Time Is Really Running Out: The 2006 defense appropriations spending bill moved another notch, while the authorization bill is where?. The Senate appropriations committee on Wednesday advanced the 2006 defense spending measure to the Senate floor. (DR, 09/28/05) Meanwhile, Sen. John Warner (R-Va.) and Sen. Carl Levin (D-Mich.) said Wednesday that one option under consideration was to push the authorization measure through as an amendment to the appropriations bill. Appropriators appear receptive, but they want some of the fat trimmed off first. The 2006 authorization bill has about 200 amendments-in-waiting.
The Air Force is requesting about $141 million for initial enlistment bonuses in its fiscal 2026 budget, while Space Force wants $13 million.
