Congress Fails to Override Bush Veto Of Labor, HHS & Education Bill

On November 15, the U.S. House of Representatives by a 277-141 vote came two votes short of the two-thirds majority needed to override President Bush’s veto of the Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 Labor, Health and Human Services and Education appropriations bill (H.R. 3043; H. Report 110-424). The conference agreement included $120 million for the Teaching of Traditional American History program at the Department of Education, a $210,000 increase over the FY 2007 level.

To date, only one (Defense) of the 12 federal agency appropriations bills has been enacted into law. Federal programs are operating at FY 2007 levels. The Defense appropriations bill signed by the president extends the current continuing budget resolution until December 14.