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119-hr-4249119th CongressWALLET

Legislative Branch Appropriations Act, 2026

Sponsored By: Representative Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22]

In Committee

Summary

Funds the legislative branch for FY2026. This bill would set detailed budgets for the House, Capitol Police, Library of Congress, Government Publishing Office, Architect of the Capitol, and related offices while adding rules on procurement, DEI training, religious protections, and DACA employment authorization.

Show full summary
  • Families and heirs: Three one-time payments of $174,000 each would be provided to the named widows or heirs of deceased Members.
  • Members, offices, and staff: It would fund House Salaries and Expenses at about $2.0 billion and set Members’ Representational Allowances at $850 million, with unused MRA balances deposited to the Treasury; it also sets intern pay pools and per-office caps.
  • Security, facilities, and policy riders: The bill would allocate major funds to the Capitol Police (about $687.4 million for salaries) and to the Architect of the Capitol and other facility projects, and would phase in bans on certain Chinese-linked telecom and vehicle procurement, bar some DEI training that promotes specified divisive concepts, and allow pay for DACA-authorized employees.

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Bill Overview

Analyzed Economic Effects

12 provisions identified: 4 benefits, 4 costs, 4 mixed.

Caps and limits on legislative funds

This bill would cap the Library of Congress' reimbursable obligational authority at $332,285,000 for fiscal year 2026. It would stop funds in this Act from remaining available for obligation after fiscal year 2026 unless the Act says otherwise. Agencies could only transfer funds if this Act or another appropriation law allows it. It would also cap shared Legislative Branch Financial Managers Council costs at no more than $2,000 for fiscal year 2026.

New procurement and equipment limits

This bill would bar buying, renewing, or using contracts that rely on certain covered foreign telecommunications or surveillance equipment starting in FY2026 or FY2027, with a one-time waiver option for up to two years if agencies submit phase-out plans. It would also bar using money in FY2026 to lease or buy vehicles from companies owned by or tied to the People's Republic of China. The House would be required to follow certain long-term lease rules beginning in FY2026. Many consulting contracts under the named authority would have to be public records. For Architect of the Capitol work, incentive payments to contractors would be barred when contractors are behind schedule or over budget except for narrow exceptions.

Capitol Child Care center updates

This bill would let the Capitol Child Care Center pay for phones and other telecommunications expenses needed for child care services. It would also allow the Center to pay assistant directors' salaries beginning in fiscal year 2026 and later.

Allow pay for DACA-authorized staff

This bill would allow entities paid with money from this Act to use those funds to pay employees who have DACA employment authorization, as defined in the DHS August 24, 2022 rule, in fiscal year 2026.

Protect religious-belief rights from penalties

This bill would prohibit federal agencies from using money in this Act to take discriminatory actions against a person because they act on a sincere belief that marriage is or should be between one man and one woman. The listed "discriminatory actions" include altering tax treatment, withholding grants or contracts, denying licenses or accreditations, terminating benefits, or denying access to federal property or programs. It would also require the Government to treat people as accredited or licensed for federal purposes if denial was based only on that belief.

Funding for congressional training centers

This bill would provide $6.3 million to the Congressional Office for International Leadership for fiscal year 2026. It would also provide $430,000 to the John C. Stennis Center trust fund for fiscal year 2026.

Ban on certain DEI trainings

This bill would prohibit using money from this Act in fiscal year 2026 for any office, program, or activity that provides diversity, equity, and inclusion training or implementation that promotes listed 'divisive concepts' about race or sex. The ban applies to trainings that say one race or sex is superior or that a person's worth is determined by race or sex.

Limit GAO civil lawsuit authority

This bill would prohibit the Government Accountability Office from using money from this Act to bring a civil action under the specified budget law unless Congress adopts a concurrent resolution authorizing the Comptroller General to bring that action.

Limits on Member pay and allowances

This bill would bar any cost-of-living raise for Members of Congress during fiscal year 2026. It would make pay rates and certain expense rules in this Act the permanent law for offices not covered by the Legislative Pay Act. Money for Members' Representational Allowances would be available only for fiscal year 2026, and any leftovers would be deposited in the Treasury to reduce the deficit or debt. The bill would also limit how much an MRA can pay to lease a vehicle to $1,000 per vehicle per month (mobile district offices excluded).

Members not fiduciaries for medical care

This bill would state that when a Member of Congress provides direct medical or dental services, that relationship is not a fiduciary for the named law. The rule would apply to compensation received in fiscal year 2026 and later.

Architect of the Capitol operations

This bill would let the Architect of the Capitol enter cooperative agreements and exchange plant materials with gardens and public institutions starting in fiscal year 2026. It would bar Act funds from being used for routine maintenance or care of private vehicles, except for emergency assistance and cleaning under Committee parking rules. The bill would also bar the Architect from eliminating or restricting Member-led guided Capitol tours except under specific Visitor Center regulations, though tours can be temporarily paused for security.

Changes to Capitol Police and networks

This bill would change U.S. Capitol Police leadership and training rules. The Chief would need Board approval before naming a Deputy or Assistant Chief. Capitol Police employees could get training outside the United States only with prior Board approval. Federal agencies helping the House with cybersecurity would have to limit sharing privileged House or Member communications. Networks paid for with money from this Act would have to block viewing, downloading, and exchanging pornography, with an exception for official law enforcement work.

Sponsors & CoSponsors

Sponsor

Valadao, David G. [R-CA-22]

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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