The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to wrap later today its third and last day of questioning of U.S. Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett. During the hearing earlier this morning, the committee agreed to officially vote on her nomination next Thursday, October 22, at 1 PM ET.
Category: Committee Work
So It Begins
After much back and forth between the two parties and between Senate Democrats and the White House for the past several weeks, the confirmation process for the nomination of Amy Coney Barrett to the U.S. Supreme Court kicks off today with the first day of her confirmation hearing, which is scheduled to last four days. The rest of Congress is currently in recess. Two of the Republicans on the Judiciary Committee, which is holding the hearing, have tested for COVID-19. Kamala Harris, the Democratic nominee for Vice President, is also a member of the committee.
Read more about the confirmation hearing and the process here and here.
Senate Schedule Scrambled
With a flood of COVID-19-related developments unfolding over the weekend in our nation’s capital, the Senate schedule has been scrambled for at least the next several weeks.
As at least three GOP Senators have tested positive for the illness– Thom Tillis of North Carolina, Mike Lee of Utah, and Ron Johnson of Wisconsin– and a number of others are in quarantine as a result of exposure to them, Majority Leader Mitch McConnell announced that Senate floor activities would be postponed at least until the week of October 19. However, he added that the confirmation hearings for Supreme Court nominee Amy Coney Barrett would take place as scheduled the week of October 12. Both Tillis and Lee are members of the Judiciary, which will consider the nomination.
Even if the hearings can take place next week– most likely virtually for several Senators– it remains to be seen when votes on the nomination might actually take place in the committee and on the floor, as a quorum must be present for votes to take place. Democrats have argued that it makes no sense to proceed while the floor proceedings are halted.
Senate Hearing on FAFSA Simplification
The US Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) will hold a hearing on simplifying the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA). Witnesses are from the National College Attainment Network, University of North Carolina, HCM Strategies, Harvard University, and Columbia University.
- Title: Time to Finish Fixing the FAFSA
- Date and Time: Thursday, September 17th, 2020 at 7:00 am PT/10:00 am ET
- Link to watch live is here.
House Hearing on COVID Impacts to University Research
On Wednesday, September 9th, 2020 the US House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, Subcommittee on Research and Technology, will host a hearing on COVID impacts to University Research.
- Title: The Impact of the COVID-19 Crisis on University Research
- Date: Wednesday, September 9th, 2020
- Time: 8:00 am PT/11:00 am ET
Witnesses:
Dr. Joseph Walsh, Interim Vice President for Economic Development and Innovation, University of Illinois System
Dr. David Stone, Vice President for Research, Oakland University
Dr. Theresa Mayer, Executive Vice President for Research and Partnerships, Purdue University
Mr. Ryan Muzzio, Physics Ph.D. Student, Carnegie Mellon University
The link to watch the hearing is here.