House Appropriators Approve FY 25 HHS Spending Bill  

The House Appropriations Committee on July 10 amended and voted along party lines 31-25 to advance its fiscal year (FY) 2025 Labor, Health and Human Services (HHS), Education, and Related Agencies spending bill and accompanying report. The bill would effectively maintain medical research funding at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) while proposing major structural and policy changes at the agency, eliminate funding for two Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) workforce diversity programs, and provide steep cuts to public health agencies and programs [refer to Washington Highlights, June 28]. Following the committee’s vote on the bill, the AAMC issued a statement indicating, “While the AAMC appreciates the House committee’s work to largely preserve crucial medical research supported by the National Institutes of Health (NIH), we have strong concerns about the bill’s proposed cuts to other health priorities and restrictions that would jeopardize the health of all Americans.”   

The HRSA Title VII Health Professions Education and Training programs would receive $459.8 million, a $60.4 million (12.3%) decrease compared to FY 2024 enacted levels. Two of HRSA’s Title VII diversity programs, Centers of Excellence (COE) and the Health Careers Opportunity Program, would not receive funding. The bill would provide $130 million for the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), a $1.4 million (1%) increase compared to FY 2024 enacted levels, and $395 million for the Children’s Hospitals Graduate Medical Education (GME) program, a $5 million (1.3%) increase compared to the FY 2024 enacted level.  

During the markup Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) offered and ultimately withdrew an amendment to reject the bill’s proposed policy changes and consolidation of the Advanced Research Projects for Health (ARPA-H) and the NIH. The committee adopted an amendment from Rep. Andrew Clyde (R-Ga.) to prevent any CDC funding from going toward research into gun violence.   

The House floor vote of this bill has not yet been scheduled.