To date, only two of the federal spending bills have been completed (conferenced): Legislative Branch and Interior. The Labor, HHS, Education Appropriations bill, which is home to many programs of interest to members of the APA has passed the U.S. House of Representatives (vote: 250 -151) but has not yet been considered by the full U.S. Senate (last action: favorably reported by the full Senate Appropriations Committee on July 14th). As with programs included in other unfinished appropriations bills, programs under the jurisdiction of the Labor, HHS, Education appropriations account are being funded at their FY'05 level through the continuing resolution.

The Graduate Psychology Education (GPE) program was “zeroed” out in the House Labor, HHS, Education appropriations bill and funded at $4.5 million (same as the FY'05 level) in the Senate bill. The Defense GPE program received $4 million in the House bill and no funds in the Senate bill. The Suicide Prevention programs authorized under the Garrett Lee Smith Memorial Act and administered by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration received a $2.5 million increase in the Senate bill ($13 million) and level funding in the House bill.

Nearly all of the appropriations bills have passed both the House and Senate and staff are currently working in conference to hammer out the bill differences. Recently, conservative House members have proposed taking a 2% across-the-board cut to all programs. Such a proposal adds an additional complication to consider as staff try to reconcile these House and Senate bills.

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