ARCHITE

THE CAPTION

ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL

Capitol Building

CAPITOL BUILDING (CB)

INTRODUCTION

The Architect of the Capitol is responsible for the maintenance, repair, operations, and preservation of the structural, architectural, and utilities infrastructure (mechanical and electrical), as well as the domestic care and the preservation of integral Works of Art in the U.S. Capitol Building.

* The tables included in this budget submission have rounding variances to the nearest thousandth.

The Operating Budget for this appropriation is comprised of all costs associated with the daily care, maintenance and operation of the facilities and activities under the jurisdiction of the U.S. Capitol Building. The budget justification for the Operating Budget includes the below summary schedule that incorporates the following data: the Program Group and columns indicating funding levels for fiscal years 2004, 2005, and 2006, as well as the obligations for fiscal year 2004. Following this summary schedule are the Operating Allotment narratives that describe the purpose of all operating allotments funded in this appropriation. When increases or decreases have been requested for fiscal year 2006, the amount and justification for those changes appear in italics. In accordance with sound financial management practice, these allotments are reviewed and adjusted to reflect changing needs. Increases that cannot be absorbed are requested through the budget process. [Note: The tables included in this budget submission have rounding variances to the nearest thousandth.]

Payroll Program Group (PR): Provides funding for personnel compensation and personnel benefits for the general administrative support of facilities under the U.S. Capitol Building jurisdiction. Included are Government staff salaries and other personal services (i.e., paid leave and lump sum annual leave payments upon separation; for compensation above basic rates including, overtime, holiday pay, the Civil Service Retirement System, the Federal Employees Retirement System, Social Security and Medicare); agency contributions to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), and subsidies paid to employees for commuting costs.

This allotment provides for salaries and wages paid directly to employees including paid leave and lump sum annual leave payments upon separation. This allotment also provides for compensation above basic rates including, overtime, holiday pay, Sunday pay, night work differential, supervisory differential, and hazardous duty pay.

Price Level Increase

$364,000

The increase consists of cost of living adjustments (COLA's) for fiscal year 2006 including the annualization of the January, 2005 COLA and locality pay adjustments for general schedule employees; the COLA and locality pay adjustments for general schedule employees in January, 2006; and the October, 2005 COLA for wage-board employees; and within-grade increases and other pay adjustments.

Personnel Benefits (PR02)

$2,473,000

This allotment provides for personnel benefits for employees including contributions for retirement to the Civil Service Retirement System, the Federal Employees Retirement System, Social Security and Medicare. Also included are agency contributions to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP), the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI), and subsidies paid to employees for commuting costs.

Price Level Increase

$149,000

The increase for fiscal year 2006 is attributable to increased costs of agency contributions for employees' health benefits, retirement funds, and for increased participation in the transit subsidy program.

Curator Services Program Group (CR): Provides funding for the conservation of works of art consisting of over 800 paintings, sculptures, and decorative objects, 300 gilded picture and mirror frames, updating floor display cases in the U. S. Capitol Building, and the rotation of exhibits.

This allotment provides for the conservation of wall murals on the House and Senate sides of the U.S. Capitol in addition to funding the ongoing conservation in the Brumidi Corridors.

Program Increase

$155,000

The requested program increase of $155,000 completes the mural conservation in the west Brumidi Corridor. This is the last area of the wall conservation in these Corridors. Mural conservation costs have increased due to security and handling of hazardous waste which have added man hours to the projects. In addition, the more complicated scaffolding is now being performed on contract.

Works of Art - Repairs (CR02)

$74,000

This allotment provides funds for repairs to works of art that are determined to be high in priority because of their condition and/or prominent location. The funds are allocated among works of art in a variety of media, including paintings, sculptures, gilded frames, and works on paper and other preservations. The Architect has been focusing in recent years on jointly owned art, such as the National Statuary Hall Collection in which the whole collection was surveyed in 2002 and a database created to record inspections and treatments. The sculptures are being conserved in groups. Attention has also been given to training in-house forces to use proper techniques to dust the sculptures. Because the U.S. Capitol receives millions of visitors and does not have the controlled environment of a museum, the need for conservation to repair damage is constant. The Architect of the Capitol's conservation program is managed by the Curator, who keeps abreast of advances in conservation principles and techniques and who seeks out highly qualified conservators in each specialty. Conservators are required to be members of the American Institute for Conservation (AIC) and to abide by the AIC Code of Ethics and Guidelines for Practice, which include thorough documentation. The Curator's Office maintains records on the works of art and the conservation reports.

Display Cases U.S. Capitol (CR03)

$8,000

This allotment provides funding to update the eight floor display cases in the crypt area as well as other areas throughout the U.S. Capitol Building. These cases detail the construction of the U.S. Capitol and selected subjects relating to its history and art. The cases are updated as needed and new exhibits are added as appropriate. Overall, the cases have served the intended function of providing a succinct overview of the history of the U.S. Capitol for staff and visitor orientation. The funds have also been used for rotating exhibits in the wall cases and the more three-dimensional exhibits in the two large cases on the north and south of the room.