The Senate also ignores the lack of authorization. One might think Congress neglects the reauthorization requirements only for small, insignificant programs that do not have much of a constituency. For example, Congress has failed to reauthorize the Justice Department since 1980. Many programs at the National Institutes of Health remain unauthorized, as does the Community Development Block Grant program, the Improving America's Schools Act and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The largest reauthorization Congress will have to consider is the annual Defense authorization bill.
Congressional analysts say the reauthorization crisis is getting worse.
You kind of wonder whether committees still retain the ability to do the job that they're supposed to be doing. Excuses, Excuses Members of Congress give a variety of excuses for failing to reauthorize programs. Many argue that the budget and appropriations processes take so long that authorizing committees have little time left. Others say they lack the staff to do justice to reauthorizations. Some simply do not bother to consider bills because they know appropriators will extend the programs.