Major Appropriation Additions and Subtractions in the House-Passed Long-Term Continuing Resolution

The House narrowly passed a year-long Fiscal Year 2011 Continuing Resolution last evening (December 8), which would provide funding for Federal programs through the end of September, 2011.  The Senate has yet to take up the measure, and its fate in the Senate is uncertain (see, for example, here).  The House-passed version of the long-term Continuing Resolution (HR 3082) largely freezes Fiscal Year 2011 discretionary appropriations at the Fiscal Year 2010 levels, although it includes several major changes to spending from Fiscal Year 2010 levels.  Some of those changes reflect White House requests and some are Democratic priorities.

DISCRETIONARY APPROPRIATIONS (IN MILLIONS):

• FY 2010 actual: $1,089,652
• FY 2011 president’s request: $1,135,555
• FY 2011 continuing resolution (HR 3082): $1,089,652

BIGGEST ADJUSTMENTS FROM 2010 (IN DOLLARS):

Reductions from fiscal 2010 levels

• $6 billion less for the Census, plus a rescission of $1.7 billion
• $5.1 billion less for defense base closure funding
• $1.5 billion less for high-speed rail
• $630 million rescinded from previously authorized highway projects
• $500 million rescinded from the Asset Forfeiture Fund

Increased Spending

• $5.7 billion more for Pell grants
• $4.9 billion more for the Defense Department for regular Pentagon operations
• $3.1 billion more for Veterans Administration medical operations
• $843 million more for programs in the jurisdiction of the Energy and Water Development Subcommittee
• $723 million more for Social Security, Medicare and unemployment compensation
• $624 million more for nuclear weapons programs, dependent upon New START ratification
• $550 million more for Race to the Top education grants
• $438 million for nuclear nonproliferation efforts
• $38 million more for programs in the jurisdiction of the Interior and Environment Subcommittee (including adjustments in funding to allow the US Forest Service to continue the Collaborative Forest Restoration Program in ten states, which "helps protect our nation’s forest watersheds and enhances rural forestry employment.")

The Act also requires the Department of Energy, Bureau of Reclamation and the Corps of Engineers to submit a spending plan for the fiscal year within 30 days.

SOURCE: House Appropriations Committee (http://appropriations.house.gov/); summary (pdf file) available here.