This week, the Senate approved the Department of Homeland Security spending bill and began its consideration of the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs spending bill. In addition, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies spending bill. The House completed action on all eleven appropriations bills before the July 4th recess.
Senate Action
State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
On July 15, the Senate began its consideration of the FY2006 State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs spending bill (H.R. 3057). The Senate Appropriations Committee approved the measure on June 30 (see The Source, 7/1/05).
H.R. 3057 would allocate $31.8 billion in FY2006, a $1.2 billion decrease below FY2005 and $1 billion less than the administration’s request. Of that amount, $9.7 billion would be provided for the Department of State, $1.1 billion less than FY2005 and $201 million below the budget request. The House-approved version of the bill would provide $20.27 billion in FY2006, but does not include funding for the Department of State. Funding for that agency is included in the annual Science, State, Justice and Commerce spending bill.
The Senate is expected to complete action on the spending measure next week.
