Appropriations

Clearing the path to partnerships

Our Appropriations Group provides comprehensive representation to help clients navigate the complexities of the federal appropriations process. Our practice not only focuses on policymakers from both the U.S. House and Senate Appropriations Committees and their 12 subcommittees, it also works with relevant federal agencies to do everything possible to help secure millions of dollars in competitive and non-competitive federal grants.

With tighter federal budgets for a wide range of domestic and defense activities, securing federal funding for special projects through the Congressional appropriations process has become more competitive than ever. In addition, a new, heightened state of transparency in the federal appropriations process has created an environment where each request for funding must exhibit a solid rationale for federal support, a thorough budget justification of how the money will be spent and an extensive collection of supporting documents and project advocates. The Brownstein Appropriations team works extensively with clients to ensure that their appropriations requests meet all of the qualitative requirements inherit within the process. We also develop strategic plans to provide the best opportunity for policymakers to give these requests full consideration.

The Appropriations Group has been extremely successful in obtaining federal appropriations because we understand the process, we know where limited federal dollars may be available and we recognize how requests for funding are reviewed and critiqued by federal policymakers. Our experience in securing federal appropriations includes the areas of education, defense, health care, workforce training, transportation, energy and conservation, economic development, criminal justice, non-profits, after-school programs, foreign affairs, science and high technology, museums and the arts.

The scope of our Appropriations practice includes partnering with the client, so we fully understand your business model and the products or services you provide. Our team dedicates its efforts to developing a federal appropriations strategy that will complement the overall operation of your organization and help you achieve your business objectives. Our services include developing rationales and other supporting documents; researching the federal budget to find the appropriate account to match our clients needs; preparing for and establishing visits with key members of Congress, congressional staffers and federal agency officials; drafting testimony and floor statements; responding to committee questions; evaluating existing political assets and targeting champions; identifying the right legislative vehicles; drafting legislative language; and counseling our clients on the timeline and calendar of legislative activities.

The Brownstein Advantage

Group members' experience includes:

• Significant prior experience with a large Washington, D.C., government relations firm securing federal appropriations for hospitals, universities and colleges, and other non-profit organizations 
• Hill positions as a Legislative Assistant for Senator Orrin G. Hatch (R-UT) who advised the Senator on a number of issues, including transportation, housing, commerce and small business issues, environmental issues, public land management, and water development and conservation; and a Legislative Director to former Congressman John Kasich (R-OH)