President Signs Short-Term Funding Bill, Prevents Disruption of Certain CBP and TSA Operations
On December 22, 2010, the President signed into law H.R. 3082, the Continuing Appropriations and Surface Transportation Extensions Act, 2011 (Public Law 111-322).
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Government Funded Mostly at FY 2010 Levels thru March 4
According to House and Senate Appropriations Committee summaries, under P.L. 111-322, funding will continue at the fiscal year 2010 enacted levels for programs through March 4, 2011.
Certain CBP, Other Programs Would Have Been Disrupted Otherwise
The press releases also note that P.L. 111-322 includes some provisions which extend authorizations or allow for continuous normal operations through March 4, 2011, for certain programs that would otherwise have been disrupted, including:
CBP to maintain level of personnel as in 4th quarter. Allows the Commissioner of U.S. Customs and Border Protection to maintain the level of CBP personnel in place in the final quarter of FY 2010.
TSA to sustain efforts against terrorist attacks. Provides transfer authority for the Transportation Security Administration to sustain efforts to improve defenses against terrorist attacks, such as the attack on Northwest Flight 253 last December and the recent attempts against all-cargo aircraft
Extend NDAA authorities for certain activities. Extends Defense Department authority under the National Defense Authorization Act for programs involving counterterrorism activities, intelligence commercial activities, etc.
Authorization for current surface transportation programs extended. Extends authority for current surface transportation programs to ensure that State departments of transportation and local transit agencies will be able to continue their ongoing infrastructure investments. Funding would also be provided to highway safety programs, etc.
In expressing support for H.R. 3082 prior to the House passage, former Chairman of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Oberstar (D) noted that the bill would, among other things, allow the Coordinate Border Infrastructure program to receive additional funding in FY 2011.
(See ITT’s Online Archives or 12/22/10 news, 10122218, for BP summary of House and Senate passage of H.R. 3082.
See ITT’s Online Archives or 12/21/10 news, 10122123, for BP summary discussing Congress’ intent to pass a short-term continuing resolution rather than an omnibus FY 2011 spending bill.)