Federal Budget & Approps

FY11 Budget Request
Click here to read NLIHC’s analysis of selected HUD program funds for FY11.

Budget Process Overview
The federal budget process begins each year in the fall when HUD prepares a budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year. HUD submits its proposal to the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) who reviews and returns an edited version of the budget back to HUD (known as the passback). HUD can agree with or appeal OMB’s changes and the final version of the budget is included in the President’s budget. 

The President’s budget, incorporating all federal departments, is typically released the first Monday in February, prior to the fiscal year. 

Congress must then pass a budget resolution, determining the maximum amount of spending allowed for discretionary housing programs. A budget resolution must be passed by both the House and Senate and conferenced if there are differences. This determines the overall spending limit for discretionary housing programs in the upcoming fiscal year so it is important that this be an amount sufficient to support all HUD programs.

Appropriations Process Overview
After establishing the maximum spending cap for the upcoming fiscal year, the House and Senate appropriations draft the details of how to fund housing programs within this cap. 

These bills must be introduced in the House and Senate and passed by each body of congress.  Any differences between the bills are resolved in a conference committee.  The compromise bill must be signed into law by the President prior to the start of the fiscal year.  If this has not occurred before the start of the fiscal year, the House and Senate must each pass a “continuing resolution” which allows the government to continue current levels of funding until Congress passes an appropriations bill for the fiscal year. 

For more information on the budget and appropriation’s process, visit NLIHC’s advocates guide.