The month-long August Congressional recess has ended, and Congress returns to work this week to begin completion of the fiscal year 2004 spending bills. The October 1 start of the new fiscal year is quickly approaching, and many lawmakers have expressed concern that the spending bills will not be completed on time. U.S. House and Senate appropriators will focus this week on reaching agreement in conference on a handful of spending bills, while work continues on other measures, and the White House prepares another supplemental spending request. The Senate has nine appropriations measures that must be passed. The House is expected to pass the last of the 13 fiscal year 2004 appropriations bills by the end of this week.

The August blackout in the Northeast, Midwest, and Canada has given lawmakers new motivation to quickly pass a languishing omnibus energy bill (HR 6), with the focus shifting to imposing new federal rules to prevent future electricity failures. House and Senate Committees have announced hearings to be held in the coming weeks to determine the reasons for the blackouts. Quick agreement is expected on granting new power to the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) to oversee the writing and enforcement of electricity reliability standards designed to prevent utilities and transmission operators from overloading the power grid.

Helicopter Association International (HAI) continues to lobby Members of Congress for funding to be included in the fiscal year 2004 Transportation Appropriation Bill for offshore weather and communications in the Gulf of Mexico. The House version of the Transportation Appropriations bill does not include any funds for the Gulf of Mexico. A House vote is expected Thursday, September 4 on the measure.

The Senate Appropriations Committee chaired by Senator Ted Stevens (R-Alaska) will also consider the measure on Thursday. HAI encourages all members to contact Senators on the Appropriations Committee to ask that they support a measure to allocate funds for the Gulf of Mexico. Visit the U.S. Senate Appropriations Committee web site for a list of Senators sitting on the committee, as well as their contact information.