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Appropriations Overview
Roughly 40 percent of the money spent by the federal government each fiscal year is determined through the appropriations process. Fiscal years start in October and end in September. Once the President releases his proposed budget each winter, the Subcommittees and Committees hold hearings to consider the impact of appropriated funds in the past and how much the individual programs will likely need in the next fiscal year.
After the hearing, the Subcommittees and Committees pass their version of the bills, then the full House and Senate must pass the bills. Any differences in the bills that are passed by the House and Senate must be resolved, and then the bill must be signed by the President. If this does not happen by the beginning of the next fiscal year, an extension of the current funding is usually granted. If not, the programs cease to function.
OTA delivers organic appropriations recommendations to key Members of Congress soon after the President releases his proposed budget each winter, and submits testimony to the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Agriculture. The recommendations typically include funding for the National Organic Program, organic data collection, and organic research and development.
For more information about the federal appropriations process, visit the House and Senate Appropriations Committees websites. Below, find OTA priorities for corresponding years, memos that cover pertinent hearings, submitted testimony, and handouts that OTA is distributing at meetings with Congressional office.
FY2011 Appropriations Updates
Senate Appropriations Committee Passes Agriculture Bill
The Senate Appropriations Committee passed the Agriculture Appropriations bill on July 15th. The bill was passed as introduced, with no amendments offered and no debate taking place. The bill contains $22.839 billion in discretionary budget authority, a $296 million discretionary decrease over the fiscal year 2010 enacted level, and $27 million below the President's request. Mandatory programs, such as farm support programs, received $109.125 billion, just over the President’s request of $109.120 billion, and more than the $97.983 billion enacted in Fiscal Year 2010. Find information on funding for organic programs here. (OTA Members Only Resource)
House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture Hearing on Fiscal Year 2011
The House Committee on Appropriation’s Subcommittee on Agriculture marked up the Fiscal Year 2011 Agriculture Appropriations Bill on June 30th. The bill includes $23.1 billion in funding, about $200 million less than Fiscal Year 2010. $2.5 billion of the funding is for the Food and Drug Administration. The bill language has not been released, but a summary is available that seems to favor OTA’s appropriations priorities. Read a summary of the ideas discussed during the hearing. (OTA Members Only Resource)
Senate Appropriations Agriculture Subcommittee hearing on the USDA Budget
On Tuesday, March 2, 2010, the Senate Committee on Appropriations, Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies held a hearing to review the fiscal year (FY) 2011 budget request of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack testified and was joined by Deputy Secretary Kathleen Merrigan and Budget Officer Scott Steele. (OTA Members Only Resource)
House Appropriations Subcommittee on Ag questions USDA Inspector General
The House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, chaired by Rep. Rosa DeLauro
(D-CT) held a hearing on April 22 questioning the USDA Inspector General on several different areas of USDA’s responsibility. Out of the more than 80 reports issued by the IG since FY2009, DeLauro said the reports on the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, food safety, the National Organic Program and subsidy payment programs were the most important. Read highlights from the hearing directly related to organic and a summary of general issues covered. (OTA Members Only Resource)
Appropriations Archives
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