On September 15, 2005, the Senate voted to approve a $358.5 million appropriation for LSC's FY 2006 budget. The Senate appropriation marks a $27.7 million increase over the level approved by the House in July. The Harkin Amendment, unanimously approved by the Senate last week, increased the funding by $34 million over the level that had been recommended by the Senate appropriations committee. Next, the combined Commerce, Justice, and Science bill (of which the LSC allocation is a part) will go to conference committee, where members of the House and Senate will have to iron out differences in their respective bills.