Cuts to the federal budget proposed by House Republicans could eliminate funding to AmeriCorps, including the AmeriCorps NCCC campus in Vicksburg, where 160 volunteers have been available for community service projects since 2009.

“The House proposal speaks for itself,” AmeriCorps NCCC Southern Region Director Gary Turner said today. “We are focusing on the strong message of the president under his 2012 budget recommendation.”

President Barack Obama released his proposed 2012 budget Monday, and House Republicans are responding with a bill that includes cuts so the U.S. government will not run out of money on March 4. AmeriCorps falls in the cuts.

Republicans are expected to push their funding bill of $61 billion in cuts through with a vote Thursday. The cuts would come during the last seven months of the current fiscal year.

Funds also would be cut for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and funding would be reduced for hundreds of other programs, including the Environmental Protection Agency and Pell Grants and other higher education benefits.

The Democratic-controlled Senate and Obama are sure to turn down the GOP cuts, setting up a potential standoff that could threaten the government’s day-to-day existence.

Obama’s plan mixes tax increases on the wealthy and some businesses, a five-year freeze on most domestic programs and boosts for elementary schools, clean energy and airport security.

Despite its savings, Obama’s budget projects a record $1.65 trillion deficit this year, falling to $1.1 trillion next year and easing thereafter, though still accumulating about $7.2 trillion in deficit spending over the next 10 years.

Vicksburg’s AmeriCorps NCCC branch, one of five regional centers in the country, opened on the former All Saints’ Episcopal School campus in July 2009. The center announced in October plans to expand to 400 members.

Turner said local campus officials hope there will be no negative impact here and are making no plans to deal with a shutdown.

“There are always contingency plans made out of D.C.,” AmeriCorps’ headquarters, Turner said. “Our hope is that the Democratic side and the Republican side will work these problems out.”

Corps members, ages 18 to 24, work in disaster relief, environmental conservation, public safety, urban and rural development, energy conservation, infrastructure improvement, education and responses to other critical needs of a community.

Each volunteer is required to work 1,700 volunteer hours and 80 independent hours throughout 10-month service stints. In return, participants receive stipends and higher education financial aid.

In Vicksburg, corps members have undertaken projects at Beulah Cemetery and the former Sisters of Mercy convent, painted house numbers on curbs and assisted with painting at fire departments.

Corps members also have traveled to the Mississippi Gulf Coast and other Southern states to work.

Other AmeriCorps programs include the Senior Corps, VISTA and Learn and Serve America. About 75,000 Americans serve in AmeriCorps programs each year, tutoring, mentoring youths, building affordable housing, running after-school programs and helping with disaster relief.

The All Saints’ campus was leased to AmeriCorps NCCC by the Episcopal Dioceses of Mississippi, Louisiana, Western Louisiana and Arkansas. The Dioceses funded about $1 million in renovations there prior to NCCC taking occupancy.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.