World News - "...On Thursday the Senate approved a $100 billion US line of credit to the International Monetary Fund..."[Associated Press] In a similar report by Reuters, "...[The bill] meets Obama's request to extend up to $108 billion in credit lines to the International Monetary Fund as it tries to help countries mired in the global financial crisis and backs the IMF's plan to sell 400 tons (12.97 million ounces) of gold..." [Reuters]

"...The legislation's provisions for the IMF include 100 billion dollars for the New Arrangements to Borrow (NAB), a credit instrument providing the multilateral institution with additional resources to deal with exceptional risks to the stability of the international monetary system... The money would also provide funding for the expansion of the nation's special drawing rights by five billion SDRs, adding roughly eight billion dollars to the IMF's financial firepower. The 100 billion dollars for the NAB acts as a credit line for the IMF in case member countries need emergency loans that exceed the institution's resources..." [Agence France Presse]

"...The debate became a kind of surrogate for concerns about internationalism. 'This is the worst time to ask struggling American families to bail out foreign countries,' Senator DeMint said. 'Millions of Americans are losing their jobs and our national debt is exploding after trillions have already been spent on failed bailout and stimulus bills.'...But supporters said the IMF money would help the US as well. 'Economic growth abroad helps us kick economic growth into gear here at home,' said Senator John Kerry (D-MA), chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee..." [Wall Street Journal]