The Weekly Hill Update

Below is this week’s congressional update by BakerHostetler’s Federal Policy team. We’ll continue to post in weeks when both chambers of Congress are in session.

HEADLINES

• Germany’s new Chancellor Olaf Scholz, two months into his tenure, will have his first visit with President Joe Biden.
• Congress is focused on funding the government, with a stopgap into March likely as lawmakers need more time to pass a long-term bill with current funding set to expire Feb. 18.
• Senators are also working toward a major package of sanctions on Russia, as the White House believes an invasion of Ukraine is imminent.

HOUSE

• The House is in session this evening through Wednesday. A short but busy week is set to include legislation addressing legal rights for victims of sexual assault and harassment, a postal reform bill, and the House also aims to take up a stopgap government funding bill.
• The Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee tomorrow will hold a hearing on Biden’s proposed Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H).
• Also tomorrow, the Transportation and Infrastructure Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee will hold a hearing on reauthorization of the Water Resources Development Act, which authorizes Army Corps of Engineers civil works projects.
• The current schedule of committee activity can be found here.

SENATE

• The Senate plans to continue votes on Biden’s judicial nominees, but can only pass noncontroversial legislation and nominees while Sen. Ben Ray Lujan, D-N.M., recovers from a stroke.
• Senators hope to clinch a deal on a bipartisan bill imposing tough sanctions on Russia, as officials warn an invasion of Ukraine could happen at any time.
• On Thursday, the Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on hydrogen power.
• The full list of this week’s committee meetings can be found here.

WHITE HOUSE

• Biden today will host Germany’s Chancellor Olaf Scholz, who is two months into his tenure succeeding 16-year leader Angela Merkel.
• Wednesday, Biden will meet with utilities CEOs to discuss his energy agenda.

Thursday, Biden plans to travel to promote his agenda – details are forthcoming.