((a)) ** Administration of facilities, services, and activities**

((1)) ** In general** Except to the extent otherwise provided in this chapter, the Chief Executive Officer shall be responsible for—

((A)) the operation, management, and budget preparation and execution of the Capitol Visitor Center, including all long term planning and daily operational services and activities provided within the Capitol Visitor Center; and

((B)) in accordance with sections 2241 and 2242 of this title, the management of guided tours of the interior of the United States Capitol.

((2)) ** Independent budget consideration**

((A)) ** In general** The Architect of the Capitol, upon recommendation of the Chief Executive Officer, shall submit the proposed budget for the Office for a fiscal year in the proposed budget for that year for the Office of the Architect of the Capitol (as submitted by the Architect of the Capitol to the President). The proposed budget for the Office shall be considered independently from the other components of the proposed budget for the Architect of the Capitol.

((B)) ** Exclusion of costs of general maintenance and repair of Visitor Center** In preparing the proposed budget for the Office under subparagraph (A), the Chief Executive Officer shall exclude costs attributable to the activities and services described under (relating to continuing jurisdiction of the Architect of the Capitol for the care and superintendence of the Capitol Visitor Center).section 2271(b) of this title

((b)) ** Personnel, disbursements, and contracts** In carrying out this chapter, the Architect of the Capitol shall have the authority to, upon recommendation of the Chief Executive Officer—

((1)) appoint, hire, and fix the compensation of such personnel as may be necessary for operations of the Office, except that no employee may be paid at an annual rate in excess of the maximum rate payable for level 15 of the General Schedule;

((2)) disburse funds as may be necessary and available for the needs of the Office (consistent with the requirements of in the case of amounts in the Capitol Visitor Center Revolving Fund); and

((3)) designate an employee of the Office to serve as contracting officer for the Office, subject to subsection (c).

((c)) ** Requiring approval of certain contracts** The Architect of the Capitol may not enter into a contract for the operations of the Capitol Visitor Center for which the amount involved exceeds $250,000 without the prior approval of the Committee on Rules and Administration of the Senate and the Committee on House Administration of the House of Representatives.

((d)) ** Semiannual reports** The Chief Executive Officer 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 status during the period of each function under the jurisdiction of the Chief Executive Officer. Each such report shall include financial statements and a description or explanation of current operations, the implementation of new policies and procedures, and future plans for each function.