Charles Taylor: “first I would like to thank again our staff and ranking members for the cooperation in the Legislative Branch bill. The…”

“first I would like to thank again our staff and ranking members for the cooperation in the Legislative Branch bill. The conference agreement appropriates $2.53 billion for fiscal year 2001. Compared to FY 2000, including supplementals, the conference report is an increase of $40 million, about 1.6 percent. In personnel, the conference report cuts 47 equivalent jobs. There are no layoffs or RIFs, and all COLAs are funded. Since 1994, we have cut 4,222 jobs throughout the legislative branch. That is a reduction of 15.2 percent. No other branch of the Federal Government comes close to that amount of downsizing undergone by the legislative branch. The conference report includes funds for the further development of the National Digital Library program with the Library of Congress. This project is laying the foundation for integration of the Internet and our educational system. There is also a provision requiring penalty clauses to be placed in the Architect's construction projects. Without the ability to hold contractors to schedules and funding limitations, we are totally vulnerable to mismanagement and lax supervision. This provision is aimed at improving the Architect's control over his construction responsibilities. The conference report does not include merger of the Capitol, Library, and GPO police, nor does the report include the human resources legislation for GAO. The GAO matter may surface again at a later date.”