ing the Rayburn Building, Capitol and Longworth kitchens, from $700,000 to well over $1 million in 1979 fiscal. Coming out of the presidential 1977, inauguration year, you see in those figures that the January month of the Carter inauguration is the highest month gross catering sales that we have had in the 4-year period. We approached it this past September, but we haven't passed it at any time. We feel with the level of service that the Members and the public are asking for, that it is going to be virtually impossible to shut down totally in the Longworth area, because it is the largest of the kitchens we have on the House side. CATERING IN HOUSE RESTAURANTS Mr. MICHEL. On that catering business, you make money on the catering business? Mr. ABERNATHY. We make a tremendous amount of money, and most of the catering sales we have-over 95 percent of these sales come from moneys that are generated off-Hill. In other words, the staff or Members are not paying for this; we are charging commercial rates for this catering and making a sizable, very sizable, profit on it, as we do on the cigarette and candy counter sales. This, in turn, is what justifies offsetting the additional labor cost that is our big problem here in the Capitol, because we have a kitchen in the basement, a dining room up here in a left-handed arrangement, the fact that we are open all the time during the legislative sessions, and there is no way to make the operation in the Capitol labor-effective. Mr. MICHEL. You may have been anticipating the next question. I was going to ask, if you had them available, the figures on gross sales for each of the restaurants, what the food costs were, and what the labor costs were. I recognize it is an in-house operation, but I would be curious to know what the food and labor costs are for all three of those. We only run three around here, don't we? Mr. ABERNATHY. We have broken down only one operating statement, for some 11 different units. It is costed that way. Mr. MICHEL. Do you have an in-house breakdown of those 11 units? Mr. ABERNATHY. Yes, and it is being audited. Mr. MICHEL. Would you supply that for the record? Mr. ABERNATHY. Yes, I would be happy to. [The information follows:] 88 60.3 232,00..23 100.0 296,079.43 100.0 875.50 19.7 665, 267, 37 100.0 8.296.77 4.61 63,350.75 35.2 41.350.45! 3.91 9.681.40 3.3 423,812.73; 39.7 134.035.50! 45.0 3.21 110,687.11 41.1 369,974.87; 30.0 96.025.39 289,104.66 100.0 005.532.36 100.0 232,000.23 100.0 665,267.37 100.0 296,079.43 100.0 150,224.40 100.0 Mr. MICHEL. I would be curious to know. Obviously you take a lead from those that are making money for you and losing money, to make any adjustment, don't you? You have 11 different places where you are dispensing food, right, and there has to be a food cost and labor cost for each one, plus all the other things, but I am asking for only two. Some are going to be more efficient than others. Mr. ABERNATHY. That is correct. Mr. MICHEL. And a variable in the food price, too. Mr. ABERNATHY. Yes, sir. The percentages that we keep are all reflected through gross sales. TIMING OF WORK-LONGWORTH CAFETERIA Mr. BENJAMIN. We have a particular problem here. I am not talking about the expansion, but with the refurbishing we are going to have to do in the Longworth, for several reasons. The timing element in terms of the elections, when people are not here, and particularly a presidential election year, but more than that, Mr. Michel, the Library of Congress is contemplating closing its cafeteria between the Jefferson and Main Library buildings. I imagine they can be persuaded to keep that open longer so that those who would be displaced by the Longworth Building could dine in the cafeteria on the sixth floor of the Madison Building without a heavy influx from the Main Library Building and the Jefferson Building, and that would only be available at this transition period. I presume it would not be available later. I think the Library's intention is to close their existing cafeteria. That could handle it now, or during presumably the rest of this year if we get it coordinated between the various agencies concerned. What I am suggesting, if the subcommittee agrees, is that they go back to the drawing boards, work with the Services Subcommittee-we couldn't entertain it unless approved by the House Office Building Commission, and, of course, subject to your judgment, and the question is whether you want them to go through this exercise. I think the plan that finally was approved was not the $950,000 plan, but a plan which was $750,000. Mr. WHITE. That is correct. REDUCTION IN SCOPE OF RENOVATION WORK Mr. BENJAMIN. I presume that would be cut down? Mr. BENJAMIN. I don't know the timing sequence, whether we have this opportunity without displacing a lot of staff people that would normally eat in the Longworth Building. Mr. ABERNATHY. Mr. White will have to confirm this, but the major difference, I would say, between a $200,000 price and the $700,000 price is we were trying to put a series of small skylights in the ceiling of the Longworth Cafeteria, which is an enclosure of the original courtyard, to get some natural light in there and some plants and some other items that were involved in Mr. White's presentation. This half-million-dollar difference was involved because naturally when you go into the ceiling, into the mechanical aspects of chang ing ductwork and heavy electrical equipment up in there, that is the major cost, but, say, if we could get $100,000, or $150,000, or $200,000 to do an adequate floor, the round middle posts, and some other things, it won't require any super major ductwork and electrical work. Then that, I think, is the way the compromise is headed. WORK REQUIRED TO BE DONE Mr. MICHEL. What has to be done? What is in such a bad state of repair that we have to do anything? Mr. ABERNATHY. Nothing has to be done, Mr. Michel. Mr. WHITE. It is primarily a cosmetic question. The floor is pretty badly worn, but you can walk on it, and it is just a matter of how you want it to look. The inside of that cafeteria, I think everyone would agree, is a little bit drab-and there are a number of things that could be done as a part of this design proposal Mr. MICHEL. Yes, but it is a service facility. We don't go to the cafeteria over there like we are going out at night to get the environment. Mr. ABERNATHY. One comment: It is kind of like, if you please, painting the basement halls in the Cannon Building. It didn't have to be done, but it sure is a delightful addition, and we thank you for that, being a resident of the Cannon Building. Mr. MICHEL. I am curious to know, for example, if the tile floor is in such bad shape it has to be done, and if you won't want to do it now, you will have to do it next year. It gets to be a question of economics, too. That is all, Mr. Chairman. Mr. BENJAMIN. I believe you should get back together with the Services Subcommittee and go back to the House Office Building Commission. I think all of us are interested in what needs to be done. Mr. WHITE. We will be glad to do that. Mr. BENJAMIN. As I pointed out, you have a critical timeframe to work in. Mr. WHITE. We will work at it immediately. HOUSE OFFICE BUILDINGS Mr. BENJAMIN. The request for the House Office Buildings totals $18,010,000 and 786 positions. HOBA NO. 2 PROJECT The House Office Building account funds the renovation work at House Annex No. 2, the old FBI Building. How much is in the budget for that project? Mr. WHITE. There is nothing in this budget for that project, Mr. Chairman. Mr. BENJAMIN. What is the status of that project? Has Phase III been completed? When will Phase IV be finished? Mr. WHITE. From my recollection, Phase III will be completed sometime within the next two months, and I believe we intend to begin phase IV in April or May; that is my recollection. I don't seem to have brought that information with me. Phase III will be completed and Phase IV will begin on April 1, 1980. Phase IV will be completed in early 1981. Mr. BENJAMIN. I am going to submit several questions which I would like for you to answer for the record. How much has been appropriated for that project to date? Update the cost data provided on page 1987 of last year's hearing. [The information follows:] |