Although the 113th Congress continues to see a dearth of legislation seeing final approval, over the past six months, Congress has managed to finalize Fiscal Year 2014 appropriations; address the Sustainable Growth Rate (SGR), otherwise known as the “doc fix;” pass the “Poison Center Network Act” reauthorizing the poison center national toll-free number, national media campaign, and grant program; reauthorize the Farm Bill; reauthorize the US nuclear energy agreement with South Korea; temporarily extend the national debt limit through March 2015; reauthorize the Water Resources Development Act; and approve the Data Accountability and Transparency Act.

Returning from the July 4th recess, the number of bills passed will continue to be meager, as Congress faces a quickly tightening legislative calendar for the remainder of the year, with just four weeks left before they depart on August 1st for a five week recess. After that, the available legislative days will continue be tight as the November elections approach – when all 435 House seats are up along with 36 Senate seats.