Ranking Member Espaillat Statement at Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request for the Congressional Budget Office, Government Accountability Office, and Government Publishing Office Hearing

Congressman Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13), Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the Subcommittee's fiscal year 2025 budget request hearing for the Congressional Budget Office, Government Accountability Office, and Government Publishing Office:

Mr. Dodaro, Dr. Swagel, and Mr. Halpern, thank you all for being here today.

Each of your Agencies has a tremendous responsibility and provides crucial functions in our democracy.

The Government Accountability Office provides independent oversight of government programs and activities and nonpartisan support to Congress.

The GAO has been voted "best place to work in government" for the past three years. The GAO budget request for fiscal year 2025 is $916 million or 12.8% above the fiscal year 2024 enacted totals.

The Congressional Budget Office provides regular support to the Appropriations Committees through technical assistance and cost estimates throughout the annual legislative process.

The CBO budget request for fiscal year 2025 is $73.5 million or 5% above the fiscal year 2024 enacted totals.

The CBO has been particularly important recently, as we have witnessed budget cuts perpetuated by Republican leadership.

There are two ways to achieve budget cuts: either decrease vital programs for the low—to middle-income class or ensure that everyone is paying their fair share of taxes. I prefer that everyone pays their fair share so that nurses and teachers aren't paying more taxes than billionaire CEOs. There is a larger conversation to be had here.

However, moving on.

The Government Publishing Office's fundamental function is to make information about the operations of government—particularly the Congress— readily available to the public.

The GPO budget request for fiscal year 2025 is $136 million or 3.1% above the fiscal year 2024 enacted total.

This subcommittee greatly appreciates each Agency's work, and I would like to commend each of you and your staff for your work in reinforcing Congress' constitutional power of the purse and for dedicating the resources necessary to support this committee.

As Ranking Member, I am committed to ensuring that your Agencies have the resources needed to build on your excellent records, to provide timely expert assistance to Congress, and to meet the challenges of your varied missions.

I look forward to each of your testimonies.

I yield back.