Now that Washington, D.C. has largely recovered from the impact of Winter Storm Jonas, lawmakers can expect a flurry of activity to resume in the House and Senate to make up for the postponed votes, hearings, and other events that were canceled due to the storm; many of these have simply been pushed into this week’s schedule. Both chambers are scheduled to return on Monday with much on their respective agendas.
The Senate plans to resume consideration of bipartisan, comprehensive energy legislation, S. 2012, when it returns to session on Monday. The bill is the pending business, debate having started on it last week, and consideration of amendments is expected throughout the course of the week. More than 100 amendments are currently pending to the bill, and while a number of non-controversial amendments were approved last week, several controversial (and partisan) proposals could be considered this week. Among these are a Republican amendment to reverse a recent Interior Department moratorium on new coal mine leases on public lands; other Republicans amendments to obstruct energy and environmental regulations; and Democratic amendments on climate change.
As discussed in last week’s column, Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee Chairwoman Lisa Murkowski (R-AK) and Ranking Member Maria Cantwell (D-WA) will be seeking to manage the open amendment process (itself a reflection of the continued Republican leadership’s commitment to restoring the more traditional approaches to Senate debate after years in which then-Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) continually blocked consideration of amendments on almost all legislative vehicles) in order to maintain the bipartisan support for S. 2012 seen during the Committee’s markup of the bill last summer.
A new challenge to passage of S. 2012 was introduced last week when several Democratic members introduced an amendment aimed at providing emergency resources to the Flint, Michigan community to address severe contamination from lead and other contaminants in the city’s drinking water. Michigan Senators Debbie Stabenow and Gary Peters are proposing that the $600 million assistance provided through the amendment be considered emergency funding and therefore would not need to be offset by cuts elsewhere. Republicans, however, are likely to oppose the funding without an offset. Press reports indicate that negotiations over the Flint amendment are ongoing but, as with the other pending partisan amendments, its inclusion or rejection could shift support for the underlying bill.
The House is scheduled to return on Monday, with votes expected on eight bills under suspension of the rules, with four of these reported out of the Financial Services Committee and three out of the Foreign Affairs Committee. On Tuesday the House will consider H.R. 3700, the Housing Opportunity Through Modernization Act of 2015, a broad and bipartisan bill to overhaul housing assistance programs. Consideration of H.R. 3700 will be subject to a rule.
Members will then turn their attention to two bills aimed at thwarting two policy initiatives of President Obama and his Administration. The debate will provide two messaging opportunities for Republican members in this election year.
The first is H.R. 3662, the Iran Terror Finance Transparency Act. The bill would prevent the Administration from offering any sanctions relief to individuals or financial institutions in Iran until it can certify to Congress that the particular individual or institution has not had involvement with terrorist groups, including the Iranian Revolutionary Guard, or Iran’s ballistic missile or conventional weapons programs. The bill is an effort by Republicans in Congress to reassert some relevance in foreign policy matters. A prior vote on H.R. 3662 that occurred in January was declared void and a new vote scheduled in order to garner the support of a two-thirds majority necessary to override a presidential veto, one that has already been threatened by President Obama. The earlier vote on the bill, on January 13, came less than one day after a tense international incident in which Iran detained ten American sailors and two U.S. Navy vessels that had wandered into Iranian waters. Consideration of the legislation is also occurring as Iran is re-entering the global economy after sanctions were lifted in the wake of the international agreement on Iran’s nuclear program. On January 16, the U.S., China, Russia, Britain, France, and Germany lifted some economic sanctions against Tehran after the country fulfilled necessary obligations agreed to in the July 2015 multilateral nuclear agreement which required the country to disable portions of its existing nuclear infrastructure.
The second item to roll back the President’s agenda is a vote to override the President’s veto of H.R. 3762, the Restoring Americans’ Healthcare Freedom Reconciliation Act of 2015, the reconciliation bill passed and vetoed last year. The measure repeals five core provisions of the Affordable Care Act and places a moratorium on federal funding of Planned Parenthood for one year. The bill initially passed the House of Representatives by a vote of 240-181, which is short of the necessary two-thirds majority to override the President’s veto.
During the remainder of the week, the House is expected to resume consideration of legislation reported favorably out of the House Financial Services Committee. On Wednesday the House will take up H.R. 1675, the Encouraging Employee Ownership Act, subject to a rule. This legislation would make it easier for private companies to award stock as part of an employee’s compensation. On Thursday, the House is expected to vote on H.R. 766, the Financial Institution Customer Protection Act of 2015, subject to a rule. The bill would prevent government agencies from using their regulatory powers to force businesses in certain industries to stop doing business. H.R. 766 “prohibits a federal banking agency from formally or informally suggesting, requesting, or ordering a depository institution to terminate … specific customer account” without good reason, and excludes “reputation risk” as a reason.
House and Senate Committees will be very active this week. Several House committees are meeting to mark up their budget views and estimates for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017. As part of the annual budget and appropriations process, congressional committees submit their legislative and budgetary preferences for the fiscal year ahead to the House and Senate Budget Committees in preparation for the consideration of a budget resolution. This week the House Agriculture, Financial Services, Select Intelligence, and Small Business Committees will be marking up their respective reports.
The threat of terrorism in the United States and instability in the Middle East remain subjects of hearings on both sides of the Capitol. The Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs (HSGAC) Committee has rescheduled a hearing for Tuesday morning regarding the frontline response to terrorism in America, with police and fire chiefs and homeland security experts scheduled to appear as witnesses, including New York City Police Commissioner Bill Bratton. The HSGAC Committee is also scheduled to meet Wednesday to review Canada’s fast-track policy for Syrian refugee resettlement and potential security implications for the U.S. The House Homeland Security Committee will review methods to further strengthen visa and refugee security in the United States to prevent infiltration from terrorists. This hearing will be held in the wake of Republican congressional claims that the President and his administration are ignoring a law passed late in 2015 to toughen visa standards in order to combat terrorist travel into the United States.
U.S. strategy in Afghanistan in 2016 is the topic of a House Armed Services Committee hearing on Tuesday and the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday. The Senate committee last week heard from the nominee to become the new U.S. commander in Afghanistan and is likely to report out that nomination shortly for consideration by the full Senate. The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia and Emerging Threats meets Wednesday afternoon to review Turkey’s political trends for 2016. Additionally the Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities will host a closed hearing on Wednesday to discuss the Islamic State and counterterrorism strategy.
A full schedule of events is included below:
Monday, February 1, 2016
House Committees
Budget Views and Estimates
House Select Intelligence
Full Committee Markup (Closed)
5 p.m.,
Senate Committees
Opioid Abuse Among Older Americans
Senate Special Aging
Full Committee Field Hearing
10:30 a.m., 21170 Ashby Ponds Blvd Ashburn, VA 20147 Great Oak Club House
Tuesday, February 2, 2016
House Committees
Budget Views and Estimates
House Agriculture
Full Committee Business Meeting
9:30 a.m., 1300 Longworth Bldg.
Direct Marketing Opportunities and Challenges
House Agriculture – Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture and Research
Subcommittee Hearing
10 a.m., 1300 Longworth Bldg.
Afghanistan in 2016: The Evolving Security Situation and U.S. Policy, Strategy, and Posture
House Armed Services
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 2118 Rayburn Bldg.
Retirement Security Legislation Markup
House Education and the Workforce
Full Committee Markup
10 a.m., HVC-210
A Legislative Hearing on 8 Energy Infrastructure Bills
House Energy and Commerce – Subcommittee on Energy and Power
Subcommittee Hearing
10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn Bldg.
Status of the Public Safety Broadband Network
House Energy and Commerce – Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
Subcommittee Hearing
10:15 a.m., 2322 Rayburn Bldg.
FY17 Budget Views and Estimates
House Financial Services
Full Committee Markup
10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn Bldg.
Classified: FISA Amendments Act
House Judiciary
Full Committee Closed Hearing
10 a.m., 2141 Rayburn Bldg.
Legislative Hearing on H.R. 3070 and H.R. 4245
House Natural Resources – Subcommittee on Water, Power, and Oceans
Subcommittee Hearing
10 a.m., 1324 Longworth Bldg.
The Need for the Establishment of a Puerto Rico Financial Stability and Economic Growth Authority
House Natural Resources – Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs
Subcommittee Hearing
11 a.m., 1334 Longworth Bldg.
U.S. Dept. of Education Department: Investigation of the CIO
House Oversight and Government Reform
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn Bldg.
Paris Climate Promise: A Bad Deal for America
House Science, Space and Technology
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn Bldg.
SBA Entrepreneurial Development Oversight
House Small Business – Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax and Capital Access
Subcommittee Hearing
11 a.m.
Building Upon Success: Priorities for the Water Resources Development Act of 2016
House Transportation and Infrastructure – Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
Subcommittee Business Meeting
10:30 a.m., 2167 Rayburn Bldg.
Choice Consolidation: Evaluating Eligibility Requirements for Care in the Community
House Veterans’ Affairs – Subcommittee on Health
Subcommittee Hearing
10 a.m., 334 Cannon Bldg.
Economic Pro-Growth Opportunities
House Ways and Means
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 1100 Longworth Bldg.
Federal Spending and the Debt Limit
House Financial Services – Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Subcommittee Hearing
2 p.m., 2128 Rayburn Bldg.
Assessing TSA Management and Implementation of the Screening Partnership Program (Part II)
House Homeland Security – Subcommittee on Transportation Security
Subcommittee Hearing
2 p.m., 311 Cannon Bldg.
H.R. 1057, Promoting Automotive Repair, Trade, and Sales Act (PARTS Act)
House Judiciary – Subcommittee on Courts, Intellectual Property and the Internet
Subcommittee Hearing
2 p.m., 2141 Rayburn Bldg.
Full Committee Markup on 18 Bills
House Natural Resources
Full Committee Markup
4 p.m., 1324 Longworth Bldg.
Seeking Justice for Victims of Overseas Terrorism
House Oversight and Government Reform – Subcommittee on National Security
Subcommittee Hearing
2 p.m., 2154 Rayburn Bldg.
Senate Committees
Opening Ground Combat Units to Women
Senate Armed Services
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m.. G-50 Dirksen Bldg.
Response to Terrorism in America
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Full Committee Hearing
10:15 a.m., 342 Dirksen Bldg.
EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program
Senate Judiciary
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 226 Dirksen Bldg.
Occupational Licensing and State Action Doctrine
Senate Judiciary – Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights
Subcommittee Hearing
2 p.m., 226 Dirksen Bldg.
Wednesday, February 3, 2016
House Committees
Reviewing Purchasing Power of Fruit/Vegetable Programs for Low-Income Families
House Agriculture – Subcommittee on Nutrition
Subcommittee Hearing
10 a.m., 1300 Longworth Bldg.
Assistance to Combat Wildlife Trafficking
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
Subcommittee Hearing
10:30 a.m., H-140
Acquisition Reform: Starting Programs Well
House Armed Services
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 2118 Rayburn Bldg.
Expanding Educational Opportunity Through School Choice
House Education and the Workforce
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., HVC-210
Emissions Rules Limitation
House Energy and Commerce – Subcommittee on Energy and Power
Subcommittee Hearing
10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn Bldg.
Trading with the Enemy: Trade-Based Money Laundering is the Growth Industry in Terror Finance
House Financial Services – Investigate Terrorism Financing Task Force
Subcommittee Hearing
10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn Bldg.
Preventing Terrorist Infiltration Through U.S. Refugee and Visa Programs
House Homeland Security
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 311 Cannon Bldg.
Full Committee Markup on 18 Bills (cont’d)
House Natural Resources
Full Committee Markup
10 a.m., 1324 Longworth Bldg.
Examining Administration of the Safe Drinking Water Act in Flint, Mich.
House Oversight and Government Reform
Full Committee Hearing
9 a.m. 2154, Rayburn Bldg.
Expert Perspectives on NASA’s Human Exploration Proposals
House Science, Space and Technology
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m. 2318 Rayburn Bldg.
Status of Coast Guard Cutter Acquisition Programs
House Transportation and Infrastructure – Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
Subcommittee Hearing
10 a.m., 2167 Rayburn Bldg.
Lost Opportunities for Veterans: An Examination of VA’s Technology Transfer Program
House Veterans’ Affairs
Full Committee Hearing
10:30 a.m., 334 Cannon Bldg.
Military Treatment Facilities
House Armed Services – Subcommittee on Military Personnel
Subcommittee Hearing
2 p.m., 2212 Rayburn Bldg.
Outside Views on Biodefense
House Armed Services – Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
Subcommittee Hearing
3:30 p.m., 2118 Rayburn Bldg.
Turkey’s Political Trends in 2016
House Foreign Affairs – Subcommittee on Europe, Eurasia and Emerging Threats
Subcommittee Hearing
2 p.m., 2172 Rayburn Bldg.
Oversight of Aviation Credentials
House Oversight and Government Reform
Full Committee Hearing
1 p.m., 2154 Rayburn Bldg.
Senate Committees
U.S. Defense Policy in the Asia-Pacific
Senate Armed Services
Full Committee Hearing
9:30 a.m., G-50 Dirksen Bldg.
Spending on Unauthorized Programs
Senate Budget
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 608 Dirksen Bldg.
EPA Stream Protection Rule
Senate Environment and Public Works
Full Committee Hearing
9:30 a.m., 406 Dirksen Bldg.
Strains on the European Union and Implications for U.S. Foreign Policy
Senate Foreign Relations
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 419 Dirksen Bldg.
Canada’s Fast-Track Refugee Plan and Implications for U.S. National Security
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 342 Dirksen Bldg.
Examining the Need for Transparency in Asbestos Trusts
Senate Judiciary
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 226 Dirksen Bldg.
Counterterrorism Strategy: Understanding ISIL
Senate Armed Services – Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
Subcommittee Hearing
2:30 p.m., SVC-217
Indian Water Rights
Senate Indian Affairs
Full Committee Markup
2:15 p.m.
Great Plains Indian Healthcare Quality
Senate Indian Affairs
Full Committee Hearing
2:15 p.m.
Thursday, February 4, 2016
House Committees
Naval Strike Fighters: Issues and Concerns
House Armed Services – Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
Subcommittee Hearing
10:30 a.m., 2118 Rayburn Bldg.
CBO’s Budget and Economic Outlook
House Budget
Full Committee Hearing
9:30 a.m., 210 Cannon Bldg.
Examining Implementation of the Biologics Price Competition and Innovation Act
House Energy and Commerce – Subcommittee on Health
Subcommittee Hearing
10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn Bldg.
Southwest Border Immigrant Surge
House Judiciary – Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security
Subcommittee Hearing
9 a.m., 2141 Rayburn Bldg.
Developments in the Prescription Drug Market: Oversight
House Oversight and Government Reform
Full Committee Hearing
9 a.m., 2154 Rayburn Bldg.
A Review of Recommendations for NSF Project Management Reform
House Science, Space and Technology – Subcommittee on Oversight
Subcommittee Hearing
9:30 a.m., 2318 Rayburn Bldg.
Consideration of a Committee Report
House Select Intelligence
Full Committee Business Meeting
9 a.m.
Budget Views and Estimates
House Small Business
Full Committee Markup
9 a.m., 2360 Rayburn Bldg.
Senate Committees
Situation in Afghanistan
Senate Armed Services
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., G-50 Dirksen Bldg.
Rural Telecommunications
Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation – Subcommittee on Communications, Technology, Innovation and the Internet
Subcommittee Hearing
10:30 a.m., 253 Russell Bldg.
Pending Nominations
Senate Finance
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 215 Dirksen Bldg.
Cobert Nomination (OPM Director)
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 342 Dirksen Bldg.