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Hearing of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee - Opening Statement of Rep. Yoder, Hearing on Architect of the Capitol FY 2018 Budget

Hearing

Date: May 17, 2017
Location: Washington, DC
Issues: Infrastructure Government Budget and Spending Legislative Branch

would like to welcome Stephen Ayers, the Architect of the Capitol. The AOC successfully supported the Presidential Inauguration, hosted 2.2 million visitors to the Capitol Visitor Center and 1.2 million visitors to the U.S. Botanic Gardens in 2016. All the while managing several large projects around the campus including the restoration of the Capitol Dome and Rotunda which was completed on time and under budget. Congratulations!

Excluding the Senate Office Buildings, the Architect of the Capitol is requesting $660.5 million. This is $131 million above the current year. If we include the Senate the entire Architect of the Capitol budget request is $773 million which is $155 million above the current year appropriation.

The larger ongoing multi-year projects include the Cannon House Office Building Renewal which totals $752.7 million, with a total of $440.9 million appropriated to date. Also included is the Rayburn Interior Garage Rehabilitation project which totals approximately $130 million of which $68 million has been provided.

The Architect of the Capitol has estimated that it would cost $1.5 billion to address the campus wide deferred maintenance and capital renewal backlog. We understand fully that when the backlog is not addressed it will eventually cost more.

The Subcommittee has always had as the top priority those projects that have life safety implications. We understand the ability to maintain and keep in appropriate working order the buildings and grounds which cover more than 17.4 million square feet of facilities and more than 570 acres of grounds on and off the Capitol campus has been a difficult task.

Before we begin I would like to express our condolences for the loss of one of your own, Matthew McClanahan. Our heart goes out to his family and the entire AOC organization.

Mr. Ayers, your entire statement will be submitted for the record, please feel free to summarize at this time.


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