DRIVING THE WEEK:
- Both the House and Senate are in session this week.
- The Senate Foreign Relations Committee headed by Senator Bob Corker (R-TN) will vote today on the nomination of Central Intelligence Agency Director Mike Pompeo to be Secretary of State. The Committee breakdown is 11R - 10D and Senator Rand Paul (R-KY) and all of the Committee’s Democrats are currently expected to vote no complicating Pompeo’s path for a full vote before the Senate.
- Defying Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley (R-IA) said his committee will vote this week on a bill to protect special counsel Robert Mueller from being fired in the midst of the Russia investigation.
- The House is set to vote on legislation this week that would reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) through fiscal 2023. Lawmakers have included badly-needed reforms to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the FAA measure.
- The House is expected to quickly take up the resolution blocking the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's 2013 guidance on auto-lending discrimination that the Senate passed last week by a vote of 51-47.
- Voters in Arizona's 8th Congressional District will vote Tuesday in a special election to replace former Rep Trent Franks (R), who resigned last year amid sexual harassment allegations.
- President Trump will host French President Emmanuel Macron today through Wednesday - and will hold bilateral meetings, a press conference as well as the first state dinner of the Trump Administration. Macron will deliver an address before a joint session of Congress on Wednesday. The Iran nuclear deal, climate change, and EU trade issues are expected to be at the top of Macron’s to-do list.
- Negotiators from Canada, Mexico and the United States are hoping to wrap up their talks for a revised North American Free Trade Agreement with a preliminary deal in the coming weeks, according to congressional aides and industry executives familiar with the discussions.
- Trump will meet with German President Angela Merkel on Friday.
- Trump expressed optimism about an upcoming summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, but he also warned that he would walk away from the meeting if it is not "fruitful." Trump is expected to raise the bar and call for Un to dismantle the North Korea’s nuclear armaments.
COURT REVIEWS FCC ORDER CRITICAL TO SINCLAIR/TRIBUNE DEAL (SBGI, TRCO): Paul Glenchur weighs in on the federal appeals court review of FCC decision that facilitates the Sinclair/Tribune deal. His note here.
TRUMP TWEET ON OPEC AND OIL PRICES IS ABOUT POSITIONING AHEAD OF IRAN DEAL DECISION: OPEC and Gulf Producers Should Expect Trump Pressure to Increase Production; Possible SPR Release. Read Senior Energy analyst Joe's McMonigle's note here.
XI FOR LIFE: General Dan Christman writes on two ground-shifting events that have taken place over the last months that have the potential to fundamentally alter U.S. relations with the Sinic and Muslim worlds. You can read his note here.
TRUMP ADMINISTRATION ON TRACK TO OUTSPEND REAGAN BUILDUP: General Emo Garder writes that DoD's topline for FY2019 is a foregone conclusion but breathtaking in its aspiration. Read his insight here.
BRINGING THE HAMMER DOWN | CMS PROPOSES MORE REPORTING OF DIR FEES IN PART D | CVS, DPLO, HUM, UNH: In what can only be a set up for point of sale rebates for Part D beneficiaries, CMS proposes new guidance requiring more detailed reporting. Read the analysis by Emily Evans here.
Monday, April 23, 2018
SENATE:
Foreign Relations Business meeting to consider the nomination of Mike Pompeo, of Kansas, to be Secretary of State, and routine lists in the Foreign Service.
HOUSE:
Hearing: Securing Our Communities: Federal Support to High-Risk Urban Areas. | The Recital Hall of the Center for the Arts at the College of Staten Island, Staten Island, NY
Committee on Homeland Security | Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response and Communications
Tuesday, April 24, 2018
SENATE:
Armed Services | Hearings to examine the posture of the Department of the Air Force in review of the Defense Authorization Request for fiscal year 2019 and the Future Years Defense Program.
Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry | Hearings to examine the state of rural America.
Appropriations: Subcommittee on Department of Defense | Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2019 for the Navy and Marine Corps.
Energy and Natural Resources | Hearings to examine President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2019 for the Forest Service.
Foreign Relations | Hearings to examine the nominations of Harry B. Harris, Jr., of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Commonwealth of Australia, Jonathan R. Cohen, of California, to be the Deputy Representative to the United Nations, with the rank and status of Ambassador, and the Deputy Representative in the Security Council of the United Nations, and to be Representative to the Sessions of the General Assembly of the United Nations, during his tenure of service as Deputy Representative to the United Nations, and Jackie Wolcott, of Virginia, to be Representative to the Vienna Office of the United Nations, with the rank of Ambassador, and to be Representative to the International Atomic Energy Agency, with the rank of Ambassador, all of the Department of State.
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs | Hearings to examine mitigating America's cybersecurity risk.
Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions | Business meeting to consider S.2680, to address the opioid crisis, S.2315, to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to clarify the regulatory framework with respect to certain nonprescription drugs that are marketed without an approved new drug application, S.2597, to amend the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize the program of payments to children's hospitals that operate graduate medical education programs, S.382, to require the Secretary of Health and Human Services to develop a voluntary registry to collect data on cancer incidence among firefighters, and the nominations of Sharon Fast Gustafson, of Virginia, to be General Counsel of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission for a term of four years, Jon Parrish Peede, of Mississippi, to be Chairperson of the National Endowment for the Humanities for a term of four years, and any pending nominations.
Judiciary | Hearings to examine the plight of international parental child abduction and its effect on American families.
Appropriations: Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies | Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2019 for the Food and Drug Administration.
Appropriations: Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs | Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2019 for the United States Agency for International Development.
Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security | Hearings to examine maritime transportation, focusing on opportunities and challenges.
Finance | Hearings to examine early impressions of the new tax law.
Intelligence | Closed hearings to examine certain intelligence matters.
Wednesday, April 25, 2018
SENATE:
Commerce, Science, and Transportation | Business meeting to consider S.2369, to authorize aboriginal subsistence whaling pursuant to the regulations of the International Whaling Commission, S.2511, to require the Under Secretary of Commerce for Oceans and Atmosphere to carry out a program on coordinating the assessment and acquisition by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration of unmanned maritime systems, to make available to the public data collected by the Administration using such systems, an original bill entitled, "MARAD Reauthorization", and the nominations of Vice Admiral Karl L. Schultz, to be Admiral and to be Commandant, and Vice Admiral Charles W. Ray, to be Vice Commandant, both of the Coast Guard, Department of Homeland Security, Patrick Fuchs, of Wisconsin, and Michelle A. Schultz, of Pennsylvania, both to be a Member of the Surface Transportation Board, Department of Transportation, Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, of Maryland, to be a Federal Trade Commissioner, Rubydee Calvert, of Wyoming, and Laura Gore Ross, of New York, both to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, and Alan E. Cobb, of Kansas, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority.
Joint Economic Committee | Hearings to examine how the innovation economy leads to growth.
Appropriations: Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development | Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2019 for the Nuclear Regulatory Commission.
Indian Affairs | Hearings to examine H.R.597, to take lands in Sonoma County, California, into trust as part of the reservation of the Lytton Rancheria of California, and H.R.1491, to reaffirm the action of the Secretary of the Interior to take land into trust for the benefit of the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Mission Indians.
Appropriations: Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies| Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2019 for the Department of Justice.
Commerce, Science, and Transportation: Subcommittee on Oceans, Atmosphere, Fisheries, and Coast Guard |Hearings to examine enhancing the Marine Mammal Protection Act.
Judiciary | Hearings to examine the nominations of Andrew S. Oldham, of Texas, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit, Alan D. Albright, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Texas, Thomas S. Kleeh, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of West Virginia, Peter J. Phipps, to be United States District Judge for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and Michael J. Truncale, to be United States District Judge for the Eastern District of Texas.
Veterans' Affairs | Hearings to examine the nomination of Ronny Lynn Jackson, of Texas, to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs.
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs | Hearings to examine the nomination of Christopher Krebs, of Virginia, to be Under Secretary for National Protection and Programs, Department of Homeland Security.
Rules and Administration | Business meeting to markup S.Res.355, improving procedures for the consideration of nominations in the Senate.
Small Business and Entrepreneurship | Hearings to examine preparing small businesses for cybersecurity success.
HOUSE:
Hearing: FY 2019 Department of Justice | Committee on Appropriations | Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
Hearing: FY 2019 Department of Defense Posture and Budget | Committee on Appropriations | Defense
Hearing: FY 2019 Budget - U.S. Government Accountability Office | Committee on Appropriations | Subcommittee on Legislative Branch
Hearing: NSA Subcommittee Hearing: Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Hearing closed | HVC-304 CAPITOL
House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence | Subcommittee on the National Security Agency and Cybersecurity
Committee on Appropriations | Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Hearing: FY 2019 Office of Housing and Federal Housing Administration | Committee on Appropriations | Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
Hearing: FY 2019 - Pipeline to the Workforce | Committee on Appropriations | Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
Hearing: "Border Security Commerce and Travel: Commissioner McAleenans Vision for the Future of CBP" | Committee on Homeland Security | Subcommittee on Border and Maritime Security
Hearing: Hearing entitled “HUD’s Role in Rental Assistance: An Oversight and Review of Legislative Proposals on Rent Reform” | Committee on Financial Services | Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance
Hearing: FY 2019 Budget for the U.S. House of Representatives | Committee on Appropriations | Subcommittee on Legislative Branch
Hearing: FY 2019 Financial Services Member Day |Committee on Appropriations | Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
Thursday, April 26, 2018
SENATE:
Armed Services | Hearings to examine the Department of Defense budget posture in review of the Defense Authorization Request for fiscal year 2019 and the Future Years Defense Program.
Appropriations: Subcommittee on Department of Defense | Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2019 for the Defense Health Program.
Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Investigations | An oversight hearing to examine Department of Health and Human Services and Department of Homeland Security efforts to protect unaccompanied alien children from human trafficking and abuse.
Appropriations: Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies | Hearings to examine proposed Department of Defense budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2019 for military construction and family housing.
Intelligence | To receive a closed briefing regarding certain intelligence matters.
House of Representatives Schedule
Markup: Markup of H.R. 5515 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 | Committee on Armed Services | Subcommittee on Readiness
Hearing: CIA Subcommittee Hearing: Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Hearing closed | House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence | Subcommittee on the Central Intelligence Agency
Hearing: FY 2019 FTA, FHWA, MARAD Administrators | Committee on Appropriations | Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
Hearing: FY 2019 U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission | Committee on Appropriations | Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
Hearing: “Worker-Management Relations: Examining the Need to Modernize Federal Labor Law”
Committee on Education and the Workforce | Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions
Markup: Markup of H.R. 5515 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 | Committee on Armed Services | Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
Hearing: FY 2019 Public Witnesses Hearing | Committee on Appropriations | Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
Hearing: Strengthening the Safety and Security of Our Nation: The Presidents FY2019 Budget Request for the Department of Homeland Security | Committee on Homeland Security
Hearing: Waste and Inefficiency in the FederalGovernment: GAO's 2018 Duplication Report | Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
Hearing: No Man’s Land: Middle-Market Challenges for Small Business Graduates | Committee on Small Business
Markup: Markup of H.R. 5515 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 | Committee on Armed Services | Subcommittee on Military Personnel
Markup: Markup of H.R. 5515 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 | Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
Markup: Markup of H.R. 5515 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 | Committee on Armed Services | Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces
Hearing: FY 2019 Budget Request for the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) | Committee on Appropriations | Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
Hearing: FY 2019 Department of Justice | Committee on Appropriations | Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Hearing: FY 2019 Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) | Committee on Appropriations | Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
Hearing: FY 2019 Federal Communications Commission (FCC) | Committee on Appropriations | Financial Services and General Government
Markup: Markup of H.R. 5515 - National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019 | Committee on Armed Services | Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
