OVERVIEW OF THE OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE'S AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES The Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA) established an independent Office of Compliance ("Office") in the federal legislative branch to administer and enforce the provisions of the CAA. In general, the CAA applies the rights and protections of eleven labor and employment statutes to covered employees within the legislative branch: the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, chapter 71 of title 5 of the U.S. Code (relating to federal service labor-management relations), the Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and chapter 43 of title 38 of the U.S. Code (relating to veterans' employment and reemployment). On January 23, 1996, most provisions of the law took effect, covering the House of Representatives, the Senate, the Capitol Guide Service, the Capitol Police, the Congressional Budget Office, the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, the Office of the Attending Physician, the Office of Compliance, and their employees. Additional provisions were applied on October 1, 1996 (labor-management) and January 1, 1997 (OSHA and ADA public access). The section of the CAA relating to safety and health was applied to the Library of Congress (Library) and the General Accounting Office (GAO) on December 30, 1997. Under the CAA, the Office is charged with establishing and administering alternative dispute resolution procedures, including adjudicative hearings and appeals, for covered legislative branch employees who allege violations of certain sections of the Act. The Office of the General Counsel enforces the sections of the CAA dealing with unfair labor practices, safety and health, and disability access. This includes investigation and prosecution of claims under these sections, and periodic inspections to ensure both health and safety, as well as disability access compliance. Additionally, the Office provides education and information to Members of Congress, other employing offices, and employees of the legislative branch. The primary functions and processes of the Office are presented below, along with major accomplishments of FY 1999, and plans for FY 2000 and FY 2001. 2 Explanation of Changes Shown On Schedule C STATEMENTS OF APPROPRIATIONS This Fiscal 2001 funding request is $30,000, the same amount originally enacted in Fiscal Year 2000. OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE December 14, 1999 The Honorable Charles H. Taylor Chairman, Subcommittee on Legislative Committee on Appropriations Dear Mr. Chairman: The Office of Compliance hereby transmits its budget request of $2,095,000 for fiscal year 2001 operations, for the Salaries and Expenses appropriation. Included is a budget justification with an overview of our authority and responsibilities, descriptions of the primary functions of the Office of Compliance, our major accomplishments of FY 1999, and plans for the remainder of FY 2000 and FY 2001. As you are aware, in previous fiscal years the Office has requested that the legislative branch appropriations act include language authorizing an appropriation that was established by section 415 of the Congressional Accountability Act. This appropriation has been authorized in sections 312, 305, 309, 305 and 305 of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Acts of 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999 and 2000, respectively. These sections appropriate "such sums as may be necessary" for awards and settlements under the CAA. I am requesting that this section also be included in the FY 2001 appropriations bill. Included with this submission for your information is a copy of the Office's Three Year Report, published in May of 1999. In light of the importance of the mission of the Office of Compliance and our continuing efforts to minimize both staffing and non-personal services costs, I respectfully request your favorable consideration of the Office of Compliance's budget submission for FY 2001. ROOM LA 200, JOHN ADAMS BUILDING ● 110 SECOND STREET S.E. ↳ WASHINGTON, D.C. 20540-1999 OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE OVERVIEW OF FISCAL YEAR 2001 BUDGET REQUEST The Office of Compliance is requesting $2,095,000 for fiscal year 2001 operations, a 4.75 percent increase from the agency's fiscal year 2000 appropriation, with a decrease of two FTE positions. The increase includes: funding for 15 full-time equivalent positions (FTEs); funding for a 3.7 percent cost of living increase for Office staff, and an increase in the cost of services of hearing officers and mediators. ROOM LA 200, JOHN ADAMS BUILDING 110 SECOND STREET S.E. WASHINGTON, D.C. 20540-1999 OVERVIEW OF THE OFFICE OF COMPLIANCE'S AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITIES The Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA) established an independent Office of Compliance ("Office") in the federal legislative branch to administer and enforce the provisions of the CAA. In general, the CAA applies the rights and protections of eleven labor and employment statutes to covered employees within the legislative branch: the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938, Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993, the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970, chapter 71 of title 5 of the U.S. Code (relating to federal service labor-management relations), the Employee Polygraph Protection Act of 1988, the Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification Act, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and chapter 43 of title 38 of the U.S. Code (relating to veterans' employment and reemployment). On January 23, 1996, most provisions of the law took effect, covering the House of Representatives, the Senate, the Capitol Guide Service, the Capitol Police, the Congressional Budget Office, the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, the Office of the Attending Physician, the Office of Compliance, and their employees. Additional provisions were applied on October 1, 1996 (labor-management) and January 1, 1997 (OSHA and ADA public access). The section of the CAA relating to safety and health was applied to the Library of Congress (Library) and the General Accounting Office (GAO) on December 30, 1997. Under the CAA, the Office is charged with establishing and administering alternative dispute resolution procedures, including adjudicative hearings and appeals, for covered legislative branch employees who allege violations of certain sections of the Act. The Office of the General Counsel enforces the sections of the CAA dealing with unfair labor practices, safety and health, and disability access. This includes investigation and prosecution of claims under these sections, and periodic inspections to ensure both health and safety, as well as disability access compliance. Additionally, the Office provides education and information to Members of Congress, other employing offices, and employees of the legislative branch. The primary functions and processes of the Office are presented below, along with major accomplishments of FY 1999, and plans for FY 2000 and FY 2001. 2 |