The House and Senate will return to session on Monday, Feb. 23 at 2:00 PM. House leaders are expected to bring to the floor a massive "omnibus" appropriations bill containing the yet-to-be enacted fiscal year (FY) 2009 appropriations bills. Most federal departments -- except the Departments of Defense, Homeland Security, and Veterans Affairs -- are operating at FY 2008 funding levels under a continuing resolution (P.L. 110-329) that expires at midnight on March 6th.

The CR provided $487.7 billion in regular FY 2009 appropriations for the Pentagon, $40 billion for DHS, and $72.9 billion for military construction and the VA. The federal government's remaining agencies are awaiting Congress to appropriate funding for their base operating expenses such as salaries and procurement activities.

The Senate is slated to take up a motion to proceed to the D.C. voting rights bill (S.160) next week. The legislation would recognize the District of Columbia as a congressional district for the purposes of representation in the House, and would provide Utah with an additional seat in the House, raising the membership in the chamber from 435 to 437 members.

On Tuesday, Feb. 24, the Senate is scheduled to vote on whether to proceed to the nomination of Hilda Solis to be Secretary of Labor.