In fiscal year 1991, the Architect of the Capitol was authorized by the House Office Building Commission and the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration to seek necessary legislative authority to lease space in the Judiciary Office Building when it became available for occupancy in fiscal year 1993. This plan came about to facilitate relocating the Architect's staff from existing House Office Building space to provide more space for needed House functions. At the same time, the Senate agreed to lease space in the new Postal Square facility to relieve its space burden within the Senate Office Buildings. Authorizing language that would provide the Architect with legal authority to lease space in the Judiciary office Building for Architect staff was prepared and transmitted to the House Committee on Public Works and Transportation. A hearing was held during which this matter was discussed. The Committee has taken no further action on this matter.

As legislative authority to lease space in the Judiciary Office Building is still pending, a budget request for operating costs is accordingly included in the fiscal year 1993 request in anticipation of receiving the necessary authority. The estimate is based on the rentable square footage of space (66,400+/-) that has been allocated for use by the Architect of the Capitol and the initial estimated operating cost ($8.61/square foot) that will be charged on a square foot basis to all Judiciary Office Building tenants.

This cost is solely for the Architect's pro rata share as a tenant of the cost of operations and maintenance of the building. Each tenant will be charged a base rent amount (which will not vary over 30 years) and an operating cost amount (which will vary depending on operating experience). Lease costs for base rent will be requested beginning in fiscal year 1994 in addition to the operating expenses. It is presently estimated that the per square foot total lease cost which includes base rent and operating expense will be in the low to mid thirties. Thus, the request for lease costs for this space will range in the neighborhood of $2.3 million. Therefore, the fiscal year 1994 budget request will increase significantly.

miscellaneous

This allotment provides for the variety of improvement projects to be accomplished as requested by Members, committees and support organizations throughout the Capitol Building. The present funding level of $125,000 was established in fiscal year 1977. In recent years the demand for work has increased and the cost of the projects requested have generally increased through inflation. This increase is requested to allow the Architect to continue to respond to requests made under this category. This increase was requested and denied in fiscal year 1992.

This allotment provides for the training needs of all Architect personnel in the Capitol Building as well as the central office staff whose positions are funded under the "Salaries" appropriation. With the recognized need to improve service to the Congress, great efforts have been made to improve operations at all levels. Topics include training areas such as supervision and staffing; remedial reading; project planning and execution; discrimination and equal employment opportunity; and housekeeping. This allotment also provides for training and awareness programs of special interest to the staff serving the Capitol Building such as indoor air quality, energy conservation, hazardous waste, etc. This increase was requested and denied in fiscal year 1992, and is again requested to enable the basic minimum organizational training needs to be met.

This allotment provides for carpentry, electrical, plumbing, hardware, cleaning, heating and ventilating, incandescent lamps and fluorescent tubes and general miscellaneous supplies for the care of the Capitol Building. In addition to these maintenance oriented items, office supplies for the central administrative offices are included in this allotment. It was requested to increase this allotment in fiscal year 1992, but the request was denied.

An increase of $41,000 is again requested to meet the rising cost of supplies and materials for care of the Capitol Building. This inflationary increase is needed to ensure that all of the various supplies and materials needed for the care and operation of the Capitol Building and central office staff are available to the shops and staff.

This allotment provides for purchase and replacement of hand tools and major equipment for the various maintenance shops and offices in the Capitol as well as the equipment needs of central office staff. Many of the maintenance shops are in need of up to date equipment that is safe, reliable and efficient. This is especially critical due to the recent emphasis on improving the Capitol Building's appearance and keeping it well-maintained on a timely basis.

The requested increase is to provide for an annual amount that will allow sufficient funds for the timely replacement of old or obsolete equipment, as well as new equipment with more efficient technology.

This allotment is required to cover the cost of maintenance of electronic systems under the jurisdiction of this office, including the cables and distribution systems for the closed-circuit televising of the House and Senate floor proceedings, the closed-circuit visual surveillance and electronic intrusion detection devices, x-ray inspection and metal detection equipment, energy monitoring and control systems for HVAC operations, data processing and data communication equipment, the CATV system, the central computer control system for the operation of the Energy Management and Control System, and the computer controlled book conveyor system, and the computer controlled air conditioning, fire, life safety and security systems, in the James Madison Memorial Library of Congress Building. A new responsibility,