Tom Cole

Washington, D.C. – When the opening lines of “I’m just a bill. Yes, I’m only a bill” start, you are immediately transported to the famous Schoolhouse Rock! civics lesson. Yet, these days, what does that process actually look like in practice? The reality is the journey from an idea to a law entails far more than most realize. Long before a bill reaches the President’s desk, much of the work of legislating unfolds inside committee rooms. There are hours of debate, amendments offered and withdrawn, roll calls and procedural questions – and plenty of strikes of the gavel. And, at Appropriations, we even have “Cardinals.” So, with our FY27 markup season complete and the committee rooms a little quieter as we reach the end of the district work period, we’re filling in some of the blanks. Consider this your "August Recess Rewind" – a look behind the dais at the people, procedures, traditions, and moments that move an appropriations bill forward. Image What Is a Markup? A markup is the stage of the legislative process where committee members debate, amend, and vote on legislation. For appropriations bills, it is where members work through funding legislation in detail before deciding whether to advance the measure to the next stage of consideration. Image Are There Specific Types of Markups? Yes! Appropriations bills generally begin with consideration by the subcommittee responsible for that bill’s jurisdiction. At a subcommittee markup, members of that subcommittee consider the legislation, discuss its priorities, and vote on whether to advance it to the full committee. These markups are generally more streamlined – but represent an important first formal step in moving the bill forward. Image Once a measure advances, it can move to a full committee markup, where all members of the House Appropriations Committee may debate the bill, offer amendments, and vote on whether to approve it. This is where consideration can become much more extensive. Full committee markups can last for hours as members work through amendments, engage in debate, raise procedural questions, and cast recorded votes. Image Think of it as two rounds of review: the subcommittee takes the first look, and the full committee brings the entire Appropriations roster to the table. Image Meet the Man Behind the Gavel Every congressional committee has a chairman responsible for leading its work and presiding over its proceedings. For the House Appropriations Committee, that’s Chairman Tom Cole of Oklahoma – the first Native American and the first Oklahoman to lead the Committee. He wields the gavel, recognizes members, manages debate, puts questions to a vote, and guides the Committee through each stage of consideration. Image If you listen closely, you’ll begin to hear him call out certain familiar phrases: “Without objection.” “The ayes have it.” “The amendment is agreed to.” “A recorded vote is requested.” “The bill is ordered reported.” Understanding these calls offers a window into how debate becomes official action and how proceedings move forward. What's a "Cardinal"? Image They aren’t birds. So, what is a “Cardinal”? The term dates back decades and borrows from the Catholic Church’s College of Cardinals, whose members occupy positions of considerable authority. In Congress, it became fitting shorthand for the appropriators entrusted with substantial responsibility over the federal purse. Today, our 12 Cardinals each preside over a subcommittee and take the lead in developing and advancing its annual funding bill. Every Cardinal has a different jurisdiction, a different funding bill, and the same assignment: get it across the finish line. Image Our Cardinals, or Subcommittee Chairmen, are: Commerce, Justice, and Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Hal Rogers; Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Robert Aderholt; Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee Chairman Mike Simpson; Milita