FY19 Appropriations:

The Senate is expected to consider the Labor-HHS/Defense spending package, or “minibus”, possibly next week, but more likely the week of August 13. (The Senate is only recessing for one week during August, unlike it’s typical one-month recess). The Labor-HHS bill includes funding for STD programs at the CDC. The fact that the Senate will be considering a bill is significant—and pairing LHHS with Defense– because it means that there will most likely not be a continuing resolution for the full fiscal year 2019, as many members will want to pass Defense funding.

This can also be an important step in merging the House version of LHHS bill, which includes $20 million for a new initiative to combat infectious diseases including STDs, with the Senate version of the LHHS bill, which includes $5 million for a new initiative to combat infectious diseases related to opioids and does not specifically mention STDs. This merging of the two chamber’s bills will likely happen later this fall. Updates to come when the Senate LHHS and Defense minibus is considered.