This week, the House and Senate authorizing committees start drafting their "Views and Estimates" letters, conveying their positions on the President's FY 2008 budget provisions for the programs that fall under their jurisdiction. The committees must submit their letters to their respective budget committees no later than six weeks after the president's budget release, this year, March 19. The budget committees may, however, request a given authorizing committee to submit its letter by an earlier date. The letters offer general direction and advice to the budget committees as they draft their Budget Resolutions. A committee letter may be accompanied by a divergent or supporting minority report. Generally, the committee review and approve their Views and Estimates letters in closed sessions. In fact, the House Small Business and Veterans' Affairs committees will consider their letters in open meetings, starting tomorrow.