This division may be cited as the “Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2016”.
Division I — Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2016
DIVISION I Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2016
TITLE I Legislative Branch
Senate
Administrative Provisions
House of Representatives
Administrative Provisions
Joint Items
For Joint Committees, as follows:
Capitol Police
Administrative Provision
Office of Compliance
Congressional Budget Office
Architect of the Capitol
Administrative Provisions
Library of Congress
Administrative Provisions
Government Publishing Office
Government Accountability Office
Administrative Provision
Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund
For a payment to the Open World Leadership Center Trust Fund for financing activities of the Open World Leadership Center under section 313 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2001 (2 U.S.C. 1151), $5,600,000: Provided, That funds made available to support Russian participants shall only be used for those engaging in free market development, humanitarian activities, and civic engagement, and shall not be used for officials of the central government of Russia.
John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development
For payment to the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Development Trust Fund established under section 116 of the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development Act (2 U.S.C. 1105), $430,000.
TITLE II General Provisions
Sec. 201. maintenance and care of private vehicles
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 Administration and for the Senate issued by the Committee on Rules and Administration.
Sec. 202. fiscal year limitation
No part of the funds appropriated in this Act shall remain available for obligation beyond fiscal year 2016 unless expressly so provided in this Act.
Sec. 203. rates of compensation and designation
Whenever in this Act any office or position not specifically established by the Legislative Pay Act of 1929 (46 Stat. 32 et seq.) 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. 204. consulting services
The expenditure of any appropriation under this Act for any consulting service through procurement contract, under section 3109 of title 5, United States Code, 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 under existing law.
Sec. 205. costs of lbfmc
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 $2,000.
Sec. 206. landscape maintenance
For fiscal year 2016 and each fiscal year thereafter, the Architect of the Capitol, in consultation with the District of Columbia, is authorized to maintain and improve the landscape features, excluding streets, in Square 580 up to the beginning of I–395.
Sec. 207. limitation on transfers
None of the funds made available in this Act may be transferred to any department, agency, or instrumentality of the United States Government, except pursuant to a transfer made by, or transfer authority provided in, this Act or any other appropriation Act.
Sec. 208. guided tours of the capitol
Except as provided in subsection (b), none of the funds made available to the Architect of the Capitol in this Act may be used to eliminate or restrict guided tours of the United States Capitol which are led by employees and interns of offices of Members of Congress and other offices of the House of Representatives and Senate.
At the direction of the Capitol Police Board, or at the direction of the Architect of the Capitol with the approval of the Capitol Police Board, guided tours of the United States Capitol which are led by employees and interns described in subsection (a) may be suspended temporarily or otherwise subject to restriction for security or related reasons to the same extent as guided tours of the United States Capitol which are led by the Architect of the Capitol.
Sec. 209. battery recharging stations for privately owned vehicles in parking areas under the jurisdiction of the librarian of congress at no net cost to the federal government
Definition.— In this section, the term “covered employee” means—
an employee of the Library of Congress; or
any other individual who is authorized to park in any parking area under the jurisdiction of the Library of Congress on the Library of Congress buildings and grounds.
Authority.—
In general.— Subject to paragraph (3), funds appropriated to the Architect of the Capitol under the heading “Capitol Power Plant” under the heading “ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL” in any fiscal year are available to construct, operate, and maintain on a reimbursable basis battery recharging stations in parking areas under the jurisdiction of the Library of Congress on Library of Congress buildings and grounds for use by privately owned vehicles used by covered employees.
Vendors authorized.— In carrying out paragraph (1), the Architect of the Capitol may use one or more vendors on a commission basis.
Approval of construction.— The Architect of the Capitol may construct or direct the construction of battery recharging stations described under paragraph (1) after—
submission of written notice detailing the numbers and locations of the battery recharging stations to the Joint Committee on the Library; and
approval by that Committee.
Fees and Charges.—
In general.— Subject to paragraph (2), the Architect of the Capitol shall charge fees or charges for electricity provided to covered employees sufficient to cover the costs to the Architect of the Capitol to carry out this section, including costs to any vendors or other costs associated with maintaining the battery charging stations.
Approval of fees or charges.— The Architect of the Capitol may establish and adjust fees or charges under paragraph (1) after—
submission of written notice detailing the amount of the fee or charge to be established or adjusted to the Joint Committee on the Library; and
approval by that Committee.
Deposit and Availability of Fees, Charges, and Commissions.— Any fees, charges, or commissions collected by the Architect of the Capitol under this section shall be—
deposited in the Treasury to the credit of the appropriations account described under subsection (b); and
available for obligation without further appropriation during the fiscal year collected.
Reports.—
In general.— Not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal year, the Architect of the Capitol shall submit a report on the financial administration and cost recovery of activities under this section with respect to that fiscal year to the Joint Committee on the Library and the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and Senate.
Avoiding subsidy.—
Determination.— Not later than 3 years after the date of enactment of this Act and every 3 years thereafter, the Architect of the Capitol shall submit a report to the Joint Committee on the Library determining whether covered employees using battery charging stations as authorized by this section are receiving a subsidy from the taxpayers.
Modification of rates and fees.— If a determination is made under subparagraph (A) that a subsidy is being received, the Architect of the Capitol shall submit a plan to the Joint Committee on the Library on how to update the program to ensure no subsidy is being received. If the Joint Committee does not act on the plan within 60 days, the Architect of the Capitol shall take appropriate steps to increase rates or fees to ensure reimbursement for the cost of the program consistent with an appropriate schedule for amortization, to be charged to those using the charging stations.
Effective Date.— This section shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2016 and each fiscal year thereafter.
Sec. 210. self-certification of performance appraisal systems for senior-level employees
Self-certification by Librarian of Congress, Architect of the Capitol, and Director of Government Publishing Office.— Section 5307(d) of title 5, United States Code, is amended—
in paragraph (1)(A), by striking “ this title or section 332(f), 603, or 604 of title 28” and inserting “ this title, section 332(f), 603, or 604 of title 28, or section 108 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1991 (2 U.S.C. 1849)”; and
by adding at the end the following new paragraph:
“(5)
(A) Notwithstanding any provision of paragraph (3), any regulations, certifications, or other measures necessary to carry out this subsection—
“(i) with respect to employees of the Library of Congress shall be the responsibility of the Librarian of Congress;
“(ii) with respect to employees of the Office of the Architect of the Capitol shall be the responsibility of the Architect of the Capitol; and
“(iii) with respect to employees of the Government Publishing Office shall be the responsibility of the Director of the Government Publishing Office.
“(B) The regulations under this paragraph shall be consistent with those promulgated under paragraph (3).”
Effective Date.— The amendment made by subsection (a) shall take effect on the date of the enactment of this Act.