The Architect of the Capitol, acting as an agent of the Congress, is in charge of the structural and mechanical care of the Capitol Subject to the approval of the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration as to matters of general policy, the Architect is Under the direction of the House Office Building Commission, the Architect is responsible for the structural, mechanical, and The Architect is also charged with the care, maintenance, and operation of the Capitol Power Plant, which supplies steam for heating General Statement Fiscal Year 2001 Budget Estimate and chilled water for cooling the Capitol, the Senate and House Office Buildings, the Library of Congress buildings, and other buildings. Garden. 1 Under the direction of the Joint Committee on the Library, the Architect serves as Acting Director of the United States Botanic The Architect of the Capitol is also charged with the planning and construction of such additional buildings as are committed to his care by Congress. He serves by law as a member of the Capitol Police Board, the Capitol Guide Board, the District of Columbia Zoning Commission, and the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation. He is also a member of the National Capital Memorial Commission, and he serves as Coordinator of Civil Defense for the Capitol Complex: The traditional core mission of the agency has been to provide for the Congress, on a neutral, bicameral and non-partisan basis, professional expertise and advice relating to preserving and enhancing the environment of the Capitol Complex and operating and maintaining the infrastructure supporting the Congress, other Legislative Branch support entities and the Supreme Court. In so doing, the agency has utilized available architectural, engineering and professional expertise, on staff and through consultants, in order to provide the Congress with the most appropriate, timely and cost effective recommendations. The agency has managed trades and services personnel who are charged with ensuring that the building systems operate efficiently and reliably in support of Congressional activities. The agency also has administered a wide variety of contracts for building design, construction and maintenance. The Capitol Grounds and many of the buildings in the Capitol Complex are national treasures and require intimate knowledge and significant forethought for their preservation as their functions and systems are modified to meet changing needs. For example, the U.S. Capitol -- "the people's building" -- is a unique combination of national capitol, museum, office building, ceremonial site, meeting center and tourist attraction. Of course, its architectural design, decorative arts and historical significance must all be carefully considered before undertaking any work or implementing any structural or other physical changes to the building. Critical to achieving the office's mission is the preservation of institutional knowledge that has accrued in the agency. The value of the long-term role of the Architect as an advocate for the Capitol Complex environment was recognized by the Congress when it established ten-year renewable terms for Architect appointments. Such an advocacy role is no less appropriate for the core professional GS.2 Ger Fiscal Year 2001 Budget Estimate and trades staff. The merit of maintaining a long-term view for preserving, protecting and improving the complex is self-evident; to the credit of the agency, Congressional activities have never been interrupted by failure of any major building system. Another benefit of the neutral, bicameral role of the Architect of the Capitol is the ability to provide technical and professional coordination in connection with "joint activities. Over the years, the role of the agency has become broader as a result. There are now functions and activities, such as transportation services and telecommunications, as well as Inaugural and Rotunda ceremonies and other events of political and social significance, that must be coordinated or logistically supported by the Architect, that are often not recognized as being within the scope of the agency's professional, architectural, engineering and facilities management role. The role of the agency in providing these services extends back over 200 years, predating the removal of the Congress itself to Washington and the building of the Capitol. During these years, the ongoing and ever-changing institution of the Congress has been served by an agency that has responded to changing Congressional needs, yet maintained a neutral and continuous role in preserving the Congressional infrastructure. FISCAL YEAR 2001 BUDGET SUMMARY The Office of the Architect of the Capitol, in its fiscal year 1998 budget presentation, began the process of identifying the necessary organizational, operational and program development changes which are essential to achieving the office's mission while incorporating best business practices for all its organizational disciplines -- and while anticipating current and future client needs. Critical to achieving the office's mission is the preservation of the institutional knowledge that has accrued in the agency. The office must reinvest in itself to preserve the skills and knowledge of the core professional and trade staffs. NY Just as the last three budget cycles have reinvested in the Capitol Complex -- in the preservation of the national treasures entrusted to the Architect's care the fiscal year 2001 budget continues its reinvestment in infrastructure of the office, increases life safety efforts throughout the campus, and increases agency-wide development and adoption of best business practice applications to meet mission requirements. GS.3 General Statement Fiscal Year 2001 Budget Estimate In fiscal year 2001 the budget is presented again as an Operating Budget and a Capital Budget. With respect to the Operating Budget for fiscal year 2001, the Architect of the Capitol is requesting funding of $3,927,000 for 70 key unfunded Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff. Increases for mandatory pay items and some annual maintenance costs totaling $14,650,000, or 8.9% above fiscal year 2000 operating costs. These increases are described in the following operating budget summary and detailed and justified in the Schedule C's and Operating Allotment narratives. The Capital Budget request includes a increase of $23,255,000 over the capital budget funding appropriated for fiscal year 2000. The requested appropriations for all activities under the Architect of the Capitol totals $252,121,000, which is a $41,832,000 FISCAL YEAR 2001 OPERATING BUDGET For fiscal year 2001, an 11.3 percent increase of $18,577,000 is requested for operating costs for all appropriations. The Operating Budget is comprised of all costs associated with the daily care, maintenance and operation of the facilities under the jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol. The increase of $18,577,000 is comprised of $6,740,000 for mandatory pay items, $1,750,000 for price level increases, the majority of which is to meet the rising cost of utilities; and a net increase of $10,087,000 for items related to workload increases including $3,927,000 for unfunded FTE's. " GS.4 FISCAL YEAR 2001 FIVE YEAR CAPITAL BUDGET The fiscal year 2001 capital budget is presented again as a five year plan. The basis for this five year budget plan is comprehensive agency-wide planning and coordination of all cyclical maintenance projects and building system enhancements in a thorough, systematicTM and programmed manner. All of the agency's clients were involved in this planning process as well. On the House side, these includedthe Sergeant at Arms, the Chief Administrative Officer and the Clerk of the House. On the Senate, side these included the Sergeant at Arms and the Secretary of the Senate. The U.S. Capitol Police provided a detailed outline of their needs. The Librarian of Congress was also |