3/3/2011 - WASHINGTON (AFNS) -- President Barack Obama signed legislation March 2 that will keep the government funded and running through March 18.
The new continuing resolution cuts $4 billion from the previous continuing resolution funding. None of the $4 billion is taken from Defense Department programs. Extending the continuing resolution also means that service members and veterans have until March 18 to file for 'stop-loss' funds if their service was involuntarily extended between Sept. 11, 2001 and Sept. 30, 2009.
President Obama said he wants negotiations between the executive and legislative branches to continue.
He called on Democratic and Republican leaders of Congress to begin meeting as soon as possible with the vice president, the White House chief of staff and the budget director.
"We believe and hope that ... an initial meeting will take place very soon," White House Press Secretary Jay Carney said Feb. 2, adding that there is room for compromise.
DOD officials have been warning for weeks of the effects a yearlong continuing resolution would have on the department. It would mean a $23 billion shortfall in the fiscal 2011 defense budget, and will preclude many contract starts.
The president wants to avoid continuing two-week extensions, and wants a long-term deal with Congress, Mr. Carney said.
"We look forward to negotiations on a long-term deal, through the end of the fiscal year, so that we can do the country's business efficiently and effectively; because it is no way to run a business or a government to ... wonder every two weeks if we're going to be able to keep in operation the following week," Mr. Carney said. "So the president very much looks forward to these negotiations beginning to take place towards a long-term deal, and he believes that common ground can be found."
Comments
3/4/2011 10:29:37 PM ET @Marc-- The National Defense Authorization Act is an authorization not an appropriation. The authorization allows programs to legally exist but the funding can only come from an appropriation. These are separate acts of Congress.
DS, NPS
3/4/2011 11:43:19 AM ET President Obama signed the 2011 NDAA on 7 January so why are we still operating under a CR? Doesn't signing the NDAA release funds?
Marc Harv, Valhalla TX
3/4/2011 3:41:57 AM ET This is kind of like congratulating a high schooler for turning in their homework 5-6 months late. Budgets should be passed before the fiscal year starts so units can accurately plan for the coming year. Congress should do their job make some tough choices and pass a budget for FY '11 already.
Caveman, Mess o' potamia
3/3/2011 5:54:29 PM ET How much longer are we going to continue these continuing resolutions? It's getting ridiculous.
