As ThinkProgress noted this morning, House Republicans’ budget would make massive cuts the country’s ability to monitor and respond to disasters like the tsunami that struck Japan last night. That proposal was stopped in the Senate this week. But today, in an unfortunate bit of bad timing, House Appropriations Committee Chair Hal Rogers (R-KY) introduced a new continuing resolution to fund the government for the next three weeks, while implementing more than $6 billion in budget cuts — including more than $100 million from the agency responsible for handling tsunamis. Beyond slashing funds to NOAA, the GOP plan would strip money from the agency that monitors earthquakes, along with other critical programs:
— NOAA: The agency with primary responsibility for warning Americans about natural disasters like tsunamis and hurricanes would lose more than $117 million in funding, including $99 million in cuts to its Operations, Research, and Facilities activites.
— U.S. Geological Survey: The agency that monitors earthquakes and other seismic activities will see more than $7 million cut from its Surveys, Investigations, and Research budget.
— Community Policing Services: The resolution would slash more than $194 million in local law enforcement funding, cutting $25 million from a campaign to crack down on methamphetamine abuse. $2 million would be cut from the Office of Nation Drug Control Policy federal drug control programs and $91 million from juvenile justice programs.
— Environmental Protection Agency: The EPA, a frequent target of the new GOP Congress, would see $217 million cut from its budget. Other agencies engaged in environmental protection and land conservation would lose more than $173 million from their budgets.
— National Forest Service: More than $50 million would be cut from the NFS, including $6 million to fight forest fires.
— Small Business: More than $64 million would be cut from agencies and programs that promote small businesses and community development.
In the midst of a fragile economic recovery and the beginning of hurricane and tornado season, House Republicans have shown their willingness to restrict the government’s ability to respond to natural disasters, aid small businesses, and protect America’s environment and streets.