Appropriations for FY2002: Legislative Branch

Summary

Conferees on the FY2002 legislative branch appropriations bill agreed to $2.97 billion for

legislative

branch operations, an 8.9% increase over the FY2001 funding level of $2.73 billion ( P.L. 107-68 ).

Total FY2002 funding made available for the legislative branch is $3.23 billion, when including

emergency response funds transferred pursuant to P.L. 107-117 , the FY2002 Emergency

Supplemental Appropriations for Recovery from and Response to Terrorist Attacks (in Division B,

chapter 9).

P.L. 107-68 contains funds for 79 new Capitol Police positions, funds for Capitol Police training

programs, language providing comparability in the pay of the Capitol Police with the Uniformed

Division of the Secret Service and the Park Police, an 18.1% increase in the police budget, an

additional $70 million for construction of the Capitol visitors' center, and several measures to recruit

and retain employees of the Senate and the congressional support agencies.

In July, 2001, Congress also agreed to a $79.5 million FY2001 legislative branch supplemental

appropriation ( P.L. 107-20 ), containing $61.7 million for House internal operations, $1 million for

the Capitol Police, and $15.9 million for the Government Printing Office.

The terrorists' attacks of September 11, 2001, prompted moves toward an even more stringent

security environment on Capitol Hill, which affected the legislative branch budget. On September

21, September 28, and December 3, the President released $376.9 million for Capitol Hill security

measures. These funds were part of a $40 billion FY2001 terrorism emergency supplemental bill

approved by Congress on September 14, and signed into P.L. 107-38 on September 18. The

President proposed, and Congress approved, an additional allocation for Capitol complex security

of $265.1 million, which, unlike the other allocations for security, required approval by Congress.

The $265.1 million supplemental was contained in P.L. 107-117 , the FY2002 Department of Defense

Appropriations Act, signed by the President on January 10, 2002.

Among elements considered by Congress were proposals to:

merge the Capitol Hill, Library of Congress, and Government Printing Office

police into a consolidated force; Senate report language directed the General Accounting Office to

study the issue;

authorize and fund programs to enhance staff retention and recruitment, such

as repayment of student loans, and implementation of performance-based recognition and

compensation proposals; P.L. 107-68 contains language authorizing student loan repayments for

employees of the Senate and Congressional Budget Office; and

approve $42.5 million for repair of the Capitol dome; P.L. 107-68 contains $1.6

million for painting.