National Humanities Alliance

House Appropriations Committee Chairman David Obey (D/WI) introduced a Fiscal Year 2009 omnibus spending package (HR 1105) yesterday afternoon that would complete work on nine appropriations bills left unfinished by the last Congress over threats of a veto by President Bush. The Omnibus bill sets overall FY09 funding for the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) at $155 million. This constitutes about a $10 million increase over the previous fiscal year and the Bush administration's budget request.

 

If enacted, the omnibus package will finalize spending levels for the current fiscal year that began on October 1, 2008. Most federal programs have been operating at the previous year's levels under a continuing resolution that will end on March 6, 2009. The Omnibus would provide an 8% increase (about $31 billion) over FY08 levels for the nine spending bills. President Obama is expected to send Congress a preliminary budget outline for Fiscal Year 2010 this Thursday. A breakout of FY09 NEH funds by program is provided below.

 

 

$35.0 - Federal/State partnership (+3.3)

$16.0 - Preservation and access (-2.4)

$14.5 - Public programs (+1.8)

$14.5 - Research programs (+1.5)

$14.5 - Education programs (+1.9)

$0.4 - Program development (+0.04)

$15.8 - We The People Initiative grants (+0.8)

$4.0 - Digital Humanities Initiatives (+2.0)

$5.0 - Treasury funds (+0.05)

$9.3 - Challenge grants (-0.03)

$129.0 - Subtotal, Program Funds (+9.0)

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$26.0 - Administration (+1.3)

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