Legislative Branch: FY2020 Appropriations

Summary

The legislative branch appropriations bill provides funding for the Senate; House of Representatives; Joint Items; Capitol Police; Office of Congressional Workplace Rights (formerly Office of Compliance); Congressional Budget Office (CBO); Architect of the Capitol (AOC); Library of Congress (LOC), including the Congressional Research Service (CRS); Government Publishing Office (GPO); Government Accountability Office (GAO); Open World Leadership Center; and the John C. Stennis Center.

The legislative branch budget request was submitted on March 11, 2019. Following hearings in the House and Senate in February, March, and April, the House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch held a markup on May 1, 2019. No amendments were considered, and the bill was ordered reported to the full committee by voice vote.

On May 9, 2019, the House Appropriations Committee held a markup of the bill. Two manager’s amendments were considered. The first amendment was adopted by voice vote. The second amendment was adopted by voice vote after an amendment to the amendment was not adopted (23-28). The bill was ordered reported (H.Rept. 116-64; H.R. 2779). As amended, the bill would provide $3.972 billion, not including Senate items (+$164.2 million).

On June 3, the House Committee on Rules issued a “Dear Colleague” letter announcing the amendment process for floor consideration of the legislative branch and four other appropriations bills (Rules Committee Print 116-17). The committee established a deadline of 10:00 a.m. on June 7, 2019, for the submission of draft amendments.

During consideration of the FY2020 funding levels, Congress also considered an additional $10.0 million in FY2019 supplemental appropriations for GAO for audits and investigations related to storms and disasters. This funding has been included in two bills considered in the 116th Congress: H.R. 268, which passed the House on January 16, 2019, but cloture was not invoked in the Senate; and H.R. 2157, which has passed both the House and Senate.

Previously, over the last decade

The FY2019 level of $4.836 billion represented an increase of $136.0 million (+2.9%) from FY2018.

The FY2018 level of $4.700 billion represented an increase of $260.0 million (+5.9%) from FY2017.

The FY2017 level of $4.440 billion represented increase of $77.0 million (+1.7%) from FY2016.

The FY2016 level of $4.363 billion represented an increase of $63.0 million (+1.5%) from FY2015.

The FY2015 level of $4.300 billion represented an increase of $41.7 million (+1.0%) from FY2014.

The FY2014 level of $4.259 billion represented an increase of $198 million (+4.9%) from FY2013.

The FY2013 level of $4.061 billion represented a decrease of $246 million (-5.6%), including the sequestration and rescission, from FY2012.

The FY2012 level of $4.307 billion represented a decrease of $236.9 million (-5.2%) from FY2011.

The FY2011 level of $4.543 billion represented a decrease of $125.1 million (-2.7%) from the $4.669 billion provided for FY2010.

The smallest of the appropriations bills, the legislative branch bill comprises approximately 0.4% of total discretionary budget authority.