ALAWON: American Library Association Washington Office Newsline Volume 8, Number 27 March 24, 1999 In this issue: Senate Hearing Held on Appropriations for Library of Congress, CRS, GPO and U.S. Copyright Office On March 17 the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch, chaired by Sen. Robert Bennett (R-UT), held a hearing on the FY2000 appropriations for the Library of Congress, the Congressional Research Service, the Government Printing Office and the U.S. Copyright Office. During the hearing, representatives for the Library, CRS and GPO expressed staff retirement concerns. All three agencies are in the process of heavy recruitment efforts. Library of Congress Librarian of Congress James Billington and Deputy Librarian of Congress Donald Scott testified on behalf of the Library. The Library's budget request totaled $383.7 million with $33.1 million in authority to use receipts. This represents a net increase from FY99 of 5.5 percent or about $20 million. Billington expressed concern about the number of staff eligible for retirement by 2004, and assured the Subcommittee that the Library is recruiting new staff. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) suggested that the Library make it a policy to stagger retirements. Billington responded that he did not believe that all staff eligible for retirement would leave at the same time. Chairman Bennett asked whether or not the Library's computer systems were Year 2000 (Y2K) compliant. Scott responded that their systems would be ready. Chairman Bennett reserved the right to hold future hearings on Y2K if necessary. Congressional Research Service The Congressional Research Service requested $71 million for FY2000, a $4 million increase from FY99. According to the CRS Director Daniel Mulhollan, the increase would sustain current services and fund the second year of a three year succession plan. The plan includes maintaining research capacity, preserving institutional memory, and ensuring continuity of service. "CRS is the only resource available to the Congress that is dedicating to providing balanced, non-partisan and confidential policy analysis to Members and congressional staff," Mulhollan said. He noted that in February, Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) reintroduced a bill to make CRS documents available to the public via the Internet (S.393). While Mulhollan acknowledged that some concerns of last year's legislation are addressed, he believes the current bill may have unintended consequences. He cited CRS's concerns with making all CRS documents available to the public, including a report by the Congressional Budget Office which found that the current bill could cost CRS as much as $7 million a year. Government Printing Office Public Printer Michael DiMario and Superintendent of Documents Francis Buckley were among those who testified on behalf GPO. DiMario explained that the FY2000 appropriations request of $128.5 million included $82.2 million for the annual Congressional Printing and Binding Appropriation, and $31.245 million for the annual Salaries and Expenses Appropriation of the Superintendent of Documents. The request also includes $15 million for GPO's revolving fund, to remain available for extraordinary expenses associated with the replacement of the air conditioning systems, elevator renovation and Y2K compliance. Chairman Bennett questioned a possible discrepancy in General Accounting Office statements about GPO's readiness in terms of its computer operations for Y2K. DiMario explained that GPO has detailed its progress with General Accounting Office, and acknowledged that some changes still had to be made. DiMario emphasized that GPO was also experiencing employee loss from retirement. He said there were essential skill areas where employees were or would be needed, and that GPO is at its lowest employment point. He asked for an increase in the statutory ceiling on employment of full-time equivalents to 3550. U.S. Copyright Office Register of Copyrights Marybeth Peters submitted a statement for the record regarding FY2000 budget request for the U.S. Copyright Office. Her statement highlighted the major policy role the Copyright Office will continue to have in the implementation of the Digital Millennium Copyright Act, enacted in October 1998. The Copyright Office, in conjunction with the Librarian of Congress, is currently executing six studies, including studies on distance education and encryption. ****** ALAWON (ISSN 1069-7799) is a free, irregular publication of the American Library Association Washington Office. All materials subject to copyright by the American Library Association may be reprinted or redistributed for noncommercial purposes with appropriate credits. 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