administrative hearings and arranges for legal representation by the Department of Justice in judicial proceedings.

AOC Inspector General

The AOC Inspector General (IG) is responsible for promoting the integrity, efficiency and effectiveness of AOC’s operations and programs. The IG conducts independent audits and investigations, reviews existing and proposed legislation and regulations that may impact AOC activities and recommends policies to detect and prevent fraud, waste and abuse.

AOC Planning and Project Management

AOC Planning and Project Management (PPM) oversees capital planning and improvement efforts, provides architectural and engineering design expertise, and executes project and in-house construction services. In addition, it provides facility maintenance for various systems including heating ventilation and air conditioning, emergency generators, cable television and legislative clocks. PPM is comprised of six divisions: AOC Construction; AOC Design Services; AOC Facilities Planning and Programming; AOC Project Management; AOC Sustainability, Energy and Water Conservation; and AOC Technical Support. Included in the Design Services Division is the AOC Historic Preservation Officer, who plays a key role in ensuring the historic buildings and grounds of Congress and the Supreme Court are maintained and enriched for future generations.

AOC Safety, Fire and Environmental Programs

AOC Safety, Fire and Environmental Programs (SFEP) is responsible for ensuring AOC complies with safety, fire and environmental regulations. SFEP establishes safety policy, conducts oversight and coordinates emergency planning and preparedness. SFEP serves as the point of contact with external regulatory agencies for AOC’s occupational safety and health, fire protection and environmental matters. SFEP is comprised of a Safety Division, a Fire Marshal Division and an Environmental Division.

Office of the Attending Physician

The Office of the Attending Physician, comprised of several health units throughout Capitol Hill, provides primary care, emergency, environmental and occupational health services in support of the Capitol, the Supreme Court, visiting dignitaries, staff and visitors to the Capitol. AOC provides administrative support to the Office of the Attending Physician.

For additional information, the sidebar In Focus: AOC’s General Administration Appropriation is provided under Financial Highlights in Section I of this report.

In Focus: Heritage Asset Preservation Projects

The AOC has the unique role of preserving and restoring the Capitol’s architectural and joint fine art heritage assets for pres- ent and future generations. This work includes care for many of

the works of art, statuary and fountains that beautify the buildings and grounds of the Capitol. This fiscal year’s curatorial highlights included the continuation of several mural conservation projects along with the restoration of gilded cast plaster ornaments and decorative paint, and the completion of bronze preservation work.

The on-going restoration of walls and ceilings throughout the Brumidi Corridors progressed significantly this year with the completion of the large vaulted ceiling in the Reception Area, which was entirely scaffolded without interrupting the work of the Senate. The ceiling of the west inner corridor was also restored before work turned to the large and heavily overpainted Patent Corridor ceiling. Work on this ceiling will continue into 2015.

Similar conservation and restoration projects were completed in other Capitol locations. The cleaning and conservation of the historic murals in the first floor of the House wing began in the Hall of Capitols in August 2014 and will continue into the fall. The murals were painted in oil on canvas by Allyn Cox between 1974 and 1982. In the Senate Reception Room, S-213, work on the restoration of the gilded cast plaster ornaments and replication of the subtle decorative painting finishes has continued around to the east side of the room.

On the Capitol Grounds, two historic bronze fountain basins and six large lanterns designed under Frederick Law Olmsted were thoroughly cleaned, re-patinated and lacquered to protect them from corrosion. The fountain basin cleaning effort entailed a laser cleaning process.

For more information on heritage preservation at AOC, a video is available at: www.youtube.com/watch?v=tesYAm4yU6o&list= UUsMtgr38wPby5SAEw88ISMQ