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WASHINGTON — As the 106th Congress prepares to put finishing touches on its much-maligned legislative track record, Jewish groups are hoping their top agenda items will get addressed before it's too late.

Whether or not Congress — which faces criticism that it hasn't accomplished much — will feel hard-pressed to move on issues such as immigration or hate crimes when it reconvenes Dec. 5 depends on a number of factors.

Republicans, who will retain control of both the Senate and the House of Representatives in the next Congress because of this month's elections, may have little incentive to compromise with President Clinton's administration over outstanding legislation.

But much depends on the still-undecided presidential race. If Texas Gov. George W. Bush wins the White House, Republicans may try harder to block Clinton's initiatives and hold off on legislative initiatives until Republicans control both Congress and the presidency.

But if Democrat Vice President Al Gore wins, it is not clear whether there would be an attempt at bipartisan cooperation or lingering animosity against Gore for the way he achieved his victory.

Jewish groups, in particular, are watching an immigration bill, one of the issues holding up the budget, that would restore certain benefits — including Medicaid and food stamps eligibility — taken away by 1966 welfare reform laws.

In addition, provisions of the bill, known as the Latino and Immigrant Fairness Act, would ease the process for undocumented immigrants, including Jews from the former Soviet Union, who have long resided in the United States and need permanent resident status to remain here legally.

Clinton is pushing to grant a form of amnesty to these immigrants, some of whom may be illegal, who have lived in the United States for 15 years or more.

Another change would let undocumented immigrants already in the United States and on the verge of obtaining a green card, or immigrant visa that allows legal employment obtain that visa in the United States rather than having to get it in their home country.

With the support of the White House and some key legislators, the law could pass, according to Gideon Aronoff, Washington representative for the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society.

Opponents of the immigration bill say it helps illegal immigrants by giving them benefits, instead of making them take responsibility for themselves.

Aronoff says efforts should be focused on legalizing people who already live in the United States rather than on spending resources to deport them.

Another issue Jewish groups are hoping will get Congress' attention is hate-crimes legislation, which has been strongly promoted by the Clinton administration. The Senate passed legislation in June but, despite support in the House, the measure was stripped out of a defense bill because of objections from the Republican leadership.

The controversial legislation would authorize federal prosecution of crimes motivated by sexual orientation, gender or disability, expanding the current laws that protect victims of crimes motivated by race, color, religion or ethnicity. State and local law enforcement would still have primary responsibility for investigating and prosecuting hate crimes.

Groups like the Anti-Defamation League see this lame-duck session as a chance for passing the bias-crime legislation.