Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026
Sponsored By: Representative Valadao
Introduced
Summary
Funding and operational rules for the Legislative Branch in FY2026. This bill would set appropriations, procurement limits, personnel rules, and security and technology policies for the House, Capitol entities, the Library of Congress, the Government Publishing Office, the Government Accountability Office, the Architect of the Capitol, the Capitol Police, and other legislative bodies.
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- House members and staff would get funding for salaries, Members’ Representational Allowances, intern pay, committee operations, and modernization. It caps vehicle leasing at $1,000 per vehicle per month and requires unused MRAs be spent in FY2026 or returned to the Treasury.
- Capitol security and facilities would face new limits and reporting rules. The bill would restrict overseas Capitol Police training without Board approval, bar incentive pay to AOC contractors for late or over-budget work except in narrow cases, ban certain Chinese-made drones, and set aside $74.9 million for prior-year security operations with $10.0 million available through 2030.
- Libraries, publishing, and oversight offices would receive set funding and new limits. The Library of Congress would be funded at about $501.9 million for salaries and expenses and the Government Accountability Office at about $415.4 million, while the bill also sets Copyright Office collection limits and curbs some GAO actions.
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Bill Overview
Analyzed Economic Effects
19 provisions identified: 8 benefits, 6 costs, 5 mixed.
Limits on Members' car and office funds
If enacted, House offices could not use more than $1,000 per vehicle per month from a Member’s allowance to lease a car. Vehicles used as mobile district offices would be exempt. Members’ Representational Allowance (MRA) money in this bill would be for fiscal year 2026 only. Any unspent MRA after payments would be sent to the Treasury to reduce the deficit or debt. Funds could not pay for maintenance or cleaning of private vehicles, except for emergency help and cleaning allowed under House and Senate parking rules.
Stricter bans on risky tech purchases
If enacted, starting in fiscal year 2026, funds in this bill could not buy or keep contracts that rely on covered telecom gear (for example, Huawei or ZTE). Loan or grant-funded purchases would also be barred starting in fiscal year 2027. Agencies would have to help affected groups transition, and a one-time waiver of up to two years would be allowed with a detailed inventory and phase-out plan sent to Congress within 30 days. In fiscal year 2026, House offices also could not buy certain computers, printers, or videoconference gear from firms on specific Defense, Treasury, Commerce, or DHS lists. Cloud services would not be covered by that House equipment ban.
Shield for beliefs about marriage
If enacted, no funds in this or prior Acts could be used to punish a person for speaking or acting on a sincere belief that marriage is between one man and one woman. Agencies could not change tax status, deny grants or licenses, cut benefits, restrict employment, or block access to federal property for that reason. The government would also treat affected people as accredited, licensed, or certified if they would be so except for that belief-based decision.
No bonuses for late AOC contractors
If enacted, the Architect of the Capitol could not pay incentive or award fees to contractors on projects that are behind schedule or over budget. Payments would be allowed only if delays were due to unforeseeable events, government scope changes, or were not significant. This would apply in fiscal year 2026.
GAO funding with project limits
If enacted, the Government Accountability Office would receive $415.37 million for fiscal year 2026. Of that, $5 million would remain available until spent, and $35.424 million of certain payments would have no fiscal year limit. GAO would need to notify House and Senate Appropriations Committees before using funds on projects not requested by Congress or required by law. GAO could bring a specific civil action only if Congress passed a concurrent resolution allowing it.
GPO publishing and public info funding
If enacted, the Government Publishing Office would receive $83 million for authorized publishing and $42.852 million for public information programs in fiscal year 2026. Up to $2 million could be used to produce and send Congressional serial sets for the prior two years to depository and designated libraries. The Business Operations Revolving Fund would receive $9.525 million to remain available until spent for IT and facility needs. Certain expired balances could be moved into the revolving fund with Appropriations approval, and printing after 27 months would require reauthorization. Funds could not be used for contracted security at the GPO passport facility in Washington, DC.
Library of Congress funding and rules
If enacted, the Library of Congress would receive about $501.9 million for salaries and programs in fiscal year 2026. CRS would get $141.093 million, but most Library publications would need prior approval by a House or Senate committee before release, with an exception for defined non‑confidential CRS products. The Library’s reimbursable and revolving activities would face a $332.285 million cap on obligations for FY2026. The Copyright Office would receive $101.476 million, with at least $10.3 million for modernization (including $8 million available through September 30, 2027). The National Library Service funding would include $650,000 to provide newspapers at no cost to eligible blind and print‑disabled residents.
Member medical care not a fiduciary
If enacted, when a Member of Congress directly provides medical or dental care, that relationship would not be treated as a fiduciary relationship under the cited law. This would apply to compensation received in fiscal year 2026 and after.
More support for House Child Care
If enacted, the House Child Care Center could use funds to pay for phones and other telecom costs used to provide care or handle urgent needs. Assistant directors would be explicitly covered for salary use. These changes would apply starting in fiscal year 2026.
Pay allowed for DACA-authorized workers
If enacted, agencies funded by this bill could pay people who hold DACA employment authorization documents in fiscal year 2026. This would apply even if other laws would otherwise limit pay based on immigration status.
AOC partnerships and plant exchanges allowed
If enacted, the Architect of the Capitol could enter approved cooperative agreements to support the Capitol Grounds and Arboretum. The Architect could also exchange plant materials with government, educational, and nonprofit partners. These authorities would start in fiscal year 2026.
Keep Member-led Capitol tours available
If enacted, funds could not be used to end or limit guided Capitol tours led by Members’ staff or interns, except under specific regulations. The Capitol Police Board, or the Architect with the Board’s approval, could still pause or restrict tours for security reasons.
Small grants for leadership programs
If enacted, the bill would provide $6.3 million to the Congressional Office for International Leadership Fund for FY2026. It would also provide $430,000 to the John C. Stennis Center Trust Fund.
Protect House privileged info in cyber help
If enacted, federal agencies that help the House with cybersecurity would need to protect the separation of powers. They would have to use procedures that limit sharing of privileged House and Member information at every stage of assistance.
No 2026 pay raise for Members
If enacted, Members of Congress would not receive a cost-of-living pay adjustment in fiscal year 2026.
New approval rules for Capitol Police
If enacted, Capitol Police employees could receive training outside the United States only with prior Capitol Police Board approval. The bill would also change who approves and supervises certain leaders, requiring Board approval for Deputy and Assistant Chiefs and updating reporting lines. These changes would apply to people serving on or after enactment.
No vehicles from China-linked makers
If enacted, funds in this bill could not be used in fiscal year 2026 to lease or buy vehicles from companies tied to the People’s Republic of China or listed by the Defense Department. Named examples include BYD, Geely, and CATL and their affiliates.
Restrictions on DEI training and networks
If enacted, funds in this bill could not be used for diversity, equity, and inclusion training that promotes or repeats divisive ideas about race or sex in fiscal year 2026. Also, no funds could support any computer network unless it blocks viewing, downloading, and sharing of pornography, with exceptions for law enforcement and criminal justice activities.
Limits on fund moves and pay
If enacted, most funds in this bill would be available only for fiscal year 2026 unless stated otherwise. Money could not be transferred to other agencies unless this or another appropriation law allows it. Shared costs for the Legislative Branch Financial Managers Council would be capped at a total of $2,000 for FY2026. When this Act sets pay or job designations not covered by the 1929 law, those settings would be treated as permanent law. The bill would also update leasing rules starting in FY2026 and allow spending on consulting contracts only if the contract spending is a public record, unless existing law or Executive orders say otherwise.
Sponsors & CoSponsors
Sponsor
Valadao
CA • R
Cosponsors
There are no cosponsors for this bill.
Roll Call Votes
No roll call votes available for this bill.
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