The SENATE convened at 2:00 p.m. today to take up roll call votes on several nominations.  Tuesday, and for the balance of the week, the Senate will consider additional nominations and financial regulatory overhaul.

The HOUSE is not in session today, and is set to convene at 2:00 p.m. Tuesday to consider 6 measures under suspension of the rules.  Wednesday, and for the remainder of the week, the House is expected to take up 14 measures under suspension of the rules and one measure subject to a rule.

The House is slated to take up several measures under suspension of the rules, including a bill (H.R. 4178) to amend the Federal Deposit Insurance Act to provide for deposit restricted qualified tuition programs, and resolution (H. Res. 1257) supporting the goals and ideals of “National Financial Literacy Month.”  In addition, the House is expected to consider an Iran sanctions bill (H.R. 2194) and the D.C. Voting Rights Act (H.R. 157), which would give the District of Columbia a voting member in the House.

KEY HEARINGS & MARKUPS

APPROPRIATIONS:  The Homeland Security Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee will hold a hearing on proposed FY 2011 appropriations for programs under its jurisdiction.
Wednesday, April 21 at 10:00 a.m., 2358 Rayburn.

The Labor, Health and Human Services, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee will hold hearings on proposed FY 2011 appropriations for programs under its jurisdiction.
Wednesday, April 21 at 10:00 a.m., 2359 Rayburn Building.

The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee will hold hearings on proposed FY 2011 appropriations for programs under its jurisdiction.
Wednesday, April 21 at 10:00 a.m., 2358-A Rayburn Building.

The Defense Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee will hold a hearing on proposed FY 2011 appropriations for programs and activities under its jurisdiction.
Wednesday, April 21 at 10:00 a.m.., and Thursday, April 22 at 10:00 a.m., H-140 Capitol Building.

The Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee will hold hearings on proposed FY 2011 appropriations for programs under its jurisdiction.
Wednesday, April 21 and Thursday April 22 at 10:00 a.m., 2358-B Rayburn Building.

The Commerce, Justice and Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee will hold hearings on proposed FY 2011 appropriations for programs under its jurisdiction.
Thursday, April 22 at 10:00 a.m., 124 Dirksen Building.

The Defense Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee will hold hearings on proposed FY 2011 appropriations for programs under its jurisdiction. Wednesday, April 21 at 10:30 a.m., 192 Dirksen Building.

The Military Construction, Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee will hold hearings on proposed FY 2011 programs under its jurisdiction.
Thursday, April 22 at 10:00 a.m., 124 Dirksen Building.

AGRICULTURE:  The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee will mark up the Wall Street Transparency and Accountability Act.
Wednesday, April 21 at 9:30 a.m., G-50 Dirksen Building.

The House Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing on agriculture policy in advance of the 2012 farm bill.
Wednesday, April 21 at 11:00 a.m., 1300 Longworth Building.

COMMERCE, SCIENCE, & TECHNOLOGY:  The Communications, Technology and the Internet Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a hearing titled “The National Broadband Plan: Competitive Availability of Navigation Devices."

Wednesday, April 21 at 10:00 a.m., 2322 Rayburn Building.

 The Senate Commerce, Science & Transportation Committee will hold a hearing titled “Securing the Nation’s Rail and Other Surface Transportation Networks."
Wednesday, April 21 at 2:30 p.m.., 253 Russell Building.

ENERGY & NATURAL RESOURCES: The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on pending carbon capture and sequestration legislation.
Tuesday, April 20 at 10:00 a.m., 366 Dirksen Building.

HEALTH, EDUCATION, & LABOR:  The House Education and Labor Committee will hold a hearing titled “Reforming the Juvenile Justice System to Improve Children’s Lives and Public Safety."
Wednesday, April 21 at 10:00 a.m., 2175 Rayburn Building.

The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will hold a hearing on proposals that would protect consumers from unjustified insurance premiums.
Tuesday, April 20 at 9:30 a.m., 430 Dirksen Building.

 The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will hold hearings on the reauthorization of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
Thursday, April 22 at 10:00 p.m., 106 Dirksen Building.

JUDICIARY: The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing titled “Combating Cyber Crime and Identity Theft in the Digital Age."
Wednesday, April 21 at 10:00 a.m., 226 Dirksen Building.

STATES, INCLUDING NEVADA, ON EDGE AS SEARCH FOR FMAP OFFSET CONTINUES

Congressional lawmakers are scrambling to come up with a way to extend increased federal assistance to Medicaid, the healthcare program for the poor, but have been stymied about how to pay for it without borrowing - an issue of growing importance in the Senate.

That worries governors struggling to balance next year's state budgets.  Without an extension, the money will run out Dec. 31, and many states might be forced to make drastic cuts to the federal-state program - although they can no longer reduce the rolls under the new health care law signed in March.

The 2009 federal stimulus package provided $87 billion to increase the federal share of the program through December.  Both the House and the Senate acted to extend it through June 2011, the end of the fiscal year for states.  But the offsets that were supposed to pay for that went instead to help pay for the healthcare overhaul legislation.  

Now, aides are working with the Senate Finance Committee and leadership in both chambers to find new offsets.  Finance Chairman Max Baucus (D-MT), recently proposed a $90 billion bank tax that he said could help move bills whose costs are not fully offset, including the package of extensions.

If reconciling the larger bills does not work out, lawmakers have another option: moving the extension alone.  Democratic Senator John D. Rockefeller IV (D-WV) introduced a bill that would continue the enhanced benefits through June FY11.  Democratic Rep. Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) has a similar bill in the House.

Not knowing whether Congress will extend the extra assistance, states are struggling to accurately write and balance their budgets.  Several governors assume Congress will extend the money, and are encouraged that President Obama included $25.5 billion in his fiscal 2011 budget to cover it.  Other states plan severe cuts in services or fees increases to avoid relying on the money.  Unlike the federal government, states must balance their budgets every year.

Nevada's FY2009-11 biennial budget currently assumes an extension in FMAP funding through June 2011, six months beyond the current ARRA-enacted extension period.

FINANCIAL SERVICES ADVANCING; FLOOR CONSIDERATION POSSIBLE THIS WEEK

The Senate's version of Financial Services reform is expected to come to the floor later this week or early next week. Late last week, the unanimous Republican conference sent a letter to Senator Harry Reid (D-NV) indicating their united opposition to a bill to enact financial regulatory overhaul.  Democrats had hoped to sway moderate Susan Collins (R-ME) to support the legislation, which would have made the measure filibuster-proof.

Despite the threat of a filibuster, Senate Democrats are pressing forward with their legislation, banking on a defection in the GOP ranks or a shift in political winds that will make a vote against the measure untenable for many Republicans.  Public scrutiny and concern over actions of large financial institutions has proven to be a motivating factor for voters, and each party is working to position themselves to use the legislation for political gain.   

BUDGET RESOLUTION HAS 'GREEN LIGHT' IN SENATE

Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad said he has a "green light" to bring a budget resolution to the Senate floor this year, squashing speculation that Democrats would punt on the issue during this election season.

While the Democratic Senator from North Dakota did not give a time frame for when the fiscal 2011 budget resolution would come to the floor, he did reiterate that his committee would mark up the legislation within weeks.

House leaders have been more circumspect about whether they will advance a budget.  House Majority Leader Steny H. Hoyer (D-MD), said last Tuesday that he wants to put a budget on the floor but that leaders need to talk to members since it may be a tough sell.

The issue is whether moderates in tight races will want to vote for a five-year budget plan that would show high deficits.   

The annual budget resolution sets the outline for future tax and spending decisions but does not have the force of law.  It establishes a cap for how much can be spent on the 12 annual appropriations bills and can also include reconciliation provisions, which allow tax and mandatory spending legislation to move through the Senate without  the threat of a filibuster.  The possibility of using the reconciliation process to speed future legislation---as it did the healthcare overhaul that passed the Senate earlier this year using reconciliation procedures---is an enticement for Democrats to adopt a budget resolution this year.