A
What is the purpose of an appropriations bill?
An appropriations bill allocates monies to branches of government and programs within.
What is a column?
A vertical set of cells denoted by a letter.
What is a row?
A horizontal set of cells denoted by a number
How many years are included in the current appropriations tool on prolegis?
6 years
Name 3 of the 12 bills we work on within the omnibus
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Defense
Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies
Financial Services and General Government
Homeland Security
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies (LHHS)
Legislative Branch
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies (MilConVA)
State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies (T-HUD)
What data do we collect in the administrative provisions section of a division?
Nothing
What data do we collect in the general provisions section of a division?
Nothing
What column do we make notes in?
Column A
Why do we use the prolegis version of a bill text?
Syntax changes between the congress.gov and prolegis bill versions. Often texts are fragmented, and punctuation is altered.
How is an omnibus bill created?
The president, house, and senate each draft a bill and congress negotiates allocation levels to each program before passing an all-encompassing bill.
How many appropriations are within this text? "For necessary expenses in the administration of the medical, hospital, nursing home, domiciliary, construction, supply, and research activities, as authorized by law; administrative expenses in support of capital policy activities; and administrative and legal expenses of the Department for collecting and recovering amounts owed the Department as authorized under chapter 17 of title 38, United States Code, and the Federal Medical Care Recovery Act (42 U.S.C. 2651 et seq.), $1,400,000,000, which shall be in addition to funds previously appropriated under this heading that became available on October 1, 2022; and, in addition, $12,300,000,000, plus reimbursements, shall become available on October 1, 2023, and shall remain available until September 30, 2024: Provided, That, of the amount made available on October 1, 2023, under this heading, $350,000,000 shall remain available until September 30, 2025."
1
Is this an acceptable match text? Why or why not? "shall be for pay and associated costs, of which not to exceed 3 percent shall remain available until September 30, 2024 "
Not acceptable. Match texts (if possible) do not include dates.. Extra credit: This is for automation purposes. In this case the 3 percent is only for match text purposes
Is this an approp? "That no project may be increased or decreased by more than $3,000,000 of cost prior to submitting a request to the Committees on Appropriations of both Houses of Congress to make the transfer and an approval is issued, or absent a response, a period of 30 days has elapsed "
No Extra credit: Transfer of funds
Is this an approp? "$87,500,000, to remain available until expended."
No, Extra Credit: It is funds that shall remain available
How can you tell if there is a new appropriation?
By scanning down the document as you collect. If you see a number, check the language around it to see if it is attributed to a program or if it is just a transfer of funds or fund availability.
Is this an approp? "For expenses authorized by the Sergeant at Arms Fellowships Fund established in section 102 of this Act,"
What would you name it?
yes. Sergeant at Arms Fellowships Fund
Is this an approp? "an office of a Member of the House of Representatives may use not more than $46,800 of the allowance available under this heading during legislative year 2023."
No.
What levels of government programming do we collect?
Department, agency, program, sub program
What should you do when you see the language "together with not to exceed"
add 2 numbers
do we include this appropriation? "14 percent of the funds made available under this title to each State for Drinking Water State Revolving Fund capitalization grants"
no. We do not include percentages at this point
Do we include this language?
“shall be credited to”
“shall be reimbursed”
“Shall be paid”
“shall be derived from”
no
Is this an approp? Is anything wrong with it? What is it named "$3,450,000 is for agreed upon protection activities for Members of Congress and shall be available until September 30, 2024, with notification to the Committees on Appropriations prior to the obligation of funds."
Yes. Should not include date. Protection activities for members of congress
What incident does this appropriation reference "shall be for activities associated with securing the permanent residences of Members of the House of Representatives in the congressional districts the Members represent and securing the temporary residences of Members in the District of Columbia, and may not be transferred or merged under sections "
Bonus: What would you name this
Pelosi break in
What incident does this appropriation reference "Notwithstanding any other provision of this Act, there is hereby appropriated for fiscal year 2022 for payment to Jennifer K. Carnahan, beneficiary of Jim Hagedorn, late a Representative from the State of Minnesota "
Death of Minnesota rep Jim Hagedorn
What do we do with this language? "$13,000,000 is permanently rescinded”
Nothing. We do not include recinded funds at this point