The federal government distributed $428.2 billion in federal aid to state and local governments in 2006, more than 43 percent ($186 billion) of which went to medical assistance programs, according to the U.S. Census Bureau's “Federal Aid to States for Fiscal Year 2006” report released in April. Housing certificate programs received the least amount in federal aid, $5.2 billion. Federal aid measured for the report includes direct cash grants, payments for grants-in-kind, and payments to local and state governments for research and development connected to providing public services. The entire report is available at www.census.gov.