Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said peace will be possible only when the Palestinian Authority accepts a Jewish state.

With little debate, the House on Tuesday approved an amended version of S. 990, which would extend the authorization of small business program through the end of FY 2011. The bill keeps in place programs such as the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program and the Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) program, which would otherwise expire at the end of May.

The bill was approved by voice vote, and no recorded vote was requested.

With the amendment, the bill is not identical to the Senate-passed bill, which would extend these programs until May 31, 2012.

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) said lawmakers should reassure Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that his nation is "not alone" and that it still has a strong friendship with the Congress. 

McConnell's remarks come after Netanyahu has repeatedly rejected President Obama's call for new Middle East peace talks that would base the borders of a Palestinian state on those existing in 1967.

House Republicans as early as next week will vote on a bill allowing a $2.4 trillion increase in the U.S. debt limit without any requirements to cut spending, a bill Republicans say will demonstrate that a "clean" debt-limit increase cannot pass the House.

"The legislation I filed today will allow the House to reject a clean increase in the debt limit, proving to the American people, the financial markets and the administration that we are serious about tackling our debt and deficit problems," House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) said Tuesday.

Lawmakers in both parties have offered support for the Israeli prime minister's position on peace talks.

The Obama administration on Monday evening released a Statement of Administration Policy (SAP) that said it supports S. 1038, which would extend Patriot Act surveillance authorities until June 1, 2015.

"It is essential to avoid any hiatus in these critical authorities," the SAP said. The Senate on Tuesday resumes consideration of this bill, which is a compromise between Democrats, who wanted a shorter extension, and Republicans, who wanted a longer one.

Tuesday is shaping up to be a busy day in the House, partly because legislative work won't begin until sometime after noon in order to make room for a joint meeting of Congress to hear an address from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. That address starts at 11 a.m.

When the House resumes work, it is expected to take up two bills before moving to the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

A small group of House Republicans and Democrats are working together this week to eliminate language in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that affirms that the U.S. is in armed conflict with terrorist groups, and authorizes the administration to continue using force against those groups.

Critics of the war against terrorism argue that this language, found in Section 1034 of the bill, is essentially congressional approval for ongoing military activities, and want it stripped. The language lets the president use "all necessary and appropriate force during the current conflict with al Qaeda, the Taliban, and associated forces," and lets the administration hold belligerent individuals "until the termination of hostilities."

Senate Budget Committee ranking member Jeff Sessions is protesting Democrats' lack of a budget plan.