U.S. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer, D-Md., discusses his take on some of the biggest challenges currently facing Congress, including budget debates, U.S. funding of the war in Iraq and other topics.

As the Senate continues to debate military spending in Iraq, the NewsHour presents the first of three reports on how the Defense Department decides to equip U.S. troops, starting with body armor.

A partisan divide plagues Congress' ability to reach a consensus on if and when the United States should begin withdrawing troops from Iraq. The NewsHour reports on the ongoing debate.