As this item is posted, the fate of the fiscal year (FY) 2016 budget for the National Institutes of Health (NIH) remains uncertain. While Congress was able to reach a budget agreement in September that raises the amount of spending allowed and opens the door for an increase for NIH and other programs, Congress is still required to pass spending bills by December 11 to avoid a government shut-down.
Congress planned to have draft spending bills ready by Thanksgiving so that House and Senate committees could hash out remaining details and compile what is known as an “omnibus” spending package, which means one piece of legislation that includes all 12 spending bills that fund all discretionary programs in the federal budget. By the first week in December, the omnibus package would come to the House and Senate floors for consideration so that the Congress could pass the package before the existing short-term funding bill expires December 11.
The major obstacle to passing the omnibus funding package is not opposition over the amount of funding, but rather the concern that Republicans may add controversial policy riders, such as a measure to de-fund Planned Parenthood. This would cause gridlock on the funding bill and either lead to a shut-down or another continuing resolution that would keep the government open, but fund NIH and other programs at last year’s levels.
The Society has advocated that NIH should receive at least $32 billion in FY 2016. For the most up-to-date information NIH funding, please visit the Advocacy Page.
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