Rogers: Temporary Funding Measure Will Avoid Government Shutdown, Continue Commitment to Spending Cuts

Apr 12, 2011
Press Release

Rogers: Temporary Funding Measure Will Avoid Government Shutdown, Continue Commitment to Spending Cuts
 
WASHINGTON, D.C. – House Appropriations Chairman Hal Rogers today spoke in favor of a temporary Continuing Resolution (CR) that will allow the federal government to continue operations for an additional two weeks when the current funding measure expires on March 4th. The bill (H.J.Res. 44), which also includes $4 billion in spending cuts, is being considered on the House floor today.
 
The statement by Chairman Rogers follows:
 
“Mr. Speaker, I rise today to support the FY 2011 Further Continuing Appropriations Resolution.  This temporary CR will allow us to avoid a government shutdown that could otherwise occur on March 4th, when the current funding resolution expires.
 
“This CR contains funding to allow all government agencies and programs to continue operating at the current rate of spending for the next two weeks, until March 18, 2011 – while reducing spending by $4 billion through several spending cuts and program terminations.These cuts reflect this Republican Majority’s continued commitment to significantly reduce spending, rein in the nation’s exploding deficits and debt, and to help our economy continue on the road to recovery.
 
“Mr. Speaker, a government shutdown would halt critical and necessary services and programs that Americans across the country rely on – and is not reflective of what our constituents expect or demand. 
 
“While I would have greatly preferred that the Senate act on the hard-fought and thoughtfully crafted funding legislation that the House passed almost two weeks ago – which saves the taxpayers $100 billion compared to the President’s request – it is clear that more time is needed. This short term CR will provide an additional two weeks, while cutting spending to show our continued resolve to getting our nation’s fiscal house in order. 
 
“The bill before us today terminates eight programs for a savings of approximately $1.24 billion. These eight programs were all targeted for elimination in the President’s budget requests, and have also been part of proposed cuts in the past in the House and the Senate by Members in both parties. These eight programs include: Election Assistance Grants, the Broadband Direct Loan Subsidy, the Smithsonian Institution Legacy Fund, the Striving Readers Program, the LEAP program, Even Start, Smaller Learning Communities, and a one-time Highway funding addition.
 
“In addition, the bill before us eliminates more than $2.7 billion in funding previously reserved for earmarks – eliminations that the House, Senate, and White House have all called for this year. The earmark funding cuts in this legislation come from Energy and Water, Homeland Security, Labor/Health and Human Services, Legislative Branch, and Transportation/Housing and Urban Development program accounts.
 
“This legislation will represent the second of many Appropriations bills this year that will significantly reduce spending– continuing a pattern of cuts that will help put our nation’s budgets back into balance and stop the dangerous spiral of unsustainable deficits and debt.
 
“It is my hope that this CR can be passed quickly and that the President will sign it before the March 4th deadline. This legislation should garner broad support today, given the short timeframe for action, and given the fact that these spending cuts have received previous bipartisan support by Members of the House and Senate, as well as the White House. 
 
“We are now five months into the current fiscal year, and it is critically important that we complete this budget process so that we can turn our attention to passing funding bills for fiscal year 2012. It is high time we start looking forward instead of constantly looking back to clean up past mistakes and inaction. We must move forward quickly in regular order – passing bills on time in an open and transparent fashion – to avoid these budget uncertainties in the future.
 
“Mr. Speaker, this is one more step that we have to take to get our fiscal house in order. While this isn’t a perfect or an easy process, it is essential that we pass this bill, avoid a government shutdown, and continue work on a long term solution to complete this long-overdue funding process. Our constituents expect and deserve no less.
 
“Thank you.”

112th Congress