Points of contention

Congress engaged President Obama's agenda on several fronts on Monday:

His Supreme Court justice nominee, Sonia Sotomayor, assured senators of her impartiality as she sought to lock up all-but-certain confirmation as the first Hispanic on the nation's top tribunal. Republicans challenged her commitment to the rule of law while some spectators protested her support for abortion rights.

High-tech biologic drugs won a 12-year market monopoly before generic versions can compete; the administration and lobbyists for senior citizens had pushed for a seven-year limit so patients could get quicker access to cheaper versions of costly medicines.