The House and Senate
Congress is back in session this week following its two-week Spring Recess, and will remain in session for the next five weeks before the Memorial Day Recess.
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-MD) announced plans to vote on the Ukraine Democracy Defense Lend-Lease Act, which has already passed the Senate with bipartisan support. The House will also vote to authorize dedicated domestic terrorism offices under the purview of the FBI, the DOJ, and the DHS. Under suspension of the rules, the House will consider measures to establish small business development centers, women’s business centers, federal judge financial disclosures, and a semiconductor supply chain working group.
The House will also host hearings this week:
- The House Small Business Committee will discuss the Small Business Administration’s FY 2023 budget.
- The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will review the FY 2023 budget request for Coast Guard and maritime transportation programs. It will also examine workforce development and job creation in surface transportation construction.
- The House Agriculture Committee will discuss Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Programs for the 2022 Farm Bill.
- The House Committee on House Administration will discuss the growing threat of the impact of disinformation targeted at communities of color.
The Senate will host hearings this week as well:
- The Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee will discuss oversight of the Small Business Administration.
- The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will discuss recent developments in China’s nuclear capabilities.
The Administration
President Biden announced last week an additional $1.3 billion in weapons and aid for Ukraine. He also said he would request more money from Congress, as most of the $13.6 billion authorized in the recent government spending bill is nearly exhausted.
This week, the Supreme Court will consider whether President Biden can terminate the Trump-era “Remain in Mexico” policy which requires migrants seeking asylum to remain in Mexico while they await potential asylum relief. The legal challenge comes as the Administration is preparing to end Title 42, a Trump-era public health measure which turned away certain migrants at the border at the height of the pandemic in an effort to slow the spread of the virus. Progressives want President Biden to overturn the policy while Conservatives – in addition to some moderate Democrats – want to retain it. Senators James Lankford (R-OK) and Kyrsten Sinema (D-AR) have recently drafted a bill to do just that.
Finally, President Biden announced that he has accepted an invitation to visit Israel from Prime Minister Naftali Bennett. This would be Biden’s first Presidential visit to the country.