Analysis provided by Heritage Action for America.
House Cloakroom: April 4 – April 8, 2011
Analysis:
An interesting week in the House of Representatives is brewing as they return to action Monday morning to tackle a variety of issues. The current continuing resolution (CR) expires on April 8th, thus all eyes will be on if a deal will be struck with negotiations between House leadership and Senate Democrats and the White House or a potential shutdown could occur.
Tuesday evening, a vote is expected on a House Joint Resolution disapproving the rule submitted by the FCC with respect to regulating the internet and broadband industry practices known as net neutrality.
On Thursday, the House is expected to take up the Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011. This measure would prohibit the EPA from pursing its climate change agenda for regulating greenhouse gases under the Clean Air Act.
Major Floor Action:
- HR 910 – Energy Tax Prevention Act of 2011
- H.J. Res. 37 – A resolution disapproving the rule submitted by the Federal Communications Commission with respect to regulating the Internet and broadband industry practices.
Major Committee Action:
- The House Education & the Workforce will hold a full committee hearing on “Federal Education and Workforce Programs and Government Waste” and another hearing on “Education Flexibility and Innovation”.
- The House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a full committee markup hearing on “Defunding Health Care Overhaul”.
- The House Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises will have a markup hearing on “Overhaul of Housing Related Government-Sponsored Enterprises”.
- The House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources will hold a hearing on “Offshore Drilling Legislation”.
- The House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Trade will hold a hearing on the “South Korean Trade Agreement”.
Senate Cloakroom: April 4 – April 8, 2010
Analysis:
In what is beginning to become the norm in Washington, the Senate made very little progress on the Small Business bill last week. There was a bit of a logjam regarding which amendments would be allowed to be brought up on the Floor for a vote, but it looks like that dam burst late last week and there should be more movement on amendments this week, including both the McConnell EPA amendment and a vote on H.R. 4, which repeals the 1099 reporting requirement imposed by the passage of Obamacare a year ago.
We will also see much discussion from Members this week on the next steps regarding the Continuing Resolution since the current short-term CR expires this Friday.
Major Floor Action:
- S. 493: SBIR/STTR Reauthorization Act of 2011
Major Committee Action:
- A hearing on the Defense Authorization bill will be held on Tuesday, April 5th in the Senate Armed Services Committee.
- The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will discuss state and local perspectives on transportation in a hearing held on Wednesday, April 6.
- The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on biofuel, specifically biofuel programs and infrastructure issues on Thursday, April 7.
- The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will begin a series of hearings on securing our nation’s border also on Thursday the 7th. This hearing will focus on progress being made at the local level.