B-136324, AUG. 1, 1958

B-136324, AUG. 1, 1958

TO MISS M. LILLIAN RUPPERT, AUTHORIZED CERTIFYING OFFICER, U.S. DEPARTMENT OF LABOR:

ON MAY 22, 1958, REFERENCE BBE, YOU REQUESTED OUR DECISION AS TO WHETHER AN ENCLOSED TRAVEL VOUCHER IN FAVOR OF LOUIS F. BUCKLEY IN THE AMOUNT OF $127.45 MAY BE CERTIFIED FOR PAYMENT.

MR. BUCKLEY, WHOSE PERMANENT STATION IS BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, TRAVELED TO WASHINGTON, D.C., TO ATTEND THE ANNUAL CONFERENCES OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF TRAINING DIRECTORS, WHICH WAS HELD ON MAY 6, 7 AND 8, 1958, AT THE SHERATON PARK HOTEL. HIS ATTENDANCE WAS AS THE REGIONAL OFFICE REPRESENTATIVE OF THE BUREAU OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY. THE VOUCHER INCLUDES THE EMPLOYEE'S CLAIM FOR REIMBURSEMENT FOR THE REGISTRATION FEE OF $50, WHICH IN TURN INCLUDES THE COST OF FIVE MEALS. IT IS APPARENT FROM THE DESCRIPTIVE PAMPHLET WHICH YOU ENCLOSED THAT THE REGISTRATION FEE WAS INDIVISIBLE, SINCE IT WAS REQUIRED TO BE PAID WITHOUT ANY REDUCTION IN AMOUNT, IN THE EVENT A PERSON DID NOT PARTAKE OF THE MEALS.

THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE BUREAU OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY RELATE TO THE PUBLIC EMPLOYMENT SERVICE AND THE UNEMPLOYMENT INSURANCE PROGRAMS WHICH ARE CARRIED OUT PRINCIPALLY UNDER THE PROVISIONS OF THE WAGNER PEYSER ACT, 29 U.S.C. 49 ET SEQ.; THE SOCIAL SECURITY ACT, 42 U.S.C. 301 ET SEQ.; FEDERAL UNEMPLOYMENT TAX ACT, 26 U.S.C. 1600 ET SEQ.; AND THE VETERANS' READJUSTMENT ASSISTANCE ACT OF 1952, 38 U.S.C. 901 ET SEQ. IN CONNECTION WITH THE OPERATION OF THE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY PROGRAM, WE UNDERSTAND THAT THE BUREAU REVIEWS AND MAKES RECOMMENDATIONS FOR IMPROVING STATE ADMINISTRATIVE OPERATIONS AND MANAGEMENT; ASSISTS IN THE TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY STAFFS; AND THE PLANNING OF PROGRAMS ON A NATIONWIDE BASIS. YOU POINT OUT THAT NEW METHODS AND TECHNIQUES OF MANAGEMENT AND TRAINING ARE BEING DEVELOPED AS A RESULT OF WORK AND STUDY IN INDUSTRY, COLLEGES, AND IN GOVERNMENT. YOU SAY THAT ONE OF THE MOST PRACTICAL WAYS TO KEEP ABREAST OF SUCH DEVELOPMENTS IS THROUGH THE ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS SUCH AS ARE CONDUCTED BY THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF TRAINING DIRECTORS.

ADDITIONALLY YOU SAY:

"SINCE THE ADMINISTRATION OF THESE PROVISIONS HAS BEEN DELEGATED TO THE BUREAU OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY, IT WOULD APPEAR THAT ACTIVITIES RELATING TO SUCH FUNCTIONS AS ORGANIZATION, MANAGEMENT, TRAINING AND PERSONNEL ARE PECULIARLY ASSOCIATED WITH THE WORK OF THE BUREAU OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY IN CARRYING OUT ITS RESPONSIBILITIES AS THE FEDERAL PARTNER OF THE FEDERAL -STATE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY SYSTEM. FOR EXAMPLE, THE BUREAU OF EMPLOYMENT SECURITY, AT THE PRESENT TIME, IS DEVELOPING A TRAINING PROGRAM TO BE GIVEN ONLY TO THE STATE EMPLOYMENT SECURITY ADMINISTRATORS. YOU WILL NOTE THAT A NUMBER OF THE SESSIONS CONDUCTED AT THE MEETING OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF TRAINING DIRECTORS COULD BE EXTREMELY VALUABLE IN THE DEVELOPMENT OF THIS PARTICULAR TRAINING PROGRAM.'

SECTION 102, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR APPROPRIATION ACT, 1958, 71 STAT. 214, PROVIDES:

"SEC. 102. APPROPRIATIONS UNDER THIS TITLE AVAILABLE FOR SALARIES AND EXPENSES SHALL BE AVAILABLE FOR SERVICES AS AUTHORIZED BY SECTION 15 OF THE ACT OF AUGUST 2, 1946 (5 U.S.C. 55A); AND FOR EXPENSES OF ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS CONCERNED WITH THE FUNCTION OR ACTIVITY FOR WHICH ANY SUCH APPROPRIATION IS MADE.'

THE RECORD SHOWS THAT MR. BUCKLEY IS RESPONSIBLE "FOR TRAINING IN THE REGIONAL OFFICE AND IN WORKING WITH STATES IN REGION I IN DEVELOPING AND EVALUATING TRAINING PROGRAMS.'

UPON THE BASIS OF THE ABOVE INFORMATION OUR OFFICE WOULD NOT OBJECT TO CERTIFICATION OF THE VOUCHER FOR PAYMENT, IF OTHERWISE PROPER. CF. B- 134318, APRIL 28, 1958, 37 COMP. GEN. 708; B-136017, JULY 16, 1958, 38 COMP. GEN. WE ASSUME APPROPRIATE DEDUCTION FROM THE PER DIEM WILL BE MADE FOR THE MEALS FURNISHED AS PART OF REGISTRATION FEE.