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Pres. Trump to Deliver SOTU Tomorrow

In an address before Congress tomorrow, President Trump is scheduled to deliver his first official State of the Union speech.  In his remarks, he expected to raise, among other issues, immigration, infrastructure, and the economy.

The Administration released its framework on immigration last week.  A document that is purported to be a leaked copy of the Administration’s thinking on infrastructure has also made the rounds.

This Week in Congress, January 29 – February 2

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

 

U.S. House of Representatives

HOUSE RULES
Full Committee Business Meeting
Defense Appropriations
5 p.m. Jan. 29, H-313, U.S. Capitol

HOUSE EDUCATION & THE WORKFORCE
Full Committee Hearing
Education Evidence-Based Policymaking
Jan. 30, 10 a.m., 2175 Rayburn Bldg.

HOUSE ENERGY & COMMERCE
Subcommittee Hearing
Broadband Infrastructure Solutions
Jan. 30, 10 a.m., 2322 Rayburn Bldg.

HOUSE NATURAL RESOURCES
Subcommittee Hearing
First Tribally Managed National Monument
Jan. 30, 10:30 a.m., 1324 Longworth Bldg.

HOUSE SMALL BUSINESS
Full Committee Hearing
Combating Foreign Cyber Threats
Jan. 30, 11 a.m., 2360 Rayburn Bldg.

 

U.S. Senate

SENATE COMMERCE, SCIENCE & TRANSPORTATION
Full Committee Hearing
Domestic Seafood Opportunities Through Aquaculture
Jan. 30, 10 a.m., 253 Russell Bldg.

SENATE ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES
Full Committee Hearing
Natural Hazard Event Response
Jan. 30, 10 a.m., 366 Dirksen Bldg.

SENATE FOREIGN RELATIONS
Full Committee Hearing
United States-Canada-Mexico Economic Relationship
Jan. 30, 2:30 p.m., 419 Dirksen Bldg.

SENATE HEALTH, EDUCATION, LABOR & PENSIONS
Full Committee Hearing
Higher Education Act Reauthorization/Taxpayers
Jan. 30, 10 a.m., 430 Dirksen Bldg.

White House Unveils Immigration Framework

The White House shared with Congress yesterday its “framework” for immigration reform, which includes, in general terms, the Administration’s plan for “Dreamers.”  The text of the framework is available here.

Key parts of the plan include:

  • a 10- to 12-year pathway to citizenship for 1.8 million DACA-eligible individuals;
  • $25-billion trust fund for a border wall; and,
  • elimination of “chain” migration and the visa lottery system

The Administration has stated that it plans to release a more detailed plan next Monday.

Read more about yesterday’s framework here and here.

 

Azar Confirmed

Alex Azar was confirmed by the Senate earlier this afternoon as the next Secretary of Health and Human Services by a vote of 55 – 43.

OMB Targets Feb 12

The Office of Management and Budget (OMB) announced the intent to release the Administration’s FY 2019 President’s Budget Request to Congress on February 12. Incidentally, that date is the Monday following the date set for the the expiration of recent CR passed earlier this week.

The release was slightly delayed because of time lost during the recent three-day government shutdown. The budget is legally required the first Monday of February, but this and past Administrations have missed the deadline. This will be the second budget by the Trump Administration.