Budget Committees Delay Action

While it has not officially been announced, sources on the Hill have indicated both the House and Senate Budget Committees will not mark-up the FY11 Budget resolution until after the spring recess, which is currently scheduled for March 29^th through April 9^th.  Much of the delay is from the final push on health care legislation, which is dominating the Hill agenda for the next two weeks.

In the meantime, momentum continues to grow in support of the President’s $58.5 billion FY11 International Affairs Budget request from military leaders, the Hill, and from the NGO community.   Nearly 50 members of our National Security Advisory Council – retired three- and four-star generals and flag officers – sent a letter to Congress calling the budget “a fundamental pillar of U.S. national security and foreign policy” and urging full funding of the President’s $58.5 billion request.  Nine members of the House Budget Committee and 42 of the 43 members of the Congressional Black Caucus wrote to Budget Committee Chair John Spratt in support of the President’s request. Nearly 160 organizations from the NGO community weighed in as well.

Possibility of no budget

There is a chance that Congress will not pass a budget resolution if there continues to be a delay in the Budget Committees’ work.  If Congress doesn’t pass one, then the House and Senate Leadership and Appropriations Committee leaders will determine the spending allocations for each of the 12 Appropriations bills, probably sometime in May.  This would include the FY11 State, Foreign Operations Appropriations bill, which funds the bulk of the International Affairs Budget.

In the coming days, additional member caucuses like the New Democrats and Progressives will send letters to the Budget Committee Chairs in support of the President’s request.  We will continue to reach out to key Hill offices and leadership as well, and will keep you updated on what’s happening.

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