WASHINGTON— Congressman Henry Cuellar (TX-28) voted in favor of the fiscal year 2022 Legislative Branch funding bill, on a 33 to 25 vote. Additionally, Congressman Cuellar helped secure language permitting Legislative Branch agencies to employ Dreamers and language directing the Library of Congress to increase partnerships with minority serving institutions.

The bill passed full committee markup and will now go to the House Floor for a vote later this summer.

For fiscal year 2022, the bill appropriates a total of $4.802 billion, an increase of $581.9 million or 13.8 percent, over fiscal year 2021. The legislation:

• Protects our democracy with funding, building on the emergency supplemental passed last month, to secure the United States Capitol
• Improves training and bolsters wellness support for the Capitol Police, who were attacked on January 6
• Strengthens Legislative Branch capacity by increasing funding for Congressional offices by 21 percent so they can recruit and retain a talented and diverse workforce
• Grows opportunity by increasing funding for internships to support more interns from working and middle-class families and allowing Dreamers to work in the Legislative Branch

“The work done by the Appropriations Committee will help modernize Congress and allow us to effectively serve our constituents,” said Congressman Cuellar. “By strengthening our nation’s Capitol and the Legislative Branch, we continue to put democracy first. Furthermore, we are ensuring that the halls of Congress reflects the diversity of our neighborhoods. DACA recipients contribute to our society in more ways than one and it’s time they are included in the federal workforce. The language I helped secure will allow DREAMers to ascend to the public sector and serve their country.”
 

A summary of the bill is here. The text of the bill, before the adoption of amendments in full Committee, is here.