Congress reconvened on Tuesday, September 4, after a month-long August recess and faces a busy legislative agenda. In addition to energy legislation, Congress plans to address a number of other issues this Fall, including finishing all 12 appropriations bills to fund federal agencies and programs, supplemental funding for the Iraq war, confirmation of a new Attorney General and Director of Office and Management and Budget (OMB), as well as a student loan overhaul bill (H.R. 2669) and legislation to reauthorize and expand the State Children's Health Insurance Program (S-CHIP).
Finding time to reconcile the House and Senate "energy independence" bills may be difficult, since we anticipate an acrimonious conference.