Patty Murray: “I rise in support of H.R. 3754, the fiscal year 1997 legislative branch appropriation bill. The bill as reported by the…”

“I rise in support of H.R. 3754, the fiscal year 1997 legislative branch appropriation bill. The bill as reported by the full committee is a fair and responsible bill. As Members will recall, this committee took a bold step last year in recommending a bill that cut spending for the departments and agencies funded in the legislative branch appropriations bill by $200 million, or 10 percent. This year, again, we have continued the effort to reduce the funding levels and streamline the operations of Congress by recommending a bill that cuts a net of over $22 million from the 1996 enacted level. At the proposed funding level contained in this measure, the Legislative Branch, in total, will have less funding than in fiscal year 1991 or 6 years ago. The major reductions recommended by the committee involve the support agencies that are so vital to the Congress in order to enable us to complete our work in an effective and expeditious manner. The committee this year saves $6.1 million below fiscal year 1996 as a result of the elimination of the Office of Technology Assessment.”