Statement by the Press Secretary on H.R. 4818, the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005

On Wednesday, December 8, 2004, the President signed into law:

H.R. 4818, the "Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2005" which provides FY 2005 appropriations for nine of the 13 regular appropriations bills. FY 2005 appropriations are included for: the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce, Education, Energy, Health and Human Services, Housing and Urban Development, the Interior, Justice, Labor, State, Transportation, the Treasury, and Veterans Affairs; as well as International Assistance Programs; the Environmental Protection Agency; the Executive Office of the President; the National Aeronautics and Space Administration; the Corporation for National and Community Service; the Social Security Administration; and many other smaller agencies; and

S. 2618, which extends the Medicare Part B premium assistance program for certain qualifying low-income individuals through September 2005.