The House & Senate are both in recess this week. They’ll be back in DC next Monday, February 27 to begin a six-week sprint toward a two-week recess around the Easter holiday in April. Check the blog again next Monday for an update on committee activities!
Author: McKinzie Strait
Trump Aims to Release FY18 Budget Outline in Mid-March
The Trump Administration is aiming to release its FY 2018 budget outline on March 14, an unnamed White House official told CQ over the weekend. The budget outline is not expected to be a comprehensive budget, but instead a “skinny” skeleton of what the Administration intends the full budget to look like. Some are expressing doubt that the Administration could make this soft deadline, given the new director of the Office of Management and Budget, Mick Mulvaney, was confirmed and sworn in just last week.
Trump Announces New Labor Secretary Pick
Today President Trump announced his new pick to head up the Department of Labor. Alexander Acosta, a former Justice Department official and current dean of Florida International University College of Law, is his new pick for labor secretary. The announcement comes one day after Trumps initial pick, Andrew Puzder, withdrew his nomination for the position. Senate Republicans did not have the votes to confirm Puzder, who drew criticism for hiring undocumented workers, failing to pay taxes on their employment, and being accused of domestic violence by his ex-wife (who later dropped the charges).
This Week in Congress, Feb. 13-17
Here is a selection of committee hearings that are taking place this week.
U.S. Senate
Senate Environment & Public Works
ENDANGERED SPECIES ACT MODERNIZATION
Feb. 15, 10 a.m., 406 Dirksen Bldg.
Full Committee Hearing
Senate Appropriations
MENTAL HEALTH CARE
Feb. 15, 10:30 a.m., 138 Dirksen Bldg.
Subcommittee Hearing
Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation
U.S. MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM
Feb. 15, 2:30 p.m., 253 Russell Bldg.
Subcommittee Hearing
Senate Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs
FEDERAL PROGRAM WASTE-FRAUD-MISMANAGEMENT
Feb. 15, 2:45 p.m., 342 Dirksen Bldg.
Full Committee Hearing
U.S. House of Representatives
House Science, Space & Technology
STRENGTHENING U.S. CYBERSECURITY
Feb. 14, 10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn Bldg.
Subcommittee Hearing
House Appropriations
MEMBER’S DAY
Feb. 15, 2 p.m., HT-2, U.S. Capitol
Subcommittee Hearing
House Energy & Commerce
MODERNIZING ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE
Feb. 15, 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn Bldg.
Subcommittee Hearing
House Ways & Means
THE GEOGRAPHY OF POVERTY
Feb. 15, 10 a.m., 1100 Longworth Bldg.
Subcommittee Hearing
House Appropriations
MEMBER’S DAY
Feb. 16, 9:30 a.m., HT-2, U.S. Capitol
Subcommittee Hearing
This Week in Congress, Feb. 6-10
Here’s a selection of committee hearings that are taking place this week.
House Education & the Workforce
HIGHER EDUCATION
Feb. 7, 10 a.m., 2175 Rayburn Bldg.
Full Committee Hearing
House Energy & Commerce
HEALTH CARE ISSUES
Feb. 7, 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn Bldg.
Subcommittee Markup
House Science, Space & Technology
MAKING EPA GREAT AGAIN
Feb. 7, 11 a.m., 2318 Rayburn Bldg.
Full Committee Hearing
House Small Business
HEALTH CARE MARKETPLACE
Feb. 7, 11 a.m., 2360 Rayburn Bldg.
Full Committee Hearing
Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation
IMPROVING FEDERAL AGENCIES
Feb. 8, 10 a.m., 253 Russell Bldg.
Full Committee Hearing
Senate Environment & Public Works
INFRASTRUCTURE MODERNIZATION
Feb. 8, 10 a.m., 406 Dirksen Bldg.
Full Committee Hearing