House lawmakers are promising to tackle tax reform when they return from their recess.

Tax reform heads long list when they return

WASHINGTON — House lawmakers have left Washington for their weekslong August vacation, promising to return in September to tackle tax reform and finally claim a major legislative win that has so far eluded President Donald Trump and Republicans in charge.

Senators are staying behind for a scheduled two-week stint in which they hope to clear a backlog of nominations and routine legislation that’s been put off as Republicans have struggled on health care.

When Congress returns Sept. 5, lawmakers will face an extensive and difficult roster of must-do items, most important among them increasing the federal debt limit and, separately, preventing a government shutdown when the fiscal year ends on Sept. 30. Federal flood insurance and the popular children’s health insurance program expire as well.

Republicans are also far behind on the budget, a prerequisite for any Republican-only overhaul of the tax code. And, Congress is far behind on the annual round of spending legislation, the 12 appropriations bills that fund government agencies.

“We have so much work still to do, and the House will continue to focus on issues that are important to the American people,” House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., said, adding that he is “disappointed and frustrated” by the Senate’s botched health care effort. “At the top of that list is cutting taxes for middle class families and fixing our broken tax code.”

It’s a daunting to-do list. And for the most part, success wouldn’t bring a political pay-off. Instead, the reward is forestalling disasters such as a first-ever default on U.S. obligations and a politically bruising government shutdown.

“We’ll come back. We’ll start our tax. We’ll do our (appropriations). We’ve got a budget. We’ve got a lot of work still to do,” said House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif. “We’re not going to give up on health care. We’re going to have to take a different route … once the Senate is able to wake up and realize what they did and come back to their senses.”

Cliff Owen The Associated Press House lawmakers have left Washington for their August recess. Senators are staying behind for a scheduled two-week stint.