Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) reiterated Tuesday that the Senate will only go into recess next month if the chamber can first clear a handful of its legislative priorities. “We have scheduled the recess for the Columbus Day week,— Reid said, explaining that without the break, “There will be 11 weeks until Thanksgiving, and that’s really difficult.— Columbus Day is Monday, Oct. 12. Congress typically adjourns for that week, but neither the House nor the Senate officially added the period to the 2009 recess calendar.Reid noted that the Senate still has plenty of work to do, including a highway bill, a postal reform measure and a continuing resolution, or stop-gap spending bill, to keep the government operating. After the Interior appropriations bill is passed — likely this week the Defense Department and related agencies spending measure will be considered. “We have a number of must-do things, and hopefully some of those will be done before the end of the month,— Reid said. Meanwhile, House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) announced Monday that he is cutting four days from the chamber’s work schedule.In a change from the original schedule, Hoyer said the House will not be in session Friday, Oct. 2; Monday, Oct. 5; Friday, Oct. 9; and Monday, Oct. 19. The Senate so far has not announced a similar plan.