How does an appropriations bill become a law?

Please visit the Budget Process page to learn more about how an appropriations bill becomes a law.

How do I find out which subcommittee handles a particular issue?

Each subcommittee has its own page with a detailed description of issues within their jurisdiction. You can find it by clicking the subcommittee tab from the home page.

Here is a description of the area of responsibility for the whole committee: Jurisdiction

Can I attend a Committee hearing?

Most hearings are open to the public, and the public and press are welcome to attend based on availability of space.  Closed hearings are not open to the public, and will be noted in the hearing announcement.

Do you have a schedule of Appropriations hearings for the year?

We usually announce hearings one week in advance, and hearing information will be posted on the website when it becomes available.

Are the hearings webcast?

Yes. All of our hearings are streamed live on the homepage of the website.

What about your markups? Are they webcast?

Yes all of our markups are streamed live but they are audio only.

Where can I view witness testimony from your hearings?

We usually make all testimony available on the hearings page once the hearing has started. Just click the specific hearing you are interested in.

Where can I find more information about the Committee’s legislation?

The “Legislation” link at the top of the website will take you to Congress.gov, which links to all current legislation as well as legislation from past years. You can also always check the website of the individual member who introduced the bill.

What is a fiscal year?

The fiscal year begins on October 1st and ends on September 30th the following year.  Under regular order, all Appropriations bills are enacted by the beginning of each fiscal year.  In the event additional time is necessary to complete action on appropriations bills, Congress enacts a “Continuing Resolution” that maintains funding for government programs at status quo levels for a set period of time.

If I want to learn more about the budget and appropriations process where can I read more?

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) compiles key terms used in the Federal Budget process in a glossary here.