Senate Appropriations Set to Complete all 12 Funding Bills
Today, the Senate Appropriations Committee is scheduled to consider its final FY10 Appropriations bill – Defense Appropriations. Once approved, the full Senate will then turns its focus on passing the remaining 8 bills. The $48.7 billion FY10 State, Foreign Operations bill, the largest component of the International Affairs Budget, is not expected to be considered until the end of the month or in early October. Currently, The FY10 International Affairs Budget is on track to be funded at $51 billion, $2.9 billion or 5.4% below the Administration’s request.
With passage of all 12 Appropriations bills by the House and as the Senate passes additional bills, informal negotiations will continue to reconcile differences between the House and Senate passed bills until conferees are officially appointed. With only 15 legislative days remaining until the end of the fiscal year, Congress will most likely have to pass a continuing resolution (CR) to keep the federal government open until it finishes the appropriations process.
