To Members of the NASULGC System:

The House and Senate convened earlier this week in their post-election "lame duck" session.

Both bodies are expected to pass a Continuing Resolution that will keep all government agencies without an enacted F.Y. 2007 appropriations bill operating through Dec. 8. At the end of this week Congress plans to again leave Washington to return on Dec. 5 to complete work on as many unfinished appropriations bills as possible before the expected adjournment date of Dec. 16.

As you know, one of the spending bills that has yet to be considered by the full Senate is the bill that provides funding for the U.S. Department of Agriculture, including the Cooperative State Research, Education, and Extension Service. Debate has now begun on this bill. Senator Kent Conrad (D-ND) has announced his intention to offer an agriculture disaster assistance amendment that has drawn a veto threat from the White House.

We will be certain to keep you informed as debate on the F.Y. 2007 Agriculture Appropriations bill enters the home stretch.

The Cornerstone Team