On June 29, the House of Representatives passed a resolution introduced by Congressman Brian Bilbray (R-CA), by a measure of 404 to 8, that put the House on record in support of an increase in Medicare reimbursement funding for hospitals as soon as a mid-year estimate of the nation's budget surplus is completed by the Congressional Budget Office. That estimate is expected to show that the surplus will be at least $1 trillion higher over the next 10 years than had originally been predicted. The President announced recently that his Office of Management and Budget has estimated a $1 trillion increase in the Federal surplus. GNYHA is working to gain support for legislation designed to increase Medicare payments to hospitals, nursing homes, and other health care providers suffering from higher-than-expected reductions in Medicare reimbursements under the 1997 Balanced Budget Act (see House Passes Medicare Drug Bill with HCFA Reforms).