Latest News on FY 2011 Appropriations

Updated on April 13, 2011 

Late on April 8, Speaker John Boehner and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced they had reached accord on FY 2011 appropriations. The agreement appears to include net spending reductions of $38 billion or so and elimination of most policy riders.

Of the $38 billion in spending reductions and rescissions, $10 billion has already been enacted into law via three previous continuing resolutions.

Of the remaining $28 billion in spending reductions and rescissions, $2 billion is included in H.R. 1363, a seventh continuing resolution passed late Friday night (unanimous consent in the Senate; 348-70 in the House). All of the $2 billion is generated from reductions to and rescissions of transportation and housing programs. High-speed rail, intercity passenger rail service, airport facilities and equipment, and the federal aviation and railway administration are among the transportation spending reductions. Certain community development funds, grants for economic development initiatives and neighborhood initiatives are either zeroed out or reduced.

Later this week the House and then the Senate will vote on the spending agreement, H.R. 1473. Cuts included in the measure are below.
 

Of the many policy riders sought by the House of Representatives, including those prohibiting use of funds for implementing health care reform, regulating greenhouse gas and other environmental emissions, restricting appropriations to public broadcasting and Planned Parenthood, and prohibiting telecommunications net neutrality in federal regulations, most or all have seemingly been dropped. Surviving is reinstitution of a District of Columbia school voucher program and a ban on using federal funds by the District of Columbia for abortions. The agreement also calls for future Senate floor votes on repeal of the federal health care reform laws and a ban on funding for Planned Parenthood. NCSL is awaiting further details on the agreement.

Legislative Text
House Appropriations Summary
Senate Appropriations Press Release
Highlighted Programs Cuts
FFIS Summary of FY2011 Budget Agreement (including Jim Martin table)

For more information: 

Michael Bird                                                              Jeff Hurley
NCSL Budgets and Revenue Committee                  NCSL Budgets and Revenue Committee
202-624-8686                                                          202-624-7753
michael.bird@ncsl.org                                              jeff.hurley@ncsl.org