10 Administration's Office of the Federal Register has released its new Home Page which is resident on GPO's server. This new page provides access for the first time to a searchable WAIS database of the U.S. Government Manual. Reduction of Cataloging Backlog GPO provides bibliographic control of information published by U.S. Government agencies. The resulting records are distributed through on-line networks, tapes, paper and microfiche. Cataloging is done using standards developed by the Library of Congress and the international community. Catalogers at GPO meet demanding production and quality standards and have reduced their backlog from 5,073 at the end of FY 1994 to approximately 2,500 at the end of FY 1995. This backlog varies on a daily basis, but the Cataloging Branch has continued to make progress by processing 50,189 receipts over 48,914 received. In 1994, 70% of the backlog was comprised of NASA technical reports, but by using NASA subject terms already assigned by NASA in their reports, this backlog has now been totally eliminated. Monthly Catalog GPO has now included the Monthly Catalog on their World Wide Web Home Page. Users are able to locate publications by searching Monthly Catalog records and then associate a particular title with the name and address of the nearest depository. Early in 1996, GPO anticipates cost reductions by publishing a complete version of the Monthly Catalog on CD-ROM. A paper edition will continue to be produced, but it will be an abridged version. The Monthly Catalog will be published 12 times a year and each monthly edition will cumulate data from previous months. The CD-ROM will contain complete cataloging records and will allow users to search all records at once rather than looking at each monthly issue. B. Sales Program Congress established the Superintendent of Documents ("SuDocs") Sales Program to sell publications to the public on a cost-recovery basis at affordable prices. The Joint Committee recognized that improvements were needed so that the program would be responsive to customers. As a result, and in concurrence with the SuDocs move back into the main GPO building in 1994, updated telephone equipment and computer hardware and software were installed in their newly renovated offices. In addition, this Spring, the Joint Committee approved an Integrated Processing System (IPS) for the Sales Program. The IPS, which will replace 18 outmoded computer systems, will reduce customer processing times, ensure even more accurate handling of orders, and in general, provide better and more efficient customer service. An important element of the new system is that it will also allow GPO to further reduce the number of full-time employees within the Superintendent of Documents and Office of Information Resources Management. The Superintendent of Documents has also initiated a pilot project to provide on-demand printing of Congressional documents available in the Sales Program databases through its Wide Area Information Server (WAIS). The project will evaluate the potential to provide greater accessibility to the public of out-of-stock publications. The GPO Main Bookstore is being provided with the capability of electronically accessing files of publications and printing copies on-site for customers at a minimum charge of $1.00 for a one-page document with 10 cents for each additional page. The pilot project also allows GPO to merge the existing separate Congressional Sales operation into a remodeled Bookstore located at the Main GPO building. 11 C. United States Congressional Serial Set Reducing the costs of producing the Congressional Serial Set has become one of the issues under study by the Task Force established to transition the Depository Library Program to electronic format. House and Senate reports are already available on GPO's World Wide Web site and additional alternatives such as CD-ROM production and limiting paper copies to Regional Depositories only, are being explored. The Joint Committee concurred in October 1994 with GPO's FY 1995 estimate of $47,133,396 for expenditures relating to their annual purchase order requirements and contracts. The Joint Committee reduced GPO's original request by $116,696 after it was determined that a previously approved closure of the Seattle Regional Printing Office should be deducted from the total. The FY 1995 estimate for these services was a 2 percent increase over FY 1994. Following is a summary of these expenditures, which also includes the FY 1995 figure for all paper purchases. During FY 1995, the Joint Committee approved various actions requested by GPO to improve operational efficiencies and further expand into the electronic arena. One of these approvals was for the acquisition of software to accommodate explicit Agency requests to produce their CD-ROM publications using Adobe Acrobat Exchange LE with Search. GPO also prepared a CD-ROM version of the 1994 Federal Income Tax Forms and instructions for Internal Revenue Service internal use and SuDocs sales to the public using this software. GPO is performing the same service for 1995 Federal Income Tax Forms and instructions. The JCP also approved the initiation of procurement action in December 1994 to allow GPO to move to an SGML system. It was originally estimated that this contract would cost an estimated $2.5 million over five years. However, GPO's competitive procurement process resulted in the November 3, 1995, award of a contract for less than $1.5 million for the five year period. GPO anticipates initiation of this new capability in February, 1996. III. 12 ESTABLISHMENT OF STANDARDS AND SPECIFICATIONS FOR PRINTING The law requires the Joint Committee to set standards for printing and writing papers for the Federal Government. These standards must be used by all Federal Government publishers unless an exception is granted by the Joint Committee. The JCP publishes the Government Paper Specification Standards, which define the Government's minimum needs for the various types of printing papers used by the Federal Government. The standards also explain testing and acceptance criteria and indicate the availability of standard paper samples from the Government Printing Office. The Government Paper Specification Standards were totally revised and reissued as Volume 10 in July 1994, to address a full range of recycling, permanence, occupational safety, and technology issues that have occurred within the Government and the paper industry during the past several years. As there continues to be a great deal of change in the products and technology in the paper industry, JCP has developed appropriate updates and changes to the specifications. The focus of these changes is to ensure that the Government can obtain printing, writing, and office papers as economically as possible. JCP plans to issue the first set of amended specifications to the current Volume 10 during early 1996. During FY 1995, the Joint Committee on Printing continued to oversee the successful operation of the Government Printing Office's comprehensive recycled paper purchase program. This program was initiated in June 1989, at the JCP's direction, based on the guidelines issued by the EPA as required by the Resource Conservation and Recovery Act. Subsequently, the JCP has assisted with the formulation of an Executive Order and revised EPA guidelines for appropriate recycled content and use of recycled papers. Volume 10 of the Government Paper Specification Standards, issued in July 1994, reflects the refined recycling policies of Federal agencies, the Government Printing Office, and the Joint Committee. JCP has been innovative in establishing specifications for new recycled papers at times when the industry offers new cost-advantageous grades. GPO has continued to use newsprint with 100 percent postconsumer content to print the Congressional Record and the Federal Register. A new contract was established during FY 95, without an increase in cost, to provide a lighter weight 25 pound newsprint sheet. This lighter weight sheet saves costs by reducing postage and storage and handling expenses. IV. COMPILATION, PUBLICATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF CERTAIN Congressional Publications The Joint Committee establishes policies, standards and procedures for the printing of Congressional publications. These include bills, committee reports, hearings, committee prints, the Congressional Record, the Congressional Record Index, calendars, documents and other publications printed by resolution. In addition, the Joint Committee oversees the distribution of the following publications to Members of Congress and Committees: Congressional Record; Congressional Record Index; U.S. Congressional Serial Set; U.S. Code; Statutes at Large; Treaties and International Agreements; Foreign Relations of the United States; Jefferson's Manual and Rules of the House; Deschler's Precedents; The Capitol: 13 A Pictorial History of the Capitol and the Congress; Our Flag; the U.S. Constitution Annotated; How Our Laws Are Made; and The Constitution. The JCP also oversees the distribution of the 1995-96 national debate topic for high schools: What should be the policy of the United States Government toward the People's Republic of China; and the 1995-96 national debate topic for colleges: Resolved: That the United States Government should substantially increase its Security Assistance to one or more of the following: Egypt, Israel, Jordan, Palestinian National Authority, Syria. The Joint Committee in March 1995, surveyed Members of the House and Senate to determine if they wished to receive four publications that are available pursuant to statute but expensive to produce U.S. Treaties and Other Agreements; Foreign Relations of the United States; U.S. Statutes at Large, and for Senators only, the Bound edition of the Congressional Record for the 104th Congress. As a result of this effort, quantities of these publications were reduced by approximately one-third from their previous levels. The Joint Committee also assisted the House of Representatives in their efforts to reorganize and consolidate their leased offsite storage facilities. An index listing numerous surplus publications available for distribution through the House was sent to each House Member. A substantial number of these publications were requested by and transferred to Member offices. The surplus books were offered at auction to the public in September 1995, with the remainder being transferred to recycling operations. The Congressional Directory for the 104th Congress was delivered to the Congress in June, 1995. Prior to distribution, the Joint Committee surveyed all Member offices to determine whether the Member wished to have their name foil-stamped on the case-bound cover at a cost of $6.95 per line as well as to determine if they wished to receive their full 30 copy allotment. As a result, 141 Representatives and 38 Senators chose not to receive the foil-stamped casebound publication and five Senators and 80 Representatives elected to receive fewer copies than the allotted number. The distribution list for the paper Congressional Directory was reduced in numbers from previous years based upon the Member poll and the overall reduction in House and Senate Committee staffs. A total of 24,429 paper copies and 681 casebound copies of the Directory were produced for 104th Congress versus the production of 29,430 paper copies and 700 casebound copies for the 103rd Congress. The publication is also available on-line through GPO's World Wide Web page. The Pictorial Directory for the 104th Congress was distributed to Congressional offices during the first week of January 1995, and a one page pressure-sensitive photo supplement was distributed in April. The Pictorial Directory is also available on-line through the GPO Access System. C. Other Printing Activity by the Joint Committee In 1995, the Joint Committee published, pursuant to statute, eulogies made on behalf of Representative Jamie Whitten. It also oversaw the compilation and printing of tributes offered by Members of Congress in honor of former First Lady Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. Eulogy books for Representative William Natcher, Speaker Thomas P. (Tip) O'Neill and a tribute book for President Richard Nixon, authorized during the 103rd Congress, are in the process of being compiled and should be published early in 1996. In addition, the Joint Committee published "Hispanics in Congress" pursuant to a House Resolution passed in the 103rd Congress. 14 Comparison Between the Joint Committee's Budget The Joint Committee on Printing's FY 1997 budget request of $777,000 is a $27,000 (3.6%) increase over the FY 1996 appropriation of $750,000. The projected $23,000 increase in personnel compensation is comprised totally of anticipated COLA's ($12,000 for the 2% COLA to be granted in January 1996, and $11,000 for the anticipated FY 1997 COLA increase of 2.3% for nine months). There is a corresponding $4,000 increase for projected personnel benefits. This budget request for the Joint Committee on Printing is submitted for your consideration in the event that revisions to Title 44, USC, eliminating the need for the Joint Committee on Printing are not enacted prior to the beginning of Fiscal Year 1997. Best regards, BillThomas Bill Thomas |