The Senate on Saturday voted 78-12 to approve a more than $630 billion continuing resolution (HR 2638) that would fund at current levels the budgets of most Cabinet departments and federal agencies until March 6, 2009, the New York Times reports (Hulse, New York Times, 9/28). The bill, which the House passed earlier last week, also includes the fiscal year 2009 Military Construction-Veterans Affairs appropriations bill and two other FY 2009 spending bills (Kane, Washington Post, 9/28). Under the legislation, health care programs for veterans would receive a 10% increase in finds (AP/Winston-Salem Journal, 9/28).

The bill moves to President Bush for consideration. The new fiscal year begins on Oct. 1, and Bush has not signed any of the 12 annual appropriations bills. According to the Times, Bush administration officials "criticized Congress for its disorderly process" on the appropriations bills "but indicated that the president would sign the measure" (New York Times, 9/28).