Legislative Branch

This is the Fiscal Year 2026 Legislative Branch Subcommittee Public Witness Day Hearing. I’d like to thank Ranking Member Espaillat and Committee members for being here today.  

A special thank you to our witnesses for being here today. We appreciate your interest in the Legislative Branch and for taking time out of your busy schedules to testify before this subcommittee. In addition to our witnesses here this morning, additional witnesses have submitted testimony for the record, and their statements may be found online. 

I would also like to note that this hearing serves as a vehicle for the one Member of Congress who submitted testimony for the record, and her statement can also be found online. I now recognize Ranking Member Espaillat for his opening remarks.

The subject of today’s hearing is the Fiscal Year 2026 budget requests for the Government Accountability Office (GAO), the Government Publishing Office (GPO), and the Congressional Budget Office (CBO).

I’d like to thank Ranking Member Espaillat, our Committee Members, Comptroller General Dodaro, Director Halpern and Director Swagel for being here today. 

I’d also like to thank each and every one of your staff for the work they do to help Congress and the entire government function in an effective and efficient manner.

I’d like to thank Ranking Member Espaillat and our subcommittee members for being here today. 

Chief Manger, welcome back. While we know you are looking forward to retirement, we appreciate your willingness to extend your time with us while we search for your successor. We look forward to your testimony today.

The purpose of today’s hearing is to review the United States Capitol Police Fiscal Year 2026 budget request, which is $9.67 million, a 20% increase over the enacted FY 2025 CR. The requested funding supports continued growth to both sworn and civilian personnel, nearly 14% over FY 2025 levels and an increase of nearly 26% in general expenses. 

The subject of today’s hearing is the Fiscal Year 2026 budget request for the Architect of the Capitol and the Library of Congress.

I’d like to thank Ranking Member Espaillat, Committee Members, and our two main witnesses, the Architect of the Capitol, Mr. Thomas Austin, and the Librarian of Congress, Dr. Carla Hayden for being here today. 

Dr. Hayden is joined today by Ms. Shira Perlmutter the Register of Copyrights and Director of the U.S. Copyright Office and Ms. Karen E. Donfried, Director of the Congressional Research Service. Both of their testimonies have been submitted for the record, and Members are welcome to address questions to either, in addition to Dr. Hayen.