As the Senate and the House of Representatives neared adjournment for August, both parties in the Senate were patting themselves on the back for their presumed successes. Passed were free-trade agreements with Chile and Singapore, a supplemental appropriation to make up for depleted funds for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the $350 billion tax-cut package, $15 billion over five years to stem the spread of AIDS in Africa, prescription drug benefits as part of a $400 billion Medicare package and an energy bill that was proposed last year when Democrats controlled the Senate.
Meanwhile, the House of Representatives has been given a boost by agreements between the Senate, House and the Administration on discretionary spending levels, capped out at $785 billion for fiscal 2004, and leaders are looking forward to wrapping up appropriations for the 13 government agencies close to the start of the new fiscal year on October 1. To that end, the House already passed four bills that include the defense ($369 billion), labor, health and human services and education departments.
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