PSW Weekly Round-up - 3/13

Legislative Update

Senate. The Senate convenes at 3 p.m. on Tuesday and will continue consideration of nominations. The Senate could also vote on a Congressional Review Act resolution disapproving a recent Administration rule dealing with the Waters of the United States (WOTUS). Only a simple majority is needed for passage of the resolution, which cleared the House last week with the support of nine Democrats.

Senator Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) is expected to vote for the resolution, but it’s up in the air as to whether other Democrats are on board. Democratic Senators John Fetterman (Pa.) and Dianne Feinstein (Calif.) could continue to miss floor votes this week because of health issues, and it is unclear when Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (Ky.) will return for votes. If the Senate does pass the disapproval resolution, President Biden is expected to veto it, and the veto would be upheld.

House. With the House in recess until March 22, members will have time for a little travel outside of the nation’s capital. Three of those trips are scheduled for Texas. On Wednesday, the Agriculture Committee will hold a listening session in Waco to hear the views of farmers, ranchers, producers, agribusiness owners, and others with an interest in the farm bill reauthorization. That same day, the Homeland Security Committee will be in the South Texas town of Pharr for a field hearing on border security. Judiciary Committee Democrats will also be in South Texas to discuss border issues when they journey to Brownsville and McAllen from March 19 to 21. Meanwhile, House Republicans will meet in Orlando for their March 19-21 retreat.

Committee Action of Note

• Tuesday, March 14
  • Senate Armed Services Committee Hearing to examine U.S. Space Force programs in review of the Defense Authorization Request for FY24 and the Future Years Defense Program

• Wednesday, March 15
  • House Homeland Security Committee Hearing: “Failure by Design: Examining Secretary Mayorkas’ Border Crisis”
  • Senate Environmental and Public Works Hearing: “Implementing IIJA: Perspectives on the Drinking Water and Wastewater Infrastructure Act”
  • Senate Judiciary Committee Hearing: “Protecting Public Safety After New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen”
  • Senate Budget Committee Hearing: “The President's Fiscal Year 2024 Budget Proposal” with Shalanda Young, Director of the Office of Management and Budget
  • Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing: “The Future of U.S.-Brazil Relations”
  • Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee Hearing: “Examining the Future Path of VA’s Electronic Health Record Modernization Program”

• Thursday, March 16
  • Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee closed briefing on the assessment of the origins of COVID-19
  • Senate Finance Committee Hearing: “The President’s Fiscal Year 2024 Budget” with Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen
  • Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Hearing: “In Need of a Checkup: Examining the Cybersecurity Risks to the Healthcare Sector”
  • Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs Committee Hearing: “Local Views on Public Transportation, Transit Infrastructure and Operations, and Federal Transit Programs”

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