Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: July 22, 2011

CONTACT: Hannah Loy   202-225-2315

Gosar Amendment to Cut Legislative Branch Spending Passes the House

The FY2012 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill is the sixth of the thirteen individual appropriations bills passed by the U.S. House of Representatives this year

Today, the United States House of Representatives passed H.R. 2551, the fiscal year 2012 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill, which included a budget cutting amendment introduced by Congressman Paul Gosar (AZ-01) in conjunction with Congresswoman Nan Hayworth (NY-19).   The Hayworth-Gosar amendment lopped off 5.3% more than submitted by the Committee for the Botanic Garden, slashing the budget by $632,780, and adding the funds to the Spending Reduction Account, which goes to pay off the deficit.

The Botanic Garden has proven its ability to use tax dollars in a cost-effective and efficient way to provide beneficial educational opportunities to millions of Americans who visit the facility every year. However, given the current U.S. financial crisis, difficult cuts are necessary; it is important the burden is shared across the board.  The Gosar Amendment passed the House with overwhelming bipartisan support by a vote of 299-112.

“While I truly value the United States Botanic Garden, our fiscal crisis threatens the well being of every single American, and even good and worthy programs such as the United States Botanic Garden cannot be spared from our effort to scale down our federal budget significantly.  I have said repeatedly, if it’s not essential to our country—‘everyone is going to get a haircut.’  I am confident that even with this reduced budget, the Botanic Garden will be able to offer an educational experience to all of us and to our constituents when they come to visit Capitol Hill.  I am proud to have teamed up with Congresswoman Hayworth to offer this important amendment.”

The Legislative Branch Appropriations bill funds the House and joint operations at $3.3 billion, which is $227 million (-6.4%) below last year’s level and $472 million (-12.4%) below President Obama’s request. Nearly every legislative branch office and agency, except the Capitol Police, will take at least a 6.4% cut, including the offices of Members of Congress, leadership, and Committees. It is the smallest of the thirteen appropriations bills.

“Passing a yearly budget for the federal government is the fundamental responsibility of Congress. I am proud to be a part of a House that takes that responsibility and the responsibility to rein in federal spending seriously,” said Rep. Gosar.  “The Legislative Branch Appropriations bill provides for Congress to conduct its important work, while recognizing that we must live on a budget when times are tough, as my constituents are doing in Arizona.”  

The FY2012 Legislative Appropriations bill passed the U.S. House with bipartisan support by a vote of 252-159.  It is the sixth of the necessary thirteen individual appropriations bills passed by the Republican-lead House of Representatives for the 2012 Fiscal Year.  The House is on pace to pass all thirteen before the end of the current fiscal year.

In 2010, the Democrat-lead House did not pass any of the standalone appropriations bills, forcing the 112th Congress to pass a Continuing Resolution, H.R. 1473, earlier this year to avoid a government shutdown. 

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