Budget and Appropriations

What is the Federal Budget and Appropriations Process?
The federal budget and appropriations process is the method by which the federal government funds programs such as the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 8 Project-Based Rental Assistance program and Community Development Block Grants. The process consists of the presentation of the President’s budget proposal, and passage of Congressional budget resolutions and appropriations bills.

The President’s Budget Request
The President by law is required to submit a budget request to Congress each year by the first Monday in February, which includes spending and revenue plans for federal agencies for the next fiscal year.

Congressional Budget Resolutions
Once the President has released his or her budget request, the House and Senate each go to work to create non-binding budget resolutions that will guide the rest of the process.

Appropriations
Once a budget resolution is adopted, the appropriations committees begin their work of appropriating funds to authorized federal programs.

FY 2011 Budget

President’s FY 2011 Budget
FY 2011 Summary of President's Budget for Housing and Community Development (PDF, 117K)
FY 2011 Housing and Community Development Budget Summary (PDF, 29K)

FY 2010 Budget Chart

FY 2010 Housing and Community Development Budget Chart (PDF, 324K)

2009 Economic Stimulus

Highlights of H.R. 1, The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. (PDF, 48KB)
Department of Housing and Urban Development's Program-Level, Agency-Wide Recovery Plan

FY 2009 Budget Chart

FY 2009 HUD Budget Chart (PDF, 185KB)

Helpful Resources:
Center for Community Change
Congressional Budget Process: A Timeline & Opportunity for Action (PDF, 553K)

Center for Budget and Policy Priorities
Policy Basics: Introduction to the Federal Budget Process
Introduction to the Federal Budget Process (PDF, 55K)
Policy Basics: Congress’s “Pay-As-You-Go” Budget Rule

Congressional Research Service (CRS)
Introduction to the Federal Budget Process (PDF, 332K)
The Congressional Budget Process: A Brief Overview (PDF, 200K)

National Low Income Housing Coalition
Federal Budget and Appropriations Processes and Timeline (PDF, 255K)

The Workforce Alliance
Federal Appropriations Process FAQ Workforce Alliance (Word, 27K)