On August 23, the Senate passed an $856.9 billion appropriations bill (H.R. 6157) to fund the Department of Defense and the Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education for FY 2019, which begins on October 1, 2018. The final bill includes $4.11 million for the Lifespan Respite Care Program and $180.89 million for the National Family Caregiver Support Program, including $300 million to fund the Family Caregiver Council at the Administration for Community Living as authorized by the RAISE Act.   Lawmakers also approved a manager's package of amendments by unanimous consent, including an amendment to provide funding for the Secretary of Health and Human Services to establish the Advisory Council to Support Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.

 

The House still has to take action, but there is now momentum behind final passage of the linked Defense and Labor/HHS appropriations bills. According to House Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Chairman Tom Cole (R-OK), "I think there's going to be a strong desire by the administration to try and get Defense done without a CR (continuing resolution) and that will lend at least a sense of urgency to getting Labor-H done as well, because you're not going to just get Defense on its own." He added that the Defense spending bill is "a heck of a locomotive to be attached to." Even though the bill has not been brought up on the House floor, preconference meetings are underway. According to today's Roll Call, Chairman Cole said he doesn't expect the House will bring his subcommittee's bill to the floor, but he believes a final version could be sent to the White House before the end of the month.