The House on June 24 approved a $601.9 billion fiscal year 2006 Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education spending bill after rejecting two amendments that were opposed by the American Hospital Association. The bill provides $459.4 billion in mandatory spending and $142.5 billion in discretionary spending. One amendment would have enforced a requirement that respirators worn by health care workers for tuberculosis exposure be fit-tested annually, a measure hospitals contend is burdensome and unnecessary. The other amendment, offered by Rep. Tom Tancredo, R-CO, effectively would have withdrawn the $1 billion in funding provided in Section 1011 of the Medicare Modernization Act for uncompensated care hospitals deliver to undocumented immigrants. Opponents said it would punish hospitals for fulfilling their obligation to care for all patients, regardless of their citizenship or ability to pay. Rep. Ron Kind, D-WI, withdrew an amendment that sought to restore funding for rural health, but pledged to work with the House Ways & Means Committee to address under-funding of rural providers. (via AHA News)