Photo: Ivan Hafizov

AP reports indicate bills to avoid shutdowns of federal transportation and aviation programs are at the top of Congress’ to-do list when it returns to work next week.

President Barack Obama indicated 1 million jobs are at risk and 4,000 employees would be immediately furloughed without action.

Federal highway programs and the taxes that fund them will expire Sept. 30 unless Congress passes short-term extension legislgation. Authority for the Federal Aviation Administration will also expire Sept. 16. The agency has been operating under a series of 21 short-term extensions since 2007.

“It’s inexcusable to put more jobs at risk in an industry that’s already been one of the hardest hit over the last decade,” Obama said during a speech in the Rose Garden.

He called on Congress to pass both the highway and FAA bills.