Congress' post-summer agenda includes ISIS, avoiding government shutdown

Congress returns to the Capitol Monday night after more than a month away from Washington.  

There's likely to be votes on a temporary funding measure to keep the government running until after the election and whether to shut down the import/export bank that guarantees loans for purchasing American goods by foreign buyers.

The Democratically-led Senate will likely vote on a measure designed to fire up liberal voters: it would allow Congress to overturn the Citizens United decision that opened the flood gates on campaign contributions. The Republican-led House will vote on its own get-out-the-base measure, condemning the president for not notifying Congress before releasing Guantanamo detainees. 

But even before returning to Washington, members have been debating what to do about the militant group known as ISIS.  

Many Republicans, like the new House Majority Leader, Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield, want the president to outline a clear strategy. Speaking to guest host, Irvine Congressman John Campbell on "The Hugh Hewitt Show," McCarthy said, “If the president won’t act, I think we have to take some action to move forward.”

Democrats, like the number three House Democrat, Xavier Becerra of Los Angeles, are more cautious. Becerra said he wants to "thank the president for not blindly jumping America into another quagmire."

Secretary of State John Kerry will testify later this month before the House Foreign Affairs Committee about the administration’s strategy to fight ISIS. There’s also a $500 million funding request before Congress to train Syrian rebels to fight the militant group.