December 31, 2007
President Signs Omnibus Spending Package
On December 26, the President signed an 11-bill omnibus spending package for fiscal 2008 (H.R. 2764), which includes funding for the Veterans Health Administration and agencies within the Department of Health and Human Services, among others. Copies of the relevant bills and statements are available by clicking on the links below:
Most agencies in the Labor-HHS-Education bill were subject to a 1.747 percent cut across the board; agencies funded through the evaluation tap—e.g., Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS)—were not.
AHRQ is provided $334.6 million in fiscal 2008; the same level provided in the conference agreement that was vetoed by the president November 13. This includes $30 million for comparative effectiveness research.
NCHS is provided $113.6 million; approximately $3 million less than provided in the conference agreement, but still $3.6 million more than the president's request, and $4.6 million more than FY 2007.
The bill also provides funding for the National Research Service Awards (NRSA) in primary medical care (administered by HRSA) and health services research (administered by AHRQ). The NIH reauthorization bill that was signed into law earlier this year would've eliminated funding for this program.
For more information on the funding levels contained in the original Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bills, please visit our funding chart. Questions? Please e-mail Emily Holubowich, Director of Government Relations.
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