Capitol Hill

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

  • President Joe Biden on Tuesday will fulfill his constitutional obligation to “give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient.”
  • Washington is in a furor over China sending a surveillance balloon over the United States and the White House’s handling of the incursion and the decision to shoot it down.
  • Following his State of the Union address, Biden and his cabinet will fan out across the country, including presidential visits to Wisconsin and Florida, to promote his economic agenda.

HOUSE

  • The House is in session today through Thursday, taking up resolutions disapproving of recent actions by the District of Columbia Council.
  • Tomorrow, the House Oversight and Accountability Committee will hold a hearing with Customs and Border Protection patrol agents regarding the situation at the southern border.
  • The House Natural Resources Committee on Thursday will hold a hearing on “Unleashing America’s Energy and Mineral Potential.”
  • Additional committee meetings are listed here.

SENATE

  • The Senate will resume voting on Biden’s judicial nominees.
  • The Senate Commerce Committee on Thursday will hold a hearing on air travel and recent disruptions, featuring testimony from Southwest Airlines Chief Operating Officer Andrew Watterson.
  • Also Thursday, the Foreign Relations Committee will hold a previously scheduled hearing on U.S.-China policy, sure to focus heavily on China’s surveillance balloon incursion.
  • Additional Senate committee meetings can be found here.

WHITE HOUSE

  • The president will deliver his State of the Union address Tuesday night.
  • Wednesday, Biden will tout his economic plans in Madison, Wisconsin.
  • Thursday, in Tampa, he will discuss Social Security and health care.