PSW Weekly Round-Up - 1/31

Legislative Update

Senate. The Senate will continue to consider nominations. On Thursday, Administration officials will provide a classified briefing for Senators on the situation at the Ukraine/Russia border, followed by a briefing for House members. Meanwhile, Senators Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) and Jim Risch (R-Idaho), the top Democrat and Republican on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, are working on a sanctions package aimed at Russia. Some sanctions could go into effect immediately, according to Senator Menendez, while others would be triggered if Russia invades Ukraine. Among other things, the sanctions would reportedly target major Russian banks and limit the market for Russia’s sovereign debt.

House. Democrats have rescheduled their Caucus Issues Conference for March 9-11 in Philadelphia, while Republicans will hold their retreat March 23-25 near Jacksonville, Fla. This week, the House will consider the America COMPETES Act, House Democrats’ counterproposal to the Senate’s USICA bill (the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act). Both measures are designed to boost U.S. global competitiveness, particularly in the face of growing competition from China. Prior to floor consideration, the Rules Committee will meet Tuesday to decide which of the 566 proposed amendments can be offered for votes. While the Senate’s USICA bill had the support of 19 Republicans when it passed in June, House Republicans have come out in opposition to the COMPETES proposal. Given this dynamic, it is expected that a House-Senate conference committee will produce a compromise version that tracks the Senate bill close enough to win the bipartisan support of at least 60 Senators.

Committee Action of Note:

• Tuesday, February 1:
  • Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee Hearing to examine mental health and substance use disorders, focusing on responding to the growing crisis.
  • Senate Budget Committee Hearing to examine the nominations of Shalanda Young to be Director and Nani Coloretti to be Deputy Director, both of the Office of Management and Budget.
  • Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Hearing to examine the nominations of Shalanda Young to be Director and Nani Coloretti to be Deputy Director, both of the Office of Management and Budget.
  • House Rules Committee Meeting: H.R. 4445—Ending Forced Arbitration of Sexual Assault and Sexual Harassment Act of 2021; H.R. 3485—Global Respect Act; H.R. 4521—Bioeconomy Research and Development Act of 2021 [America COMPETES Act of 2022].
  • Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Hearing to examine expanding broadband access, focusing on the Department of Commerce broadband programs in the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.
  • Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security Hearing to examine COVID-19 fraud and price gouging.

• Wednesday, February 2:
  • House Agriculture Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry Hearing: A 2022 Review of Farm Bill Conservation Programs.
  • House Financial Services Subcommittee on Housing, Community Development, and Insurance Hearing: Housing America: Addressing Challenges in Serving People Experiencing Homelessness.
  • Senate Environment and Public Works Committee Hearing to examine legislative proposals to improve domestic recycling and composting programs.
  • House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Consumer Protection and Commerce Hearing: Pandemic Profiteers: Legislation to Stop Corporate Price Gouging.
  • House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit Hearing: The Road Ahead for Automated Vehicles.
  • House Select Committee on the Climate Crisis Hearing: Manufacturing a Clean Energy Future: Climate Solutions Made in America.
  • Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Competition Policy, Antitrust, and Consumer Rights Hearing to examine breaking the news, focusing on journalism, competition, and the effects of market power on a free press.
  • Senate Finance Subcommittee on Fiscal Responsibility and Economic Growth Hearing to examine the hospital insurance trust fund and the future of Medicare financing.

• Thursday, February 3:
  • House Financial Services Subcommittee on Diversity and Inclusion Hearing: Building Opportunity: Addressing the Financial Barriers to Minority and Women-Owned Businesses’ Involvement in Infrastructure Projects.
  • Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Hearing to examine pending nominations including the Honorable Sarah Bloom Raskin to be Vice Chairman for Supervision and a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Dr. Lisa DeNell Cook to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, and Dr. Philip Jefferson to be a Member of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System.
  • House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health Hearing: FDA User Fee Reauthorization: Ensuring Safe and Effective Drugs and Biologics.
  • House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Aviation Hearing: Finding the Right Frequency: 5G Deployment & Aviation Safety.