Appropriations and Federal Budget

BKSH’s appropriations practice provides counsel to our clients to best help them plan for and react accordingly to the President’s annual budget as well as the appropriations process. We work with all clients to help them initially develop their federal appropriations agenda for each fiscal year well ahead of the beginning of the appropriations cycle in Congress. BKSH assists clients in matching their needs with available federal resources and aids them in developing projects that are defensible and viable, with broad local support and associated support from state agencies where necessary. We also help our clients prepare advocacy materials and all required forms and support letters for their projects. 

The firm works closely with Congressional delegations to brief members on projects, secure their support and meet project deadlines. The firm also maintains key contacts with members and staff on the various U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees and Subcommittees, enabling us to work through the process in both the House and Senate. We walk hand in hand with clients from start to finish through the entire appropriations process: beginning with the conceptual vision of a project, through advocacy efforts, markups and floor action and ending with final conference activity.

Our appropriations practice is wide-ranging, covering projects in virtually every government agency with a focus on transportation, as well as housing, water, energy, justice, labor, health and human services and defense. During fiscal years 2002 to 2006, the firm achieved over $575 million in appropriations projects for our clients.