The Senate is set to approve the first FY 2012 “minibus” (H.R. 2112) this week, possibly as early as tomorrow. The "minibus" includes FY 2012 appropriations bills for the departments of Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, Agriculture and Commerce-Justice-Science. House appropriators hope to move quickly to a conference on the Senate version of the minibus but have not ruled out adding other spending bills to the package.

Additionally, there have been a growing number of reports that Congress may have to pass another continuing spending resolution (CR) by November 18, when the current CR expires. Congress has yet to clear any of the FY 2012 spending bills and has also previously committed to avoid passing an omnibus spending bill.

Link: H.R.2112