A Matter of Priorities: Shipbuilding dominates 2009 Navy budget debate

摘要

As Congress returned in September for a flurry of activity for three weeks prior to breaking for the November national elections, only one of the four bills that govern defense spending -the authorization bill from the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) - had passed. The Senate and House Appropriations defense subcommittees had approved their bills for full consideration Sept. 10. Under the legislative process, armed services committees authorize the military to spend funds, but the military can spend only to the limit the appropriations committees allow. A final agreement is hammered out in conference committee.