The House Appropriations Committee last week approved the fiscal year 2012 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill, which provides annual funding for congressional offices and support agencies, as well as visitor services, and Capitol operations and maintenance.
The expenditure for the House and joint operations — excluding Senate-only items — is $3.3 billion, which is $227 million, or 6.4 percent, below last year's level and $472 million, or 12.4 percent, below the request.
"Just as our constituents have had to scale back in these austere financial times, so must Congress, and this bill represents a shared sacrifice and a shared commitment to reducing government spending,” said House Appropriation Committee Chairman Hal Rogers,” “We're making cuts starting in our own backyard, and if we can get our budgets on a more sustainable path, we can help return other government agencies and programs to more reasonable, less wasteful levels."
Congressman Ander Crenshaw, Chairman of the Legislation Branch Appropriations Subcommittee, added: "Congress has asked all federal government agencies to rein in spending and do more with less. This budget reflects those tough decisions and begins at home with cuts to member, committee, and leadership offices — everyone must share in the work of getting our fiscal house in order. Americans make these decisions day in and day out and expect Congress to do the same."
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