Ranking Member Espaillat Statement at the Fiscal Year 2024 House of Representatives 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 Office of Congressional Workplace Rights:

**As prepared for delivery**

Thank you, Chairman Amodei.

Good morning Everyone.

Congratulations Madame Clerk and Mrs. Szpindor on your return this Congress. Also, congratulations Mr. McFarland on your acting role as Sergeant at Arms. I am looking forward to working with each of you this Congress.

This Committee has always supported the men and women of our House family. I would like to take a moment to thank all the officers, officials, and their staff for your extraordinary work over the past year.

You do an exceptional job serving this body and providing a host of services that are necessary for us to represent our constituents and do the work that will address our country's critical needs.

The overall fiscal year 2024 request for the House of Representatives is $1.9 billion which is $55.3 million or 3 percent above the fiscal year 2024 enacted level.

This limited increase concerns me especially when looking at House of Representatives because for far too long we have put many of this body's issues on the back burner and we have to continue to make investments to protect this institution to ensure it is in good shape for the next generation of leaders.

Investments in the U.S. House of Representatives are critical to the growth and progress of our democracy. This funding strengthens our government and its capacity to serve the American people.

Today, I look forward to discussing the IT modernization and security efforts included within your requests.

I also would like to discuss the impacts to Congress and our ability to be transparent and responsive to our constituents if these efforts are not implemented due to budget cuts.

I look forward to hearing each of your testimonies.

I yield back