February 4, 2011

House Majority Proposes Deep Cuts to Present Year’s Budget, Housing and Transportation Departments Would Take the Biggest Hits

On Thursday, the newly-seated House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan announced deep proposed cuts to the current FY2011 federal budget, reducing domestic spending to 9% below FY2010 levels (leaving the military budget untouched).  The new House Appropriations Committee Chair Harold Rogers in turn allocated cuts by spending category, with the deepest cuts to Transportation and Housing agencies.  If adopted, these would amount to 17% spending reductions to Transportation and Housing programs.  Because these are concentrated in only part of the remainder of this fiscal year it would equal 29% reductions in spending over seven months.  

The federal government is presently operating under a “Continuing Resolution” (CR) which extended spending at 2010 levels until March 4.  In order to avoid a government shutdown, Congress must approve a new budget or extend the CR.   

Looming over the debate on the current budget, budget proposals for FY2012 will also be released in the coming months.  National CAPACD staff is considering developing an assessment of the cuts to federal programs on already distressed and poor communities.  If your agency has a lead staff person concerned with the ongoing federal budget debate please forward that contact information to Melvin@....

White House Initiative Release Agency Plans

The White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders has recently posted the draft plans of many federal agencies for improving participation of AAPIs in federal programs.  These plans are now available for public comment until February 17.  A number of agencies have yet to provide draft plans (including DOT and SBA).  We encourage your organization to review the relevant plans and to submit your comments by email to the address provided on following site:
http://www2.ed.gov/about/inits/list/asian-americans-initiative/plans.html.

Comments should seek to identify specific barriers to participation inadequately addressed by the plans and to propose remedies that can be accomplished within existing agency legal and budgetary authority.  Comments based upon experiences in the field are particularly important and valuable.  If you do submit comments please send National CAPACD a copy.  Your comments will assist us to evaluate the responsiveness of the process to community needs.  Send copies of your comments to: gen@....  A copy of the Executive Order outlining the purpose of the plans is also available at the above website.   National CAPACD staff is also preparing comments based upon the convenings and discussions conducted earlier in the year.