Cole Remarks During Floor Consideration of H.R. 8772, The Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2025 (Submitted for the Record)

Today’s measure provides funding for the Legislative Branch for Fiscal Year 2025. Although this is the smallest of our twelve annual appropriations bills, it carries an outsized importance for our democracy.

Each member of Congress has been entrusted with the solemn duty of representing the voices of their district, and this bill provides resources to serve the American people. It ensures we can assist our constituents and keep the government working for them. We also uphold resources to support our Article One lawmaking responsibilities prescribed by the Constitution—and the national institutions that contribute to this work.

The measure provides funding to maintain vigorous oversight over the Executive Branch. It allows us to continue critical committee work that serves as a check to the other branches and funds institutions like the Congressional Budget Office, which has a key role to play in supervising our national budget and appropriations work.

The safety of the Capitol complex for visitors and the good work of the U.S. Capitol Police are also reinforced. As the citadel for freedom and democracy, we sustain maintenance for the Capitol Building. More than just a meeting place, this chamber stands as a proud symbol of our constitutional form of government and our way of life, and it must be preserved for generations to come.

This is a very strong bill, and one that champions our capacity to effectively represent the public in a fiscally responsible manner.

I thank Chairman Valadao for his hard work in assembling this measure, and I urge all members to support its passage.

With that, I yield back.