Making Heads or Tails of
the Budget Process
Darrel Harmon
US EPA Office of Air and Radiation
What Is the Federal Budget?


A Historical Record
A Plan for……



How the Government Spends
Money
How the
Government
Pays for Activities
Government Borrowing or Repayment
How Does the Government
Create a Budget?

Federal Budget Submitted to Congress
in February for the Next Fiscal Year




President Gives Policy Direction
Agencies Prepare more Detailed
Justifications of their Programs
OMB Prepares President’s budget
Congressional Action
The Budget Operates in Three
Separate Fiscal Years
FY 2008
Calendar Year
FY 2009
Calendar Year
FY 2008 Budget
Budget Execution
FY 2009 Budget
Congressional
Review
Operating Plan
FY 2010 Budget
Strategic Planning
Congressional
Budget Formulation Review
Operating Plan
FY 2010
Calendar Year
Budget Execution
Budget Execution
EPA’s annual budget process

2010 Budget Calendar:









Feb 08: FY09 President’s budget to Congress
April/May 08: OAR draft 2010 budget outline developed*
June 08: annual OCFO budget hearings*
July/August 08: internal budget preparation
September/October 08: OMB budget hearings and review*
November/December 08: OMB ‘passback’ budget to OAR
January 09: OAR revises budget based on OMB passback
February 09: revisions returned to OMB to include in
President’s budget – President’s budget delivered to Congress
 Work starts on strategic and annual plan development
Some steps are different leading up to an election year
Opportunities for Tribal Input





Spring: February/March/April 08
 Input to OAR on planning 2010 budget
Summer: Annual Plan Development
 Direct input to OAR and OCFO June 08 Meeting
Fall: OMB Budget Review Sept/Oct. 08
Spring/Summer 09: Congressional Appropriations Process
Tribal comments:



Through RTOC and NTOC
Direct from tribes/tribal organizations/individuals
To OMB, OCFO and OAR
Congressional Action





President’s Budget Submitted to Congress
House & Senate Budget Committees Prepare
Budget Resolution
House & Senate Pass Appropriations
Differences are Resolved in Conference
Committees and then Passed by Full House
and Senate
President Signs Budget into Law
Congressional Action



House Subcommittee on Interior,
Environment and Related Agencies:
MAJORITY (D)
Chair: Norman D. Dicks (WA)
James P. Moran (VA)
Maurice D. Hinchey (NY)
John W. Olver (MA)
Alan B. Mollohan (WV)
Tom Udall (NM)
Ben Chandler (KY)
Ed Pastor (AZ)
Dave Obey (WI), Ex Officio


Minority (R)
Ranking Member: Todd Tiahrt (KS)
John E. Peterson (PA)
Jo Ann Emerson (MO)
Virgil H. Goode, Jr. (VA)
Ken Calvert (CA)

Michael Stephens,
Subcommittee Clerk
Room B-308 Rayburn House
Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Phone: (202) 225-3081
Congressional Action

Senate Subcommittee on
Interior, Environment and
Related Agencies:





MAJORITY
Democratic Subcommittee
Members:












Senator Diane Feinstein (Chairman)
(CA)
Senator Robert C. Byrd (WV)
Senator Patrick Leahy (VT)
Senator Byron Dorgan (ND)
Senator Barbara Mikulski (MD)
Senator Herb Kohl (WI)
Senator Tim Johnson (SD)
Senator Jack Reed (RI)
Senator Ben Nelson (NE)




MINORITY
Republican Subcommittee
Members:
Senator Wayne Allard (Ranking
Member (CO)
Senator Larry Craig (ID)
Senator Ted Stevens (AK)
Senator Thad Cochran (MS)
Senator Pete Domenici (NM)
Senator Robert Bennett (UT)
Senator Judd Gregg (NH)
Senator Lamar Alexander (TN)
Senate Appropriations Committee
The Capitol, S-131
Washington, D.C.20510
Telephone 202-224-7363
Conclusion:



Budget process is fairly consistent
Opportunities for comment are
predictable
Tribes can comment:


As individuals, tribes, tribal organizations
Comments should go to:


OAR, OCFO and OMB at appropriate times
And may also go to legislators