover the expenses of each standing and select committee (except the Appropriations Committee1). The resolution is based in part on committee requests for funds to cover their necessary expenses for the two years of a Congress. On March 8, 2007, the House adopted H.Res. 202, providing for the expenses of certain committees of the House of Representatives in the 110th Congress by a vote of 269 to 150. On March 7, 2007, the Committee on Rules met to consider a rule governing House debate on H.Res. 202. Under the rule,2 an amendment to H.Res. 202, creating a Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming, and specifying the panel's composition, jurisdiction, procedure, funding, and termination date, is to be considered to be automatically adopted.3 On March 1, 2007, the Committee on House Administration met to mark up H.Res. 202. Representative Juanita Millender-McDonald, who is chairwoman of the panel, offered an amendment in the nature of a substitute to the measure, which was adopted by voice vote. The panel then reported H.Res. 202, as amended, to the House by voice vote. The Committee on House Administration held a hearing on committee expense requests on http://wikileaks.org/wiki/CRS-RS22616 February 28, 2007. Representative Millender-McDonald indicated that, under the provisions of a year-long continuing resolution funding FY2007 House operations at FY2006 levels, plus an increase for inflation, most panel budgets would likely receive authorizations for increases of not more than 2.4% over funding levels authorized for the second session of the 109th Congress. She said that if more funding becomes available in FY2008, the committee might revisit authorizations for the second session.4 During the hearings the chairwoman and the ranking minority member, Representative Vernon Ehlers, reiterated the longstanding expectation that committee resources would reflect a distribution of 2/3 of committee staff to the majority, and 1/3 to the minority, and a similar distribution of non-staff resources.5 In their testimony, most committee chairs and ranking 1 P.L. 79-601, Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, Section 202(b), 60 Stat. 834, grants the Committee on Appropriations authorization to appropriate funds for its own activities. 2 H.Res. 219, Providing for consideration of the resolution (H.Res. 202) providing for the expenses of certain committees of the House of Representatives in the One Hundred Tenth Congress, reported by the Committee on Rules, March 7, 2007. 3 The text of the amendment creating the new select committee is available in the report to accompany H.Res. 219. See U.S. House, Providing for Consideration of the Resolution (H.Res. 202) Providing for the Expenses of Certain Committees of the House of Representatives in the One Hundred Tenth Congress, H.Rept. 110-034, 110th Cong., 1st sess., March 7, 2007 (Washington: GPO, 2007), pp. 3-4. 4 Oral comments of Representative Juanita Millender-McDonald at the hearing of the Committee on House Administration on committee funding, February 28, 2007. 5 Between 1995 and 2005, House majority leadership encouraged its committee leaders to provide the minority with one-third of committee staff and resources authorized in the biennial funding resolutions. Statements made by leaders of the House Administration Committee at the beginning of its committee funding review for the 107th Congress, and reaffirmed at the beginning of the 108th Congress, indicated a consensus that all House committees should provide at least one-third minority staffing in those Congresses. In the 109th Congress, the 2/3-1/3 distribution of staff was reaffirmed by the chair and ranking member of the Committee on House Administration, but some testimony by ranking members urged provision of 1/3 of non-staff resources to the minority. In addition, some questions regarding the extent of control the minority might exercise over those resources were raised. In its report to accompany H.Res. 224 (109th Congress),the Committee on House Administration said that it "feels it is the prerogative of the Chairman to maintain control over the committee budget, as the chairman is ultimately responsible for all expenditures obligated by the committee." In the course of the February 28, 2007, hearings on committee funding, Chairwoman Millender- (continued...) members acknowledged mutually satisfactory arrangements had been reached regarding the distribution of committee staff and other expenses.6 Table 1 summarizes requests from individual committees and funding levels authorized by the House for the 110th Congress. Table 2 compares authorized levels for the 110th and 109th Congresses.7 CRS Report RL32794, House Committee Funding Requests and Authorizations, 104th-110th Congresses, by R. Eric Petersen, provides historical and analytical data on funding requests and authorizations for House committees since 1995. http://wikileaks.org/wiki/CRS-RS22616 (...continued) McDonald orally affirmed the policy establishing the chair as the official with ultimate responsibility for committee resources. See Gabriel Kahn, "Panels Ask Oversight to Slash Own Budgets," Roll Call, February 27, 1995; Juliet Eilperin and Gabriel Kahn, "House's Chief Officer Unveils `Dream Team, Roll Call, March 9, 1995, retrieved through nexis.com; U.S. House, Committee on House Administration, Hearing on Committee Funding Requests, 108th Cong., 1st sess. (Washington: GPO, 2003), p. 2-3, available at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/getdoc.cgi?dbname =108_house_hearings&docid=f:89055.pdf; U.S. House, Committee on House Administration, Committee Funding, 109th Cong., 1st sess. (Washington: GPO, 2005), pp. 4-6, 41-47, and 64-75, http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/ getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_house_hearings&docid=f:20927.pdf; U.S. House, Providing for the Expenses of Certain Committees of the House of Representatives in the One Hundred Ninth Congress, H.Rept. 109-54, 109th Cong., 1st sess., April 26, 2005 (Washington: GPO, 2005), quote, p. 7, available at http://frwebgate.access.gpo.gov/cgi-bin/ getdoc.cgi?dbname=109_cong_reports&docid=f:hr054.109.pdf]. 6 In his written opening statement, Representative Ehlers noted that "adjustments to the 2/3-1/3 budget allocation have been made in the past, for instance through the use of shared staff, or a centrally managed budget for non-personnel expenditures." See Committee on House Administration, Republican Office, "Opening Statement of Ranking Member Vernon J. Ehlers," February 28, 2007. In their testimony, some committee chairs and ranking members indicated that they had reached agreement for a strict 2/3-1/3 distribution of resources while others acknowledged mutually agreeable alternatives that provided the minority with resources for staff and other expenses. 7 In the 109th Congress, the Committee on Education and Labor was known as the Committee on Education and the Workforce; the Committee on Foreign Affairs was known as the Committee on International Relations; the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform was known as the Committee on Government Reform; and the Committee on Science and Technology was known as the Committee on Science. ssergnoC htneT derdnuH enO eht ni sevitatneserpeR fo esuoH eht fo seettimmoC niatreC fo sesnepxE eht rof gnidivorP ,esuoH 7002 ,3 hcraM ,.sses ts1 ,.gnoC ht011 ,92-011 .tpeR.H , .S.U .esuoH eht yb detpoda sa ,202 .seR.H morf dna ssergnoC ht011 eht rof esuoH eht ni decudortni snoituloser gnidnuf eettimmoc laudividni morf nekat ataD :ecruoS -- -- 008,850,2$ 766,666,1$ 764,527,3$ -- -- -- gnimraW labolG dna ecnednepednI ygrenE tceleS %65.0 680,85$ 163,903,5$ 427,751,5$ 480,764,01$ 000,233,5$ 000,770,5$ 000,904,01$ ecnegilletnI tceleS tnenamreP %80.5- 509,810,1$- 622,856,9$ 483,283,9$ 906,040,91$ 583,472,01$ 921,587,9$ 415,950,02$ snaeM dna syaW %60.2 820,341$ 134,985,3$ 619,684,3$ 743,670,7$ 336,435,3$ 686,893,3$ 913,339,6$ sriaffA 'snareteV %53.2- 617,264$- 124,077,9$ 473,194,9$ 597,162,91$ 267,591,01$ 947,825,9$ 115,427,91$ erutcurtsarfnI dna noitatropsnarT %93.81- 021,521,1$- 662,335,2$ 519,064,2$ 181,499,4$ 047,221,3$ 165,699,2$ 103,911,6$ tcudnoC laiciffO fo sdradnatS %66.4- 564,192$- 781,620,3$ 857,939,2$ 549,569,5$ 423,842,3$ 680,900,3$ 014,752,6$ ssenisuB llamS %68.1- 540,642$- 197,575,6$ 489,783,6$ 577,369,21$ 814,437,6$ 204,574,6$ 028,902,31$ ygolonhceT dna ecneicS %50.1 863,17$ 390,674,3$ 518,673,3$ 809,258,6$ 243,424,3$ 891,753,3$ 045,187,6$ seluR %75.5- 462,372,1$- 659,759,01$ 499,446,01$ 059,206,12$ 745,580,21$ 766,097,01$ 412,678,22$ mrofeR tnemnrevoG dna thgisrevO %98.1- 957,392$- 638,457,7$ 553,335,7$ 291,882,51$ 837,349,7$ 312,836,7$ 159,185,51$ secruoseR larutaN %68.1- 362,013$- 470,292,8$ 052,550,8$ 423,743,61$ 301,294,8$ 484,561,8$ 785,756,61$ yraiciduJ %00.0 0$ 912,181,5$ 242,330,5$ 164,412,01$ 912,181,5$ 242,330,5$ 164,412,01$ noitartsinimdA esuoH %83.0- 474,36$- 643,343,8$ 750,501,8$ 304,844,61$ 948,973,8$ 820,231,8$ 778,115,61$ ytiruceS dnalemoH %31.3- 103,265$- 827,128,8$ 677,965,8$ 405,193,71$ 775,191,9$ 822,267,8$ 508,359,71$ sriaffA ngieroF %33.2- 275,683$- 538,112,8$ 303,779,7$ 831,981,61$ 391,645,8$ 715,920,8$ 017,575,61$ secivreS laicnaniF %13.6- 563,814,1$- 646,086,01$ 306,573,01$ 942,650,12$ 649,064,11$ 866,310,11$ 416,474,22$ ecremmoC dna ygrenE http://wikileaks.org/wiki/CRS-RS22616 %47.0- 014,021$- 563,422,8$ 574,989,7$ 048,312,61$ 057,803,8$ 005,520,8$ 052,433,61$ robaL dna noitacudE %01.4 685,394$ 127,053,6$ 343,961,6$ 460,025,21$ 932,310,6$ 932,310,6$ 874,620,21$ tegduB %05.5- 850,058$- 663,514,7$ 185,302,7$ 649,816,41$ 540,585,8$ 959,388,6$ 400,964,51$ secivreS demrA %52.3- 944,304$- 145,480,6$ 567,019,5$ 603,599,11$ 392,444,6$ 264,459,5$ 557,893,21$ erutlucirgA tseuqeR tnuomA noisseS dn2 noisseS ts1 latoT noisseS dn2 noisseS ts1 latoT fo % eettimmoC devorppA & detseuqeR devorppA detseuqeR neewteB ecnereffiD ssergnoC ht011 ,sleveL dezirohtuA dna ,stseuqeR gnidnuF eettimmoC esuoH . 1 elbaT -- -- 008,850,2$ 766,666,1$ 764,527,3$ -- -- -- gnimraW labolG dna ecnednepednI ygrenE tceleS %68.9 412,939$ 163,903,5$ 427,751,5$ 480,764,01$ 712,720,5$ 356,005,4$ 078,725,9$ ecnegilletnI tceleS tnenamreP %58.6 611,122,1$ 622,856,9$ 483,283,9$ 016,040,91$ 089,441,9$ 415,476,8$ 494,918,71$ snaeM dna syaW %03.9 929,106$ 134,985,3$ 619,684,3$ 743,670,7$ 686,893,3$ 237,570,3$ 814,474,6$ sriaffA 'snareteV %73.6 317,351,1$ 124,077,9$ 473,194,9$ 597,162,91$ 312,152,9$ 968,658,8$ 280,801,81$ erutcurtsarfnI dna noitatropsnarT %04.61 546,307$ 662,335,2$ 519,064,2$ 181,499,4$ 646,893,2$ 098,198,1$ 635,092,4$ tcudnoC laiciffO fo sdradnatS %87.6 279,873$ 781,620,3$ 857,939,2$ 549,569,5$ 373,568,2$ 006,127,2$ 379,685,5$ ssenisuB llamS %61.5 977,536$ 197,575,6$ 489,783,6$ 577,369,21$ 843,622,6$ 846,101,6$ 699,723,21$ ygolonhceT dna ecneicS %66.7 803,784$ 390,674,3$ 518,673,3$ 809,258,6$ 173,192,3$ 922,470,3$ 006,563,6$ seluR %04.5 568,501,1$ 659,759,01$ 499,446,01$ 059,206,12$ 246,573,01$ 344,121,01$ 580,794,02$ mrofeR tnemnrevoG dna thgisrevO %82.5 032,767$ 638,457,7$ 553,335,7$ 291,882,51$ 837,243,7$ 422,871,7$ 269,025,41$ secruoseR larutaN %57.6 233,430,1$ 470,292,8$ 052,550,8$ 423,743,61$ 724,158,7$ 565,164,7$ 299,213,51$ yraiciduJ %19.6 398,956$ 912,181,5$ 242,330,5$ 164,412,01$ 588,509,4$ 386,846,4$ 865,455,9$ noitartsinimdA esuoH %94.71 304,844,2$ 643,343,8$ 750,501,8$ 304,844,61$ 479,998,7$ 620,001,6$ 000,000,41$ ytiruceS dnalemoH %07.6 684,290,1$ 827,128,8$ 677,965,8$ 405,193,71$ 439,253,8$ 480,649,7$ 810,992,61$ sriaffA ngieroF %94.6 830,689$ 538,112,8$ 303,779,7$ 831,981,61$ 254,577,7$ 846,724,7$ 001,302,51$ secivreS laicnaniF %76.5 265,031,1$ 646,086,01$ 306,573,01$ 942,650,12$ 860,311,01$ 916,218,9$ 786,529,91$ ecremmoC dna ygrenE %56.4 455,027$ 563,422,8$ 574,989,7$ 048,312,61$ 613,787,7$ 079,507,7$ 682,394,51$ robaL dna noitacudE http://wikileaks.org/wiki/CRS-RS22616 %01.4 685,394$ 127,053,6$ 343,961,6$ 460,025,21$ 932,310,6$ 932,310,6$ 874,620,21$ tegduB %89.31 837,297,1$ 663,514,7$ 185,302,7$ 649,816,41$ 959,335,6$ 942,292,6$ 802,628,21$ secivreS demrA %65.6 792,837$ 145,480,6$ 567,019,5$ 603,599,11$ 402,167,5$ 508,594,5$ 900,752,11$ erutlucirgA % tnuomA noisseS 2dn noisseS 1ts detropeR noisseS 2dn noisseS 1ts devorppA gnoC ht011& ht901 eettimmoC neewteb ecnereffiD ssergnoC ht011 ssergnoC ht901 sralloD lanimoN ,sessergnoC ht011 dna ht901 ,snoitazirohtuA gnidnuF eettimmoC esuoH . 2 elbaT .noisses hcae rof detroper stnuoma eht fo mus eht lauqe yltcaxe syawla ton od seettimmoc laudividni rof detroper slatot eht ,troper eettimmoc eht fo 5 .p no nwohs sA .5 .p ,)7002 ,OPG :notgnihsaW( http://wikileaks.org/wiki/CRS-RS22616 .ecneicS no eettimmoC eht sa nwonk saw ygolonhceT dna ecneicS no eettimmoC eht dna ;mrofeR tnemnrevoG no eettimmoC eht sa nwonk saw mrofeR tnemnrevoG dna thgisrevO no eettimmoC eht ;snoitaleR lanoitanretnI no eettimmoC eht sa nwonk saw sriaffA ngieroF no eettimmoC eht ;ecrofkroW eht dna noitacudE no eettimmoC eht sa nwonk saw robaL dna noitacudE no eettimmoC eht ,ssergnoC ht901 eht nI .noisses hcae rof detroper stnuoma eht fo mus eht lauqe yltcaxe syawla ton od seettimmoc laudividni rof detroper slatot eht ,troper eettimmoc eht fo 5 .p no nwohs sA .5 .p ,)7002 ,OPG :notgnihsaW( 7002 ,3 hcraM ,.sses ts1 ,.gnoC ht011 ,92-011 .tpeR.H ,ssergnoC htneT derdnuH enO eht ni sevitatneserpeR fo esuoH eht fo seettimmoC niatreC fo sesnepxE eht rof gnidivorP ,esuoH .S.U .esuoH eht yb detpoda sa ,ssergnoC ht011 ,202 .seR.H dna ;ssergnoC ht901 ,422 .seR.H morf nekat ataD :ecruoS R. Eric Petersen Analyst in American National Government epetersen@crs.loc.gov, 7-0643 http://wikileaks.org/wiki/CRS-RS22616