“The Government is Open for Business”

A government shutdown occurs when a disagreement occurs between members of Congress. In this instance, Republicans and Democrats could not agree on the amount of cuts that they should implement for the year. Republicans were proposing a $61 billion budget cut while Democrats suggested slashing only
$6 billion of this year’s budget. Less than two hours before the government would have run out of funding at midnight, April 8, Democrats and Republicans finally agreed on a budget. Lawmakers will cut $78.5 billion below President Obama’s 2011 budget proposal and $38 billion below the 2010 budget.

• Army Corps of Engineers: Funding at the President's request level of $4.9 billion, supports existing applications for renewable energy loan guarantees at the Department of Energy, and provides a $697 million (7%) increase for the National Nuclear Security Administration to ensure adequate funding for critical components of our national defense.

• The Continuing Resolution reduces most Treasury and Executive Office of the President accounts.

     o Reduces funding for construction of new federal buildings by more than $800 million.
     o $13 million increase over last year for the Inspector General of Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) to provide strong oversight of the billions of dollars remaining in TARP assets and continues current funding for drug task forces and programs to assist small businesses.

• Homeland Security: $41.8 billion in discretionary funding is provided for the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) for fiscal year 2011. This is $784 million, or 2%, below FY 2010, and $1.9 billion, or 4%, below the President's FY 2011 request.

• Department of Homeland Security: All critical frontline operations, Customs and Border Protection, Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the Transportation Security Agency, the Coast Guard, and the Secret Service are sufficiently funded to meet mission requirements and sustain staffing levels. The bill reduces: CBP's Border Security Fencing, Infrastructure, and Technology (BSFIT) account to the President's request; FEMA's first responder grants by $786 million, $264 million in funding previously targeted to earmarks, and $557 million in unobligated and lapsed balances from prior year funds.

• Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD): THUD and Related Agencies section of the CR contains a total of $55.5 billion, a $12.3 billion, or 18%, reduction from fiscal year 2010 levels, and a reduction of $13.2 billion, or 20%, from the President's fiscal year 2011 request.