Congress Approves FY 2008 Omnibus Spending Bill, Including Labor HHS Funding, Before Adjourning; President Expected to Sign Measure into Law

 

This week, both the U.S. House and Senate approved a FY 2008 funding package that includes spending for programs in the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Education, and a number of other federal agencies.  The House approved the $555 billion omnibus funding package on December 19th by a 272 to 142 vote.  On December 18th, the Senate approved the funding package by a 76 to 17 vote.  The President has indicated that he will sign the measure into law. Although the 2008 fiscal year began on October 1st, most federal agencies and programs have continued to receive funding at FY 2007 levels under a number of short-term Continuing Resolutions (CR) approved by Congress. 

 

Congress crafted this funding package following the President’s veto of an earlier FY 2008 Labor HHS funding bill that exceeded his budget targets.  To bring funding for programs in the Departments of Labor, HHS and Education within the President’s spending cap, Congress used a 1.747 percent across-the-board cut to reduce funding amounts for programs in these agencies.  Despite these reductions, most drug and alcohol treatment, prevention and research programs would receive small increases or level funding under the omnibus spending bill.  However, under the spending bill, the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities State Grants program would receive a significant funding cut.

 

Under the spending measure, drug and alcohol education, prevention, treatment and research programming would receive the following amounts:

• The Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant would receive $1.7587 billion, funding roughly level to FY 2007 and the President’s budget request

• The Center for Substance Abuse Treatment (CSAT) would receive $399.8 million, $895,000 over FY 2007 and $52 million over the President’s budget request

• The Center for Substance Abuse Prevention (CSAP) would receive $194.12 million, a $1.2 million increase over 2007 and $37.6 million over the President’s request

• The Safe and Drug-Free Schools and Communities (SDFSC) State Grants program would receive $294.76 million, a cut of $51.7 million from last year’s funding but $194.7 million over the President’s FY 2008 budget request

• The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) would receive $1.001 billion, $2 million over FY 2007 and $1 million more than the President’s budget request

• The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) would receive $436.26 million, a $674,000 million increase over last year’s funding and approximately $700,000 less than the President’s budget request

Both the House and the Senate adjourned on December 19th, ending the first session of the 110th Congress.  The second session of the 110th Congress is set to begin in mid January when members return to Washington from their home districts.  More information about the omnibus spending bill can be found at: http://thomas.loc.gov/home/approp/app08.html. 

 

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