Appropriations panel advances FY2027 Legislative Branch bill after rejecting amendments on GAO authority and worker protections

The House Appropriations Committee on the markup floor voted to favorably report the Fiscal Year 2027 Legislative Branch appropriations bill to the full House after rejecting two amendment efforts: one touching the Government Accountability Office’s ability to pursue matters in court and a second that would have urged new House food-service contractors to preserve existing wages and benefits.

In debate preceding the votes, the committee’s chair, Rep. Rogers, argued that agencies that serve Congress are not fully independent and that "they work for the majority of whoever controls the House of Representatives," warning that insulating an agency from majority influence risks accountability and funding consequences. Opponents countered that oversight should be governed by law rather than by partisan majorities and that, if wrongdoing is alleged, the GAO or others should be able to seek judicial resolution. One member noted that the Comptroller General is a presidential appointee subject to Senate confirmation and said litigation by GAO has been rare.

The committee held a roll-call on the GAO-related amendment; the clerk read the vote and the tally in the record was Ayes 28, Nos 34. That amendment was not adopted. The transcript shows Rep. Underwood (Ill.) raising concerns that applying majority control to entities that serve the legislative branch — for example, the U.S. Capitol Police or the Library of Congress — could inject partisan instability into institutions whose purpose is to support the branch’s functions.

Separately, Rep. Ivey (Md.) offered an amendment intended to "help to protect House food service workers from sudden job loss or reductions in pay and benefits," saying that in August 2025 several new contractors assumed House dining operations and that some incoming vendors were still negotiating with the union representing workers. The amendment urged the House CEO to encourage new contract holders to negotiate in good faith and to preserve existing terms of employment where possible. Opponents said vendors must retain the right to hire based on merit. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.) argued that House dining workers "are not strangers to us" and noted many had been represented by UNITE HERE Local 23 since 1986; she said vendor transitions should not be used to erode wages, health insurance and retirement benefits. A representative from Ohio said many workers currently earn about $22 per hour and urged the committee to examine contracting practices and food quality.

The chair called a voice vote on the Ivey amendment and announced the nos prevailed; the transcript records that the amendment "is not adopted" but does not include a numerical roll-call tally for that specific amendment in the text.

After completing debate and votes, Chairman Rogers moved that the committee favorably report the FY2027 Legislative Branch appropriations bill to the House. A roll-call was requested, the clerk read the roll and the transcript records the motion as agreed to (the read tally in the transcript indicates Ayes 30, Nos 28). The chair asked unanimous consent for staff to make technical and conforming changes, and, seeing no objections, the committee adjourned.

The key immediate outcome is that the committee forwarded the Legislative Branch appropriations bill to the House with the committee’s recommendation; policy disputes over GAO authority and workforce protections for House dining staff were debated and their corresponding amendments were not adopted. The committee did not adopt additional structural changes to GAO authority during this markup; members seeking such changes were advised in the debate that structural reforms may be more properly addressed through authorizing committees.

Next steps: the bill will be placed on the House calendar following the committee report and the record will include the roll-call votes and statements made during the markup.