Appropriations Chairs Weigh Small Omnibus Combining HHS, Other Spending Bills

Main Category: Health Insurance / Medical Insurance
Also Included In: Women's Health / Gynecology
Article Date: 30 Oct 2009 - 2:00 PDT

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The fiscal year 2010 Labor-HHS-Education spending bill (HR 3293) will likely be rolled into a small omnibus package with other remaining appropriations bills to allow quick passage by the end of the calendar year, CQ Today reports.

While the House has passed all 12 of its bills, the Senate has passed only seven and has five remaining. Other spending bills that could be included in the "minibus" package include Commerce-Justice-Science (HR 2847), Financial Services (HR 3170), Military Construction-Veterans Affairs (HR 3082) and State-Foreign Operations (HR 3081).

This week, Democrats plan to move a continuing resolution to keep the government funded through Dec. 18, CQ Today reports. Senate Appropriations Committee Chair Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) met Tuesday night with House Appropriations Committee Chair David Obey (D-Wis.) to discuss the status of the spending packages. They said they would like to finish work by Thanksgiving. "I think that's unlikely, but I would like to try," Obey said.

The CR is being added to the FY 2010 Interior-Environment appropriations bill (HR 2996) and would maintain most funding at FY 2009 levels (Clarke, CQ Today, 10/27). The appropriations process has been slowed due to the debate over health reform, with many government programs funded through CRs since the start of the fiscal year Oct. 1 (Women's Health Policy Report, 10/21).

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