PSW Weekly Round-Up - 2/12

Legislative Update

Senate. The Senate was scheduled to begin a two-week recess at the end of last week but, instead, stayed in session through the weekend to take a procedural vote on the national security supplemental funding bill for Ukraine, Israel, Taiwan, and the border. On Super Bowl Sunday, the Senate voted 67-27 to limit debate on the proposal. The next vote in the process is set for Monday night, with a vote on final passage expected on Tuesday or Wednesday. An agreement has not yet been reached on amendments that will be considered.

House. On the schedule this week is a proposal that would give the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission exclusive jurisdiction to approve permitting for facilities to export liquefied natural gas. The legislation is in response to the Biden Administration’s Jan. 26 announcement that the Department of Energy was immediately pausing approvals for new LNG export permits. The House will also vote on legislation reauthorizing portions of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. With House Majority Leader Steve Scalise returning this week after cancer treatment, the House is expected to vote again on a resolution to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas. If all House members are present and vote as they did last Tuesday, the resolution would be approved on a 216-215 vote, with Scalise’s vote making the difference.

FAA Programs. The Senate Commerce Committee on Feb. 8 passed its version of legislation to provide a five-year reauthorization of FAA programs. Committee action has been stalled for months as Senators worked to find agreement on a number of sticking points, including a controversial proposal to add flights at Reagan National Airport. As approved by the panel, the measure would add slots at the D.C. airport for five additional long-distance roundtrip flights. The House version, which was approved last July, does not provide for any additional slots. The most recent extension of FAA programs runs through March 8.

Committee Action of Note

Tuesday, February 13

• House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party Field Hearing in Boston: “Growing Stakes: The Bioeconomy and American National Security”

Wednesday, February 14

• House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Hearing: “Disaster Readiness: Examining the Propriety of the Expanded Use of FEMA Resources”
• House Small Business Committee Hearing: “Burdensome Regulations: Examining the Impact of EPA Regulations on Main Street”
• House Budget Committee Hearing: “The Congressional Budget Office’s Budget and Economic Outlook” with Phillip Swagel, CBO Director
• House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Wildlife and Fisheries Hearing to consider various measures, including H.R. 6784, "ESA Flexibility Act,” and H.R. 6854, "Habitat Enhancement Now Act”
• House Foreign Affairs Committee Hearing: “AUKUS Implementation and Challenges to International Security and Arms Control in the 21^st Century”
• House Agriculture Committee Hearing: “For the Purpose of Receiving Testimony from The Honorable Thomas J. Vilsack, Secretary, U.S. Department of Agriculture”
• House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy, Climate, and Grid Security Hearing: “Powered Up: State Utility Regulators on Challenges to Reliable, Affordable Electricity”
• House Energy and Commerce Committee Hearing: "Legislative Proposals to Support Patients and Caregivers”

Thursday, February 15

• House Financial Services Subcommittee on Digital Assets, Financial Technology and Inclusion Hearing: “Crypto Crime in Context Part II: Examining Approaches to Combat Illicit Activity”
• House Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Monetary Policy Hearing: “Lender of Last Resort: Issues with the Fed Discount Window and Emergency Landing”
• House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highways and Transit Hearing: “Implementation of Buy America Provisions: Stakeholder Perspectives”
• House Oversight Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic Hearing: “Assessing America’s Safety Systems, Part 1”
• House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Management and Technology Hearing: “Examining Fire Hazards: Lithium-Ion Batteries and Other Threats to Fire Safety”
• House Education and the Workforce Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Hearing: “Protecting American Savers and Retirees from DOL’s Regulatory Overreach”
• House Ways and Means Committee Hearing with Commissioner of the IRS, Daniel Werfel
• House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communities and Technology Meeting: “Securing Communications Networks from Foreign Adversaries”
• House Oversight and Accountability Subcommittee on National Security, the Border, and Foreign Affairs Hearing: “The Consequences of Catch and Release at the Border”
• House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Europe Hearing: “Going Nuclear on Rosatom: Ending Global Dependence on Putin’s Nuclear Energy Sector”

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