Chairman Ryan Statement at Hearing on FY 2021 Architect of the Capitol Budget Request

Congressman Tim Ryan (D-OH), Chair of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the Subcommittee's hearing on the Fiscal Year 2021 budget request for the Architect of the Capitol:

Mr. Blanton, we welcome you to the House Leg Branch Appropriations subcommittee hearing for your first appearance with us since you were sworn in two months ago. Your impressive facilities construction background, both in the military and the non-profit sector, give us great hope for your success.  Anyone who can handle a demanding public as one of the leaders of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority should be able to take on the challenges of the Architect’s job.

You arrive as the AOC faces a backlog of substantial facility renovation needs, both immediate and long-term; new construction projects requiring design and implementation; and continuing turmoil in the AOC workforce regarding discrimination in the workplace.

You will have our subcommittee’s support as you tackle these issues.  A smoothly functioning AOC is important to all Members and staff. But we will have to ask you to do more with less – a 15 percent budget request increase this year (+$102 million) is not likely to be in the cards, given our essentially flat budget caps.

We’re looking forward to your testimony today. You can give us your oral remarks now and your complete opening statement will be included in the record.