On September 6, 2011, Congress will return from its annual August Recess with a full list of tasks to complete before the First Session adjourns for the year. Some of the more pressing items to take up will be spending bills for Fiscal Year 2012 and recommendations from the Joint Select Committee on Deficit Reduction (commonly known as the Super Committee).
Each year, Congress must pass regular appropriations measures, by October 1, in order to keep the government funded. If the regular appropriation acts are not completed by October 1, then Congress must pass a continuing resolution, providing stop-gapfunding. In some years Congress may include several in an omnibus appropriations measure, or a continuing appropriations bill providing funding for the full fiscal year.