Bill Overview
Title: Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2023
Description: This bill provides FY2023 appropriations for the legislative branch, including the House of Representatives and joint items such as the Joint Economic Committee, the Joint Committee on Taxation, the Office of the Attending Physician, and the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services. In addition, the bill provides FY2023 appropriations for the Capitol Police; the Office of Congressional Workplace Rights; the Congressional Budget Office; the Architect of the Capitol; the Library of Congress, including the Congressional Research Service and the Copyright Office; the Government Publishing Office; the Government Accountability Office; Congressional Office for International Leadership Fund; and the John C. Stennis Center for Public Service Training and Development. (Pursuant to the longstanding practice of each chamber of Congress determining its own requirements, funds for the Senate are not included in the House bill.) The bill also sets forth requirements and restrictions for using funds provided by this bill.
Sponsors: Rep. Ryan, Tim [D-OH-13]
Target Audience
Population: Employees of the U.S. legislative branch
Estimated Size: 30000
- This bill impacts primarily those employed within the legislative branch of the U.S. government, including various committees, offices, and departments.
- It includes the House of Representatives and several joint committees and offices such as the Joint Economic Committee and the Joint Committee on Taxation.
- It provides funding for the Capitol Police, which has an estimated size of 2,300 employees.
- The Library of Congress employs around 3,100 people and is included in the bill's appropriations.
- The Government Publishing Office, with its approximate 1,700 employees, is also part of the legislative branch funding recipient.
- Including the Government Accountability Office and other agencies covered, the whole workforce directly impacted exceeds 30,000 people.
- Additional ancillary impacts might include the contractors and businesses providing services to these government bodies.
Reasoning
- The Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2023 specifically targets the needs and functioning of U.S. legislative branch employees. Given this, the individuals most directly impacted by the policy will be employees of the agencies and offices mentioned in the appropriations list.
- The funding supports operations, employee pay, equipment, and facility upkeep, potentially affecting job satisfaction and workplace conditions. However, the policy does have a limit in terms of budget, so changes might be incremental rather than revolutionary.
- Employees whose daily tasks are closely tied to the funded resources will see more immediate impacts. For instance, Capitol Police members may experience improvements in equipment and training, while employees of the Congressional Research Service may see funding for resources affecting their research capabilities.
- The policy indirectly impacts businesses and contractors working with these agencies, though less directly compared to the employees.
Simulated Interviews
Legislative Researcher (Washington D.C.)
Age: 34 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This policy is crucial for maintaining the quality of research and reports our team produces.
- Adequate funding ensures we have the best tools and access to necessary data.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 4 |
Capitol Police Officer (Washington D.C.)
Age: 45 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Our equipment is outdated, and additional funding is welcome, especially for safety gear and training.
- This policy is a step in the right direction for enhancing our work conditions.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 9 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 8 | 4 |
Budget Analyst (Maryland)
Age: 30 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Appropriations can stabilize our resources for better analysis and reporting.
- The funding helps us maintain quality standards, which is crucial for accurate budgeting.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 4 |
Government Publishing Office Employee (Virginia)
Age: 50 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 7/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Funding will help in upgrading old systems to a digital platform.
- I hope the transition is smooth and resources are allocated efficiently.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 2 |
Government Accountability Office Auditor (New York)
Age: 28 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 8.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- This will help us conduct more thorough investigations and audits.
- Increased funds may allow for additional hires, alleviating some workload pressures.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 4 |
Chief Architect, Architect of the Capitol (California)
Age: 39 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 7.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Sustainable infrastructure improvements are much-needed and funds will help.
- The appropriations are critical but frequently face political hurdles.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 5 | 2 |
Retired Congressional Staffer (Illinois)
Age: 60 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 3.0 years
Commonness: 2/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Experienced years of fluctuations in funding allocations.
- Stable funding is crucial for effective tax policy analysis.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 6 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Office of Congressional Accessibility Services Coordinator (Massachusetts)
Age: 46 | Gender: female
Wellbeing Before Policy: 6
Duration of Impact: 5.0 years
Commonness: 3/20
Statement of Opinion:
- Funding helps us expand and improve accessibility services.
- Important to keep up with technological advancements for accessibility.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 6 |
| Year 3 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 4 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 3 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 3 |
Staff Attorney, Office of the Attending Physician (Texas)
Age: 29 | Gender: male
Wellbeing Before Policy: 7
Duration of Impact: 2.0 years
Commonness: 4/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The funding affects quality and efficiency of medical services provided to legislators.
- Ensures resources are available for emergencies and routine healthcare.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 2 | 8 | 7 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 5 | 7 | 6 |
| Year 10 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 20 | 6 | 5 |
Union Representative, Capitol Police (Georgia)
Age: 55 | Gender: other
Wellbeing Before Policy: 5
Duration of Impact: 10.0 years
Commonness: 5/20
Statement of Opinion:
- The policy needs to effectively address safety challenges and equipment needs for Capitol Police.
- Our safety is paramount, and any lapse can have serious implications.
Wellbeing Over Time (With vs Without Policy)
| Year | With Policy | Without Policy |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | 6 | 5 |
| Year 2 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 3 | 7 | 5 |
| Year 5 | 8 | 5 |
| Year 10 | 8 | 4 |
| Year 20 | 7 | 3 |
Cost Estimates
Year 1: $5500000000 (Low: $5000000000, High: $6000000000)
Year 2: $5500000000 (Low: $5000000000, High: $6000000000)
Year 3: $5500000000 (Low: $5000000000, High: $6000000000)
Year 5: $5500000000 (Low: $5000000000, High: $6000000000)
Year 10: $5500000000 (Low: $5000000000, High: $6000000000)
Year 100: $5500000000 (Low: $5000000000, High: $6000000000)
Key Considerations
- The appropriations impact over 30,000 employees within the legislative branch, ensuring the smooth running of government operations.
- A focus on security and research is evident with allocations for the Capitol Police and the Library of Congress.
- The scope of the appropriations underscores the necessity of maintaining legislative functions, especially in a complex and evolving policy environment.