Congress reconvenes today to take up an expansive list of issues, the largest of which likely will be replacing Rehnquist and dealing with another nomination and confirmation to the court. President Bush named appeals court Judge John Roberts, already a court nominee to replace retiring Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, to take over Rehnquist's leadership role on the high court, a move that will likely command the most headlines in the coming months.

But stem cell research, spending bills and Social Security also are on the list, and there will be more discussion of aid for the hurricane-ravaged southeast and possibly a blue-ribbon commission to study the much-criticized relief efforts. Skyrocketing gas prices should get a lot of attention as well.

Utah's federal delegation also has its own agenda to push this fall.

Early predictions had Congress out of session by early October, but with items stacking up, it's unclear how long lawmakers will be back to work.

The Senate Judiciary Committee was scheduled to start confirmation hearings for Roberts today, but plans to delay the start of the process until later this week or possibly next week. Whenever the process begins, Sen. Orrin Hatch, R-Utah, will take a leading role.

"This is certainly No. 1 on my list when I get back," said Hatch, who as a member and former chairman of the Senate Judiciary Committee will be a top voice to try to quickly push the nomination through.

Other matters before the Senate include one of the more controversial: stem cell research.

Hatch has bucked many in his own party in supporting expanded federal subsidies for embryonic stem cell studies; President Bush has vowed to veto such a measure if it passes Congress.

Hatch says that opponents of the research are misconstruing a recent Harvard study showing it is possible to create useful stem cells without destroying human embryos.

"That still doesn't [change] the necessity of getting started on embryonic stem cell lines as fast as we can," Hatch said. "I'm pushing for that and hoping we can get that done."

Hatch's colleague from Utah, Sen. Bob Bennett, is gathering support for his Social Security reform legislation, which got a boost in June when President Bush essentially endorsed the proposal as a way to move forward with his stalled goal of overhauling the system.

"He's seeking support from colleagues on both sides of the aisle," said Bennett's spokeswoman, Mary Jane Collipriest.

Bennett also will be working to pass a land management bill, which may be introduced this fall, for Washington County in southwestern Utah. The bill would be aimed at calming battles over water and road uses, hunting, grazing and off-road vehicles.

On the House side, Congress may consider one of the session's more controversial issues: immigration.

"There seems to be some critical mass" for taking it up, says Joe Hunter, chief of staff to Rep. Chris Cannon, R-Utah, who has proposed temporary legal status under strict conditions for immigrants in agricultural-related jobs.

Besides immigration, the House may deal with a variety of measures, including changes to the patent system and the handling of asbestos-related death claims.

Utah's lone Democrat in Congress, Jim Matheson, has several issues he plans to push this fall, including legislation that would enact a 25 percent tax on Internet pornography.

"We're real anxious to dive in and generate support among colleagues on that one," Matheson said.

He's also pushing a tweak the Montgomery GI Bill that would ensure a person who serves 24 months total active duty as a soldier within five years would qualify for federal benefits; the months currently have to be consecutive, Matheson says.

The congressman added that he believes Congress needs to review the operations of the Homeland Security Department for its response to the hurricane that blasted Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida.

"It seems to me that we should do better and we can do better," Matheson said.

Rep. Rob Bishop, R-Utah, says the House is "basically ahead of schedule" and much of what Congress does will depend on how the Roberts confirmation goes.

But he says the House probably will take up legislation on the estate tax and there are pending appropriations bills that need to be finalized.

For his part, Bishop says one of his biggest efforts will be on the Defense Authorization Act, which includes language that would designate as federally protected wilderness the area around the Goshutes' Skull Valley reservation in hopes of keeping out a rail corridor for shipping high-level nuclear waste to a proposed storage site.

Bishop also plans to push two bills geared to increase revenue to Utah schools from the federal government for its lands in the state. The effort is derived from an idea called The APPLE Initiative promoted by former Utah House Speaker Marty Stephens. One of the bills is a pricey proposal would require the federal government to pay property taxes for its land within state borders, an effort that comes with a $4 billion price tag nationwide.

Bishop's other bill would allow Western states to take over a small percentage of federal lands for development. The Utah congressman concedes it will be an uphill battle.

"There's a long education process and I want to get started," Bishop says.

tburr@sltrib.com

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Reporter Robert Gehrke contributed to this story.

Some top issues in Congress this fall

* Confirmation of U.S. Supreme Court chief justice nominee John Roberts

* Nomination and confirmation of another court justice

* Social Security system reform

* Immigration reform

* Gas prices

* Estate taxes

* Wilderness designations