joining us live to remember some pretty remarkable people giving of their time. jill, thanks. in-house lawmakers are putting their summer vacations on hold to return to washington today. they are taking up a $26 billion measure to avoid teacher layoffs. the senate approved the bill last week. the house is expected to vote on it tomorrow. if it passes, the bill goes to president obama to be signed into law. it is day 112 of the gulf oil disaster and the so-called bottom kill operation is getting close. the relief well to permanently seal the broken well from below the sea floor is expected to be finished by the week s end. bp has now spent $6.1 billion on expenses linked to the clean up. admiral thad allen says that bp did a good job on capping the spill but not on public relations. and a caravan of concerned st. louis residents leaves today on a week-long tour of the gulf. they will spend money to support small businesses in the region.