Last year, Congress enacted and then President Bush signed into law a bill (H.R. 2638) that fully funds national security operations for the fiscal year (FY) 2009 that began October 1, 2008, and generally provides continuing appropriations at FY 2008 levels for other federal government operations until March 6, 2008.

Congress is now considering an omnibus FY 2009 appropriations bill (H.R. 1105). http://www.rules.house.gov/111/LegText/111_omni2009_2.htm The House is expected to vote on the bill this week, and the Senate next week. Under the House rule applicable to this bill, the bill will be given an up or down vote without further amendments H.R. 1105 does include the now standard FEHBP related appropriations provisions — a ban on application of the cost accounting standards to FEHB plan contracts (§611), prescription drug-contraceptive parity (§728), and a prohibition against the expenditure of funds for abortions except in cases of rape or when the health of the mother is at stake (§§613-614).