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I am pleased to submit to the Legislative Branch

Appropriations Subcommittee this letter of justification for the
budget request of the Joint Economic Committee for Fiscal Year
1993. The Joint Economic Committee will be chaired by a member
of the House of Representatives during the 103rd Congress, as you
know, and this letter of justification represents my best
judgement concerning the resources the next chairman will need
for the fiscal year beginning October, 1992.

Before setting out my estimate of the Committee's budget requirements for the coming fiscal year, let me summarize briefly the work of the Committee in the first session of the 102nd Congress. The Committee had an unusually active year in 1991, holding a total of 58 hearings and issuing 13 reports along with a regular newsletter on the state of the economy. (See attached hearings list and list of publications.) Much of the Committee's work was focused on the huge economic changes taking place in the world economy, and on appropriate policy responses to the lingering recession in the United States.

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Although the Committee's work is primarily investigative rather than legislative, a number of issues addressed by the Committee had relevance to the legislative process. Committee work in three areas unemployment insurance, monetary policy, and anti-recessionary policy complemented the work of several legislative committees in the first session of the 102nd

1

Honorable Vic Fazio
Chairman

Legislative Branch Appropriations

Subcommittee

Page 2

At the request of the Joint Economic Committee, the Office of Technology Assessment examined the potential socioeconomic effects of information technologies on rural economic

development. In May 1991, the Committee released an OTA report entitled "Rural America at the Crossroads: Networking for the Future".

We have held hearings with the House Committee on Foreign
Affairs' Subcommittee on Europe and the Middle East on "Soviet
Economic Reform" and the House Select Committee on Aging on
"Using Public Pensions to Balance State and Local Budgets, the
Impact on Public Employees, Retirees and Taxpayers".

The Congressional Research Service has continued to work with the JEC on several of the Committee's projects. Together with CRS, we held a workshop on the Postwar Economic Recovery the Persian Gulf, the proceedings of which were published and distributed. We have in progress a study monitoring the economies of the republics of the former Soviet Union.

The Committee also has continued its practice of followin closely developments affecting the status of the federal statistical infrastructure. The Committee supported the statistical initiatives sponsored by Council of Economic Advis" Chairman Michael Boskin, and remains sensitive to the indispensable role of the federal statistical agencies in producing accurate and timely information for both the public private sectors.

During the year, the Committee took significant steps to improve its capacity to do research on economic policy issues. With the cooperation of both the Senate Rules Committee and th Senate Computer Center, the Committee was able to implement a significant upgrading of its personal computer network. Arrangements were also made with the Senate Computer Center to enable Committee staff to use the Senate mainframe computer fc analysis of large economic data sets. When fully operational, this mainframe capability will significantly improve the capac of the Committee to bring the latest economic information to t

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1

Honorable Vic Fazio
Chairman

Legislative Branch Appropriations
Subcommittee

Page 3

It is my belief that the importance of the Committee's work is likely to increase during Fiscal Year 1993. We will continue to face important decisions regarding both the short-term and long-term performance of the American economy, and the analytical support provided by the Committee will continue to be a major resource for the Congress in addressing these issues.

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Recognizing the severe constraints which your Subcommittee faces with respect to all FY 1993 appropriations requests, the JEC is requesting no increase in staff positions or operating expenses. The limited increase in funding from $4,020,000 in FY 1992 to $4,284,000 for FY 1993 is entirely accounted for by anticipated cost-of-living adjustments, administrative salary adjustments, and increased agency contributions for the existing staffing level.

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I believe that the Committee is continuing to play a vital role in the Congress, by providing the analytical background against which important legislative decisions are made. As the Congress and the country confront the economic challenges ahead, I believe it is important that the Committee be able to continue to provide a forum for analysis and debate on these issues.

I appreciate your attention to the Joint Economic Committee's request.

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Sincerely,

Laul S. Sarbanes

Paul S. Sarbanes

Chairman

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