Congress returned to Washington after the November elections for a lame-duck session with a priority of authorizing federal spending after Dec. 11, the date on which another government shutdown could occur.

Congressional leadership has indicated that it will act in time to avert a shutdown, but several related budget issues, including a push to make permanent some tax cuts and the reauthorization of the terrorism risk insurance program, could complicate or slow down negotiations.

The federal government has been funded by a short-term fiscal 2015 continuing resolution passed by Congress in September. If only a short-term continuing resolution is passed prior to Dec. 11, the new Congress will confront the budget issue early in the new year.

Last year, Congress’s inability to pass a budget or a continuing resolution by Oct. 1 led to a 16-day federal government shutdown. All non-essential federal employees were furloughed and most government business ceased.

The shutdown cost an estimated $24 billion to the national economy. In Massachusetts, all 19 national parks were shut down, the development of 1,500 units of affordable housing was delayed, and the capacity of programs such as the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, and unemployment insurance were threatened.

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