2 U.S.C. § 2172 — Office of Congressional Accessibility Serv-

Page 488 TITLE 2—THE CONGRESS § 2172 tion of the Library of Congress on the Library of Congress buildings and grounds. (b) Authority (1) In general Subject to paragraph (3), funds appropriated to the Architect of the Capitol under the head- ing ‘‘Capitol Power Plant’’ under the heading ‘‘ARCHITECT OF THE CAPITOL’’ in any fis- cal year are available to construct, operate, and maintain on a reimbursable basis battery recharging stations in parking areas under the jurisdiction of the Library of Congress on Li- brary of Congress buildings and grounds for use by privately owned vehicles used by cov- ered employees. (2) Vendors authorized In carrying out paragraph (1), the Architect of the Capitol may use one or more vendors on a commission basis. (3) Approval of construction The Architect of the Capitol may construct or direct the construction of battery re- charging stations described under paragraph (1) after— (A) submission of written notice detailing the numbers and locations of the battery re- charging stations to the Joint Committee on the Library; and (B) approval by that Committee. (c) Fees and charges (1) In general Subject to paragraph (2), the Architect of the Capitol shall charge fees or charges for electricity provided to covered employees suf- ficient to cover the costs to the Architect of the Capitol to carry out this section, including costs to any vendors or other costs associated with maintaining the battery charging sta- tions. (2) Approval of fees or charges The Architect of the Capitol may establish and adjust fees or charges under paragraph (1) after— (A) submission of written notice detailing the amount of the fee or charge to be estab- lished or adjusted to the Joint Committee on the Library; and (B) approval by that Committee. (d) Deposit and availability of fees, charges, and commissions Any fees, charges, or commissions collected by the Architect of the Capitol under this section shall be— (1) deposited in the Treasury to the credit of the appropriations account described under subsection (b); and (2) available for obligation without further appropriation during the fiscal year collected. (e) Reports (1) In general Not later than 30 days after the end of each fiscal year, the Architect of the Capitol shall submit a report on the financial administra- tion and cost recovery of activities under this section with respect to that fiscal year to the Joint Committee on the Library and the Com- mittees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and Senate. (2) Avoiding subsidy (A) Determination Not later than 3 years after December 18, 2015, and every 3 years thereafter, the Archi- tect of the Capitol shall submit a report to the Joint Committee on the Library deter- mining whether covered employees using battery charging stations as authorized by this section are receiving a subsidy from the taxpayers. (B) Modification of rates and fees If a determination is made under subpara- graph (A) that a subsidy is being received, the Architect of the Capitol shall submit a plan to the Joint Committee on the Library on how to update the program to ensure no subsidy is being received. If the Joint Com- mittee does not act on the plan within 60 days, the Architect of the Capitol shall take appropriate steps to increase rates or fees to ensure reimbursement for the cost of the program consistent with an appropriate schedule for amortization, to be charged to those using the charging stations. (f) Effective date This section shall apply with respect to fiscal year 2016 and each fiscal year thereafter. (Pub. L. 114–113, div. I, title II, § 209, Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 2673.) § 2172. Office of Congressional Accessibility Serv- ices (a) Establishment of Office of Congressional Ac- cessibility Services (1) Establishment There is established in the legislative branch the Office of Congressional Accessibility Serv- ices, to be headed by the Director of Accessi- bility Services. (2) Congressional Accessibility Services Board (A) Establishment There is established the Congressional Ac- cessibility Services Board, which shall be composed of— (i) the Sergeant at Arms and Doorkeeper of the Senate; (ii) the Secretary of the Senate; (iii) the Sergeant at Arms of the House of Representatives; (iv) the Clerk of the House of Represent- atives; and (v) the Architect of the Capitol. (B) Direction of Board The Office of Congressional Accessibility Services shall be subject to the direction of the Congressional Accessibility Services Board. (3) Mission and functions (A) In general The Office of Congressional Accessibility Services shall— (i) provide and coordinate accessibility services for individuals with disabilities, Page 489 TITLE 2—THE CONGRESS § 2181 including Members of Congress, officers and employees of the House of Representa- tives and the Senate, and visitors, in the United States Capitol Complex; and (ii) provide information regarding acces- sibility for individuals with disabilities, as well as related training and staff develop- ment, to Members of Congress and employ- ees of the Senate and the House of Rep- resentatives. (B) United States Capitol Complex defined In this paragraph, the term ‘‘United States Capitol Complex’’ means the Capitol build- ings (as defined in section 5101 of title 40) and the United States Capitol Grounds (as described in section 5102 of such title). (b) Director of Accessibility Services (1) Appointment, pay, and removal (A) Appointment and pay The Director of Accessibility Services shall be appointed by the Congressional Ac- cessibility Services Board and shall be paid at a rate of pay determined by the Congres- sional Accessibility Services Board. (B) Removal Upon removal of the Director of Accessi- bility Services, the Congressional Accessi- bility Services Board shall immediately pro- vide notice of the removal to the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate, the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives, and the Com- mittees on Appropriations of the House of Representatives and Senate. The notice shall include the reasons for the removal. (2) Personnel and other administrative func- tions (A) Personnel, disbursements, and contracts In carrying out the functions of the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services under subsection (a), the Director of Accessi- bility Services shall have the authority to— (i) appoint, hire, and fix the compensa- tion of such personnel as may be necessary for operations of the Office of Congres- sional Accessibility Services, except that no employee may be paid at an annual rate in excess of the annual rate of pay for the Director of Accessibility Services; (ii) take appropriate disciplinary action, including, when circumstances warrant, suspension from duty without pay, reduc- tion in pay, demotion, or termination of employment with the Office of Congres- sional Accessibility Services, against any employee; (iii) disburse funds as may be necessary and available for the needs of the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services; and (iv) serve as contracting officer for the Office of Congressional Accessibility Serv- ices. (B) Agreements with the Office of the Archi- tect of the Capitol, with other legislative branch agencies, and with offices of the Senate and House of Representatives Subject to the approval of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate and the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives, the Direc- tor of Accessibility Services may place or- ders and enter into agreements with the Of- fice of the Architect of the Capitol, with other legislative branch agencies, and with any office or other entity of the Senate or House of Representatives for procuring goods and providing financial and adminis- trative services on behalf of the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services, or to otherwise assist the Director in the adminis- tration and management of the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services. (3) Semiannual reports The Director of Accessibility Services shall submit a report to the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate and the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives not later than 45 days following the close of each semiannual period ending on March 31 or September 30 of each year on the financial and operational sta- tus during the period of each function under the jurisdiction of the Director. Each such re- port shall include financial statements and a description or explanation of current oper- ations, the implementation of new policies and procedures, and future plans for each function. (Pub. L. 101–163, title III, § 310, Nov. 21, 1989, 103 Stat. 1065; Pub. L. 104–53, title I, § 112, Nov. 19, 1995, 109 Stat. 525; Pub. L. 110–437, title IV, § 411(a), Oct. 20, 2008, 122 Stat. 4993.) Editorial Notes CODIFICATION Section was formerly classified to section 130e of this title prior to editorial reclassification and renumbering as this section. Section is from the Legislative Branch Appropria- tions Act, 1990. AMENDMENTS 2008—Pub. L. 110–437 amended section generally, sub- stituting provisions relating to Office of Congressional Accessibility Services for provisions relating to Special Services Office. 1995—Pub. L. 104–53 substituted ‘‘Sergeant at Arms’’ for ‘‘Clerk’’ after ‘‘comprised of the’’ and ‘‘Architect of the Capitol’’ for ‘‘Librarian of Congress’’. Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries TRANSFER OF FUNCTIONS For transfer of contracts, liabilities, records, prop- erty, appropriations, other assets and interests, and employees of the Congressional Special Services Office of Capitol Guide Service to the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services, see section 2252 of this title. SUBCHAPTER VIII—MISCELLANEOUS § 2181. Assignment of space for meetings of joint committees, conference committees, etc. The President pro tempore of the Senate and the Speaker of the House of Representatives shall cause a survey to be made of available space within the Capitol which could be utilized for joint committee meetings, meetings of con- ference committees, and other meetings, requir- ing the attendance of both Senators and Mem-