Senate Again Passes War Funding Legislation But Without Small Business Tax Relief

The Senate on May 17, 2007, by voice vote, passed HR 2206, the latest version of the supplemental war funding legislation, which passed the House on May 10, 2007. The Senate, however, stripped out the $4.8 billion package of tax provisions included in the prior war supplemental legislation and included in the House version of the bill. The Senate action appears primarily designed to get to conference quickly on the legislation and enter into negotiations with the White House. Many legislators in both the House and Senate thought that it was still possible that the tax package could survive in the final legislation. Congressional leaders said they hoped to get a bill to the White House by the Memorial Day recess.