National Security Legislative Wrap-up

Last week, the Senate spent three days of debate on Iraq with no final vote on either of the measures introduced by Sen. Russell Feingold (D-WI). The first measure would have cut funding for U.S. troops 120 days after enactment of the measure except for specified purposes, including bringing troops home. The second measure would have required an Administration report to Congress on its strategy for combating al Qaeda.

On March 5, the Senate and House Budget Committees are slated to markup or write the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget Resolution, and both chambers are expected to take up the measure next week.

Work on the $100 billion-plus fiscal year 2008 Supplemental Appropriations bill to pay for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan has been put off, perhaps until April. The measure is expected to be the vehicle for new fights over withdrawing U.S. troops from Iraq and perhaps many other issues.