House and Senate Work to Finish FY 2010 Appropriations Bills

July 31 - Yesterday, the House passed its final FY 2010 appropriations bill, but, in the process, disregarded requests from the Pentagon and Obama Administration to cut funding. Although the $636 billion bill does take funding from the F-22 program, Congress refused to incorporate similar cuts in funding for five VH-71 presidential helicopters, and a search for a substitute engine for the F-35. Combined, the two programs will cost the government just under $1 billion. 

Meanwhile, the Senate began to take up its fourth appropriations bill of the year, Agriculture, a week before the start of the summer recess. In addition, the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the $122 billion Transportation-HUD bill unanimously, and voted 29-1 to send the $730 billion Labor-HHS bill to the Senate floor for a vote.