2009 Appropriations Bill/Omnibus
On February 25, the House passed HR 1105, the FY 2009 Omnibus Appropriations Act, which finishes the appropriations process for fiscal year 2009. President Obama signed the bill into law on March 11.
Read the full text of the bill in section by section searchable pdfs >>
Read summaries from the Appropriations Committee>>
- Agriculture
- Commerce, Justice, Science
- Energy and Water Development
- Financial Services
- Interior and the Environment
- Labor, Health and Education
- Legislative Branch
- State and Foreign Operations
- Transportation, Housing and Urban Development
Last year, President Bush refused to work with Congress to come up with compromise to finish these nine bills, instead insisting on unacceptable cuts to energy research, healthcare, education, law enforcement and biomedical research. At the same time, the Bush budget would have increased funds to favored initiatives that were proven to be ineffective or unable to spend the money they were given last year.
Congress rejected these devastating cuts, and instead presents a bill that will keep the government running and finish last year’s business. This bill works in harmony with the economic recovery package, making investments that address the country’s immediate needs while investing in our long term economic strength.
- Energy Security: Increases funding for renewable energy and energy efficiency efforts, to increase the production of clean, efficient, American energy key to our long term economic security.
- Scientific Research: Makes strong investments into cutting edge science so that our nation will maintain its preeminence in the global economy.
- Healthcare Access and Affordability: Improves access to quality, affordable healthcare.
- Education to Promote Opportunity: Promotes our future economic strength by investing in K-12 education and helping families send their kids to college.
- Workers: Helps American workers in the tough economy train for and find good jobs in safe workplaces.
- Safe and Healthy America: Protects Americans by investing in programs to ensure clean air and water, and the safety of our food, medicine and consumer products.
- A Critical Look: The bill cuts and eliminates programs that haven’t performed the way they should, and includes strict accountability measures to ensure American tax dollars are spent wisely. It invests in oversight efforts carried out by the Inspectors General and the Government Accountability Office.
- Regulation for an Economy in Chaos: Strengthens regulatory agencies that had been neglected, to beef up their efforts during the economic crisis.
Earmarks are further reduced by 5% below last year’s levels, building on last year’s 43% reduction.
Read a summary of the cuts proposed in President Bush’s budget>>