Congress Revamps Agenda
The House returns to Washington with an entirely new agenda this week in response to Iran’s missile attack on Israel over the weekend.
Instead of taking up legislation regarding appliance efficiency standards, lawmakers will shift to a series of financial-themed bills targeting Iran, including prohibitions of certain financial transactions, sanctions of foreign Iranian oil purchases, and terminations of tax-exempt statuses for groups supporting terrorist organizations.
Meanwhile, Senators this week are expected to receive the House-passed articles of impeachment of Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, thus kicking off the Chamber’s adjudication of the charges.
Senators will also take up judicial nominations and a vote on whether to ban the Biden Administration’s tailpipe emissions rule.
The House and Senate will also hold several committee hearings this week, including the following:
- The House Appropriations Committee will consider the FY25 budget requests for several Labor and Homeland Security agencies
- The Senate Finance Committee will examine the Biden Administration’s trade policy agenda
- The House Foreign Affairs Committee will discuss gang violence in the Western Hemisphere
- The Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee will discuss challenges in preserving the U.S. housing stock
- The House Energy & Commerce Committee will discuss legislative solutions to children’s online safety and data privacy rights
The Administration
President Biden will host two bilateral meetings this week, including with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shyaa Al-Sudani and Prime Minister Petr Fiala of the Czech Republic.