US House of Representatives

House Information Resources FY2001 Budget Request

all areas of design, maintenance and support of the infrastructure that provides email, scheduling, email to fax service, directory services, encryption and digital signatures to approximately 10,000 users. The House Messaging System has been identified by the House community as mission critical and indispensable to the daily operation of their office and their effectiveness in communicating with their constituents. Statistics show that the House Messaging System is currently processing an average of 9.5 million mail and schedule transactions per month (peaks over 12 million), roughly equivalent to 28 million pages of text per month, and as high as a million transactions per day during peak national events.

The messaging system is an advanced client-server system requiring numerous specialized computer servers with software systems designed for round the clock operation and noninterruptible service. This system, through operating systems licenses, is able to support over 11,500 mailboxes for Congress and to further support 124 Congressional offices with email-toFax service processing average over 147,000 fax pages per month (56% increase from previous year). Office participation has increased from 130 to 195. As such, these servers require software licenses and technical support agreements in the equipment category. These software licenses and technical support agreements with leading Information Technology companies ensure that the House receives the most up-to-date software upgrades and continuous technical advice on the latest developments in messaging systems. These funds also provide the House with up to date technology in automated performance monitoring for rapid response and repair of sy stem problems, Internet mail, and "email to fax" capabilities for reliable communications with constituents Spare parts are also required such as computer processors, hard drives and network components to preclude any interruptions to service in the event of hardware failures. A specified amount for training and supplies is identified to support upcoming technical changes and replacement parts.

Equipment Messaging and Scheduling

the messaging servers require annual finding for licenses and upgrades to operating systems and cystem woftware hardware Hardware sustaining costs for over 49 messaging servers and COMAMAKUNICATION, COwes for maintaining a network infrastructure comprise most of the funding requested for the equipment cost area. The contributing elements for equipment costs in this egynt (artial corbution) are messaging server equipment upgrades and network ma senance and equipment costs. The Microsed Windows NT operating system and Outlook medging and carpentar software are core parts of the messaging and scheduling support area.

US House of Representatives

House Information Resources FY2001 Budget Request

Other Services - Messaging and Scheduling

This cost area includes project support for software to monitor messaging server activity (over 45 servers) and help provide proactive service in managing system performance. Other cost elements include communications support for wiring, network jacks, and ports to connect to the messaging and scheduling system.

The Web area (Internet/Intranet) is the fastest growing area of information technology. HIR maintains over 35% (153) of the 430 Member Web sites. The use of "Write Your Representative" has increase 36% from 211 to 288 in 1999. The "Federal Funding Service" was migrated from the mainframe in 1999 to a Web-based environment and experienced an increased in use by 44% from 67 to 97 users. The "Ticket Exchange" was also migrated from the mainframe to a Web-based application in 1999 and experienced 624% increase of users from 70 to 507.

HIR monitors, configures, and maintains 12 Web servers to provide a House Inter/Intranet and host Member Web sites. There was an average of over 23,000,000 hits per month during the past year with peaks over 40,000,000 hits per month occurring during events of national interest. The Web system was unable to process above the 40,000,000 per month hit rate but did continue service for customers not receiving denial of service alerts

The importance of the House presence on the Internet continues to accelerate as more and more constituents connect to the Web seeking information about their Representative's legislative activities and views on issues concerning them. An increasing number of Congressional Web sites are providing constituents a means of voicing their opinions through on-line surveys. Webbased applications such as "Write Your Representative" help constituents identify and contact their Representatives while at the same time protect congressional offices from being flooded with non-constituent messages. The Web systems at the House are a series of centrally operated and controlled servers that connect through the House network and messaging system to the House's Intranet (internal and protected on the House Campus) and to the World Wide Web. The Internet/Web Support areas requests funding in the following areas:

Equipment - Internet/Web

Funding is requested to maintain the hardware and associated software of the House Internet Web systems. Further investments in Web server hardware and software will be required to replace obsolete equipment, implement work load balancing, and provide solutions for improving availability of information. These efforts will maximize dependability and performance and keep up with Member and Committee office demands for increased Web host

resources.

U.S. House of Representatives

House Information Resources FY2001 Budget Request

There has been a 14% increase in Member Web sites since the beginning of the 106th Congress. In order to avoid Member Web sites from becoming slow and difficult to use, server equipment and software must be maintained through maintenance contracts and equipment replaced on at least a three year cycle. Equipment Maintenance expenditures ensures the House receives product upgrades and technical support from key vendors including, Sun, Netscape, Sybase, and Verity.

RCU - Internet/Web

The contribution of project costs to the RCU area comes from the Web-based Newswire services. A number of traditional electronic information services have been migrated to the Web environment and have an associated cost for obtaining the service. This cost is similar to paying for the cable television signal for your home television.

Other Services - Internet/Web

During periods of high demand, support from commercial Web site developers is required to continue to provide Member and Committee offices with acceptable turn-around for Web site updates or to assist technical staff in planning and implementing advanced Web technologies. Other cost elements include communications support for wiring, network jacks, and ports to connect to the Internet and Intranet system.

The Communications support area represents the combining of many HIR and Net Telecommunication projects to provide an integrated communications system. The communications support area costs are shown in the above table and do not directly correspond to the Net Telecommunications budget request since many projects are interrelated. The detailed BOC explanation of the Net Telecommunications budget request is outlined in the Budget Overview section following the Net Expenses of Telecommunications table. The majority of costs in the communications support area are comprised of Equipment and RCU costs for maintenance contracts and telecommunications services such as frame relay and other line charges. The Communications support area provides for the Members' complete access to all voice and data systems in support of legislative and constituent services. All projects providing support to the communications area can generally be categorized into three principal areas of Wide Area Networking, Campus Networking, and Voice and Video Systems.

Wide Area Networks

The Wide Area Network provides Members electronic connectivity throughout the Nation. In this way, Members' District offices are interconnected to their Washington office and have access to all the sources of information that are available in their Washington office, such as email, scheduling, common shared electronic files, newswire information and the wealth of information available via the Internet. A remote secure telephone dial-in capability allows

US House of Representatives

House Information Resources FY2001 Budget Request

Members and congressional staff ubiquitous access to all information normally available from their office Personal Computer (email, Correspondence Management System, files, newswires) at any location in the world with a phone line and a laptop or PC. A contract for Member office Flagship services (more than 600 current Member District offices subscribed), Internet service for the House, and remote Intranet access services, provides these capabilities. This contract ensures that continuous maintenance and upgrades to this backbone for worldwide electronic technology are sustained.

Campus Networks

The Campus Network is a complex and advanced system of electronic switches, wiring, software, and specialized equipment to ensure that all voice and data systems of House Campus buildings are able to rapidly and seamlessly communicate with each other at extremely high speed and capacity. This network is the enabler of all electronic information systems in the House. The internal network operations of the House are of such complexity and continuous demand that preparations are continually underway for upgrade and improvements without which the system would collapse under the expanding demand. The FY01 budget request includes the necessary campus network system maintenance contracts to provide for dependable operation and rapid response to any failure sustained in the network environment. New equipment purchases are also required to sustain and enhance this fundamental system in an electronic environment.

Voice and Video Systems

The Voice and Video category includes projects which support sustainment activities for the House PBX (telephone) and voice mail systems, Member and Committee video conferencing activities, House (Capitol) operators, Telecommunications billing and Telecommunications customer support. This category requires contract and equipment funding for the maintenance of all of the phone systems of the House. The G3 telephone network upgrade project is a large portion of contract related cost for the Voice & Video area.

Equipment - Communications

There are over 840 units of routers, switches, and other communications equipment that must be maintained and supported throughout the year to keep network services operating. Basic maintenance and upgrade costs for the House network infrastructure equipment totals over $1,200,000 for FY01. Network management and secure ID access also contributes to the cost of this support area. There are also a number of older routers located throughout the campus data network that will need to be replaced (edge routers) to begin supporting advanced multi-media capabilities.

RCU – Communications

Basic phone line service for local and district offices is a significant recurring expense for RCU costs in this support area and totals over $1,650,000 per year. Frame relay communications services comprise $2,480,000 of RCU costs, which also contribute to support area costs. Telephony (PBX) maintenance requirements are met by using Lucent contract maintenance services. The 107th transition project is based on an estimated 50 new Members and provides communications support.

Information Systems Security has acquired an expanded role as the House has increased access of data to more users. The wider availability of House services through the Web has also provided more openings for unauthorized access. Security has taken an active role in preventing unauthorized access and in detecting attempts to circumvent the procedures in place. The increased proliferation of computer viruses has also magnified the need for adequate information and data protection.

The need for an increased security presence has necessitated the purchase of hardware, software, and contractor assistance to conduct security initiatives and protect House information. This is reflected in the increased FY01 expenditures for security tools and contractor support, which are essential if HIR is to provide the data security and network security that the House requires.

Communications plays a role in providing network security through servers that identify users and restrict what they can do. In addition, Communications provides the network security for Members and House employees who access systems from remote locations.

Equipment - Information Systems Security

Includes costs for hardware and software supporting network security and network account management. Network servers authenticate users accessing the House Internet systems, and for tools (such as the Secure-ID cards for secure remote use). Costs also include software and equipment for intrusion detection systems necessary to safeguard Member data and software to wipe and verify Member data.

Other Services - Information Systems Security

Contractor support for installed security hardware and software and actions necessary to reduce the vulnerability of Member and Committee desktop workstations is included in this category. A comprehensive intrusion detection and vulnerability/risk assessment program for the protection of House networks and systems is required to maintain a secure information systems environment. Continued maintenance on the hardware and software is needed to operate the intrusion detection and vulnerability/risk assessment system. Contractor support is required to augment the HIR Security staff to conduct analysis of the system data and recommend corrective action for system security.