Policy Issues & Resources: Federal Budget

Federal spending for FY 2009 totaled over $3 trillion.  Three entitlement programs in the U.S. - Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid - accounted for a combined 41% of spending.  In addition, funding streams, such as the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment (SAPT) Block Grant, the Mental Health Block Grant, Grants to States for Homelessness (PATH), and others, are funded through the federal budget.

Recent News  I  Official Comments  I  Official Letters  I  Fact Sheets  I  Summaries & Charts  I Additional Resources  I

Recent News

• National Council, NASMHPD Hold Congressional Briefing on the Impact of the Financial Crisis on the Public Mental Health Safety Net
• President Obama Signs PAYGO Legislation into Law
• FY 2011 Proposed Budget Includes Funding Increases for Mental Health, Addictions Services
  

Official Comments

• National Council President and CEO Linda Rosenberg's testimony to the Labor, Health, and Education Subcommittee re.FY 2010 appropriations for SAMHSA, submitted March 18, 2009

• Testimony in Support of Increased Mental Illness and Addictions Funding in FY 2009 Budget

Official Letters

• The National Council signed onto a letter requesting that funding for the Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities State Grants program be restored.
• The National Council signed onto a letter supporting the elimination of the ban on federal funding for syringe exchange programs.
• The National Council signed onto a Letter of Support to lift the ban on funding syringe exchange programs by the national government.

Fact Sheets

• Including community mental health & addiction services providers in federal HIT funding initiatives
• Support $150 million increase for Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant
• Federal Mental Health, Drug and Alcohol Prevention, Treatment and Research Funding FY 2008 - 2010 
• Support increased funding for primary care and behavioral health integration
• Health Information Technology Provisions in the ARRA
• Medicaid Provisions in the ARRA
• Other Key Provisions in the ARRA
• Protect Funding for Addictions Prevention, Treatment, and Research 2008
   

Summaries & Charts

• Revised FY11 Budget Chart
• FY09 Budget Chart for Obama's Administration
• FY09 Budget chart
• Federal Mental Health and Drug and Alcohol Prevention, Treatment and Research Funding, FY 2007–2008
• Comparison of FY 2008 spending bills — commerce and justice; transportation and HUD; labor, HHS, education, and related agencies
   

Additional Resources

• Break-Down of Federal Budget Allocations in FY 2008
• American Recovery and Reinvestment Act 2009-Grant Application Information and Tips
• Budget — President's FY 2008 budget proposes cuts to mental health and addictions treatment
• Budget — summary of President's 2008 budget (from Avalare Health)