House Postpones CR
As the health care debate heats up in the Senate Finance Committee, House consideration of a month-long continuing resolution (CR) has been postponed until at least Thursday. With only one week to go until the end of the current fiscal year, Congress has yet to pass any of the FY10 Appropriations bills for the President’s signature. Nevertheless, Democratic leaders continue to express their desire to complete the appropriations process by the end of October, and the House is also expected soon to appoint conferees for the five bills that passed both chambers: Agriculture, Energy-Water, Homeland Security, Legislative Branch, and Transportation-HUD.
Today, the Senate continues to debate the Interior-Environment bill and once completed will move to the Defense bill. It remains unclear whether or not the Senate will have the time to bring up the $48.7 billion FY10 State, Foreign Operations bill, the largest component of the International Affairs Budget. If not, then it may be wrapped up into a “mini-bus” bill with any other unfinished Appropriations bills. 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.
