Capitol Visitor Center Act of 2008

To establish the Office of the Capitol Visitor Center within the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, headed by the Chief Executive Officer for Visitor Services, to provide for the effective management and administration of the Capitol Visitor Center, and for other purposes.

3/5/2008--Passed House amended. (This measure has not been amended since it was reported to the House on March 3, 2008. The summary of that version is repeated here.) Capitol Visitor Center Act of 2008 - Title I: Administration and Management of Capitol Visitor Center - Subtitle A: Description of Facility -
(Sec. 102) Grants authority to the Senate Committee on Rules and Administration and the House Committee on House Administration (supervising Committees) to exercise policy review and oversight over the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC).
(Sec. 103) Declares that certain "unassigned" expansion space for the Senate and the House of Representatives shall not be treated as part of the CVC, but shall be treated as parts of the Senate and House wings of the Capitol. Requires that the Congressional Auditorium in the CVC, together with other specified CVC areas, be assigned for congressional use by the Chief Executive Officer for Visitor Services (CEO) under guidelines established by the supervising Committees. Subtitle B: Office of the Capitol Visitor Center; Chief Executive Officer for Visitor Services -
(Sec. 111) Establishes within the Office of the Architect of the Capitol (AOC) the Office of the CVC, headed by the CEO.
(Sec. 112) Requires the AOC to appoint the CEO, who shall report directly to the AOC and be subject to policy review and oversight by the supervising Committees. Declares that the individual who serves as the CEO under the U.S. Troop Readiness, Veterans' Care, Katrina Recovery, and Iraq Accountability Appropriation Act of 2007 (the Act of 2007), as of the enactment of this Act, shall be the first appointed CEO of the Office of the CVC. Limits to $250,000 the amount of any contract the CEO may enter into without prior approval of the supervising Committees.
(Sec. 114) Authorizes the CEO, with approval of the supervising Committees, to accept and use on CVC behalf unrestricted gifts of money as well as voluntary and uncompensated services.
(Sec. 115) Specifies certain CEO administrative rules regarding:
(1) security;
(2) care and maintenance of facilities; and
(3) exhibits and tours. Title II: Related Services Provided at Capitol Visitor Center - Subtitle A: Related Services Described -
(Sec. 201) Requires the CEO to establish within the CVC a gift shop.
(Sec. 202) Authorizes the CEO to establish within the CVC a restaurant and other food service facilities, including catering services and vending machines (under contract with a private vendor).
(Sec. 203) Authorizes the CEO, subject to the supervisory Committees' approval, to enter into licenses and other agreements for CVC operations and functions, and assess and collect appropriate charges. Requires that events to be held in the CVC central hall be authorized by a resolution agreed to by both chambers, unless they:
(1) provide enhanced security for persons working in or visiting the U.S. Capitol; and
(2) improve the visitor experience in specified ways. Subtitle B: Capitol Visitor Center Revolving Fund -
(Sec. 211) Establishes in the Treasury the Capitol Visitor Center Revolving Fund, consisting of the Gift Shop Account and the Miscellaneous Receipts Account. Title III: Treatment of Capitol Guide Service - Subtitle A: Transfer to the Office of the Capitol Visitor Center -
(Sec. 301) Transfers the authorities and personnel of the Capitol Guide Service (CGS) to the Office of the CVC. Declares that the transfer of CGS personnel shall not cause a reduction in the individual's current grade, compensation, rate of leave, or other benefit while such employee remains continuously employed as a Capitol Guide within the Office, other than for cause. Makes a transferred individual eligible for immediate retirement on the basis of involuntary separation under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) if the individual has completed:
(1) 25 years of service; or
(2) 20 years of service and is 50 years of age or older. Allows a transferred individual to continue participating in the student loan repayment program for Senate employees. Prohibits the CEO from imposing a probationary period on a transferred individual. Excludes from application of this section any employee, contracts, liabilities, records, property, and other assets of the Congressional Special Services Office of the Capitol Guide Service transferred to the Office of Congressional Accessibility under subtitle B.
(Sec. 302) Prescribes general rules for CGS employees. Subtitle B: Office of Congressional Accessibility Services -
(Sec. 311) Establishes in the legislative branch the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services, headed by the Director of Accessibility Services, who shall be appointed and supervised by the Capitol Police Board. Requires such Office to:
(1) provide and coordinate accessibility services for individuals with disabilities, including Members of Congress, House and Senate employees, and U.S. Capitol Complex visitors; and
(2) provide information regarding accessibility for individuals with disabilities, as well as related training and staff development, to Members of Congress and House and Senate employees.
(Sec. 313) Transfers the authorities and personnel of the Congressional Special Services Office of the CGS to such Office. Declares that the transfer of such personnel shall not cause a reduction in the individual's current grade, compensation, rate of leave, or other benefit while such employee remains continuously employed within the Office, other than for cause. Makes a transferred individual eligible for immediate retirement on the basis of involuntary separation under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) or the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) if the individual has completed:
(1) 25 years of service; or
(2) 20 years of service and is 50 years of age or older. Prohibits the Director from imposing a probationary period on a transferred individual. Subtitle C: Technical and Conforming Amendments -
(Sec. 321) Repeals the existing authority of the CGS under the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1970. Makes technical and conforming amendments to the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 and related law. Subtitle D: Transfer Date -
(Sec. 331) Declares that "transfer date" means the date on which the CEO certifies that a certificate of occupancy for the CVC has been issued by the appropriate authorities. Title IV: General Provisions -
(Sec. 401) Authorizes appropriations.


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Sponsor

• Rep. Robert Brady [D, PA-1]
• and 1 Co-Sponsors
  • Rep. Vernon Ehlers [R, MI-3]
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Committees

• House Rules
• 1 more
  • House Administration
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Amendments

This bill has 1 amendments. See All AmendmentsHide All Amendments

Amendments to H.R.5159

Number	Status	Purpose
S.Amdt.5674	Pass	In the nature of a substitute.

Bill Status

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Introduced		Voted on by House		Voted on by Senate		Considered By President		This Bill Has Become Law
January 29, 2008		March 05, 2008		September 27, 2008		October 20, 2008		October 20, 2008

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All Bill Actions

• Enacted on Oct 20, 2008. Became Public Law No: 110-437.
• Signed on Oct 20, 2008.
• Oct 09, 2008. Presented to President.
• Oct 02, 2008: Mr. Brady (PA) asked unanimous consent that the House agree to the Senate amendment.
• Oct 02, 2008: On motion that the House agree to the Senate amendment Agreed to without objection.
• Oct 02, 2008. Cleared for White House.
• Passed by Unanimous Consent in the Senate on Sep 27, 2008. Passed Senate with an amendment by Unanimous Consent.
• Sep 27, 2008: Message on Senate action sent to the House.
• Sep 27, 2008: Measure laid before Senate by unanimous consent.
• Added to calendar on Mar 07, 2008: Read the second time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 611..
• Mar 06, 2008: Received in the Senate. Read the first time. Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under Read the First Time.
• Passed by voice vote in the House on Mar 05, 2008. On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by voice vote.
• Mar 05, 2008: Mr. Brady (PA) moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.
• Mar 05, 2008: DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate on H.R. 5159.
• Mar 05, 2008: Considered under suspension of the rules.
• Added to calendar on Mar 03, 2008: Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 326..
• Mar 03, 2008: Reported (Amended) by the Committee on House Administration. H. Rept. 110-535.
• Feb 12, 2008: Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.
• Added to calendar on Feb 12, 2008: Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Unanimous Consent..
• Jan 29, 2008: Referred to House House Administration
• Jan 29, 2008: Referred to the House Committee on House Administration.
• Introduced on Jan 29, 2008.
• Jan 29, 2008: Referred to House Rules
• Jan 29, 2008: Referred to the Committee on House Administration, and in addition to the Committee on Rules, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.

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Related Issue Areas:

• Congress
• Architect of the Capitol
• Architecture and the disabled
• Budgets
• 42 more
• Business
• Capitol (Washington, D.C.)
• Civil service retirement
• Concessions
• Congressional agencies
• Congressional committees (House)
• Congressional committees (Senate)
• Congressional employees
• Congressional oversight
• Congressional reorganization
• Disabled
• Education
• Employee benefit plans
• Employee training
• Exhibitions
• Food
• Food service
• Gifts
• Government procurement
• Higher education
• House Administration
• Humanities
• Job training
• Law
• Legislation
• Licenses
• Maintenance and repair
• Members of Congress
• Pensions
• Public contracts
• Restaurants
• Retail trade
• Revolving funds
• Scholarships
• Security measures
• Senate Rules and Administration
• Social services
• Student loan funds
• Tourism
• Transfer of employees
• Vending machines
• Volunteer workers

Data from the Congressional Research Service

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Blog Coverage

October 23, 2008 DownsizeDC.org

Capitol Visitor Center Act of 2008: The House agreed by unanimous consent to agree to the Senate amendment to H.R. 5159, to establish the Office of the Capitol Visitor Center within the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, ...

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Source: DownsizeDC.org

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October 20, 2008 President Bush Signs HR 5159 and S. 3197 Into Law

President Bush Signs HR 5159 and S. 3197 Into Law. On Monday, October 20, 2008, the President signed into law:. HR 5159, the "Capitol Visitor Center Act of 2008," which establishes the Office of the Capitol Visitor Center; ...

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October 19, 2008 PL 110-437, The Capitol Visitor Center Act of 2008 - Cost per ...

HR 5159 would establish the Office of the Capitol Visitor Center within the Office of the Architect of the Capitol, headed by the Chief Executive Officer for Visitor Services, and it would provide for the effective management and ...

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Source: washingtonwatch.com - New Laws

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