WASHINGTON: The tempestuous 113th Congress has finally come to an end, capping two years of modest and infrequent legislating that was overshadowed by partisan clashes, gridlock and investigations. “Thank God it’s over,” Democratic Sen. Joe Manchin said as he left the Capitol late Tuesday. It’s legacy: Just over 200 bills became law during the past two years, according to congressional data. That was the fewest since at least 1947 and 1948, when what President Harry Truman dubbed “the do-nothing Congress” enacted over 900 laws. This Congress did less than the do-nothing one. Efforts to revamp the immigration system, tighten gun buyers’ background checks and force work on the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada to the Gulf Coast all foundered as the Republican-run House and Democratic-led Senate blocked each other’s priorities. Across-the-board spending cuts designed to be so painful that they would force the two parties to negotiate deficit reduction took effect anyway, attempts to overhaul the tax code went nowhere, and each chamber passed a budget that the other ignored.

The partisan impasse was complicated by conservative tea party lawmakers whom Republican leaders often found unmanageable. That helped spark a 16-day partial federal government shutdown that was hated by voters and became one of this Congress’ hallmarks.

On the last day, the Democratic-controlled Senate confirmed a dozen of President Barack Obama’s judicial appointees and sent the White House legislation extending tax breaks for working-class people and special interests alike. An 11th-hour attempt to renew a program obliging the government to cover part of the cost of terrorism-caused losses was sidetracked by retiring Republican Sen. Tom Coburn, who said it was a giveaway to the private insurance industry.als made by the previous EU executive, including on improving air quality and cutting waste.

Environment Minister Gian Luca Galletti of Italy, holder of the rotating EU presidency, was one of 11 EU ministers who signed a letter to the Commission saying they opposed plans to tear up environmental legislation. He told journalists the opposition would continue.

Sections of innovative industry, such as electrical goods maker Philips, have also voiced support for laws to shift to an economy based more on recycling and reduced waste.

Galletti has just returned to Brussels from UN talks in Lima, which made modest progress toward a new global deal on climate change, meant to be reached in Paris at the end of 2015.

Italy has major problems with garbage disposal, and Galletti said the withdrawal of the draft law on waste in particular “would be contrary to what we did in Lima.”

“It would certainly not help the road to Paris, because in that package there are measures that contribute to reducing CO2 and show the engagement of European countries,” he said.

Frans Timmermans, first vice-president in charge of better regulation, said the Commission was withdrawing the environmental laws to put forward more effective legislation, but critics say there is no logic in starting an already lengthy process from scratch.

The Commission also said it would take on board the view of the European Council of member states and the European Parliament.