The U.S. Senate on August 23 passed an $857 billion "minibus" bill that includes health funding, according to a report published by the Hill.
The Department of Defense and Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education Appropriations Act of 2019 (HR 6157) passed in an 85-7 vote. It includes funding for the departments of Health and Human Services, Defense, Labor, and Education and to avoid a government shutdown after September 30.
The legislation includes provisions to promote the U.S. government's black lung screening program among coal miners. It also provides $2 billion for the U.S. National Institutes of Health to support Alzheimer's and cancer research, behavioral and mental health programs to address opioid addiction, and programs to prevent maternal mortality.
The legislation now goes to the U.S. House of Representatives, the Hill said.
