In the early hours of Friday, April 8, the United States government avoided a shutdown. One Hundred and ninety days past the October 1, deadline the House, Senate and President agreed to a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR).
The CR will serve as the budget legislation up for a vote tomorrow, April 13. If passed, the CR will become the formal FY 2011 budget, funding the government for the remainder of the fiscal year. The bill includes a separate division for the Fiscal Year 2011 Defense Appropriations Act. The final compromise legislation negotiated with the House of Representatives contains significant spending reductions but, protects the vital economic and security interests of the United States. In total, the Continuing Resolution (CR) cuts $78.5 billion from the President's Fiscal Year 2011 request and is $38.5 billion below Fiscal Year 2010 enacted levels.
CSBG Fairs Better than Expected
Funding for the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) is set at $680 million, a 2.9 percent cut from FY 2010 enacted level. CSBG provides the core funding for the nations Community Action agencies, including the 43 Community Action agencies that serve all counties of Pennsylvania.
Community Action agencies are locally focused organizations designed to offer programs that are specifically based on local assessment of needs. Community Action Agencies deliver programs that are of the most need to the community and its citizens – reducing duplication of services offered by other organizations and maximizing efficiencies of delivery of service.
In FY 2009, Pennsylvania’s Community Action Agencies served 874,064 individuals and families with services and programs that provide economic security and stability. The agencies run programs including job training and placements, housing counseling and foreclosure abatement, neighborhood revitalization and micro-enterprise and entrepreneurial support.
For more information contact: Joe Ostrander
717-233-1075
joe@thecaap.org