Saturday, October 31, 2009

HR 2918 Appropriations Bill


H.R.2918

Making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes. (Reported in House)

HR 2918 RH
Union Calendar No. 79
111th CONGRESS
1st Session
H. R. 2918
[Report No. 111-160]

Making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
June 17, 2009

Ms. WASSERMAN SCHULTZ, from the Committee on Appropriations, reported the following bill; which was committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the State of the Union and ordered to be printed
A BILL
Making appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled,
That the following sums are appropriated, out of any money in the Treasury not otherwise appropriated, for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2010, and for other purposes, namely:

TITLE I--LEGISLATIVE
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BRANCH
Salaries and Expenses
For salaries and expenses of the House of Representatives, $1,375,300,000, as follows:
HOUSE LEADERSHIP OFFICES
For salaries and expenses, as authorized by law, $25,881,000, including: Office of the Speaker, $5,077,000, including $25,000 for official expenses of the Speaker; Office of the Majority Floor Leader, $2,530,000, including $10,000 for official expenses of the Majority Leader; Office of the Minority Floor Leader, $4,565,000, including $10,000 for official expenses of the Minority Leader; Office of the Majority Whip, including the Chief Deputy Majority Whip, $2,194,000, including $5,000 for official expenses of the Majority Whip; Office of the Minority Whip, including the Chief Deputy Minority Whip, $1,690,000, including $5,000 for official expenses of the Minority Whip; Speaker's Office for Legislative Floor Activities, $517,000; Republican Steering Committee, $981,000; Republican Conference, $1,748,000; Republican Policy Committee, $362,000; Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, $1,366,000; Democratic Caucus, $1,725,000; nine minority employees, $1,552,000; training and program development--majority, $290,000; training and program development--minority, $290,000; Cloakroom Personnel--majority, $497,000; and Cloakroom Personnel--minority, $497,000.
Members' Representational Allowances
Including Members' Clerk Hire, Official Expenses of Members, and Official Mail
For Members' representational allowances, including Members' clerk hire, official expenses, and official mail, $660,000,000.

Committee Employees
Standing Committees, Special and Select
For salaries and expenses of standing committees, special and select, authorized by House resolutions, $139,878,000: Provided, That such amount shall remain available for such salaries and expenses until December 31, 2010, except that $1,000,000 of such amount shall remain available until expended for committee room upgrading.

Committee on Appropriations
For salaries and expenses of the Committee on Appropriations, $31,300,000, including studies and examinations of executive agencies and temporary personal services for such committee, to be expended in accordance with section 202(b) of the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 and to be available for reimbursement to agencies for services performed: Provided, That such amount shall remain available for such salaries and expenses until December 31, 2010.
Salaries, Officers and Employees
For compensation and expenses of officers and employees, as authorized by law, $200,301,000, including: for salaries and expenses of the Office of the Clerk, including not more than $23,000, of which not more than $20,000 is for the Family Room, for official representation and reception expenses, $32,089,000 of which $4,600,000 shall remain available until expended; for salaries and expenses of the Office of the Sergeant at Arms, including the position of Superintendent of Garages, and including not more than $3,000 for official representation and reception expenses, $9,509,000; for salaries and expenses of the Office of the Chief Administrative Officer including not more than $3,000 for official representation and reception expenses, $130,782,000, of which $3,937,000 shall remain available until expended; for salaries and expenses of the Office of the Inspector General, $5,045,000; for salaries and expenses of the Office of Emergency Planning, Preparedness and Operations, $4,445,000, to remain available until expended; for salaries and expenses of the Office of General Counsel, $1,415,000; for the Office of the Chaplain, $179,000; for salaries and expenses of the Office of the Parliamentarian, including the Parliamentarian, $2,000 for preparing the Digest of Rules, and not more than $1,000 for official representation and reception expenses, $2,060,000; for salaries and expenses of the Office of the Law Revision Counsel of the House, $3,258,000; for salaries and expenses of the Office of the Legislative Counsel of the House, $8,814,000; for salaries and expenses of the Office of Interparliamentary Affairs, $859,000; for other authorized employees, $1,249,000; and for salaries and expenses of the Office of the Historian, including the cost of the House Fellows Program (including lodging and related expenses for visiting Program participants), $597,000.

Allowances and Expenses
For allowances and expenses as authorized by House resolution or law, $317,940,000, including: supplies, materials, administrative costs and Federal tort claims, $3,948,000; official mail for committees, leadership offices, and administrative offices of the House, $201,000; Government contributions for health, retirement, Social Security, and other applicable employee benefits, $278,378,000, including employee tuition assistance benefit payments, $3,500,000, if authorized, and employee child care benefit payments, $1,000,000, if authorized; Business Continuity and Disaster Recovery, $27,698,000, of which $9,000,000 shall remain available until expended; transition activities for new members and staff, $2,907,000; Wounded Warrior Program, $2,500,000, to be derived from funding provided for this purpose in Division G of Public Law 111-8; Office of Congressional Ethics, $1,548,000; Energy Demonstration Projects, $2,500,000, if authorized, to remain available until expended; and miscellaneous items including purchase, exchange, maintenance, repair and operation of House motor vehicles, interparliamentary receptions, and gratuities to heirs of deceased employees of the House, $760,000.

Child Care Center
For salaries and expenses of the House of Representatives Child Care Center, such amounts as are deposited in the account established by section 312(d)(1) of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1992 (2 U.S.C. 2062), subject to the level specified in the budget of the Center, as submitted to the Committee on Appropriations of the House of Representatives.
Administrative Provisions
Sec. 101. (a) REQUIRING AMOUNTS REMAINING IN MEMBERS' REPRESENTATIONAL ALLOWANCES TO BE USED FOR DEFICIT REDUCTION OR TO REDUCE THE FEDERAL DEBT- Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any amounts appropriated under this Act for `HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES--SALARIES AND EXPENSES--MEMBERS' REPRESENTATIONAL ALLOWANCES' shall be available only for fiscal year 2010. Any amount remaining after all payments are made under such allowances for fiscal year 2010 shall be deposited in the Treasury and used for deficit reduction (or, if there is no Federal budget deficit after all such payments have been made, for reducing the Federal debt, in such manner as the Secretary of the Treasury considers appropriate).

(b) REGULATIONS- The Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives shall have authority to prescribe regulations to carry out this section.
(c) DEFINITION- As used in this section, the term `Member of the House of Representatives' means a Representative in, or a Delegate or Resident Commissioner to, the Congress.
SEC. 102. Effective with respect to fiscal year 2010 and each succeeding fiscal year, the aggregate amount otherwise authorized to be appropriated for a fiscal year for the lump-sum allowance for each of the following offices is increased as follows:
(1) The allowance for the office of the Majority Whip is increased by $96,000.
(2) The allowance for the office of the Minority Whip is increased by $96,000.

Joint Committee on Taxation
Joint Economic Committee
For salaries and expenses of the Joint Economic Committee, $4,814,000, to be disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate.

Joint Committee on Taxation
For salaries and expenses of the Joint Committee on Taxation, $11,451,000, to be disbursed by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives.

For other joint items, as follows:

Office of the Attending Physician
For medical supplies, equipment, and contingent expenses of the emergency rooms, and for the Attending Physician and his assistants, including: (1) an allowance of $2,175 per month to the Attending Physician; (2) an allowance of $1,300 per month to the Senior Medical Officer; (3) an allowance of $725 per month each to three medical officers while on duty in the Office of the Attending Physician; (4) an allowance of $725 per month to two assistants and $580 per month each not to exceed 11 assistants on the basis heretofore provided for such assistants; and (5) $2,366,000 for reimbursement to the Department of the Navy for expenses incurred for staff and equipment assigned to the Office of the Attending Physician, which shall be advanced and credited to the applicable appropriation or appropriations from which such salaries, allowances, and other expenses are payable and shall be available for all the purposes thereof, $3,805,000, to be disbursed by the Chief Administrative Officer of the House of Representatives.
Office of Congressional Accessibility Services
SALARIES AND EXPENSES
For salaries and expenses of the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services, $1,314,000, to be disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate.

Statements of Appropriations
For the preparation, under the direction of the Committees on Appropriations of the Senate and the House of Representatives, of the statements for the first session of the 111th Congress, showing appropriations made, indefinite appropriations, and contracts authorized, together with a chronological history of the regular appropriations bills as required by law, $30,000, to be paid to the persons designated by the chairmen of such committees to supervise the work.

CAPITOL POLICE
salaries
For salaries of employees of the Capitol Police, including overtime, hazardous duty pay differential, and Government contributions for health, retirement, social security, professional liability insurance, and other applicable employee benefits, $263,198,000, to be disbursed by the Chief of the Capitol Police or his designee.

GENERAL EXPENSES
For necessary expenses of the Capitol Police, including motor vehicles, communications and other equipment, security equipment and installation, uniforms, weapons, supplies, materials, training, medical services, forensic services, stenographic services, personal and professional services, the employee assistance program, the awards program, postage, communication services, travel advances, relocation of instructor and liaison personnel for the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, and not more than $5,000 to be expended on the certification of the Chief of the Capitol Police in connection with official representation and reception expenses, $61,914,000, to be disbursed by the Chief of the Capitol Police or his designee: Provided, That, notwithstanding any other provision of law, the cost of basic training for the Capitol Police at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center for fiscal year 2010 shall be paid by the Secretary of Homeland Security from funds available to the Department of Homeland Security.

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
(INCLUDING TRANSFER OF FUNDS)
SEC. 1001. TRANSFER AUTHORITY- Amounts appropriated for fiscal year 2010 for the Capitol Police may be transferred between the headings `SALARIES' and `GENERAL EXPENSES' upon the approval of the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and the Senate.
OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE
Salaries and Expenses

For salaries and expenses of the Office of Compliance, as authorized by section 305 of the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (2 U.S.C. 1385), $4,335,000, of which $884,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2011: Provided, That the Executive Director of the Office of Compliance may, within the limits of available appropriations, dispose of surplus or obsolete personal property by interagency transfer, donation, or discarding: Provided further, That not more than $500 may be expended on the certification of the Executive Director of the Office of Compliance in connection with official representation and reception expenses.
CONGRESSIONAL BUDGET OFFICE
Salaries and Expenses

For salaries and expenses necessary for operation of the Congressional Budget Office, including not more than $6,000 to be expended on the certification of the Director of the Congressional Budget Office in connection with official representation and reception expenses, $45,165,000.

ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
SEC. 1101- MODIFICATIONS TO EXECUTIVE EXCHANGE PROGRAM- (a) EXPANSION OF NUMBER OF PARTICIPANTS- Section 1201(b) of the Legislative Branch Apropriations Act, 2008 (2 U.S.C. 611 note) is amended by striking `3' each place it appears and inserting `5'.
(b) PERMANENT EXTENSION OF PROGRAM- Section 1201 of such Act (2 U.S.C. 611 note) is amended--
(1) by striking subsection (d) and redesignating subsection (e) as subsection (d); and
(2) in subsection (d), as so redesignated, by strking `Subject to subsection (d), this section' and inserting `This section'.
(c) EFFECTIVE DATE- The amendments made by this section shall take effect as if included in the enactment of the Legislatve Branch Appropriations Act, 2008.
ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL
General Administration

For salaries for the Architect of the Capitol, and other personal services, at rates of pay provided by law; for surveys and studies in connection with activities under the care of the Architect of the Capitol; for all necessary expenses for the general and administrative support of the operations under the Architect of the Capitol including the Botanic Garden; electrical substations of the Capitol, Senate and House office buildings, and other facilities under the jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol; including furnishings and office equipment; including not more than $5,000 for official reception and representation expenses, to be expended as the Architect of the Capitol may approve; for purchase or exchange, maintenance, and operation of a passenger motor vehicle, $109,392,000, of which $8,950,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2014.
Historic Buildings Revitalization Trust Fund
For a payment to the Historic Buildings Revitalization Trust Fund established under section 1201, $60,000,000, to remain available until expended.
Capitol Building
For necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and operation of the Capitol, $32,800,000, of which $6,241,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2014.
Capitol Grounds
For all necessary expenses for care and improvement of grounds surrounding the Capitol, the Senate and House office buildings, and the Capitol Power Plant, $10,920,000, of which $1,410,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2014.
House Office Buildings
For all necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and operation of the House office buildings, $100,466,000, of which $53,360,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2014.
Capitol Power Plant
For all necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and operation of the Capitol Power Plant; lighting, heating, power (including the purchase of electrical energy) and water and sewer services for the Capitol, Senate and House office buildings, Library of Congress buildings, and the grounds about the same, Botanic Garden, Senate garage, and air conditioning refrigeration not supplied from plants in any of such buildings; heating the Government Printing Office and Washington City Post Office, and heating and chilled water for air conditioning for the Supreme Court Building, the Union Station complex, the Thurgood Marshall Federal Judiciary Building and the Folger Shakespeare Library, expenses for which shall be advanced or reimbursed upon request of the Architect of the Capitol and amounts so received shall be deposited into the Treasury to the credit of this appropriation, $125,083,000, of which $31,560,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2014: Provided, That not more than $8,000,000 of the funds credited or to be reimbursed to this appropriation as herein provided shall be available for obligation during fiscal year 2010.
Library Buildings and Grounds
For all necessary expenses for the mechanical and structural maintenance, care and operation of the Library buildings and grounds, $41,937,000, of which $15,750,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2014.
Capitol Police Buildings, Grounds and Security
For all necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and operation of buildings, grounds and security enhancements of the United States Capitol Police, wherever located, the Alternate Computer Facility, and AOC security operations, $26,364,000, of which $7,750,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2014.
Botanic Garden
For all necessary expenses for the maintenance, care and operation of the Botanic Garden and the nurseries, buildings, grounds, and collections; and purchase and exchange, maintenance, repair, and operation of a passenger motor vehicle; all under the direction of the Joint Committee on the Library, $11,263,000, of which $900,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2014: Provided, That of the amount made available under this heading, the Architect may obligate and expend such sums as may be necessary for the maintenance, care and operation of the National Garden established under section 307E of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 1989 (2 U.S.C. 2146), upon vouchers approved by the Architect or a duly authorized designee.
Capitol Visitor Center
For necessary expenses for Capitol Visitor Center operations costs, $23,166,000.
Administrative Provisions
Sec. 1201. HISTORIC BUILDINGS REVITALIZATION TRUST FUND- (a) ESTABLISHMENT- There is hereby established in the Treasury of the United States, as an account for the Architect of the Capitol, the Historic Buildings Revitalization Trust Fund (hereafter in this section referred to as the `Fund').
(b) Use of Amounts- Amounts in the Fund shall be used by the Architect of the Capitol for the revitalization of the major historical buildings and assets which the Architect is responsible for maintaining and preserving, except that the Architect may not obligate any amounts in the Fund without the approval of the Committees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and Senate.
(c) Effective Date- This section shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2010 and each succeeding fiscal year.
Sec.

Friday, October 30, 2009

Coppenhagan Treaty?

Sail on! O ship of state,
Sail on! O union strong and great.
Humanity with all its fear,
With all the hopes of future years,
Is hanging breathless on thy fate
~Longfellow

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

NCGOP goes after Perdue's Campaign Travel

Much like what we are seeing all over our country, Fetzer is finding out that Democrat campaigns were not totally up and up with their recording of traveling and other campaign affairs. We shall see.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Maria Shriver: Pulling Illegal activities without recourse

Texting with her cellphone while driving, Maria Shriver, married to the governor of California, was caught on camera performing an illegal act in public. She should know better, but no ticket. Now this afternoon, she is at it again, parking in a 'red' zone while keeping a doctor's appointment. Was this an emergency doctor's visit or just a routine checkup? Would that really matter? But here she is parked for about an hour in the "No Parking" which is a Fire Zone designation. Did she get a ticket this time? Why no. Nope, no ticket this time either. Seems like California's First lady has the run of the place, doing whatever she pleases without any need for feeling responsible.

Earlier this past summer, I reported on an interview that Ms. Shriver gave a Catholic News agency about how she deems herself a devout, even a GOOD Catholic even though she doesn't adhere on all the basic Church teachings, including pro-life issues. She even when as far as to say that she and the pastor of her parish are great friends. She receives communion, probably doesn't attend penance services, but again, she has no reason to feel responsible for her actions.

Does this give you the creeps? Or at least anger you that the average Citizen can't get this same treatment? We would be paying fines, given tickets, etc.

Sheesh!

Sunday, October 11, 2009

Obama's Gay Rights for Equal Employment Opp

You only THINK you've seen it all. In this video, you will see that Obama's nominee for the Equal Opportunity Employment Commission, Chai Feldblum, has been hard at work on this angle for the homosexual movement. With Obama appearing at a homosexual convention the other day stating that He will be signing legislation for them, then assigning this Chai Feldbaun to the task of attacking employers and businesses to accept (damn it!) gays or else! It's getting his foothold on the neck of the traditional family's last glimmer of hope to stay alive.

They speak of equality, they talk about morality, they are pushing their agendas with words like responsibility, equality, fairness, and acceptance. Feldbaum speaks of a "war that needs to be fought, not in Iraq or the middle East, but right here, to convince people that morality demands homosexuals be accepted!"

This POTUS, has no faith, no church, no close walk with Christ for guidance, just lobbyists, corporations, and sponsors continually whispering in his ears, "We will make you big and strong, we will make you the hero of all, everyone will love you and honor you as the savior of our country and the WORLD!! You, our dear Obama, will be bigger than MLK, bigger than Elvis, bigger than Jesus Christ Himself! You will be written in the books of history as the Change the world could and DID believe in! Keep walking our walk, keep talking our talk because you don't have your own design, just ours. You are our puppet, just like all the other gays in the limelight right now, we will use you to our convenience. We use people who will stand up for anything that will get them fame and money and power. So, that's is, keep on talking our talk, you are doing our mission much good."

So, what can we do? Organizations like NC Family Policy Council, Christian Action League are places to start learning how this government is trying to both approve of and implement this thinking into our schools, churches, medical centers, as well as media. Also, we should not just sit back and accept these alternative ways of thinking. We are NOT powerless, we do have a voice, and possibly, just possibly it is our job in society to speak up for the return to good moral living, thinking, and parameters for if we don't there will not be a black and white, right or wrong, up or down, just lots of gray, no direction, and no parameters to keep. Chaos, only chaos without the security of knowing where one stands.

The bottom line here is this: Children, raised in a responsible home, have parameters to which their conduct is taught, staying in and knowing where they are gives them security and confidence. We are no different, only older. If one doesn't stand for something, one falls for anything. Fight for what is right and be persecuted for it, be not afraid, our society is worth fighting for, our children are worth fighting for, our country is worth fighting for.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Glenn Beck's 9/12 Project

9 Principles, 12 Values
The 9 Principles
1.
America Is Good.
2.
I believe in God and He is the Center of my Life.
God “The propitious smiles of Heaven can never be expected on a nation that disregards the eternal rules of order and right which Heaven itself has ordained.” from George Washington’s first Inaugural address.
3.
I must always try to be a more honest person than I was yesterday.
Honesty “I hope that I shall always possess firmness and virtue enough to maintain what I consider to be the most enviable of all titles, the character of an honest man.” George Washington
4.
The family is sacred. My spouse and I are the ultimate authority, not the government.
Marriage/Family “It is in the love of one’s family only that heartfelt happiness is known. By a law of our nature, we cannot be happy without the endearing connections of a family.” Thomas Jefferson
5.
If you break the law you pay the penalty. Justice is blind and no one is above it.
Justice “I deem one of the essential principles of our government… equal and exact justice to all men of whatever state or persuasion, religious or political.” Thomas Jefferson
6.
I have a right to life, liberty and pursuit of happiness, but there is no guarantee of equal results.
Life, Liberty, & The Pursuit of Happiness “Everyone has a natural right to choose that vocation in life which he thinks most likely to give him comfortable subsistence.” Thomas Jefferson
7.
I work hard for what I have and I will share it with who I want to. Government cannot force me to be charitable.
Charity “It is not everyone who asketh that deserveth charity; all however, are worth of the inquiry or the deserving may suffer.” George Washington
8.
It is not un-American for me to disagree with authority or to share my personal opinion.
On your right to disagree “In a free and republican government, you cannot restrain the voice of the multitude; every man will speak as he thinks, or more properly without thinking.” George Washington
9.
The government works for me. I do not answer to them, they answer to me.
Who works for whom?
“I consider the people who constitute a society or a nation as the source of
all authority in that nation.” Thomas Jefferson

The 12 Values*
Honesty*
Reverence*
Hope*
Thrift*
Humility*
Charity*
Sincerity*
Moderation*
Hard Work*
Courage*
Personal Responsibility*
Gratitude

Saturday, October 3, 2009

View from the Domestic Church: Visiting the EWTN studio this past week to film my new series!#comment-form

It is so exciting to continue to learn of all the wonderful things Donna Marie is doing for we moms and our families! Here is just one more to add to her amazing contributions to the Catholic world!

View from the Domestic Church: Visiting the EWTN studio this past week to film my new series!#comment-form

Thanks, Donna, you are an amazing woman!!!

Friday, October 2, 2009

The Ego has landed!!!! Chicago is cut FIRST!!!!! Yippee!!

Odrama and his Queen and favorite roadie made their narcissistic plea thinking that they had it in the bag are deflated. Awhhhhhhh, to bad, looks like not EVERYONE like them and how they thing it's all about them.

Personally, Chicago has a bad reputation of both corruption and gang violence. Notably, there is no doubt in my mind that other countries would be very concerned about sending their athletes in a very violent atmosphere.

To me this is just a big DUH!!!

Glenn Beck's show today was GREAT!!!

The guest today were 3 Moms with a purpose. I like 'em! Mommy Life is a blog and a movement that I just learned about today and I will be blogrolling them and watching them.

Glenn Beck started a movement called 9/12 and they have taken it and run with it.

Thursday, October 1, 2009

Odrama has NO interest in bi-partisanship. NONE

He has become more and more left and has no interest of doing the right thing with this country. He has no business as POTUS...no business.

We need to impeach him.....NOW.