On November 7th the House by a vote of 397-19 adopted the Conference Report to HR 2862(HRpt 109-272), the FY 2006 Science, State, Justice and Commerce Appropriations bill, which contains NOAA funding. The Senate is expected to adopt the report during the week of November 14th, prior to recessing for the Veterans Day weekend. House and Senate Conferees had approved a total of $3.922 billion for NOAA, which includes a 0.28 percent rescission applied to all discretionary spending in the bill. The approved total is $3 million above FY 2005 and $335.8 million above the Administration's request. While the FY 2006 conference mark provides funding above the request, NOAA faces line-item reductions in base funds for many key programs and activities. The conference mark provides some program increases for NOAA and Administration priorities, and includes over $500 million for activities not requested in the President's Budget. The Conference Report also rescinds $25 million in unobligated balances from FY 2005. The bill is still being analyzed for its impact on the full range of NOAA's programs, activities and personnel. –Report prepared by Matt Borgia of the NOAA Budget Office