July 20, 1998: Congressional Record publishes “LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1999”

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Volume 144, No. 97 covering the 2nd Session of the 105th Congress (1997 - 1998) was published by the Congressional Record.

The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.

“LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1999” mentioning the Environmental Protection Agency was published in the Senate section on pages S8567-S8575 on July 20, 1998.

The publication is reproduced in full below:

LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1999

______

KERREY (AND HAGEL) AMENDMENT NO. 3219

(Ordered to lie on the table.)

Mr. KERREY (for himself and Mr. Hagel) submitted an amendment intended to be proposed by them to the bill, H.R. 4112, supra; as follows:

On page 49, between lines 12 and 13, insert the following:

SEC. 423. TEMPORARY PROHIBITION ON IMPLEMENTATION OR

ENFORCEMENT OF PUBLIC WATER SYSTEM TREATMENT

REQUIREMENTS FOR COPPER ACTION LEVEL.

(a) In General.--None of the funds made available by this or any other Act for any fiscal year may be used by the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to implement or enforce the national primary drinking water regulations for lead and copper in drinking water promulgated under the Safe Drinking Water Act (42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.), to the extent that the regulations pertain to the public water system treatment requirements related to the copper action level, until--

(1) the Administrator and the Director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention jointly conduct a study to establish a reliable dose-response relationship for the adverse human health effects that may result from exposure to copper in drinking water, that--

(A) includes an analysis of the health effects that may be experienced by groups within the general population

(including infants) that are potentially at greater risk of adverse health effects as the result of the exposure;

(B) is conducted in consultation with interested States;

(C) is based on the best available science and supporting studies that are subject to peer review and conducted in accordance with sound and objective scientific practices; and

(D) is completed not later than 30 months after the date of enactment of this Act; and

(2) based on the results of the study and, once peer reviewed and published, the 2 studies of copper in drinking water conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in the State of Nebraska and the State of Delaware, the Administrator establishes an action level for the presence of copper in drinking water that protects the public health against reasonably expected adverse effects due to exposure to copper in drinking water.

(b) Current Requirements.--Nothing in this section precludes a State from implementing or enforcing the national primary drinking water regulations for lead and copper in drinking water promulgated under the Safe Drinking Water Act

(42 U.S.C. 300f et seq.) that are in effect on the date of enactment of this Act, to the extent that the regulations pertain to the public water system treatment requirements related to the copper action level.

______

BENNETT (AND DORGAN) AMENDMENT NO. 3220

Mr. STEVENS (for Mr. Bennett for himself and Mr. Dorgan) proposed an amendment to the bill, H.R. 4112, supra; as follows:

On page 10, strike all starting on line 8 over to and including line 22 on page 47 and insert in lieu thereof:

SENATE

expense allowances

For expense allowances of the Vice President, $10,000; the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, $10,000; Majority Leader of the Senate, $10,000; Minority Leader of the Senate,

$10,000; Majority Whip of the Senate, $5,000; Minority Whip of the Senate, $5,000; and Chairmen of the Majority and Minority Conference Committees, $3,000 for each Chairman; in all, $56,000.

representation allowances for the majority and minority leaders

For representation allowances of the Majority and Minority Leaders of the Senate, $15,000 for each such Leader; in all,

$30,000.

Salaries, Officers and Employees

For compensation of officers, employees, and others as authorized by law, including agency contributions,

$79,183,000, which shall be paid from this appropriation without regard to the below limitations, as follows:

office of the vice president

For the Office of the Vice President, $1,659,000. office of the president pro tempore

For the Office of the President Pro Tempore, $402,000.

offices of the majority and minority leaders

For Offices of the Majority and Minority Leaders,

$2,436,000.

offices of the majority and minority whips

For Offices of the Majority and Minority Whips, $1,416,000.

conference committees

For the Conference of the Majority and the Conference of the Minority, at rates of compensation to be fixed by the Chairman of each such committee, $1,092,000 for each such committee; in all, $2,184,000.

offices of the secretaries of the conference of the majority and the conference of the minority

For Offices of the Secretaries of the Conference of the Majority and the Conference of the Minority, $570,000.

policy committees

For salaries of the Majority Policy Committee and the Minority Policy Committee, $1,109,000 for each such committee; in all, $2,218,000.

office of the chaplain

For Office of the Chaplain, $267,000.

office of the secretary

For Office of the Secretary, $13,694,000.

office of the sergeant at arms and doorkeeper

For Office of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper,

$33,805,000.

offices of the secretaries for the majority and minority

For Offices of the Secretary for the Majority and the Secretary for the Minority, $1,200,000.

agency contributions and related expenses

For agency contributions for employee benefits, as authorized by law, and related expenses, $19,332,000.

Office of the Legislative Counsel of the Senate

For salaries and expenses of the Office of the Legislative Counsel of the Senate, $3,753,000.

Office of Senate Legal Counsel

For salaries and expenses of the Office of Senate Legal Counsel, $1,004,000.

Expense Allowances of the Secretary of the Senate, Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, and Secretaries for the Majority and Minority of the Senate

For expense allowances of the Secretary of the Senate,

$3,000; Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate,

$3,000; Secretary for the Majority of the Senate, $3,000; Secretary for the Minority of the Senate, $3,000; in all,

$12,000.

Contingent Expenses of the Senate

inquiries and investigations

For expenses of inquiries and investigations ordered by the Senate, or conducted pursuant to section 134(a) of Public Law 601, Seventy-ninth Congress, as amended, section 112 of Public Law 96-304 and Senate Resolution 281, agreed to March 11, 1980, $75,600,000.

expenses of the united states senate caucus on international narcotics control

For expenses of the United States Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control, $370,000.

secretary of the senate

For expenses of the Office of the Secretary of the Senate,

$1,511,000.

sergeant at arms and doorkeeper of the senate

For expenses of the Office of the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, $60,511,000, of which $5,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2000.

miscellaneous items

For miscellaneous items, $7,905,000.

senators' official personnel and office expense account

For Senators' Official Personnel and Office Expense Account, $239,156,000.

official mail costs

For expenses necessary for official mail costs of the Senate, $300,000.

administrative provisions

Section 1. (a) Effective in the case of any fiscal year which begins on or after October 1, 1998, clause (iii) of paragraph (3)(A) of section 506(b) of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1973 (2 U.S.C. 58(b)) is amended to read as follows:

``(iii) subject to subparagraph (B), in case the Senator represents Alabama, $183,565, Alaska, $252,505, Arizona,

$197,409, Arkansas, $168,535, California, $470,272, Colorado,

$187,366, Connecticut, $161,691, Delaware, $127,384, Florida,

$263,748, Georgia, $211,784, Hawaii, $279,648, Idaho,

$163,841, Illinois, $267,000, Indiana, $195,391, Iowa,

$171,340, Kansas, $168,912, Kentucky, $176,975, Louisiana,

$186,714, Maine, $148,205, Maryland, $172,455, Massachusetts,

$196,819, Michigan, $235,846, Minnesota, $187,742, Mississippi, $168,587, Missouri, $198,365, Montana, $161,857, Nebraska, $160,550, Nevada, $171,208, New Hampshire,

$142,497, New Jersey, $207,754, New Mexico, $166,721, New York, $328,586, North Carolina, $212,711, North Dakota,

$150,225, Ohio, $262,252, Oklahoma, $181,913, Oregon,

$189,258, Pennsylvania, $267,240, Rhode Island, $138,637, South Carolina, $171,731, South Dakota, $151,838, Tennessee,

$192,508, Texas, $353,911, Utah, $168,959, Vermont, $136,315, Virginia, $193,935, Washington, $213,887, West Virginia,

$149,135, Wisconsin, $191,314, Wyoming, $153,016, plus''.

(b) Subparagraph (B) of section 506(b)(3) of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1973 (2 U.S.C. 58(b)(3)) is amended--

(1) by striking ``the amount referred to in subparagraph

(A)(iii)'' and inserting ``that part of the amount referred to in subparagraph (A)(iii) that is not specifically allocated for official mail expenses''; and

(2) by inserting before the period at the end the following: ``; and the part of the amount referred to in subparagraph (A)(iii) that is allocated for official mail expenses shall be recalculated in accordance with regulations of the Committee on Rules and Administration''.

Sec. 2. (a) Section 2(b) of Public Law 104-53 (2 U.S.C. 61d-3(b)) is amended by striking ``$10,000'' and inserting

``$35,000''.

(b) The amendment made by subsection (a) is effective on and after October 1, 1998.

Sec. 3. Subsection (a) of the first section of Senate Resolution 149, agreed to October 5, 1993 (103d Congress, 1st Session), as amended by Senate Resolution 299, agreed to September 24, 1996 (104th Congress, 2d Session), is amended by striking ``until December 31, 1998'' and inserting ``until December 31, 2000''.

Sec. 4. (a) Section 101(a) of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1977 (2 U.S.C. 61h-6(a)) is amended--

(1) by inserting after the first sentence the following:

``The President pro tempore of the Senate is authorized to appoint and fix the compensation of 1 consultant, on a temporary or intermittent basis, at a daily rate of compensation not in excess of that specified in the first sentence of this subsection.''; and

(2) in the sentence that begins ``The provisions of'', by striking ``section 8344'' and inserting ``sections 8344 and 8468''.

(b) Section 101(b) of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1977 (2 U.S.C. 61h-6(b)) is amended by striking all after

``(b)'' through ``to such position'' and inserting ``Any or all appointments under this section may be''.

Sec. 5. (a) There is established the Senate Leader's Lecture Series (hereinafter referred to as the ``lecture series''). Expenses incurred in connection with the lecture series shall be paid from the appropriations account

``Secretary of the Senate'' within the contingent fund of the Senate and shall not exceed $30,000 in any fiscal year.

(b) Payments for expenses in connection with the lecture series may cover expenses incurred by speakers, including travel, subsistence, and per diem, and the cost of receptions, including food, food related items, and hospitality.

(d) This section is effective on and after October 1, 1997.

Sec. 6. (a) The Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate is authorized to appoint and fix the compensation of such employees as may be necessary to operate Senate Hair Care Services.

(b) There is established in the Treasury of the United States within the contingent fund of the Senate a revolving fund to be known as the Senate Hair Care Services Revolving Fund (hereafter in this section referred to as the

``revolving fund'').

(c)(1) All moneys received by Senate Hair Care Services from fees for services or from any other source shall be deposited in the revolving fund.

(2) Moneys in the revolving fund shall be available without fiscal year limitation for disbursement by the Secretary of the Senate--

(A) for the payment of salaries and agency contributions of employees of Senate Hair Care Services; and

(B) for necessary supplies, equipment, and other expenses of Senate Hair Care Services.

(d) Disbursements from the revolving fund shall be made upon vouchers signed by the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, except that vouchers shall not be required for the disbursement of salaries paid at an annual rate.

(e) At the direction of the Committee on Rules and Administration, the Secretary of the Senate shall withdraw from the revolving fund and deposit in the Treasury of the United States as miscellaneous receipts all moneys in the revolving fund that the Committee may determine are in excess of the current and reasonably foreseeable needs of Senate Hair Care Services.

(f) The Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate is authorized to prescribe such regulations as may be necessary to carry out the provisions of this section, subject to the approval of the Committee on Rules and Administration.

(g) There is transferred to the revolving fund established by this section any unobligated balance in the fund established by section 106 of Public Law 94-440 on the effective date of this section.

(h)(1) Section 106 of Public Law 94-440 is repealed.

(2) Section 10(a) of Public Law 100-458 is repealed.

(i) This section shall be effective on and after October 1, 1998, or 30 days after the date of enactment of this Act, whichever is later.

Sec. 7. The amount available to the Committee on Rules and Administration for expenses under section 16(c) of Senate Resolution 54, agreed to February 13, 1997, is increased by

$150,000.

Sec. 8. Effective on and after October 1, 1998, each of the dollar amounts contained in the table under section 105(d)(1)(A) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1968 (2 U.S.C. 61-1(d)(1)(A)) shall be deemed to be the dollar amounts in that table, as increased by section 5 of Public Law 105-55, increased by an additional $50,000 each.

Sec. 9. (a) With the prior written approval of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate may enter into agreements with public or private parties for the purpose of demonstrating the use of alternative fuel vehicles (as defined in section 301(2) of the Energy Policy Act of 1992

(Public Law 102-486)) in Senate fleet operations. Any such agreement may also provide for necessary fueling infrastructure in connection with the alternative fuel vehicles.

(b) A vehicle may be made available under subsection (a) for a period not exceeding 90 days.

JOINT ITEMS

For Joint Committees, as follows:

Joint Economic Committee

For salaries and expenses of the Joint Economic Committee,

$2,796,000, to be disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate.

Joint Committee on Printing

For salaries and expenses of the Joint Committee on Printing, $202,000, to be disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate: Provided, That funds appropriated under this heading may not be available for expenditure for expenses incurred after December 31, 1998.

Joint Committee on Taxation

For salaries and expenses of the Joint Committee on Taxation, $5,965,400, to be disbursed by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House.

For other joint items, as follows:

Office of the Attending Physician

For medical supplies, equipment, and contingent expenses of the emergency rooms, and for the Attending Physician and his assistants, including: (1) an allowance of $1,500 per month to the Attending Physician; (2) an allowance of $500 per month each to two medical officers while on duty in the Office of the Attending Physician; (3) an allowance of $500 per month to one assistant and $400 per month each to not to exceed nine assistants on the basis heretofore provided for such assistants; and (4) $893,000 for reimbursement to the Department of the Navy for expenses incurred for staff and equipment assigned to the Office of the Attending Physician, which shall be advanced and credited to the applicable appropriation or appropriations from which such salaries, allowances, and other expenses are payable and shall be available for all the purposes thereof, $1,415,000, to be disbursed by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House.

Capitol Police Board

Capitol Police

salaries

For the Capitol Police Board for salaries of officers, members, and employees of the Capitol Police, including overtime, hazardous duty pay differential, clothing allowance of not more than $600 each for members required to wear civilian attire, and Government contributions for health, retirement, Social Security, and other applicable employee benefits, $74,281,000, of which $35,770,000 is provided to the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives, to be disbursed by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House, and $38,511,000 is provided to the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, to be disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate: Provided, That, of the amounts appropriated under this heading, such amounts as may be necessary may be transferred between the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives and the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate, upon approval of the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate.

general expenses

For the Capitol Police Board for necessary expenses of the Capitol Police, including motor vehicles, communications and other equipment, security equipment and installation, uniforms, weapons, supplies, materials, training, medical services, forensic services, stenographic services, personal and professional services, the employee assistance program, not more than $2,000 for the awards program, postage, telephone service, travel advances, relocation of instructor and liaison personnel for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, and $85 per month for extra services performed for the Capitol Police Board by an employee of the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate or the House of Representatives designated by the Chairman of the Board,

$6,077,000, to be disbursed by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives: Provided, That, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the cost of basic training for the Capitol Police at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center for fiscal year 1999 shall be paid by the Secretary of the Treasury from funds available to the Department of the Treasury.

Administrative Provision

Sec. 101. Amounts appropriated for fiscal year 1999 for the Capitol Police Board for the Capitol Police may be transferred between the headings ``salaries'' and ``general expenses'' upon the approval of--

(1) the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives, in the case of amounts transferred from the appropriation provided to the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives under the heading ``salaries'';

(2) the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, in the case of amounts transferred from the appropriation provided to the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate under the heading ``salaries''; and

(3) the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives, in the case of other transfers.

Capitol Guide Service and Special Services Office

For salaries and expenses of the Capitol Guide Service and Special Services Office, $2,195,000, to be disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate: Provided, That no part of such amount may be used to employ more than forty-three individuals: Provided further, That the Capitol Guide Board is authorized, during emergencies, to employ not more than two additional individuals for not more than 120 days each, and not more than ten additional individuals for not more than six months each, for the Capitol Guide Service.

Statements of Appropriations

For the preparation, under the direction of the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives, of the statements for the second session of the One Hundred Fifth Congress, showing appropriations made, indefinite appropriations, and contracts authorized, together with a chronological history of the regular appropriations bills as required by law, $30,000, to be paid to the persons designated by the chairmen of such committees to supervise the work.

OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE

Salaries and Expenses

For salaries and expenses of the Office of Compliance, as authorized by section 305 of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1385), $2,286,000.

CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE

Salaries and Expenses

For salaries and expenses necessary to carry out the provisions of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 (Public Law 93-344), including not more than $2,500 to be expended on the certification of the Director of the Congressional Budget Office in connection with official representation and reception expenses, $25,671,000: Provided, That no part of such amount may be used for the purchase or hire of a passenger motor vehicle.

ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL

Capitol Buildings and Grounds

capitol buildings

salaries and expenses

For salaries for the Architect of the Capitol, the Assistant Architect of the Capitol, and other personal services, at rates of pay provided by law; for surveys and studies in connection with activities under the care of the Architect of the Capitol; for all necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and operation of the Capitol and electrical substations of the Senate and House office buildings under the jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol, including furnishings and office equipment, including not more than

$1,000 for official reception and representation expenses, to be expended as the Architect of the Capitol may approve; for purchase or exchange, maintenance and operation of a passenger motor vehicle; and not to exceed $20,000 for attendance, when specifically authorized by the Architect of the Capitol, at meetings or conventions in connection with subjects related to work under the Architect of the Capitol,

$44,641,000, of which $8,175,000 shall remain available until expended.

capitol grounds

For all necessary expenses for care and improvement of grounds surrounding the Capitol, the Senate and House office buildings, and the Capitol Power Plant, $6,055,000, of which

$525,000 shall remain available until expended.

senate office buildings

For all necessary expenses for maintenance, care and operation of Senate office buildings; and furniture and furnishings to be expended under the control and supervision of the Architect of the Capitol, $53,644,000, of which

$14,115,000 shall remain available until expended.

house office buildings

For all necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and operation of the House office buildings, $42,139,000, of which $11,449,000 shall remain available until expended: Provided, That of the total amount provided under this heading, not less than $100,000 shall be used exclusively for waste recycling programs.

capitol power plant

For all necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and operation of the Capitol Power Plant; lighting, heating, power (including the purchase of electrical energy) and water and sewer services for the Capitol, Senate and House office buildings, Library of Congress buildings, and the grounds about the same, Botanic Garden, Senate garage, and air conditioning refrigeration not supplied from plants in any of such buildings; heating the Government Printing Office and Washington City Post Office, and heating and chilled water for air conditioning for the Supreme Court Building, the Union Station complex, the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building and the Folger Shakespeare Library, expenses for which shall be advanced or reimbursed upon request of the Architect of the Capitol and amounts so received shall be deposited into the Treasury to the credit of this appropriation, $38,222,000, of which $5,100,000 shall remain available until expended: Provided, That not more than

$4,000,000 of the funds credited or to be reimbursed to this appropriation as herein provided shall be available for obligation during fiscal year 1999.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Congressional Research Service

salaries and expenses

For necessary expenses to carry out the provisions of section 203 of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (2 U.S.C. 166) and to revise and extend the Annotated Constitution of the United States of America, $67,877,483: Provided, That no part of such amount may be used to pay any salary or expense in connection with any publication, or preparation of material therefor (except the Digest of Public General Bills), to be issued by the Library of Congress unless such publication has obtained prior approval of either the Committee on House Oversight of the House of Representatives or the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate: Provided further, That, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the compensation of the Director of the Congressional Research Service, Library of Congress, shall be at an annual rate which is equal to the annual rate of basic pay for positions at level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code.

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

Congressional Printing and Binding

For authorized printing and binding for the Congress and the distribution of Congressional information in any format; printing and binding for the Architect of the Capitol; expenses necessary for preparing the semimonthly and session index to the Congressional Record, as authorized by law (44 U.S.C. 902); printing and binding of Government publications authorized by law to be distributed to Members of Congress; and printing, binding, and distribution of Government publications authorized by law to be distributed without charge to the recipient, $75,500,000: Provided, That this appropriation shall not be available for paper copies of the permanent edition of the Congressional Record for individual Representatives, Resident Commissioners or Delegates authorized under 44 U.S.C. 906: Provided further, That none of the funds appropriated or made available under this Act may be expended for printing and binding and related services provided to Congress under chapter 7 of title 44, United States Code, unless such printing and binding and related services are provided during fiscal year 1999 and the billing of such printing and binding and related services occurs not later than December 31, 2000.

This title may be cited as the ``Congressional Operations Appropriations Act, 1999''.

TITLE II--OTHER AGENCIES

BOTANIC GARDEN

Salaries and Expenses

For all necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and operation of the Botanic Garden and the nurseries, buildings, grounds, and collections; and purchase and exchange, maintenance, repair, and operation of a passenger motor vehicle; all under the direction of the Joint Committee on the Library, $3,180,000.

LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

Salaries and Expenses

For necessary expenses of the Library of Congress not otherwise provided for, including development and maintenance of the Union Catalogs; custody and custodial care of the Library buildings; special clothing; cleaning, laundering and repair of uniforms; preservation of motion pictures in the custody of the Library; operation and maintenance of the American Folklife Center in the Library; preparation and distribution of catalog records and other publications of the Library; hire or purchase of one passenger motor vehicle; and expenses of the Library of Congress Trust Fund Board not properly chargeable to the income of any trust fund held by the Board, $239,176,542, of which not more than $6,500,000 shall be derived from collections credited to this appropriation during fiscal year 1999, and shall remain available until expended, under the Act of June 28, 1902

(chapter 1301; 32 Stat. 480; 2 U.S.C. 150): Provided, That the Library of Congress may not obligate or expend any funds derived from collections under the Act of June 28, 1902, in excess of the amount authorized for obligation or expenditure in appropriations Acts: Provided further, That the total amount available for obligation shall be reduced by the amount by which collections are less than the $6,500,000: Provided further, That of the total amount appropriated,

$10,119,000 is to remain available until expended for acquisition of books, periodicals, newspapers, and all other materials including subscriptions for bibliographic services for the Library, including $40,000 to be available solely for the purchase, when specifically approved by the Librarian, of special and unique materials for additions to the collections: Provided further, That of the total amount appropriated, $3,544,000 is to remain available until expended for the acquisition and partial support for implementation of an integrated library system (ILS): Provided further, That of the total amount appropriated,

$2,000,000 is to remain available until expended for a project to digitize collections for the Meeting of the Frontiers United States-Russian digital library: Provided further, That of the total amount appropriated, $250,000 is to remain available until expended for the Library's efforts in connection with the commemoration of the Bicentennial of the Lewis and Clark expedition.

salaries and expenses

For necessary expenses of the Copyright Office, including publication of the decisions of the United States courts involving copyrights, $35,269,000, of which not more than

$16,000,000 shall be derived from collections credited to this appropriation during fiscal year 1999 under 17 U.S.C. 708(d), and not more than $5,170,000 shall be derived from collections during fiscal year 1999 under 17 U.S.C. 111(d)(2), 119(b)(2), 802(h), and 1005: Provided, That the total amount available for obligation shall be reduced by the amount by which collections are less than $21,170,000: Provided further, That not more than $100,000 of the amount appropriated is available for the maintenance of an

``International Copyright Institute'' in the Copyright Office of the Library of Congress for the purpose of training nationals of developing countries in intellectual property laws and policies: Provided further, That not more than

$2,250 may be expended, on the certification of the Librarian of Congress, in connection with official representation and reception expenses for activities of the International Copyright Institute.

Books for the Blind and Physically Handicapped

salaries and expenses

For salaries and expenses to carry out the Act of March 3, 1931 (chapter 400; 46 Stat. 1487; 2 U.S.C. 135a),

$46,895,000, of which $13,744,000 shall remain available until expended.

Furniture and Furnishings

For necessary expenses for the purchase, installation, maintenance, and repair of furniture, furnishings, office and library equipment, $4,458,000.

Administrative Provisions

Sec. 201. Appropriations in this Act available to the Library of Congress shall be available, in an amount of not more than $194,290, of which $58,100 is for the Congressional Research Service, when specifically authorized by the Librarian, for attendance at meetings concerned with the function or activity for which the appropriation is made.

Sec. 202. (a) No part of the funds appropriated in this Act shall be used by the Library of Congress to administer any flexible or compressed work schedule which--

(1) applies to any manager or supervisor in a position the grade or level of which is equal to or higher than GS-15; and

(2) grants such manager or supervisor the right to not be at work for all or a portion of a workday because of time worked by the manager or supervisor on another workday.

(b) For purposes of this section, the term ``manager or supervisor'' means any management official or supervisor, as such terms are defined in section 7103(a) (10) and (11) of title 5, United States Code.

Sec. 203. Appropriated funds received by the Library of Congress from other Federal agencies to cover general and administrative overhead costs generated by performing reimbursable work for other agencies under the authority of 31 U.S.C. 1535 and 1536 shall not be used to employ more than 65 employees and may be expended or obligated--

(1) in the case of a reimbursement, only to such extent or in such amounts as are provided in appropriations Acts; or

(2) in the case of an advance payment, only--

(A) to pay for such general or administrative overhead costs as are attributable to the work performed for such agency; or

(B) to such extent or in such amounts as are provided in appropriations Acts, with respect to any purpose not allowable under subparagraph (A).

Sec. 204. Of the amounts appropriated to the Library of Congress in this Act, not more than $5,000 may be expended, on the certification of the Librarian of Congress, in connection with official representation and reception expenses for the incentive awards program.

Sec. 205. Of the amount appropriated to the Library of Congress in this Act, not more than $12,000 may be expended, on the certification of the Librarian of Congress, in connection with official representation and reception expenses for the Overseas Field Offices.

Sec. 206. (a) For fiscal year 1999, the obligational authority of the Library of Congress for the activities described in subsection (b) may not exceed $99,765,100.

(b) The activities referred to in subsection (a) are reimbursable and revolving fund activities that are funded from sources other than appropriations to the Library in appropriations Acts for the legislative branch.

ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL

Library Buildings and Grounds

structural and mechanical care

For all necessary expenses for the mechanical and structural maintenance, care and operation of the Library buildings and grounds, $12,566,000, of which $910,000 shall remain available until expended.

Administrative Provision

Sec. 207. For fiscal year 1999, the amounts available for expenditure to the Architect of the Capitol pursuant to Section 4 of Public Law 105-144, approved December 15, 1997, may not exceed $2,500,000.

GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

Office of Superintendent of Documents

salaries and expenses

For expenses of the Office of Superintendent of Documents necessary to provide for the cataloging and indexing of Government publications and their distribution to the public, Members of Congress, other Government agencies, and designated depository and international exchange libraries as authorized by law, $29,600,000: Provided, That travel expenses, including travel expenses of the Depository Library Council to the Public Printer, shall not exceed $150,000: Provided further, That amounts of not more than $2,000,000 from current year appropriations are authorized for producing and disseminating Congressional serial sets and other related publications for 1997 and 1998 to depository and other designated libraries.

Government Printing Office Revolving Fund

The Government Printing Office is hereby authorized to make such expenditures, within the limits of funds available and in accord with the law, and to make such contracts and commitments without regard to fiscal year limitations as provided by section 9104 of title 31, United States Code, as may be necessary in carrying out the programs and purposes set forth in the budget for the current fiscal year for the Government Printing Office revolving fund: Provided, That not more than $2,500 may be expended on the certification of the Public Printer in connection with official representation and reception expenses: Provided further, That the revolving fund shall be available for the hire or purchase of not more than twelve passenger motor vehicles: Provided further, That expenditures in connection with travel expenses of the advisory councils to the Public Printer shall be deemed necessary to carry out the provisions of title 44, United States Code: Provided further, That the revolving fund shall be available for temporary or intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but at rates for individuals not more than the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title: Provided further, That the revolving fund and the funds provided under the headings ``Office of Superintendent of Documents'' and

``salaries and expenses'' together may not be available for the full-time equivalent employment of more than 3,350 workyears: Provided further, That activities financed through the revolving fund may provide information in any format: Provided further, That the revolving fund shall not be used to administer any flexible or compressed work schedule which applies to any manager or supervisor in a position the grade or level of which is equal to or higher than GS-15: Provided further, That expenses for attendance at meetings shall not exceed $75,000.

GENERAL ACCOUNTING OFFICE

Salaries and Expenses

For necessary expenses of the General Accounting Office, including not more than $7,000 to be expended on the certification of the Comptroller General of the United States in connection with official representation and reception expenses; temporary or intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, but at rates for individuals not more than the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of such title; hire of one passenger motor vehicle; advance payments in foreign countries in accordance with 31 U.S.C. 3324; benefits comparable to those payable under sections 901(5), 901(6) and 901(8) of the Foreign Service Act of 1980 (22 U.S.C. 4081(5), 4081(6) and 4081(8)); and under regulations prescribed by the Comptroller General of the United States, rental of living quarters in foreign countries; $363,298,000: Provided, That notwithstanding 31 U.S.C. 9105 hereafter amounts reimbursed to the Comptroller General pursuant to that section shall be deposited to the appropriation of the General Accounting Office then available and remain available until expended, and not more than

$2,000,000 of such funds shall be available for use in fiscal year 1999: Provided further, That this appropriation and appropriations for administrative expenses of any other department or agency which is a member of the Joint Financial Management Improvement Program (JFMIP) shall be available to finance an appropriate share of JFMIP costs as determined by the JFMIP, including the salary of the Executive Director and secretarial support: Provided further, That this appropriation and appropriations for administrative expenses of any other department or agency which is a member of the National Intergovernmental Audit Forum or a Regional Intergovernmental Audit Forum shall be available to finance an appropriate share of either Forum's costs as determined by the respective Forum, including necessary travel expenses of non-Federal participants. Payments hereunder to either the Forum or the JFMIP may be credited as reimbursements to any appropriation from which costs involved are initially financed: Provided further, That this appropriation and appropriations for administrative expenses of any other department or agency which is a member of the American Consortium on International Public Administration (ACIPA) shall be available to finance an appropriate share of ACIPA costs as determined by the ACIPA, including any expenses attributable to membership of ACIPA in the International Institute of Administrative Sciences.

TITLE III--GENERAL PROVISIONS

Sec. 301. No part of the funds appropriated in this Act shall be used for the maintenance or care of private vehicles, except for emergency assistance and cleaning as may be provided under regulations relating to parking facilities for the House of Representatives issued by the Committee on House Oversight and for the Senate issued by the Committee on Rules and Administration.

Sec. 302. No part of the funds appropriated in this Act shall remain available for obligation beyond fiscal year 1999 unless expressly so provided in this Act.

Sec. 303. Whenever in this Act any office or position not specifically established by the Legislative Pay Act of 1929 is appropriated for or the rate of compensation or designation of any office or position appropriated for is different from that specifically established by such Act, the rate of compensation and the designation in this Act shall be the permanent law with respect thereto: Provided, That the provisions in this Act for the various items of official expenses of Members, officers, and committees of the Senate and House of Representatives, and clerk hire for Senators and Members of the House of Representatives shall be the permanent law with respect thereto.

Sec. 304. The expenditure of any appropriation under this Act for any consulting service through procurement contract, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 3109, shall be limited to those contracts where such expenditures are a matter of public record and available for public inspection, except where otherwise provided under existing law, or under existing Executive order issued pursuant to existing law.

Sec. 305. Such sums as may be necessary are appropriated to the account described in subsection (a) of section 415 of Public Law 104-1 to pay awards and settlements as authorized under such subsection.

Sec. 306. Amounts available for administrative expenses of any legislative branch entity which participates in the Legislative Branch Financial Managers Council (LBFMC) established by charter on March 26, 1996, shall be available to finance an appropriate share of LBFMC costs as determined by the LBFMC, except that the total LBFMC costs to be shared among all participating legislative branch entities (in such allocations among the entities as the entities may determine) may not exceed $1,500.

Sec. 307. Section 316 of Public Law 101-302 is amended in the first sentence of subsection (a) by striking ``1998'' and inserting ``1999''.

Sec. 308. The Government Printing Office shall be considered an agency for the purposes of the election in section 801(b)(2)(B) of the National Energy Conservation Policy Act and the Public Printer shall be considered the head of the agency for purposes of subsection (b)(2)(C) of such section.

Sec. 309. Section 8 of the American Folklife Preservation Act (20 U.S.C. 2107) is amended to read as follows:

``SEC. 8. AUTHORIZATION OF APPROPRIATIONS.

``There are authorized to be appropriated to the Center to carry out this Act such sums as may be necessary for each fiscal year.''.

Sec. 310. That $3,110,611 shall be transferred from the Employees' Compensation Fund established under section 8147 of title 5, United States Code, to the Government Printing Office revolving fund as reimbursement for costs improperly transferred from the revolving fund pursuant to section 8147(c) of such title: Provided, That for purposes of section 8147 of title 5, United States Code, the Government Printing Office is not considered an agency which is required by statute to submit an annual budget pursuant to or as provided by chapter 91 of title 31, United States Code, and is not required to pay an additional amount for the cost of administration.

TITLE IV--TRADE DEFICIT REVIEW COMMISSION

Sec. 401. Short Title. This title may be cited as the

``Trade Deficit Review Commission Act''.

Sec. 402. Findings. Congress makes the following findings:

(1) The United States continues to run substantial merchandise trade and current account deficits.

(2) Economic forecasts anticipate continued growth in such deficits in the next few years.

(3) The positive net international asset position that the United States built up over many years was eliminated in the 1980s. The United States today has become the world's largest debtor nation.

(4) The United States merchandise trade deficit is characterized by large bilateral trade imbalances with a handful of countries.

(5) The United States has one of the most open borders and economies in the world. The United States faces significant tariff and nontariff trade barriers with its trading partners. Current overall trade balances do not reflect the actual competitiveness or productivity of the United States economy.

(6) Since the last comprehensive review of national trade and investment policies was conducted by a Presidential commission in 1970, there have been massive worldwide economic and political changes which have profoundly affected world trading relationships. Globalization, the increased mobility of capital and technology, the role of transnational corporations, and the outsourcing of production across national boundaries, are reshaping both the comparative and competitive trade advantages among nations.

(7) The United States is once again at a critical juncture in trade policy development. The nature of the United States trade deficit and its causes and consequences must be analyzed and documented.

Sec. 403. Establishment of Commission. (a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be known as the Trade Deficit Review Commission (hereafter in this title referred to as the ``Commission'').

(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Commission is to study the causes and consequences of the United States merchandise trade and current account deficits and to develop trade policy recommendations for the 21st century. The recommendations shall include strategies necessary to achieve United States market access to foreign markets that fully reflects the competitiveness and productivity of the United States and also improves the standard of living of United States citizens.

(1) Composition.--The Commission shall be composed of 12 members of whom--

(A) 1 Senator and 2 other persons shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate upon the recommendation of the Majority Leader of the Senate;

(B) 1 Senator and 2 other persons shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate upon the recommendation of the Minority Leader of the Senate;

(C) 1 Member of the House of Representatives and 2 other persons shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives; and

(D) 1 Member of the House of Representatives and 2 other persons shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives.

(2) Qualifications of members.--

(A) Appointments.--Persons who are appointed under paragraph (1), other than a person who is a Senator or Member of the House of Representatives, shall be persons who--

(i) have expertise in economics, international trade, manufacturing, labor, environment, business, or have other pertinent qualifications or experience; and

(ii) are not officers or employees of the United States.

(B) Other considerations.--In appointing Commission members, every effort shall be made to ensure that the members--

(i) are representative of a broad cross-section of economic and trade perspectives within the United States; and

(ii) provide fresh insights to analyzing the causes and consequences of United States merchandise trade and current account deficits.

(d) Period of Appointment; Vacancies.--

(1) In general.--Members shall be appointed not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act and the appointment shall be for the life of the Commission.

(2) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

(e) Initial Meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the Commission shall hold its first meeting.

(f) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairperson.

(g) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.--The members of the Commission shall elect a chairperson and vice chairperson from among the members of the Commission.

(h) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

(i) Voting.--Each member of the Commission shall be entitled to 1 vote, which shall be equal to the vote of every other member of the Commission.

Sec. 404. Duties of the Commission. (a) In General.--The Commission shall be responsible for developing trade policy recommendations, by examining the economic, trade, tax, and investment policies and laws, and other incentives and restrictions that are relevant to addressing the causes and consequences of the United States merchandise trade and current account deficits.

(b) Recommendations.--The Commission shall examine and make recommendations to Congress and the President on the following:

(1) The manner in which the Government of the United States establishes and administers the Nation's fundamental trade policies and objectives, including--

(A) the relationship of the merchandise trade and current account balances to the overall well-being of the United States economy and any impact the trade balance may have on wages and employment in various sectors of the United States economy;

(B) any effects the merchandise trade and current account deficits may have on the areas of manufacturing and technology and on defense production and innovation capabilities of the United States;

(C) the impact that United States monetary and fiscal policies may have on United States merchandise trade and current account deficits; and

(D) the coordination, allocation, and accountability of trade responsibilities among Federal agencies and the means for congressional oversight of the trade policy process.

(2) The causes and consequences of the merchandise trade and current account deficits and specific bilateral trade deficits, including--

(A) identification and quantification of the macroeconomic factors and bilateral trade barriers contributing to the United States merchandise trade and current account deficits;

(B) identification and quantification of any impact of the merchandise trade and current account deficits on the domestic economy, industrial base, manufacturing capacity, number and quality of jobs, productivity, wages, and the United States standard of living;

(C) identification and quantification of trade deficits within individual industrial, manufacturing, and production sectors, and any relationship to intraindustry and intracompany transactions;

(D) a review of the adequacy of the current collection and reporting of import and export data, and the identification and development of additional data bases and economic measurements that may be needed to properly quantify the factors described in subparagraphs (A), (B), and (C);

(E) the relationship that tariff and nontariff barriers may have to the merchandise trade and current account deficits and the extent to which such deficits have become structural;

(F) the extent to which there is reciprocal market access substantially equivalent to that afforded by the United States in each country with which the United States has a persistent and substantial bilateral trade deficit; and

(G) the impact of transhipments on bilateral trade.

(3) Any relationship of United States merchandise trade and current account deficits to both comparative and competitive trade advantages within the global economy, including--

(A) a systematic analysis of the United States trade patterns with different trading partners, to what extent the trade patterns are based on comparative and competitive trade advantages, and how the trade advantages relate to the goods that are exported to and imported from various trading partners;

(B) the extent to which the increased mobility of capital and technology has changed both comparative and competitive trade advantages;

(C) the extent to which differences in the growth rates of the United States and its trading partners may impact on United States merchandise trade and current account deficits;

(D) any impact that labor, environmental, or health and safety standards may have on world trade;

(E) the impact that currency exchange rate fluctuations and any manipulation of exchange rates may have on United States merchandise trade and current account deficits;

(F) the effect that offset and technology transfer agreements have on the long-term competitiveness of the United States manufacturing sectors; and

(G) any effect that international trade, labor, environmental, or other agreements may have on United States competitiveness.

(4) The flow of investments both into and out of the United States, including--

(A) any consequences for the United States economy of the current status of the United States as a debtor nation;

(B) any relationship between such investments and the United States merchandise trade and current account deficits and living standards of United States workers;

(C) any impact such investments may have on United States labor, community, environmental, and health and safety standards, and how such investment flows influence the location of manufacturing facilities; and

(D) the effect of barriers to United States foreign direct investment in developed and developing nations, particularly nations with which the United States has a merchandise trade and current account deficit.

Sec. 405. Final Report; Congressional Hearings. (a) Final Report.--

(1) In general.--Not later than 18 months after the date of enactment of this Act, the Commission shall submit to the President and Congress a final report which contains--

(A) the findings and conclusions of the Commission described in section 404;

(B) recommendations for addressing the problems identified as part of the Commission's analysis; and

(2) Separate views.--Any member of the Commission may submit additional findings and recommendations as part of the final report.

(b) Congressional Hearings.--Not later than 6 months after the final report described in subsection (a) is submitted, the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives and the Committee on Finance of the Senate shall hold hearings on the report. Other committees of the House of Representatives and Senate with relevant jurisdiction may also hold hearings on the report.

Sec. 406. Powers of Commission. (a) Hearings.--The Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission may find advisable to fulfill the requirements of this title. The Commission shall hold at least 1 or more hearings in Washington, D.C., and 4 in different regions of the United States.

(b) Information From Federal Agencies.--The Commission may secure directly from any Federal department or agency such information as the Commission considers necessary to carry out the provisions of this title. Upon request of the Chairperson of the Commission, the head of such department or agency shall furnish such information to the Commission.

(c) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government.

Sec. 407. Commission Personnel Matters. (a) Compensation of Members.--

(1) In general.--Each member of the Commission who is not an officer or employee of the Federal Government shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including travel time) during which such member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the Commission. All members of the Commission who are officers or employees of the United States shall serve without compensation in addition to that received for their services as officers or employees of the United States.

(2) Officer and employee of the united states.--For purposes of this section, a member of the Commission who is a Senator or a member of the House of Representatives shall be treated as an officer or employee of the United States.

(b) Travel Expenses.--The members of the Commission shall be allowed travel expenses, including per diem in lieu of subsistence, at rates authorized for employees of agencies under subchapter I of chapter 57 of title 5, United States Code, while away from their homes or regular places of business in the performance of services for the Commission.

(1) In general.--The Chairperson of the Commission may, without regard to the civil service laws and regulations, appoint and terminate an executive director and such other additional personnel as may be necessary to enable the Commission to perform its duties. The employment of an executive director shall be subject to confirmation by the Commission.

(2) Compensation.--The Chairperson of the Commission may fix the compensation of the executive director and other personnel without regard to the provisions of chapter 51 and subchapter III of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, relating to classification of positions and General Schedule pay rates, except that the rate of pay for the executive director and other personnel may not exceed the rate payable for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.

(d) Detail of Government Employees.--Any Federal Government employee may be detailed to the Commission without reimbursement, and such detail shall be without interruption or loss of civil service status or privilege.

(e) Procurement of Temporary and Intermittent Services.--The Chairperson of the Commission may procure temporary and intermittent services under section 3109(b) of title 5, United States Code, at rates for individuals which do not exceed the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level V of the Executive Schedule under section 5316 of such title.

Sec. 408. Support Services. The Administrator of the General Services Administration shall provide to the Commission on a reimbursable basis such administrative support services as the Commission may request.

Sec. 409. Appropriations. There are appropriated $2,000,000 to the Commission to carry out the provisions of this title.

______

BENNETT (AND DORGAN) AMENDMENT NO. 3221

Mr. STEVENS (for Mr. Bennett for himself and Mr. Dorgan) proposed an amendment to amendment no. 3220 proposed by Mr. Bennett to the bill, H.R. 4112, supra; as follows:

On page 14, line 24, strike ``$6,077,000'' and insert

``$6,297,000''.

______

BENNETT (AND DORGAN) AMENDMENT NO. 3222

Mr. STEVENS (for Mr. Bennett for himself and Mr. Dorgan) proposed an amendment to amendment No. 3220 proposed by Mr. Bennett to the bill, H.R. 4112, supra; as follows:

On page 2, line 9, strike ``$79,183,000'' and insert

``$87,233,000''.

On page 2, between lines 21 and 22, insert the following:

committee on appropriations

For salaries of the Committee on Appropriations,

$6,050,000.

On page 3, line 25, strike ``$19,332,000'' and insert

``$21,332,000''.

On page 4, line 22, strike $75,600,000'' and insert

``$66,800,000''.

On page 5, line 10, strike ``$7,905,000'' and insert

``$8,655,000''.

On page 12, between lines 2 and 3, insert the following:

Sec. 10. (a) The Committee on Appropriations is authorized in its discretion--

(1) to hold hearings, report such hearings, and make investigations as authorized by paragraph 1 of rule XXVI of the Standing Rules of the Senate;

(2) to make expenditures from the contingent fund of the Senate;

(3) to employ personnel;

(4) with the prior consent of the Government department or agency concerned and the Committee on Rules and Administration to use, on a reimbursable or nonreimbursable basis, the services of personnel of any such department or agency;

(5) to procure the services of individual consultants, or organizations thereof (as authorized by section 202(i) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 and Senate Resolution 140, agreed to May 14, 1975); and

(6) to provide for the training of the professional staff of such committee (under procedures specified by section 202(j) of such Act).

(b) Senate Resolution 54, agreed to February 13, 1997, is amended by striking section 4.

(c) This section shall be effective on and after October 1, 1998, or the date of enactment of this Act, whichever is later.

Sec. 11. (a)(1) The Chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the Senate may, during any fiscal year, at his or her election transfer funds from the appropriation account for salaries for the Appropriations Committee of the Senate, to the account, within the contingent fund of the Senate, from which expenses are payable for such committee.

(2) The Chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the Senate may, during any fiscal year, at his or her election transfer funds from the appropriation account for expenses, within the contingent fund of the Senate, for the Appropriations Committee of the Senate, to the account from which salaries are payable for such committee.

(b) Any funds transferred under this section shall be--

(1) available for expenditure by such committee in like manner and for the same purposes as are other moneys which are available for expenditure by such committee from the account to which the funds were transferred; and

(2) made at such time or times as the Chairman shall specify in writing to the Senate Disbursing Office.

(c) This section shall take effect on October 1, 1998, and shall be effective with respect to fiscal years beginning on or after that date.

______

BENNETT (AND DORGAN) AMENDMENT NO. 3223

Mr. STEVENS (for Mr. Bennett for himself and Mr. Dorgan) proposed an amendment to amendment No. 3220 proposed by Mr. Bennett to the bill, H.R. 4112, supra; as follows:

On page 35, line 8, strike all through line 9 on page 49 and insert the following:

TITLE IV--TRADE DEFICIT REVIEW COMMISSION

SEC. 401. SHORT TITLE.

This title may be cited as the ``Trade Deficit Review Commission Act''.

SEC. 402. FINDINGS.

Congress makes the following findings:

(1) The United States continues to run substantial merchandise trade and current account deficits.

(2) Economic forecasts anticipate continued growth in such deficits in the next few years.

(3) The positive net international asset position that the United States built up over many years was eliminated in the 1980s. The United States today has become the world's largest debtor nation.

(4) The United States merchandise trade deficit is characterized by large bilateral trade imbalances with a handful of countries.

(5) The United States has one of the most open borders and economies in the world. The United States faces significant tariff and nontariff trade barriers with its trading partners. The United States does not benefit from fully reciprocal market access.

(6) The United States is once again at a critical juncture in trade policy development. The nature of the United States trade deficit and its causes and consequences must be analyzed and documented.

SEC. 403. ESTABLISHMENT OF COMMISSION.

(a) Establishment.--There is established a commission to be known as the Trade Deficit Review Commission (hereafter in this title referred to as the ``Commission'').

(b) Purpose.--The purpose of the Commission is to study the nature, causes, and consequences of the United States merchandise trade and current account deficits.

(1) Composition.--The Commission shall be composed of 12 members as follows:

(A) Three persons shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate upon the recommendation of the Majority Leader of the Senate, after consultation with the Chairman of the Committee on Finance.

(B) Three persons shall be appointed by the President pro tempore of the Senate upon the recommendation of the Minority Leader of the Senate, after consultation with the ranking minority member of the Committee on Finance.

(C) Three persons shall be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Representatives, after consultation with the Chairman of the Committee on Ways and Means.

(D) Three persons shall be appointed by the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives, after consultation with the ranking minority member of the Committee on Ways and Mean.

(2) Qualifications of members.--

(A) Appointments.--Persons who are appointed under paragraph (1) shall be persons who--

(i) have expertise in economics, international trade, manufacturing, labor, environment, business, or have other pertinent qualifications or experience; and

(ii) are not officers or employees of the United States.

(B) Other considerations.--In appointing Commission members, every effort shall be made to ensure that the members--

(i) are representative of a broad cross-section of economic and trade perspectives within the United States; and

(ii) provide fresh insights to analyzing the causes and consequences of United States merchandise trade and current account deficits.

(d) Period of Appointment; Vacancies.--

(1) In general.--Members shall be appointed not later than 60 days after the date of enactment of this Act and the appointment shall be for the life of the Commission.

(2) Vacancies.--Any vacancy in the Commission shall not affect its powers, but shall be filled in the same manner as the original appointment.

(e) Initial Meeting.--Not later than 30 days after the date on which all members of the Commission have been appointed, the Commission shall hold its first meeting.

(f) Meetings.--The Commission shall meet at the call of the Chairperson.

(g) Chairperson and Vice Chairperson.--The members of the Commission shall elect a chairperson and vice chairperson from among the members of the Commission.

(h) Quorum.--A majority of the members of the Commission shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

(i) Voting.--Each member of the Commission shall be entitled to 1 vote, which shall be equal to the vote of every other member of the Commission.

SEC. 404. DUTIES OF THE COMMISSION.

(a) In General.--The Commission shall be responsible for examining the nature, causes, and consequences of, and the accuracy of available data on, the United States merchandise trade and current account deficits.

(b) Issues to be Addressed.--The Commission shall examine and report to the President, the Committee on Ways and Means of the House of Representatives, the Committee on Finance of the Senate, and other appropriate committees of Congress on the following:

(1) The relationship of the merchandise trade and current account balances to the overall well-being of the United States economy, and to wages and employment in various sectors of the United States economy.

(2) The impact that United States monetary and fiscal policies may have on United States merchandise trade and current account deficits.

(3) The extent to which the coordination, allocation, and accountability of trade responsibilities among Federal agencies may contribute to the trade and current account deficits.

(4) The causes and consequences of the merchandise trade and current account deficits and specific bilateral trade deficits, including--

(A) identification and quantification of--

(i) the macroeconomic factors and bilateral trade barriers that may contribute to the United States merchandise trade and current account deficits;

(ii) any impact of the merchandise trade and current account deficits on the domestic economy, industrial base, manufacturing capacity, technology, number and quality of jobs, productivity, wages, and the United States standard of living;

(iii) any impact of the merchandise trade and current account deficits on the defense production and innovation capabilities of the United States; and

(iv) trade deficits within individual industrial, manufacturing, and production sectors, and any relationship between such deficits and the increasing volume of intra-industry and intra-company transactions;

(B) a review of the adequacy and accuracy of the current collection and reporting of import and export data, and the identification and development of additional data bases and economic measurements that may be needed to properly quantify the merchandise trade and current account balances, and any impact the merchandise trade and current account balances may have on the United States economy; and

(C) the extent to which there is reciprocal market access substantially equivalent to that afforded by the United States in each country with which the United States has a persistent and substantial bilateral trade deficit, and the extent to which such deficits have become structural.

(5) Any relationship of United States merchandise trade and current account deficits to both comparative and competitive trade advantages within the global economy, including--

(A) a systematic analysis of the United States trade patterns with different trading partners and to what extent the trade patterns are based on comparative and competitive trade advantages;

(B) the extent to which the increased mobility of capital and technology has changed both comparative and competitive trade advantages;

(C) any impact that labor, environmental, or health and safety standards may have on comparative and competitive trade advantages;

(D) the effect that offset and technology transfer agreements have on the long-term competitiveness of the United States manufacturing sectors; and

(E) any effect that international trade, labor, environmental, or other agreements may have on United States competitiveness.

(6) The extent to which differences in the growth rates of the United States and its trading partners may impact on United States merchandise trade and current account deficits.

(7) The impact that currency exchange rate fluctuations and any manipulation of exchange rates may have on United States merchandise trade and current account deficits.

(8) The flow of investments both into and out of the United States, including--

(A) any consequences for the United States economy of the current status of the United States as a debtor nation;

(B) any relationship between such investment flows and the United States merchandise trade and current account deficits and living standards of United States workers;

(C) any impact such investment flows may have on United States labor, community, environmental, and health and safety standards, and how such investment flows influence the location of manufacturing facilities; and

SEC. 405. FINAL REPORT.

(a) In General.--Not later than 12 months after the date of the initial meeting of the Commission, the Commission shall submit to the President and Congress a final report which contains--

(1) the findings and conclusions of the Commission described in section 404; and

(2) recommendations for addressing the problems identified as part of the Commission's analysis.

(b) Separate Views.--Any member of the Commission may submit additional findings and recommendations as part of the final report.

SEC. 406. POWERS OF COMMISSION.

(a) Hearings.--The Commission may hold such hearings, sit and act at such times and places, take such testimony, and receive such evidence as the Commission may find advisable to fulfill the requirements of this title. The Commission shall hold at least 1 or more hearings in Washington, D.C., and 4 in different regions of the United States.

(c) Postal Services.--The Commission may use the United States mails in the same manner and under the same conditions as other departments and agencies of the Federal Government.

SEC. 407. COMMISSION PERSONNEL MATTERS.

(a) Compensation of Members.--Each member of the Commission shall be compensated at a rate equal to the daily equivalent of the annual rate of basic pay prescribed for level IV of the Executive Schedule under section 5315 of title 5, United States Code, for each day (including travel time) during which such member is engaged in the performance of the duties of the Commission.

SEC. 408. SUPPORT SERVICES.

The Administrator of the General Services Administration shall provide to the Commission on a reimbursable basis such administrative support services as the Commission may request.

SEC. 409. APPROPRIATIONS.

There are appropriated $2,000,000 to the Commission to carry out the provisions of this title.

______

THOMAS (AND BROWNBACK) AMENDMENT NO. 3224

Mr. STEVENS (for Mr. Thomas, for himself and Mr. Brownback) proposed an amendment to the bill, H.R. 4112, supra; as follows:

At the appropriate place at the end of the bill, insert:

Sec. 311. (a) This section applies to the following officials:

(1) The Architect of the Capitol.

(2) The Secretary of the Senate.

(3) The Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate.

(4) The Public Printer.

(5) The Director, and the Executive Director, of the United States Botanic Garden.

(b)(1) Not later than March 30, 1999, each official named in subsection (a) shall submit to Congress a list of each activity that--

(A) is to be performed by or for the official in fiscal year 2000;

(B) is not an inherently governmental function; and

(i) performed by a Federal Government source on September 30, 1998; or

(ii) initiated after that date, if one or more Federal Government sources are to be considered for selection as the source to perform the activity.

(2) Each list shall include (for each activity listed)--

(A) the number of full-time employees (or its equivalent) that would be necessary for the performance of the activity by a Federal Government source; and

(B) the name of a Federal Government employee responsible for the activity from whom additional information about the activity may be obtained.

(c) An activity is not required to be included on an official's list under subsection (b) if the activity, as determined by the official--

(1) is to be performed as a Federal Government response to a national emergency declared by the President or Congress;

(2) is to be performed for the official by a private sector source pursuant to a contract or other agreement entered into by the head of another department or agency of the Federal Government; or

(3) is the provision of items that should be produced, manufactured, or provided, or services that should be provided, by a Federal Government source for reasons of national security (including reasons relating to the acquisition, processing, or analysis of intelligence in the national security interests of the United States).

(d) In this section:

(1) The term ``Federal Government source'', with respect to performance of an activity, means any organization within the Federal Government that uses Federal Government employees to perform the activity.

(2)(A) The term ``inherently governmental function'' means a function that is so intimately related to the public interest as to require performance by Federal Government employees.

(B) The term includes activities that require either the exercise of discretion in applying Federal Government authority or the making of value judgments in making decisions for the Federal Government, including judgments relating to monetary transactions and entitlements. An inherently governmental function involves, among other things, the interpretation and execution of the laws of the United States so as--

(i) to bind the United States to take or not to take some action by contract, policy, regulation, authorization, order, or otherwise;

(ii) to determine, protect, and advance United States economic, political, territorial, property, or other interests by military or diplomatic action, civil or criminal judicial proceedings, contract management, or otherwise;

(iii) to significantly affect the life, liberty, or property of private persons;

(iv) to commission, appoint, direct, or control officers or employees of the United States; or

(v) to exert ultimate control over the acquisition, use, or disposition of the property, real or personal, tangible or intangible, of the United States, including the collection, control, or disbursement of appropriated and other Federal funds.

(i) gathering information for or providing advice, opinions, recommendations, or ideas to Federal Government officials; or

(ii) any function that is primarily ministerial and internal in nature (such as building security, mail operations, operation of cafeterias, housekeeping, facilities operations and maintenance, warehouse operations, motor vehicle fleet management operations, or other routine electrical or mechanical services).

(3) The term ``private sector source'', with respect to the operation of a facility owned by the Federal Government, includes a contractor that is operating, or is to operate, the facility.

______

McCAIN (AND OTHERS) AMENDMENT NO. 3225

Mr. McCAIN (for himself, Mr. Coats, Mr. Leahy, Mr. Faircloth, Mr. Ashcroft, Mr. Kerrey, Mr. Enzi, Mr. Wyden, Mr. Feingold, Mr. Abraham, and Mr. Robb) proposed an amendment to the bill, H.R. 4112, supra, as follows:

At the appropriate place, insert the following:

SEC. . AVAILABILITY OF CERTAIN CRS WEB SITE INFORMATION.

(a) Availability of Information.--

(1) In general.--The Director of the Congressional Research Service shall make available on the Internet, for purposes of access and retrieval by the public, all information that--

(A) is available through the Congressional Research Service web site;

(B) is described in paragraph (2); and

(i) the Director; or

(ii) the head of a Federal department or agency that provided the information to the Congressional Research Service.

(2) Information.--The information referred to in paragraph

(1)(B) is as follows:

(A) All Congressional Research Service Issue Briefs.

(B) All Congressional Research Service Reports that are available to Members of Congress through the Congressional Research Service web site.

(3) Removal of information; changes and updates.--Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, the Director of the Congressional Research Service may--

(A) remove from the information required to be made available on the Internet under this section the name of, phone number of, and information regarding, an employee of the Congressional Research Service;

(B) remove from the information required to be made available on the Internet under this section, any material the Director determines may infringe the copyright of a work protected under title 17, United States Code; and

(C) make any changes or updates in the information required to be made available on the Internet under this section that the Director determines are necessary to ensure that the information is accurate.

(b) Time.--The information shall be so made available not earlier than 30 days after the first day the information is available to Members of Congress through the Congressional Research Service web site.

(c) Requirements.--The Director of the Congressional Research Service shall make the information available in a manner that the Director determines--

(1) is practical and reasonable; and

(2) does not permit the submission of comments from the public.

(d) Method of Public Access.--The public shall have access to the web page containing Congressional Research Service information that is available to the public only through the Library of Congress' THOMAS web page (http://thomas.loc.gov). The Director of Congressional Research Service shall work with the Librarian of Congress to establish an appropriate Internet link to carry out this subsection. The Director of Congressional Research Service shall be responsible for maintaining and updating the web page containing Congressional Research Service products. The Director of Congressional Research Service shall have sole discretion to edit the web page based on the criteria established by this Act. The Librarian of Congress shall have the responsibility of working with the Director of Congressional Research Service only to the extent necessary to establish the link from the THOMAS web page to the public access Congressional Research Service web page. Nothing in this Act may be construed to interfere with the Librarian's normal duties concerning THOMAS.

(e) Further Approval Not Required.--Notwithstanding the first proviso under the subheading ``salaries and expenses'' under the subheading ``Congressional Research Service'' under the heading ``LIBRARY OF CONGRESS'' under title I of this Act

(relating to prior approval of certain publications), the Director shall make information available in accordance with this section without the prior approval of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate or the Committee on House Oversight of the House of Representatives.

____________________

SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 144, No. 97

July 20, 1998: Congressional Record publishes “LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 1999”

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