In the House, courtesy of the Office of the Majority Leader:
First Vote of the Week... Tuesday 6:30 p.m.
Last Vote Predicted... Thursday p.m.
MONDAY, MAY 3, 2010
The House will meet at 10:00 a.m. in pro forma session.
TUESDAY, MAY 4, 2010
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 12:30 p.m. for Morning Hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business with votes postponed until 6:30 p.m.
Suspensions (7 Bills):
- H.Res. 1307 - Honoring the National Science Foundation for 60 years of service to the Nation (Rep. Gordon - Science and Technology)
- H.Res. 1213 - Recognizing the need to improve the participation and performance of America's students in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) fields, supporting the ideals of National Lab Day (Rep. Fudge - Science and Technology)
- H.Res. 1310 - Recognizing the 50th anniversary of the laser (Rep. Ehlers - Science and Technology)
- H.Res. 1231 - Celebrating the 50th anniversary of the United States Television Infrared Observation Satellite, the world's first meteorological satellite, launched by the National Aeronautics and Space Administration on April 1, 1960, and fulfilling the promise of President Eisenhower to all nations of the world to promote the peaceful use of space for the benefit of all mankind (Rep. Holt - Science and Technology)
- H.Res. 1269 - Commemorating the 400th anniversary of the first use of the telescope for astronomical observation by the Italian scientist Galileo Galilei (Rep. Tiberi - Science and Technology)
- H.R. 24 - To redesignate the Department of the Navy as the Department of the Navy and Marine Corps (Rep. Jones - Armed Services)
- H.Res. 1132 - Honoring the USS New Mexico as the sixth Virginia-class submarine commissioned by the U.S. Navy to protect and defend the United States (Rep. Heinrich - Armed Services)
WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2010 AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for legislative business. On Friday, no votes are expected in the House.
Suspensions (13 Bills):
- H.R. 5160 - Haiti Economic Lift Program Act of 2010 (Rep. Rangel - Ways and Means)
- H.Res. 1272 - Commemorating the 40th anniversary of the May 4, 1970, Kent State University shootings (Rep. Ryan (OH) - Education and Labor)
- H.Res. 1157 - Congratulating the National Urban League on its 100th year of service to the United States (Rep. Hastings (FL) - Education and Labor)
- H.Res. 1312 - Recognizing the roles and contributions of America's teachers to building and enhancing our Nation's civic, cultural, and economic well-being (Rep. Graves - Education and Labor)
- H.Res. 1149 - Supporting the goals and ideals of National Charter School Week, to be held May 2 through May 8, 2010 (Rep. Bishop (UT) - Education and Labor)
- H.R. 2421 - Mother's Day Centennial Commemorative Coin Act (Rep. Capito - Financial Services)
- H.Res. 1295 - Celebrating the role of mothers in the United States and supporting the goals and ideals of Mother's Day (Rep. Fortenberry - Oversight and Government Reform)
- H.Res. 1247 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that public servants should be commended for their dedication and continued service to the Nation during Public Service Recognition Week, May 3 through 9, 2010, and throughout the year (Rep. Lynch - Oversight and Government Reform)
- H.R. 1722 - Telework Improvements Act (Rep. Sarbanes - Oversight and Government Reform)
- H.Res. 1301 - Supporting the goals and ideals of National Train Day (Rep. Brown (FL) - Transportation and Infrastructure)
- H.Con.Res. 247 - Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the Greater Washington Soap Box Derby (Rep. Hoyer - Transportation and Infrastructure)
- H.Con.Res. 263 - Authorizing the use of the Capitol Grounds for the District of Columbia Special Olympics Law Enforcement Torch Run (Rep. Norton - Transportation and Infrastructure)
- H.Res. 1278 - In support and recognition of National Safe Digging Month, April, 2010 (Rep. Shuster - Transportation and Infrastructure
H.R. 5019 - Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010 (Rep. Welch – Energy and Commerce) (Subject to a Rule)
- Conference Reports may be brought up at any time.
Motions to go to Conference should they become available.
Possible Motions to Instruct Conferees.
In the Senate, courtesy of the Office of the Majority Leader:
Convenes: 2:00pm
Resume consideration of S.3217, Wall Street Reform.
Votes:
There will be no roll call votes on Monday, May 3.
Not much to add by way of commentary on this week's schedule, at this point. The House keeps things light, with its usual raft of suspension bills. But hey, it's the 50th anniversary of the laser and the launch of the world's first meteorological satellite, and the 40th anniversary of the Kent State University shootings, which you used to just be able to just reference as "Kent State" and leave it at that. A 40th anniversary will do that to you, though.
On the Senate side, we're still on the Wall Street reform bill, and at this point, I don't think we have an end date in mind here. It sounded last week like they were nearing a possible agreement on the amendments, so it's possible they may be able to nail something down about that this week, though whether there's been any discussion about when things might wrap up and we'd see a final vote is still unclear. Republicans may have been willing to end their filibuster of the motion to proceed only because they knew they still had the opportunity to filibuster the bill itself. The next major pressure point for forcing the issue -- much as the Kentucky Derby did this past weekend -- is the Memorial Day recess. Though it's possible that the threat of a a few weekend sessions could disrupt enough commencement address plans that a vote may come sooner.
Meanwhile, what about the budget? That's one of the countervailing forces in the "make 'em filibuster" calculus. Ordinarily, you'd see some considerable reluctance to just keeping the Wall Street reform bill (or any other bill or combination of bills) on the floor and daring the Republicans to stand in the way, because important work like, you know, getting the federal budget in place, has to fall by the wayside. But that's exactly what may happen. Democrats have to keep the pressure on somewhere if they're going to break the Republican cycle of obstructionism and intransigence, and Wall Street reform is thought to be the grounds on which they'd be best off doing it. And in truth, it's not the end of the world (or even close) if there's no formal budget document adopted this year. Although the FY2010 budget didn't outline specific discretionary spending numbers for future years, the 2010 numbers would just continue in effect instead. But among other issues that would create, it'd leave us without the option of employing reconciliation, although I'd heard discussed at some point during the health insurance reform debate that parliamentarians have in the past allowed themselves to become convinced that reconciliation instructions remain valid through the end of the term of the Congress that passed them. I'm not sure whether they consider them usable just once, but in any case, they'd probably prefer to instruct some different committees this time, in order to make adjustments in different policy jurisdictions, if the option were available to them.
What if they don't pass any budget at all? Well, there are ways around that, too. We'll get into that discussion a little later, perhaps. But be aware that at least one option has the very scary name of "deeming." And you know how that makes Republicans wet their pants. Remember, though, that the budget resolution is not binding law. So even deeming a new spending outline isn't cause for any kind of freak-out. Though neither was the other kind of deeming, and that didn't stop anybody.
The full committee schedule for the week appears below, thanks again to the work of Jeremy Koulish of Carrots & Sticks. Their search for an intern is still on, and yes, the internship includes much more than just helping with these schedules -- though really, that by itself actually is a hell of an educational experience. If you're looking to get a start in DC, or maybe even some academic credit, think about it! Jeremy's launching another new effort (with my participation) that'll make the work even more netroots-on-the-Hill focused. Seriously. Think it over. But not too long!
In the committees:
House
Committee | Date | Time | Purpose | View Online? |
Agriculture | Mon. 5/3 | 9:00 am (PDT) | Field Hearing in Fresno, CA: U.S. agriculture policy in advance of the 2012 Farm Bill | No |
Transportation and Infrastructure | Mon. 5/3 | 2:00 pm | Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials: Field Hearing in Miami, FL: Intermodal High-Speed Rail Connections | No |
Agriculture | Tues. 5/4 | 8:00 am (MDT) | Field Hearing in Cheyenne, WY: U.S. agriculture policy in advance of the 2012 Farm Bill | No |
Rules | Tues. 5/4 | 1:00 pm | H.R. 5019 - Home Star Energy Retrofit Act of 2010 | No |
Education and Labor | Tues. 5/4 | 2:00 pm | Supporting America’s Educators: The Importance of Quality Teachers and Leaders | Yes |
Appropriations | Wed. 5/5 | 10:00 am | Defense Subcommittee: Missile Defense Agency | No |
Armed Services | Wed. 5/5 | 10:00 am | Developments in security and stability in Afghanistan | Yes |
Natural Resources | Wed. 5/5 | 10:00 am | Full Committee Markup of H.R. 4349, H.R. 2889, H.R. 4438, H.R. 4491, H.R. 4493, H.R. 3511, and H.RES. 1254 | Yes |
Oversight and Government Reform | Wed. 5/5 | 10:00 am | Government Management, Organization, and Procurement Subcommittee: Business Meeting | Yes |
Science and Technology | Wed. 5/5 | 10:00 am | Subcommittee on Space & Aeronautics: Mitigating the Impact of Volcanic Ash Clouds on Aviation—What Do We Need to Know? | Yes |
Transportation and Infrastructure | Wed. 5/5 | 10:00 am | Subcommittee on Highways and Transit: Assessing the Implementation and Impacts of the Clean Truck Programs at the Port of Los Angeles and the Port of Long Beach | Yes |
Veterans' Affairs | Wed. 5/5 | 10:00 am | Health Effects of the Vietnam War – The Aftermath | Yes |
Judiciary | Wed. 5/5 | 10:15 am | The United States Patent and Trademark Office | Yes |
Education and Labor | Wed. 5/5 | 10:30 am | Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee: Hearing on H.R. 3721, Protecting Older Workers Against Discrimination Act | Yes |
Joint Economic | Wed. 5/5 | 1:00 pm | Avoiding Another Lost Decade: How to Promote Job Creation | Yes |
Small Business | Wed. 5/5 | 1:00 pm | Tax Initiatives that Promote Small Business Growth | No |
Judiciary | Wed. 5/5 | 2:00 pm | Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties: Electronic Communications Privacy Act Reform | Yes |
Oversight and Government Reform | Wed. 5/5 | 2:00 pm | Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia Subcommittee: Housing D.C. Code Felons Far Away From Home: Effects on Crime, Recidivism and Reentry | Yes |
Energy and Commerce | Thurs. 5/6 | 10:00 am | Subcommittee on Health: Hearing on H.R. 4700, The Transparency In All Health Care Pricing Act Of 2010; H.R. 2249, The Health Care Price Transparency Promotion Act Of 2009; And H.R. 4803, The Patients’ Right To Know Act | Yes |
Financial Services | Thurs. 5/6 | 10:00 am | Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations: The End of Excess (Part One): Reversing Our Addiction to Debt and Leverage | Yes |
Foreign Affairs | Thurs. 5/6 | 10:00 am | Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade: The Future of U.S. International Nuclear Cooperation | ??? |
Foreign Affairs | Thurs. 5/6 | 10:00 am | Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights and Oversight AND Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment Joint Hearing: U.S. Leadership in the International Whaling Commission and H.R. 2455, International Whale Conservation and Protection Act of 2009 | ??? |
Natural Resources | Thurs. 5/6 | 10:00 am | Subcommittee on Insular Affairs, Oceans and Wildlife: Legislative Hearing On H.R. 2864, H.R. 3805 And H.R. 4973 | Yes |
Oversight and Government Reform | Thurs. 5/6 | 10:00 am | Full Committee Markup | Yes |
Transportation and Infrastructure | Thurs. 5/6 | 10:00 am | Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management: Priorities for Disasters and Economic Disruption: The Proposed FY2011 Budgets for FEMA and EDA | Yes |
Veterans' Affairs | Thurs. 5/6 | 10:00 am | Subcommittee on Economic Opportunity: Vocational Rehabilitation and Employment Program | Yes |
Ways and Means | Thurs. 5/6 | 10:00 am | Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support: The Solvency of the Unemployment Insurance System | ??? |
Energy and Commerce | Thurs. 5/6 | 11:00 am | Subcommittee on Commerce, Trade, and Consumer Protection: Hearing on H.R. __, The Motor Vehicle Safety Act | ??? |
House Administration | Thurs. 5/6 | 11:00 am | H.R. 5175, The DISCLOSE ACT, (Democracy is Strengthened by Casting Light on Spending in Elections) | Yes |
Judiciary | Thurs. 5/6 | 11:00 am | Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law: State Taxation: The Role Of Congress In Developing Apportionment Standards | Yes |
Energy and Commerce | Thurs. 5/6 | 2:00 pm | Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations: The Role And Performance Of FDA In Ensuring Food Safety | Yes |
Veterans' Affairs | Thurs. 5/6 | 2:00 pm | Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs: Quality vs. Quantity: Examining the Veterans Benefits Administration’s Employee Work Credit and Management Systems | Yes |
Joint Economic | Fri. 5/7 | 9:30 am | The employment situation for April | Yes |
Senate
Committee | Date | Time | Purpose | View Online? |
Judiciary | Mon. 5/3 | 9:00 am | Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs: Field Hearing in Philadelphia, PA: Helping Find Innovative and Cost Effective Solutions to Overburdened State Criminal Courts | No |
Judiciary | Tues. 5/4 | 9:30 am | Subcommittee on Crime and Drugs: Field Hearing in Philadelphia, PA: Wall Street Fraud and Fiduciary Duties: Can Jail Time Serve as an Adequate Deterrent for Willful Violations? | Yes |
Finance | Tues. 5/4 | 10:00 am | The President’s Proposed Fee on Financial Institutions Regarding TARP: Part 2 | Yes |
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions | Tues. 5/4 | 2:00 pm | ESEA Reauthorization: Improving America's Secondary Schools | Yes |
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs | Tues. 5/4 | 2:30 pm | Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia: Work-Life Programs: Attracting, Retaining and Empowering the Federal Workforce | Yes |
Select Intelligence | Tues. 5/4 | 2:30 pm | Closed Hearing: Intelligence Matters | No |
Appropriations | Wed. 5/5 | 9:30 am | Labor, HHS, and Education Subcommittee: FY 2011 Budget Request for the National Institutes of Health | No |
Veterans' Affairs | Wed. 5/5 | 9:30 am | TBI - Progress in Treating the Signature Wound of the Current Conflicts | Yes |
Environment and Public Works | Wed. 5/5 | 10:00 am | Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety: Oversight Hearing: Nuclear Regulatory Commission | Yes |
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs | Wed. 5/5 | 10:00 am | Terrorists and Guns: The Nature of the Threat and Proposed Reforms | Yes |
Judiciary | Wed. 5/5 | 10:00 am | The Increased Importance of the Violence Against Women Act in a Time of Economic Crisis | Yes |
Rules and Administration | Wed. 5/5 | 10:00 am | Voting By Mail: An Examination of State and Local Experiences | Yes |
Appropriations | Wed. 5/5 | 10:30 am | Defense Subcommittee: Closed Briefing with General David Petraeus of the Central Command, Admiral Eric T. Olson of the Special Ops Command, and General William E. Ward of the African Command | No |
Energy and Natural Resources | Wed. 5/5 | 2:30 pm | National Parks Subcommittee: National Park Service’s implementation of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act | Yes |
Appropriations | Thurs. 5/6 | 9:30 am | Transportation, Housing and Urban Development Subcommittee: FY 2011 budget proposals to support the Interagency Partnership for Sustainable Communities | No |
Energy and Natural Resources | Thurs. 5/6 | 9:30 am | Markup to consider cleared legislative agenda items, and the nominations of Philip D. Moeller and Cheryl A. LaFleur, to be Members of the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission AND Hearing on current issues related to offshore oil and gas development | Yes |
Environment and Public Works | Thurs. 5/6 | 9:30 am | Water Resources Development Act of 2010: Jobs and Economic Opportunities | Yes |
Foreign Relations | Thurs. 5/6 | 9:30 am | Afghanistan's Marjah district | Yes |
Appropriations | Thurs. 5/6 | 10:00 am | Commerce, Justice, Science Subcommittee: FY 2011 budget request for the Department of Justice | No |
Commerce, Science and Transportation | Thurs. 5/6 | 10:00 am | America Wins when America Competes: Building a High-Tech Workforce | Yes |
Health, Education, Labor and Pensions | Thurs. 5/6 | 10:00 am | Ensuring Fairness for Older Workers | Yes |
Judiciary | Thurs. 5/6 | 10:00 am | Markup of: I. Nominations: Kimberly J. Mueller, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of California; Richard Mark Gergel, to be United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina; J. Michelle Childs, to be United States District Judge for the District of South Carolina; Catherine C. Eagles, to be United States District Judge for the Middle District of North Carolina; Parker L. Carl, to be the United States Marshal for the Eastern District of Kentucky; Gerald S. Holt, to be the United States Marshal for the Western District of Virginia; Robert R. Almonte, to be the United States Marshal for the Western District of Texas; and II. Bills: S.1346, Crimes Against Humanity Act; and H.R. 3237, A bill to enact certain laws relating to national and commercial space programs as title 51, United States Code, National and Commercial Space Programs | Yes |
Armed Services | Thurs. 5/6 | 2:30 pm | Seapower Subcommittee: Navy shipbuilding programs in review of the Defense Authorization Request for Fiscal Year 2011 and the Future Years Defense Program | Yes |
Select Intelligence | Thurs. 5/6 | 2:30 pm | Closed Hearing: Intelligence Matters | No |