Instructional Resources for Teaching about the Federal Budget, Authorization and Appropriations. Includes links to websites and videos and a list of discussion questions to ensure objectives are met. Submitted by Nancy Short, DrPH, MBA, RN from Duke University.

Teaching about the Federal Budget, Authorization and Appropriations

Introduction: Overview of the Congressional Appropriations Process   http://www.senate.gov/CRSReports/crs-publish.cfm?pid=%260BL%2BP%3C%3B3%0A

Video:  Understanding the Federal Budget & Appropriations  http://borgenproject.org/the-federal-budget-process/   and an interactive graphic at  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-srv/special/politics/federal-budget-process/

Discussion:   Federal (Discretionary) Budget Process 101 [ NOTE: a few aspects of this site discuss specific types of spending in a partisan manner.  Dr. Short is not pushing this agenda]    at https://www.nationalpriorities.org/budget-basics/federal-budget-101/      I recommend that each student take responsibility to lead at least one topic.  EVERYONE should be able to answer #2 with ease after completing the content provided this week.

1. What is a continuing resolution in terms of the federal budget? What is an omnibus budget act? How do these actions circumvent a full and thoughtful budgeting process?
2. What is the difference between congressional appropriations and congressional authorizations?
3. Where does oversight of appropriations to Medicare and Medicaid lie? (Where do all bills related to Medicare have to start?)
4. In May 2015, Congress passed a 2016 budget that would balance federal spending and slash $5 trillion in social spending by 2026. We know that the 2016 budget deal was passed several days ago on October 31. Discuss how these two actions co-exist. React.
5. What is meant by a “government shut down”in terms of the federal (discretionary) budget process? What does it mean to nurses employed by the federal government when the government “shuts down”?
6. What are the arguments for and against balancing our federal budget? Since Medicare is an open-ended entitlement (beneficiaries must legally receive all the services to which they are entitled no matter the cost to the government), can the federal budget truly be “balanced”?

Websites of Interest:

1. US Senate Committee on Appropriations at http://www.appropriations.senate.gov/subcommittee/labor-health-and-human-services-education-and-related-agencies 
2. US House of Representatives Committee on Appropriations at http://appropriations.house.gov/ 
3. US House of Representatives Energy & Commerce Committee, Subcommittee on Health at http://energycommerce.house.gov/subcommittees/health