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To prevent a
government-wide shutdown, Obama last week signed a
continuing resolution (CR) -- via the FY 2010 Legislative
Branch spending bill -- that will keep cabinet-level
departments operating mostly at FY 2009 levels until Oct. 31,
2009, or until a department's respective appropriations
legislation is enacted. The monthlong extension will provide appropriators with
some breathing room to finalize additional FY 2010 spending
legislation over the coming weeks, then reassess the
appropriations landscape at month's end.
The House finished work on its twelve appropriations bills in
July, while the Senate has passed six thus far. Senate
Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) will look to clear the
Commerce-Justice-Science and
Defense appropriations bills -- and possibly the Energy
and Water conference report -- by the end of the week.
Meanwhile, the
House will vote on the Agriculture appropriations
conference report this week along with possible votes on the
Homeland Security appropriations and FY 2010 Defense
Authorization (H.R. 2647) conference reports. Other bills on
this week's House floor schedule include:
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Service Members
Home Ownership Tax Act (H.R.
3590) - Modifies the first-time homebuyers credit with
respect to members of the Armed Forces and certain other
federal employees.
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Veterans Health
Care Budget Reform and Transparency Act of 2009 (H.R.
1016 and
S. 423) - Authorizes appropriations for the following
budget accounts: Medical Services; Medical Facilities;
Medical Support and Compliance; Information technology
Systems; and Medical and Prosthetic Research. The House will
be considering the Senate-passed version, which is the text
of S. 423 inserted into H.R. 1016 as a substitute amendment.
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VA Major Medical
Facility Leases (S.
1717) - Authorizes the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to
carry out major medical facility leases at various locations
during FY 2010.
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Bay Area Regional
Water Recycling Program Expansion Act
(H.R.
2442) -
Authorizes the
Bureau of Reclamation (BOR) to participate in six new water
recycling projects and to increase the federal share of the
costs for two existing projects in the San Francisco Bay
area. This bill failed to pass on a
"suspension" vote last week. Bills placed on the
Suspension Calendar require a two-thirds majority to pass.
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