Speech #990059179

This requirement alone greatly restricted the number of potential sites. The competing demands of other essential Senate offices further narrowed the options. After an intensive search of all properties owned or accessible to the Senate. and some under the jurisdiction of the House of Representatives. the rules staff concluded that there was really only one viable solution to this problem: to purchase modular building units in which the center could be temporarily housed until the Immigration Building has been fully renovated. These units can be procured in sufficient quantity. and are of sufficiently high quality. to provide an adequate relocation space equivalent to the facility the center now occupies in the Immigration Building. These units may be safely erected on property controlled by the Senate. Upon completion of renovation of the Immigration Building. the modular units would become available to the Senate for any use that then appears appropriate. Such uses could include occupancy by the Capitol Police or some other support function. either on the original site on which they had been erected or elsewhere. or. if there is a change in the current plans that call for the child care center to return to the renovated Immigration Building. for continued use for child care. If the Senate has no further need for the modular units. they could presumably be resold. The cost of the needed modular units would be approximately $160.000. While significant. this sum must be compared to the costs the Senate would incur were it to undertake the substantial adaptations needed to render some space within another Senate building suitable for child care use. and to the costs of leasing suitable space for a temporary home for the center. We have also determined that this sum is available for reprogramming from the account established to pay for the renovation of the Immigration Building. Senator FonD and I agree that. when all the factors are taken into consideration. the purchase of modular units is the best available solution to the problem of temporary relocation of the Senate Employees Child Care Center. As I stated at the outset of these remarks. my intention. and that of the senior Senator from Kentucky. is to request the Architect of the Capitol to seek approval from the Appropriations Committee to reprogram these funds.