<Li> Transportation and Housing and Urban Development </Li> <P> Multiple bills are sometimes combined into one piece of legislation, such as the Omnibus Appropriations Act, 2009 . A continuing resolution is often passed if an appropriations bill has not been signed into law by the end of the fiscal year . </P> <P> Direct spending, also known as mandatory spending, refers to spending enacted by law, but not dependent on an annual or periodic appropriation bill . Most mandatory spending consists of transfer payments and welfare benefits such as Social Security benefits, Medicare, and Medicaid . Many other expenses, such as salaries of federal judges, are mandatory, but account for a relatively small share of federal spending . The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) estimates costs of mandatory spending programs on a regular basis . </P> <P> Congress can affect spending on entitlement programs by changing eligibility requirements or the structure of programs . Certain programs, because the language authorizing them are included in appropriation bills, are termed "appropriated entitlements ." This is a convention rather than a substantive distinction, since the programs, such as Food Stamps, would continue to be funded even were the appropriation bill to be vetoed or otherwise not enacted . </P>

When was the last us federal budget passed