Congress

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Sen. Susan Collins, Republican from Maine, is among members of Congress who want local jurisdictions to have freedom in school lunch decisions. (Associated Press)

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President Obama, while speaking at Eastfield College in Mesquite College, Texas, entreats Congress to pass the American Jobs Act. "Right now, he won't even let this jobs bill have a vote," the president said of House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, Virginia Republican. (Associated Press)

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Exhibit: "I Love Lucy: An American Legend" Lucy Ricardo, America's chocolate-eating foible-prone sweetheart, turned 60 this year. To mark the occasion, the Library of Congress has gathered a veritable treasure trove of mementos, keepsakes, and photos from the years before, during, and after "I Love Lucy" established itself as the sitcom to beat in the 20th century (and after, seeing as syndication deals will likely keep the show on the air long after yours truly has kicked the bucket). Thanks to the Library´s Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz Collection, visitors can get a glimpse of scripts, show notes, and off-set photos, and also remnants of Ball's life before (when she was a model and b-list regular in romantic dramas) and after (when she had to testify before the House Committee on Un-American Activities for having once registered as a communist) the six-season sitcom that came to define her entire existence. To January 28 at the Library of Congress, 101 Independence Ave SE. Phone: (202) 707-6400. Web: loc.gov

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** FILE ** President Obama delivers a speech to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. (AP Photo/Kevin Lamarque, Pool)

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A bill in Congress would cut rates for earthquake insurance so more homeowners can afford it, but critics say it's just a bailout for California, which bears the brunt of quake activity in the U.S. The 6.7 magnitude Northridge quake (pictured) in 1994 caused an estimated $20 billion in damage. (Associated Press)

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'HERE IT IS': President Obama presents a copy of his American Jobs Act bill on Monday during a statement challenging Congress to pass it quickly. (Associated Press)

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President Obama speaks about his new jobs plan during an address to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. (AP Photo/Kevin Lamarque, Pool)

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President Obama arrives to deliver a speech to a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington on Sept. 8, 2011. Watching are Vice President Joseph R. Biden Jr., and House Speaker John Boehner. (Associated Press)

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President Obama addresses a joint session of Congress regarding jobs at the Capitol in Washington on Thursday, Sept. 8, 2011. (AP Photo/Charles Dharapak)

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** FILE ** In this Jan. 27, 2010, file photo, the sun sets prior to the anticipated State of the Union speech by President Barack Obama to a joint session of Congress in the U.S. Capitol in Washington. Congress returns to work this coming week, scorned by the nation it was elected to help lead. (AP Photo/Cliff Owen, File)

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President Obama greets Hector Sealey (center), safety director for Ft. Myer Construction Corporation, and AFL-CIO President Richard Trumka (right) after speaking at the White House on Aug. 31, 2011, to urge Congress to pass a federal highway bill. (Associated Press)

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White House press secretary Jay Carney responds during a press briefing at the White House on Sept. 1, 2011, to questions about the flap over the timing of President Obama's address to Congress next week. (Associated Press)

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President Obama walks from the podium after speaking Aug. 31, 2011, at the White House to urge Congress to pass a federal highway bill. (Associated Press)

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Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, Florida Republican, wants Congress to block U.S. funding for any U.N. efforts to give Palestinians a heightened status. (Associated Press)

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Mr. Obama speaks at Johnson Controls Inc. in Holland, Mich., earlier Thursday, saying S&P's downgrade of the U.S. credit rating could have been avoided if Congress weren't "dysfunctional." (Associated Press)

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STATE OF ECONOMY: "This is something we can do immediately, something we can do as soon as Congress gets back," President Obama says while seeking to inject a glimmer of hope into a gloomy economic picture. (Associated Press)

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ASSOCIATED PRESS Adm. Mike Mullen (right), chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Defense Secretary Leon E. Panetta warned against further spending cuts for the military beyond the $350 million to $400 million already agreed by Congress and President Obama this week. “I think anything beyond that would damage our national defense," Mr. Panetta said.