House Passes CR

As the Senate Finance Committee continues to debate the many amendments to the Baucus healthcare overhaul bill, the House today passed a month-long continuing resolution (CR), which was attached to the Legislative Branch conference report, by a vote of 217 to 190.  The Senate is expected to take up the CR either on Tuesday or Wednesday, just before the fiscal year ends.  The CR is will fund the federal government through October 31 at non-emergency FY09 spending levels: $38.2 billion for the International Affairs Budget.

Next week, the Senate will resume debate on the Defense Appropriations bill.  The Senate has six appropriations bills yet to consider after passing the Interior-Environment on Thursday.  It remains unclear when the Senate plans to bring up the $48.7 billion FY10 State, Foreign Operations bill, the largest component of the International Affairs Budget.  If time runs out, the measure may be folded 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.

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