Issue Position: Appropriations

Issue Position

Since my appointment to the House Appropriations Committee in 2003, I have worked diligently to obtain federal support for worthy projects in Georgia's Second Congressional District. My position on the Agriculture, Defense, and Military Construction and Veterans Affairs subcommittees allow me an even better position from which to be involved with the issues that directly impact the Second Congressional District.

The House Committee on Appropriations consists of 12 subcommittees, each of which is responsible for appropriations measures that provide funding for numerous activities such as national defense, education, and homeland security, as well as general government operations. Congress has developed certain rules and practices for the consideration of appropriations measures, referred to as the congressional appropriations process.

There are three types of appropriations measures. Regular appropriations bills provide most of the funding that is provided in all appropriations measures for a fiscal year, and must be enacted by October 1 of each year. If regular bills are not enacted by the deadline, Congress adopts continuing resolutions to continue funding generally until regular bills are enacted. Supplemental appropriations bills provide additional appropriations and are typically considered during a fiscal year. To learn more about the committee's work, the Congressional Research Service has put together a helpful Guide to the Congressional Appropriations Process.

I believe that I am beholden to the taxpayers in my district to try to bring home just a fraction of the billions in tax dollars sent to Washington each year. These "earmarks" are crucial to funding important local projects such as infrastructure improvements, after-school programs, or agriculture research. You can see the current status of this year's appropriations bills or view the projects for which I have requested appropriations in this year's appropriations bills.

For too long, the earmark process has lacked transparency and accountability, leading some members of Congress to abuse it and the public trust. Since assuming the majority in 2007, Congressional Democrats have instituted wide-ranging reforms including ensuring that every American can easily determine which member of Congress has submitted a request that receives funding. Below you will find lists of my recent funding requests with an explanation regarding the purpose of the request and why it is a valuable use of taxpayer funds.

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