Appropriations Information

The House and Senate Appropriations Committee begin working on the annual spending bills in mid-spring, guided by the Budget Resolution which sets the broad framework for federal spending across all areas of the federal government.  Once the Budget Resolution is passed, the chairs of the Appropriations subcommittees (dubbed “the Cardinals”) divide the total discretionary dollars among the 12 individual appropriations bills.  Department of Justice programs fall under the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee.  State and local homeland security programs fall under the Homeland Security Subcommittee. 

The subcommittees hold hearings and begin drafting their bills in late winter.  Typically, the House begins marking-up their bills as soon as the Budget Resolution is passed in mid-spring.  Typically, the Senate subcommittees wait until the House clears a bill off the floor before beginning their mark-ups. 

It is critically important that NCJA members make their voices heard throughout the appropriations process so members of the Appropriations Committees have an opportunity to hear about the importance of these programs in their states.  On these pages, there are timetables and suggestions for getting started.  In addition, when we ask you to contact your members of Congress about appropriations issues we will provide draft letters and talking points for you to use.  There are also links to the justice and homeland security appropriations bills, NCJA’s letters to Congress, other groups’ letters to Congress, and much more.