The United States House Committee on Appropriations is responsible for funding the federal government’s vital activities. Through its 12 subcommittees, and with its Senate counterpart, the bills passed by the Appropriations Committee direct the government’s spending for the year.
Think of it as the “Committee on Government Spending, Priorities, and Values.” Through the Committee, Members get to directly help Americans by funding programs like Head Start and Meals on Wheels, investing in medical research at the NIH and CDC, and sending federal money directly to community projects like local food banks.
As a Member of the Appropriations Committee, I participate in extensive hearings and special meetings on the bills for each of the 12 subcommittees. We call these meetings “mark-ups” because Members have the opportunity to adjust the bills through amendments and funding increases or decreases. Once the Committee “marks up” and passes the bills, they go to the House Floor for a vote. The Senate goes through a separate but similar process. Once both chambers pass their bills, Congress has to come to an agreement on any differences before they are signed into law by the President.
The House Appropriations Committee currently has 61 total Members: 34 Republicans and 27 Democrats. It is led by Chair Kay Granger (R-TX-12) and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro (D-CT-03).
Recent Wins
The work we do on the Appropriations Committee impacts Americans’ everyday lives.
In December 2022, under Democratic leadership, the Appropriations Committee put people over politics and lowered the cost of living for hardworking families, created better-paying jobs, helped communities and families in need, and kept our nation and communities safe.
Read more about what we funded in 2023 here, including wins for our veterans, seniors, and families.
The 12 Subcommittees
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration (FDA)
oOversees funding for the United States Department of Agriculture, FDA, and other agencies.
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
oOversees funding for the Department of Commerce, the Department of Justice, NASA, and other agencies.
Defense
oOversees funding for the military, the intelligence community, and other national defense related agencies.
Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies
oOversees funding for the Department of Energy, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other agencies.
Financial Services and General Government
oOversees funding for the Department of the Treasury, the Executive Office of the President, and other government functions.
Homeland Security
oOversees funding for the Department of Homeland Security.
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
oOversees funding for the Department of the Interior, the Environmental Protection Agency, the U.S. Forest Service, and a number of independent agencies.
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee**
oOversees funding for the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor, the Social Security Administration, and other agencies.
Legislative Branch
oOversees funding for the House of Representatives (the Senate Legislative Branch oversees funding for the U.S. Senate), the U.S. Capitol, the Library of Congress, and other legislative branch functions.
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
oOversees funding for military construction (including military housing), the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies.
State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs**
oOversees funding for the U.S. State Department, U.S. Agency for International Development, and related programs.
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
oOversees funding for the Department of Transportation, Department of Housing and Urban Development, and related agencies.
**I am proud to sit on the Labor, Health and Human Services and State, Foreign Operations subcommittees this Congress.
Community Project Funding Requests
Community Project Funding (CPF) allows Members of Congress to respond directly to many of their communities’ most pressing issues. Through the process, Members can secure investments for local nonprofit or governmental programs.
Projects are required to show broad community support in order to showcase just how important they are to the district. In 2022, I was able to secure funding for 10 critical projects throughout Palm Beach County. For 2023, that number has grown to 15.
Stay tuned to see what projects get new funding for 2024!
What are Hearings?
Appropriations hearings are a key part of the Committee’s work. These are opportunities to hear directly from federal agencies and advocacy organizations about what the funding needs are for various departments, federal programs, and issues. In recent years, we’ve had hearings on seniors’ health, teacher shortages, and foreign aid to Israel, to name a few.
What are Mark-Ups?
After all of the hearings for the fiscal year are complete, the Committee writes the 12 different bills. Then Members get a chance to participate in mark-ups, which is when we review the bills, debate their content and, present amendments if we want to change the text.
Passing the Budget
Once mark-ups are complete, the 12 bills go to the House Floor for a vote. After the House and Senate work out any differences between their bills, the bills are ready to be sent to the President’s desk and signed into law.
Give Your Input
I am honored to have an extraordinary opportunity to advocate for South Floridians at the highest level of government, advancing investments in health care, education, better infrastructure, and global peace.
