Chair Ryan Statement at the FY 2022 Budget Hearing for the Government Publishing Office

Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH), Chair of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the Subcommittee's hearing on the FY 2022 Budget Hearing for the Government Publishing Office.

The Committee will come to order.  For our second panel I would like to welcome the director of the Government Publishing Office, Mr. Hugh Halpern to present the fiscal year 2022 budget request. Thank you all for joining us today, we welcome you back to our Subcommittee. 

Before we begin, I would like to acknowledge the staff of GPO for the extraordinary work over the past year.  We know that COVID has dramatically affected GPO’s workload.  Through the pandemic, and a very active congressional schedule, you and your team has continued to serve this body and ensure the Members of Congress have the documents to continue our work.  Mr. Halpern, the work you are providing is invaluable and we thank you.

The request is $125.6 million an increase of $8.6 million or 7.3% over what was provided last year.  I understand that your appropriation has remained flat since fiscal year 2016.  I also read in your testimony that your budget has declined by 21% from a high point of $147.6 million in fiscal year 2010.  I hope you might shed some light on this matter for the benefit of the Committee as none of us were on the Leg Branch subcommittee in 2010.

While you have a reasonable request, I cannot guarantee that the subcommittee allocation will be increasing at an equal rate and it may be hard to accommodate the full request.  But we’ll do our best.