For the "Office of the majority whip," $104,075. OFFICE OF THE MINORITY WHIP For the "Office of the minority whip," $104,075. The increases in practically all of these categories we have been going through over the last fiscal year just reflect a salary increase; isn't that correct? Mr. COLLEY. Yes, sir. Where there is an increase it is basically because of pay increases during the past year. We find that when a pay increase is authorized it might not come in that month. Although we have to budget for the maximum, all of it may not be expended right away. Two PRINTING CLERKS FOR CAUCUS ROOMS For two printing clerks, one for the majority caucus room and one for the minority caucus room, to be appointed by the majority and minority leaders, respectively, $23,180. Mr. ROUSH. What do the printing clerks do? Mr. COLLEY. Mr. Roush, this is the majority room, which is operated by David Ramage and the minority printing room, operated by Tom Lankford. Mr. ROUSH. I thought that would be your answer. Why do we pay them salaries; don't they make a great deal off this printing that they do for us? Mr. COLLEY. I cannot answer that question as to how much they make. When they originally began their operations, as I understand it, they were, as it says, printing clerks appointed by the majority and minority. Over the years the operation has evolved into what it is today. Mr. CASEY. They buy their equipment and supplies, sell their printing services to the Members, and pay their own staffs. Mr. ROUSH. I understand that, but GAO AUDITS Mr. CASEY. Does GAO audit this operation, Mr. Colley? Mr. COLLEY. The GAO started auditing this particular operation last year. I have not seen one of those audits, Mr. Chairman. The audit by GAO was required under the Legislative Reorganization Act. Mr. ROUSH. I have had a couple of instances in which I checked on printing and I found I could get it done commercially cheaper than I could there. I don't understand why we pay two individuals in charge of this commercial operation. I will be interested in the GAO report. Thank you. TECHNICAL ASSISTANT TO THE ATTENDING PHYSICIAN Mr. COLLEY. For a technical assistant in the Office of the Attending Physician to be appointed by the Attending Physician, subject to the approval of the Speaker, $20,840, the same as appropriated for 1972. OFFICIAL REPORTERS OF DEBATES Mr. COLLEY. "Official reporters of debates," $406,555. OFFICIAL REPORTERS TO COMMITTEES Mr. COLLEY. For "Official reporters to committees," $493,125. Mr. ROUSH. Mr. Chairman. There are no vacancies here; is that correct? Mr. COLLEY. At this point, Mr. Roush, I do not know of any vacancies. Mr. ROUSH. Are these difficult positions to fill? Mr. COLLEY. I assume they probably are, but I am not sure of that. We don't make the appointments. They are made with the concurrence of the Speaker, as I understand it, when there is a vacancy. Mr. ROUSH. That is all. APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE, INVESTIGATIVE STAFF Mr. COLLEY. For salaries and expenses, studies and examinations of executive agencies by the Committee on Appropriations, to be expended in accordance with section 202 (b) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946, $1,219,000. OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL Mr. COLLEY. For salaries and expenses of the Office of the Legislative Counsel of the House, $836,000 compared with $739,160 appropriated for 1972, or an increase of $96,840. Mr. Edward O. Craft, the able Legislative Counsel of the House, is here today. I am sure Mr. Craft, as always in the past, would be pleased to submit a statement or discuss his office with the subcommittee. Mr. Craft's salary is set by law. All other positions and rates of salaries are established by him with the approval of the Speaker. RETIREMENT OF EDWARD O. CRAFT, LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL Mr. CASEY. Mr. Craft, I understand that you are planning on retiring the end of this month. Mr. CRAFT. Yes, Mr. Chairman. Regretfully but Mr. CASEY. After 30 years of service? Mr. CRAFT. Yes, sir. Mr. CASEY. I can see why you would smile after that 30 years. You don't look as though you have any regrets about it. Possibly you have some mixed emotions, but we want to wish you all the best on your retirement and hope that you get a chance to do a lot of the things that you have been putting off and didn't have time for during the last 30 years. You have served the House well over the years. Mr. CRAFT. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I have loved my work for the House of Representatives and I will miss it, I can assure you. GENERAL STATEMENT OF LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL Mr. Chairman, members of the subcommittee: Mr. Ward M. Hussey is with me to assist in answering any questions you may have which are not answered by my brief formal statement. Ward is the Deputy Legislative Counsel, but the Speaker has appointed him as Legislative Counsel effective March 1, 1972. Last October I submitted an estimate of $836,000 for inclusion in the 1973 budget for salaries and expenses of the Office of the Legislative Counsel for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1973. For the informaof the subcommittee, I have prepared a tabulation which summarizes and amplifies the information contained in the budget schedules on detail of personal services. The amount requested for fiscal year 1973 and the amounts set forth in the tabulation do not include the additional amount required by reason of the 5.5-percent pay increase which took effect January 1, 1972. 74-040 O - 72 - 49 (The tabulation is as follows:) I. Personal services-annual rate (without 5.5-percent increase): (1) As of Dec. 31, 1971_--_ (2) As of June 30, 1972, add (estimate). Total (3) As of June 30, 1973, add (estimate). (4) Reserve for part-time and temporary (including contrac- II. Miscellaneous expenses--- Estimate for fiscal year 1973--- STAFFING $615, 758 60,000 675, 758 98,000 38.242 812, 000 24,000 836, 000 At the present time we have on the payroll a staff of 18 attorneys and 12 clerks and other assistants in support of the attorneys. By June 30 of this year or shortly thereafter we will have added three more attorneys as law assistants who have already been selected under our recruiting program. WORKLOAD AND EXPANSION The workload (particularly the workload for committees and subcommittees) continues to increase. In order to carry out the objectives of title V of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970 (Public Law 91-510; 2 U.S.C., secs. 281-282e), which updated and restated the statutory authority and responsibilities of the office, we will be required to continue to expand our staff to provide the services for the House and its committees and Members contemplated by the new law. I would emphasize that for us expansion is a relatively slow process. We believe it would be a disservice to the House to expand more rapidly than we can adequately train new personnel. I hope that the subcommittee will approve the amount I have requested for the fiscal year 1973. That completes my presentation, Mr. Chairman. Ward and I will be glad to try to answer any questions that the subcommittee may have. ADDITIONAL POSITIONS Mr. CASEY. Mr. Craft, what is the total number of new personnel you are requesting? You mentioned three attorneys that you plan to bring on board. What other personnel are you planning to recruit? Mr. CRAFT. The three attorneys that I mentioned are those who are already recruited but who have not yet reported for duty. They were included in our fiscal 1972 estimates. They were recruited last fall and the early winter. We found that, in order to get the type of high quality, competent individuals we wanted, we had to go out to the law schools and interview applicants. Our old system of waiting for them to come in off the street or writing to the law professors was not producing results. Those are the three. For the fiscal year 1973, it's contemplated-Ward was in charge of the recruiting program last year and will be, of course, in charge next year as legislative counsel-if Ward follows the same pattern that was followed last year, that the recruiting process will be started in the summer by writing to the law schools to schedule interviews. Senior |