The Fiscal Year 2022 appropriations process is underway in the 117th Congress. Members of Congress have begun soliciting input from external stakeholders about their specific FY 2022 appropriations requests. Due to Congress likely not considering the FY 2022 budget resolution until later this spring, the start to the annual appropriations process will be delayed. It is anticipated that House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees will hold cabinet-level agency hearings beginning in April at the earliest with Subcommittee markups and floor consideration not occurring until the summer.
Last week, House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Rosa DeLauro (D-CT) announced the House Appropriations Committee procedures for members of Congress to submit policy and project ideas to the Committee. Members may begin to enter submissions on March 29, 2021, and all Subcommittee deadlines are between April 14-April 16, 2021. The Labor-HHS Appropriations Subcommittee’s deadline is April 14, 2021.
Chairwoman DeLauro recently announced that the House Appropriations Committee will solicit Community Project Funding requests this year. Community Project Funding requests are in addition to the annual appropriations process and will resemble earmarks. The Committee intends to fund community projects on a limited basis. Members will be limited to no more than 10 Community Project Funding requests across all Subcommittees, though only a handful may actually be funded. For these requests, community engagement and support are crucial in determining which projects are worthy of federal funding. Chairwoman DeLauro believes that Community Project Funding will give members the tools to advocate for community-based projects in their districts to address the most pressing needs and restore balance between Congress and the Executive Branch.
NJCA is currently working with its House and Senate Job Corps champions to submit House and Senate appropriations “Dear Colleague” letters for FY 2022 as in years past. Last year, the FY 2021 House “Dear Colleague” letter had 150 signatures and the FY 2021 Senate “Dear Colleague” letter had 44 signatures. NJCA will work to ensure the Job Corps program receives maximum funding and program flexibility for this fiscal year and beyond.
