The Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 (, ) is an Act for the United States government that combines bills funding the operations of each of the Cabinet departments, except Defense, Homeland Security, and Veteran Affairs into a single appropriation bill. It was signed into law by President Barack Obama on March 11, 2009.Obama Outlines Plan to Curb Earmarks, Wall St. Journal, March 12, 2009
House version
The House of Representatives version of the bill includes $410 billion in spending.Democrats boosting domestic spending atop stimulus, Associated Press, February 25, 2009 This includes a 21 percent increase to a program that feeds infants and poor women, an 8 percent increase to the Section 8 voucher program, a 13 percent increase to the Agriculture Department, a 10 percent increase in Amtrak subsidies, a 10 percent increase in Congress's budget, a 12 percent increase in the Department of State budget and foreign aid, and eliminated spending for the Millennium Challenge Corporation.
The watchdog group Taxpayers for Common Sense identified over 8,500 earmarks totaling $7.7 billion (1.9% of the bill's total), including $22 million for the John F. Kennedy Library, dozens of grants to assist states and counties prevent the spread of methamphetamine use, and $200,000 for the removal of tattoos from gang members.<ref name=Omnibus_AP/>House OKs $410B bill to boost domestic programs The Washington Post, February 25, 2009
The bill passed the House by a vote of 245-178 (including 16 RepublicansFinal vote results for roll call 86.) and the Senate 62-35 (including 8 RepublicansRoll call for Senate vote on H.R. 1105).
Embryonic stem cell research An amendment to the bill bans federal funding of "research in which a human embryo or embryos are destroyed, discarded, or knowingly subjected to risk of injury or death." Two days prior to signing the bill, Obama had lifted a ban on federal funding of such research.Obama's Stem Cell Policy Hasn't Reversed Legislative Restrictions , Fox News, March 14, 2009
References
External links
Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 as amended (PDF/details) in the GPO Statute Compilations collection