The SENATE convened at 2:00 p.m. today for roll call votes, and is expected to hold a procedural vote on the financial regulatory overhaul bill.

The Senate plans to spend the majority of the week continuing work on a sweeping financial reform bill, while the House is scheduled to take up defense acquisition procedures.

The Senate started the week with a vote on the motion to proceed to the financial reform bill at 5:00pm today, a vote which is still being held open as Senators continue to arrive in Washington.  If the vote fails to achieve the sixty-vote threshold needed, Senate leadership has indicated they will work to find a way forward on the bill regardless.

The Restoring American Financial Stability Act (S. 3217) would create new safeguards to protect the financial system and overhaul federal regulation of the banking industry. The bill also contains provisions that would prevent financial institutions from becoming so large and vital to the economy that they would be considered “too big to fail.”  The Senate could also consider several additional nominations throughout the week.

The HOUSE convened today at 2:00 p.m. today for legislative business and to consider 3 measures under suspension of the rules.  Tuesday, and for the remainder of the week, the House is expected to take up 13 measures under suspension of the rules and two measures subject to a rule.

The House is slated this week to take up the Implementing Management for Performance and Related Reforms to Obtain Value in Every (IMPROVES) Acquisition Act of 2010 (H.R. 5013). The IMPROVES Acquisition Act would require the Department of Defense (DoD) to comprehensively manage its acquisition workforce, reform DoD’s financial management, and expand the defense industrial base in order to promote competition and innovation. The legislation would apply to the parts of the defense acquisition system not addressed by the Weapon Systems Acquisition Reform Act, which was signed into law in May 2009.

KEY HEARINGS & MARKUPS

APPROPRIATIONS:  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.

Tuesday, April 27 at 10:00 a.m., 2226 Rayburn Building; Wednesday, April 28 at 10:30 a.m., 2362-B Rayburn Building; Thursday, April 29 at 10:00 a.m., 2359 Rayburn Building.

The Energy and Water Development Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee will hold a hearing to assess national energy policies, focusing on significant achievements since the 1970s and an examination of U.S. energy policies and goals in the coming decades.
Wednesday, April 28 at 10:00 a.m., 124 Dirksen Building.

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 28 at 10:00 a.m., 2359 Rayburn Building.

The Financial Services and General Government Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee will hold hearings on proposed FY 2011 appropriations for programs under its jurisdiction.
Wednesday, April 28 at 2:30 p.m., 138 Dirksen 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 29 at 10:00 a.m., 192 Dirksen Building.

The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development and Related Agencies Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee will hold hearings on proposed FY 2011 appropriations for programs under its jurisdiction.
Thursday, April 29 at 9:30 a.m., 138 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, & TRANSPORTATION:  The Competitiveness, Innovation and Export Promotion Subcommittee of the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will hold a hearing on efforts to promote national parks as travel destinations.
Tuesday, April 27 at 10:00 a.m., 253 Russell Building.

ENERGY & COMMERCE: The Energy and Environment Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a hearing titled “Clean Energy Policies That Reduce Our Dependence on Oil."
Wednesday, April 28 at 9:30 a.m., 2123 Rayburn Building.

 The Commerce, Trade and Consumer Protection Subcommittee of the House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a hearing on the Consumer Product Safety Enhancement Act of 2010.
Thursday, April 29 at 10:00 a.m., 2322 Rayburn Building.

ENVIRONMENT & PUBLIC WORKS:  The Water and Wildlife Subcommittee of the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing on collaborative solutions to wildlife and habitat management.
Tuesday, April 27 at 10:00 a.m., 406 Dirksen Building.

FINANCIAL SERVICES: The Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee of the House Financial Services Committee will hold a hearing on legislative proposals to preserve public housing.
Wednesday, April 28 at 10:00 a.m., 2128 Rayburn Building.

HEALTH, EDUCATION, & LABOR: 

  The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will hold a hearing titled “Putting Safety First: Strengthening Enforcement and Creating a Culture of Compliance at Mines and Other Dangerous Workplaces."
Tuesday, April 27 at 2:00 p.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.
Wednesday, April 28 at 2:00 p.m. and Thursday, April 29 at 10:00 a.m., 430 Dirksen Building.

HOMELAND SECURITY: The Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will hold a series of hearings titled “Wall Street and the Financial Crisis."
Tuesday, April 27 at 10:00 a.m., 106 Dirksen Building.

The Management, Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee of the House Homeland Security Committee will hold a hearing titled “Laying the Framework for the Task Ahead: An Examination of the Department of Homeland Security’s Quadrennial Homeland Security Review."
Thursday, April 29 at 10:00 a.m., 311 Cannon Building.

JOINT ECONOMIC:  The Joint Economic Committee will hold a hearing on long-term unemployment, focusing on causes, consequences and solutions.
Thursday, April 29 at 2:00 p.m., 210 Cannon Building.

TRANSPORTATION & INFRASTRUCTURE:  The Water Resources and Environment Subcommittee of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hold hearings on protecting and restoring America’s great waterways.
Wednesday, April 28 at 2:00 p.m., 2167 Rayburn Building.

The Nuclear Regulatory Commission voted last week to overturn the order of the U.S. Atomic Energy Safety and Licensing Board which had suspended the Yucca Mountain administrative hearing, essentially forcing a decision on the Department of Energy's motion to withdraw the license with prejudice by June 1.  

In addition, there are two current federal court cases aimed at stopping the DOE from withdrawing the license application.  One combines various filings into one and includes the State of South Carolina, Aiken County, SC, and Ferguson, et al, suing DOE and the President over the decision withdraw the application; the State of Nevada is an intervener in that case.

The second lawsuit was brought by the State of Washington and challenges their authority to withdraw the license under the Nuclear Waste Policy Act. Washington has also filed a motion for a preliminary injunction to prevent the withdrawal.  DOE has until April 24th to respond, and Washington has until April 28th to reply.  The US Circuit Court of Appeals may rule any time after Washington's reply.

So, while the Administrative hearing process has been ordered to continue and address DOE's motion to withdraw, there are two federal court cases already taking place.  Additional federal court cases will most likely be filed after there is a final administrative decision from the NRC.

With information from the Nevada Nuclear Projects Office

The Arizona Legislature’s passage last week of a new hard-line anti-immigration law has accelerated talks on Capitol Hill to take up an immigration reform package - an idea already floated by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) following a tour through Nevada during the Spring Congressional Recess. 

Many believe the issue has the potential to be just as contentious as health care reform, many lawmakers are reticent to approach the subject, and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) has indicated she will only bring the bill up in the House after (and if) the Senate acts first.

Immigration reform advocates believe without a comprehensive bill from Congress, other states may start following Arizona's lead to pass state-based immigration reform laws.