Below is the Federal Policy team’s weekly preview, published each week when Congress is in session.
HEADLINES
• Negotiations over border security legislation have stalled, casting doubt on government funding beyond this week.
• Both the House and Senate floor agendas are fluid, as lawmakers previously expected votes on a funding bill.
• The United States and China are continuing work toward a potential deal to end their trade war, with delegations meeting in Beijing this week.
HOUSE
- The House previously planned to be in session throughout the week, but canceled votes Tuesday to allow members to travel to Michigan for the funeral of former Rep. John Dingell, D-Mich. The House agenda includes a resolution directing the president to withdraw American forces from Yemen.
- The Ways and Means Committee will hold hearings on prescription drug costs and on the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act.
- Hearings on climate change are scheduled Tuesday in both the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Science Committee.
- A comprehensive list of committee activity can be found here.
SENATE
- The Senate is in session throughout the week and plans to vote on a bipartisan public lands bill, and may also take up the nomination of William Barr to be attorney general.
- The Senate Commerce Committee will hold a hearing Wednesday on infrastructure.
- The Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will hold a hearing Tuesday on opioids.
- The current list of Senate committee activity can be found here.
WHITE HOUSE
- Trump has a campaign rally scheduled tonight in El Paso, Texas.
- Tuesday he will host a Cabinet meeting, followed by a visit from the president of Colombia on Wednesday.
- Later in the week, U.S. Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin will join talks in Beijing aimed at easing bilateral trade tensions.
