SENATE APPROVES FUNDING MEASURE FOR REMAINDER OF FY 2013

The Senate voted 73-26 yesterday to approve a new stop-gap measure to fund the federal government for the remainder of this fiscal year. Under the new Continuing Resolution, which would run until Oct. 1, DOE’s cleanup efforts will continue to be funded at their FY 2012 appropriated levels minus the impacts of sequestration. The Senate CR also maintains an “anomaly” that allows the National Nuclear Security Administration’s weapons program to spend at the level of President Obama’s $7.58 billion FY 2013 request, rather than at its FY 2012 level. No amendments related to DOE’s Office of Environmental Management or the NNSA were offered during floor debate on the measure, which is now set to be considered by the House. “Working across the aisle and across the dome, the Senate has come together to prevent a government shutdown,” Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Barbara Mikulski (D-Md.) said in a release. “I look forward to swift action in the House so we can focus on passing a budget, ending sequestration, and getting back to regular order.”