The U.S. Congress has not yet approved a final version of the Commerce, Justice, Science and Related Agencies (CJS) spending bill, which contains LSC's appropriation for fiscal year 2008.

House and Senate conferees were scheduled to meet last week and resolve differences in the two versions of the bill, but the meeting was postponed due to a controversial provision in the bill unrelated to LSC. The House approved a total of $377 million for LSC in July of this year, while the Senate approved $390 million in October.

Pending final passage of the CJS bill, LSC will continue to be funded at FY 2007 levels through December 14, 2007, under a continuing appropriations resolution signed into law on November 13.