WASHINGTON, D.C. - The House Appropriations Committee today approved the fiscal year 2019 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill on a vote of 47-0. The legislation provides annual funding for the offices of Members of the House of Representatives, the support agencies of Congress, security and police forces, services for visitors, and Capitol operations and maintenance.

The total included for the House and joint operations, excluding Senate-only items, is $3.8 billion. This is $132 million above the fiscal year 2018 level.

“It is essential that the Capitol is safe for all of those that work or visit the complex every day. This bill provides the funding to ensure this security, and also to maintain necessary operations to keep the complex operating well on behalf of the American people,” House Appropriations Chairman Rodney Frelinghuysen said.

Congressman Kevin Yoder, Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman, also commented on the bill.

“First and foremost, I made it a priority in this bill to reject any pay increases for Members of Congress and maintain the 10% spending cuts on Congress we've had in place since 2010," Chairman Kevin Yoder (R-KS) said. "The American people want us leading by example, keeping our budgets tight, and doing more with less. That's what we aim to do in this bill. As for the top policy priorities in the bill, security and transparency are the focus. This bipartisan product will provide Congress with the necessary resources to continue our oversight work, and no more.”

The following amendment to the bill was adopted by the full committee today:

Rep. Yoder – The manager’s amendment makes technical and noncontroversial changes to the bill and report. The amendment was adopted on a voice vote.

For a summary of the legislation, please visit: https://appropriations.house.gov/news/documentsingle.aspx?DocumentID=395271

For the bill report, please visit: https://docs.house.gov/meetings/AP/AP00/20180508/108282/HRPT-115-HR-FY2019-LegBranch.PDF

For the text of the bill, please visit: https://docs.house.gov/meetings/AP/AP24/20180426/108247/BILLS-115--AP--LegBranch.pdf

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