Ranking Member Espaillat Statement at the Fiscal Year 2024 Library of Congress 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 Library of Congress:

Dr. Hayden, thank you and your colleagues for being here today                                                                  

The Library of Congress is a national treasure and an unparalleled resource, and I appreciate your commitment to making the Library and its collections more discoverable and accessible to the public as well as your continued emphasis on technology development.

Importantly, we look forward to the unveiling of the Visitors Experience Center in 2025. My team raved about the preview provided to them last year!

As Ranking Member, I am committed to ensuring the Library has the resources it needs to fulfill its mission, safeguard its collections, and provide robust cybersecurity protections. 

I would like to extend a special thanks to the Library’s dedicated staff and exceptional budget team. 

I would also like to thank and recognize the staff of the Congressional Research Service, especially the Appropriations Team and Executive Branch Operations Section, for their continuous and essential support to our entire Committee.

I look forward to hearing about your budget request from you and your colleagues.