Mandatory spending covers programs where the law itself defines who qualifies and what benefits they receive — Congress doesn't vote on a dollar amount each year. Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, and the VA's PACT Act Toxic Exposures Fund are all mandatory programs. When more people qualify or costs rise, spending rises automatically. The Appropriations Committees don't control mandatory spending; the authorizing committees (like Veterans Affairs or Finance) do. This distinction matters because reconciliation — a special legislative process — is the primary tool Congress uses to change mandatory spending levels, while regular appropriations bills only control the discretionary slice.