On November 1, the U.S. Senate
voted to approve the $128 billion FY12 appropriations “minibus” bill. The bill combines the spending bills for Agriculture, Commerce-Justice-Science and Transportation-HUD.
Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman, Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii) commented, "it is my hope and my intention to move forward with additional appropriations bills this week, and to demonstrate to the American people that Congress is able to complete its work in a responsible manner.”