Below is the Federal Policy team’s weekly preview, published each week when Congress is in session.
HEADLINES
• Delayed because of the partial government shutdown, President Donald Trump will deliver the State of the Union address on Tuesday.
• Congressional negotiators continue to discuss border security legislation as they seek to avert another government shutdown.
• House committees are filling the week with hearings promoting Democrats’ agenda, including on gun control, healthcare, climate, and oversight of the Trump administration.
HOUSE
- The House has votes planned Wednesday through Friday, with Trump’s speech taking over Tuesday in the House chamber. The agenda includes legislation to ensure child care for veterans during medical appointments.
- The Energy and Commerce Committee will hold hearings on climate change, the Affordable Care Act, family separation at the Mexican border and net neutrality.
- The Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing on presidential tax returns on Thursday.
- A comprehensive list of committee activity can be found here.
SENATE
- The Senate will reconvene today and wrap up consideration of a Middle East policy bill that was delayed by the shutdown.
- The Judiciary Committee plans to advance the nomination of William Barr to be attorney general, along with dozens of Trump judicial nominees.
- The Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will hold a hearing on Tuesday on primary care.
- The current list of Senate committee activity can be found here.
WHITE HOUSE
- Trump on Tuesday night will deliver his State of the Union address.
- Trump will speak at the National Prayer Breakfast on Thursday.
- Trump has said this week he will announce the time and place for a planned upcoming meeting with North Korea’s Kim Jong-un.
