The United States House Committee on Appropriations is a committee of the United States House of Representatives that is responsible for passing appropriation bills along with its Senate counterpart.^[1] The bills passed by the Appropriations Committee regulate expenditures of money by the government of the United States. As such, it is one of the most powerful committees, and its members are seen as influential.

The constitutional basis for the Appropriations Committee comes from Article one, Section nine, Clause seven of the U.S. Constitution, which says:

No money shall be drawn from the treasury, but in consequence of appropriations made by law; and a regular statement and account of receipts and expenditures of all public money shall be published from time to time.

This clearly delegated the power of appropriating money to Congress, but was vague beyond that. Originally, the power of appropriating was taken by the Committee on Ways and Means, but the United States Civil War placed a large burden on the Congress, and at the end of that conflict, a reorganization occurred.^{[vague][citation needed]}

The Committee on Appropriations was created on December 11, 1865, when the U.S. House of Representatives separated the tasks of the Committee on Ways and Means into three parts.^[2] The passage of legislation affecting taxes remained with Ways and Means. The power to regulate banking was transferred to the Committee on Banking and Commerce. The power to appropriate money—to control the federal purse strings—was given to the newly created Appropriations Committee.

At the time of creation the membership of the committee stood at nine; it currently has 61 members.^[2] The power of the committee has only grown since its founding; many of its members and chairs have gone on to even higher posts. Four of them—Samuel Randall (D–PA), Joseph Cannon (R–IL), Joseph Byrns (D-TN) and Nancy Pelosi (D-CA)—have gone on to become the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives; one, James Garfield, has gone on to become President of the United States.

The root of the Appropriations Committee’s power is its ability to disburse funds, and thus as the United States federal budget has risen, so has the power of the Appropriations Committee. The first federal budget of the United States, in 1789, was for $639,000—a hefty sum for the time, but a much smaller amount relative to the economy than the federal budget would later become. By the time the Appropriations committee was founded, the Civil War and inflation had raised expenditures to roughly $1.3 billion, increasing the clout of Appropriations. Expenditures continued to follow this pattern—rising sharply during wars before settling down—for over 100 years.

Another important development for Appropriations occurred in the presidency of Warren G. Harding. Harding was the first president of the United States to deliver a budget proposal to Congress.

In May 1945, when U.S. Representative Albert J. Engel queried extra funds for the Manhattan Project, the administration approved a visit to the Clinton Engineer Works at Oak Ridge (CEW) (and one to HEW if desired) by selected legislators, including Engel, Mahon, Snyder, John Taber and Clarence Cannon (the committee chair). About a month earlier Taber and Cannon had nearly come to blows over the expenditure but, after visiting CEW, Taber asked General Groves and Colonel Nichols “Are you sure you’re asking for enough money?” Cannon commented “Well, I never expected to hear that from you, John.”^[3]

In the early 1970s, the Appropriations Committee faced a crisis. President Richard Nixon began “impounding” funds, not allowing them to be spent, even when Congress had specifically appropriated money for a cause. This was essentially a line-item veto. Numerous court cases were filed by outraged interest groups and members of Congress. Eventually, the sense that Congress needed to regain control of the budget process led to the adoption of the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974, which finalized the budget process in its current form.

The Appropriations committee is widely recognized by political scientists as one of the “power committees”,^{[citation needed]} since it holds the power of the purse. Openings on the Appropriations committee are often hotly demanded, and are doled out as rewards. It is one of the “exclusive” committees of the House, meaning its members typically sit on no other committee. Under House Rules, an exception to this is that five Members of the Appropriations Committee must serve on the House Budget Committee—three for the majority and two for the minority. Much of the power of the committee comes from the inherent utility of controlling spending. Its subcommittee chairs are often called “Cardinals”, likening them to the most senior members of the Catholic Church, because of the power they wield over the budget.

Since the House is elected from single-member districts, securing financing for projects in the district can help a member to be reelected as the funds can create jobs and raise economic performance. This type of spending is derided by critics as pork barrel spending, while those who engage in it generally defend it as necessary and appropriate expenditure of government funds. The members of the Appropriations committee can do this better than most, and better direct funding towards another member’s district, increasing the stature of committee members in the House and helping them gain support for their priorities, including seeking leadership positions or other honors.

The committee tends to be less partisan than other committees or the House overall. While the minority party will offer amendments during committee consideration, appropriations bills often get significant bipartisan support, both in committee and on the House floor. This atmosphere can be attributed to the fact that all committee members have a compelling interest in ensuring legislation will contain money for their own districts. Conversely, because members of this committee can easily steer money to their home districts, it is considered very difficult to unseat a member of this committee at an election—especially if he or she is a “Cardinal”.

In addition, the ability to appropriate money is useful to lobbyists and interest groups; as such, being on Appropriations makes it easier to collect campaign contributions (see: campaign finance).

The Appropriations Committee has one of the largest jurisdictions of any federal committee. Under Rule 10 of the House rules, the committee’s jurisdiction is defined as:

1. Appropriation of the revenue for the support of the Government
2. Rescissions of appropriations contained in appropriations Acts
3. Transfers of unexpected balances
4. Bills and joint resolutions reported by other committees that provide new entitlement authority as defined in section 3(9) of the Congressional Budget Act of 1974 and referred to the committee under clause 4(a)(2)

Majority

Minority

Tom Cole, Oklahoma, Chair Hal Rogers, Kentucky Robert Aderholt, Alabama Mike Simpson, Idaho John Carter, Texas Ken Calvert, California Mario Díaz-Balart, Florida, Vice Chair[4] Steve Womack, Arkansas Chuck Fleischmann, Tennessee David Joyce, Ohio Andy Harris, Maryland Mark Amodei, Nevada David Valadao, California Dan Newhouse, Washington John Moolenaar, Michigan John Rutherford, Florida Ben Cline, Virginia Guy Reschenthaler, Pennsylvania Ashley Hinson, Iowa Tony Gonzales, Texas Julia Letlow, Louisiana Michael Cloud, Texas Michael Guest, Mississippi Ryan Zinke, Montana Andrew Clyde, Georgia Stephanie Bice, Oklahoma Scott Franklin, Florida Jake Ellzey, Texas Juan Ciscomani, Arizona Chuck Edwards, North Carolina Mark Alford, Missouri Nick LaLota, New York Dale Strong, Alabama Celeste Maloy, Utah Riley Moore, West Virginia

Rosa DeLauro, Connecticut, Ranking Member Steny Hoyer, Maryland Marcy Kaptur, Ohio Jim Clyburn, South Carolina Sanford Bishop, Georgia Betty McCollum, Minnesota Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Florida Henry Cuellar, Texas Chellie Pingree, Maine Mike Quigley, Illinois Grace Meng, New York Mark Pocan, Wisconsin Pete Aguilar, California Lois Frankel, Florida Bonnie Watson Coleman, New Jersey Norma Torres, California Ed Case, Hawaii Adriano Espaillat, New York Josh Harder, California Lauren Underwood, Illinois Susie Lee, Nevada Joseph Morelle, New York, Vice Ranking Member[5] Mike Levin, California Madeleine Dean, Pennsylvania Veronica Escobar, Texas Frank J. Mrvan, Indiana Marie Gluesenkamp Perez, Washington Glenn Ivey, Maryland

Resolutions electing members: H.Res. 14 (Chair), H.Res. 15 (Ranking Member), H.Res. 21 (R), H.Res. 22 (D), H.Res. 39 (Re-ranking Maloy)

In 2007, the number of subcommittees was increased to 12 at the start of the 110th Congress. This reorganization, developed by Chair David Obey and his Senate counterpart, Robert Byrd, for the first time provided for common subcommittee structures between both houses, a move that both chairs hoped will allow Congress to “complete action on each of the government funding on time for the first time since 1994”.^[6]

The new structure added the Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, and transferred jurisdiction over Legislative Branch appropriations from the full committee to a newly reinstated Legislative Branch Subcommittee, which had not existed since the 108th Congress.

Subcommittee	Chair[4]	Ranking Member[5]
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies	Andy Harris (R-MD)	Sanford Bishop (D-GA)
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies	Hal Rogers (R-KY)	Grace Meng (D-NY)
Defense	Ken Calvert (R-CA)	Betty McCollum (D-MN)
Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies	Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN)	Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)
Financial Services and General Government	David Joyce (R-OH)	Steny Hoyer (D-MD)
Homeland Security	Mark Amodei (R-NV)	Henry Cuellar (D-TX)
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies	Mike Simpson (R-ID)	Chellie Pingree (D-ME)
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies	Robert Aderholt (R-AL)	Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
Legislative Branch	David Valadao (R-CA)	Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies	John Carter (R-TX)	Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
National Security, Department of State, and Related Programs	Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL)	Lois Frankel (D-FL)
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies	Steve Womack (R-AR)	Jim Clyburn (D-SC)

Majority

Minority

Tom Cole, Oklahoma, Chair Hal Rogers, Kentucky Kay Granger, Texas (Chair until April 10, 2024) Robert Aderholt, Alabama Mike Simpson, Idaho John Carter, Texas Ken Calvert, California Mario Díaz-Balart, Florida Steve Womack, Arkansas Chuck Fleischmann, Tennessee David Joyce, Ohio Andy Harris, Maryland Mark Amodei, Nevada Chris Stewart, Utah (until September 18, 2023) David Valadao, California Dan Newhouse, Washington John Moolenaar, Michigan John Rutherford, Florida Ben Cline, Virginia Guy Reschenthaler, Pennsylvania Mike Garcia, California Ashley Hinson, Iowa Tony Gonzales, Texas Julia Letlow, Louisiana Michael Cloud, Texas Michael Guest, Mississippi Ryan Zinke, Montana Andrew Clyde, Georgia Jake LaTurner, Kansas Jerry Carl, Alabama Stephanie Bice, Oklahoma Scott Franklin, Florida Jake Ellzey, Texas Juan Ciscomani, Arizona Chuck Edwards, North Carolina (from December 6, 2023)

Rosa DeLauro, Connecticut, Ranking Member Steny Hoyer, Maryland Marcy Kaptur, Ohio Sanford Bishop, Georgia Barbara Lee, California Betty McCollum, Minnesota Dutch Ruppersberger, Maryland Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Florida Henry Cuellar, Texas Chellie Pingree, Maine Mike Quigley, Illinois Derek Kilmer, Washington Matt Cartwright, Pennsylvania Grace Meng, New York, Vice Ranking Member Mark Pocan, Wisconsin Pete Aguilar, California Lois Frankel, Florida Bonnie Watson Coleman, New Jersey Norma Torres, California Ed Case, Hawaii Adriano Espaillat, New York Josh Harder, California Jennifer Wexton, Virginia David Trone, Maryland Lauren Underwood, Illinois Susie Lee, Nevada Joseph Morelle, New York

Resolutions electing members: H.Res. 14 (Chair), H.Res. 15 (Ranking Member), H.Res. 56 (R), H.Res. 60 (D), H.Res. 913 (R), H.Res. 1133 (New chair)

Subcommittees

Subcommittee	Chair[7]	Ranking Member[8]
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies	Andy Harris (R-MD)	Sanford Bishop (D-GA)
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies	Hal Rogers (R-KY)	Matt Cartwright (D-PA)
Defense	Ken Calvert (R-CA)	Betty McCollum (D-MN)
Energy and Water Development	Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN)	Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)
Financial Services and General Government	David Joyce (R-OH)	Steny Hoyer (D-MD)
Homeland Security	Mark Amodei (R-NV)	Henry Cuellar (D-TX)
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies	Mike Simpson (R-ID)	Chellie Pingree (D-ME)
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies	Robert Aderholt (R-AL)	Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)
Legislative Branch	David Valadao (R-CA)	Adriano Espaillat (D-NY)
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies	John Carter (R-TX)	Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)
State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs	Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL)	Barbara Lee (D-CA)
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies	Steve Womack (R-AR)	Mike Quigley (D-IL)

Majority

Minority

Rosa DeLauro, Connecticut, Chair Marcy Kaptur, Ohio David Price, North Carolina Lucille Roybal-Allard, California Sanford Bishop, Georgia Barbara Lee, California Betty McCollum, Minnesota Tim Ryan, Ohio Dutch Ruppersberger, Maryland Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Florida Henry Cuellar, Texas Chellie Pingree, Maine Mike Quigley, Illinois Derek Kilmer, Washington Matt Cartwright, Pennsylvania Grace Meng, New York Mark Pocan, Wisconsin Katherine Clark, Massachusetts Pete Aguilar, California Lois Frankel, Florida Cheri Bustos, Illinois Bonnie Watson Coleman, New Jersey Brenda Lawrence, Michigan, Vice Chair Norma Torres, California Charlie Crist, Florida Ann Kirkpatrick, Arizona Ed Case, Hawaii Adriano Espaillat, New York Josh Harder, California Jennifer Wexton, Virginia David Trone, Maryland Lauren Underwood, Illinois Susie Lee, Nevada Joseph Morelle, New York (from September 14, 2022)

Kay Granger, Texas, Ranking Member Hal Rogers, Kentucky Robert Aderholt, Alabama Mike Simpson, Idaho John Carter, Texas Ken Calvert, California Tom Cole, Oklahoma Mario Díaz-Balart, Florida Steve Womack, Arkansas Jeff Fortenberry, Nebraska Chuck Fleischmann, Tennessee Jaime Herrera Beutler, Washington David Joyce, Ohio Andy Harris, Maryland Mark Amodei, Nevada Chris Stewart, Utah Steven Palazzo, Mississippi David Valadao, California Dan Newhouse, Washington John Moolenaar, Michigan John Rutherford, Florida Ben Cline, Virginia Guy Reschenthaler, Pennsylvania Mike Garcia, California Ashley Hinson, Iowa Tony Gonzales, Texas Julia Letlow, Louisiana

Resolutions electing members: H.Res. 9 (Chair), H.Res. 10 (Ranking Member), H.Res. 62 (D), H.Res. 63 (R), H.Res. 1347 (D)

Subcommittees

Subcommittee	Chair[9]	Ranking Member[10]
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies	Sanford Bishop (D-GA)	Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE)
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies	Matt Cartwright (D-PA)	Robert Aderholt (R-AL)
Defense	Betty McCollum (D-MN)	Ken Calvert (R-CA)
Energy and Water Development	Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)	Mike Simpson (R-ID)
Financial Services and General Government	Mike Quigley (D-IL)	Steve Womack (R-AR)
Homeland Security	Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)	Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN)
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies	Chellie Pingree (D-ME)	Dave Joyce (R-OH)
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies	Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)	Tom Cole (R-OK)
Legislative Branch	Tim Ryan (D-OH)	Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA)
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies	Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)	John Carter (R-TX)
State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs	Barbara Lee (D-CA)	Hal Rogers (R-KY)
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies	David Price (D-NC)	Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL)

Membership

Majority

Minority

Nita Lowey, New York, Chair Marcy Kaptur, Ohio Pete Visclosky, Indiana José E. Serrano, New York Rosa DeLauro, Connecticut David Price, North Carolina Lucille Roybal-Allard, California Sanford Bishop, Georgia Barbara Lee, California Betty McCollum, Minnesota Tim Ryan, Ohio Dutch Ruppersberger, Maryland Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Florida Henry Cuellar, Texas Chellie Pingree, Maine Mike Quigley, Illinois Derek Kilmer, Washington Matt Cartwright, Pennsylvania Grace Meng, New York Mark Pocan, Wisconsin Katherine Clark, Massachusetts Pete Aguilar, California, Vice Chair Lois Frankel, Florida Cheri Bustos, Illinois Bonnie Watson Coleman, New Jersey Brenda Lawrence, Michigan Norma Torres, California Charlie Crist, Florida Ann Kirkpatrick, Arizona Ed Case, Hawaii

Kay Granger, Texas, Ranking Member Hal Rogers, Kentucky Robert Aderholt, Alabama Mike Simpson, Idaho John Carter, Texas Ken Calvert, California Tom Cole, Oklahoma, Vice Ranking Member Mario Díaz-Balart, Florida Tom Graves, Georgia Steve Womack, Arkansas Jeff Fortenberry, Nebraska Chuck Fleischmann, Tennessee Jaime Herrera Beutler, Washington David Joyce, Ohio Andy Harris, Maryland Martha Roby, Alabama Mark Amodei, Nevada Chris Stewart, Utah Steven Palazzo, Mississippi Dan Newhouse, Washington John Moolenaar, Michigan John Rutherford, Florida Will Hurd, Texas

Resolutions electing members: H.Res. 7 (Chair), H.Res. 8 (Ranking Member), H.Res. 42 (D), H.Res. 68 (R)

Subcommittees

Subcommittee	Chair	Ranking Member
Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies	Sanford Bishop (D-GA)	Jeff Fortenberry (R-NE)
Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies	José E. Serrano (D-NY)	Robert Aderholt (R-AL)
Defense	Pete Visclosky (D-IN)	Ken Calvert (R-CA)
Energy and Water Development	Marcy Kaptur (D-OH)	Mike Simpson (R-ID)
Financial Services and General Government	Mike Quigley (D-IL)	Steve Womack (R-AR)
Homeland Security	Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA)	Chuck Fleischmann (R-TN)
Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies	Betty McCollum (D-MN)	Dave Joyce (R-OH)
Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies	Rosa DeLauro (D-CT)	Tom Cole (R-OK)
Legislative Branch	Tim Ryan (D-OH)	Jaime Herrera Beutler (R-WA)
Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies	Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-FL)	John Carter (R-TX)
State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs	Nita Lowey (D-NY)	Hal Rogers (R-KY)
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies	David Price (D-NC)	Mario Díaz-Balart (R-FL)

Membership, 115th Congress

Majority [11]

Minority [12]

Rodney Frelinghuysen, New Jersey, Chair Hal Rogers, Kentucky Robert Aderholt, Alabama Kay Granger, Texas Mike Simpson, Idaho John Culberson, Texas John Carter, Texas Ken Calvert, California Tom Cole, Oklahoma Mario Díaz-Balart, Florida Charlie Dent, Pennsylvania Tom Graves, Georgia Kevin Yoder, Kansas Steve Womack, Arkansas Jeff Fortenberry, Nebraska Tom Rooney, Florida Chuck Fleischmann, Tennessee Jaime Herrera Beutler, Washington David Joyce, Ohio David Valadao, California Andy Harris, Maryland Martha Roby, Alabama Mark Amodei, Nevada Chris Stewart, Utah David Young, Iowa Evan Jenkins, West Virginia Steven Palazzo, Mississippi Dan Newhouse, Washington John Moolenaar, Michigan Scott Taylor, Virginia

Nita Lowey, New York, Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur, Ohio Pete Visclosky, Indiana José Serrano, New York Rosa DeLauro, Connecticut David Price, North Carolina Lucille Roybal-Allard, California Sanford Bishop, Georgia Barbara Lee, California Betty McCollum, Minnesota Tim Ryan, Ohio Dutch Ruppersberger, Maryland Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Florida Henry Cuellar, Texas Chellie Pingree, Maine Mike Quigley, Illinois Derek Kilmer, Washington, Vice Ranking Member Matt Cartwright, Pennsylvania Grace Meng, New York Mark Pocan, Wisconsin Katherine Clark, Massachusetts Pete Aguilar, California

Members, 114th Congress

Majority

Minority

Hal Rogers, Kentucky, Chair[13] Rodney Frelinghuysen, New Jersey Robert Aderholt, Alabama Kay Granger, Texas Mike Simpson, Idaho John Culberson, Texas Ander Crenshaw, Florida John Carter, Texas Ken Calvert, California Tom Cole, Oklahoma Mario Díaz-Balart, Florida Charlie Dent, Pennsylvania Tom Graves, Georgia Kevin Yoder, Kansas Steve Womack, Arkansas Jeff Fortenberry, Nebraska Tom Rooney, Florida Chuck Fleischmann, Tennessee Jaime Herrera Beutler, Washington David Joyce, Ohio David Valadao, California Andy Harris, Maryland Martha Roby, Alabama Mark Amodei, Nevada Chris Stewart, Utah Scott Rigell, Virginia David Jolly, Florida David Young, Iowa Evan Jenkins, West Virginia Steven Palazzo, Mississippi

Nita Lowey, New York, Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur, Ohio Pete Visclosky, Indiana José Serrano, New York Rosa DeLauro, Connecticut David Price, North Carolina Lucille Roybal-Allard, California Sam Farr, California Sanford Bishop, Georgia Barbara Lee, California Mike Honda, California Betty McCollum, Minnesota Steve Israel, New York Tim Ryan, Ohio Dutch Ruppersberger, Maryland Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Florida Henry Cuellar, Texas Chellie Pingree, Maine Mike Quigley, Illinois Derek Kilmer, Washington Matt Cartwright, Pennsylvania[14]

Majority

Minority

Hal Rogers, Kentucky, Chair [15] Frank Wolf, Virginia Jack Kingston, Georgia Rodney Frelinghuysen, New Jersey Tom Latham, Iowa Robert Aderholt, Alabama Kay Granger, Texas Mike Simpson, Idaho John Culberson, Texas Ken Calvert, California Tom Cole, Oklahoma Mario Diaz-Balart, Florida Charles Dent, Pennsylvania Tom Graves, Georgia Kevin Yoder, Kansas Steve Womack, Arkansas Alan Nunnelee, Mississippi Jeff Fortenberry, Nebraska Thomas Rooney, Florida Charles Fleichmann, Tennessee Jamie Herrera Butler, Washington David Joyce, Ohio David Valadao, California Andy Harris, Maryland Martha Roby, Alabama Mark Amodei, Nevada Chris Stewart, Utah

Nita Lowey, New York, Ranking Member Marcy Kaptur, Ohio Pete Visclosky, Indiana José Serrano, New York James Moran, Virginia Ed Pastor, Arizona Rosa DeLauro, Connecticut David Price, North Carolina Lucille Roybal-Allard, California Sam Farr, California Chaka Fattah, Pennsylvania Sanford Bishop, Georgia Barbara Lee, California Adam Schiff, California Mike Honda, California Betty McCollum, Minnesota Steve Israel, New York Tim Ryan, Ohio Debbie Wasserman Schultz, Florida Henry Cuellar, Texas Chellie Pingree, Maine Mike Quigley, Illinois William Owens, New York

• 2015 United States federal appropriations

• Committee on Appropriations, U.S. House of Representatives (Archive)
• A Concise History of the House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations (PDF; December 2010)
• Appropriations Subcommittee Structure: History of Changes from 1920 to 2021 by Congressional Research Service (PDF).
• House Appropriations Committee. Legislation activity and reports, Congress.gov.
• House Appropriations Committee Hearings and Meetings Video. Congress.gov.