House Passes Spending Bill to Keep NIH Funded at Current Level Through March 2009

September 25, 2008 – The U.S. House of Representatives has passed a comprehensive spending bill that ensures the federal government will continue to operate into the new fiscal year (FY) that begins on October 1. The measure passed by a vote of 370-58.

Because of a shortened congressional schedule due to the elections, Congress was not able to complete work on the FY 2009 spending bills before the end of the 2008 fiscal year on September 30. The continuing resolution (CR) passed by the House will maintain funding for most federal programs and agencies, including the National Institutes of Health (NIH), at current levels until March 6, 2009, or when Congress completes actual FY 2009 spending bills, whichever comes first.

The Senate is expected to consider the measure later this week, clearing the bill for President Bush's signature, though he has not yet indicated whether he will sign the bill. The President had previously voiced a preference for a shorter-term CR that would fund the federal government at current levels until after the November elections and force Congress to return in November to complete FY 2009 spending bills.

Continuing with the FY 2008 funding levels in FY 2009 provides a great deal of budgetary uncertainty to NIH and will be detrimental to federally funded biomedical research. ASH was very active in advocating for increased funding for NIH and sought the inclusion of additional funds for NIH in the CR.