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Summary

On May 21, by a vote of 86-3, the Senate approved H.R. 2346, a bill providing additional supplemental appropriations for the remainder of FY2009. Earlier, by a vote of 94-1, the Senate approved a cloture motion to end debate on the bill. The bill is now ready to be considered by a House-Senate conference committee. Managers expect votes on a conference agreement shortly after the Memorial Day recess. Procedurally, on May 19, the Senate took up the House-passed supplemental bill and substituted the text of S. 1054, a version reported by the Senate Appropriations Committee on May 14. As reported and subsequently approved on the floor, the Senate bill includes $5 billion for loans to the International Monetary Fund that was not part of the pending supplemental request, but that has been under consideration since last fall. Apart from the IMF funding, the Senate bill provides $86.3 billion, $1.3 billion above the Administration request, including $75.3 billion for defense, $600 million below the request, $7.6 billion for international affairs, about $500 million higher, and $1.5 billion, as requested, for influenza preparedness and response. The Senate bill shifts $350 million requested for the Department of Defense for southwest border security to domestic agencies and adds $250 million for related activities. The bill also provides $843 million in unrequested funds for Corps of Engineers disaster preparedness and response. In floor action on the bill, the Senate approved an amendment by Senators Inouye and Inhofe to delete $50 million for the Department of Defense and $30 million for the Department of Justice to facilitate closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison. On May 14, by a vote of 368-60, the House approved its version of H.R. 2346, providing supplemental appropriations of $96.3 billion. The total is $11.4 billion above the amended Administration request. The bill provides $84.5 billion for the Department of Defense, $8.7 billion more than requested. Additions include funds for C-17 and C-130 cargo aircraft and other weapon systems. The bill also provides $9.6 billion for international affairs, $2.5 billion above the request, and $2.05 billion for domestic and international influenza preparedness, $550 million more than requested. The bill as passed and as reported by the House Appropriations Committee did not include $50 million requested for the Department of Defense and $30 million for the Department Justice for closure of the Guantanamo Bay prison. The bill requires a report assessing the performance of the governments of Pakistan and Afghanistan in building a consensus to combat insurgencies, in controlling corruption, and in providing population security. The Administration opposed linking aid to Pakistan to achievement of specific benchmarks but did not object to the reporting requirements in the House bill. The Administration submitted the pending FY2009 supplemental appropriations request in two steps. On April 9, 2009, the White House sent Congress a request for $83.4 billion in supplemental funding for defense, foreign affairs, domestic fire fighting, and some other purposes. On April 30, the White House requested $1.5 billion in additional supplemental funding for influenza preparedness. The Administrations request for defense and foreign affairs is in addition to FY2009 supplemental funding of $65.9 billion for defense and $4.0 billion for international affairs that Congress approved in June, 2008. The amounts for defense in the June supplemental and in the regular FY2009 defense appropriations act, (P.L. 110-329, Division C), were expected to be sufficient to finance Army and Marine Corps operations through about June of this year. Administration officials urged Congress to approve supplemental funding before the Memorial Day recess in order to avoid financial disruptions. Officials now say that approval after the recess will be timely enough.

Related Legislation:
• H.R.2346
• S.1054

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