Tomorrow morning, June 26th, the Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to take up the draft Homeland Security Appropriations bill. Please contact your Senators today to urge them to call on the Appropriations Committee to maintain flat funding for the EFSP program.

Dear State Government Affairs Professionals, JCRC Directors, and Other Interested Parties:

Yesterday, the Senate Homeland Security Appropriations Subcommittee approved its draft of the HLS Appropriations bill for fiscal year 2015. Within the draft, the Subcommittee approved cutting $20 million from the EFSP Program, adopting the Administration’s request to reduce the EFSP budget to $100 million in FY 2015. If adopted, this cut would reduce the EFSP program by 50% of FY 2010 levels ($200 million).

EFSP has already had to absorb a 40% cut in funding since FY2011 – a reduction of $80 million, annually since 2011. A further cut would erode further a major Federal backstop, established in response to the 1982 Recession, to bolster upwards of 13,000 community-based (public and nonprofit) hunger and homelessness prevention programs located in every city and county across the country. It is the only Federal initiative of its kind targeted to help prevent individuals and families grappling with economic downturns from falling into chronic homelessness and hunger.

On June 11th, the House Appropriations Committee approved its draft Homeland Security Appropriations bill for FY 2015, which included flat funding or $120 million for EFSP. Tomorrow, June 26th, the Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to take up the Senate bill tomorrow morning at 10:30 am (EST). Please call on your Senators to urge the full Senate Committee to return EFSP funding to current/flat levels of $120 million in its draft bill, consistent and in agreement with the House Appropriations Committee.

Mikulski, Barbara A. (MD) , Chairman*
Leahy, Patrick J. (VT)*
Harkin, Tom (IA)
Murray, Patty (WA)*
Feinstein, Dianne (CA)
Durbin, Richard J. (IL)
Johnson, Tim (SD)
Landrieu, Mary L. (LA)*
Reed, Jack (RI)
Pryor, Mark L. (AR)
Tester, Jon (MT)*
Udall, Tom (NM)
Shaheen, Jeanne (NH)
Merkley, Jeff (OR)
Begich, Mark (AK)*
Coons, Christopher A. (DE)*

Shelby, Richard C. (AL), Ranking Member*
Cochran, Thad (MS)*
McConnell, Mitch (KY)
Alexander, Lamar (TN)
Collins, Susan M. (ME)
Murkowski, Lisa (AK)*
Graham, Lindsey (SC)
Kirk, Mark (IL)
Coats, Daniel (IN)*
Blunt, Roy (MO)
Moran, Jerry (KS)*
Hoeven, John (ND)
Johanns, Mike (NE)
Boozman, John (AR)