Joe Morelle: “First, to my colleagues on Appropriations' Legislative Branch Subcommittee, Mr. Amodei as well as my longtime dear…”

“First, to my colleagues on Appropriations' Legislative Branch Subcommittee, Mr. Amodei as well as my longtime dear friend Mr. Espaillat, I thank them for their hard work. Mr. Speaker, I rise in opposition to H.R. 4364 because it inadequately funds the legislative branch, which is the branch charged with funding responsibilities under Article I of the U.S. Constitution. It dramatically underfunds the Capitol Police, drastically cuts funding to the Architect of the Capitol, and guts the House Office of Diversity and Inclusion. As my colleague has mentioned, I serve as the ranking member of the Committee on House Administration. I know firsthand how important it is that our House officers and congressional support agencies are adequately resourced. We all rely on our nonpartisan institutional partners, some of whom are in this Chamber right now, helping us carry out our constitutional obligations, keeping us safe, providing subject matter expertise, and facilitating the legislative process. For that reason, I am very disappointed. This bill, which includes a nearly 5 percent cut to House and joint legislative branch items, inadequately funds many of these entities and the responsibilities that they are required to carry out. For example, at a time in which the Capitol Police is experiencing an officer shortage crisis, this bill fails to fully fund the department's salaries appropriation requests.…”