WASHINGTON WEEK AHEAD

THIS WEEK:

• President Trump will deliver a speech to the American Farm Bureau in Nashville, TN today - and we may see a preview of the Administration's direction on NAFTA.
• The House and Senate return and will both be in session with the Senate looking to advance a number of nominations today.
• Bipartisan budget and spending caps talks will continue in earnest with 11 days until the previous CR expires. 
• Trump will meet with a bipartisan group of Senators on Immigration/DACA on Tuesday - watch this closely for signs of progress (or even an impasse) as the terms of a budget deal will center around this debate.
• With a major tax legislation victory under their belts, Republicans will focus on 'selling' their landmark legislation and will shift to implementation and a potential corrections bill in the coming months.
• Iran sanctions deadline looms at the end of the week.

Tuesday, January 09, 2018

• President Trump will meet with a bipartisan group of Senators at the White House on Immigration/DACA/the wall
• The House Committee on Financial Services | Subcommittee on Monetary Policy and Trade will hold a hearing entitled “Evaluating CFIUS: Challenges Posed by a Changing Global Economy”
• The House Committee on Energy and Commerce | Subcommittee on Energy will hold a hearing: DOE Modernization: Advancing DOEs Mission for National Economic and Energy Security of the U.S.
• The House Committee on Homeland Security | Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security will hold a hearing: On the Line: Border Security from an Agent and Officer Perspective
• The House Committee on Armed Services | Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities will host a hearing on China’s Pursuit of Emerging and Exponential Technologies
• The House Committee on Financial Services | Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit will host a hearing entitled “Legislative Proposals for a More Efficient Federal Financial Regulatory Regime: Part III”
• The Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs will host a hearing to examine combating money laundering and other forms of illicit finance, focusing on opportunities to reform and strengthen Bank Secrecy Act enforcement
• The Senate Finance Committee will host a hearing to examine the anticipated nomination of Alex Michael Azar II, of Indiana, to be Secretary of Health and Human Services
• The Senate Foreign Relations: Subcommittee on Western Hemisphere, Transnational Crime, Civilian Security, Democracy, Human Rights, and Global Women's Issues will host a hearing to examine attacks on United States diplomats in Cuba, focusing on response and oversight
• The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will host a hearing to examine the opioid crisis, focusing on how to move forward

 Wednesday, January 10, 2018

• President Trump hosts a Cabinet meeting and the Prime Minister of Norway
• The House Committee on Foreign Affairs will host a hearing: Sanctions and Financial Pressure: Major National Security Tools
• The House Committee on Armed Services will host a hearing: Department of Defense Update on the Financial Improvement and Audit Remediation FIAR Plan
• The House Committee on Financial Services | Subcommittee on Monetary Policy and Trade will host a hearing  entitled “A Further Examination of Federal Reserve Reform Proposals”
• The House Committee on Foreign Affairs | Subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere will host a hearing: Upcoming Elections in the Western Hemisphere: Implications for U.S. Policy
• The Senate Environment and Public Works will hold a hearing to examine America's water infrastructure needs and challenges
• The Senate Judiciary Committee will consider pending nominations

 Thursday, January 11, 2018 

• The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will host a business meeting to consider multiple nominations
• The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold Hearings to examine United States policy in Syria post-ISIS
• The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a business meeting to consider the nominations of Stuart Kyle Duncan, of Louisiana, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit, David Ryan Stras, of Minnesota, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Eighth Circuit, and Fernando Rodriguez, Jr., to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Texas

 Friday, January 12, 2018:

• Deadline for Iran sanctions and issuance of temporary waivers – occurs every 120 days

Make sure you catch General Dan Christman’s latest missive on U.S. strategic and military initiatives, Ukraine: Defense to Offense - here.

Our Senior Energy Analyst  Joe McMonigle writes on Treasury Department sanctions on five Iranian entities working on a ballistic program and the impact on oil sanctions – you can read his flash note here.

MEDICARE ADVANTAGE ADVANCE NOTICE PART ONE | CONTINUING SLOW ROLL TO REPLACE FFS - HUM, AET, UNH, ANTM: Our Senior Health Policy Analyst Emily Evans writes the unusually early notice implements risk adjustment for chronic disease and mental health diagnosis as required by 21st Century Cures Act. Read the full piece here.

REITS TO THE RESCUE? A TAX REFORM IMPACTS | HCA, THC, CYH, LPNT, HCN, MPW:  Our Senior Health Policy Analyst Emily Evans writes the interest deduction limitation is bad news for most hospitals, but REIT exclusion offers a strategy of sorts. Read the full piece here.

WAVING GOODBYE: INCREASED LIKELIHOOD TRUMP WILL NOT WAIVE US OIL SANCTIONS ON IRAN ON JAN 12: Our Senior Energy Analyst Joe McMonigle writes there is early 2018 oil volatility ahead as the window closes on a Congressional/Diplomatic fix for the Iran deal. Read the full piece here.