LATEST NEWS
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Feb
15AFG Funding Update
FY 2011 Current Year Funding
Over the weekend the House Appropriations Committee released its Continuing Resolution (CR) appropriations bill for the current fiscal year, FY 2011. The Committee is seeking to make cuts in addition to those announced earlier last week. The Committee’s appropriations bill would fund the Assistance to Firefighters Grants (AFG) equipment program at $300 million, a cut of $90 million from the FY 2010 level of $390 million. The SAFER hiring program would receive no funding for FY 2011 under the House bill, compared to its $420 million level in FY 2010. The House plans to take their appropriations bill to the House floor this week.
The President’s FY 2012 (Next Year) Budget
The President released today his FY 2012 budget proposal to Congress. The President would fund the AFG equipment program at $250 million (a cut of $140 million over FY 2010 levels) and the SAFER program at $420 million.
Analysis
For current-year funding, the full House is likely to pass the Committee bill, which makes cuts of $100 billion over the President’s proposals for FY 2011. However, the Senate is unlikely to go forward with the same level of cuts, particularly since we are already in the fifth month of the fiscal year, which began October 1, 2010. Senate leadership has already indicated that too many cuts could jeopardize the economic recovery.
The fact that the House Committee zeroed-out the SAFER program, but funded the AFG program, indicates that House Appropriators are more favorable toward the AFG equipment program.
In order for federal agencies to continue operations, Congress must pass and the President must sign a Continuing Resolution bill by March 4, as the currently enacted CR expires on that date. At this point the House and Senate are far apart on the levels of cuts being proposed. The Senate is likely to propose different FY2011 funding levels for both AFG and SAFER programs from those proposed by the House.
Please look for further updates as events unfold.