This bill allocates funds for the operating expenses of House of Representatives committees during the 119th Congress, setting specific limits for the first and second sessions.
Bryan Steil
Representative
WI-1
This bill allocates funds for the operating expenses of various House of Representatives committees during the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress, setting specific amounts for each committee. It also establishes spending limitations for the first and second sessions of the Congress and a reserve fund for unanticipated expenses, all while mandating adherence to House Administration Committee regulations and voucher-based payments. The Committee on House Administration is authorized to make necessary adjustments to funding amounts.
House Resolution Details $397 Million Budget for Committee Operations in 119th Congress
This resolution sets the operational budgets for various House of Representatives committees for the One Hundred Nineteenth Congress, covering the period roughly from January 2025 to January 2027. It authorizes a total of approximately $397 million, including a reserve fund, drawn from House funds to cover committee expenses like staff salaries, hearings, investigations, and administrative costs. The resolution essentially acts as the internal budget allocation plan for the legislative workhorses of the House.
The Committee Checkbook: Who Gets What
The resolution meticulously lists the total two-year funding amounts for 21 specific committees (Section 1). For instance, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform is allocated $30,651,000, the Committee on the Judiciary gets $30,250,000, and the Committee on Energy and Commerce receives $28,800,000. These funds are crucial for committees to conduct oversight, draft legislation, and hold hearings on issues impacting everything from national security (Armed Services: $25,977,070) to agriculture (Agriculture: $14,903,700) and technology (Science, Space, and Technology: $15,232,000). A dedicated Select Committee on competition with the Chinese Communist Party is also funded at $10,250,000.
Pacing the Spending: First and Second Year Limits
To manage cash flow and ensure funds last the entire two-year congressional term, the resolution splits the total allocation into two parts. Section 2 details specific spending caps for the first session (roughly January 3, 2025, to January 3, 2026), and Section 3 does the same for the second session (January 3, 2026, to January 3, 2027). For example, the Judiciary Committee gets $15,000,000 for the first session and $15,250,000 for the second. This structured approach provides a predictable funding stream while preventing committees from exhausting their budgets prematurely.
Rules of the Road: Vouchers and Oversight
Getting the money out the door requires following specific procedures. Section 4 mandates that all payments must be made using vouchers signed by the respective committee's chair. Crucially, these vouchers also need approval from the Committee on House Administration, which acts as the central financial overseer. Furthermore, Section 5 explicitly states that all spending must comply with regulations established by the House Administration Committee, reinforcing its oversight role. Think of House Admin as the internal finance department ensuring everyone follows the rules.
Flexibility Factors: Reserve Fund and Adjustments
Recognizing that unexpected needs arise, Section 6 establishes a $4 million reserve fund specifically for "unanticipated expenses." This fund is split evenly, with $2 million available in each session. Accessing these reserve funds isn't automatic; committees must request allocations, which require approval from the Committee on House Administration. Additionally, Section 7 gives House Administration the authority to adjust committee funding levels if necessary, for example, to comply with government-wide budget control measures ordered by the President or changes in appropriations. This provides a mechanism for adapting to broader fiscal changes.