This letter is at the request of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee of the U.S. House of Representatives for a FY 1997 budget submission by the Joint Economic Committee. As you know, I assumed the Chair of the Joint Economic Committee in January of this year and inherited a budget for FY 1995 of $4.1 million, about one-quarter of which had already been spent. I chose to spend only about 80 percent of the remainder throughout the course of the fiscal year, which was less than even last year's rescission bill permitted. In my January 30, 1995 letter to you, I indicated that I would submit a budget for FY 1996 that would at least mirror the 20 percent cut in FY 1995 funds which were made available to me at the convening of the 104th Congress. Accordingly, my revised budget request for FY 1996 was $3 million, reflecting a more than 25 percent cut from the FY 1995 JEC budget. As you also know, there have been numerous discussions regarding the future of the Joint Economic Committee. As both the Chairman of the JEC and the Senate Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee, I have participated extensively in those discussions. It is likely that an agreement on this matter between the House and the Senate will take place early in 1996. Given this current situation and the need to put a budget proposal on the table, I submit a FY 1997 budget request for the Joint Economic Committee that reflects the status quo of $3 million. Sincerely, Comien Mack Connie Mack Joint Economic Committee Summary By Organization and By Object Class CATEGORIES FY 95 Actual FY 96 Estimate FY 97 Estimate Net Change 96/97 Staff Dollars Staff Dollars Staff Dollars Staff Dollars ($000) 51 3,630 38 3,000 38 3,000 Schedule A Fiscal Year 1997 1. Breakdown by Organization: 2. Breakdown by Object Class: Personnel Compensation 2,547 2,206 2,206 Reimbursable Detail, Contracts Personnel Benefits Equipment, Travel) Stationery Supplies Total 51 3,432 38 3,000 38 3,000 |