Congress Releases FY14 Omnibus Appropriations Bill, Including Global Health Program Funding

The House and Senate Committees on Appropriations on Monday announced the release of the “Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2014” (HR 3547), which includes funding for U.S. global health programs.

Washington Post: Lawmakers unveil massive $1.1 trillion spending bill in bipartisan compromise
“Congressional negotiators unveiled a $1.1 trillion funding bill late Monday that would ease sharp spending cuts known as the sequester while providing fresh cash for new priorities, including President Obama’s push to expand early-childhood education. … The measure also continues a ban on the use of federal funding to perform most abortions, including abortions in the District and for federal prisoners. But Republicans agreed to jettison other contentious proposals, including a ban on new federal regulations for greenhouse gases and the ‘global gag rule,’ which sought to prohibit U.S. funding for organizations that give women information about abortion” (Montgomery et al., 1/13).

International Business Times: How The Omnibus Spending Bill Restricts Abortion Funding
“Congress unveiled its comprehensive $1.1 trillion omnibus appropriations bill on Tuesday, containing many familiar pro-life clauses restricting the use of federal funding for abortions. … Though the omnibus appropriations bill contains a number of pro-life measures, some conservative groups feel that it doesn’t go far enough in defunding abortions on the federal level” (Brown, 1/14).

The Hill’s Healthwatch: Advocates bemoan omnibus funding level for NIH
“Health research advocates say that despite a funding increase, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) cannot fully pursue its mission under the 2014 omnibus spending package…” (Viebeck, 1/14).

ScienceInsider: U.S. Science Agencies Get Some Relief in 2014 Budget
“…For agencies that provide major support for the physical sciences, the new budget represents a healthy boost over 2013 spending levels, which were depressed by the sequester’s five percent bite. … Biomedical research advocates are offering mixed reaction to the NIH numbers…” (Mervis, 1/14).

The KFF Daily Global Health Policy Report summarized news and information on global health policy from hundreds of sources, from May 2009 through December 2020. All summaries are archived and available via search.

KFF Headquarters: 185 Berry St., Suite 2000, San Francisco, CA 94107 | Phone 650-854-9400
Washington Offices and Barbara Jordan Conference Center: 1330 G Street, NW, Washington, DC 20005 | Phone 202-347-5270

www.kff.org | Email Alerts: kff.org/email | facebook.com/KFF | twitter.com/kff

The independent source for health policy research, polling, and news, KFF is a nonprofit organization based in San Francisco, California.