Congress goes back to work - Fall 2011 agenda includes jobs, spending, deficit -- The U. S. Congress has been away from Washington for its month-long recess, giving senators and representatives time for vacation as well as time with their respective constituents. On Tuesday, however, senators and representatives returned to work with an agenda that focuses on many of the same issues facing them before they left -- primarily jobs, spending, and the deficit.
Thursday, September 8, President Barack Obama will address a joint session of Congress to present a new jobs initiative. According to C-SPAN, the president's plan aims to help put 14 million people back to work in an economy that is struggling with 9.1 percent unemployment and no job growth.
Also on Thursday, the 12-member "Super Committee" set up to handle issues concerning the national budget will hold its first official meeting. The committee will work to define $1.5 trillion dollars worth of cuts in the budget over the next 10 years. If both bodies of Congress do not pass the committee's plan by December 22, automatic budget cuts will go into effect in 2013.
Also on the agenda are 12 spending bills that need to be passed by October 1.
The Senate is in session on Tuesday with general speeches and work on patent legislation. The House will be back in session on Wednesday.
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