Ranking Member Espaillat Statement to House Rules Committee on the 2024 Legislative Branch Funding Bill

Congressman Adriano Espaillat (D-NY-13), Ranking Member of the Legislative Branch Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the House Rules Committee in opposition to the fiscal year 2024 Legislative Branch bill:

Good afternoon, Chairman Cole and Ranking Member McGovern. Thank you for having me today. This is my first time coming to the Rules Committee and I am thankful for the opportunity to discuss H. R. 4364, the Legislative Branch Appropriations Act of 2024.

This bill may be small, but it has an important role. Before I discuss the bill and its merits or lack thereof, let me take moment to say hello to my colleague from the great state of Nevada, Chairman Amodei and to thank the staff on our side, Faye Cobb, Monica Garay, and Raquel Spencer as well as the majority staffers, Michelle Reinshuttle and Jacqueline Ripke. These staffers work daily to ensure the Legislative Branch has the resources it needs to support American and its people.  

The bill before us today includes $5.3 billion in discretionary appropriations to fund the offices of the House of Representatives and joint legislative branch items. This is a decrease of 4.7 percent from the FY23 enacted House level and a 2.4 percent decrease in total allocation including the Senate items.

I agree with the Chairman when he says, this bill ensures that Congress remains open and provides the resources for Congress to serve their constituents and conduct our oversight responsibilities. However, this bill could and should provide so much.

The bill does provide funding for the United States Capitol Police and House Sergeant at Arms however, in my opinion, this bill does not do enough to implement additional security enhancements, such as addition efforts to secure multiple district offices and programs that provide a more comprehensive view of the perimeter to identify potential security threats more effectively.

After the attack on January 6th I feel strongly that our staff deserves to have a safe place to work, and our visitors deserve an even safer place to visit and receive services. In addition, our men and women in blue who work hard each day to secure this campus, deserve to have the best equipment, tools, and resources at the ready. 

Securing this campus has always been a priority of this Subcommittee. In the same way we continue to increase the defenses of our nation, we should also work to protect the campus that supports the governance of our democracy.

The bill keeps the lights on for the Legislative Branch Agencies. However, the Legislative Branch bill should never be a place for divisive politics. The Legislative Branch bill should be used to ensure Congress has the tools it needs to legislate and support the constituents we serve.

It should be used to ensure we have a successful democracy that serves ALL people.

Instead, and unfortunately, this bill contains some very concerning, messaging provisions that have no place within the Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill.  This bill, just as with the other 12 Appropriations Bills, contains provisions that eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs, and allow for discrimination towards the LGBTQI plus community.

The Republicans are obsessed with cutting federal funds and eliminating programs that help to grow and diversify our country.

For example, this bill does not carry longstanding legislation that would allow Legislative Branch agencies to employ individuals with an employment authorization document under the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) Program.

This bill eliminates funding for diversity, equity, and inclusion training or program implementation including our own House Office of Diversity and Inclusion (which they have benefited from using). This House and the Agencies that make up the entire Legislative Branch of government should make every effort to be reflective and considerate of ALL the people that exist in this great nation we serve, and the many districts’ Members represent. 

This bill does nothing to facilitate House Resolution 1096, which extends the collective bargaining rights prescribed in the Congressional Accountability Act of 1995 to employees of the House of Representatives and restore these rights to Congressional staffers.

This bill removes a provision to eliminate or reduce plastic waste across the Legislative Branch of Government, further contributing to the impacts of climate change. 

Mr. Chairman, when I took the role as Ranking Member of this subcommittee, I was looking forward to working with my colleague, Chairman Amodei, on creating a bipartisan bill.

Instead, this bill does not represent a collaboration between two parties. Instead, it includes provisions that are hurtful to many Americans, some of which are the staff that support this great institution.

How can we bring this bill to the floor and work alongside the staff that this very bill will offend?  I can’t and I don’t agree with these divisive ideas.

For that reason alone, I cannot support this bill.

Thanks again Mr. Chairman for the opportunity and I yield back.

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