Funding Vote Scheduled Tomorrow, But Congress May Remain

First the Senate and then the House are expected to vote tomorrow on another Continuing Resolution (CR) to keep the government operating. The current CR expires at midnight tomorrow. Whatever happens with that vote, it may not mean that members can go home for the holidays.

Politico reports that in addition to a vote on the New START treaty, which the Senate has been debating for several days, Senator Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) wants action on a number of other bills before the Congress ends. A post-Christmas session is possible, albeit unlikely. On the Senate’s agenda, in addition to the CR and New START, are a defense authorization bill and a bill to pay for health care for first responders affected by the September 11 terrorist attacks. The House must deal with the CR and has an opportunity to pass the America COMPETES Act. The House passed it last summer, but it lingered in the Senate until Friday when it abruptly passed with an amendment. The House would have to reconsider the bill as amended, but it reportedly is high on the House’s agenda. The House also might deal with the food safety bill that also passed the Senate, amended, over the weekend.

It remains anyone’s guess as to how all of this will turn out. If the latest version of the CR in the Senate is the one that prevails, it is not particularly good news for NASA. Barring last minute amendments, it would fund the agency at FY2010 levels and not release NASA from the restrictions against cancelling the Constellation program. Anything can happen in the waning days of a Congress, however, so hold on to your hat!