Congress on Recess until Nov. 15 - October 5, 2010

After being in session for just three weeks, Congress recessed to allow members to return home and run for reelection. Both chambers are scheduled to return on Nov. 15 for a “lame duck” session of Congress. On the agenda for the next lame duck are FY 2011 appropriations bills – none of which were enacted before the recess – and dealing with tax cuts set to expire at the end of the calendar year. In addition, Congress will likely take up legislation to extend Medicare’s Sustainable Growth Rate physician payment “fix,” which expires on Nov. 30.

Before recessing, Congress passed a short-term Continuing Resolution (CR), funding the federal government until Dec. 3. With Congress likely to recess for the week of Thanksgiving, it may be necessary to pass another short-term CR while members debate an omnibus appropriations bill. If Republicans win back either chamber in the Nov. 2 elections, Congressional leaders may choose to pass a CR funding the government into January or February, allowing the new congressional leaders to make decisions about FY 2011 appropriations.