Congress pre-poll focus on security

Washington: The US Congress will mark the fifth anniversary of the September 11 attacks with a pre-election agenda focusing on national security-related issues.

Must-do tasks for lawmakers returning yesterday from a month-long break are reaching agreement on defence spending, which has gone from about $300 billion (Dh1.1 trillion) before the terrorist attacks to nearly $500 billion (Dh1.8 trillion), and passing a $32 billion (Dh117 billion) spending Bill for the Homeland Security Department.

The House and Senate plan to recess on September 29 until after the November election. Any other issues perhaps immigration or offshore drilling they take up before then will be coloured by the possibility that the election could restore Democrats to power in either or both chambers.

With no chance of completing all the fiscal 2007 spending Bills, Congress will have to return in November after the election for what could be a lame-duck session for Republicans. The habitually slow-moving Senate is going to have to act with uncharacteristic speed.