The Senate Appropriations Committee approved a spending package yesterday that includes a short-term extension of a program designed to secure the nation's chemical facilities from terrorist attacks and theft.

The panel voted initially 29-1 to approve the $41 billion Department of Homeland Security appropriations bill for fiscal 2012, with Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) casting the "no" vote. But after a contentious debate about an amendment regarding passenger fees for Transportation Security Administration services, Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison (R-Texas) asked to switch her vote to "no."

The DHS package is likely to include funding to reauthorize Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Standards (CFATS) for a year. CFATS was launched in 2006 and is designed to secure chemicals facilities using risk-based performance standards. Since its inception, the program has relied on year-to-year funding in the appropriations process and will run out of money in October.

The DHS appropriations bill is $666 million below the department's fiscal 2011 budget. However, the bill is $408 million more expensive than the House-passed package for the department.

Notably, lawmakers have introduced legislation that would move CFATS out of the general appropriations process and provide a longer extension of the program. In the House, H.R. 901 and H.R. 908 would re-up CFATS for seven years. Both of those bills have passed out of their respective committees -- the Homeland Security and Energy and Commerce panels.

In the Senate, Maine Republican Susan Collins -- the ranking member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee -- has introduced S. 473. The legislation would reauthorize CFATS for three years and has also passed out of committee.

It is unclear, however, if and when those bills will come up for a vote on the House and Senate floors. If they do not pass by October, CFATS will again rely on the appropriations bill for its funding.

Reporter Paul Quinlan contributed.