The undersigned commend you for having restored some of the lost capacity of the Bureau of Labor Statistics by giving the agency an appropriation increase of $17 million in FY 2016 over FY 2015. But, between FY 2009-FY 2105, the absolute value and/or the purchasing power of BLS appropriations went down every year. The agency eliminated several programs in FY 2013 and FY 2014 and in FY 2015 had to rely on a one-time transfer from the Department of Commerce to maintain BLS’ Export Price Program. The agency also cut back, to unsustainable levels, its rate of replacement of staff and staff training and development in 2015. #GPAC2015#LettersandComments