On February 25 2009, the U.S. House of Representatives passed the Fiscal Year (FY) 2009 appropriation on a vote of 245-178. This omnibus legislation (HR 1105) includes FY 09 funding for nine appropriation bills, including Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA and Labor/HHS/Education, not enacted last year because of disagreements between Democrats and President George W. Bush over spending levels.

Since the beginning of FY 2009 (October 1, 2008), the Federal government has been funded under a continuing resolution (CR) at FY 2008 spending level. This CR expires on March 6th, 2009.

Summary of the Health-Related Provisions

• Labor–Health and Human Services (HHS)–Education
• • The legislation includes $151.8 billion to fund the Labor–HHS–Education programs, which is a $145.1 billion increase over FY08.
  • The National Institutes of Health (which is funded trough the Labor-HHS-Education appropriation bill) will receive $30.3 billion, which represents a $938 million increase compared to last year. $3.01 billion will be allocated to the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute
    
• Agriculture, Rural Development and FDA Appropriation
• • The Food and Drug Administration will receive $2.0 billion, which is a $335 million increase compared to FY 08.
    

The Senate is working to pass the omnibus bill this week before the CR expires.