Even though the President has yet to submit his FY 2015 Budget Proposal, including his detailed requests for all agencies of the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees have announced important dates for the submission of public statements to the Committees. These statements will become part of the formal hearing record for the FY 2015 cycle, and should be used to express your views about what should – or should not – be funded for fiscal year 2015, which runs from October 1, 2014, through September 30, 2015. The President’s FY 2015 budget request is expected to be submitted to Congress during the first two weeks of March.
Each subcommittee has its own requirements regarding the maximum length of any submission, and what information must be included. All USDA programs but for the Forest Service are funded by the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies. The Forest Service is funded by the House and Senate Appropriations Subcommittees on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies.
Following are the dates, and links to the public testimony submission instructions:
- March 20, 2014 – House Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
- April 4, 2014 – Senate Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
- May 23, 2014 – Senate Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies
The House Interior Subcommittee has not yet provided submission instructions.
Additionally, House subcommittees have also set dates for the submission of House Member requests for funding and language requests for the FY 2015 bills. Those dates are:
- March 31, 2014 – House Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
- April 4, 2014 – House Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
Should you need assistance with the preparation and submission of these statements, OFW Law can assist you. Please feel free to contact me with your questions.
