Congressional Record: Schedule for Next Week

(from the Congressional Record Daily Digest May 20, 2005)

CONGRESSIONAL PROGRAM AHEAD

Week of May 23 through May 28, 2005

Senate Chamber

On Monday, at 11:30 a.m., Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Priscilla Richman Owen, of Texas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit. Also, at 5:30 p.m., Senate will vote on a motion to instruct the Sergeant at Arms to request the attendance of absent Senators.

On Tuesday, Senate will continue consideration of the nomination of Priscilla Richman Owen, of Texas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit, with a vote on the motion to invoke cloture to occur thereon.

(Next week's interesting committee meetings below the fold)

Committee meetings of interest:

SENATE COMMITTEES

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs:
  May 24, Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia, to hold an oversight hearing to examine a review of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, focusing on safeguarding the merit system by protecting federal employees and applicants from prohibited personnel practices, especially reprisal for whistleblowing, 10 a.m., SD-562.

Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation:
  May 26, Subcommittee on Aviation, to hold hearings to examine aviation capacity and congestion challenges regarding summer 2005 and future demand, 10 a.m., SR-253.

Select Committee on Intelligence:
  May 24, to resume hearings to examine the USA Patriot Act (P.L. 107Ð56), 9:30 a.m., SD-106.
  May 25, Full Committee, to hold closed hearings to examine certain intelligence matters, 9:30 a.m., SH-219.
  May 26, Full Committee, closed business meeting to consider certain intelligence matters, 9 a.m., SH-219.

Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs:
  May 26, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, to hold hearings  to examine the container security initiative and the customs-trade  partnership against terrorism, focusing on how Customs utilizes  container security initiative and customs trade partnership against  terrorism in connection with its other enforcement programs and  review the requirements for and challenges involved in transitioning  these from promising risk management concepts to effective and  sustained enforcement operations, 9:30 a.m., SD-562.

Committee on Energy and Natural Resources:
  May 25, Full Committee, business meeting to consider comprehensive energy legislation, 9:30 a.m., SD-366.
  May 26, Full Committee, business meeting to consider comprehensive energy legislation, 9:30 a.m., SD-366.

HOUSE COMMITTEES

Committee on Energy and Commerce:
  May 26, Subcommittee on Energy and Air Quality, hearing on the Administration's Clear Skies Initiative, 2 p.m., 2123 Rayburn.
  May 26, Subcommittee on Health, hearing entitled "The Threat of and Planning for Pandemic Flu," 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn

Committee on Homeland Security:
  May 25, Subcommittee on Intelligence, Information Sharing and Terrorism Risk Assessment, hearing entitled "Evaluating the Threat of Agro-Terrorism," 2 p.m., 210 Cannon.

Committee on the Judiciary:
  May 25, full Committee, to continue mark up of H.R. 800, "Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms Act;" and to mark up the
following measures: H.R. 420, Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act of 2005; H.R. 554, Personal Responsibility in Food Consumption Act; and H.J. Res. 10, Proposing an amendment to the Constitution of the United States authorizing the Congress to prohibit the physical desecration of the flag of the United States, 10 a.m., 2141 Rayburn.
  May 25, Subcommittee on Immigration, Border Security, and Claims, oversight hearing on the "Diversity Visa Program," 2:30 p.m., 2141 Rayburn.

Committee on Ways and Means:
  May 24, to mark up H.J. Res. 27, withdrawing the approval of the United States from the Agreement establishing the World Trade Organization, 10 a.m., 1100 Longworth.

The House will meet at 12:30 p.m. on Monday for Morning Hour debate and 2 p.m. for legislative
business.

•  Julia

  Also, at 5:30 p.m., Senate will vote on a motion to instruct the Sergeant at Arms to request the attendance of absent Senators.

  I've been curious about this ever since I heard Cornyn announce it on Friday.  Is this normal procedure when a vote of importance is expected to be taken and does it mean that the Seargeant at Arms rounds everybody up Tuesday or right then on Monday at 5:30?  

  Sorry to be so ignorant of procedure, but this detail has been niggling at me.  If it's not routine, does this mean Frist is worried some of his votes won't show Tuesday?

  by katerina on Sat May 21, 2005 at 11:34:49 PM PDT

  •  I have to say....

    ...that I'm not sure about that, either. I'm a self-taught student of Congress, so I have some large holes in my knowledge.

    It SOUNDS like a more-or-less routine procedure, kinda like calling the roll when they want to take a break, but it could be serious.

    I guess we just have to watch CSPAN2 and find out.

    by Julia Grey on Sun May 22, 2005 at 11:03:12 AM PDT

    •  Thanks!

      I still don't quite understand what it was all about, but someday I'll understand. <g>  Thanks for getting back to me.

      by katerina on Tue May 24, 2005 at 09:47:32 AM PDT

•  Judiciary Committee

  Marking up "Protection of Lawful Commerce in Arms", HR 800 -Protection for gun sellers.
  Mark up "Lawsuit Abuse Reduction Act". That's pretty much got to be bad news for consumers.
  Marking up "Personal Responsibility in Food Act"
  These Orwellian names are predictable, and I can guess the nature of the bills.
  Then there's the oversight of the 'Diversity Visa Program', didn't know we had one of those.
  And finally, Ways and Means to consider withdrawing from the WTO.
  Man these guys are radical, and life in the US is not getting better under them.

  by AWhitneyBrown on Sun May 22, 2005 at 12:06:25 AM PDT