With the sobering backdrop of the Paris terrorist attacks, lawmakers return to Capitol Hill facing a long list of unfinished business this week, including a highway bill and child nutrition programs, ahead of the Thanksgiving break.

 

Surface transportation programs expire on Friday, with the House and Senate still needing to resolve some differences over a long-term bill, though the bill the House passed Nov. 5 closely tracks the Senate version in major respects.

 

Senate Agriculture Chairman Pat Roberts had set this week as his goal for getting an agreement with his committee's top Democrat, Debbie Stabenow, on child nutrition reauthorization.

 

Hanging over everything is the need for lawmakers to pass a fiscal 2016 omnibus spending bill by Dec. 11, less than two weeks after the Thanksgiving recess ends. Also on the to-do list is the renewal of expired tax extenders and passage of legislation to preempt state GMO labeling laws.

 

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