Budget and Appropriations | Timetable | Advocating for Funding
Authorizing Legislation | Advocating for Legislative Language
Advocacy Basics | Legislative Process | Advocacy Leadership Process
The Legislative Process
Budget and Appropriations
The federal budget is a self-imposed set of guidelines that sets the overall limit for each agency on how much money is available to spend. The process for developing the budget and outlining expenditures and revenues for the year consists of three key components: the President’s budget proposal, the Congressional budget resolution, and the appropriations process. (New America Foundation)
In February, the President sends his or her annual federal budget proposal to Congress. The President’s annual budget proposal gives guidance to House and Senate budget committees as they draft their own “budget resolution.” It outlines where the President’s policy priorities are, but Congress actually determines the budget.
If the proposed House and Senate budgets do not agree, the budget goes through a “reconciliation” process. The House and Senate Budget subcommittees receive recommendations and roll the budget into one budget reconciliation. After the House and Senate adopt a budget resolution it does not go to the President because it is not legislation. April 15 is the target date to adopt a budget resolution conference report.
Once the budget resolution has been adopted by the House and Senate and they determine how much each appropriations subcommittee can spend, then these (12) appropriations subcommittees divide that money further for programs. For example: The Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Committee has jurisdiction over education spending and tells how that money will be spent. This includes spending for many education programs, like adult education, family literacy, elementary and secondary education.
| Budget |
Sets overall funding level. |
| Appropriations |
Divides the budget into 12 appropriations bills that fund federal programs and tell how that funding will be spent. |
| “Labor H” Appropriations Bill |
Funds individual programs in Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (“Labor H” Bill). Adult education funding is a part of the Labor H Bill. |
Timetable: Federal Budget and Appropriations
| February |
President’s Budget Proposal is released. |
| February-March |
House and Senate hold hearings and pass their own budget
resolutions. |
| March-April |
The House and Senate usually pass a budget resolution, requiring a
majority vote to pass and is not signed by the President. |
| April-July |
House and Senate appropriations committees begin deliberations and set spending limits for each of their subcommittees. Within these limits, appropriations subcommittees draft spending bills. |
| September |
House-Senate Conference Committee works out the differences. |
| October 1* |
Federal fiscal year begins. |
* If appropriations bills are not passed by October 1, Congress usually passes a Continuing Resolution (CR) to fund the federal government and avoid a “shutdown.”
See the Federal Budget Timeline from the Federal Education Budget Project for a snapshot of the budget and appropriations process.
Visit the New America Foundation’s web site for more details on the federal budget process and the appropriations process as it pertains to education.
Advocating for Funding
Adult literacy advocates either support what the President proposes in his budget for adult education or ask for increases during the budget and appropriations processes. Each decision point in the process offers an opportunity for advocacy.
Whenever the House and Senate consider legislation affecting adult literacy, they need to hear how this legislation will impact you. One of the most important questions legislators ask is how changes in laws and funding will impact their district or state. They need to know how you want your tax money spent; they sincerely want to know what you think. This is a critical time to educate your legislator about the impact of adult education and literacy on lives in your community. See Using Your Time Wisely to target your advocacy efforts during the legislative process.
Authorizing Legislation
Authorizing legislation creates the program, describes the services, and indicates the desired funding level for it. For example, the Workforce Investment Act, Title II “authorizes” (establishes the structure, services and size) federally funded adult education and literacy programs. Authorizing legislation tells us what we can use the money “for”, but does not actually fund the program.
Advocating for Legislative Language
Advocates often refer to influencing the “legislative language”, that is the language that establishes the structure, services and size of a program. We want laws to include the best legislative language possible so that programs have what they need to help adult learners reach their learning goals.
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