1994 U.S. Code
Title 40 - PUBLIC BUILDINGS, PROPERTY, AND WORKS
CHAPTER 18 - NATIONAL VISITOR CENTER FACILITIES; UNION STATION REDEVELOPMENT; CAPITOL GUIDE SERVICE
SUBCHAPTER IV - CAPITOL GUIDE SERVICE
Sec. 851 - Capitol Guide Service

View Metadata

§851. Capitol Guide Service (a) Establishment; designation; supervision of Capitol Guide Board; membership of Board

There is hereby established an organization under the Congress of the United States, to be designated the “Capitol Guide Service”, which shall be subject to the direction, supervision, and control of a Capitol Guide Board consisting of the Architect of the Capitol, the Sergeant at Arms of the Senate, and the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives.

(b) Guided tours; regulations

The Capitol Guide Service is authorized and directed to provide guided tours of the interior of the United States Capitol Building for the education and enlightenment of the general public, without charge for such tours. All such tours shall be conducted in compliance with regulations prescribed by the Capitol Guide Board.

(c) Duties of Capitol Guide Board; positions of Guide in Capitol Guide Service; establishment and revision; Chief, Deputy Chief, and Assistant Chief Guide and Guides: appointment, duties, pay, and termination of employment

The Capitol Guide Board is authorized—

(1) with the prior approval of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate and the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives, to establish and revise such number of positions of Guide in the Capitol Guide Service as the Board considers necessary to carry out effectively the activities of the Capitol Guide Service;

(2) to appoint, on a permanent basis, without regard to political affiliation, and solely on the basis of fitness to perform their duties, a Chief Guide, a Deputy Chief Guide, and an Assistant Chief Guide, and, in addition, such number of Guides as may be authorized under subparagraph (1) of this subsection;

(3) to prescribe their duties and responsibilities;

(4) with the prior approval of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate and the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives, to fix, and adjust from time to time, their respective rates of pay at single per annum (gross) rates; and

(5) to terminate their employment as the Board considers appropriate.

(d) Uniforms

The Capitol Guide Board shall—

(1) prescribe a uniform dress, including appropriate insignia, which shall be worn by personnel of the Capitol Guide Service when on duty; and

(2) from time to time, as may be necessary, procure and furnish such uniforms to such personnel without charge to such personnel.

(e) Acceptance of fees; prohibition

An employee of the Capitol Guide Service shall not charge or accept any fee, or accept any gratuity, for or on account of his official services.

(f) Personnel detail

The Capitol Guide Board may detail personnel of the Capitol Guide Service to assist the United States Capitol Police by providing ushering and informational services, and other services not directly involving law enforcement, in connection with the inauguration of the President and Vice President of the United States, the official reception of representatives of foreign nations and other persons by the Senate or House of Representatives, and other special or ceremonial occasions in the United States Capitol Building or on the United States Capitol Grounds which require the presence of additional Government personnel and which cause the temporary suspension of the performance of the regular duties of the Capitol Guide Service.

(g) Historical and educational information

The Capitol Guide Board may receive and consider advice and information from any private historical or educational organization, association, or society with respect to those operations of the Capitol Guide Service which involve the furnishing of historical and educational information to the general public.

(h) Regulations for operation of Service

With the prior approval of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate and the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives, the Capitol Guide Board shall prescribe such regulations as the Board considers necessary and appropriate for the operation of the Capitol Guide Service.

(i) Disciplinary action

The Capitol Guide Board may take appropriate disciplinary action, including, when circumstances warrant, suspension from duty without pay, reduction in pay, demotion, or removal from employment with the Capitol Guide Service, against any employee who violates any provision of this section or any regulations prescribed by the Board pursuant to this section.

(j) Expenses; payment from contingent fund until availability of appropriations

The expenses of the Capitol Guide Service shall be paid from the contingent fund of the House of Representatives, until appropriations are available for the payment of such expenses.

(Pub. L. 91–510, title IV, §441, Oct. 26, 1970, 84 Stat. 1190; Pub. L. 95–94, title I, Aug. 5, 1977, 91 Stat. 671.)

Codification

Section was not enacted as part of the National Visitor Center Facilities Act of 1968 which comprises this chapter.

Amendments

1977—Subsec. (c)(2). Pub. L. 95–94 inserted reference to Deputy Chief Guide.

Change of Name

Committee on House Administration of House of Representatives changed to Committee on House Oversight of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Fourth Congress, Jan. 4, 1995.

Effective Date of 1977 Amendment

Pub. L. 95–94 provided that the amendment is effective Oct. 1, 1977.

Effective Date

Section effective immediately prior to noon on Jan. 3, 1971, see section 601(1) of Pub. L. 91–510, set out as an Effective Date of 1970 Amendment note under section 72a of Title 2, The Congress.

Transfer of Functions

Certain functions of Sergeant at Arms of House of Representatives transferred to Director of Non-legislative and Financial Services by section 7 of House Resolution No. 423, One Hundred Second Congress, Apr. 9, 1992. Director of Non-legislative and Financial Services replaced by Chief Administrative Officer of House of Representatives by House Resolution No. 6, One Hundred Fourth Congress, Jan. 4, 1995.

Increases in Compensation

Increases in compensation for the Capitol Guide Board, the Chief Guide, the Deputy Chief Guide, the Assistant Chief Guide, and the Guides of the Capitol Guide Service under authority of the Federal Pay Comparability Act of 1970 (Pub. L. 91–656), see Salary Directives of the President pro tempore of the Senate, set out as notes under section 60a–1 of Title 2, The Congress.

Transitional Provisions

Section 443 of Pub. L. 91–510 provided that:

“(a) The initial appointments, under section 441(c)(2) of this Act [subsec. (c)(2) of this section], of personnel of the Capitol Guide Service shall be effective on the effective date of this section. The Capitol Guide Board shall afford, to each person who is a member of the United States Capitol Guides immediately prior to such effective date, the opportunity to be appointed to a comparable position in the Capitol Guide Service without reduction in level of rank and seniority. For the purposes of the initial appointments of such persons, the number of such persons shall be considered to have been authorized for the Capitol Guide Service under section 441(c)(1) of this Act [subsec. (c)(1) of this section]. The per annum (gross) rate of pay of each such person so initially appointed shall be a rate equal to the per annum rate of pay received by the United States Capitol Guides, who worked full tours of duty, averaged over the last five calendar years (excluding 1968) ending prior to the date of enactment of this Act [Oct. 26, 1970]. Subject to section 441(i) of this Act [subsec. (i) of this section], the rate of each such person so initially appointed shall not, at any time after such initial appointment, be less than the rate at which he was initially appointed so long as he remains in the same position; but, when such position becomes vacant, the rate of pay of any subsequent appointee thereto shall be fixed in accordance with section 441 of this Act [this section].

“(b) The United States Capitol Police Board shall transfer, on the effective date of this section, to the Capitol Guide Board, all personnel records, financial records, assets, and other property of the United States Capitol Guides, which exist immediately prior to such effective date.

“(c) As soon as practicable after the effective date of this section but not later than the close of the sixtieth day after such effective date, the Capitol Guide Board shall, out of the assets and property transferred under subsection (b) of this section, on the basis of a special audit which shall be conducted by the General Accounting Office—

“(1) settle and pay any outstanding accounts payable of the United States Capitol Guides,

“(2) discharge the financial and other obligations of the United States Capitol Guides (including reimbursement to purchasers of tickets for guided tours which are purchased and paid for in advance of intended use and are unused), and

“(3) otherwise wind up the affairs of the United States Capitol Guides,

which exist immediately prior to such effective date. The Capitol Guide Board shall dispose of any net monetary amounts remaining after the winding up of the affairs of the United States Capitol Guides, in accordance with the practices and procedures of the United States Capitol Guides, existing immediately prior to the effective date of this section, with respect to disposal of monetary surpluses.”

Section 443 of Pub. L. 91–510 effective immediately prior to noon on Jan. 3, 1971, see section 601(1) of Pub. L. 91–510, set out as an Effective Date of 1970 Amendment note under section 72a of Title 2, The Congress.

Section Referred to in Other Sections

This section is referred to in title 2 section 60j.