Congress Adjourns Until Sept. 4

Following a marathon week of floor fights, late-night protests, veto threats and political gamesmanship, Congress adjourned until Sept. 4.

Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) scored some major wins in the final few weeks before the recess, including pushing through a major rewrite of congressional ethics and lobbying laws, legislation to implement the 9/11 Commission recommendations and an energy reform bill that includes new taxes on oil companies while giving tax breaks for renewable fuels and conservation.

The House also adopted its version of all 12 annual spending bills, including the $459 billion Defense appropriations bill, which was approved late Saturday night by a 395-13 margin. The Senate has cleared only the Homeland Security bill, and President Bush has threatened to veto eight of the 12 Democratic-drafted bills, setting up a busy fall schedule on appropriations. With the fiscal year beginning Oct. 1, Congress and the White House will need to enact continuing resolutions to fund the government beyond that point.