Congress Faces Heavy Agenda
News Date December 05, 2007
The House and Senate returned to work on December 3 and are under pressure to finish work on a number of priority items, including the FY08 spending bills, the 2007 farm bill, energy and tax legislation. Congressional leaders hope to adjourn by December 14, but the session could last until days before Christmas.
This week, comprehensive energy legislation (H.R.4) will be debated in the House while the Senate will consider a U.S.-Peru free trade agreement. Meanwhile, lawmakers are continuing work on the FY08 appropriations bills. Only one of the twelve annual spending measures has been passed. Congressional leaders plan to wrap most of the individual spending bills, including the agriculture funding bill, into an omnibus spending package. Federal departments are currently operating under a continuing budget resolution which expires December 14.
Congress is also under pressure to complete work on the 2007 farm bill which has been stalled in the Senate for almost a month (see separate story in this issue). Other high priority items include a children's health care bill and the alternative minimum tax (AMT). (Contact: Charlie Ingram)