Washington — The U.S. Senate approved today a spending blueprint for the 2009 fiscal year that would significantly increase federal funds for education and scientific research.

The plan, known as a budget resolution, sets ceilings for broad categories of spending, though it does not spell out specific amounts for individual programs, like Pell Grants. Congressional appropriators will use it as a guide when they draw up spending bills for the coming fiscal year, which begins October 1.

The resolution, which represents a compromise between the House of Representatives and the Senate, would provide $84.3-billion in discretionary spending for education, training, employment, and social services, a category that includes the Education Department. That total is $8.4-billion, or 5.9 percent, more than President Bush requested for 2009, and $8.2-billion, or 5.6 percent, above the current year’s spending level.

For health, a category that includes the National Institutes of Health, the resolution would provide $59.7-billion in discretionary spending. That is roughly $7-billion, or 13.3 percent, more than the president requested and $6.5-billion, or 12.2 percent, over the current spending level.

The House is expected to pass the resolution on Thursday, clearing the way for lawmakers to begin debating a series of spending bills as early as next week. But it’s unlikely many of those measures will make it through Congress before the November election, and with President Bush threatening to veto any bills that exceed his spending request, lawmakers may choose simply to finance the government through a series of continuing resolutions until a new president takes office, in January. Under that scenario, federal spending could remain frozen at its current level well into 2009. —Kelly Field