Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009

The Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (H.R. 1105, Pub. L. 111–8 (text) (PDF)) is an Act for the United States government that combines bills funding the operations of each of the Cabinet departments, except Defense, Homeland Security, and Veteran Affairs into a single appropriation bill. It was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 11, 2009.^[1]

Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009

Long title	Making omnibus appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2009, and for other purposes.
Enacted by	the 111th United States Congress
Effective	March 11, 2009
Citations
Public law	111.8
Legislative history
Introduced in the House of Representatives as H.R. 1105 by Dave Obey (D–WI) on February 23, 2009 Committee consideration by House Committee on Appropriations, House Committee on the Budget Passed the House of Representatives on February 25, 2009 (245-178) Passed the Senate on March 10, 2009 (voice vote) Signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 11, 2009
Major amendments
Credit CARD Act of 2009

House version

The House of Representatives version of the bill includes $410 billion in spending.^[2] This includes a 21 percent increase to a program that feeds infants and poor women, an 8 percent increase to the Section 8 voucher program, a 13 percent increase to the Agriculture Department, a 10 percent increase in Amtrak subsidies, a 10 percent increase in Congress's budget, a 12 percent increase in the Department of State budget and foreign aid, and eliminated spending for the Millennium Challenge Corporation.^[2]

The watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense identified over 8,500 earmarks totaling $7.7 billion (1.9% of the bill's total), including $22 million for the John F. Kennedy Library, dozens of grants to assist states and counties prevent the spread of methamphetamine use, and $200,000 for the removal of tattoos from gang members.^[2][3]

The bill passed the House by a vote of 245-178 (including 16 Republicans^[4]) and the Senate 62-35 (including 8 Republicans^[5]).

Embryonic stem cell research

An amendment to the bill bans federal funding of "research in which a human embryo or embryos are destroyed, discarded, or knowingly subjected to risk of injury or death." Two days prior to signing the bill, Obama had lifted a ban on federal funding of such research.^[6]

References

1. Obama Outlines Plan to Curb Earmarks, Wall St. Journal, March 12, 2009
2. Democrats boosting domestic spending atop stimulus, Associated Press, February 25, 2009
3. House OKs $410B bill to boost domestic programs^{[dead link]} The Washington Post, February 25, 2009
4. Final vote results for roll call 86.
5. Roll call for Senate vote on H.R. 1105
6. Obama's Stem Cell Policy Hasn't Reversed Legislative Restrictions Archived 2009-03-18 at the Wayback Machine, Fox News, March 14, 2009

External links