Congress lines up another continuing resolution

A new continuing resolution for fiscal 2008 is tucked inside the defense appropriations conference report, according to a release from the appropriations committees.

The CR will fund government operations at fiscal 2007 levels through Dec. 14. It supersedes the current CR, which expires Nov. 16.

According to the House and Senate appropriations committees’ highlights, the CR includes $3 billion for Hurricane Katrina and Rita recovery efforts and $2.9 billion for the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s disaster relief fund. It also increases funds for the Veterans Affairs Department, the efforts to prepare for the 2010 census, and handling the wildfires in the western United States.

The CR is in the conference report for Defense Department appropriations. The report would provide $459.3 billion for DOD, according to the appropriations committees. It’s $39.7 billion above 2007, a 9.5 percent increase.

The House and Senate have yet to vote on the conference report.