Question. The Inspector General released a year-end report entitled "Opportunities Exist to Improve the Management of the Office of the Clerk." Can you summarize the IG's findings and tell us what steps you are taking to implement his recommendations?

Response. The Inspector General indicated the Offices of the Clerk fully implemented the baseline objectives identified at the beginning of the 104th Congress and further, completed a number of other significant actions during the 104th Congress to improve operations, increase accountability and improve resource management. Of particular importance to me was the IG's evaluation that-the Clerk's immediate office has managed its duties in a hands on manner and at the same time empowered its employees to make improvements in their daily tasks. As a result the Clerk has made improvements in process and product while reducing appropriated positions from 302 in 1994 to 282 in 1996 and reducing total non-capital appropriations to $13,807,000 in 1996. Additionally, employee morale appears good as evidenced by the fact that, of the approximately 80 Job Activity Questionnaires (JAQs) and 20 employee interviews, all of the feedback suggested that conditions have improved.

The IG's staff identified a modest but important list of areas where they believe further opportunities exist for the Clerk to utilize staff more efficiently, achieve cost savings and operate more effectively.

Their findings and my responses follow.

Finding A: The Cloak Rooms Appear to Have Several Underutilized Personnel Positions

The Clerk agrees to study this matter further within the broader context of her current review of staffing/reporting responsibilities of the service groups and will forward a proposal to the Committee on House Oversight during FY 97.

The Clerk does, however, believe that the KPMG review during a recess period did not allow the opportunity to illustrate to the auditors the operational responsibilities and pace the Republican and Democratic Cloak Rooms face during a legislative period. The diversity and frontline duties of the staff to assist members of both parties with technical legislative support, current information and basic office and related support needs far exceeds the currently available resources of the Cloak Room staff. While supplemented with the services of House Pages, the needs for experienced supervisory personnel must be understood.

Finding B: Staffing Levels and Mix Required Within the Office of General Counsel Needs to be Reviewed

The Clerk agrees to begin a staffing review and will forward a proposal to the Committee on House Oversight during FY 97.

The audit suggests a comprehensive study of personnel and legal demands on and services of this office be conducted to determine whether reductions can be made. The Clerk will begin such an evaluation with an eye on a possible recommendation to reduce the number of support personnel. As a part of the study the Clerk may request the Committee on House Oversight consider the effects the splintering of legal support services for the House among House Officers has had on personnel levels.

Finding C: Room and Board Fees for Pages Have Not Increased for 13 Years

The Clerk agrees to study this matter further and forward a proposal to the House Page Board during FY 97.

As an educational program, the Clerk believes the intent of the program is to provide a basic spending allowance for participants and recover a portion of the room and board costs via the monthly charges which may need to be evaluated periodically.

Finding D: Page School Staff Appears to be Underutilized.

The Clerk_agrees to study this matter further and forward a proposal to the House Page Board during FY '97.

The compressed school day and the need for specialized professional instructional staff to teach the House Page students make this proposal difficult. If the studentteacher ratio were changed to reduce costs, it would raise multiple concerns. As example, as part of the re-certification deemed by the Middle States Association earlier this year, the objectives of expanding, not maintaining or reducing, the current academic subjects available to students, were clearly articulated.

IG Recommendation:

The Inspector General recommends that the Clerk work with the Chief Administrative Officer and the Sergeant at Arms to establish a consistent system for tracking and managing the implementation of prior audit recommendations.

Management Response:

The Clerk agrees that such coordination is important to the success of the institution and the implementation of various audits. As a point of fact, the Clerk would also highlight the responsibilities of the Committee on House Oversight regarding the daily coordination of all House Officer activities. Further, the Inspector General no doubt has in place a tracking system. Perhaps it has functions which could be easily transferred to the individual officers thereby offering consistency not only among the officers' tracking systems but the Inspector General and Committee on House Oversight's systems as well.

OFFICE OF THE SERGEANT AT ARMS

Mr. TRANDAHL. Could I have the Sergeant at Arms be brought to the table.

For salaries and expenses, $3,598,000 is requested. Included in this request is $3,189,000 for personnel and $409,000 for nonpersonnel related expenses.

I introduce the Honorable William S. Livingood, the Sergeant at Arms of the House, here to testify on behalf of his fiscal year 1998 budget request, and I ask that the table on page 25 be inserted into the record.

Mr. WALSH. Without objection. [The information follows:]

OFFICE OF THE SERGEANT AT ARMS

(See Pages 62-63 Subcommittee Print)

For salaries and expenses for the Sergeant at Arms, $3,598,000. Included in this request

is $3.189.000 for personnel and $409.000 for non-personnel related expenses.

At this time I will introduce the Honorable Wilson S. Livingood, the Sergeant at Arms of the House, who is here to testify on behalf of his FY '98 budget request.

Mr. WALSH. Bill, welcome. I know this is a busy day for you with the President coming up. Lots of security issues. We won't hold you up too long. I will withhold any questions and go to Mr. Serrano, or if you would like to make an opening statement.

STUDY OF THE CAPITOL

Mr. LIVINGOOD. I think I will just submit my statement, sir. There is just one item I wanted to add to that statement. One of the accomplishments I did not mention in my statement was the joint Secret Service, Capitol Police, and Sergeant at Arms study of the Capitol complex completed this last year; this was an exhaustive study about the security of the Capitol. We are in the process of implementing suggestions and recommendations.

Mr. WALSH. Ŏkay.

[The information follows:]