Congress returns from its one-week President’s Day recess this week. The President’s budget request for Fiscal Year (FY) 2017 remains a focus of committee activity this week. In floor activities, the Senate will consider the nomination of the Food and Drug Administration Commissioner, while the House will focus on a number of suspensions and a bill to address fraudulent joinder for the purpose of defeating diversity jurisdiction.
The Senate is scheduled to return to legislative business on Monday, with a cloture vote expected on the nomination of Dr. Robert Califf to serve as Commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Should the motion achieve the necessary 60 votes, as expected the Senate will move to a final vote on the nomination later this week. Even though Dr. Califf’s nomination was reported unanimously by the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) Committee last month and he is not considered a controversial pick, his nomination has since stalled, with Senators from both parties placing holds on the nomination for assorted reasons. Concerns have ranged from the FDA’s policy on prescription opioids and Dr. Califf’s relationship with the pharmaceutical industry to the FDA’s policy on the labeling of genetically modified salmon.
Following the consideration of Dr. Califf’s nomination this week, the Senate may also resume consideration of the comprehensive energy legislation that stalled earlier this month over an amendment to provide emergency funding to Flint, Michigan to assist with its water supply. The Senate may also take up S. 524, the Comprehensive Addiction and Recovery Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at combating widespread opioid and heroin abuse that has been afflicting communities across the United States. S. 524 would authorize grants to states to train first responders for naloxone use (medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose), implement and expand medication-assisted treatment for those addicted to opioids, expand programs to dispose of unwanted prescription drugs, and fund treatment alternatives to incarceration for addicts. This legislation was reported unanimously out of the Senate Judiciary Committee earlier this month but has become the subject of a tug-of-war between the parties over a Democratic plan to add $600 million in emergency funds to the bill for opioid-addiction programs. Republicans oppose the added funding, and unless a compromise is reached, the bill may fall victim to the dispute.
The House is scheduled to return on Tuesday and will consider five bills, four from the Homeland Security Committee, under suspension of the rules. On Wednesday, the House will tackle another eight bills, seven from the Natural Resources Committee, under suspension of the rules. On Thursday and Friday the House will consider two bills subject to rules on floor debate. The first is H.R. 3624, a bill sponsored by Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO). As the bill’s title indicates, the legislation addresses instances of so-called “fraudulent joinder” in in which a party is sued in order to defeat federal jurisdiction by obviating complete diversity, thereby allowing the case to remain in state court. The bill would provide an avenue by which federal judges could keep jurisdiction in federal court. The bill enjoys support from businesses who are typically defendants; the plaintiffs’ bar opposes the bill. That dynamic produces the partisan divide between Republicans who support the bill and Democrats who oppose it. The Judiciary Committee reported the bill on a partisan 13-10 vote. The legislation is unlikely to garner the 60 votes it would need in the Senate to pass, so the House action this week is likely the last action on the bill for the year.
The House is expected to consider H.R. 2406, the Sportsmen’s Heritage and Recreational Enhancement (SHARE) Act of 2015, introduced by Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA). This bill is a package of proposals aimed at supporting access to hunting and fishing on public lands. It is opposed by many wildlife and conservation groups as well as environmental organizations. The bill was approved by the Natural Resources Committee on a partisan 21-15 vote, and previously passed the House in the 113th Session of Congress by a vote of 268-154.
It will be a busy week for both House and Senate authorizing and appropriating committees as they continue to hold hearings focused on the President’s FY 2017 Budget Request. Many of President Obama’s cabinet members and agency directors are scheduled to appear on both sides of the Capitol throughout the week to provide testimony on the merits of the budget proposal and highlight areas of potential compromise as Congress begins to formulate its own budget for FY 2017. Hearing witnesses include Office of Management and Budget Director Shaun Donovan, Secretary of State John Kerry, Secretary of Defense Ashton Carter, Attorney General Loretta Lynch, Secretary of Health and Human Services Sylvia Burwell, Secretary of Transportation Anthony Foxx, and Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker, among others.
Related to the President’s cabinet, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will hold a confirmation hearing this week for Dr. John King to serve as Secretary of Education.
Other notable events include two Wednesday hearings on the global Zika Virus outbreak and growing public health threat. Both the Senate HELP and the House Oversight and Government Affairs Committee will be meeting with health and science agency experts to discuss a coordinated response to the infectious disease. No doubt there will be sharp debate over President Obama’s recent request for $1.8 billion in emergency funding from Congress to help fight the Zika virus abroad and prepare to control any growth of the disease within the United States. There has not been a confirmed case of the Zika virus in the United States through transmission by a mosquito, but the warmer weather of spring and summer seasons will bring a greater mosquito population in the country. U.S. public health agencies are already working to monitor the outbreaks occurring around the world and coordinate a response. The $1.8 billion funding request is expected to accelerate the response timeline, with mosquito control, training programs and laboratory capacity to test for the virus. Several congressional Republicans have suggested rather than providing new funding to curtail the Zika virus, Congress should instead shift unused funds allocated to fight the Ebola virus after an outbreak occurred in 2014. Others are requesting that any allocated funds be offset with cuts elsewhere in the budget.
Of final note is a Thursday hearing in the House Judiciary Committee on law enforcement’s access to the content of electronic communications. Although the Thursday hearing focuses on access to electronic communications data maintained abroad, it comes in the context of the dispute over Apple’s rejection of a federal court order to assist the FBI to unlock the phone of one of the San Bernardino shooters. The hearing follows two prior Judiciary Committee hearings this session on telecommunications eavesdropping and precedes a hearing the following week on encryption issues more closely related to the Apple situation.
The full details for these hearings and other congressional hearings for the week ahead are included below:
Monday, February 22, 2016
House Committees
The Empire (State) Strikes Back: Creating 21st Century Manufacturing Opportunities in New York City
House Small Business
Full Committee Field Hearing
10 a.m., City Hall, New York City Council Chambers, New York, NY 10007
Overcoming Challenges to Exporting for Small Businesses
House Small Business – Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and Trade
Subcommittee Field Hearing
2 p.m., Bramson Ort College, 69-30 Austin St., Forest Hills, NY 11375
Tuesday, February 23, 2016
House Committees
OMB Budget
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
Subcommittee Hearing
3 p.m., 2359 Rayburn
Commerce Department Budget
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
4:30 p.m., H-309 The Capitol
Persian Gulf War Health Outcomes
House Veterans’ Affairs – Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Subcommittee Hearing
4:30 p.m., 334 Cannon Bldg.
Senate Committees
U.S. Pacific Command/U.S. Forces Korea
Senate Armed Services
Full Committee Hearing
9:30 a.m., G-50 Dirksen Bldg.
Passenger Rail: Opportunities and Challenges for the National Network
Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation – Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security
Subcommittee Hearing
9:45 a.m., 253 Russell Bldg.
Interior Department Budget
Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 366 Dirksen Bldg.
Examining the Opioid Epidemic: Challenges and Opportunities
Senate Finance
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 215 Dirksen Bldg.
State Department Budget
Senate Foreign Relations
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 419 Dirksen Bldg.
Every Student Succeeds Act Implementation
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 430 Dirksen Bldg.
Unaccompanied Children Crisis
Senate Judiciary
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 226 Dirksen Bldg.
VA Budget
Senate Veterans’ Affairs
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 418 Russell Bldg.
Department of Energy Atomic Energy Defense Activities Authorization
Senate Armed Services – Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
Subcommittee Hearing
2:30 p.m., 232-A Russell Bldg.
Defense Health Care Reform
Senate Armed Services – Subcommittee on Personnel
Subcommittee Hearing
2:30 p.m., G-50 Dirksen Bldg.
Magnus-Stevens Act at 40: Successes, Challenges and the Path Forward
Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation – Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard
Subcommittee Hearing
2:30 p.m., 253 Russell Bldg.
Intelligence Matters
Senate Select Intelligence
Full Committee Closed Briefing
2:30 p.m., 219 Hart Bldg.
Joint Hearings
Disabled American Veterans Legislative Presentation
House Veterans’ Affairs; Senate Veterans’ Affairs
Committees Joint Hearing
2 p.m., 345 Cannon Bldg.
Wednesday, February 24, 2016
House Committees
State of the Rural Economy
House Agriculture
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 1300 Longworth Bldg.
USDA Food and Nutrition Service Budget
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
10:15 a.m., 2362-A Rayburn Bldg.
Justice Department Budget
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
10:30 a.m., 2358-C Rayburn Bldg.
U.S. European Command Oversight
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Defense
Subcommittee Hearing (CLOSED)
11 a.m., H-140 The Capitol
Homeland Security Budget
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Homeland Security
Subcommittee Hearing
10 a.m., B-318 Rayburn Bldg.
U.S. Forest Service Budget
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
9:30 a.m., B-308 Rayburn Bldg.
State and Foreign Assistance Budget
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
Subcommittee Hearing
10 a.m., 2359 Rayburn Bldg.
Examining the Policies and Priorities of the U.S. Department of Education
House Education and the Workforce
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 2175 Rayburn Bldg.
HHS Budget
House Energy and Commerce – Subcommittee on Health
Subcommittee Hearing
10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn Bldg.
DOE for the 21st Century: Science, Environment, and National Security Missions
House Energy and Commerce – Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Subcommittee Hearing
10:30 a.m., 2123 Rayburn Bldg.
The Impact of the Dodd-Frank Act and Basel III on the Fixed Income Market and Securitizations
House Financial Services – Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises
Subcommittee Hearing
10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn Bldg.
H. Res. 148, H. Res. 551, and H.R. 4403
House Foreign Affairs
Full Committee Markup
10 a.m., 2172 Rayburn Bldg.
California Water Supply Outlook
House Natural Resources – Subcommittee on Water, Power and Oceans
Subcommittee Hearing
10 a.m., 1324 Longworth Bldg.
OPM Data Breach (Part III)
House Oversight and Government Reform
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn Bldg.
Unlocking the Secrets of the Universe: Gravitational Waves Discovery
House Science, Space and Technology
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn Bldg.
SBA Management
House Small Business
Full Committee Hearing
11 a.m., 2360 Rayburn
Water Resources Development/Army Corps of Engineers Report
House Transportation and Infrastructure – Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment
Subcommittee Hearing
10 a.m., 2167 Rayburn Bldg.
Global Tax Environment in 2016 and Implications for International Tax Reform
House Ways and Means
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 1100 Longworth Bldg.
USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service Budget
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
2:30 p.m., 2362-A Rayburn Bldg.
Transportation Budget
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
2 p.m., 2359 Rayburn Bldg.
Defense Science/Technology Programs
House Armed Services – Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
Subcommittee Hearing
2 p.m., 2212 Rayburn Bldg.
U.S. Strategic Forces Posture
House Armed Services – Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
Subcommittee Hearing
3:30 p.m., 2118 Rayburn Bldg.
Boko Haram: The Islamist Insurgency in West Africa
House Foreign Affairs – Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade
Subcommittee Hearing
2 p.m., 2200 Rayburn Bldg.
Establishing Accountability at the World Intellectual Property Organization: Illicit Technology Transfers, Whistleblowing, and Reform
House Foreign Affairs – Subcommittee on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations, Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific, Subcommittee on the Middle East and North Africa
Subcommittees Joint Hearing
2 p.m., 2172 Rayburn Bldg.
Impacts of Federal Regulations on Jobs, Wages, and Startups
House Judiciary – Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law
Subcommittee Hearing
3 p.m., 2141 Rayburn Bldg.
Legislative Hearing on H.R. 3477 and H.R. 3599
House Natural Resources – Subcommittee on Indian, Insular and Alaska Native Affairs
Subcommittee Hearing
2:30 p.m., 1324 Longworth Bldg.
President’s Environmental Mitigation Regulations
House Natural Resources – Subcommittee on Oversight & Investigations
Subcommittee Hearing
2 p.m., 1334 Longworth Bldg.
Zika Virus: Coordination of a Multi-Agency Response
House Oversight and Government Reform
Full Committee Hearing
2 p.m., 2154 Rayburn Bldg.
Defense Health Agency: Budgeting and Structure
House Armed Services
Full Committee Hearing
5 p.m., 2212 Rayburn Bldg.
Senate Committees
Army Budget
Senate Appropriations – Subcommittee on Defense
Subcommittee Hearing
10:30 a.m., 192 Dirksen Bldg.
Oversight of the Renewable Fuel Standard
Senate Environment and Public Works
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 406 Dirksen Bldg.
Zika Virus: Addressing the Growing Public Health Threat
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 430 Dirksen Bldg.
Unfunded Mandates Reform
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs – Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management
Subcommittee Hearing
10:30 a.m., 432 Dirksen Bldg.
Nuclear Regulatory Commission Budget
Senate Appropriations – Subcommittee on Energy & Water Development
Subcommittee Hearing
2:30 p.m., 138 Dirksen Bldg.
Homeland Security Budget
Senate Appropriations – Subcommittee on Homeland Security
Subcommittee Hearing
2:30 p.m., 192 Dirksen Bldg.
State Department Budget
Senate Appropriations – Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs
Subcommittee Hearing
2 p.m., 124 Dirksen Bldg.
Iran Intelligence and Unconventional Military Capabilities
Senate Armed Services – Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
Subcommittee Hearing (CLOSED)
2:30 p.m. SVC-217
Opioid Use Among Seniors
Senate Special Aging
Full Committee Hearing
2:30 p.m., 562 Dirksen Bldg.
Joint Hearings
American Legion Legislative Presentation
Senate Veterans’ Affairs; House Veterans’ Affairs
Committees Joint Hearing
10 a.m., 216 Hart Bldg.
Thursday, February 25, 2016
House Committees
G-20 Swap Data Reporting Goals Review
House Agriculture – Subcommittee on Commodity Exchanges, Energy, and Credit
Subcommittee Hearing
10 a.m., 1300 Longworth Bldg.
FDA Budget
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
10:30 a.m., 2362-A Rayburn Bldg.
Defense Budget
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Defense
Subcommittee Hearing
10 a.m., 2359 Rayburn Bldg.
Indian Health Service Budget
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
9 a.m., B-308 Rayburn Bldg.
HHS Budget
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
10 a.m., 2358-C Rayburn Bldg.
VA Inspector General Oversight
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
9:30 a.m., 2362-B Rayburn Bldg.
Full Spectrum Security Challenges in Europe and their Effects on Deterrence and Defense
House Armed Services
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 2118 Rayburn Bldg.
Next Steps for K-12 Education: Upholding the Letter and Intent of the Every Student Succeeds Act
House Education and the Workforce
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 2175 Rayburn Bldg.
Foreign Affairs Budget
House Foreign Affairs
Full Committee Hearing
9:30 a.m., 2172 Rayburn Bldg.
Effect of Puerto Rico’s Debt on Bond Markets
House Financial Services – Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Subcommittee Hearing
10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn Bldg.
DHS Human Resources IT Management
House Homeland Security – Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency
Subcommittee Hearing
10 a.m., 311 Cannon Bldg.
International Conflicts of Law Concerning Cross-Border Data Flow and Law Enforcement Requests
House Judiciary
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 2141 Rayburn Bldg.
Treasury Analysis of the Situation in Puerto Rico
House Natural Resources
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 1324 Longworth Bldg.
The Space Leadership Preservation Act and the Need for Stability at NASA
House Science, Space & Technology
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn Bldg.
World Wide Threats Briefing
House Select Intelligence
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., HVC-210
Hotline Truths: Issues Raised by Recent Audits of Defense Contracting
House Small Business – Subcommittee on Contracting and Workforce
Subcommittee Hearing
10 a.m., 2360 Rayburn Bldg.
Pipeline Safety Program Reauthorization
House Transportation and Infrastructure – Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines and Hazardous Materials
Subcommittee Hearing
10 a.m.
Pending Legislation
House Veterans’ Affairs
Full Committee Markup
10:30 a.m., 334 Cannon Bldg.
FBI Budget
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
2 p.m., H-309 The Capitol
Consumer Product Safety Commission Budget
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
Subcommittee Hearing
2 p.m., HT-2 The Capitol
Office of Navajo/Hopi Indian Relocation Budget
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
1 p.m., B-308 Rayburn Bldg.
Navy Budget/Seapower-Projection Forces
House Armed Services – Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces
Subcommittee Hearing
2 p.m., 2212 Rayburn Bldg.
The Impact of International Regulatory Standards on the Competitiveness of U.S. Insurers: Part II
House Financial Services – Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance
Subcommittee Hearing
2 p.m., 2128 Rayburn Bldg.
Emerging Cyber Threats
House Homeland Security – Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Security Technologies
Subcommittee Hearing
2 p.m., 311 Cannon Bldg.
Affordable Care Act Co-Ops Review
House Oversight and Government Reform
Full Committee Hearing
2 p.m.
Senate Committees
Justice Department Budget
Senate Appropriations – Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
10:30 a.m., 192 Dirksen Bldg.
Pending Nominations
Senate Armed Services
Full Committee Hearing
9:30 a.m., G-50 Dirksen Bldg.
Connecting Patients to New Treatments
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 324 Dirksen Bldg.
U.S. Patent System Changes
Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 428-A Russell Bldg.
King Nomination (Sec. of Education)
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Full Committee Hearing
2 p.m., 430 Dirksen Bldg.
Next Steps to Improving Justice Systems in Indian Communities
Senate Indian Affairs
Full Committee Hearing
1:30 p.m., 216 Hart Bldg.
High-Skilled Immigration Impact on U.S. Workers
Senate Judiciary – Subcommittee on Immigration and the National Interest
Subcommittee Hearing
2:30 p.m., 226 Dirksen Bldg.
Intelligence Matters
Senate Select Intelligence
Full Committee Closed Briefing
2:00 p.m., 219 Hart Bldg.
Friday, February 26, 2016
House Committees
USDA Natural Resources/Environment Budget
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
9:30 a.m., 2362-A Rayburn Bldg.
Army Corps of Engineers Budget
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
Subcommittee Hearing
9:30 a.m., 2359 Rayburn
Military Quality of Life Oversight
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
9:30 a.m., 2362-B Rayburn Bldg.
Department of the Army 2017 Budget Request and Readiness
House Armed Services – Subcommittee on Readiness
Subcommittee Hearing
8 a.m., 2118 Rayburn Bldg.
Ensuring Medical Readiness in the Future
House Armed Services – Subcommittee on Military Personnel
Subcommittee Hearing
9:30 a.m., 2212 Rayburn Bldg.
Agriculture and Food Security
House Homeland Security – Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications
Subcommittee Hearing
9 a.m.
Oversight of Federal Vehicles
House Oversight and Government Reform – Subcommittee on Transportation and Public Assets
Subcommittee Hearing
9 a.m., 2154 Rayburn Bldg.