On May 4, the Senate approved, 77-21, the FY2006 emergency supplemental spending bill (H.R. 4939), which it began considering before the spring recess (see The Source, 4/28/06, The Source, 4/7/06). The House approved its version on March 16 (see The Source, 3/17/06).
The bill provides $108.9 billion in emergency spending in FY2006, $14.4 billion above the administration’s request (including a $2.3 billion addition to prepare for pandemic flu), and $17 billion more than the amount approved by the House.
A number of amendments were considered relating to the ongoing wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, hurricane recovery efforts on the Gulf Coast, flu vaccine compensation, and other special projects.
The conference is expected to be difficult given the large funding difference between the House and Senate bills. The President has indicated that he will veto any bill that exceeds $94.5 billion.
