Senate Debates HHS Funding
Bill
September 5, 2003 - Congress returned to Washington
Sept. 2 to begin the annual ritual of trying to complete the
13 appropriations bills before the Oct. 1 start of the federal
fiscal year. To date, the House has passed 11 of the bills
but the Senate has completed work on only 4.
As expected, the Senate turned first to debate on the FY
2004 Labor-HHS-Education appropriations bill (H.R.
2660). As reported by the Senate Appropriations Committee
on June 26, the bill includes $137.6 billion in discretionary
funding.
The Senate currently is debating a number of amendments to
add funding to education and health programs. Among the proposals
the Senate is expected to consider is an amendment sponsored
by Senators Arlen Specter (R-Pa.), Tom Harkin (D-Iowa), and
Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), to increase NIH funding by an
additional $1.5 billion, for a total increase of $2.5 billion
(9.2 percent) over FY 2003. The Senate Appropriations Committee
has proposed $27.982 billion for NIH, a $1 billion (3.7 percent)
increase.
Also pending at press time is an amendment by Senators Barbara
Mikulski (D-Md.) and Susan Collins (R-Maine) to add $63 million
to fund programs to recruit and retain nurses. This amendment
would increase the total for Title VIII nurse education programs
to $175 million.
Information:
Dave Moore, Senior Associate Vice President
AAMC Government Relations
dbmoore@aamc.org
(202) 828-0525
Get Washington Highlights
in your Inbox!
| 
