Becker’s Washington Weekly: Week of January 19

The House’s Solo Week

House lawmakers will have Washington to themselves this week as the Senate is out on recess and President Trump travels to Davos to meet with world leaders. Before leaving town, Senators sent a three-bill minibus to President Trump’s desk fully funding the Departments of Commerce, Justice, Interior, and Energy.

Appropriators will now pivot to the next minibus that would fund the Departments of Labor, Defense, Transportation, Homeland Security, Health & Human Services, and Housing & Urban Development. Lawmakers have until January 30th to pass a government funding bill to avoid another shutdown.

In the meantime, the House will take up legislation this week dealing with reproductive health funding and resources. Bills moving through expedited procedures deal with small businesses operations and Veterans Affairs Department policies.

House lawmakers will also participate in several committee hearings this week, including the following:

• The House Small Business Committee will discuss investment in rural American businesses
• The House Judiciary Committee will examine foreign threats in America’s transportation system
• The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will examine housing affordability solutions
• The House Financial Services Committee will hold an oversight hearing of federal housing agencies