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Immediate Office

The CAO Immediate Office undertook several special projects in the first six months of 2007, as outlined below. The Immediate Office includes Administrative Counsel, Communications and advisors in areas such as the Green the Capitol Initiative, workforce management and the Capitol Visitors Center (CVC).

Achievements and Future Plans

Green the Capitol Initiative: On March 1, 2007, Speaker Nancy Pelosi, Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer and the late Committee on House Administration Chairwoman Juanita Millender-McDonald directed the CAO to lead an initiative to provide an environmentally responsible and healthy working environment for employees. The preliminary Green the Capitol Report was accepted by House Leadership on April 19, 2007, and the final report on June 21. Over the next several months, the CAO will develop a plan for meeting the three overall goals of the initiative, working in partnership with the Architect of the Capitol:

  1. Operate the House in a carbon-neutral manner by the end of the 110th Congress.
  2. Reduce the carbon footprint of the House by cutting energy consumption by 50 percent in 10 years.
  3. Make House operations a model of sustainability.

Plans are also under way for an on-campus Green Expo to be held this Fall.

House Child Care Study - The CAO began exploring options for the House of Representatives Child Care Center. ICF International was contracted to conduct a study and assessment to help the House make well informed decisions that help meet the child care needs of our employees. ICF's report is due in September 2007.

House Benefits Study - The CAO has contracted Watson Wyatt Worldwide, the human capital consulting firm, to benchmark House of Representatives employee benefits against similarly sized organizations in various industries. The aim is to develop recommendations for a more robust benefits package that will not only attract talented workers but provide an incentive to stay.

House Officers' Leave Policy Enhancements - The CAO collaborated with the House Sergeant at Arms, Clerk of the House and Inspector General to develop consistent and enhanced annual leave and sick leave policies for employees of these organizations. Effective June 1, the policies increase the rate at which vacation days are earned based on years of service and remove restrictions on the amount of sick leave that may be used to care for a family member. Additionally, the definition of family has been expanded to include siblings. These policy enhancements recognize our employees' needs for a greater life/work balance.

CAO Web Site - In June 2007, the CAO launched its public-facing Web site, available at http://cao.house.gov. The new site provides an overview of the CAO organization and the Green the Capitol Initiative, and provides links to information and forms for potential vendors and employees.