AFMAA Briefing Room Archives: February 2009
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February 26
The White House released a general outline of President Obama's Fiscal Year 2010 budget, his first. A detailed analysis of the HHS portion will be posted to this site later.
Link: FY 10 Budget (HHS portion begins on page 67)
February 22
Today, the House Appropriations Committee released an omnibus FY 2009 spending bill. This bill rolls all of the FY 09 bills which haven't been passed into one large spending bill. This includes the Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education bill.
Title VII, Section 747 has been slated to receive $48.425 million, which is a compromise between the House and Senate versions of the FY 09 appropriations bills. If passed, this will increase the primary care cluster from the FY 08 level of $47.998 million.
Link: LHE Summary
February 20
President Obama announced his decision to appoint Mary Wakefield, PhD as the new Administrator of HRSA.
Source: HHS.gov Press Release
February 17
We have learned that HRSA Administrator, Betty Duke, will be stepping down from her position on March 1.
The AFMAA site now has an overview of the recovery bill's health provisions. It includes our summary and related resources, including bill text and AFMAA letters.
Link: ARRA
February 13
The Senate passed the bill, 60-38. Three Republicans (Sens. Specter of PA and Snowe and Collins of Maine) voted for the measure. Sen. Kennedy (D-MA) was not able to attend the vote.
The House passed the bill, 246-183-1. No Republicans voted in favor of the bill. Seven Democrats voted against it, and one voted "present."
February 12
The Conferees still had more issues to work out. We understand that they have now struck a deal and will file the conference report this evening (likely around 7:30 est). We expect the bill to be voted on and signed by President Obama by Monday.
February 11
The House and Senate Conferees appear to have struck a deal. The House plans on voting on the bill Thursday, Senate Friday.
AFMAA sent a letter to leadership and the confirmed Conferees, asking them to include the House provisions.
AFMAA signed onto letters by the Friends of HRSA and Partnership for Primary Care Workforce.
February 10
The Senate passed the recovery bill, 61-37.
AFMAA sent an alert to members who are represented by leadership and key chairmen and ranking members (both chambers).We suspect those will be the Conferees responsible for striking a compromise between the two different recovery bills.
February 9
Kansas Governor, Kathleen Sebelius, is rumored to be near the top of President Obama's list for the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services.
Source:Washington Post
The Senate voted to end debate on the recovery bill, 61-36.
February 3
HHS Secretary-Designate, Tom Daschle, withdraws himself from nomination for the position.
Source: CNN
February 1
The full Senate began debate on the recovery package.
AFMAA sent an action alert to all members of our organizations. The alert requested that members call their Senators to urge adoption of the House provision for primary care training money in the recovery bill.
