Senate action next week on the second FY12 “minibus” spending package, including the State-Foreign Operations Appropriations Bill (S. 1601), has been delayed and the schedule for floor action remains in flux.  Senate Leadership sources indicate the minibus could still come up later next week, but this is very uncertain given other legislative items on the calendar and the Veterans Day holiday on Friday.

Senate action on the second minibus is possible the week of November 14, but other competing legislative priorities could take precedence.  For example, indications are that the Senate may take up the FY12 National Defense Authorization Bill the week of November 14, which will require considerable floor time.  In addition, with the deadline for the current Continuing Resolution (CR) expiring on November 18, Congress will need to pass another CR to keep the government running until agreements can be reached on FY12.

The vehicle for the next CR will likely be the conference report on the first minibus package the Senate passed on November 2, which is currently in conference negotiations with the House.  It is expected that the next CR would last until mid-December.