Energy legislation and the annual defense authorization bill — including an amendment to begin a withdrawal of U.S. troops from Iraq — will dominate the Senate floor between now and the Fourth of July recess, Majority Leader Harry Reid said Tuesday.

Senators returned this week from their Memorial Day recess, during which they got an earful from constituents. Reid said, “There are two issues that are foremost in their minds: No. 1 is the Iraq War and No. 2 are gas prices. We’re going to deal with that as soon as we finish with this immigration legislation.”

Reid, a Democrat who represents Nevada, was referring to a comprehensive immigration overhaul that has been offered as a substitute amendment to a shell bill (S 1348). The controversial bill has attracted numerous amendments, and Reid may try to force an end to the debate later this week — a move Republicans will resist.

Reid said that once the immigration debate ends, there will be an effort to proceed to a “no confidence” vote on Attorney General Alberto R. Gonzales. But that attempt is unlikely to garner the 60 votes needed. Despite their dissatisfaction with Gonzales, most Republicans say that only one person — President Bush — needs to have confidence in him.

The energy legislation could prove contentious, even though its pieces commanded broad bipartisan support in committee. Much will depend on the amendments offered on the floor.

Reid said the legislation (S 1419) is an amalgam of bills approved by four committees: Energy and Natural Resources (S 1321); Environment and Public Works (S 992); Commerce, Science and Transportation (S 357); and Foreign Relations (S 193).

He said he did not think the legislation was the “appropriate time” for a floor fight over efforts to address global warming. But he acknowledged that battles are likely over moves to toughen fuel efficiency standards and to set a national renewable-portfolio standard requiring 10 percent to 20 percent of electricity to be produced from renewable sources by 2020.

The fiscal 2008 defense authorization bill (S 567), which the Senate Armed Services Committee approved May 24, will offer a new platform for debate over Iraq policy.

Armed Services Chairman Carl Levin, D-Mich., plans to offer a floor amendment that would require a reduction in the U.S. military presence in Iraq beginning 120 days after enactment of the bill.

“We’re having a meeting on Thursday to finalize that,” Reid said.

Not all the action between now and the July Fourth recess, which is scheduled to begin at the end of this month, will come on the floor. Reid noted that Congress is close to clearing legislation (S 5) that would expand federal funding of embryonic stem cell research, and he said, “We expect to complete the conference in the next week or so on 9/11 commission recommendations.”

The House passed its version of the bill (HR 1) by 299-128 on Jan. 9; the Senate passed its own measure (S 4) by 66-38 on March 13.

In addition, Reid said, “We also believe that we are very close to being able to complete the conference on the ethics and lobbying reform.”

The Senate passed its lobbying overhaul (S 1) by 96-2 on Jan. 18, while the House passed its version (HR 2316) on May 24 by 396-22.

But neither chamber has appointed conferees.

First posted June 5, 2007 4:43 p.m.