[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 88 (Tuesday, June 12, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1039]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




              LEGISLATIVE BRANCH APPROPRIATIONS ACT, 2013

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                               speech of

                         HON. CHRIS VAN HOLLEN

                              of maryland

                    in the house of representatives

                          Friday, June 8, 2012

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 5882) making 
     appropriations for the Legislative Branch for the fiscal year 
     ending September 30, 2013, and for other purposes:

  Mr. VAN HOLLEN. Mr. Chair, I rise in support of H.R. 5882, the FY13 
Legislative Branch Appropriations bill and to commend Chairmen Rogers 
and Crenshaw and Ranking Members Dicks and Honda for working together 
to bring this bi-partisan legislation to the floor.
  H.R. 5882 provides $3.3 billion for operations of the House of 
Representatives and joint operations with the U.S. Senate. The funding 
level is $34 million less than the current year and $190 million less 
than requested by those offices and agencies covered by the bill. H.R. 
5882 freezes funding for House operations at the current level, while 
increasing funds for the U.S. Capitol Police, for the Government 
Accountability Office--which conducts oversight investigations for the 
Federal government, and for the non-partisan Congressional Budget 
Office.
  The funding provided by this measure is needed for the smooth and 
efficient operation of the House of Representatives and the U.S. 
Senate. It provides funds for phone service, for computers for postage 
and for every other resource necessary for the legislative branch of 
the American government to serve the people of the United States.

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