Recapping Last Week in Congress
The House was not in session last week. They continue on their own merry way with their two weeks in, one week out schedule, uncoordinated with the other house, though that'll put them back in synch temporarily for the Easter/Passover break.
The Senate finally cut a deal on amendments and finished up its surface transportation authorization bill, culminating with a 74-22 vote on final passage, after spending over a month on the floor.
There was also some progress (slow and maddening, of course) made on a raft of judicial nominations. Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) filed cloture motions on seventeen pending but stalled appointments, and was poised to call them up for votes one after the other, but an agreement was reached instead that allowed for votes on 14 of the 17 on a schedule stretched out over the two months. In exchange, Republicans get timely floor consideration for the minor (and bipartisan) financial market deregulation bill recently redubbed the "JOBS Act."
This Week in Congress
The House returns to DC today, but as usual comes in late in the afternoon (actually a couple hours later than usual for a Monday), and will take up two suspension bills. Tuesday brings just one more suspension, which makes me wonder whether they're running low on the kind of non-controversial stuff that keeps the gears turning during the first part of a typical business week. In fact, Tuesday's pretty picayune across the board, with the only other piece of legislation being a bill instructing the Secretary of the Interior to facilitate the transfer of a parcel of federal land in Accomack County, Virginia to the local government there.
The rest of the week is given over to H.R. 5. Yes, 5, which makes it one of the first and highest priority bills introduced in the current Congress, even though you've heard absolutely nothing about it for a year and a half. Well, I guess you've sort of heard something about it, if you count the random, blustering threats from Republicans to beat up lawyers and stuff. H.R. 5 is the "Help Efficient, Accessible, Low-cost, Timely Healthcare (HEALTH) Act." It's a bit of a strain as acronyms go. Help efficient, accessible, low-cost, timely healthcare... do what? Well, if you have to ask, you're a socialist, I guess. BANANAS score: 4. What does it do in order to help... all this stuff do... whatever? Nothing. It's a "tort reform" bill. You know the drill: can't sue after three years, cap on non-economic damages, proportional liability, etc., etc., etc. Same old song and dance as ever. Why it took them a year and a half to plate this garbage up for us, I have no idea.
The Senate's schedule is uncertain (as usual) beyond the planned consideration of the aforementioned financial deregulation bill, which Senate leadership is referring to as the "Capital Formation/IPO" bill. That's certainly a better description for it than "JOBS," which was always a stretch. No votes are expected today, but a cloture vote on a substitute amendment is set for Tuesday.
And though there's nothing on the schedule about them yet, the agreement on the judicial nominations was that another seven would come to the floor for votes before the upcoming April recess. That's in two weeks, so I'd expect to perhaps see a few of those nominations in the latter half of this week.
Full floor and committee schedules are below the fold.
In the House, courtesy of the Office of the Democratic Whip:
THE WEEKLY WHIP: FRIDAY, MARCH 16, 2012
First Vote Of The Week: Monday 6:30 p.m.
Last Vote Predicted: Thursday 3:00 p.m.
MONDAY, MARCH 19, 2012
On Monday, the House will meet at 4:00 p.m. for legislative business with votes postponed until 6:30 p.m.
Suspensions (2 Bills)
- H.R. 4086 - Foreign Cultural Exchange Jurisdictional Immunity Clarification Act (Rep. Chabot - Judiciary)
- H.R. 3992 - To allow otherwise eligible Israeli nationals to receive E-2 nonimmigrant visas if similarly situated United States nationals are eligible for similar nonimmigrant status in Israel (Rep. Berman - Judiciary)
TUESDAY, MARCH 20, 2012
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for Morning Hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.
Suspension (1 Bill)
- H.R. 665 - Excess Federal Building and Property Disposal Act, as amended (Rep. Chaffetz - Oversight and Government Reform)
H.R. 2087 - To remove restrictions from a parcel of land situated in the Atlantic District, Accomack County, Virginia (Rep. Rigell - Natural Resources) (Subject to a Rule)
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21, 2012 AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for Morning Hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. On Thursday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business with last votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m. On Friday, the House is not in session.
H.R. 5 - Protecting Access to Healthcare (PATH) Act (Rep. Gingrey - Energy and Commerce/Ways and Means/Judiciary) (Subject to a Rule)
In the Senate, courtesy of the
Office of the Majority Leader:
Senate Floor Schedule for Monday, March 19, 2012
Convenes: 2:00pm
Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in morning business until 4:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.
Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of H.R.3606, the Capital Formation/IPO bill.
The filing deadline for all first degree amendments to the Reed-Landrieu-Levin-Brown (OH), et al, substitute amendment #1833 and H.R.3630 is 4:00pm on Monday.
As previously announced, there will be no roll call votes on Monday. Senators should expect the next roll call vote on Tuesday, March 20th prior to the weekly caucus meetings.
Today's House committee schedule:
APPROPRIATIONS------------------------------------------------3:00-Open
Financial Services and General Government Subc. On the FY 2013 budget request for the Federal Communications Commission. Julius Genachowski, Chairman, FCC; Robert McDowell, Commissioner, FCC. 2359 RHOB.
ENERGY & COMMERCE--------------------------------------------3:00-Open
Health Subc. On reviewing efforts to prevent and treat traumatic brain injury. Dept. and public witnesses. 2123 RHOB.
RULES-----------------------------------------------------------5:00-Open
Full Committee. On H.R. 2087 – To Remove Restrictions From a Parcel of Land Situated in the Atlantic District, Accomack County, Virginia. H-313 Capitol.
SELECT INTELLIGENCE---------------------------------------------4:00-Ex.
Full Committee. On ongoing intelligence activities. HVC-304 Capitol.
No Senate committee meetings are scheduled for today.