The annual appropriations process provides opportunities for Members of Congress to direct funding to specific projects. This “earmarking” process has come under intense scrutiny in recent years and has undergone significant changes.  Navigating through this complex process requires a systematic approach based on knowledge of the opportunities and the players involved.

Our professionals have assisted clients in securing billions of dollars in federal funds.  Our clients include universities, states, municipalities, Native American tribes and groups, trade associations, nonprofit organizations, corporations, transportation and infrastructure interests, and other entities. In addition to helping our clients obtain funding for important projects, we often assist them in using the appropriations process to accomplish other legislative or policy goals, such as discouraging a federal agency from taking unwanted regulatory action.

We understand and anticipate the appropriations process at every stage. We begin by advocating for clients as the Administration’s budget requests are formulated. We then track and analyze the budget requests as they are submitted to Congress, through the various phases of congressional consideration, and finally to agency implementation. Our success is based on our thorough knowledge of each step of the budget process, with a close eye to all budget-related political developments that could impact our clients’ interests. We have successfully designed and implemented strategies to win federal funds for hundreds of new programs, to keep controversial programs funded, to increase funding for client priority programs, and, when called for, to initiate funding for programs not requested in the Administration budget.

In addition, each year Congress works on major authorization legislation that sets budgets, goals, policies, laws, and regulations across a wide spectrum of federal activity.  We help clients effectively participate in every aspect of the authorization process. 

We are proud of our solid bipartisan ties on Capitol Hill and in the Executive Branch. Over the years, we have developed strong relationships with key Members of Congress, congressional staff and senior Administration officials. Many of our professionals are veterans of congressional committee staffs or federal offices, and thus know the budget process from both sides, giving them a depth of perspective of both the appropriations and authorizations process that greatly benefits our clients.