WASHINGTON, DC – It’s apparently a good time to be a staffer in the House of Representatives, as Congress reportedly revealed a $1.5 trillion omnibus spending bill on March 9th that “would substantially boost the office budgets of House members to pay staff more,” to the tune of a 21% increase.

Contained within the bulky omnibus spending bill is a total of $5.9 billion in funding for the Legislative Branch’s 2022 fiscal year, where $774.4 million of the aforementioned $5.9 billion is going toward the Members Representational Allowance.

This Members Representational Allowance (MRA) is meant to compensate not the actual members of the House, but their staff – and $774.4 million set aside for FY 2022 marks an increase of $134.4 million over the previous fiscal – or a 21% bump in allowances/pay.

While hardworking Americans are ostensibly wincing in pain every time they go and fill up at the pump, the likes of House staffers (who can even out-earn members of Congress, with salaries as high as $193K/year) who are likely engaged in medial tasks such as whipping up Nancy Pelosi’s vodka tonics are comfortably sitting in the top 10% of earners nationally.

But if House staffers enjoying a 21% pay bump compliments of American taxpayers isn’t off-putting enough, arguably the least favorite of police agencies (and least transparent, as well) is also getting additional funding: the U.S. Capitol Police.

The U.S. Capitol Police is reportedly netting $602.5 million from the omnibus spending bill, which sees a $87 million increase in funding versus 2021 for the agency. Reportedly, this will allow the U.S. Capitol Police to hire up to an additional 2,112 sworn officers and 450 civilian employees.

Unsurprisingly, Democrats love the idea of bolstering the U.S. Capitol Police, as Senator Jack Reed called the bill “essential.”

“This bill is essential to keeping our democracy and the legislative branch of government functioning in a safe and accessible manner. At a time when the U.S. Capitol and the Capitol Police continue to operate amidst immense challenges, this agreement ensures they have the resources and staffing to protect the Capitol complex.”

The Architect of the Capitol would receive $773.9 million via the omnibus spending bill, which $128 million of that near three-quarter of a billion would go toward sprucing up the digs at the Cannon House Office Building – as well as establishing a placard to “honor” officers who responded to the Capitol on January 6th, 2021.

 

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