Submit Programmatic and Language Appropriations Request

The congressional appropriations process provides discretionary funding for approximately 35-39% of total federal spending, the remaining federal spending is direct (or mandatory) spending. Mandatory spending includes entitlement programs, such as Social Security, Medicare. Discretionary spending, on the other hand, will not occur unless Congress acts each year to provide the funding through an appropriations bill.  

The House Committee on Appropriations has jurisdiction over the 12 appropriations measures for this discretionary spending, with subcommittees that are responsible for developing funding levels for departments and activities within its jurisdiction:

1. Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies, which oversees funding for the USDA (except the Forest Service) and other agencies;
2. Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies, which oversees funding for the Department of Commerce, the Department of Justice, NASA, and other agencies;
3. Defense, which oversees funding for the military, the intelligence community, and other national defense related agencies;
4. Energy and Water Development, which oversees funding for the Department of Energy, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and other agencies;
5. Financial Services and General Government, which oversees funding for the Department of the Treasury, the Executive Office of the President, and other government functions;
6. Homeland Security, which oversees funding for the Department of Homeland Security;
7. Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies, which oversees funding for the Department of the Interior, the EPA, the U.S. Forest Service, and a number of independent agencies;
8. Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies, which oversees funding for the Department of Education, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Department of Labor, and other agencies;
9. Legislative Branch, which oversees funding for the House of Representatives (the Senate Legislative Branch oversees funding for the U.S. Senate), the U.S. Capitol, the Library of Congress, and other legislative branch functions;
10. Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies, which oversees funding for military construction (including military housing), the Department of Veterans Affairs, and related agencies;
11. State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs, which oversees funding for the U.S. State Department, USAID, and related programs;
12. Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies, which oversees funding for the Department of Transportation, HUD, and related agencies.

Rep. Magaziner welcomes constituents and advocacy groups to submit for consideration any programmatic or report language for these appropriations bills that may benefit Rhode Island’s Second Congressional District and the State of Rhode Island. 

Programmatic requests are requests for Congress to fund a program or activity at a specific level. 

Ex. Provide $70,000 in the Transportation Security Administration’s Procurement, Construction, and Improvements account for the Checkpoint Property Screening System. 

Or 

$150 million for the National Institute of Standards and Technology Hollings Manufacturing Extension Partnership. 

Language requests are requests for specific bill or report language that does not direct funding to a particular entity but encourages, urges, or directs some type of action. Language requests cannot change the law, but rather provide guidance on how federal money is spent. 

Ex. Encourage the Department of Veterans Affairs to seek opportunities to increase the number of employment service counselors.  

Or 

Direct the Secretary to expand eligibility for grants under SAMSHA Prevention Programs of Regional and National Significance and corresponding services provided by the Center for the Application of Prevention Technologies to private, non-profit, regional organizations, including faith-based organizations. 

Or 

Direct the National Park Service to fully account for park needs across the country when including funding in future budget submissions for Park Support.

These submissions will help inform the priorities our office submits to the House Appropriations Committee for inclusion in the fiscal year 2026 appropriations package. 

SUBMIT PROGRAMMATIC AND LANGUAGE REQUESTS HERE

*Please note that this form is not for Community Project Funding requests* 

If you have multiple requests, please submit them separately. Please submit all requests by April 14, 2025, at 5:00 PM ET. 

If you have specific questions regarding the form or this process, please contact us at Appropriations.RI02@mail.house.gov.