Scheduling

The Senate returns at 9:30 a.m. for speeches, and at noon will consider the nomination of David Petraeus to be director of the CIA. His confirmation is expected to sail through the Senate; Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) praised Petraeus on Wednesday night as the "most noted soldier" of the last 50 years.

Two hours of debate are scheduled for the nomination, and the vote is scheduled for 2 p.m.

After that, more debate on a Republican proposal for a balanced-budget amendment to the Constitution is possible. Senate Republicans on Wednesday called up a joint resolution on this amendment, and can be expected to continue pushing for its adoption over Democratic objections.

The Senate is also considering remaining in session during the July 4 week in order to continue working on a debt-ceiling agreement. President Obama said Wednesday that Congress should "stay here until we get it done."

The Senate meets at 10 a.m. and will consider the nominations of James Cole to be deputy attorney general and Lisa Monaco and Virginia Seitz to be assistant attorneys general. Votes on these nominations are expected at noon.

After their return from weekly caucus lunches, senators will continue consideration of S. 679, the Presidential Appointment Efficiency and Streamlining Act.

The Senate returns at 2 p.m. for speeches, which will last until 6 p.m. At 4 p.m., Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) is expected to speak about the need to ensure that new tax revenues are part of any political agreement related to the debt ceiling.

Sanders believes that a debt-ceiling agreement must rely on new revenues for at least half of any agreement to reduce red ink. He sent a letter to President Obama on the topic that several thousand people have signed in support.

The House left town Friday for a weeklong recess, shortly after House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) abandoned Vice President Biden's debt ceiling talks.

While those talks have long been perceived as a battle between the White House and House Republicans, the White House next week will turn to the Senate for advice. President Obama and Biden meet with the top Senate Democrat and Republican on Monday in the hopes of setting a constructive tone for the House's return after July 4.

The Senate is out, but the House meets Friday at 9 a.m. for legislative work, and the big-ticket items are the two Libya bills.

One, H.J.Res. 68, would authorize limited use of force in Libya, and would not authorize ground troops. This resolution is not expected to pass.

The second, H.R. 2278, will likely carry the day. It would prohibit the Defense Department from spending any money to support the ongoing military operations in Libya.

The House meets at 10 a.m. for speeches and then at noon to continue legislative work, which includes work on H.R. 1246, the America Invents Act.

Members on Thursday debated one of 15 amendments to the bill, which would substantially reform U.S. patent law. The remaining 14 are expected to be debated and voted on today.

The House returns earlier than normal for a Wednesday — at 9:30 a.m. for speeches and 11:30 a.m. for legislative work.

Members will begin the process of taking up H.R. 1249, the America Invents Act, and H.R. 2021, the Jobs and Energy Permitting Act. Members will start with a debate on a single rule for both bills. A vote on the rule is expected around 1 p.m.

The House has been in and out all day for brief periods of time, and at about 6 p.m. finished debate on four controversial bills that would name post offices in Texas, Ohio and Mississippi.

After voting on these bills at 6:30 p.m., the House will start a debate on H.R. 672, the Election Support Consolidation and Efficiency Act. The bill would repeal the Election Assistance Commission (EAC), something Democrats oppose.

The Senate meets at 10 a.m. for speeches, then at 11 a.m. considers the nomination of Michael Simon to be a judge for the U.S. District Court for the District of Oregon. A vote on Simon is expected at noon.

After returning from caucus lunches, the Senate at 2:15 p.m. will consider the nomination of Leon Panetta to be secretary of Defense. A vote on Panetta is expected at about 4:15 p.m.

The House returns at 10 a.m. for a pro forma session that should last just a few minutes and give members a chance to file new legislation.

The Senate returns at 2 p.m. for speeches; no votes are expected. Senators have until 3:30 p.m. to file amendments to S. 782, the Economic Development Revitalization Act of 2011.