Appropriations and Authorizations Processes, with examples primarily from the Food and Drug Administration

FDA authorization statutes

FEMA refinancing authorization

CBO cost estimate for above authorization

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FY2008 Status of Appropriations bills

House 302b allocations

Justification books: FDA Office of Financial Management: Budget Documentation

FY07 FDA appropriations from President's Budget Appendix, preceding P and F

FY05 FDA appropriations language, with FY06proposals, from President's FY06 budget

FY07 Status of Appropriations bills: see Title VI of Ag bill; Titles I and IV of 4th CR

House committee report (see p. 95)

Commerce earmarks--search


Statement of Administration Policy on FDA limitation

CBO current status of discretionary appropriations 

How bad can it get?: FY01 CRs

GAO Red Book (Principles of Appropriations Law)

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July 2007 midsession review (p. 2)

Results.gov

Expectmore.gov




The simplified authorizations and appropriations model, with frequent violations and attempted controls:

Step 1--Authorizations: authorizing committee provides the legal basis for a department and its programs, and permits the Appropriations Committee subsequently to appropriate funds

Step 2--Appropriations: Appropriations Committee provides department the authority to obligate funds for specific programs and purposes

 

Violations by the Appropriations Committees:

appropriating funds to unauthorized programs--many temporary authorizations have expired

adding "legislation," aka "riders", to appropriations bills--language which establishes agency missions, orders specific activities, etc.;

beyond the acceptable form of "limitations"

 

controls in response:

H Rule 21, Senate Rule 16--but these rules are often waived by House Rules Committee and floor, or by unanimous consent in the Senate

 

 

Violations by the authorizing committees: authorizing direct spending, thus making an "end run" around the Appropriations Committees

controls in response:

reconciliation for existing direct spending--but only if Congress wants to cut direct spending

paygo for new direct spending--unless it is waived

various prohibitions against authorizing committees in the Congressional Budget Act and House and Senate rules--but these prohibitions can be waived or ignored