The Senate gavels in on Monday and will immediately turn to the FY 2009 omnibus appropriations package (H.R. 1105) for debate only. Work on amendments and roll call votes will not begin until Tuesday.

Despite Republican objections with the bill's earmarks and spending levels, House Democrats easily secured passage of the omnibus last week (without amendment).

Mum was the word on Friday with respect to Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell's (R-KY) amendment strategy on the omnibus, although he has indicated that his caucus would likely propose trimming the legislation's eight percent boost in spending over last year's topline level. In addition, look for earmark hawk Tom Coburn (R-OK) to target pet projects in the package.

Across the Capitol, the House is slated to complete consideration of the Helping Families Save Their Homes Act (H.R. 1106), legislation that would allow bankruptcy courts to modify the terms of certain mortgages on principal residences during bankruptcy proceedings. The bill would also permanently increase the amount of deposits insured by the FDIC and the National Credit Union Administration from $100,000 to $250,000, and modify other terms of both deposit insurance programs.

House leaders have allowed for the consideration of four floor amendments to H.R. 1106:

• John Conyers (D-MI) - Would require courts to use FHA appraisal guidelines where the fair market value of a home is in dispute, among other provisions.

• Tom Price (R-GA) - Would provide that if a homeowner who has had a mortgage modified in a bankruptcy proceeding sells the home at a profit, the lender can recapture the amount of principal lost in the modification.

• Gary Peters (D-MI) - Would provide that, in the case of a debtor whose home is in foreclosure, the debtor could meet the pre-filing credit counseling requirement by receiving counseling either before filing or up to 30 days after filing.

• Dina Titus (D-NV) - Would require a servicer that receives an incentive payment under the Hope for Homeowners program to notify all mortgagors under mortgages they service who are "at-risk homeowners" (as such term is defined by the Secretary), in a form and manner as shall be prescribed by the Secretary, that they may be eligible for the HOPE for Homeowners Program and how to obtain information regarding the program.

The chamber is also scheduled to take up the District of Columbia House Voting Rights Act (H.R. 157), a bill that would expand the number of House seats from 435 to 437 -- beginning in the 112th Congress -- to accommodate a representative from the District of Columbia, and one new at-large member that eventually will be assigned to a state based on the next congressional apportionment following the 2010 census.

The Senate passed a D.C. voting bill last week containing at least one noticeable difference with the House version -- the second seat would go to Utah. This and any other distinctions between the two versions must be reconciled in a conference following House passage of H.R. 157.