House spending panel would cut committee budgets by 6.4 percent

“This cut reflects our willingness to cut spending starting in our own backyards, while maintaining essential operations and security efforts to ensure the safe and productive operations of the Capitol for the thousands of people that work in and visit the Capitol complex every day,” he added.

The legislation provides annual funding for House lawmaker offices and support agencies of Congress in addition to services for visitors and Capitol operations and maintenance.

The proposal would provide $1.2 billion to fund operations in the House, $489 million for the Architect of the Capitol, $575 million for the Library of Congress and $511 million for the Government Accountability Office.

All took a considerable funding cut over the previous year. The Capitol Police – with a funding request of $340 million – was the only agency to avoid a significant reduction.

“Through formal hearings, a number of informal meetings, and listening to all the agencies we oversee, we have carefully determined what we can afford and what we can’t and still remain safe and operational,” Legislative Branch Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman Ander Crenshaw (R-Fla.) said in a statement.

“This Subcommittee has looked at the facts, set priorities, and made tough choices,” he added. “Congress has asked every agency in the federal government to rein in spending and do more with less, and we should do the same.”

The bill is slated for consideration in subcommittee Thursday.