-19 During FY-92, GPO started using newsprint from their new supplier that has a 100 percent post-consumer fiber content. This newsprint is used to print the Congressional Record and the Federal Register. As this paper has posed no production problems and provides a 4.6% savings over the previous virgin newsprint contract, the Joint Committee directed GPO to exercise the first of two one-year contract extensions for calendar year 1993. There is no price increase for this extension. COMPARISON BETWEEN THE JOINT COMMITTEE'S BUDGET REQUEST The Joint Committee on Printing's Fiscal Year 1994 budget request of $1,421,000 is $30,000 more than the amount appropriated to the Joint Committee for the current Fiscal Year. The 2.2% increase is requested to supplement a substantial shortfall in the FERS category of personnel benefits experienced by the Joint Committee during the past fiscal year and will experience again in Fiscal Year 1993. No additional sums are being asked for personnel compensation, staffing or administrative expenses. The Joint Committee during the past year has diligently and successfully met many of the challenges presented to not only the Committee's jurisdiction but to the Government Printing Office as the Federal Government's printer. We are continually monitoring, reviewing, and when necessary, taking actions to ensure that Congress, the Federal Government and the American taxpayer receive timely and quality products at the lowest possible cost. It is the Committee's intent to continue and improve its activities, and with this in mind, I respectfully ask that you give this budget submission your favorable consideration. |