How Congress Works: Understanding the Budget, Appropriations, and Authorizations Process

How Congress Works: Understanding the Budget,

Appropriations, and Authorizations Process

Basic Definitions Budget Resolution: represents House & Senate

agreement concerning the overall size of the federal budget -- Sets revenue floor and spending ceiling.

Appropriation: provides annual, discretionary funding for programs (i.e. Adult Ed, NIFL, etc.), allowing programs to be implemented

Authorization: defines policy by providing statutory authority to establish or continue operation of a federal agency or program indefinitely or for a specified period of time

Federal Budget What is the amount of the total

Federal Budget?

How big is the Federal Debt?

Congressional Budget Process Enacted to bring order to decision

making Establishes timetable for orderly

decisionmaking Establishes rules and procedures for

fiscal legislation Intended to give Congress a level

playing field with the Executive Branch

The Congressional Budget Process

What was that???

Budget Process: Simplified President Submits Budget Request (1st

Monday in Feb.) -- role of OMB/PART Congress Considers Budget Resolution Reconciliation Instructions to

Committees/Allocations of Funding Reconciliation Enacted Appropriations Enacted

Tools Of The Trade Congress adopts a “Budget

Resolution” or a blueprint for spending and revenues for the year ahead. (update)

Allocations to Appropriations Congress spends the rest of the

year (and maybe more!) working on appropriations.

Raise Money

Revenues (income taxes, payroll taxes, etc.)

Receipts (fees, asset sales, etc.)

Spend Money

Discretionary appropriations: (education, trans, defense, ag, etc.)

Mandatory Spending: Entitlements (Social Security, Medicare) and …

Managing The Balance

Deficit = Revenues – Spending!

Budget Timetable

First Monday in February

President submits Budget Request

By April 15 Congress completes action (conference report) on the Congressional BUDGET RESOLUTION for fiscal years 2006 through 2015, including, if necessary, RECONCILIATION instructions to committees of jurisdiction. (Only in 1976, 1977 and 1994 did Congress meet this deadline.)

After April 15 Congressional committees respond to RECONCILIATION instructions by recommending changes in laws within their jurisdictions which would achieve savings in entitlement/direct spending programs (federal retirement) or increase receipts through tax law changes.

$May 15

 Appropriations bills may be considered in the House of Representatives even in the absence of agreement on a conference report on the BUDGET RESOLUTION for the upcoming fiscal year.

$By June 10

 House Appropriations Committee finished reporting all 12 regular appropriations bills for fiscal year 2008.

By June 15

Congress completes action on RECONCILIATION legislation, making changes in entitlement laws, direct spending programs, and tax laws in order to bring congressional action into line with the BUDGET RESOLUTION blueprint.

(Congress has never completed RECONCILIATION legislation by this date; earliest was July 31, 1981.)

By June 30 House completes action on all 12 regular appropriations bills for fiscal year 2008.

July/AugustSenate completes action on appropriations bills. Conferences commence between the House and Senate to resolve differences in appropriations legislation.

$September 30House and Senate complete action on conference report on appropriations bills for fiscal year 2008 – send to the President.

October 1Fiscal Year 2008 begins

Appropriations Process

Budget Resolution sets overall discretionary funding level

Appropriations Committees divide among funding bills/subcommittees

Each bill sets funding for individual programs in agencies covered

Continuing resolution when bills not passed by end of fiscal year

Authorization Process How it differs

Role of Federal Agencies Implement programs authorized by

Congress Determine operating parameters

(regulations, program instructions, often with public input)

Approve state plans Make grants directly Fund research and demonstrations

What Does This Mean for Us?

We need to discover all the federal funding sources we can use.

We have to help build systems that work for adults and families.

Know that the funding doesn’t always fit together.

Be engaged in the process!

Windows of Opportunity for Policy Advocacy

Changes can occur: Before bill’s introduction Before Committee considers Before and during floor debate Before and during conferenceBUT changes become harder as the

process moves further along

Challenge for Advocates Learn the various “silos” of funding Know where their policies can be

influenced Think creatively about how they

could work together Bring your ideas to federal and

state policymakers

New Congressional MajorityHouse of

Representatives Education and

Labor: Chairman George Miller (CA)

Appropriations: Chairman David Obey (WI)

Senate Health, Education,

Labor and Pensions: Chairman Ted Kennedy (MA)

Appropriations Committee Chairman Robert Byrd (WV)