The House passed its FY 2010 State-Foreign Operations spending bill yesterday by a vote of 318-106. The bill provides $48.8 billion for the State Department, foreign aid, and export assistance, including $600 million for educational and cultural exchange programs.

Also yesterday, the Senate Appropriations Committee took the first step with its own FY 2010 spending bill for State and Foreign Operations, approving by a 29-1 vote a measure that would provide $48.7 billion in discretionary funding.