Congress Returns to Work After Long Summer Recess

September 13, 2008

The United States Congress returned to session on September 8, 2008, after a lengthy summer recess that included both the Democratic and Republican conventions. At the top of the agenda for Congress is passage of spending bills for fiscal year 2009, which begins on October 1, 2008.

Congress is almost certain to pass a stop-gap spending bill that would fund most functions of the federal government, including health and education programs and activities. This must be done before September 26, when Congress is currently slated to adjourn. However, the term of the stop-gap bill is uncertain. The bill may last until early in 2009, when the 111th Congress would have to complete the work on appropriations bill. There is also some indication that the 110th Congress will return after the election, in a lameduck session, to address a few high priority issues. Spending bills could be on the agenda.

In this unclear procedural and political situation, biomedical research advocates are pressing Congress to provide a boost to funding for the National Institutes of Health and to reverse the research funding stagnation of the last five years.

As work on appropriations bills progresses, updates will be provided on this page.

Posted in General News, Spending Bills