PSW Weekly Round-Up - 5/9

Legislative Update

Senate. Early this week the Senate could vote on legislation that would extend around-the-clock protection to family members of Supreme Court justices. Supporters of the measure are hoping it can be approved by unanimous consent. On Wednesday, the Senate is expected to vote on a motion to end debate on legislation that would codify the Roe v. Wade Supreme Court decision on abortion rights. The motion will fail to get the necessary 60 votes to end debate. Also on the agenda this week will be continued consideration of nominations.

House. There is speculation that the House could vote this week on a Ukrainian aid bill that would provide slightly more in funding than the President’s recent request of $33 billion. While Democrats have discussed packaging the Ukrainian aid measure with additional funding to address the Covid pandemic, it appears that those two proposals will be considered separately. The House is also looking to vote on a proposal that would allow House staff to form a union. Rather than an up-or-down vote on the resolution itself, lawmakers may approve the measure as part of a vote on the rule governing floor consideration for an unrelated bill.

USICA/COMPETES. The first meeting of the House-Senate conference committee on the China competition bill is set for Thursday.

FY 2023 Appropriations. Administration officials will once again be on Capitol Hill this week to testify about President Biden’s FY 2023 budget request. Cabinet officials testifying include Agriculture Secretary Vilsack, Transportation Secretary Buttigieg, HUD Secretary Fudge, Defense Secretary Austin, and Commerce Secretary Raimondo.

Committee Action of Note:

• Tuesday, May 10:
  • Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee Hearing to examine the Financial Stability Oversight Council Annual Report to Congress with Treasury Secretary Yellen.
  • Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Hearing to examine the proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2023 for the Department of Agriculture.
  • House Appropriations Subcommittee on Departments of Transportation, and Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Hearing: FY 2023 Budget Request for the Department of Transportation.
  • House Rules Committee Meeting: H.R. 903—Rights for the TSA Workforce Act of 2021; H.R. 2499—Federal Firefighters Fairness Act of 2022; H.R. 5129—Community Services Block Grant Modernization Act of 2022.
  • Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing to examine the nomination of Bridget Brink to be Ambassador to Ukraine, among others.
  • Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on SeaPower and Readiness and Management Support Joint Hearing to examine the Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program.
  • Senate Armed Services Subcommittee on Airland hearings to examine Army modernization in review of the Defense Authorization Request for fiscal year 2023 and the Future Years Defense Program.

• Wednesday, May 11:
  • House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health markup of six bills, including the Food and Drug Amendments of 2022 and the ARPA-H Act.
  • House Appropriations Subcommittee on Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Hearing: FY 2023 Budget Request for the National Institutes of Health.
  • House Financial Services Subcommittee on Investor Protection, Entrepreneurship, and Capital Markets Hearing: A Notch Above? Examining the Bond Rating Industry.
  • House Appropriations Subcommittee on Department of Homeland Security Hearing: Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Request for U.S. Customs and Border Protection.
  • Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Hearing to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for Fiscal Year 2023 for the Department of Commerce.

• Thursday, May 12:
  • House Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Hearing: Fiscal Year 2023 Budget Request for the Department of Commerce.
  • Senate Foreign Relations Committee Hearing to examine U.S. efforts to support Ukraine against Russian aggression.
  • House Appropriations Subcommittee on Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Hearing: Healthy Aging: Maximizing the Independence, Well-being, and Health of Older Adults.
  • House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials Hearing: Board Member Views on Surface Transportation Board Reauthorization.
  • House Small Business Subcommittee on Innovation and Workforce Development Hearing: Moving Upwards and Onwards: The Workforce and Innovation Needs of the Aviation and Aerospace Industry.
  • House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy Hearing: Modernizing Hydropower: Licensing and Reforms for a Clean Energy Future.
  • Senate Budget Committee Hearing to examine Medicare for All, focusing on protecting health, saving lives, and saving money.
  • House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, and Related Agencies Hearing: FY 2023 Budget Request for the Department of Energy Science and Energy Programs.

Political Update

May 10 Primaries. Voters will go to the polls Tuesday in West Virginia and Nebraska. In West Virginia, the state is losing a House seat due to redistricting, forcing Republican Reps. Alex Mooney and David McKinley to face each other in the primary for the re-drawn 2^nd Congressional District.

House Vacancies. There will be one more House vacancy later this month when Rep. Antonio Delgado (D-N.Y.) resigns to become his state’s lieutenant governor. Gov. Kathy Hochul on May 3 announced Delgado as her choice to succeed Brian Benjamin, who resigned after his arrest on federal bribery charges. When Delgado gives up his House seat, the margins will be 220 Democrats/209 Republicans, with six vacancies – four Republicans and two Democrats.