Hearing of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee - Opening Statement of Rep. Lowey, Markup on the FY 2021 Legislative Branch Funding Bill

Hearing

Congresswoman Nita M. Lowey (D-NY), Chair of the House Appropriations Committee, delivered the following remarks at the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee's markup of its fiscal year 2021 bill:

I thank Chairman Ryan and Ranking Member Herrera-Beutler for their work on this bill as well as the staff for their efforts to review member requests and craft the product before us.

As our nations weathers the COVID-19 pandemic, we must ensure that members of Congress can effectively work on behalf of their constituents and that legislative branch employees can perform their duties safely.

The Fiscal Year 2021 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill would do so by providing:

-$640 million for the Member's Representational Allowance, a 4 percent increase above the 2020 enacted levels, providing offices with the ability to meet rising costs and ensure a safe environment for staff;
-$631.3 million for the of Architect of the Capitol, $31.8 million above FY 2020 enacted levels;
-$2 million for modernization efforts in the House; and
-An increase of $500,000 for the Office of Diversity & Inclusion.

This bill would also honor the rights of DACA recipients who wish to work in the Legislative Branch.

In addition to build a more diverse staff today, the bill also includes strong language removing statues and imagery that honors divisive figures who were involved in the Confederacy or otherwise have unambiguous records of racial intolerance.

The Capitol and its grounds should be a place where all Americans feel welcome to work and visit.

I look forward to moving this bill through the Appropriations process.

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