House passes FY 2017 omnibus appropriations bill

The House of Representatives today voted 309-118 to pass a fiscal year 2017 omnibus appropriations bill providing discretionary funding for the federal government through Sept. 30, the end of the fiscal year. The Senate is expected to pass the legislation before the continuing resolution funding the government expires Friday night. The omnibus bill includes $73.5 billion for the Department of Health and Human Services, a $2.8 billion increase from FY 2016. The National Institutes of Health would receive a $2 billion increase, while the Health Resources and Services Administration would receive a $6 million increase for rural health programs and $5 million increase for the Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education program, among other provisions.