In governance, few instruments hold as much power to shape public policy and drive progress as appropriations bills. As Congress mires deeper into political differences, the appropriations process has become the tip of the spear for legislating, as members attach everything from small authorizing changes to wholesale authorization bills in year-end packages. Beyond traditional budgetary consideration, appropriations bills are used to determine the nation's policy priorities and direct resources accordingly. Appropriations bills not only serve as financial tools but also facilitate accountability, oversight, and evaluation of government programs.
Considered "must-pass" measures, annual appropriations bills create significant opportunities for clients. Securing funding through programmatic increases, program additions, or earmarks is an obvious reason to engage in the process. Our team is adept at crafting and securing language to ensure clients are well-situated to receive federal funding. In addition, we understand that appropriations bills are used to shape public policy and determine the nation's policy priorities. We provide strategic advice to clients on ways to take advantage of these opportunities, including through engagement with Congress during budget hearings, securing report language directing agencies to act, and assisting with congressional letters to agencies, which allow Members to go on record about policy priorities.
Our GAPP team enjoys long-standing relationships with political appointees and senior career officials in key agencies, and with bipartisan Members and staff on Capitol Hill. We understand the appropriations process, having formerly served under high-ranking appropriators in the House and Senate, including the current Vice Chairs of both the House and Senate Appropriations Committees.
Steptoe's engagement in the appropriation process has allowed our clients to shape policy and secure billions of dollars in funding over the years, and is why our clients retain our team for the long-haul. For example, Steptoe's GAPP professionals have represented academic institutions, including the University of Oklahoma (OU), the OU Health Science Center, OU Health, and the University of Tulsa for decades.
Our appropriations engagements with national associations, businesses, as well as higher education institutions have led to key programmatic funding increases, earmarks, favorable report language, and the establishment of new federal programs that are competitive for our clients.
News & Publications
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
April 26, 2024
By: Leslie A. Belcher, Rowan Bost, Elizabeth Hurley Burks, Michele Nellenbach, Jack Buttarazzi, Chloe Beaumont-Smith
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
April 19, 2024
By: Leslie A. Belcher, Rowan Bost, Elizabeth Hurley Burks, Michele Nellenbach, Jack Buttarazzi, Chloe Beaumont-Smith
Media Mentions
Politico Includes Leslie Belcher in Article on Tom Cole's Alumni on K Street
April 17, 2024
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
April 12, 2024
By: Leslie A. Belcher, Rowan Bost, Elizabeth Hurley Burks, Michele Nellenbach, Jack Buttarazzi, Chloe Beaumont-Smith
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
March 22, 2024
By: Leslie A. Belcher, Rowan Bost, Elizabeth Hurley Burks, Jack Buttarazzi, Chloe Beaumont-Smith, Michele Nellenbach
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
March 15, 2024
By: Leslie A. Belcher, Rowan Bost, Elizabeth Hurley Burks, Jack Buttarazzi, Chloe Beaumont-Smith, Michele Nellenbach
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
March 8, 2024
By: Leslie A. Belcher, Rowan Bost, Elizabeth Hurley Burks, Jack Buttarazzi, Chloe Beaumont-Smith, Michele Nellenbach
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
March 1, 2024
By: Leslie A. Belcher, Rowan Bost, Elizabeth Hurley Burks, Jack Buttarazzi, Chloe Beaumont-Smith, Michele Nellenbach
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
February 23, 2024
By: Leslie A. Belcher, Rowan Bost, Elizabeth Hurley Burks, Jack Buttarazzi, Chloe Beaumont-Smith, Michele Nellenbach
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
The Topline: Steptoe Appropriations Newsletter
February 16, 2024
By: Leslie A. Belcher, Rowan Bost, Elizabeth Hurley Burks, Jack Buttarazzi, Chloe Beaumont-Smith