A collision course over government funding raises fears of a shutdown

A brewing battle over how to fund the federal government is poised to escalate this week when Congress returns from a two-week recess.

The House Republican majority is on a collision course with the Senate as appropriators in both chambers advance conflicting versions of a sweeping package, which must become law by Sept. 30 to prevent a government shutdown.

Unlike the House, Senate leaders have moved on a bipartisan path and key senators say they intend to reassert themselves after taking a back seat in the recent debt ceiling negotiations.