Statement of Chere Rexroat, Acting Architect & Chief Engineer

Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Request, Architect of the Capitol 

Legislative Branch Subcommittee

Committee on Appropriations

United States Senate

March 22, 2023

Chairman Reed, Ranking Member Fischer, and Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for the

opportunity to present the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024 budget for the Architect of the Capitol (AOC). 

We are committed to working closely with you, your staff, and the Senate Committee on Rules 

& Administration (Rules) to ensure that the AOC meets the needs and expectations of the Senate 

community.

We are truly grateful for the agency’s hard-working, mission-focused employees who get the job 

done every day in order to support the functions of Congress, the Supreme Court and the Library 

of Congress (Library).

Serving as the Acting Architect over this past month has been a privilege. I began my tenure by

meeting with Committee staff to understand their concerns, issues, and priorities. I have also met 

with AOC staff to reestablish trust and confidence in leadership and ensure they know they are 

valued for their excellent work. I am personally committed to open and timely communication to 

be transparent and accountable, guaranteeing coordination with this Subcommittee, Congress, 

and internal entities, such as the AOC Inspector General.

I joined the AOC in 2018 serving as the Deputy Chief Engineer and became the Chief Engineer 

in July 2022. The Office of the Chief Engineer’s (OCE) mission is to provide consolidated 

services across the AOC for safe and efficient project delivery to include maintenance of critical 

infrastructure. OCE is predominantly known for planning, programming, design, acquisition, and 

execution of the agency's major construction projects, listed in the budget submission as the lineitem construction program (LICP).

The AOC’s top priorities for the FY 2024 budget are security, safety and accountability.

I. Overview

The AOC supports the day-to-day operations of Congress, the Supreme Court and the Library. 

Every day, more than 2,400 AOC employees are responsible for preserving and maintaining

more than 18.4 million square feet of facilities, 570 acres of grounds and thousands of works of 

art. Around the clock, our team is committed to ensuring these historic buildings and aging 

infrastructure are preserved for the benefit of future generations. At the same time, we are 

working tirelessly to upgrade our capabilities and facilities to meet current needs.

The FY 2024 budget request of $1.128 billion represents a 14.5 percent decrease from the FY

2023 enacted appropriation. The requested funding supports critical program investments in

physical security, safety and facility management priorities. The FY 2024 request also includes 

funding for major special events that require significant planning, coordination and resources,

such as the next Presidential inauguration.
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II. Prioritizing Physical Security & Safety

Physical security and safety are top priorities. With the support of this Committee, the AOC has 

made significant progress in improving the security posture across campus. The AOC continues

to take steps to address projects prioritized in the comprehensive physical security assessment

completed last year. As part of this process, the AOC is on track to implement consistent security 

standards across the Capitol campus. The FY 2024 budget request reflects the ongoing

coordinated approach for projects, including repairing and replacing security kiosks, vehicle 

barriers and other protective measures throughout the Capitol campus. Moreover, in coordination 

with the United States Capitol Police (USCP), and the Senate and House Sergeant at Arms, the 

AOC stands ready to respond to emerging requirements.

The overall safety of the AOC workforce, as well as everyone who works or visits here, is 

another significant priority. Across the agency, we continue to dedicate time and attention to 

training, procedures and supervision to ensure our workforce operates safely. This budget request 

addresses important areas of need, including fire alarm system upgrades, code deficiencies and 

system failure risks. One example of aging utility infrastructure is deteriorating concrete and 

piping components supporting the campus. These components demand immediate attention to 

avoid service interruptions or failures. 

III. Supporting the Senate Community

The AOC’s FY 2024 budget request contains significant priorities for the Senate office buildings 

and Senate operations. The AOC plans to address necessary repairs and improvements for

committee hearing rooms, elevators and air handling units.

The AOC has commenced a long-term program to renovate 32 committee hearing rooms

throughout the Senate office buildings. These renovations aim to improve technology and

accessibility while prioritizing historic preservation. The requested funding supports the 

completion of two hearing rooms each year.

This request proposes a multi-year program to refurbish and modernize 46 elevators and 

associated elevator machine rooms in all Senate buildings. The elevators require full 

refurbishment every 15 to 20 years, and the AOC has proposed a schedule to refurbish the 

elevators to meet safety and code standards with minimized disruption to regular operations. 

In addition, the AOC will focus on several projects in the Hart Senate Office Building. One 

ongoing effort relates to the refurbishment of the air handling units. Originally installed in 1982, 

the units are nearing the end of their operational life, and the FY 2024 budget request will 

support the second phase of this construction project. 

AOC’s funding request covers the second year of a multi-year program to renovate Senate food 

service operations. The Senate jurisdiction oversees nine food service facilities in the Senate 

office buildings and on the Senate side of the U.S. Capitol Building, which include vending and 

catering services on the Senate side of the Capitol campus. In addition, as requested by this 

Committee and Rules, the AOC has proposed a renovation program to transform current food 
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service outlets into a dining experience reflecting the history and traditions of the United States 

Senate. 

The AOC will continue the Senate Recycling Program, reducing single-use plastics and 

advancing waste management in Senate facilities as part of ongoing maintenance and process 

improvement. In FY 2022, over 426 tons of non-construction waste was recycled through the 

AOC’s program, including 231 tons of paper and cardboard; 60 tons of pre-consumer 

compostable materials and cooking oil; 11 tons of mixed plastic, metal and glass containers; and 

5.5 tons of used toner cartridges and electronic waste. Beyond existing measures, the AOC 

continues to further evaluate strategies to reduce single-use plastics and expand sustainable 

measures. 

Finally, as part of an ongoing collaboration with the Senate Sergeant at Arms, the FY 2024 

request also includes a comprehensive building renovation at the Daniel Webster Page Residence 

to improve the building’s functionality and accessibility.

IV. Modern Management of Aging Infrastructure 

Aging facilities and infrastructure present a variety of issues and concerns. The past three years 

have only compounded many of these concerns, as supply chain shortages, raw material cost 

increases and the competition for skilled laborers have increased the difficulty of addressing 

existing deficiencies. Across the board, the AOC’s funding request supports facility management 

and addresses an array of essential issues, including roof replacement and installation of 

emergency generators. 

Implementing an asset management system allows us to prioritize work through data-driven 

decisions. As we continue to develop our asset management system, we will promote proactive 

maintenance-based strategies. This program provides a disciplined, consistent approach to annual 

inspections based on the average lifecycle of key infrastructure elements. With this approach, the 

AOC will develop a long-term strategy to address existing backlogs and the associated costs of 

deferred maintenance requirements. 

The AOC also remains focused on comprehensive planning for the entire campus, taking into 

consideration immediate and long-term needs. With the Committee’s support, this forwardlooking plan and accompanying recommendations will set forth a robust approach for future 

generations. 

Over the past year, our staff has been delighted to welcome back the public to the Capitol Visitor 

Center (CVC) and the U.S. Botanic Garden (Garden). Already during FY 2023, the CVC has 

hosted over 360,000 visitors, and with this Committee’s support, the redesigned Exhibition Hall 

has welcomed hundreds of enthusiastic students. This innovative space provides a series of new 

interactive experiences sharing the story of the U.S. Capitol and the legislative process. In 

addition, the new Democracy Lab provides a hands-on educational area with an array of 

activities for both the young and the young-at-heart, and staff offer on-site and online 

educational programs. Also, in FY 2023, AOC websites, including the sites maintained by the 

CVC and the Garden, have recorded more than 1.3 million visitors and nearly 3.5 million 

pageviews.
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V. Recognizing Employee Accomplishments & Meeting Mission Requirements

The AOC remains focused on initiatives to improve employee morale. For example, the AOC is 

expanding training programs at all levels of the workforce. Every AOC employee can work with 

their supervisor on professional development plans and training opportunities. In addition, the 

agency’s Chief Security Officer is leading implementation of emergency management and 

resiliency training.

As the AOC strives to meet its strategic benchmarks on hiring and retention, we remain focused

on ensuring that we have the appropriate training and resources our employees need to be 

successful. Most of our workforce is required to be on-site to perform their roles and 

responsibilities. At the same time, certain functions can be performed off-site and, as

appropriate, we have implemented standardized government telework agreements that support 

our continuous and uninterrupted ability to serve and respond from anywhere, any time.

To ensure that the AOC continues to attract and retain an exceptional workforce in the years 

ahead, we are also expanding outreach to educational institutions across the U.S. In just a few 

months, the AOC will welcome eight new apprentices who will be working throughout the 

agency with experienced mentors. Through this program and other training initiatives, the AOC 

is preparing to carry on the traditions of unique craftsmanship and ingenuity needed to work 

behind the scenes to support Congress, the Supreme Court and the Library.

Conclusion

On behalf of our dedicated public servants who carry out the mission every day, I appreciate the 

support provided by this Committee. Your support has been essential to our daily operations,

sustained recruitment and retention efforts, and strengthened collaboration with Congress, the 

Supreme Court, the Library, USCP, and Senate and House Sergeant at Arms.

Chairman Reed, Ranking Member Fischer, and Members of the Subcommittee, thank you for 

your time and support in consideration of the AOC’s FY 2024 budget request.