269 § 67. Clerks to Senators-elect.

A Senator entitled to receive his own salary may appoint the usual clerical assistants allowed Senators. (June 19, 1934, ch. 648, § 1, 48 Stat. 1022.)

270 § 68. Payments from contingent fund of Senate.

No payment shall be made from the contingent fund of the Senate unless sanctioned by the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate. Payments made upon vouchers or abstracts of disbursements of salaries approved by said Committee shall be deemed, held, and taken, and are declared to be conclusive upon all the departments and officers of the Government: Provided, That no payment shall be made from said contingent fund as additional salary or compensation to any officer or employee of the Senate. (Oct. 2, 1888, ch. 1069, 25 Stat. 546; Aug. 2, 1946, ch. 753, § 102, 60 Stat. 814; amended Dec. 27, 1974, Pub. L. 93-554, Ch. III, § 101, 88 Stat. 1776.)

270.1 § 68-1. Same; designation of Committee employees to approve vouchers on behalf of Committee.

The Committee on Rules and Administration may authorize its chairman to designate the Committee Auditor and the Committee Assistant Auditor to approve in his behalf, all vouchers making payments from the contingent fund of the Senate, such approval to be deemed and held to be approval by the Committee on Rules and Administration for all intents and purposes. (Nov. 1, 1973, Pub. L. 93-145, § 101, 87 Stat. 529; Oct. 1, 1981, Pub. L. 97-51, 95 Stat. 965.)

271 § 68a. Same; materials, supplies and fuel.

Payments from the contingent fund of the Senate for materials and supplies (including fuel) hereafter purchased through the Administrator of General Services shall be made by check upon vouchers approved by the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate. (July 8, 1935, ch. 374 § 1, 49 Stat. 463; Aug. 2, 1946, ch. 753, § 102, 60 Stat. 814; June 30, 1949, ch. 288, § 102, 63 Stat. 380.)

272 § 68b. Same; per diem and subsistence expenses.1

No part of the appropriations made under the heading "Contingent expenses of the Senate" hereafter may be expended for per diem and subsistence expenses (as defined in the Travel Expense Act of 1949, as amended) at rates in excess of the rates prescribed by the Committee on Rules and Administration; except that (1) higher rates may be established by the Committee on Rules and Administration for travel beyond the limits of the continental United States, and (2) in accordance with regulations prescribed by the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, reimbursement for such expenses may be made on an acutal expense basis of not to exceed the daily rate prescribed by the Committee on Rules and Administration in the case of travel within the continental limits of the United States. This paragraph shall not apply with respect to per diem or actual travel expenses incurred by Senators and employees in the office of a Senator which are reimbursed under section 506 of the Supplemental Appropriations Act, 1973 (2 U.S.C. 58). (June 27, 1956,

1 Pursuant to the authority granted by section 68b the Committee on Rules and Administration issues "United States Senate Travel Regulations." Copies of the regulations currently in effect may be obtained from the Committee.

ch. 453, 70 Stat. 360; Aug. 14, 1961, Pub. L. 87-139, § 7, 75 Stat. 340; Nov. 10, 1969, Pub. L. 91-114, § 3, 83 Stat. 190; May 19, 1975, Pub. L. 94-22, § 8, 89 Stat. 86; Aug. 5, 1977, Pub. L. 95–94, title I, § 112(e), 91 Stat. 664; Sept. 8, 1978, Pub. L. 95-355, title I, § 103, 92 Stat. 533; July 8, 1980, Pub. L. 96-304, Title I, § 102(b), 94 Stat. 889.)

§ 68c. Same; computation of compensation for stenographic assistance 273 of committees.

Compensation for stenographic assistance of committees paid out of the items under "Contingent Expenses of the Senate" hereafter shall be computed at such rates and in accordance with such regulations as may be prescribed by the Committee on Rules and Administration, notwithstanding, and without regard to any other provision of law. (June 27, 1956, ch. 453, 70 Stat. 360.)

§ 69. Same; for expenses of committees.

When any duty is imposed upon a committee involving expenses that are ordered to be paid out of the contingent fund of the Senate, upon vouchers to be approved by the chairman of the committee charged with such duty, the receipt of such chairman for any sum advanced to him or his order out of said contingent fund by the Secretary of the Senate for committee expenses not involving personal services shall be taken and passed by the accounting officers of the Government as a full and sufficient voucher; but it shall be the duty of such chairman, as soon as practicable, to furnish to the Secretary of the Senate vouchers in detail for the expenses so incurred. (June 22, 1949, ch. 235, § 101, 63 Stat. 218.)

CROSS REFERENCE

Payments from contingent fund of Senate not to be made unless sanctioned, the vouchers of which are declared conclusive upon all departments of Government, see section 68 of this title (Senate Manual section 270).

§ 69a. Orientation seminars.

Effective July 1, 1979, there is authorized an expense allowance for the Office of the Secretary of the Senate and the Office of Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate which shall not exceed $2,000 each fiscal year for each such office. Payments made under this section shall be reimbursements only for actual expenses (including meals and food-related expenses) incurred in the course of conducting orientation seminars for Senators and members of their staffs, and other similar meetings, in the Capitol Building or the Senate Office Buildings. Such payments shall be made upon certification and documentation of such expenses by the Secretary and Sergeant at Arms, respectively, and shall be made out of the contingent fund of the Senate upon vouchers signed by the Secretary and the Sergeant at Arms, respectively. Amounts received as reimbursement of such expenses shall not be reported as income, and the expenses so reimbursed shall not be allowed as a deduction, under the Internal Revenue Code of 1954. (July 25, 1979, Pub. L. 96-38, title I, § 107(a), 93 Stat. 112.)

1 Pursuant to the authority granted by section 68c the Committee on Rules and Administration issues "Regulations Governing Rates Payable to Commercial Reporting Firms for Reporting Committee Hearings in the Senate." Copies of the regulations currently in effect may be obtained from the Committee.

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274.5

275 872a. Committee staffs

(a) Appointment of professional members; number; qualifications; termination of employment.

(Made inapplicable by sec. 2 of S. Res. 274, 96th Congress.)

(b) Professional members for Committee on Appropriations; examinations of executive agencies' operations.

(Made inapplicable with respect to the Senate by sec. 2 of S. Res. 274, 96th Congress.)

(c) Clerical employees; appointment; number; duties; termination of employment.

(Made inapplicable by sec. 2 of S. Res. 274, 96th Congress.)

(d) Recordation of committee hearings, data, etc.; access to records. (Made inapplicable by sec. 2 of S. Res. 274, 96th Congress. For rule on same, see Senate Manual section 26.10a.)

(e) Repealed.

(f) Limitations on appointment of professional members.

(Made inapplicable with respect to the Senate by sec. 2 of S. Res. 274, 96th Congress. For rule on same, see Senate Manual section 27.4.)

(g) Appointments when no vacancy exists; payment from contingent fund of the Senate.

(Made inapplicable by sec. 2 of S. Res. 274, 96th Congress.)

(h) Salary rates, assignments of facilities and accessibility of committee records for minority staff appointees.

(Made inapplicable by sec. 2 of S. Res. 274, 96th Congress. For rule on same, see Senate Manual section 27.1.)

275.9 (i) Consultants for Senate and House standing committees; procurement of temporary or intermittent services; contracts; advertisement requirements inapplicable; selection method; qualifications report to congressional committees.

(1) Each standing committee of the Senate or House of Representatives is authorized, with the approval of the Committee on Rules and Administration in the case of standing committees of the Senate, or the Committee on House Administration in the case of standing committees of the House of Representatives, within the limits of funds made available from the contingent funds of the respective Houses pursuant to resolutions, which shall specify the maximum amounts which may be used for such purpose, approved by such respective Houses, to procure the temporary services (not in excess of one year) or intermittent services of individual consultants, or organizations thereof, to make studies or advise the committee with respect to any matter within its jurisdiction.

(2) Such services in the case of individuals or organizations may be procured by contract as independent contractors, or in the case of individuals by employment at daily rates of compensation not in excess of the per diem equivalent of the highest gross rate of compensation which may be paid to a regular employee of the committee. Such contracts

shall not be subject to the provisions of section 5 of title 41 or any other provision of law requiring advertising.

(3) With respect to the standing committees of the Senate, any such consultant or organization shall be selected by the chairman and ranking minority member of the committee, acting jointly. With respect to the standing committees of the House of Representatives, the standing committee concerned shall select any such consultant or organization. The committee shall submit to the Committee on Rules and Administration in the case of standing committees of the Senate, and the Committee on House Administration in the case of standing committees of the House of Representatives, information bearing on the qualifications of each consultant whose services are procured pursuant to this subsection, including organizations, and such information shall be retained by that committee and shall be made available for public inspection upon request. (j) Specialized training for professional staffs of Senate and House 275.10 standing committees, Senate Appropriations Committee, Senate Majority and Minority Policy Committees, and joint committees whose funding is disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate or the Clerk of the House; assistance: pay, tuition, etc. while training; continued employment agreement; service credit: retirement, life insurance and health insurance.

(1) Each standing committee of the Senate or House of Representatives is authorized, with the approval of the Committee on Rules and Administration in the case of standing committees of the Senate, and the Committee on House Administration in the case of standing committees of the House of Representatives, and within the limits of funds made available from the contingent funds of the respective Houses pursuant to resolutions, which shall specify the maximum amounts which may be used for such purpose, approved by such respective Houses, to provide assistance for members of its professional staff in obtaining specialized training, whenever that committee determines that such training will aid the committee in the discharge of its responsibilities. Any joint committee of the Congress whose expenses are paid out of funds disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate or by the Clerk of the House, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Majority Policy Committee and Minority Policy Committee of the Senate are each authorized to expend, for the purpose of providing assistance in accordance with paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of this subsection for members of its staff in obtaining such training, any part of amounts appropriated to that committee.

(2) Such assistance may be in the form of continuance of pay during periods of training or grants of funds to pay tuition, fees, or such other expenses of training, or both, as may be approved by the Committee on Rules and Administration or the Committee on House Administration, as the case may be.

(3) A committee providing assistance under this subsection shall obtain from any employee receiving such assistance such agreement with respect to continued employment with the committee as the committee may deem necessary to assure that it will receive the benefits of such employee's services upon completion of his training.

(4) During any period for which an employee is separated from employment with a committee for the purpose of undergoing training under this subsection, such employee shall be considered to have performed service

276

(in a nonpay status) as an employee of the committee at the rate of compensation received immediately prior to commencing such training (including any increases in compensation provided by law during the period of training) for the purposes of—

(A) subchapter III (relating to civil service retirement) of chapter 83 of title 5,

(B) chapter 87 (relating to Federal employees group life insurance) of title 5, and

(C) chapter 89 (relating to Federal employees group health insurance) of title 5. (Aug. 2, 1946, ch. 753, § 202, 60 Stat. 834; July 30, 1947, ch. 361, § 101, 61 Stat. 611; Feb. 24, 1949, ch. 8, 63 Stat. 6; Aug. 5, 1955, ch. 568, § 12, 69 Stat. 509; June 20, 1958, Pub. L. 85-462, § 4(0), 72 Stat. 209; Oct. 26, 1970, Pub. L. 91-510, §§ 301, 303-304, 84 Stat. 1175; Oct. 11, 1971, Pub. L. 92-136, § 5, 85 Stat. 378.)

NOTE

Section 115 of Pub. L. 97-51 reenacted section 105 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1979, with two amendments. The section as amended and reenacted reads as follows:

Sec. 105. (a) For the period beginning on October 1, 1981, and ending on September 30, 1986, there is established within the Office of the Secretary of the Senate an office to be known as the "Office of Classified National Security Information" (hereafter in this section referred to as the "Office"). The Office shall be under the policy direction of the Majority Leader, the Minority Leader, and the chairman of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, and shall be under the administrative direction and supervision of the Secretary of the Senate. The Office shall have the responsibility for safeguarding such restricted data and such other classified information as any committee of the Senate may from time to time assign to it.

(b) The Office shall have authority

(1) upon application of any committee of the Senate, to perform the administrative functions necessary to classify and declassify information relating to the national security considerations of nuclear technology in accordance with guidelines developed for restricted data by the responsible executive agencies;

(2) to provide appropriate facilities for hearings of committees of the Senate at which restricted data or other classified information is to be presented or discussed; and

(3) to establish and operate a central repository in the United States Capitol for the safeguarding of restricted data and other classified information for which such Office is responsible.

(c) All records, documents, and data in the custody of the Office of Classified National Security Information established by section 2 of Senate Resolution Numbered 252, Ninety-fifth Congress, are transferred to the Office established by subsection (a).

(d) As an exercise of the rulemaking power of the Senate, section 2 of Senate Resolution Numbered 252, Ninety-fifth Congress, is repealed effective October 1, 1978.

(e) All records, documents, and data in the Office for which funds were made available under Senate Resolution Numbered 570, Ninety-sixth Congress, are transferred to the Office established by subsection (a). (Oct. 1, 1981, Pub. L. 97-51, § 115, 95 Stat. 963.)