2551 ), no further action was taken before the beginning of FY2012. Division G of the FY2012 Consolidated Appropriations Act ( H.R. 2055 , P.L. 112-74 ), which was enacted on December 23, 2011, provided $4.307 billion in discretionary funding for the legislative branch. 112-10 ) provided $4.54 billion for legislative branch activities for FY2011. The FY2011 level represented a decrease of nearly 3% from the $4.66 billion provided for FY2010. From October 1, 2010, until the enactment of this legislation on April 11, 2011, the legislative branch operated on continuing resolutions. H.Res. Section 1902 of P.L. Previously, the FY2010 Legislative Branch Appropriations Act ( P.L. 111-68 ) provided $4.66 billion for FY2010 legislative branch operations, and the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act provided $4.40 billion. In FY2009, an additional $25 million was provided for the Government Accountability Office (GAO) in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. P.L. Status of FY2012 Appropriations

		Action on the FY2012 Legislative Branch Appropriations Bill

			Submission of FY2012 Budget Request on February 14, 2011

The FY2012 U.S. Budget submitted on February 14, 2011, contained a request for $4.857 billion in new budget authority for legislative branch activities, an increase of approximately 7% from the FY2011 enacted level. The House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch held a markup on July 7, 2011, and reported the bill to the full committee with no amendments by voice vote. The full committee held its markup on July 13, 2011. The full committee ordered reported a $3.3 billion bill with a roll call vote of 28-19 ( H.R. 2551 , H.Rept. 112-148 ). The total funding level represents a $227 million, or 6.4%, reduction from the FY2011 level (not including Senate items). The House agreed to this rule on July 21, 2011 (Roll no. 4. 5. 6. 8. 11. The House passed the bill, as amended, on July 22 (Roll no. 629, 252-159). 2551 , as amended, on September 15, 2011, by a recorded vote of 28–2 ( S.Rept. The Consolidated Appropriations Act ( P.L. Highlights of the House Hearing on the FY2012 Budget of the House of Representatives

At a hearing on May 12, 2011, the House subcommittee discussed Member and district office security, including costs; expenses for legal services related to the Defense of Marriage Act following Attorney General Eric Holder's February 23, 2011, letter to Speaker John Boehner regarding the President's determination that Section 3 of this act is unconstitutional and the Speaker's March 9, 2011, announcement that the House General Counsel was directed to initiate a legal defense of this law; greening efforts, including functions of the Architect of the Capitol and the use of Styrofoam in the House cafeteria; and the House wounded warrior program and the experiences and long-term employment prospects of its alumni. 111-212 provided an additional $12.96 million in supplemental appropriations. Highlights of the House and Senate Hearings on the FY2012 Budget of the Architect of the Capitol

At a hearing on March 3, 2011, the Senate subcommittee discussed the timing of repairs to the Capitol dome; the completion of the tunnel project, scheduled for 2012; the completion of the radio project; potential savings from a unified legislative branch financial management system; Capitol Power Plant east chiller relocation project; and how the agency would operate under various potential funding cuts. Previously, $45.2 million was provided for FY2010, $44.1 million was provided in the FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act, and $2.0 million, to remain available through FY2010, was provided in the FY2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act ( P.L. 111-32 ). The House-reported bill ( H.R. Previously, P.L.
The legislative branch appropriations bill provides funding for the Senate; House of Representatives; Joint Items; Capitol Police; Office of Compliance; Congressional Budget Office; Architect of the Capitol; Library of Congress, including the Congressional Research Service; Government Printing Office; Government Accountability Office; and Open World.
The legislative branch budget request of $4.857 billion, which is included in the President's budget, was submitted on February 14, 2011. This represents an approximately 7% increase over funds provided for FY2011, although the request was submitted prior to the enactment of the FY2011 appropriations act. The FY2011 act (P.L. 112-10, enacted on April 11, 2011) provided $4.54 billion for legislative branch activities, which represented a decrease of nearly 3% from the $4.66 billion provided for FY2010.
The House Appropriations Committee Subcommittee on the Legislative Branch held a markup on July 7, 2011, which was followed by a full committee markup on July 13. The full committee ordered reported a $3.3 billion bill, H.R. 2551 (H.Rept. 112-148). This total represents a $227 million, or 6.4%, reduction from the FY2011 level. The House agreed to a rule for consideration of the bill (H.Res. 359) on July 21, 2011. The House passed the bill, as amended, on July 22 (Roll no. 629, 252-159).
The Senate Appropriations Committee, by a vote of 28-2, ordered H.R. 2551 reported with amendments on September 15, 2011.
No further action was taken on H.R. 2551. The legislative branch operated under a series of continuing resolutions until the enactment of P.L. 112-74, the FY2012 Consolidated Appropriations Act, on December 23, 2011. Division G of that act provided $4.3 billion for legislative branch activities for FY2012.
The Subcommittees on the Legislative Branch of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees both held hearings during which Members considered the FY2011 legislative branch requests. Among issues that were considered during hearings were the following:
the potential for flat or reduced funding levels, including the effect on agency operations, plans for various budget scenarios, and potential efficiencies; security plans and costs, especially for Members and district offices; the role of the Government Printing Office in the digital age; and status of current Architect of the Capitol projects and timing of renovations.
Previously, P.L. 111-68 (enacted October 1, 2009) provided $4.656 billion for FY2010. The FY2010 Supplemental Appropriations Act (P.L. 111-212) provided an additional $12.96 million for the Capitol Police. The FY2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act (P.L. 111-8, enacted on March 11, 2009) provided $4.4 billion for the legislative branch. In FY2009, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (P.L. 111-5) provided an additional $25 million for the Government Accountability Office, and the FY2009 Supplemental Appropriations Act (P.L. 111-32) provided $71.6 million for the Capitol Police and $2 million for the Congressional Budget Office.