Advocacy Issues: Appropriations 

AACOM submits testimony for the record to Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies.

AACOM submits testimony for the record to House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies.

We are expecting no additional relevant action in 2008 (when Congress reconvenes during the week of December 8, it will be to address the problems of the automobile industry). But January should be a different story.

Faced with an appropriations stalemate, a distressed economy, and a looming general election, Congress decided in late September to delay the finalization of funding issues until next year, long after the new President is sworn in.

AACOM signed a letter to House and Senate leadership, urging that the $30.38 billion level approved earlier this year by the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) be added to the FY 2009 CR.

As you read this issue of Inside OME, the Democratic Convention is over; the Republican Convention is ending; and the presidential and congressional campaign season is about to launch into a flat-out sprint toward November 4.

AACOM recently signed two letters circulated by coalitions of health care organizations.

Just when you thought Congress could not find new ways of tying itself in knots and delaying the critically important appropriations process, it does.

While no one is expecting any quick resolution to funding levels for important programs for FY09, the House and Senate Appropriations Committees are planning to put together legislation to fund programs under their jurisdiction in the very near future.

AACOM recently signed onto a number of letters circulated by coalitions of health care and education organizations.

AACOM and the Association of American Medical Colleges jointly sent a letter to the Chairmen and the Ranking Committee Members of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees to request inclusion of text in the FY 2009 Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education and Related Agencies Appropriations bill that would permit funds to be used for the continued operation of the Council on Graduate Medical Education (COGME).

President George W. Bush has submitted the final budget request of his presidency to the Congress and the recommendations are for serious reductions in some programs, the eliminations of others and very modest increases in still others.

On February 4, the President sent a barebones FY09 budget to Capitol Hill. Flat funding, program reductions and outright eliminations are the highlights in the areas of importance to AACOM members.

Since the end of October, the FY 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill has been a moving target. The bill has been rolled into an omnibus spending package, signed by the President on December 26.

Since the end of October, the FY 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill has been a moving target. The bill has now been rolled into an omnibus spending package.

Since the end of October, the FY 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations bill has been passed by the House and Senate, attached to and then stripped from the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs Appropriations bill, sent to the President, vetoed by the President, and finally failed a veto override vote.

Congress passes Continuing Resolution to keep government running through Thanksgiving Recess.