In the midst of trying to pass historic healthcare reform legislation, both the House and Senate took time to vote on an omnibus package which would assure funding for government agencies to run the remainder of fiscal year 2010 (FY2010). On December 16, President Barack Obama signed the $447 billion omnibus package into law, which included nearly $500 million in funding for Title VII and Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development programs. This is more than 26% above the funding level in 2009. The Title VIII Nursing Workforce Development Programs received $244 million, a 42% increase ($73 million) over 2009 funding levels ($171 million).

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On December 19, President Obama signed into law H.R. 3326, the Department of Defense Appropriations Act, which contains a temporary pay freeze on Medicare Part B reimbursement rates for physicians, advanced practice registered nurses, and other non-physician providers.

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The House approved on September 25 a Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the federal government operating at FY2009 funding levels through the end of October. The Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations bill has been passed by the House but is awaiting floor action in the Senate.

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