The Consolidated Appropriations Bill
On December 17, 2007, the House passed the Consolidated Appropriations Bill. On December 26, 2007, the President signed the legislation into law.
This appropriations bill invests in:
- Medical Research: $607 million above the President’s request to study diseases like Alzheimer’s, cancer, Parkinson’s and diabetes.
- Healthcare Access: $1 billion above the President’s request, making targeted increases to programs like Community Health Centers to provide 280,000 more underinsured Americans with access to healthcare and High Risk Insurance Pools to help 200,000 more people afford health insurance.
- Rural Healthcare: $147 million above the President’s request to help 1,200 small, rural hospitals.
- K-12 Education: $767 million above the President’s request with targeted increases to Title 1, Special Education, Teacher Quality Grants, After School Programs, and Head Start.
- Student Aid: $1.7 billion above the President’s request for Pell Grants and other student aid programs.
- Vocational Education: $575 million above the President’s request for technical training at high schools and community colleges.
- State and Local Law Enforcement: $1.2 billion above the President’s request to help local communities across the country.
- Homeland Security Grants: $1.8 billion above the President’s request, recognizing that fighting terror must be a top priority.
- Highway Infrastructure: Meets the guaranteed levels set in the authorization bill and provides a $1 billion initiative for our bridges.
- Renewable Energy & Energy Efficiency: $486 million above the President’s request for important investments in Solar Energy, Wind Energy, Biofuels, and Energy Efficiency, with a careful blend of new scientific investments and conservation efforts.
The President’s budget would have required:
- CUTS of 800 grants for Medical Research at NIH.
- CUTS in programs that Provide Access to Healthcare by $595 million.
- CUTS to Rural Health Initiatives of 50%.
- CUTS in crucial funds for Education by $1.2 billion.
- ELIMINATION of every Student Aid program except Pell Grants and Work Study.
- CUTS in Vocational Education by 50%.
- CUTS in support for State and Local Law Enforcement by $1.4 billion at DOJ.
- CUTS in Homeland Security Grants for police, firefighters and medical personnel by $1.1 billion.
- SHORTCHANGING Highway Infrastructure.
- CUTS in Renewable Energy programs at DOE by $195 million and freezes in Scientific Research.
War Funding
- Afghanistan: Recognizing the importance of our efforts in Afghanistan, the bill includes $31 billion for operations in Afghanistan.
- Prohibition: Prohibits funds from being used for operations in Iraq.
Read detailed summaries by subcommittee:
Agriculture
Commerce, Justice, Science
Energy and Water Development
Financial Services
Homeland Security
Interior and the Environment
Labor, Health and Education
Legislative Branch
Military Construction and Veterans Affairs
State and Foreign Operations
Transportation, Housing and Urban Development