THIS WEEK:
- The Administration’s theme for the week is “The American Dream” - the White House will be hosting meetings about the burden that regulations and the complicated tax code are to making small businesses and entrepreneurs’ dreams a reality. They will be hosting an event with other members of the Administration, including Small Business Administrator, Linda McMahon, on tax reform for small businesses this Tuesday.
- President Trump is expected to make decisions on ending key Obamacare provisions: “bailouts for Members of Congress,” and “bailouts for insurance companies.”
- The Senate had scheduled an extra two weeks into August to tackle health care and approximately 30 nominations - with health care off the table, Senators may strike a deal on the nominations finishing their business by the end of this week. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has also said he would like to address the debt ceiling and introduce a FDA reauthorization bill before leaving.
- The House is in recess until September 5th.
MONDAY, JULY 31:
- The president is expected to sign the Russia sanctions bill as early as Monday. Vice President Pence will talk about the reasons for sanctioning Russia during a trip to Estonia. Russian President Vladimir Putin is already taking retaliatory actions.
- President Trump is scheduled to present his first Medal of Honor at the White House.
- President Trump’s new Chief of Staff, General John Kelly, will start his first day with a full cabinet meeting.
- The Senate will convene at 4pm today, commencing with the nomination of the federal judge for the 11th circuit.
TUESDAY, AUGUST 1:
- The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works has an oversight hearing to examine the Environmental Protection Agency's Superfund program at 10am.
- The Senate Finance Committee has a hearing to examine America's affordable housing crisis, focusing on challenges and solutions at 10am. We expect them to address the bipartisan effort to break up Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.
- The Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions is holding nomination hearings:
- Lance Allen Robertson, of Oklahoma, Assistant Secretary for Aging
- Brett Giroir, of Texas, Medical Director in the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service and Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
- Robert P. Kadlec, of New York, Medical Director in the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service and Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response
- Jerome M. Adams, of Indiana, Medical Director in the Regular Corps of the Public Health Service, and Surgeon General of the Public Health Service
- Elinore F. McCance-Katz, of Rhode Island, Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use
WEDNESDAY, AUGUST 2:
- The Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship has a business meeting to amend the Small Business Act to ensure small businesses affected by transmissible diseases are eligible for disaster relief and to expand tax credit education and training for small businesses that engage in research and development.
- The Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources has a hearing to examine increasing water security and drought preparedness through infrastructure, management, and innovation at 10am.
- The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works has a hearing to examine the Federal Bureau of Investigation headquarters consolidation project at 10am.
- The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations is to receive a closed briefing on the Authorizations for the Use of Military Force at 2pm.
THURSDAY, AUGUST 3:
- President Trump will hold a Make America Great Again rally in West Virginia.
- The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation has a hearing to examine insurance fraud in America, focusing on current issues facing industry and consumers at 10am.
- The Senate Committee on Finance has a hearing to examine nominations at 10am:
- Gilbert B. Kaplan, of the District of Columbia, Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade
- Matthew Bassett, of Tennessee, Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services
FRIDAY, AUGUST 4:
- President Trump will be briefed on hurricane season by FEMA.
OUR HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST WEEK:
TRADE: We laid out what to expect from Washington on trade policy, get the full analysis here.
TRUMP’S RED LINE: VENEZUELA ENERGY SANCTIONS: Our senior Energy Analyst Joseph McMonigle presented a black book on the effects of Venezuela energy sanctions should the Administration implement them, watch the full replay here.
SENATE ACA VOTE BRINGS THE WORST OF BOTH WORLDS: ACA IMPLEMENTATION BY TRUMP ADMINISTRATION: Our Senior Health Policy Analyst Emily Evans wrote about where we go after the Senate failed to pass health care reform, to find out what happens next read the full piece here.
AT&T/TIME WARNER: THE CLOSING EPISODES (T, TWX): Our Senior Telecom Analyst Paul Glenchur writes AT&T is reportedly discussing merger conditions with the DOJ. We continue to anticipate likely approval with limited, if any, conditions. Read his full piece here.
