Floor Plans

The House is poised to debate the fiscal year 2013 defense-spending bill on the floor next week. The appropriations bill calls for $519.2 billion in base budget spending -- $3.1 billion more than the president's request. House appropriators also called for $88.5 billion in overseas contingency operations funds. The full House Appropriations Committee passed the bill in May; the House Rules Committee approved a rule for the bill on June 28, setting up next week's debate.

In late June, the Obama administration released a statement of administration policy stating that it “strongly opposes” the bill, and that senior presidential advisers would recommend President Obama veto it.

"The bill undermines key investments in high-priority programs, impeding the ability of the secretary of defense to carry out the defense strategic guidance issued earlier this year, and hindering the ability of the Armed Forces to carry out their missions consistent with the new strategy," the Office of Management and Budget said in its June 28 statement.