Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) sounded a note of caution on Thursday about expectations that lawmakers can leave town for adjournment by the end of September.

“It’s great that people think that we can get out of here before the first of October. I hope we will,” Reid said.

Reid said the Senate must first finish the defense authorization as well as the defense appropriations bills, along with homeland security and military construction-veteran’s affairs appropriations bills and the continuing resolution to fund the government through the end of the year.

The defense authorization bill is slated for a Friday evening vote, but Republicans are unlikely to back it and thus end debate on the oil market speculation bill.

Reid said there are a host of things the Senate must get through before it adjourns, arguing that Republicans and the White House must cooperate “or they’ll be here with us.”