Omnibus Appropriations bill

The Omnibus Appropriations bill (H.R.2764) was a bill in the 110th Congress "making appropriations for the Department of State, foreign operations, and related programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes.” (Official title)

Current status


Bill summary

 * Prohibits funds made available in this Act from being used to enter into a "permanent basing rights agreement" between the United States and Iraq (Division J, Sec. 680).


 * Prohibits funds made available in this Act from being used "in any way whatsoever to support or justify the use of torture, cruel or inhumane treatment by any official or contract employee of the United States Government" (Division B, Sec. 521; Division J, Sec. 681).


 * Extends the implementation deadline for the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative, which requires a passport for travel by land or sea to Canada or the United States, to after June 1, 2009 (Division E, Sec. 545).


 * Allows individuals to import prescription drugs from Canada, so long as the drugs are not controlled substances and the amount does not exceed a 90-day supply (Division E, Sec. 558).


 * Sets the maximum Pell Grant award for students at $4,241 during the 2008-2009 award year (Division G, Title III).


 * Expresses the support of Congress for a nationwide program of "mandatory, market-based limits and incentives on emissions of greenhouse gases" to abate the growth of such emissions, in a manner that will not "significantly harm the United States economy" (Division E, Sec. 430).


 * Prohibits the Department of the Interior from conducting oil or natural gas offshore pre-leasing, leasing, or related activities in certain coastal areas of California, Oregon, Washington, the North Atlantic, Mid-Atlantic, South Atlantic, and Gulf of Mexico (Division F, Sec. 104-105).


 * Authorizes the Secretary of Homeland Security to construct at least 700 miles of reinforced fencing along the U.S. southwest border, including 370 miles to be completed by December 31, 2008 (Division E, Section 564).


 * Prohibits funds made available in this Act from being used to establish a cross-border motor carrier program that would allow Mexico-based motor carriers to operate beyond the commercial zones along the border between the United States and Mexico (Division K, Sec. 136).


 * Grants certain Iraqi and Afghan refugees access to resettlement assistance, entitlement programs, and other benefits for up to six months (Division G, Sec. 525).


 * Expresses the sense of the Congress that the Arab League boycott of Israel is an "impediment to peace in the region," that the boycott should be immediately terminated, and that all Arab League states should normalize relations with Israel (Division J, Sec. 635).


 * Directs the President to submit a report to Congress that outlines in classified and unclassified terms a comprehensive nuclear threat reduction plan for ensuring that all nuclear weapons and weapons-usable material at vulnerable sites are secure by 2012 (Division J, Sec. 699M).


 * Allows a woman to breastfeed her child on federal property if she and her child are authorized to be at the location (Division D, Sec. 727).


 * Prohibits funds from being used for "research, development, or demonstration activities related exclusively to the human exploration of Mars" (Division B, Title III).


 * Appropriates $90.9 billion for the Departments of Agriculture, Rural Development, and the Food and Drug Administration, with $1.3 billion in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $89.6 billion (Division A).


 * Appropriates $57.0 billion for the Departments of Commerce, Justice, and Science, with $3.2 billion in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $53.8 billion (Division B).


 * Appropriates $32.9 billion for the Departments of Energy and Interior and water development projects, with $2.0 billion in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $30.9 billion (Division C).


 * Appropriates $34.5 billion for the Department of the Treasury, the Judiciary, the Executive Office of the President, and the District of Columbia, with $1.4 billion in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $33.1 billion (Division D).


 * Appropriates $41.2 billion for the Department of Homeland Security, with $2.6 billion in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $38.6 billion (Division E).


 * Appropriates $27.2 billion for the Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency, with $81.6 million in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $27.1 billion (Division F).


 * Appropriates $410.3 billion for the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, with $1.6 billion in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $408.7 billion (Division G).


 * Appropriates $4.2 billion for the legislative branch, with $3.8 million in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $4.2 billion (Division H).


 * Appropriates $108.6 billion for military construction and veterans' affairs, with $128.5 million in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $108.5 billion (Division I).


 * Appropriates $35.8 billion for the Department of State and foreign operations, with $158.0 million in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $35.7 billion (Division J).


 * Appropriates $311.3 billion for the Departments of Transportation and Housing and Urban Development, with $6.3 billion in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $305.0 billion (Division K).

Key votes

 * Vote to pass an omnibus budget bill with $1.2 trillion in expenditures and $18.6 billion in rescissions and offsetting, for a net cost of $1.1 trillion.



Supporters

 * American Israel Public Affairs Committee
 * Center for American Progress Action Fund
 * Washington Office on Latin America

Opponents

 * Catholics for the Common Good
 * Downsize DC
 * Public Citizen
 * Sierra Club
 * Susan B. Anthony List

Articles and resources

 * The Hill's article House adds war funds to omnibus bill 19 Dec 2007.
 * The Washington Post's article Pay Raises, Pensions, Contracting Rules and the Kitchen Sink 18 Dec 2007.
 * The New York Times' article Democrats, Staying Within Spending Limit, Draft Budget with Domestic Emphasis 17 Dec 2007.