Last week, President Obama signed into law the first year-long FY 2012 spending package which included funding for Agriculture/FDA, Commerce-Justice-Science and Transportation-HUD. The package also included a continuing resolution (CR) to keep other federal programs operating through Dec. 16 at the same funding levels as the last CR, which is approximately 1.5% below FY2011. The second “minibus” including the Energy and Water, Financial Services and State and Foreign Operations appropriations bills stalled in the Senate last week.

Moving forward, it is increasingly likely that Congress will combine the remaining nine appropriations bills into a single omnibus. This would allow tougher to pass bills to be attached to a vehicle such as the Defense appropriations bill which is considered a “must pass” bill.

Stay tuned to Health Centers on the Hill for updates on the Appropriations process!