The Senate will leave town today for a month-long summer recess, however the House will return next week to do work on various bills funding parts of the federal government for the new federal fiscal year beginning in October. The House is expected to recess next Friday for its annual August break.
Lawmakers head home without major legislative accomplishments to brag about to their constituents.
The memorial service and funerals for the two Capitol Police shot to death a week ago largely curtailed floor action in both chambers this week. This summer's list of congressional accomplishments is particularly meager in comparison to the legislative record of Congress two years ago at this time. The calls will continue through the end of the month to key Senators before the expected Senate action in September. The House floor vote came just one week after Speaker Gingrich caved in to public pressure and introduced H.R. 4250, the Patient Protection Act of 1998. All Democrats present voted for the bill.