The House
The House is back in session this evening. Following the release of House Democrats’ infrastructure plan last week, Ways and Means Committee Chairman Richard Neal (D-MA) is expressing cautious optimism of reaching a principle agreement on the proposal with the Trump Administration following a conversation with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin last week. Chairman Neal and Secretary Mnuchin are expected to meet to continue discussions early this week.
The House is expected to take up a number of homeland security-focused bills under suspension of the Rules this week. The bills likely to be considered under suspension of the Rules include:
- HR 1494 – Historically Black Colleges and Universities Homeland Security Partnerships Act
- S 2107 – Protecting America’s Food and Agriculture Act of 2019
- HR 5273 – Securing America’s Ports Act
- HR 3413 – DHS Acquisition Reform Act of 2019
- HR 504 – DHS Field Engagement Accountability Act
- HR 2932 – Homeland Security for Children Act
- HR 4737 – Department of Homeland Security Climate Change Research Act
- HR 4432 – Protecting Critical Infrastructure Against Drones and Emerging Threats Act
- HR 4753 – Drone Origin Security Enhancement Act
The Senate
The Senate also returns to session on Monday with the impeachment trial finally in the rearview mirror. Among the first items the Senate is expected to take up this week is a cloture vote on the nominate of Andrew Lynn Brasher to serve as the U.S. Circuit Judge for the Eleventh Circuit.
The Senate also has a number of important hearings scheduled for this week including:
- On Tuesday, February 11th, the Homeland Security Committee is expected to hold a hearing entitled, “What States, Locals, and the Business Community Should Know and Do: A Roadmap to Effective Cybersecurity”
- On Tuesday, February 11th, the Judiciary Committee is expected to hold a hearing entitled, “The Infant Patient: Ensuring Appropriate Medical Care for Children Born Alive”
- On Wednesday, February 12th, the Special Committee on Aging is expected to hold a hearing entitled, “There’s No Place like Home: Home Healthcare in Rural America”
- On Wednesday, February 12th, the Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs is expected to hear testimony from Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell at a hearing entitled, “The Semiannual Monetary Policy Report to Congress”
- On Wednesday, February 12th, the Finance Committee is expected to hold a hearing on the President’s FY2021 Budget request
The Administration
President Trump’s official FY2021 Budget Request was formally presented to Members of Congress early Monday morning and is reported to total $4.8 trillion dollars while decreasing discretionary domestic spending and increasing spending on defense.
This week, President Trump is scheduled to speak at the National Governors’ Winter Meeting being held at the White House. He is scheduled to speak with the families of victims from the 2018 school shooting in Parkland, Florida. President Trump is also expected to speak at two different events in New Hampshire this week.
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will begin another world tour this week with planned stops in Germany, Senegal, Angola, Ethiopia, Saudi Arabia, and Oman.
Brought to you by the Federal Lobbying Team at Becker & Poliakoff