The amount was $2 billion less than the President requested.
The amount was over $900 million more than the President requested in his 2012 budget.
The president has requested $153 billion for drug coverage over the next 10 years.
By contrast, the president requested $35 billion for the years from 2006 to 2010.
They want the spending limited to what the President has requested.
Former presidents can request to be member of the senate.
Last month, the House approved the full $726 billion cut the president requested.
Additional former presidents can request to be member of the senate.
The average amount that Presidents requested between 1974 and 2005 was about $15 billion.
Just over a year later, the President requested a debt ceiling increase once again.