or agency of the Government, except with the written permission of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate or the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives, as the case may be.

(g) In any case in which a request for the appointment of a minority staff member under subsection (a) or subsection (c) is made at any time when no vacancy exists to which the appointment requested may be made—

(1) the person appointed pursuant to such a request under subsection (a) may serve in addition to any other professional staff members authorized by such subsection and may be paid from the contingent fund of the Senate until such time as such a vacancy occurs, at which time such person shall be considered to have been appointed to such vacancy; and

(2) the person appointed pursuant to such a request under subsection (c) may serve in addition to any other clerical staff members authorized by such subsection and may be paid, until otherwise provided, from the contingent fund of the Senate."

(h) Staff members appointed pursuant to a request by minority members of a committee under subsection (a) or subsection (c), and staff members appointed to assist minority members of subcommittees pursuant to authority of Senate resolution, shall be accorded equitable treatment with respect to the fixing of salary rates, the assignment of facilities, and the accessibility of committee records."

(i) (1) Each standing committee of the Senate or House of Representatives is authorized, with the approval of the Committee on Rules and Administration in the case of standing committees of the Senate, or the Committee on House Administration in the case of standing committees of the House of Representatives, within the limits of funds made available from the contingent funds of the respective Houses pursuant to resolutions, which shall specify the maximum amounts which may be used for such purpose, approved by such respective Houses, to procure the temporary services (not in excess of one year) or intermittent services of individual consultants, or organizations thereof, to make studies

As amended, Sec. 301 (c) of Pub. Law 91-510, 84 Stat. 1176, Oct. 26, 1970, and Sec. 5(a) of Pub. Law 92-136, 85 Stat. 378, Oct. 11, 1971.

7 As amended, Sec. 301 (c) of Pub. Law 91-510, 84 Stat. 1176, Oct. 26, 1970.

or advise the committee with respect to any matter within its jurisdiction.

(2) Such services in the case of individuals or organizations may be procured by contract as independent contractors, or in the case of individuals by employment at daily rates of compensation not in excess of the per diem equivalent of the highest gross rate of compensation which may be paid to a regular employee of the committee. Such contracts shall not be subject to the provisions of section 3709 of the Revised Statutes (41 U.S.C. 5) or any other provision of law requiring advertising.

(3) With respect to the standing committees of the Senate, any such consultant or organization shall be selected by the chairman and ranking minority member of the committee, acting jointly. With respect to the standing committees of the House of Representatives, the standing committee concerned shall select any such consultant or organization. The committee shall submit to the Committee on Rules and Administration in the case of standing committees of the Senate, and the Committee on House Administration in the case of standing committees of the House of Representatives, information bearing on the qualifications of each consultant whose services are procured pursuant to this subsection, including organizations, and such information shall be retained by that committee and shall be made available for public inspection upon request.8

(j) (1) Each standing committee of the Senate or House of Representatives is authorized, with the approval of the Committee on Rules and Administration in the case of standing committees of the Senate, and the Committee on House Administration in the case of standing committees of the House of Representatives, and within the limits of funds. made available from the contingent funds of the respective Houses pursuant to resolutions, which shall specify the maximum amounts which may be used for such purpose, approved by such respective Houses, to provide assistance for members of its professional staff in obtaining specialized training, whenever that committee determines that such training will aid the committee in the discharge of its responsibilities. Any joint committee of the Congress whose

8 As added, Sec. 303 of Pub. Law 91-510, 84 Stat. 1179, Oct. 26, 1970.

expenses are paid out of funds disbursed by the Secretary of the Senate or by the Clerk of the House, the Committee on Appropriations of the Senate, and the Majority Policy Committee and Minority Policy Committee of the Senate are each authorized to expend, for the purpose of providing assistance in accordance with paragraphs (2), (3), and (4) of this subsection for members of its staff in obtaining such training, any part of amounts appropriated to that committee."

(2) Such assistance may be in the form of continuance of pay during periods of training or grants of funds to pay tuition, fees, or such other expenses of training, or both, as may be approved by the Committee on Rules and Administration or the Committee on House Administration, as the case may be.

(3) A committee providing assistance under this subsection shall obtain from any employee receiving such assistance such agreement with respect to continued employment with the committee as the committee may deem necessary to assure that it will receive the benefits of such employee's services upon completion of his training.

(4) During any period for which an employee is separated from employment with a committee for the purpose of undergoing training under this subsection, such employee shall be considered to have performed service (in a nonpay status) as an employee of the committee at the rate of compensation received immediately prior to commencing such training (including any increases in compensation provided by law during the period of training) for the purposes of

(A) subchapter III (relating to civil service retirement of chapter 83 of title 5, United States Code, (B) chapter 87 (relating to Federal employees group life insurance) of title 5. United States Code, and

(C) chapter 89 (relating to Federal employees group health insurance) of title 5, United States Code.10

CONGRESSIONAL RESEARCH SERVICE

(2 U.S.C. 166)

SEC. 203. (a) The Legislative Reference Service in the Library of Congress is hereby continued as a separate depart

As added. Sec. 5(b) of Pub. Law 92-136, 85 Stat. 378, Oct. 11. 1971. 10 As added, Sec. 304 of Pub. Law 91-510, 84 Stat. 1180, Oct. 26, 1970.

ment in the Library of Congress and is redesignated the "Congressional Research Service".

(b) It is the policy of Congress that

(1) the Librarian of Congress shall, in every possible way, encourage, assist, and promote the Congressional Research Service in—

(A) rendering to Congress the most effective and efficient service.

(B) responding most expeditiously, effectively, and efficiently to the special needs of Congress, and (C) discharging its responsibilities to Congress; and

(2) the Librarian of Congress shall grant and accord to the Congressional Research Service complete research independence and the maximum practicable administrative independence consistent with these objectives.

(c) (1) After consultation with the Joint Committee on the Library, the Librarian of Congress shall appoint the Director of the Congressional Research Service. The basic pay of the Director shall be at a per annum rate equal to the rate of basic pay provided for level V of the Executive Schedule contained in section 5316 of title 5, United States Code.

(2) The Librarian of Congress, upon the recommendation of the Director, shall appoint a Deputy Director of the Congressional Research Service and all other necessary personnel thereof. The basic pay of the Deputy Director shall be fixed in accordance with chapter 51 (relating to classification) and subchapter III (relating to General Schedule pay rates) of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, but without regard to section 5108 (a) of such title. The basic pay of all other necessary personnel of the Congressional Research Service shall be fixed in accordance with chapter 51 (relating to classification) and subchapter III (relating to General Schedule pay rates) of chapter 53 of title 5, United States Code, except that

(A) the grade of Senior Specialist in each field within the purview of subsection (e) of this section shall not be less than the highest grade in the executive branch of the Government to which research analysts and consultants, without supervisory responsibility, are currently assigned; and

(B) the positions of Specialist and Senior Specialist in the Congressional Research Service may be placed in GS-16, 17, and 18 of the General Schedule of section 5332 of title 5, United States Code, without regard to section 5108 (a) of such title, subject to the prior approval of the Joint Committee on the Library, of the placement of each such position in any of such grades. (3) Each appointment made under paragraphs (1) and (2) of this subsection and subsection (e) of this section shall be without regard to the civil service laws, without regard to political affiliation, and solely on the basis of fitness to perform the duties of the position.

(d) It shall be the duty of the Congressional Research Service, without partisan bias—

(1) upon request, to advise and assist any committee of the Senate or House of Representatives and any joint committee of Congress in the analysis, appraisal, and evaluation of legislative proposals within that committee's jurisdiction, or of recommendations submitted to Congress, by the President or any executive agency, so as to assist the committee in-

(A) determining the advisability of enacting such proposals;

(B) estimating the probable results of such proposals and alternatives thereto; and

(C) evaluating alternative methods or accomplishing those results;

and, by providing such other research and analytical services as the committee considers appropriate for these purposes, otherwise to assist in furnishing a basis for the proper evaluation and determination of legislative proposals and recommendations generally; and in the performance of this duty the Service shall have authority, when so authorized by a committee and acting as the agent of that committee, to request of any department or agency of the United States the production of such books, records, correspondence, memoranda, papers, and documents as the Service considers necessary, and such department or agency of the United States shall comply with such request; and, further, in the performance of this and any other relevant duty, the Service shall maintain continuous liaison with all committees;