The U.S. Congress may have only returned to Washington, D.C. last week from a lengthy summer break, and Election Day may still be seven weeks away, but lawmakers could try to wrap up work this week in order to rush back home to campaign for the November elections.
Along the way, something really odd might happen - lawmakers might actually have to be in session with votes Monday through Friday of this week. So far in 2014, that has only happened once.
1. What will Congress do on the Islamic State?
There has been a lot of talk about lawmakers accepting one plan from President Obama's speech last week on the threat of Islamic State militants, and that is approving $500 million to train and arm a group of rebels from Syria - but it's not clear how that gets done. Some think it should be part of a stop-gap budget bill that would keep the government running after September 30; others want a bill just on that subject. Don't expect a vote on a broader resolution that would authorize the use of U.S. military force right now - maybe after the election.
2. Top officials to be grilled on Islamic State
As the Obama Administration tries to secure support from Arab allies against the Islamic State, the issue will certainly get a full airing in several committees this week, as the Defense Secretary and the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs testify on Tuesday and Thursday. Republicans are particularly worried about the diplomatic effort - "If we don't have a buy-in from the Arab countries, if we don't have Arab boots on the ground - it's not going to work," said Sen. Saxby Chambliss (R-GA). President Obama will get a briefing from Central Command leaders on Wednesday.
3. Congress late again on budget work
2014 marks the 18th consecutive year that the Congress will not have finished its budget work by the end of the fiscal year, September 30. Of the 12 annual spending bills, the House has passed seven bills, the Senate has not completed a single one. That's better than last year's record, which was four in the House and none in the Senate; the deadlock led to a government shutdown last October. Congress last met their budget deadline in 1996 (GOP in charge) and 1994 (Democrats in charge). Lawmakers will have to approve a temporary budget to keep the government running in the new fiscal year; some Republicans have vowed to vote against that, which could give their leaders some Tea Party heartburn later this week.
4. A rare five day work week this year?
While you might work Monday-to-Friday each week, the Congress rarely does on the floors of the House and Senate. Only the House has had a five day legislative work week (with votes) in 2014; that was the week of July 28-August 1. The Senate has not held a roll call vote on a Friday this year, as the last time Senators held a vote on a Friday was December 20, 2013. Originally, the House was only scheduled to be in session four days this week, but leaders added a Monday voting session, as lawmakers try to wrap up work and go back home to campaign in November.
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