Endocrine Insider
March 5, 2009

Prior to the end of FY 2008, Congress passed a continuing resolution to fund most of the federal agencies through March 6, 2009.  The House took up an omnibus spending bill in February that provides funding for these agencies through the remainder of FY 2009.  The bill was passed by the House on February 25 by a vote of 245-178, and the Senate is debating the bill.  Although the bill funds many agencies at FY 2008 levels, several research-focused agencies stand to receive an increase over FY 2008.  Please see below for specific funding levels.

•    NIH – $30.3 billion ($937 million over FY 2008)
•    DOE Office of Science - $4.77 billion ($755 million over FY 2008)
•    NSF - $6.49 billion ($425 million over FY 2008)
•    VA Medical and Prosthetics Research - $510 million ($30 million over FY 2008)

If the Senate does not pass the omnibus bill by the time the CR expires on March 6, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) stated that Congress will simply move a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the affected agencies at fiscal 2008 levels through Sept. 30, 2009.