Bush's 2009 Budget Request Includes Health-Related Cuts, Increased Abstinence Funding
By Rachel Walden — February 6, 2008
Earlier this week, President Bush released his $3.1 trillion 2009 budget request, which includes freezes and decreases for the budgets of many health programs, alongside massive defense spending. The budget documents are difficult to sift through, but a few health-related proposals are worth noting.
Among the cuts and lack of increases:
- No increase in funding for the National Institutes of Health, which funds a vast amount of medical research
- A $412 million (~4.5%) decrease in program funding for Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
- An $995 million (~14%) reduction in program funds for the Health Resources and Services Administration, including flat funding for Title X family planning and decreases in funding for healthcare workforce development.
- A $198 million (~6%) decrease for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.
- Flat funding for child welfare and child abuse prevention under the Administration for Children and Families
- Nearly 30% reduction in international family planning and reproductive health funding
The kicker? The budget includes $191 million for abstinence-only education through the Administration for Children and Families, a $28 million increase (~17%).
Additional coverage of and reactions to the 2009 proposed budget:
- Kaiser Daily HIV/AIDS Report
- Daily Women’s Health Policy Report: Medicaid family planning cuts and abstinence and AIDS relief
- Planned Parenthood
- AIDS Action
Note: If you find additional relevant changes in the 2009 budget proposal, please let us know in the comments.
This man apparently has not done enough damage, he wants to go out leaving women, children, and families even more destitute and desperate, without a soft place to fall and without a prayer. FOR SHAME MR. BUSH.
The National Women’s Law Center released a comprehensive analysis of the Bush Budget yesterday. Here is a link to an analysis of Bush’s proposed budget for health care and services: http://www.nwlc.org/BushBudgetFY09/health.cfm
Thank you, Mary!