Although it is the intention of Senate leaders to finish work on the spending bills as well as other must-pass legislation by Nov. 18 (the date they are slated to recess as well as the date the continuing resolution expires), it remains to be seen whether or not this is possible. Progress continues though, with lawmakers saying they expect action soon on a number of final conference reports. Late in the day yesterday conferees completed work on the $20.9 billion Foreign Operations spending bill. The House and Senate will vote on the measure by the end of this week. Lawmakers are also were hopeful that conferees on the Energy and Water spending bill would agree upon a funding level for the Army Corps of Engineers soon in order for a final bill to be voted on before Nov. 4. Conferees on the Military Quality of Life and Veterans Affairs and the Science, State, Justice, and Commerce appropriations bills are expected to be named soon. Finally, Senate Appropriations Defense Subcommittee Chairman Ted Stevens (R-AK) told reporters that conferees on the Defense bill plan to meet early this friday to hopefully agree on a measure that would permit lawmakers to sign off soon on the massive bill and get needed funding to the Pentagon by mid-November.