A budget measure passed by the Senate to carry federal agencies through the remainder of the current fiscal year specifies a 4.1 percent federal raise that would be effective retroactive to the beginning of the calendar year. The measure would override the 3.1 percent figure that took effect by default because Congress last year did not pass a regular appropriations bill specifying a different number. The measure now goes to a conference with the House, which last year approved a spending bill also specifying 4.1 percent. The Senate measure effectively incorporates its own version of a counterpart bill that also called for 4.1 percent but which did not reach a Senate floor vote last year.