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News and updates

This Week on Capitol Hill, April 26-30

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FLOOR ACTION
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The Senate will reconvene at 2 p.m. today, and proceed to a period of morning business for one hour. Thereafter, the chamber will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to the financial regulatory overhaul measure, S 3217, Restoring American Financial Stability Act of 2010. A vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed will occur at 5 p.m.  The Senate is expected to be in session on April 27.
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The House will convene at 2 p.m. today for legislative business. The chamber is expected to consider two naming bills and a resolution for Sam Houston. Votes are expected at 6:30 p.m.
April 27, noon
The House will convene at 12 p.m. for legislative business and is expected to consider resolutions under suspension of the rules.
April 28, 10 a.m.
The House will convene at 10 a.m. for legislative business and is expected to consider a bill (HR 2499) that would set up a federally sanctioned vote on Puerto Rico’s political status.
April 29, 10 a.m.
The House will convene at 10 a.m. for legislative business and is expected to consider a bill (HR 5013) to overhaul the defense acquisition system.
April 30
The House is not in session.
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SENATE HEARINGS AND MARKUPS
Health, Education, Labor & Pensions
ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT REAUTHORIZATION
April 28, 2 p.m., 430 Dirksen Bldg.
April 29, 10 a.m., 430 Dirksen Bldg.
May 4, 2 p.m., 430 Dirksen Bldg.
Full Committee Hearing
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Homeland Security & Governmental Affairs
MEDICARE AND MEDICAID SERVICES CONTRACT MANAGEMENT April 28, 2:30 p.m., 342 Dirksen Bldg.
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing
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Appropriations
FISCAL 2011 APPROPRIATIONS: FINANCIAL SERVICES AND GENERAL GOVERNMENT
April 28, 2:30 p.m., 138 Dirksen Bldg.
Subcommittee Hearing
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FISCAL 2011 APPROPRIATIONS: LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
April 29, 2:30 p.m., 138 Dirksen Bldg.
Subcommittee Hearing
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FISCAL 2011 APPROPRIATIONS:  COMMERCE, JUSTICE AND SCIENCE
April 29, 10 a.m., 192 Dirksen Bldg.
Subcommittee Hearing
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FISCAL 2011 APPROPRIATIONS: TRANSPORTATION AND HUD
April 29, 9:30 a.m., 138 Dirksen Bldg.
Subcommittee Hearing
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HOUSE HEARINGS AND MARKUPS
Appropriations
FISCAL 2011 APPROPRIATIONS: FINANCIAL SERVICES
April 27, 10 a.m., 2226 Rayburn Bldg.
April 28, 10:30 a.m., 2362-B Rayburn Bldg.
April 29, 10 a.m., 2359 Rayburn Bldg.
Subcommittee Hearing
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FISCAL 2011 APPROPRIATIONS: LABOR, HHS, EDUCATION
April 28, 10 a.m., 2359 Rayburn Bldg.
Subcommittee Hearing
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Energy & Commerce
REDUCING DEPENDENCE ON OIL
April 28, 9:30 a.m., 2123 Rayburn Bldg.
Subcommittee Hearing
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Science & Technology
AMERICA COMPETES ACT
April 28, 10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn Bldg.
Full Committee Markup

NIH and NSF Announce New Research Programs

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The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and National Science Foundation (NSF) have jointly announced two new research grant programs to bridge the sciences: New Biomedical Frontiers at the Interface of the Life and Physical Sciences (R01)  and Transforming Biomedicine at the Interface of the Life and Physical Sciences (R01) PAR-10-141. The former focuses on basic research and the latter on clinical and translational research.

The purpose of these two programs is to provide support for cutting-edge, visionary research, only possible through cross disciplinary research. Breakthroughs such as x-ray crystallography, CAT scans, and magnetic resonance imaging have had an enormous and important effect on biology. These discoveries were funded by sources, such as the Bell Labs, which are no longer in existence. Thus, it is very difficult for researchers to work on similar breakthrough technologies today.

Both programs will provide grants of varying sizes and lengths to accommodate a variety of research, encourage young investigators with novel ideas to apply, and will be reviewed by special review panels that include reviewers from the physical, mathematical, and computational sciences selected by NSF.  Applications will be accepted once a year in May through 2012.  The first deadline is May 18, 2010.

HHS to Establish Consumer Information Office

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The April 19th Federal Register announced that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will establish an Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight to implement provisions of the health care reform law that deal with private health insurance. According to the notice, the new office will be under the HHS secretary and include separate offices to address oversight, insurance programs, consumer support and health insurance exchanges.

NIST Seeking Technology Innovation Proposals

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The Technology Innovation Program (TIP) of the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) announced last week that it is seeking proposals for high-risk, high-reward research projects in an area of critical national need: manufacturing. TIP expects to award a total of approximately $25 million in first-year funding for R&D projects that address “Manufacturing and Biomanufacturing: Materials Advances and Critical Processes.”

Federal Funding Notice

This Week on Capitol Hall, April 19-23

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ON THE FLOOR

The House is not in session on Monday.  On Tuesday the House votes on a number of minor bills and resolutions.  Later in the week the House is expected to appoint conferees for an Iran sanctions bill and vote on a bill to provide full House voting right for the District of Columbia.

On Monday, the Senate is scheduled to hold procedural votes on several executive branch and judicial nominees.  Later in the week, the Senate may begin debate on a financial regulatory ouverhaul bill.

HEARINGS OF INTEREST

Tuesday — Senate Energy and Natural Resources hearing on carbon capture and sequestration.

Wednesday — House Labor-HHS-Education Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on fiscal 2011 funding for the Health and Human Services Department.

Thursday

  • Senate Commerce-Justice-Science Appropriations Subcommittee hearing on fiscal 2011 funding for NASA.  
  • Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions hearing on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
  • Senate Commerce, Science, & Transportation Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries and Coast Guard hearing on environmental and economic impacts of ocean acidification.
  • House Judiciary Committee hearing on HR 5043, Private Student Loan Bankruptcy Fairness Act of 2010.
  • House Ways and Means Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support hearing on the role of education and training in the Temporary Assistance to Needy Families program.

Source:  CQ Today