The Senate sent to the president's desk this weekend a $636 billion Defense spending bill containing millions of dollars for alternative energy research and environmental cleanup.

The House easily passed the $636 billion Defense spending bill today that contains millions of dollars for alternative energy research and development and a two-month extension of the highway authorization bill.

The House plans to take up a fiscal 2010 Defense appropriations bill today that would fund research and development of jet biodiesel, solar generators, waste-to-energy projects and other alternative-energy efforts.

The Senate yesterday passed, 57-35, a $447 billion omnibus spending package that directs the federal government to take another look at how it should organize a planned new National Climate Service. The House passed the appropriations bill Thursday, and the bill will now head to President Obama's desk to be signed into law. The spending package also provides a $2.5 billion boost for high-speed rail, sets the largest-ever budget for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and doles out billions of dollars for various climate change programs.

The House today approved, 221-202, a $447 billion omnibus spending package that directs the federal government to take another look at how it should organize a planned new National Climate Service.