Becker’s Washington Weekly: Week of February 12

Congress Back in Town

The House and Senate return to Washington this week with a packed legislative agenda before leaving town for their Presidents Day week-long recess.

The majority of House bills set for the week will be taken up on expedited procedures and deal with international issues, including human rights abuses in China, Indo-Pacific partnerships, and combatting human and fentanyl trafficking. Legislation moving through regular order would repeal a Biden Administration rule pausing liquified natural gas import and exports.

Senators will return later in the week to continue debating a Ukraine-Israel aid package after advancing it over the weekend. This follows a failed attempt to pass another version of the bill with added immigration reform provisions.

Lawmakers will also hold several hearings this week, including the following:

• The House Committee on Energy and Commerce will examine state utility regulators’ challenges in providing affordable electricity
• The House Transportation & Infrastructure Committee will discuss disaster resources and FEMA
• The House Homeland Security Committee will examine fire hazards in lithium ion batteries
• The House Ways & Means Committee will hear testimony from IRS Chief Daniel Werfel