HR-9010-119
Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 580.
Sponsored by David Valadao (R-CA)
What it does
This bill would appropriate approximately $5.5 billion to fund the operations of the U.S. Legislative Branch for fiscal year 2027 (October 1, 2026 – September 30, 2027). It would fund the House of Representatives, Senate support offices, the Capitol Police, the Library of Congress, the Congressional Budget Office, the Government Accountability Office, the Government Publishing Office, the Architect of the Capitol, and related entities. Beyond funding, it would also establish several policy rules, including banning purchases of technology from Chinese-linked companies, freezing Member of Congress cost-of-living pay adjustments, capping vehicle lease payments, and changing how the Librarian of Congress and Director of the Government Publishing Office are appointed.
Who benefits
Members of Congress and their staff, who receive operational funding and intern compensation. Capitol Police officers, who receive salaries, overtime, and benefits. Blind and print-disabled Americans, who receive continued funding for the National Library Service. Congressional interns, who receive dedicated compensation funding. Visitors to the Capitol, whose guided tours are protected. The widow of the late Rep. David Scott, who receives a $174,000 survivor payment. Researchers and the public, who benefit from Library of Congress, CRS, and CBO transparency improvements. Domestic technology vendors, who gain a competitive advantage from the ban on Chinese-linked tech procurement. U.S. cybersecurity firms, who may benefit from expanded congressional cybersecurity assistance contracts.
Who is hurt
Chinese-linked technology manufacturers and their U.S. distributors or resellers, who would be excluded from congressional procurement. Members of Congress, who would not receive a cost-of-living pay adjustment in FY2027. Members under active Ethics Committee review, who would be required to complete workplace misconduct training in person rather than online. Contractors on Architect of the Capitol projects who are behind schedule or over budget, who would be ineligible for incentive or award payments. Vendors of drones manufactured in China, who are barred from Capitol Police and Architect of the Capitol purchases. Taxpayers broadly, who bear the cost of the approximately $5.5 billion in appropriations.
Supporters argue
Supporters argue that this bill funds the essential constitutional functions of a co-equal branch of government — including oversight, lawmaking, and public access — while incorporating meaningful accountability measures. They contend that the ban on Chinese-linked technology procurement protects sensitive congressional communications and national security, consistent with restrictions already in place across the executive branch. They further argue that requiring in-person ethics training for Members under active investigation and redirecting unspent Member allowances to deficit reduction reflect responsible stewardship of public funds.
Opponents argue
Opponents argue that the bill's total funding level may be insufficient to address documented security and infrastructure backlogs at the Capitol, potentially leaving critical facilities and Member protection underfunded. They contend that the freeze on Member cost-of-living adjustments — while politically popular — has contributed to long-term congressional staffing challenges, as staff salaries tied to Member pay scales make it harder to recruit and retain qualified personnel. They further argue that the new bipartisan commission process for appointing the Librarian of Congress and GPO Director adds procedural complexity without clear accountability improvements.