[House Report 111-592] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] 111th Congress Report HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 2d Session 111-592 ====================================================================== ROBERT M. BALL FEDERAL BUILDING _______ September 14, 2010.--Referred to the House Calendar and ordered to be printed _______ Mr. Oberstar, from the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, submitted the following R E P O R T [To accompany H.R. 5773] [Including cost estimate of the Congressional Budget Office] The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, to whom was referred the bill (H.R. 5773) to designate the Federal building located at 6401 Security Boulevard in Baltimore, Maryland, as the ``Robert M. Ball Federal Building'', having considered the same, report favorably thereon with amendments and recommend that the bill as amended do pass. The amendments are as follows: Strike all after the enacting clause and insert the following: SECTION 1. DESIGNATION. The Federal building located at 6401 Security Boulevard in Baltimore, Maryland, commonly known as the Social Security Administration Operations Building, shall be known and designated as the ``Robert M. Ball Federal Building''. SEC. 2. REFERENCES. Any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the Federal building referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``Robert M. Ball Federal Building''. Amend the title so as to read: A bill to designate the Federal building located at 6401 Security Boulevard in Baltimore, Maryland, commonly known as the Social Security Administration Operations Building, as the ``Robert M. Ball Federal Building''. PURPOSE OF THE LEGISLATION H.R. 5773, as amended, designates the Federal building located at 6401 Security Boulevard in Baltimore, Maryland, as the ``Robert M. Ball Federal Building''. BACKGROUND AND NEED FOR LEGISLATION H.R. 5773, as amended, designates the Federal building located at 6401 Security Boulevard in Baltimore, Maryland, as the ``Robert M. Ball Federal Building''. Commissioner Robert M. Ball was the longest-serving head of the Social Security Administration (SSA) and one of its staunchest supporters throughout the Administration's long history. Commissioner Ball was often described in press accounts as not only the longest- serving Social Security Commissioner, but also as chief advocate and defender of the SSA through the years. Commissioner Ball joined the Social Security Administration just four years after it was created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Robert M. Ball was born in New York, New York, on March 28, 1914. He graduated from Wesleyan University in 1935 with a B.A. in English and in 1936 obtained a Masters degree in Economics. Commissioner Ball got his start with the SSA as a field assistant in New Jersey in 1939. He then began his rise through the ranks at SSA by helping to implement the disability insurance program beginning in 1956, orchestrating the developments that produced the 1972 amendments to link benefits to inflation, and helping to develop and implement Medicare. From 1947 to 1948, he served as Staff Director for the Senate Finance Committee's Advisory Council. After his time on Capitol Hill, Commissioner Ball returned to the SSA and served in several positions before he was appointed as Commissioner by President John F. Kennedy in 1962. Commissioner Ball also served as Commissioner under President Lyndon B. Johnson and President Richard M. Nixon. After Commissioner Ball left the Social Security Administration, he continued to have a significant role in shaping the program. In 1981, he served as a Member of the National Commission on Social Security Reform. Commissioner Ball remained an outspoken opponent of any attempts to dismantle Social Security or privatize Social Security throughout the 1990s. Commissioner Robert M. Ball passed away on January 29, 2008, and is survived by his wife of 71 years, Doris McCord Ball. SUMMARY OF THE LEGISLATION Section 1. Designation Section 1 designates the Federal building located at 6401 Security Boulevard in Baltimore, Maryland, as the ``Robert M. Ball Federal Building''. Sec. 2. References Section 2 indicates that any reference in a law, map, regulation, document, paper, or other record of the United States to the Federal building referred to in section 1 shall be deemed to be a reference to the ``Robert M. Ball Federal Building''. LEGISLATIVE HISTORY AND COMMITTEE CONSIDERATION On July 19, 2010, Representative Elijah E. Cummings introduced H.R. 5773. This bill has not been introduced in a previous Congress. On July 29, 2010, the Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure met in open session to consider H.R. 5773. The Committee adopted by voice vote an amendment in the nature of a substitute. The Committee ordered the bill, as amended, reported favorably to the House by voice vote with a quorum present. RECORD VOTES Clause 3(b) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives requires each committee report to include the total number of votes cast for and against on each record vote on a motion to report and on any amendment offered to the measure or matter, and the names of those members voting for and against. There were no recorded votes taken in connection with consideration of H.R. 5773 or ordering the bill reported. A motion to order H.R. 5773, as amended, reported favorably to the House was agreed to by voice vote with a quorum present. COMMITTEE OVERSIGHT FINDINGS With respect to the requirements of clause 3(c)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee's oversight findings and recommendations are reflected in this report. COST OF LEGISLATION Clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives does not apply where a cost estimate and comparison prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office under section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 has been timely submitted prior to the filing of the report and is included in the report. Such a cost estimate is included in this report. COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XIII 1. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(2) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, and section 308(a) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee references the report of the Congressional Budget Office included in the report. 2. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(4) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the performance goals and objectives of this legislation are to designate the Federal building located at 6401 Security Boulevard in Baltimore, Maryland, as the ``Robert M. Ball Federal Building''. 3. With respect to the requirement of clause 3(c)(3) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives and section 402 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974, the Committee has received the enclosed cost estimate for H.R. 5773, as amended, from the Director of the Congressional Budget Office: U.S. Congress, Congressional Budget Office, Washington, DC, August 3, 2010. Hon. James L. Oberstar, Chairman, Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, House of Representatives, Washington, DC. Dear Mr. Chairman: The Congressional Budget Office has reviewed the following legislation ordered reported by the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure on July 29, 2010:H.R. 4387, a bill to designate the federal building located at 100 North Palafox Street in Pensacola, Florida, as the ``Winston E. Arnow Federal Building''; H.R. 5651, a bill to designate the federal building and United States courthouse located at 515 9th Street in Rapid City, South Dakota, as the ``Andrew W. Bogue Federal Building and United States Courthouse''; H.R. 5706, a bill to designate the building occupied by the Government Printing Office located at 31451 East United Avenue in Pueblo, Colorado, as the ``Frank Evans Government Printing Office Building''; H.R. 5773, a bill to redesignate the federal building located at 6401 Security Boulevard in Baltimore, Maryland, commonly known as the Social Security Operations Building, as the ``Robert M. Ball Federal Building''; and H.R. 5591, a bill to designate the airport traffic control tower located at Spokane International Airport in Spokane, Washington, as the ``Ray Daves Airport Traffic Control Tower.'' CBO estimates that enacting those pieces of legislation would have no significant impact on the federal budget and would not affect direct spending or revenues; therefore, pay- as-you-go procedures would not apply. The bills contain no intergovernmental or private-sector mandates as defined in the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act and would impose no costs on state, local, or tribal governments. If you wish further details on this estimate, we will be pleased to provide them. The CBO staff contact is Matthew Pickford. Sincerely, Robert A. Sunshine (For Douglas W. Elmendorf, Director). COMPLIANCE WITH HOUSE RULE XXI Pursuant to clause 9 of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee is required to include a list of congressional earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits, as defined in clause 9(e), 9(f), and 9(g) of rule XXI of the Rules of the House of Representatives. H.R. 5773, as amended, does not contain any earmarks, limited tax benefits, or limited tariff benefits under clause 9(e), 9(f), or 9(g) of rule XXI. CONSTITUTIONAL AUTHORITY STATEMENT Pursuant to clause 3(d)(1) of rule XIII of the Rules of the House of Representatives, committee reports on a bill or joint resolution of a public character shall include a statement citing the specific powers granted to the Congress in the Constitution to enact the measure. The Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure finds that Congress has the authority to enact this measure pursuant to its powers granted under article I, section 8 of the Constitution. FEDERAL MANDATES STATEMENT The Committee adopts as its own the estimate of Federal mandates prepared by the Director of the Congressional Budget Office pursuant to section 423 of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act (P.L. 104-4). PREEMPTION CLARIFICATION Section 423 of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 requires the report of any Committee on a bill or joint resolution to include a statement on the extent to which the bill or joint resolution is intended to preempt state, local, or tribal law. The Committee states that H.R. 5773, as amended, does not preempt any state, local, or tribal law. ADVISORY COMMITTEE STATEMENT No advisory committees within the meaning of section 5(b) of the Federal Advisory Committee Act are created by this legislation. APPLICABILITY TO THE LEGISLATIVE BRANCH The Committee finds that the legislation does not relate to the terms and conditions of employment or access to public services or accommodations within the meaning of section 102(b)(3) of the Congressional Accountability Act (P.L. 104-1). CHANGES IN EXISTING LAW MADE BY THE BILL, AS REPORTED H.R. 5773, as amended, makes no changes in existing law.