January 31, 2011 – On January 24, Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH), Chairman of the Republican Study Committee (RSC), introduced H.R. 408, the Spending Reduction Act of 2011.  The legislation, which aims to cut federal spending by $2.5 trillion over the next ten years, calls for a general reduction in discretionary spending through Fiscal Year (FY) 2021.  The plan would first replace non-defense spending levels in the FY 2011 continuing resolution (CR) with FY 2008 levels; beginning in FY 2012, it would then maintain discretionary spending at FY 2006 levels for the remainder of the ten-year period.

 

In addition to imposing broad spending limits, the bill identifies more than 100 agencies and programs for targeted elimination or reduction.  Among those recommended for elimination are (partial list):

• National Endowment for the Humanities
• National Endowment for the Arts
• Save America’s Treasures
• National Heritage Areas
• Corporation for Public Broadcasting 
• Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars

The bill also lists specific Elementary and Secondary Education programs and priorities for elimination (partial list):
• National Writing Project
• Teaching of Traditional American History grants
• Foreign Language Assistance Act of 2001
• Arts in Education grants

Senator Jim DeMint (R-SC), Chairman of the Senate Steering Committee, introduced companion legislation (S. 178) in the Senate on January 25. The Spending Reduction Act has been referred to committee for further action in both the House and the Senate.  To date twenty-four House Republicans have joined Rep. Jordan in co-sponsoring the bill.

Founded in 1973, the Republican Study Committee is a group of over 175 House Republicans organized for the purpose of "advancing a conservative social and economic agenda in the House of Representatives". The Senate Steering Committee, established in 1974, is a caucus of conservative senators that includes the majority of the Republican Conference.