Recapping Last Week in Congress
Not a terribly productive week in the House last time around. Well—terrible, yes; productive, no. The major output of last week was the "Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act." That'll give you the flavor of the important stuff on the front burner last week. The dubiously-named EPA Regulatory Relief Act" didn't even make it all the way through the House last week, and returns for completion this week.
The Senate was similarly unproductive, though that's not nearly as unusual for the upper chamber. The bulk of the week went into positioning the "Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act" for a vote, and that, too, will be carried over into this week. But there were some procedural fireworks last week that were worth special mention. Here's my write up from Thursday to catch up on those developments.
This Week in Congress
The House has an impressive-looking schedule this week, just in sheer size. But considering the national political situation, the occupation of pretty much everywhere, and the general outcry for action on jobs, a schedule of six suspensions, three free trade pacts (Colombia, Panama and South Korea), still more EPA gutting (the "EPA Regulatory Relief Act", and the "Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act"), and an abortion ban (the "Protect Life Act") seems singularly out of tune.
The Senate also takes on an ambitious schedule this week. Well, for the Senate, anyway. A judicial confirmation, passage of the anti-currency manipulation bill, and... cloture on a motion to proceed to the American Jobs Act.
Today being the federal Columbus Day holiday, neither house convenes for actual voting business this week until Tuesday.
Full floor and committee schedules are below the fold.
In the House, courtesy of the Office of the Democratic Whip:
THE WEEKLY WHIP: FRIDAY, OCTOBER 7, 2011
First Vote Of The Week: Tuesday 6:30 p.m.
Last Vote Predicted: Friday 3:00 p.m.
MONDAY, OCTOBER 10, 2011
On Monday, the House is not in session
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 11, 2011
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for Morning Hour debate and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business with votes postponed until 6:30 p.m. Members are advised that the vote series at 6:30 p.m. is expected to be longer than usual.
Suspensions (6 Bills)
- H.R. 2433 - Veterans Opportunity to Work Act of 2011, as amended (Rep. Miller (FL) - Veterans’ Affairs)
- H.R. 2074 - Veterans Sexual Assault Prevention Act, as amended (Rep. Buerkle - Veterans’ Affairs)
- H.R. 2302 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to notify Congress of conferences sponsored by the Department of Veterans Affairs (Rep. Stutzman - Veterans’ Affairs)
- H.R. 2349 - Veterans' Benefits Training Improvement Act of 2011(Rep. Runyan - Veterans’ Affairs)
- H.R. 1263 - To amend the Servicemembers Civil Relief Act to provide surviving spouses with certain protections relating to mortgages and mortgage foreclosures (Rep. Filner - Veterans’ Affairs)
- H.R. 1025 - To amend title 38, United States Code, to recognize the service in the reserve components of certain persons by honoring them with status as veterans under law (Rep. Walz - Veterans’ Affairs)
Complete Consideration of H.R. 2250 - EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011 (Rep. Griffith - Energy and Commerce)
The Rule provides for no further general debate and makes in order only those amendments that have been pre-printed in the Congressional Record.
Begin Consideration of H.R. 3078 - United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (Rep. Cantor - Ways and Means) (Subject to a Rule, 90 minutes of debate)
Begin Consideration of H.R. 3079 - United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (Rep. Cantor - Ways and Means) (Subject to a Rule, 90 minutes of debate)
Begin Consideration of H.R. 3080 - United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (Rep. Cantor - Ways and Means) (Subject to a Rule, 90 minutes of debate)
Begin Consideration of the Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2832 - To extend the Generalized System of Preferences, and for other purposes (Rep. Camp - Ways and Means) (Subject to a Rule, 1 hour of debate)
WEDNESDAY, OCTOBER 12, 2011 AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for Morning Hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business with last votes no later than 3:00 p.m.
Complete Consideration of H.R. 3078 - United States-Colombia Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (Rep. Cantor - Ways and Means) (Subject to a Rule)
Complete Consideration of H.R. 3079 - United States-Panama Trade Promotion Agreement Implementation Act (Rep. Cantor - Ways and Means) (Subject to a Rule)
Complete Consideration of H.R. 3080 - United States-Korea Free Trade Agreement Implementation Act (Rep. Cantor - Ways and Means) (Subject to a Rule)
Complete Consideration of the Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment to H.R. 2832 - To extend the Generalized System of Preferences, and for other purposes (Rep. Camp - Ways and Means) (Subject to a Rule)
H.R. 358 - Protect Life Act (Rep. Pitts – Energy and Commerce/Ways and Means) (Subject to a Rule)
H.R. 2273 - Coal Residuals Reuse and Management Act (Rep. McKinley - Energy and Commerce)(Subject to a Rule)
In the Senate, courtesy of the Office of the Majority Leader:
Senate Floor Schedule for Tuesday, October 11, 2011
The Senate stands adjourned until 12:00pm on Friday, October 7, 2011 for a pro-forma session only with no business conducted.
The Senate will reconvene at 2:00pm on Tuesday, October 11, 2011. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 5:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
Following morning business, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider Executive Calendar #250, Jane Margaret Triche-Milazzo, to be US District Judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana with two minutes of debate equally divided and controlled between Senators Leahy and Grassley.
At approximately 5:30pm, the Senate will conduct 3 roll call votes in relation to the following:
- confirmation of Executive Calendar #250, Jane Margaret Triche-Milazzo, to be US District Judge for the E.D. of Louisiana,
- passage of S.1618, the Currency Exchange Rate Oversight Reform Act and
- motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to S.1660, the American Jobs Act.