Good story from The Hill by BY JORDAIN CARNEY

Lawmakers are preparing to return to a chaotic fall in Washington, paving the way for an end-of-year legislative sprint.

In addition to hot-button issues like background checks, Congress has several must-pass bills on its agenda, including spending legislation to prevent a government shutdown on Oct. 1.

The to-do list leaves lawmakers little time to spare as they map out the legislative schedule for the roughly 40 days in which both chambers will be in session between now and the end of the calendar year.

Here are seven issues to watch as Congress returns for the final stretch of 2019.

Guns

When the House and Senate gavel in next week, it will be the first time Congress is in legislative session since a pair of mass shootings in Texas and one in Ohio.

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