House and Senate Cloakroom: July 19-23
Maggie Piggott /
House Cloakroom: July 19-23
Analysis:
Only two legislative weeks remain until the House adjourns for the August recess on August 2nd – a week earlier than expected. This coming week, the House may consider H.R. 5618, the Restoration of Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act – legislation which would extend unemployment benefits through November 2010. Without offsetting spending cuts, the bill would add $34 billion to the deficit over 10 years. Potential legislation for next week also includes H.R. 2693 and H.R. 5716, two bills related to the Gulf oil spill. H.R. 5716 threatens to reduce funding for deepwater drilling research and development technology. Finally, the Department of Defense continues to wait for an emergency war supplemental bill for our military efforts in Afghanistan & Iraq. The bill is currently stalled in the Senate after the House passed version of the bill for $75 billion included $33 billion to conduct ongoing war operations while the rest of the spending included items such as a $10 billion bailout to the states. As it stands, the House bill would add an additional $60 billion to the deficit.
Major Floor Action:
- H.R. 5618 – Restoration of Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act
- H.R. 2693 – Federal Oil Spill Research Program Act
- H.R. 5716 – Safer Oil and Natural Gas Drilling Technology Research and Development Act
Major Committee Action:
- The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment will hold a joint hearing on the role of the Interior Department in the Deepwater Horizon Disaster.
- The House Oversight & Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs will hold a briefing on “Rethinking the Defense Budget”.
- The House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on ensuring justice for Gulf Coast oil spill victims. (more…)