Chairman Ander Crenshaw Opening Remarks Before Legislative Branch Subcommittee on FY12 Appropriations Bill

"The recommendation for FY12 provides $3.3 billion, excluding Senate items, which are traditionally left to the Senate to determine. This is a decrease of $227 million, or 6.4%, from the FY2011 enacted level and a decrease of $472 million, or 12.4%, from the requested level.

"Since I assumed the Chair of this Subcommittee in January of this year, we have been able to cut the spending in this title by 9.0% from FY10 spending levels, returning this Subcommittee’s spending levels to $111 million below FY09 levels.  This marks the largest-ever, two-year reduction for this bill, $329 million in total – a point that deserves to be underscored.

"The recommendations for FY12 demonstrate the subcommittee’s commitment to get the nation’s fiscal house in order. Congress has asked every agency in the federal government to rein in spending and do more with less, and we should do the same.

"This Subcommittee has held 8 formal hearings, a number of informal meetings, and listened to all agencies we oversee.

"We have looked at the facts, set priorities, and made tough choices. Across this country, Americans take these steps with their own budgets each and every day and expect Congress to do the same.

"So with that being said, let me give you a quick summary of some of the highlights of the bill before us today:

"The bill includes $1.2 billion for the operations of the House. This is a decrease of $84.7 million, or 6.5%, from the FY2011 enacted level and is $142.3 million, or 10.4%, less than FY10 levels.  I’d like to repeat that, the funding for the House of Representatives has decreased by 10.4% since the Republicans took control of the House.

"Additionally, the bill includes language to increase transparency and accountability in House Leadership spending accounts. 

"I would like to emphasize the fact that the American public has asked us to do more with less, and subsequently we have asked these agencies to do more with less.  Members and staff should be advised that the cuts we are making will impact Member services which they utilize on a daily basis.  Individual Member, Committee, and Leadership office budgets will be reduced by 6.4%. Everyone is going to need to work in a more efficient and cost effective manner.

"The bill includes $340.1 million for the Capitol Police. This is equivalent to the FY2011 enacted level and is $47.5 million, or 12.3%, less than the request.

"The report discusses actions the Capitol Police and the House Sergeant at Arms have taken following the tragic events in Arizona.   Additionally, the report contains language expressing the concern of the Subcommittee pertaining to the United States Capitol Police mission requirements, and the seemingly rampant expansion of the mission requirements. The USCP is directed to notify the Committee when new posts are created, including the annualized costs of maintaining the new posts, and how this cost will be offset.

"The Subcommittee is encouraged by efforts to improve the financial operations of the Capitol Police and expects this progress to continue.

"The bill includes $43.8 million for the Congressional Budget Office. This is a decrease of nearly $3.0 million, or 6.4%, from the FY2011 enacted level and is $3.0 million, or 6.6%, less than the request.

"The bill includes $489.6 million for the Architect of the Capitol. This is a decrease of $36.6 million, or 7.0%, from the FY2011 enacted level and is $129.2 million, or 20.9%, less than the request.

"The Subcommittee recognizes the continuing challenge of preserving and maintaining the infrastructure and prioritizing critical projects in the current budgetary environment.

"The bill includes $575.3 million for the Library of Congress. This is a decrease of $53.4 million, or 8.5%, from the FY2011 enacted level and is $91.4 million, or 13.7%, less than the request.

"The Subcommittee is supportive of the Library’s IT efforts, Veterans History Project, Civil Rights History Project, and expects these to continue within the funding level provided.

"The bill includes $113.0 million for the Government Printing Office. This is a decrease of $22.1 million, or 16.3%, from the FY2011 enacted level and is $35.5 million, or 23.9%, less than the request.

"The Subcommittee has expressed concern about the future viability of GPO and directs GAO to conduct a study of various alternatives, including the possibility of GPO being privatized.

"The bill includes $511.3 million for the Government Accountability Office. This is a decrease of nearly $35.0 million, or 6.4%, from the FY2011 enacted level and is $45.6 million, or 8.2%, less than the request.

"The bill includes $1.0 million for the Open World Leadership Trust Fund. This is a $10.4 million or 91.2% reduction from FY 2011. These funds are for shutdown expenses."