Ranking Member Espaillat Statement at the Fiscal Year 2024 Congressional Budget Office Budget Request Hearing

Congressman Adriano Espaillat (D-NY), Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the Subcommittee's hearing on the fiscal year 2024 budget request for the Congressional Budget Office:

**As prepared for delivery**

Thank you, Chairman Amodei.

Dr. Swagel, thank you for appearing before our subcommittee today.

We appreciate your time here to discuss the fiscal year 2024 budget request for the Congressional Budget Office.

I want to begin by reflecting on CBO's important role in Congress's fulfillment of its constitutional responsibilities over federal funding.

The Constitution provides the power of the purse—the power to raise revenue and appropriate funds—to the Congress, and the exercise of the power of the purse is one of Congress's most important responsibilities.

Through the legislative process, Congress determines how to allocate Federal funds across the government, and it is the proper role of Congress to remain at the center of all of these funding decisions.

Indeed, this committee plays an essential role in Congress's exercise of its constitutional power of the purse, and this subcommittee has the tremendous responsibility of ensuring that the Legislative Branch has the resources it needs to support a strong Congress.

It is through the investments we make in the Legislative Branch Appropriations Acts that allow us to continue to recruit and retain diverse, expert staff, provide security to Members, and secure the Capitol complex.

And ultimately, it allows us to strengthen the First Branch of Government.

These investments also permit the Congress to develop its own budget priorities, independent of the Executive Branch and without reliance on the Office of Management and Budget.

We do so through investing in our congressional staff and in the Congressional Budget Office, which was established as a nonpartisan office in the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 for this very reason—to support and strengthen Congress's role in funding decisions.

CBO provides regular support to the Appropriations Committees through technical assistance and cost estimates throughout the annual legislative process.

It remains essential that CBO provide timely assistance to this committee and remain on a consistent and predictable schedule for baseline updates this year and going forward.

For fiscal year 2024, CBO is requesting a total of $70.8 million, a $7.5 million, or 12 percent, increase over fiscal year 2023 enacted totals.

According to the request, this will be used to improve the agency's cybersecurity and responsiveness to Congress.

Dr. Swagel, I look forward to your testimony today and with that, I yield back.