Madam Chairwoman Capito, Ranking Member Schatz, and Members of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee, thank you for allowing me the opportunity to submit for the record, this statement regarding the budget request for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 for the Congressional Office of Compliance (OOC).
Before I get to the budget request, I want to express our appreciation for your support for the mission and efforts of the OOC. This year marks the twentieth anniversary of the OOC’s existence. For two decades, our little known independent agency has advanced workplace rights for employees of the Legislative Branch, and helped make offices on Capitol Hill safer places to work and visit.
Congress created the Office of Compliance to administer the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 (CAA) and the 13 federal workplace laws incorporated in the law. We ensure the integrity of a dispute resolution system; carry out an education and training program that assists employing offices and covered employees in understanding their rights and responsibilities under the CAA; advise Congress on needed changes and amendments to the CAA; and investigate and enforce the CAA’s occupational safety and health protections, public access rights for persons with disabilities, and unfair labor practice provisions.
The Office of Compliance is requesting $4,315,151 for FY 2017 operations, which represents a 9% increase from the FY 2016 enacted level. Of the additional $356,161 that is being requested, 79.89% reflects a projected increase in personnel, benefits and other personnel compensation. The remaining FY 2017 budget request focuses on supporting the most important aspects of the statutory functions of the Office of Compliance and improving the delivery of services to the covered community.
Administrative Dispute Resolution Program
The centerpiece of the CAA is the model confidential administrative dispute resolution (ADR) process— counseling, mediation and adjudicative hearings and appeals. The OOC staff is committed to administering an effective ADR program by providing a neutral, efficient and confidential process for resolving workplace disputes at the lowest level. We strive to ensure that stakeholders have full access to the ADR procedures.
