HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MEMBERS' REPRESENTATIONAL ALLOWANCE MEMBERS REPRESENTATIONAL ALLOWANCES HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES MEMBERS' REPRESENTATIONAL ALLOWANCE BY ORGANIZATION AND OBJECT CLASS Explanation of Changes Shown On Schedule C MEMBERS' REPRESENTATIONAL ALLOWANCES The Members' Representational Allowance combines three former separate Member allowances, Clerk Hire, Official Expenses of Members and Official Mail Costs, into one allowance. Section 311 of Public Law 104-53, the FY'96 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act authorized the Committee on House Oversight to consolidate the three component parts into one annual allowance, effective September 1995. The FY'01 request is $422,894,000 and supports Member spending for the final quarter of the second session of the 106th Congress as well as the first three quarters of the first session of the 107th Congress. The FY'01 request is an increase of $16,615,000 or 4.1% over the amount funded in the FY'00 Appropriations Act. Mandatory Pay and Related Changes: The personnel estimate of $294,623,000 is an increase of $11,074,000 or 3.9% over the amount estimated for FY'00 of $283,549,000 as referenced on page 11 of House Report 106-156. This increase is defined as being attributed to the annualization of the FY'00 COLA (1.1%) and the prorated January 2001 COLA (2.775%). Price Level Changes: This category represents the estimated increase in costs for goods and services. Program Type Changes: The FY'01 Official Expense component (all non-personnel except Official Mail) is based on the spending patterns of the last two odd numbered fiscal years (FY 97 and FY 99). Rent Communications, Utilities +$3,003,000 The primary reason for the increase in this object class is due to telecommunication charges which are anticipated to continue to increase due to policy changes authorizing the use of official resources to be used during a fiscal year in accordance with CHA regulations to reimburse a Member, Officer or employee of the House for the ordinary and necessary expenses related to official use of telecommunication lines in the residence of a Member, Officer or employee. |