Senate Committee on the Budget

The United States Senate Committee on Budget was established by the Congressional Budget and Impoundment Control Act of 1974. It is responsible for drafting Congress's annual budget plan and monitoring action on the budget for the Federal Government. The committee has jurisdiction over the Congressional Budget Office.

The Budget Committee is often confused with the Finance Committee and the Appropriations Committee, both of which have different jurisdictions. The Finance Committee (like the Ways and Means Committee in the House of Representatives) has legislative jurisdiction in the areas of taxes, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid and some other entitlements. The Appropriations Committee has legislative jurisdiction over appropriations bills, which provide funding for government programs. While the budget resolution prepared by the Budget Committee sets out a broad blueprint for the Congress with respect to the total levels of revenues and spending for the government as a whole, these other Committees prepare the legislation that actually enacts specific tax and spending policies.

Contact information
Committee Web site


 * Staff office - (202) 224-0642