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Source: Congress.gov
Participants
Transcript
The subject of today's hearing is fiscal year 2026 budget request for the House of Representatives. I'd like to thank Ranking Member Espaillat, committee members and house officers, Mr. Kevin McCumber, Mr. Bill McFarland, and Ms. Catherine Spindor. our other House officials, all for being here. Thank you. I know that all members of this committee share my appreciation for work that you do and each member of your staff do to keep the House operating efficiently and effectively. I want to start by highlighting the excellent work you have already accomplished as we've begun the 119th Congress. You and your teams have each contributed to the several historic events with the organization of the new Congress on January 3rd, followed by the joint session to count the electoral votes, and the lying in state of the former President Carter. Shortly thereafter, we joined the Senate in hosting the 60th Inaugural Ceremonies, and most recently, the Presidential Joint Address. We know that each of these events require months of planning and hours of extra work. Congratulations on each a successful event, and we thank you for your continued efforts. Thank you again for joining us today, and I look forward to hearing your testimonies and learning more about budget priorities for fiscal year 2026. I now recognize Ranking Member Espaillat for his opening remarks.
Thank you, Chairman Valadao. And good morning, Mr. Spindor, Ms. Spindor, Mr. McFarland, and Mr. McCumber. Thank you for joining us to discuss fiscal year 2026 and your budget request. You all do an exceptional job serving this body and providing a host of services that are necessary for us to represent our constituents and address our country's critical needs. House offices such as the Office of the Official Reporters, Legislative Council, and our various technology divisions work behind the scenes to support our operations, and I want them to know that we are thankful and really benefit greatly from their hard work. The overall fiscal year 2026 budget request for the House of Representatives is $2.1 billion, which in 207.8 million or 11% above the fiscal year of 2025 enacted level. Many of the requests, the requested increases would have been addressed in a full year enacted bill, but due to the failure to complete the 2025 appropriations process accounts were frozen in a full year continuing resolution. The $8 million cut to the modernization account came as a surprise to this side of the aisle. And of course, we want to work in a bipartisan and transparent manner. Investments in the U.S. House of Representatives are critical to the growth and progress of our democracy. I look forward to hearing each of you and your testimonies and discussing the IT modernization and security efforts including within the request as well as the impacts to Congress and our ability to be transparent and responsive to our constituencies if these efforts are not implemented. It is important for this committee to continue our investment in building a better institution that is more responsive to the needs of our constituents.
Thank you, Mr. Espaillat. The Clerk, Sergeant-at-Arms, and the Chief Administrative Officer are all joined today by Matthew Berry, the House General Counsel, Ms. Kristen Stevenson, the Acting House Inspector General, Mr. Brian Lindsey, the Law Revision Counsel, and Ms. Warren Burke, the Legislative Counsel. All of their testimonies have been submitted for the record, and members are welcome to ask questions to any of the House officials here today. in addition to our three main witnesses. Mr. McCumber, your full testimony has been submitted for the record and you are now recognized to provide a summary of your written testimony.
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The Honorable Kevin McCumber
Chairman Valadao, Ranking Member Espaillat, members of the subcommittee, thank you for your ongoing support for the Office of the Clerk and our 222 staff. I'm extremely proud to testify on their behalf about our operations and fiscal year 2026 budget request. I'd like to take a moment to acknowledge and thank my colleagues beside me, Catherine and Bill, and the other House officials here in the room. Their support and collaboration in managing the house's daily operations is absolutely critical for our continued success. To put the bottom line up front, we are requesting $48,992,000 for fiscal year 2026. This is an 18.18% increase above the fiscal year 2025 enacted funding level. There are several reasons for this increase. First, like everyone coming before this committee, this request reflects a two-year compounded need. Second, this level of funding supports our most valued asset, our staff, through mandatory longevities and cost of living adjustments. In addition, this request follows an assessment of our staffing requirements completed over the last year to ensure we can continue to execute our evolving mission and supports funding for 11 new positions. Four of these new positions will provide the staff needed to support the increase in committee field hearings. Six will provide appropriate support for our growing technology portfolio, and one will support our growing administrative needs. Finally, redevelopment of our Legislative Information Management System, or LIMS, and other modernization projects necessitate the next largest increase to our request, some of which received initial funding from the House's Modernization Initiatives Account. It is important to know that absent the inclusion of these LIMS and modernization projects, our budget request is just 1.45% above our fiscal year 2025 enacted level.
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