TITLE IV. CONGRESS AS AN INSTITUTION PART 1.-JOINT COMMITTEE ON CONGRESSIONAL OPERATIONS 6 Establishment of Joint Committee on Congressional Operations The Act establishes a Joint Committee on Congressional Operations, composed of 10 members, five from the Senate and five from the House of Representatives. Senate members would be appointed by the President pro tempore and House members, by the Speaker; in each case, three members would be from the majority party and two from the minority party. The chairman and vice chairman will be selected by the Joint Committee from among its members at the beginning of each Congress; during even-numbered Congresses, the chairman would be selected by the House Members and the vice chairman by the Senate Members, the reverse being the case in oddnumbered Congresses. Provision is made for the appointment by a majority of the Joint Committee members of no more than six professional and six clerical staff members, whose compensation would be prescribed by the Joint Committee at an annual rate not in excess of GS-18 ($35,505). Among the duties of the Joint Committee are (1) a continuing study of congressional organization and operations, and the recommendation of improvements designed to strengthen the Congress, simplify its operations, improve its relations with other branches of the Government and enable it better to meet its constitutional responsibilities; (2) identifying and calling to the attention of the Congress any court proceedings or actions which it believes to be of vital interest to the Congress; (3) exercising supervision and control over a newlyestablished Office of Placement and Office Management; and (4) reporting from time to time to both Houses their recommendations relative to matters within the Joint Committee's jurisdiction. The Joint Committee, or any duly authorized subcommittee thereof, will be authorized to hold hearings and exercise, generally, the same powers which are exercised by standing committees. However, it will have no authority to make any recommendations relative to the rules, parliamentary procedure, practices or precedents or the consideration of any matter on the floor of either House. The Office of Placement and Office Management will, upon request, assist Members, committees and officers of the two Houses seeking competent personnel with specified qualifications and furnish advice and information with respect to office management procedures. The Office, which is under the control and direction of the Joint Committee, will be headed by a Director, appointed by a record vote of a majority of the members of the Joint Committee, on a permanent basis, without regard to political affiliations and solely on the basis of fitness to perform his duties, at annual gross compensation not in excess of GS-18. The Director would head the staff of the Office which will be appointed by the Joint Committee in the same manner as is provided for the Director. (Secs. 401-406.) • Effective immediately prior to noon on January 3, 1971. ADDITIONAL MISCELLANEOUS MATTERS AFFECTING BOTH HOUSES OF THE CONGRESS Various provisions of the Act, contained in Titles III, IV and V, thereof, which are of concern only to the House of Representatives will not be discussed herein. The balance of this memorandum will deal only with the remaining matters dealt with in the Act which are of concern, either to both Houses or only to the Senate. Authority over congressional employees The Act would clarify the authority of certain elected officers of both Houses, the Architect of the Capitol and the Postmaster of the House of Representatives with respect to employees who are under their supervision, but who may have been appointed pursuant to requests by Members of Congress. Although many such employees are patronage appointments, it is deemed essential that they meet the qualifications necessary for the efficient performance of their duties. The Act would provide authority in the supervisory officials, referred to above, to determine whether persons so appointed have the necessary qualifications for the satisfactory performance of the duties and responsibilities assigned to them, and to remove, or otherwise discipline, such employees. (Sec. 431.) Establishment and operation of Capitol Guide Service The Act establishes, effective prior to noon on January 3, 1971, an official Capitol Guide Service, provides for free guided tours of the United States Capitol for all Capitol visitors, makes the employees of such Service congressional employees, with all of the attendant benefits relating thereto, forbids them to accept any charge, fee or gratuity for the performance of official services, and abolishes the existing unofficial United States Capitol Guide Organization. The Service will be under the immediate supervision, direction and control of a Capitol Guide Board, to be composed of the Senate and House Sergeants at Arms, and is authorized to (1) establish and revise the number of guides, subject to prior approval of the administration committees of both Houses; (2) appoint, on the same basis as standing committee professional staff members, without reduction in rank and seniority, a Chief Guide, an Assistant Chief Guide, and as many guides as the Board may authorize, and to terminate their appointments, as appropriate; (3) prescribe their duties, responsibilities and, with the prior approval of the administration committees of both Houses, fix their pay scales at not less than average compensation previously received over the last five calendar years (excluding 1968) by those who worked full tours of duty under the former organization; (4) prescribe their uniforms and appropriate insignia, to be worn on duty, and furnish such uniforms without charge; and (5) detail personnel of the Service to assist Capitol Police in the performance of certain specified services, not directly involving law enforcement. (Secs. 441-443.) GAO audits of private organizations conducting activities or performing services in or on Capitol grounds or buildings The Comptroller General is required to perform a special annual report on the accounts of all private organizations, whether or not organized for profit, other than political parties and Federal election committees, which perform services or conduct activities in or on the Capitol buildings or grounds and report the results thereof to both Houses of the Congress. (Sec. 451.) Congressional adjournment The Act provides that, unless the Congress otherwise provides, or a congressionally-declared state of war exists on July 31 of such year, both Houses shall adjourn sine die not later than July 31 of each year; or, in non-election years, take a recess during the month of August, agreed to not later than July 31 of such year by concurrent resolution adopted in each House. The period involved during non-election years would actually be from that Friday in August which occurs at least 30 days prior to Labor Day, to the second day after Labor Day. (Sec. 461.) Senate and House Pages The Act amends existing law relative to age requirements for Senate and House pages (now 14-18, in the Senate and 12-18, in the House), effective January 3, 1971, by prohibiting the appointment in the Senate of pages who are less than 14 nor more than 18 years of age; and in the House, who are less than 16 nor more than 18 years of age. However, these limitations would not apply to (a) persons appointed as chief pages, telephone page or riding page during any session of the Congress which begins after he has attained the age of 18 years; and (b) pages who attained the age of 16, but were appointed prior to the date of enactment of this Act. The Act further provides that no person shall be appointed as a page (1) unless he agrees, in the absence of unforeseen circumstances, for a period of not less than two months; and (2) until his parents or guardians have been notified in writing concerning the nature of his work, pay, working and housing conditions. (Sec. 491 (a) (b) and (f).) In addition, provisions are included to provide for and protect their pay during any recess or adjournment of their respective Houses during a session. (Sec. 491 (c) (d).) Finally, provision is made for the construction of a dormitory for pages, to be called the John W. McCormack Residential Page School, which will contain both dormitory and classroom facilities for pages of both Houses and the Supreme Court of the United States. The site is to be jointly approved by the Senate and House Office Building Commissions, and plans are to be prepared by or under the direction of the Architect of the Capitol (who is also to acquire the property) and jointly approved by the Commissions. (Sec. 492.) |