Eleven cabinet-level departments are currently operating at FY 2008 funding levels under a continuing resolution (P.L. 110-329) that expires at midnight on March 6, 2009. The CR provided $487.7 billion in regular FY 2009 appropriations for the Pentagon, $40 billion for the Department of Homeland Security, and $72.9 billion for military construction and the Department of Veterans Affairs. The omnibus bill, once enacted, will replace the CR and provide the following funding levels for regular day-to-day operations during the remainder of FY 2009:

• Agriculture, Rural Development, and FDA - $20.5 billion in total funding, $2.5 billion above the FY 2008 enacted level, including a $1.2 billion boost over last year for the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program.

• Commerce, Justice, and Science - $57.7 billion in total funding, $5.9 billion above the FY 2008 enacted level, including a $495 million hike over last year for state and local law enforcement grants.

• Energy and Water Development - $33.3 billion in total funding, a net $2.4 billion above the FY 2008 enacted level, including a $2.5 billion increase over last year -- aimed at building on the economic stimulus bill -- for energy conservation and clean energy initiatives.

• Financial Services and General Government - $22.7 billion in total funding, a $2 billion increase above the FY 2008 enacted level, including an additional $52 million over last year for the Securities and Exchange Commission and the Federal Trade Commission to enhance enforcement and oversight.

• Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies - $27.6 billion in total funding, $1.3 billion more than the FY 2008 enacted level, including a $39 million increase over last year for global climate change programs.

• Labor, Health, and Education - $151.8 billion in total funding, $6.7 billion above the FY 2008 enacted level, including a $938 million increase over last year for the National Institutes of Health.

• State and Foreign Operations - $36.6 billion in total funding, a $3.8 billion increase above the FY 2008 enacted level, including a $464 million hike over last year for diplomatic operations and to hire an estimated 500 additional foreign and civil service employees.

• Transportation, Housing and Urban Development - $55.0 billion, $6.2 billion above the FY 2008 enacted level, including an additional $484 million over last year for highway infrastructure projects.

The House's senior Republican appropriator called the omnibus package the latest instance of an ongoing governmental spending spree. "The omnibus appropriations bill contains funding for many of the same agencies and programs that received funds in the 'stimulus' bill," states a release by Rep. Jerry Lewis (R-CA). "In fact, the combined FY 2009 funding for agencies included in both bills is $680 billion – $301 billion more than these programs received 2008, for an 80% increase in spending this year!"