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National Peace Corps Association > News > Advocacy > Peace Corps Funding on Hold at $400M
Peace Corps Funding on Hold at $400M
By Jonathan Pearson on Wednesday, December 22nd, 2010
As the 111th Congress adjourned for the year, the U.S. Senate passed a resolution on the Fiscal Year 2011 budget that means the Peace Corps can expect – at best – to see its baseline appropriation maintained at $400 Million.
The resolution passed by the Senate continues to fund virtually all federal programs at current levels through March 4th.
The following information on the continuing resolution (CR) was forwarded by the US Global Leadership Coalition:
“Under the new CR, the International Affairs Budget will be funded at a level of about $52.9 billion, 10% below the President’s request. This CR funds the International Affairs Budget a bit lower than the House passed year-long CR and nearly $3 billion less than the omnibus package that Senate Appropriations Chairmen Daniel Inouye (D-HI) was attempting to move through Congress. Unfortunately, Senator Inouye’s omnibus package was pulled from the floor due to Republican opposition over higher spending levels and earmarks. In addition, Senate Republicans opposed adopting the year-long CR passed by the House, favoring a shorter-term CR in order to have the opportunity to make cuts in the new Congress.
The CR’s expiration in March will give the 112th Congress an opportunity to determine the end of the FY11 appropriations process at the same time they are working on the FY2012 budget. House Republican leaders have talked about reducing discretionary accounts to FY08 levels, which would result in a cut of more than 30% to the International Affairs Budget relative to FY10 levels.”
The current fiscal year runs until September 30, 2011. Expect action opportunities early in the year as the new Congress begins.
