THE WEEK AHEAD
The SENATE convenes at 2:00 p.m. today and is expected to spend the majority of this week working on legislation that would increase the federal government’s statutory debt limit. The resolution, which would increase the debt limit from $12.104 trillion to $13.029 trillion, passed the House last April. Votes on several amendments are scheduled to begin January 26 at 11:30 a.m., under the terms of a unanimous consent agreement passed on January 22. The Senate is also slated to consider a U.S. District Court nomination this week, and may turn to a draft bill to provide emergency aid to U.S. survivors of the earthquake in Haiti.
The HOUSE is not in session today, and is set to convene at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday for legislative business and to take up six measures under suspension of the rules, including a bill to provide emergency aid to U.S. survivors of the Haiti earthquake, a water infrastructure bill and legislation establishing a historic site in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Wednesday, the House is scheduled to consider two measures under suspension of the rules and two measures subject to a rule.
STATE OF THE UNION: President Obama's first State of the Union address will take place on Wednesday, January 27th. Governor Bob McDonnell will deliver the Republican response.
PRESIDENT'S BUDGET: President Obama is expected to release his FY2011 federal budget on Monday, February 1.
KEY HEARINGS AND MARKUPS
APPROPRIATIONS:
The Commerce, Justice and Science, and Related
Agencies Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee will hold a
hearing titled “Oversight of the Department of Commerce’s Broadband
Technology Opportunities Program Funded By the American Recovery and
Reinvestment Act of 2009”
Thursday, January 28 at 10:00 a.m., 192 Dirksen Building
TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE: The
Aviation Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee will hold a hearing on the reauthorization of the National
Transportation Safety Board
Wednesday, January 27 at 10:00 a.m., 2167 Rayburn Building
NEVADA RECEIVES $6M AS DEPARTMENT OF LABOR AWARDS STATE ENERGY SECTOR GRANTS
Last week, the Department of Labor announced competitive awards totaling $190 million for State Energy Sector Partnership and Training Grants under ARRA. Thirty-four grant awards ranging between $2 million to $6 million each were made to State Workforce Investment Boards in partnership with their State Workforce Agency, local Workforce Investment Boards or regional consortia of Boards, and One Stop Career Center delivery systems.
The Nevada Department of
Employment, Training and Rehabilitation received $6 million under the
program. For details, visit
www.doleta.gov/pdf/SESP_Summaries.pdf.
COURSE CHANGES ON CLIMATE BILL FOLLOWING MASSACHUSETTS ELECTION; SENATE REPUBLICANS MOVE TO BLOCK EPA ATTEMPTS TO REGULATE GHGs
As the White House and Congressional Democrats take stock of Scott Brown’s election in Massachusetts, the impacts climate change legislation are largely unknown, although any bills that move forward are likely to be scaled down from the original comprehensive intent. The possibilities, for now, are all over the map.
Some insist that Obama and the Congress should push ahead with
climate change legislation. Others insist that an energy-only bill
is the most realistic. While yet others believe that energy
provisions could be paired with a cap and dividend measure or a
four-pollution bill. If the bill is pared down, some believe that
nuclear energy and offshore drilling provisions will be dropped if the
cap and trade provisions are stripped out. Senators Kerry,
Lieberman and Graham continue their efforts and discussions towards a
comprehensive bill.
On Thursday, Senator Murkowski introduced a disapproval resolution that, if adopted and signed by the President, would essentially block the EPA from moving forward with regulations on greenhouse gas emissions. It is not clear yet when the disapproval resolution will be on the Senate floor for a vote, but it only needs 51 votes to be adopted. Democratic Senators Blanche Lincoln, Ben Nelson, and Mary Landrieu signed-on as cosponsors.
CONGRESSIONAL LEADERS MULL DEBT COMMISSION
One of the first items on the Senate's agenda this month has been
an in crease in the federal debt limit. The measure currently
being considered would raise the limit by $1.9 trillion to a total of
$14.2 trillion.
As part of those discussions, the chamber is also considering
options for establishing a debt commission. Last week, the White House
and moderate Senate Democrats outlined a potential option for
establishing a debt commission to address the long-term fiscal health of
the nation. If finalized by both chambers, the debt commission
would be established by a presidential executive order and would have a
total of 18 members (six selected by Democrats, six selected by
Republicans, and six selected by Obama – 2 of which would have to be
Republicans).
However, sticking points remain to be settled. Some Members of
Congress prefer that a commission be established by legislation and not
by an executive order. Senator Conrad and Gregg, in particular,
note that commission recommendations will not have "teeth" if they do
not have the force of law. It's currently unlikely that the
Conrad-Gregg proposal has enough votes to establish the commission by
law. Moreover, some in the House would want the Senate to include
pay-as-you-go-rules into the bill - a provision the Senate has been
reluctant to support.
GRANT NOTICES: Grant notices published in last week's Federal Register are now available by visiting our website: http://nevadadc.org/register.htm.
The Nevada Weekly is published when Congress is in session.
The State of Nevada Washington Office
is reachable by phone at (202) 624-5405.
Additional contact information is available on our website.
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