Reid: Supplemental Will Be On Senate Floor Next Wednesday

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) said Monday that a massive war supplemental spending bill will hit the Senate floor next Wednesday, although he warned that Democrats will not be "pushed" into rushing their work on the must-pass bill.

Reid acknowledged the pressing need to pass the roughly $183 billion measure to fund the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, but vowed that he would not be rushed into completing it, even as Republicans warn that the Pentagon will not be able to pay soldiers if Congress continues to delay.

"We are not going to be panicked into completing this," said Reid Monday afternoon on the Senate floor.

Last week Pentagon spokesman Geoff Morrell said the department may not be able to pay soldiers beyond June 15th if the supplemental does not pass, a claim that Democrats dispute.

"We know there is enough money to fund the troops for a considerable period after the Memorial Day recess," Reid said. "We want to get [the bill] done. And we'll do our best to get that done, but we're not going to be pushed into doing something we don't think is appropriate."

Congressional work on the supplemental stalled in the House last week after a group of fiscally conservative Blue Dog Democrats objected to the cost a provision in the bill to provide education benefits to returning war veterans.

The House must complete its work on the supplemental before it can reach the Senate floor.

Reid also said he expects the Senate to have a busy week, taking up various energy proposals, a flood insurance bill and said the Senate will try and complete work on a Farm Bill conference report before it adjourns on Friday.