Appropriations Begins

This week, we’ll begin voting on the first of the 12 annual appropriations bills on the House floor. If you think of the federal budget as the blueprint for how we spend money—how much will go towards defense, how much will go towards veterans assistance, and so on—then the appropriations bills are like the individual checks that fund each government department and all of their programs. There are 12 annual appropriations bills that break down our total spending by category and lay out the specifics on how much funding a program will receive.

On Wednesday, we’ll begin debate on two appropriations bills: the Legislative branch, and Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies.

The appropriations bill for Military Construction and Veterans Affairs saves money on construction projects while increasing funds for veterans. The bill that funds the Legislative Branch freezes pay for Members of Congress and continues the savings Republicans have been putting in place since 2011. All told, funding for the House of Representatives has been reduced by 14% since Republicans took majority control of the House.

I’m glad we’re taking the time to fully debate these bills, because that will help us identify savings and ways to improve efficiency. I’ll keep you posted on important amendments that are included in these bills, and I’ll let you know as other appropriations bills come to the floor.