This week the Senate Appropriations Committee approved the fiscal year (FY) 2015 Commerce-Justice-Science (CJS) Appropriations bill.  The bill provides $232 million for the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA) which is $12.5 million below the FY2015 House-passed level and $11.5 below the FY2014 enacted level.  The bill provides $30.5 million for planning grants and $114 million for public works.  The bill includes $20 million for Regional Innovation Strategies within EDA’s budget.  The next step is consideration of the FY2015 CJS bill by the full Senate, but a timetable for consideration has not yet been set.