In an omnibus appropriations bill quickly moving its way through Congress, the Consumer Product Safety Commission is set to receive a major funding increase for FY 2010 (which began Oct. 1). The bill sets the agency’s budget at $118 million, the highest level allowed under a separate bill that reauthorized the agency in 2008. CPSC’s FY 2009 budget was $105.4 million.

Congress deserves credit for righting a potential wrong. Both House and Senate Appropriations Committee had approved funding increases for CPSC, but the committees’ proposed levels were still lower than the $118 million maximum allowed by law.

The omnibus also overrides President Obama’s request for the agency, $107 million. (Although that request would have barely kept CPSC’s budget apace with inflation, the White House had the gall to characterize it as a major increase.)

Although the differences among Obama’s request, committee approved levels, and the level in the final omnibus bill are only a few million dollars – chump change for appropriators – the CPSC could use the money. From 1974, when the agency first became fully operational, to 2007, the agency’s budget was cut in half. (See the chart below.) Had the agency’s budget kept pace with inflation, it would have reached about $150 million in current dollars.

CPSC’s funding is usually included in the Financial Services appropriations bill. That bill, along with several others, has been tacked on to the Transportation/HUD appropriations bill. The House passed the omnibus today. The Senate could act soon.

Update: On Sunday Dec. 13, the Senate passed the omnibus appropriations bill funding CPSC and other agencies.

(Click to enlarge)