Philadelphia --- Speaker Nancy Pelosi announced today that Congressman Robert A. Brady (D-PA) has been re-elected Chair of the Committee on House Administration (CHA). 

At a Democratic Caucus meeting Congressman Brady was nominated as Chair by Speaker Nancy Pelosi, and unanimously approved by the Democratic Caucus. Congressman Brady is the first Philadelphian to chair either a full or subcommittee since then-Congressman Bill Gray was Chairman of the Budget Committee in the 99^th and 100^th Congresses.

The position, often referred to as the Mayor of Capitol Hill, includes oversight of the Committee's close to a $1 billion budget including oversight of the newly finished Capitol Visitor Center, and the Smithsonian Institution, including the National Zoo.

As CHA Chairman Congressman Brady's accomplishments include President Bush signing into law P.L. 110-437, "The Capitol Visitor Center Act of 2008." Authored by Chairman Brady, the legislation defines the duties, responsibilities and roles for a variety of administrative and executive offices in the Capitol Visitor Center (CVC). It also establishes the Office of Congressional Accessibility Services (OCAS), which will coordinate accessibility services for individuals with disabilities, including Capitol Complex visitors, Members of Congress and House and Senate employees.

Chairman Brady said that the bill is the first legislation passed by the House to deal with the internal operations and organization of the CVC. "The Visitor Center Act is a necessary instrument to ensure that the CVC will be able to carry out its main objectives: security, visitor education and comfort," Chairman Brady said.

Chairman Brady also was able to secure passage of legislation to facilitate the merger of the U.S. Capitol Police force and the Library of Congress police.   P.L. 110-178 - The U.S. Capitol Police and Library of Congress Police Merger Implementation Act of 2007 - will create a coordinated safety and security force to effectively protect Members, staff and the millions of annual visitors to the Capitol.

"I am pleased that, after more than four years, we have finally developed a plan that is overwhelmingly supported by the U.S. Capitol Police and the Library of Congress," said Brady. "Since 2003, many people in both agencies have devoted countless hours to this task.  For various reasons, four years later the merger has not been implemented.  This is unfortunate.  Much valuable time has been lost."

In September 2008, Chairman Brady unveiled, "Black Americans in Congress, 1870 - 2007", published under the auspices and at the direction of the Committee on House Administration. The 802-page book contains profiles and contextual essays of African-American members of the Congress.

The publication highlights important facts, including how many African Americans have served in the U.S. Congress, the role of Reconstruction, the Great Migration, and the post-World War II civil rights movement in shaping the U.S. House of Representatives and U.S. Senate. The publication also outlines the origination of the Congressional Black Caucus and its growth into an important legislative entity.

The Congressman is also a member of the House Armed Services Committee.

And, he also serves as a Senior Majority Whip with the responsibility to strategically plan and shape consensus on legislation.

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