Author: McKinzie Strait

The Senate is expected to confirm Pat Shanahan as deputy Defense secretary this afternoon following a vote on cloture yesterday.

Here is a selection of committee meetings taking place on the Hill this week.

TUESDAY, JULY 18

Senate Appropriations
ENERGY-WATER DEVELOPMENT APPROPRIATIONS
July 18, 2:30 p.m., 192 Dirksen Bldg.
Subcommittee Markup

House Science, Space & Technology
NASA PLANETARY FLAGSHIP MISSIONS
July 18, 10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn Bldg.
Subcommittee Hearing

WEDNESDAY, JULY 19

House Natural Resources
MAGNUSON-STEVENS FISHERY CONSERVATION REVIEW
July 19, 2 p.m., 1324 Longworth Bldg.
Subcommittee Hearing

House Science, Space & Technology
ENERGY INNOVATION TECHNOLOGY
July 19, 10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn Bldg.
Full Committee Hearing

House Ways & Means
TAX REFORM
July 19, 2 p.m., 1100 Longworth Bldg.
Subcommittee Hearing

THURSDAY, JULY 20

House Small Business
RURAL TELEHEALTH SERVICES
July 20, 10 a.m., 2360 Rayburn Bldg.
Subcommittee Hearing

Today Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced the August recess will begin two weeks later than originally scheduled. Whereas the Senate calendar had recess beginning on Monday, July 31, the summer recess period will now begin on Monday, August 14th. The delay will allow the Senate Republicans extra time to work on their efforts to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act and in addition, they plan to push nominees through the stalled confirmation process.

Here is a selection of committee meetings taking place on the Hill this week.

TUESDAY, JULY 11

TRANSPORTATION-HUD APPROPRIATIONS
July 11, 7 p.m., 2358-A Rayburn Bldg.
Subcommittee Markup

WEDNESDAY, JULY 12

House Appropriations
ENERGY-WATER/AGRICULTURE APPROPRIATIONS
July 12, 10:30 a.m., 2359 Rayburn Bldg.
Full Committee Markup

House Energy & Commerce
OPIOID CRISIS IN THE STATES
July 12, 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn Bldg.
Subcommittee Hearing

House Rules
DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION
July 12, 3 p.m., H-313, U.S. Capitol
Full Committee Business Meeting

THURSDAY, JULY 13

Senate Appropriations
MILITARY CONSTRUCTION-VA APPROPRIATIONS
July 13, 10:30 a.m., 106 Dirksen Bldg.
Full Committee MarkupV

Senate Appropriations
TRANSPORTATION APPROPRIATIONS
July 13, 2 p.m., Dirksen Bldg.
Subcommittee Hearing

Here is a selection of articles the Office of Federal Relations has read this week.

Smartphones & Medical Research –  When smartphones first began collecting health data such as users’ heart rates and number of steps walked, doctors were dubious about the medical value of information gathered by a p hone.Three years later, doctors have changed their minds, thanks to a series of pioneering medical studies that demonstrated the efficacy of cellphone-based medical research. Read more from the Wall Street Journal.

Higher Ed Groups Criticize BCRA – The American Council on Education, along with 18 other higher education groups, wrote to Senate leaders Tuesday urging a “different approach” to the health-care bill released by Republican lawmakers last week. Read more over on Inside Higher Ed.

Free Speech Bill Struck Down – A proposal aimed at protecting controversial speakers’ appearances at Louisiana colleges and calling on campuses to penalize students who disrupt them has been vetoed by Gov. John Bel Edwards, who described the bill as a “solution in search of a problem.” Read more from the AP at US News.

Supreme Court To Take Up Travel Ban – The Supreme Court cleared the way on Monday for President Trump to prohibit the entry of some people into the United States from countries he deems dangerous, but the justices imposed strict limits on Mr. Trump’s travel ban while they examine the scope of presidential power over the border.  Read more from the New York Times.

The True Cost of Research –  Funding by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) has supported countless discoveries that have saved or improved millions of lives, from Dr. Mary-Claire King’s discovery of the BRCA1 breast cancer gene to new, more accurate diagnostic tools for Alzheimer’s disease.  As I’ve written before, the President’s budget proposal would dramatically cut NIH’s research funding, slowing progress in understanding and curing diseases that ultimately affect nearly every single American in some form. Read more from UW President Ana Mari Cauce.