Legislative Branch

Thank you, Chairman Valadao, and thank you to Ranking Member Espaillat, Ranking Member DeLauro, and to all the members of the subcommittee for being with us today.

I’d like to begin by associating myself with all of Chairman Valadao’s opening statements. 

Violence has no place in our nation – not in our politics, not in our communities, and not in our values.

The targeted attacks in Minnesota were heartbreaking and deeply disturbing. We stand with the victims, their families, and all those affected as they face this difficult time.

I am pleased to introduce the Fiscal Year 2026 Legislative Branch Appropriation bill for the subcommittee’s consideration.

I’d like to begin by thanking our subcommittee Members in attendance for their input and support throughout the hearing season and during the formulation of the bill we present for consideration this evening. I’d like to specifically thank Ranking Member Espaillat for his contributions and valuable insights.

The Subcommittee will come to order. The subject of today’s hearing is the Fiscal Year 2026 request for the Stennis Center for Public Service, the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights, and the Congressional Office for International Leadership. I’d like to thank Ranking Member Espaillat, Committee Members, and our agency Executive Directors for being here this morning.

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.