President George W. Bush signed into law the Consolidated Appropriations Act (P.L. 110-161) on December 26, 2007, providing funding for government agencies for fiscal year (FY) 2008. The massive $555 billion spending bill combined 11 of the 12 individual appropriations bills, funding every domestic government program except defense. By many accounts from professional staff on the appropriations committees, this cycle was as challenging as it has ever been, reports the Wildlife Management Institute.