The House
The House is back in session for their final week of work before August recess. There are tentative plans to vote on a number of measures under suspension of the rules including legislation addressing underfunded pensions, the Trump Administration’s ability to limit asylum claims, ending unwanted robocalls, and the veterans’ health initiative. There will also be an important Veterans Affairs Committee hearing on the VistA transition and the future of electronic health care records on Thursday.
Speaker Nancy Pelosi will also continue negotiations with Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin as they try to reach a deal on budget caps and the debt ceiling. Secretary Mnuchin has warned that the U.S. risks missing debt payments in early September if no agreement is reached and Speaker Pelosi has said she prefers a deal to be reached prior to members departing for the summer recess.
Also happening this week, former Special Counsel Robert Mueller will testify before the House Intelligence and Judiciary Committees on Wednesday.
The Senate
The Senate returns to action on Monday and is expected to invoke a cloture vote on Mark Esper’s nomination to be the next Defense Secretary. There is also expected to be a Senate vote this week on a measure to extend the 9/11 Victims Fund.
The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will begin consideration of Kelly Craft’s nomination to be the United States Ambassador to the United Nations this week. The Committee is also planning to consider S.1441, a bill which would impose financial sanctions on companies that provide the ships used to lay the undersea pipe necessary for the construction of the Gazprom/Russia-backed Nord Stream II pipeline that would deliver Russian gas to Germany.
The Administration
Today, President Donald Trump and cabinet officials will meet with the Pakistani Prime Minister to discuss advancing U.S. energy interests in Pakistan. Later this week, President Trump is expected to travel to West Virginia to deliver remarks at a fundraiser hosted by Bob Murray, President/CEO of Murray Energy.
Vice President Pence is in Colorado this week. On Monday he is scheduled to deliver remarks at a Cory Gardner Victory fundraiser and on Tuesday, he is scheduled to appear at the Republican Governors Association meeting in Aspen.
Cabinet officials have a busy week both at home and abroad this week. Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin and National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow will host executives from Google, Intel, Qualcomm, Broadcom, Cisco, Micron, and Apple to discuss trade wars and relations with Huawei, the Chinese telecommunications firm, on Monday. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will be visiting Orlando, Florida, Argentina, Ecuador, Mexico, and El Salvador this week. Energy Secretary Rick Perry will be in Israel and Egypt this week promoting US energy interests in the region
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