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Senate committee keeps commerce budget but forces conference review of EDIF expenditures; approves e‑aviation and broadband items
Summary
The Senate Ways and Means committee approved the Department of Commerce budget as amended but added instructions and positions to make EDIF expenditures a focus for conference negotiations with the House.
The Senate Committee on Ways and Means approved the Department of Commerce budget for FY2025 and FY2026 as amended, after lengthy debate about how to treat Economic Development Initiatives Fund (EDIF) items and targeted additions for aviation, broadband and a maintenance‑repair‑overhaul (MRO) project at Topeka Regional Airport.
Why it matters: Committee members clashed over whether to leave Commerce EDIF line items at zero on the Senate side (so they would be conferenceable) or to mirror House funding levels. Supporters of the motion to place Commerce items back into EDIF said doing so would force meaningful conference negotiations about EDIF’s purpose and funding; opponents said the…
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