House Analysis –
All eyes continue to be on health care as Congressional leaders continue to work towards an agreement. The war in Afghanistan and the coming troop decisions by the administration continue to weigh heavy on Members minds especially following leaked reports of the assessment by General McChrystal.
Major House Floor Action –
The schedule for the floor appears to be unknown at this point as Congressional leaders have not worked out an agreement concerning earmarks and appointing conferees for the appropriations bills. There are several appropriations bills waiting to be conferenced by the two chambers including Agriculture (HR 2997), Energy-Water (HR 3183), Homeland Security (HR 2892), Transportation-HUD (HR 3288) and Interior-Environment (HR 2996).
Major House Committee Action –
House Armed Services Committee will hold two major committee hearings next week. In the first General Ray Odierno will brief the members on the ongoing operations in Iraq. The next day the committee will hear from a group of administration officials concerning the abandonment of the Third Site missile defense system in Poland and the Czech Republic.
The House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing on the Consumer Financial Protection Agency proposed by Chairman Barney Frank (D-MA). Heritage Senior Fellow, David John, has been asked to testify at this hearing.
