House aims to finish four spending bills next week

The House is planning to plow ahead on fiscal 2001 appropriations bills next week, with the goal of sending four new bills to the Senate for action.

The House will likely begin consideration of the Interior appropriations bill Monday. House leaders also are planning to bring up the VA-HUD appropriations bill and the troubled Agriculture and Legislative Branch spending bills.

The House also will take up two tax bills next week: the Community Renewal Act, negotiated with the White House, and a bill to buy down some of the national debt.

The Senate is expected to continue consideration of the Defense authorization bill through next Tuesday, and then return to appropriations. Senate Majority Leader Trent Lott, R-Miss., has said he intends to bring up the Defense appropriations bill once the authorization bill is completed.