Committee Approves FY25 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act

Washington, D.C. – Today, the House Appropriations Committee met to consider the Fiscal Year 2025 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act. The measure was approved by the Committee with a vote of 33 to 24.

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Legislative Branch Subcommittee Chairman David Valadao (R-CA) said, “Our most important job is serving our constituents, and this legislation ensures Congress has the resources needed to serve the American people. In addition to making sure Congress can retain staff and keep the lights on, this bill ensures we can continue conducting critical oversight of the Executive Branch. Importantly, this bill provides critical funding for our Capitol police to keep the Capitol Complex safe for visitors and staff. I’m thankful to Chairman Cole for his leadership and guidance during this process, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to get this bill across the finish line.”

Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK) said, “The legislation being advanced is central to our democracy. It supports the fulfillment of our Article 1 responsibilities prescribed by the Constitution. It upholds accountability, ensuring Congress can execute strong oversight over the Biden Administration. The safety of the Capitol complex for visitors, the work of the U.S. Capitol Police, and the operations of national institutions are also prioritized. Chairman Valadao’s bill balances the Legislative Branch’s capacity to effectively serve the public in a fiscally responsible manner.”

Subcommittee Chairman Valadao’s opening remarks are available here.

Chairman Cole's opening remarks are available here.

Fiscal Year 2025 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act

The Legislative Branch Appropriations Act provides a total discretionary allocation of $7.125 billion, which is $375 million (5.6%) above the Fiscal Year 2024 enacted level and over $130 million below the Fiscal Year 2025 request.

The bill strikes a delicate balance, maintaining essential resources for Congressional oversight of the Executive Branch in a fiscally responsible manner.

Key Takeaways

• Enables Congress to better serve the American people by:
  • Maintaining investments to ensure U.S. House of Representatives committees can execute vigorous oversight over the Biden Administration.
  • Ensuring adequate resources for Member offices, including funding for staffing and other office expenditures.
  • Providing necessary funding for agencies that provide research and support for Members, including the Congressional Budget Office, Library of Congress, and Government Accountability Office.  
  • Increasing funding for recruiting and retaining sworn Capitol Police officers.
• Strengthens our national security by:
  • Prohibiting the purchase of telecommunications equipment from the People’s Republic of China and other adversaries.
  • Barring the purchase of drones manufactured in the People’s Republic of China or by a business affiliated with the People’s Republic of China, except as allowed for national security purposes.
• Ensures fiscal responsibility by:
  • Requiring unspent amounts from Members’ Representational Allowances (MRA) to be used for debt and deficit reduction.
  • Restricting incentive or award payments to contractors for work on contracts or programs behind schedule or over budget.
  • Prohibiting the use of funds for the maintenance or care of private vehicles.
• Supports American values and principles by:
  • Maintaining restrictions on the use of funds for computer networks that do not block pornography.
  • Eliminating the requirement for Members to use “low greenhouse gas emitting vehicles” for leased vehicles paid for with the MRA.

A summary of the bill is available here.

During the markup, Committee Republicans rejected amendments offered by the Democrats that would have:

• Restored funding for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, which would create wasteful, duplicative programs.
• Continued the restriction that prevents medical professionals from practicing while in Congress.
• Funded polarizing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives.
• Exposed Americans to religious discrimination.
• Funded unnecessary green initiatives, such as efforts to eliminate plastic throughout the Capitol campus and continue an expensive, Speaker Pelosi-era program that forces the use of vehicles on the EPA low emissions list. 

Adopted Amendments

• Valadao (Manager’s Amendment) – Makes technical, bipartisan changes to the bill and report.
  • The amendment was adopted by voice vote.

Bill text, before adoption of amendments, is available here.

Bill report, before adoption of amendments, is available here.

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