Aderholt Statement on the Final Continuing Resolution for FY11

Contact: Brian Rell

(202) 225-4876

WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman Robert Aderholt (R-Haleyville) today issued the following statement regarding the Continuing Resolution for FY2011. This legislation contains historic spending cuts of nearly $40 billion – the largest single non-defense cut in history and will fund the nation’s military and federal government operations for the remainder of the 2011 fiscal year.

The floor statement by Congressman Aderholt on the final CR follows:

“Mr. Speaker, as many have said here today, our government has a spending problem and the American people are demanding we find a solution. This bill before us today is a step toward finding that solution.

“This bill is truly historic – containing discretionary spending cuts that are nearly five times larger than any other cut in history.

“The Homeland Security title of this CR strikes the right balance between funding priority programs that are essential to our Nation’s security and keeping our discretionary spending in check. In fact, this bill marks the first time the annual discretionary budget for the Department of Homeland Security has been reduced from the previous fiscal year.

“This CR provides a total of $41.75 billion in discretionary funding for the Department of Homeland Security. This funding level is $784 million dollars, or 1.8%, below FY 2010, and $1.89 billion, or 4.3%, below the President’s FY 2011 request.

“And, in contrast to previous annual spending bills, this CR provides funding for the actual costs of disasters from within the existing budget. So, rather than relying upon an emergency supplemental to fund the disaster relief fund the White House was maneuvering for, the CR responsibly addresses the shortfall in disaster relief costs the President failed to address in his FY 2011 budget request. Supporting the cost of security demands truth-in-budgeting, and this Congress is delivering where the President and OMB have failed.

“Having said that, DHS is not immune from fiscal discipline, and underperforming programs have been significantly cut in this CR. By implementing these cuts, we are not choosing between homeland security and fiscal responsibility — both are serious national security issues that must be dealt with immediately. And, through a series of tough choices, and reasonable agreements with the Senate, this CR achieves both.

“That is precisely why this CR also includes sufficient funding to sustain the critical operations at front line agencies, such as CBP, Coast Guard, ICE, Secret Service, TSA, and the Department’s intelligence office.

"Mr. Speaker, homeland security is far too important to be subject to budget gimmicks and inadequate justifications. The homeland security title of this CR responsibly funds programs vital to our Nation’s security and will help get our federal budget on track.”