Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2013

Floor Speech

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Mr. BISHOP of Georgia. Mr. Speaker, I rise in support of the Fiscal Year 2013 Legislative Branch Appropriations bill.

Although this measure is the smallest of the thirteen annual appropriations bills, it plays a giant role by funding some of the most vital areas of the United States Government.

In fact, the Legislative Branch Subcommittee is responsible for more than just the operations of the United States Congress.

The Subcommittee also is responsible for the preservation of our cultural heritage by the Library of Congress; the objective analysis of our budget and economic decisions by the Congressional Budget Office; the independent evaluation of the Federal Government's performance by the Government Accountability Office; and the publishing and dissemination of government information by the Government Printing Office.

In short, none of us here in Congress could represent our constituents effectively and make informed decisions in the national interest without the resources provided for in this bill.

As a Member of this Subcommittee, I want to commend Chairman Crenshaw and Ranking Member Honda for working together in a bipartisan fashion to craft this legislation.

I know that both of you were dealt a difficult hand with your Subcommittee allocation. Nevertheless, I am pleased that you were able to either level fund or provide small increases in the budgets of most accounts.

Many of the accounts under this Subcommittee's jurisdiction already have been cut to the bone. Further significant reductions would have seriously jeopardized their missions--some of which include finding cost savings and efficiencies throughout the government--and would have had an adverse impact on the services that we in Congress provide to our constituents.

I am glad that we were able to hold the line and prevent further harm.

I also am grateful by you and your staff's willingness to engage on the issue of the security of our District Offices and our District Staff.

I am especially pleased by the inclusion of report language I sponsored along with Representative LaTourette directing the House Sergeant at Arms, in coordination with the United States Capitol Police, to develop a series of recommendations and best practices on security features or enhancements for House District Offices to be made available to new and returning Members prior to the start of the 113th Congress.

Again, I want to thank Chairman Crenshaw and Ranking Member Honda on your work on this bill.

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