Congress returns for brief session, few key bills

WASHINGTON — Congress returns Monday for a three-week sprint to the legislative finish that will focus on political messages ahead of the midterm elections that could transfer control of the U.S. Senate to Republicans.

House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, advised GOP lawmakers on a recent conference call to expect a brief, but busy session with the key agenda item being the must-pass short-term funding bill to keep the government running until early December.

The current funding runs out Sept. 30, and Congress is on track to extend it until a post-election "lame duck" session where control of the U.S. Senate will determine what happens next. Senate Democrats are defending their 55-45 majority. Republicans are poised to gain at least three seats, but need a net gain of six seats to take control of the chamber.

With a high-stakes election on the horizon, lawmakers are striving for a drama-free month. Republicans have repeatedly said a budget fight that is off the table, and negotiations are underway to quickly address a number of outstanding legislative items.

Congress is unlikely to take any votes regarding the rise of the radical group Islamic State, despite calls from some lawmakers that Congress should play a greater role in determining U.S. military strategy, particularly on potential military strikes in Syria. GOP leaders have said they expect briefings and hearings with administration officials. "These hearings and briefings will be absolutely critical in helping us take the appropriate steps necessary to achieve our objective: the defeat of our terrorist enemies," new House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., said in an agenda memo to lawmakers.

President Obama in a Sunday interview on NBC's Meet the Press said he wants congressional support for his effort against the militants, but he stopped short of requesting a vote on the issue.

Congress is grappling with legislation to reauthorize the Export-Import Bank of the United States. The bank's charter expires Sept. 30, and the previously routine matter has become a point of division within the Republican Party between the GOP's traditional business allies and conservatives who view the bank as a symbol of "crony capitalism." Democrats broadly support reauthorizing the bank, and lawmakers are negotiating a short-term extension of the charter to push the debate past Election Day.

Lawmakers must also extend the expiring Internet Tax Freedom Act, which makes it illegal to impose taxes to access the Internet. A short-term extension has bipartisan support.

These final weeks before the election will also see a wave of political votes aimed at driving the parties' election year messages. For example, McCarthy said the House will pass a jobs package that will include other bills previously passed but never addressed in the Senate, as well as an energy bill and a measure to crack down on the Internal Revenue Service in response to its targeting of Tea Party groups for extra scrutiny.

Republicans will also offer a resolution disapproving of the way Obama handled the swap of U.S. soldier Bowe Bergdahl for five Taliban prisoners because he did not give Congress enough notice to satisfy many lawmakers.

Senate Democrats are also planning to renew failed efforts to pass legislation to increase the minimum wage, overhaul the student loan system, and make it easier to uncover disparities in pay between women and men in the same jobs. They will also vote on a constitutional amendment to increase regulation of campaign contributions in an effort to limit the influence of undisclosed money. None of those bills will pass, but Democrats are using the votes to drive their midterm election message.