STATEMENT OF THE HONORABLE WILSON LIVINGOOD SERGEANT AT ARMS, U. S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON LEGISLATIVE APPROPRIATIONS OF THE OFFICE OF THE SERGEANT AT ARMS GOOD MORNING MR. CHAIRMAN, MEMBERS OF THE COMMITTEE, IT IS A PLEASURE TO BE HERE TODAY. AS YOU ARE AWARE, THE MISSION OF THE OFFICE OF THE SERGEANT AT ARMS IS TO ENSURE THAT THE SAFETY AND SECURITY OF ALL MEMBERS OF CONGRESS, THEIR STAFF, VISITING WORLD LEADERS AND THE GENERAL PUBLIC IS MAINTAINED AND THAT TRADITIONS ARE FOLLOWED WITH RESPECT TO THE LEGISLATIVE BODY AND ITS MEMBERS. THIS OFFICE CONTINUES TO STRIVE TO PROVIDE THE MAXIMUM DEGREE OF SECURITY IN THE CAPITOL AND HOUSE OFFICE BUILDINGS WHILE MAINTAINING FREE AND OPEN ACCESS TO THE PUBLIC AND EMPLOYEES ALIKE. WE ARE CONSTANTLY REVIEWING AND MONITORING SECURITY-RELATED TECHNOLOGY AND METHODS TO ENSURE THAT THE CAPITOL COMPLEX HAS THE BEST SECURITY AVAILABLE. ADDITIONALLY, WITH INCREASED TRAINING OF THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL POLICE, WE PLAN TO FURTHER REFINE THIS SECURITY SCREENING PROCESS. CURRENTLY, OUR OFFICE IS STAFFED WITH 82 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES. SOME OF THE MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE OFFICE INCLUDE: MONITORING ACCESS TO THE HOUSE CHAMBER WHEN THE HOUSE IS IN MANAGING ALL PARKING IN THE HOUSE OFFICE BUILDING GARAGES ISSUING IDENTIFICATION BADGES TO ALL HOUSE STAFF, MEMBERS' COORDINATING AND OVERSEEING ACTIVITIES OF THE UNITED STATES COORDINATING ALL LOGISTICS FOR MAJOR EVENTS TAKING PLACE IN MOST RECENTLY, THIS OFFICE PROVIDED SECURITY AND LOGISTICAL SUPPORT TO THE INAUGURAL CEREMONY AND ACTIVITIES OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES WHILE HERE AT THE CAPITOL. THIS EVENING THE PRESIDENT RETURNS TO DELIVER HIS STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND MY OFFICE WILL BE PROVIDING LOGISTICAL SUPPORT AS WELL. PRIOR TO THE 104TH CONGRESS, THE OFFICE OF THE SERGEANT AT ARMS WAS COMPOSED OF ONLY 20 EMPLOYEES. AT THE BEGINNING OF THE 104TH CONGRESS, THE OFFICE OF THE DOORKEEPER WAS ABOLISHED AND 48 FTEs WERE TRANSFERRED TO THE OFFICE OF THE SERGEANT AT ARMS ALONG WITH THE RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE SECURITY OF THE HOUSE CHAMBER. THESE ADDITIONAL EMPLOYEES INCREASED THE OFFICE STAFFING LEVEL TO A TOTAL OF 68 FTES. AFTER A LONG AND EXTENSIVE STUDY, I REORGANIZED AND REDUCED THE STAFFING LEVEL OF CHAMBER SECURITY EMPLOYEES FROM 48 TO 23 IN SEPTEMBER 1995, THUS BRINGING THE TOTAL TO 43 FTES IN THIS OFFICE. IN OCTOBER 1995, THE OPERATIONS OF THE HOUSE GARAGES AND A PARKING STAFF OF 44 FTEs WERE TRANSFERRED FROM THE ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL TO THE OFFICE OF THE SERGEANT AT ARMS. THIS BROUGHT THE TOTAL FTES UNDER THE SERGEANT AT ARMS TO 87 PEOPLE. THROUGH ATTRITION AND MANPOWER STUDIES, THE STAFFING LEVEL OF THE OFFICE OF PARKING WAS REDUCED FROM 44 TO 39 FTES. THIS BRINGS US TO OUR CURRENT STAFFING LEVEL OF 82 FTES IN THE OFFICE OF THE SERGEANT AT ARMS. THERE ARE SEVERAL OTHER IMPROVEMENTS THAT HAVE BEEN MADE DURING MY TENURE AS SERGEANT AT ARMS THAT I FEEL ARE IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT. AMONG THESE ARE: • THE DEVELOPMENT AND ISSUANCE OF A POLICIES AND PROCEDURES MANUAL TO ALL SERGEANT AT ARMS EMPLOYEES; • AN IMPROVEMENT OF SECURITY MEASURES IN THE CAPITOL AND HOUSE OFFICE BUILDINGS WITH THE PURCHASE OF NEW X-RAY MACHINES AND AN UPDATING OF MAGNETOMETERS; • AN INCREASE IN TRAINING FOR THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL POLICE AND A REORGANIZATION OF THE DIGNITARY PROTECTIVE DIVISION; ⚫ LIMITING ACCESS AND IMPROVED SECURITY CONTROL OVER OUR OFFICE COMPUTER SYSTEMS; ACQUIRING A NEW TECHNOLOGICALLY ADVANCED IDENTIFICATION CREATING A FORMALIZED IN-SERVICE TRAINING PROGRAM FOR ALL DEVELOPING ACCURATE POSITION DESCRIPTIONS FOR ALL POSITIONS IMPLEMENTING EMPLOYEE PERFORMANCE EVALUATIONS AND; ESTABLISHING AN EMPLOYEE RECOGNITION PROGRAM. THROUGH THESE IMPROVEMENTS, THERE IS A MARKED INCREASE OF EMPLOYEE PROFICIENCY AND OVERALL EFFECTIVENESS OF MY OFFICE WHICH AFFORDS US THE ABILITY TO SUPPORT THE NEEDS AND DEMANDS OF A NEW CONGRESS. THE TOTAL FY'98 BUDGET REQUEST FOR THE OFFICE OF THE SERGEANT AT ARMS IS $3,597,679. THIS IS A DECREASE OF $40,321 FROM THE FY'97 BUDGET. THE STAFFING LEVEL OF 82 FTES REMAINS THE SAME. THE PERSONNEL EXPENSES REQUESTED TOTAL $3,189,313. THIS IS A SLIGHT DECREASE FROM THE FY'97 PERSONNEL COSTS PRIMARILY DUE TO THE RETIREMENTS OF INDIVIDUALS IN THE OFFICE OF CHAMBER SECURITY AND PARKING SECURITY WHO WERE EARNING A HIGHER LEVEL OF PAY BASED ON THEIR LONGEVITY WITH THE OFFICE. THE NONPERSONNEL EXPENSES REQUEST TOTAL $408,366. THIS FIGURE WAS CALCULATED BASED ON CURRENT OPERATING COSTS FROM THE FY'97 BUDGET WITH AN INCREASE OF 2.325% TO ALLOW FOR INFLATION. I DO NOT ANTICIPATE ANY NEW PURCHASES OR PROGRAM CHANGES DURING FY'98. I WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE COMMITTEE FOR THE ASSISTANCE AND GUIDANCE YOU HAVE PROVIDED DURING THE LAST CONGRESS. WITH YOUR SUPPORT, THE TRANSFER OF THE DOORKEEPERS AND THEIR DUTIES AND THE GARAGE ATTENDANTS AND PARKING OPERATIONS WENT SMOOTHLY AND HAVE PROVEN TO BE SUCCESSFUL ADDITIONS TO MY OFFICE. ADDITIONALLY, THE TRANSFER OF THE PHYSICAL SECURITY DIVISION FROM THE ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL TO THE UNITED STATES CAPITOL POLICE WAS SUCCESSFULLY COMPLETED. WITHOUT YOUR INTEREST AND SUPPORT, THE ACQUISITION OF A NEW TEMPORARY K-9 FACILITY WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN ACCOMPLISHED. IT IS MY CONTINUED GOAL TO PROVIDE QUALITY SUPPORT SERVICES TO THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES WHILE REMAINING FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE. THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT MY FY'98 BUDGET REQUEST TO YOU TODAY. I WILL BE HAPPY TO ANSWER ANY QUESTIONS REGARDING THE BUDGET REQUEST OR ON ANY OTHER ISSUE YOU MAY DEEM RELEVANT. QUESTIONS FOR THE SERGEANT AT ARMS Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Just one question. Have you looked at delta or the ongoing negotiation of unionization on the costs and the variance of costs? Mr. LIVINGOOD. I am sorry, sir? Mr. CUNNINGHAM. I understand that the unions are coming in and looking at unionizing different branches. Is there any delta information on what the cost significance may be of that? Mr. LIVINGOOD. We have not done a study on that at all, I don't think-this will come up during the Capitol Police budget, but I don't see any difference or change in that, any increased costs at all. Mr. CUNNINGHAM. Okay. Mr. WALSH. Are there any problems with or any ideas that you would like to get before us early on that you wanted to deal with? ACKNOWLEDGEMENT OF SUBCOMMITTEE Mr. LIVINGOOD. No, sir. The committee and staff have been very cooperative and generous with this office, particularly in matters of security. We are striving to get the best security possible in an open environment and allow easy access for the public, the Members, and their staff. I think the Committee has given us guidance and assistance in all the areas that we have sought. I particularly thank the Committee for that. In particular, we have taken over parking security, and I think that has worked out extremely well. We have provided uniforms for staff, thanks to the Committee. And we took over the function of chamber security, from the old Doorkeeper's Office. I think that is working very well. We have new training programs for all staff. More security related for both parking security and for chamber security. You have been working with us on some of these changes and recommendations from this study. And we appreciate that very much. Mr. WALSH. We have a real challenge. We all want the people's House to be as accessible as possible to the people. We don't want barricades, we don't want shielded-off galleries and so on. But we also want to have our security. So you are entrusted with a real sticky wicket. Mr. LIVINGOOD. I as well aware of that situation having come from the Secret Service. During my White House days, when the President was out campaigning, we wanted to keep him in a bank vault and transport him only by tank. Mr. WALSH. What a great situation if you could have done that this year. We will have to keep that in mind for 4 years from now. Mr. LIVINGOOD. But there are some similarities. Mr. FAZIO. We have had problems with our candidates getting in tanks. Mr. WALSH. Any other comments, questions, or puns? All right. Thank you very much. Mr. LIVINGOOD. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. And I thank the committee. CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER'S BUDGET REQUEST Mr. TRANDAHL. Since I am already at the table for the Office of Chief Administrative Officer, the fiscal year 1998 funding request is $59,688,000. At the conclusion of my submitted statement, or after I give my statement, I would ask that the following information on pages 26 to 40 be inserted into the record. Mr. WALSH. Without objection. Mr. TRANDAHL. I appreciate having the opportunity to appear before the Subcommittee today to outline the fiscal year 1998 budget submission of the Offices of the Chief Administrative Officer. As the Acting Chief Administrative Officer, I have had the responsibility to maintain and guide the operations of the Offices of the CAO until a permanent replacement is named. For those of you who are unfamiliar with the details of this organization, the Office of the CAO was established at the beginning of the 104th Congress. The organization was created by transferring administrative offices and responsibilities from various House support entities and offices under this new House officer position. The basic intent of creating this office was to place under one organization all the various nonlegislative administrative responsibilities and services of the House. ORGANIZATIONAL COMPONENTS Included as part of my statement is a detailed organizational chart with division listings. Also included is a chart showing fiscal year 1997 funding levels by division compared with fiscal year 1998 requests. These specific details are certain to assist individuals in understanding the diversity and scope of responsibilities under the purview of the CAO. Simply, the organization consists of six divisions overseeing 31 offices, more than 600 House personnel and has oversight responsibility for more than 200 contracts and an estimated 325 tprivatized contract employees. CAO FY 1998 BUDGET SUBMISSION Before outlining the fiscal year 1998 budget, I would like to take the opportunity to express my gratitude to the many of you who have shown me support and guidance in my short tenure in this position. It has truly been a pleasure to work with the professionals throughout the CAO organization and others interested in the operations of the House and the continuation of reforms to improve the services and support provided for the House membership. Let me add that I have neither been nor do I wish to be a candidate for the position permanently. I accepted this role as an acting appointment, and I continue to view my role in those terms. We in the CAO organization clearly understand the need to respond to the requirements of the House, its Members and responsibilities. We are clearly and simply a service organization, and we pride ourselves on our ability to assist and support the House whenever possible. As the Acting Chief Administrative Officer, I was asked to provide two basic functions throughout my short service-hopefully short service: first, to maintain stability and continuity in the oper |