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Below is the <a href="https://www.bakerlaw.com/FederalPolicy">federal policy</a> team’s weekly preview, published each week that Congress is in session.

HEADLINES
• Christine Blasey Ford, who has accused Supreme Court nominee Judge Brett Kavanaugh of sexual misconduct when both were in high school, is scheduled to testify before the Senate Judiciary Committee. Kavanaugh will testify after her and deny the accusation.
• President Donald Trump will attend and speak at the United Nations General Assembly.
• The House expects a busy week, including funding the government, before likely adjourning until after November’s elections.


HOUSE
<ul>
 	<li>The House plans to vote Tuesday through Friday in what lawmakers expect to be their final week in session until after the midterm elections. The <a href="https://www.majorityleader.gov/weekly-schedule/">agenda</a> includes legislation to fund the government through early December, a bill reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration and Republicans’ “Tax Reform 2.0” legislation.</li>
 	<li>House and Senate lawmakers are also working to finalize legislation to address opioid abuse, but a vote this week appears to be a long shot.</li>
 	<li>House Democrats plan to vote on a change to their caucus rules, to increase the threshold of required support for a House speaker nominee to a majority of the House rather than a majority of their caucus – which is seen as a move that could stop Rep. Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) from being elected speaker if Democrats win the House majority.</li>
 	<li>A full listing of House committee activity can be found <a href="https://docs.house.gov/Committee/Calendar/ByWeek.aspx?WeekOf=09232018_09292018">here</a>.</li>
</ul>
SENATE
<ul>
 	<li>The Senate is slated to be in session <a href="https://www.senate.gov/legislative/calendars.htm">through Friday</a>. Floor votes are focused on agency nominees, but senators will be preoccupied by turmoil surrounding Judge Kavanaugh’s Supreme Court nomination.</li>
 	<li>The Senate Judiciary Committee on Thursday <a href="https://www.judiciary.senate.gov/meetings/nomination-of-the-honorable-brett-m-kavanaugh-to-be-an-associate-justice-of-the-supreme-court-of-the-united-states-day-5">plans to meet</a> to hear from Kavanaugh and his accuser, Dr. Christine Blasey Ford. But separate allegations that emerged Sunday night from Kavanaugh’s college years could further complicate the schedule and even threaten his nomination.</li>
 	<li>The Finance Committee on Wednesday will hold a <a href="https://www.finance.senate.gov/hearings/impact-of-tariffs-on-the-us-automotive-industry">hearing</a> to examine the impact of tariffs on the American automotive industry.</li>
 	<li>The current listing of Senate committee activity can be found <a href="https://www.senate.gov/committees/hearings_meetings.htm">here</a>.</li>
</ul>
WHITE HOUSE
<ul>
 	<li>President Donald Trump will be in New York this week attending the United Nations General Assembly. He has meetings planned with several heads of state and will address the General Assembly on Tuesday.</li>
 	<li>The White House has remained resolute on Kavanaugh’s nomination, even as new allegations emerged Sunday night.</li>
 	<li>Congressional leadership has been nervous that Trump will reject an extension of government funding that does not include funding for his U.S.-Mexico border wall – he may attack the bill on Twitter, but ultimately lawmakers expect he will sign it before funding expires Sept. 30.</li>
</ul>

The Weekly Hill Update