Appropriations Committee Approves Fiscal Year 2020 Legislative Branch Funding Bill

Statement

The House Appropriations Committee today approved the fiscal year 2020 Legislative Branch bill on a vote of 28 to 22. The legislation funds the Legislative Branch of the U.S. government, including the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressional Budget Office, and Capitol Police.

The bill appropriates a total of $3.972 billion, $164 million more than in FY 2019. In keeping with longstanding practice whereby each chamber of Congress determines its own housekeeping requirements and the other concurs without intervention, the bill does not include funds for the Senate or for Senate office buildings.

The FY 2020 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill provides the House of Representatives with increased resources to carry out its responsibilities in developing legislation, conducting oversight, and assisting constituents in their interactions with the Federal Government. The bill also maintains and builds analytical capacity to support lawmaking and oversight, addresses high-priority needs involving information technology and security, and supports Legislative Branch agencies such as the Library of Congress and the Government Accountability Office in their wider roles of service to the nation.

"I am pleased the Appropriations Committee passed this much-needed funding bill. As the Chairman of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee on Appropriations, I hear every day why proper resources and funding are needed to ensure the People's House and Legislative Branch agencies are serving the needs of the American people," said House Appropriations Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch Chairman Tim Ryan. "I'm proud this bill re-establishes the Office of Technology Assessment and increases funding to pay our interns. In addition to these priorities, it also provides increased funding to support the staff and other resources that Congress needs to do its job well, to build analytic capacity in the Legislative Branch, and to address high-priority needs in information technology and security."

"House Democrats are leading the way to fight for the people, and our appropriations bills reflect these values. We are investing in good governance and our institutions--and that includes the People's House," said House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey. "The Fiscal Year 2020 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill is an example of this commitment. By providing more than $3.9 billion in funding, this bill would ensure that members of Congress can effectively work on behalf of their constituents and that the public can safely visit the Capitol campus."

The following amendments to the bill were adopted by the full Committee:

Rep. Ryan #1 -- The manager's amendment makes technical and noncontroversial changes to the bill and report. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

Rep. Ryan #2 -- The Chair's amendment increases funding for several accounts by allocating the remaining amount of funding available under the subcommittee allocation. The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

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