Senate Passes CR

This afternoon, the Senate passed the Legislative Branch conference report, which includes a month-long continuing resolution (CR), by a vote of 62 to 38.  The CR goes to the President for signature and will fund the federal government through October 31 at non-emergency FY09 spending levels: $38.2 billion for the International Affairs Budget.  Last week, the House passed the Legislative Branch conference report by a vote of 217 to 190.

House and Senate Conferees also met today to finalize the Agriculture and Energy-Water bills and the House is expected to vote on them as early as 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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