WHIP'S WEEKLY OUTLOOK: TUESDAY, MAY 31, 2011

For Immediate Release:
2011-05-31T00:00:00

Welcome to the Whip's Weekly Outlook, your one-stop document to find out what's to come in the following weeks on the House Floor and in Committees, as well as a review of the last week in session. Please let us know what you think.

If you have any questions, please contact Brian Romick, Chris DeBosier, or Courtney Fry in the Office of the Democratic Whip at (202) 225-3130.
THIS WEEK ON THE FLOOR
The House is scheduled to be in session this week from Tuesday, 5/31, to Friday, 6/3. The House will meet on Tuesday at 2PM for legislative business. The first votes of the week will be on Tuesday at 6:30PM.  On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10AM for Morning Hour and at 12PM for legislative business. On Friday, the House will meet at 9AM for legislative business with last votes expected no later than 3PM. The House is scheduled to go into a week-long recess after final votes on Friday, 6/3.
 
On Tuesday, the House is expected to consider six bills under suspension of the Rules:
  • H.R. 1484 – Veterans Appeals Improvement Act, as amended (Rep. Filner – Veterans’ Affairs)
  • H.R. 802 – To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a VetStar Award Program (Rep.  Filner – Veterans’ Affairs)
  • S.Con.Res. 16 – Authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for an event to celebrate the birthday of King Kamehameha (Sen. Akaka – House Administration)
  • S. 1082 – Small Business Temporary Extension Act of 2011 (Sen. Landrieu – Small Business)
  • H.R. 1194 – To renew the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to approve demonstration projects designed to test innovative strategies in State child welfare programs (Rep. McDermott – Ways and Means)
  • H.R. 1954 –  Debt Limit Extension (Rep. Camp – Ways and Means)
On Wednesday and the balance of the week, the House is expected to dispose of one bill:
  • H.Con.Res. 51 – Directing the President, pursuant to section 5(c) of the War Powers Resolution, to remove the United States Armed Forces from Libya (Rep. Kucinich – Foreign Affairs)
And, on Wednesday and the balance of the week, the House is expected to consider two bills subject to rules:
  • H.R. 2017 – The Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2012 (Rep. Aderholt – Appropriations)
    • Committee Markup Information – The Appropriations Committee marked up the bill on Tuesday, 5/24, and reported out the bill on a party line vote.
    • The Rules Committee will meet on Tuesday, 5/31, at 5:30PM to grant a rule. The Rules Committee is expected to report an open rule.
  • H.R. __– TheMilitary Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2012 (Rep. Culberson – Appropriations)
    • Committee Markup Information – The Appropriations Committee marked up the bill on Tuesday, 5/24, and reported out the bill unanimously.
    • The Rules Committee will meet on Wednesday, 6/1, at 3PM to grant a rule. The Rules Committee is expected to report an open rule. 
THIS WEEK IN COMMITTEES
Highlights:
 
The Full Appropriations Committee will mark up the FY12 Agriculture Appropriations Act on Tuesday, 5/31, at 5PM, the Defense Subcommittee will mark up the FY12 Defense Appropriations Act on Wednesday, 6/1, at 10AM, and the Energy and Water Development Subcommittee will mark up the FY12 Energy and Water Appropriations Act on Thursday, 6/2, at 10AM.
 
On Thursday, 6/2, at 10AM, the House Budget Committee will hold a Hearing on Fannie Mae, Freddie Mac & FHA.
 
The Education and Workforce Committee will hold a Hearing on charter schools on Wednesday, 6/1, at 10AM.
 
The Energy and Workforce Committee’s subcommittees will hold a number of Hearings this week. On Tuesday, 5/31, at 2PM, the Subcommittee on Energy and Power will hold a Hearing on protecting the electric grid and H.R.____ – The Grid Reliability and Infrastructure Defense Act. Please find discussion draft text, here. On Wednesday, 6/1, at 9:30AM, the Subcommittee on Communications and Technology will hold a Hearing entitled, “Promoting Broadband, Jobs and Economic Growth Through Commercial Spectrum Auctions." On Thursday, 6/2, at 2PM, the Subcommittee on Health will hold a Hearing entitled, "ACA's Effects on Health Coverage and Jobs.” The Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations will hold an oversight Hearing on regulatory reform on Friday, 6/3, at 10AM.   And, on Friday, 6/3, at 9AM the Subcommittee on Energy and Power will hold the ninth day of its hearing on “The American Energy Initiative.” The Hearing will focus on policy recommendations in H.R. 909 – A Roadmap for America’s Energy Future.
 
On Wednesday, 6/1, at 10AM, the Committee on Financial Services will hold a Full Committee Hearing with the Secretary of the Treasury regarding the “State of the International Financial System.” On Thursday, 6/2, at 10AM, the Committee on Financial Services’ Subcommittee on International Monetary Policy and Trade will markup H.R. ___ – Securing American Jobs Through Exports Act. Please find discussion draft text, here.
 
On Wednesday, 6/1, at 2PM, the Committee on Homeland Security’s Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence will hold a hearing entitled, “The DHS Intelligence Enterprise- Past, Present, and Future.” On Thursday, 6/2, at 2PM, the House Committee on Homeland Security’s Subcommittee on Transportation Security will hold a Hearing on the TSA’s authorization for FY12 and FY13.
 
The Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Competition and the Internet on the Judiciary Committee will hold a Hearing entitled, "Promoting Investment and Protecting Commerce Online: The ART Act, the NET Act and Illegal Streaming" on Wednesday, 6/1, at 1:30PM.   On Friday, 6/3, at 10AM, the Committee on Judiciary’s Subcommittee on the Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security will hold a hearing on H.R. 1793 – the Clean Up Government Act.
 
On Wednesday, 6/1, at 10AM, the Natural Resources Committee will hold the second part of a Full Committee Hearing on roadblocks to wind and solar energy on public lands and waters.
 
On Wednesday, 6/1, at 1PM, the Small Business Committee will hold a Full Committee Hearing on small businesses’ access to capital. The Hearing is intended to provide a forum for lenders and business owners to discuss the current economic environment and how they are working together to support private sector job growth. On Thursday, 6/2, at 10AM, the House Small Business Committee’s Subcommittee on Healthcare and Technology will hold a Hearing on IT barriers for small medical practices. 
 
On Thursday, 6/2, at 10AM, the Committee on Ways and Means will hold a Full Committee Hearing on tax reform and job creation. On Friday, 6/3, at 9AM, the Committee’s Subcommittee on Social will hold an oversight Hearing on the findings in the 2011 Annual Report of the Social Security Board of Trustees.

Please find links below to each Committee’s Hearing and Markup schedules:

A LOOK AHEAD
The House will begin work on FY12 Appropriations bills this week beginning with the Homeland Security Appropriations Act and the Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. As noted above, the Full Appropriations Committee will mark up the Agriculture Appropriations Act on Tuesday, 5/31, the Defense Subcommittee will mark up the Defense Appropriations Act on Wednesday, 6/1, and the Energy and Water Development Subcommittee will mark up the Energy and Water Appropriations Act on Thursday, 6/2. The subcommittee chairs of the Appropriations Committee have issued guidance to Members about how they wish to receive programmatic requests for the FY12 subcommittee appropriations bills. Please find a letter from Appropriations Committee Ranking Member Norm Dicks regarding how to submit programmatic requests, here, which also includes links to the letters from each subcommittee chair regarding each of their deadlines and guidelines for requests.
 
While Floor action has not yet been announced on the following, please keep in mind:
 
On Wednesday, 4/6, the Insurance, Housing and Community Opportunity Subcommittee on the Financial Services Committee marked up H.R. 1309 – the Flood Insurance Reform Act. Please find information on the Committee Markup, here. The National Flood Insurance Program’s authorization expires on 9/30.
 
The House Judiciary Committee passed the House version of patent reform, H.R. 1249 – the America Invents Act out of Committee by a 32-3 vote on Thursday, 4/14. Please find information on the Committee markup, here.
 
On Thursday, 5/26, the House Intelligence Committee marked up H.R. 1892 – the Intelligence Authorization Act for FY12. Please find information on the Committee markup, here.
 
On Tuesday, 5/24, the Financial Services Committee marked up H.R. 1573 – To facilitate implementation of title VII of the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act, promote regulatory coordination, and avoid market disruption. Please find information on the Committee markup, here. Also, on Tuesday, 5/3, the Subcommittee on Capital Markets and Government Sponsored Enterprises on the Financial Services Committee marked up other legislation related to the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform Act: H.R. 1062 – The Burdensome Data Collection Relief Act; H.R. 1082 – The Small Business Capital Access and Job Preservation Act, H.R. 1539 – The Asset-Backed Market Stabilization Act of 2011, and H.R. 1610 – The Business Risk Mitigation and Price Stabilization Act of 2011. Please find information on the Subcommittee Markup, here. And, on Wednesday, 5/4, the Subcommittee on Financial Institution and Consumer Credit also marked up H.R. 1121 – the Responsible Consumer Financial Protection Regulations Act of 2011 and H.R. 1315 – the Consumer Financial Protection Safety and Soundness Improvement Act of 2011. During this markup, the subcommittee considered H.R. 1573 as well. Please find information on this Subcommittee Markup, here.
 
Last month, the House passed H.R. 658 – the FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act.  In February, the Senate passed S. 223 – the FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act. The current temporary FAA funding authorization expires on 5/31.  As noted above, the House passed a temporary extension of the FAA through 6/30.
 
Free Trade Agreements are pending with South Korea, Colombia and Panama. On Thursday, 5/5, the Administration began technical discussions on the Korea, Colombia, and Panama trade agreements with congressional committees.  The Trade Adjustment Act (TAA) and Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA) also already expired on 2/13.
 
The Committee on Education and the Workforce marked up H.R. 1891 – The Setting New Priorities in Education Spending Act on Thursday, 5/26. According to the Committee, this is the first in a series of education reform bills designed to revamp current Education and Secondary Education law.
 
On Tuesday, 4/5, the Energy and Commerce Committee marked up legislation to limit the HHS Secretary’s authority to fund state-based health insurance exchanges: H.R. 1343 , H.R. 1217 , H.R. 1216 , H.R. 1215 , H.R. 1214 and H.R. 1213 . Please find information about the Committee markup, here. H.R. 1217 , H.R. 1214 , H.R. 1213 and H.R. 1216 have already been passed on the Floor. As noted above, the House will consider H.R. 1217 this week.
RECAP OF THE LAST WEEK IN SESSION
During the week of 5/23 – 5/26, the House passed:
  • H.R. 1216 – To amend the Public Health Service Act to convert funding for graduate medical education in qualified teaching health centers from direct appropriations to an authorization of appropriations (Rep. Guthrie – Energy and Commerce)
  • H.R. 1540 – National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 (Rep. McKeon – Armed Services)
  • Motion to Concur in the Senate Amendment to the House Amendment to S. 990– PATRIOT Sunsets Extension Act of 2011 (Sen. Landrieu - Small Business)
The House also passed six bills under suspension of the Rules:
 
  • H.R. 1407 – Veterans’ Compensation Cost-of-Living Adjustment Act of 2011 (Rep. Runyan – Veterans’ Affairs)
  • H.R. 1627 – To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for certain requirements for the placement of monuments in Arlington National Cemetery, and for other purposes
    (Rep. Miller (FL) – Veterans’ Affairs)
  • H.R. 1383 – Restoring GI Bill Fairness Act of 2011, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Miller (FL) – Veterans’ Affairs)
  • H.R. 1657 – To amend title 38, United States Code, to revise the enforcement penalties for misrepresentation of a business concern as a small business concern owned and controlled by veterans or as a small business concern owned and controlled by service disabled veterans (Rep. Stutzman – Veterans’ Affairs)
  • H.R. 1893 – To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, to amend title 49, United States Code, to extend the airport improvement program, and for other purposes (Rep. Mica – Transportation and Infrastructure)
  • S. 990 – To provide for an additional temporary extension of programs under the Small Business Act and the Small Business Investment Act of 1958, and for other purposes, as amended  (Sen. Landrieu – Small Business)
MESSAGING FROM THE WHIP’S OFFICE

Fiscal Responsibility

On 5/23, Whip Hoyer gave a speech at the Bipartisan Policy Center where he discussed America’s fiscal future, and the steps we must take to get our debt under control while protecting the middle class. Please find his remarks are prepared for delivery, here.

Republican Budget

The Republican budget ends Medicare and attempts to bring down the deficit on the backs of seniors by: raising seniors’ health care costs by more than $6,000per year; reopening the prescription drug donut hole, costing an estimated 4 million seniors who fall into the coverage gap up to $44 billion by 2020, including $2.2 billion in 2012 alone; increasing the cost of wellness visits, forcing at least one million seniors and people with disabilities to pay over $110 million more for this critical service in 2012; and, requiring 54-year-olds to save an additional $182,000 more just to cover health care costs. While Republicans stand by their plan to try to end Medicare and bring down deficits on the backs of seniors, Democrats continue to stand ready to work together on a path forward to reduce our deficit while supporting job creation and growing the economy.

Debt Limit

 “We ought not to make this a political football or an item on which one side can demagogue the other. The creditworthiness of the United States of America is much too important an issue. The ramifications of continuing to politicize this issue are very adverse to small businesses, to individuals, to the economy of our country.” – Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, 5/24

Trade Adjustment Assistance & Free Trade Agreements

On 5/27, Whip Hoyer wrote a letter to the editor in the Wall Street Journal in support of the Trade Adjustment Assistance program, arguing that it is appropriate to seek an extension of the expanded program as part of advancing the Colombia, Panama, and Korea trade deals. “Contrary to your editorial "Trade Extortion Assistance" (May 20), helping workers whose jobs move overseas is far from "extortion." Rather, helping them stay on their feet and acquire the skills necessary to obtain new employment is an integral part of a rational trade agenda, and it is entirely appropriate to include an extension of the 2009 Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) reforms in the context of advancing the Colombia, Panama and South Korea trade deals… I support the pending trade agreements and believe they will create American jobs. But we should not be callous to the reality that some workers are displaced by trade. Retraining those workers makes economic sense and is the right and smart thing to do.” Democratic Whip Steny Hoyer, 5/27

Disaster Relief

Republicans have no problem leaving tax breaks for the wealthy unpaid for and continuing to give taxpayer handouts to Big Oil companies, but when it comes to emergency funding for areas affected by recent tornados, they want to search for offsets before sending needed assistance to devastated communities. House Republicans have repeatedly voted to protect billions of dollars per year in unnecessary subsidies for oil companies. But when it comes to emergency funding for disaster-stricken areas, some Republicans don’t want to act until offsets have been found.

Make It In America

Whip Hoyer will participate in an open conversation at the Center For American Progress Action Fund event "The American Manufacturing Success Story: Writing the Next Chapter" on Tuesday, 5/31, at 11AM. He will be joining Assistant to the President for Manufacturing Policy, Ron Bloom and President of United Streetcar, Chandra Brown, and the event will be moderated by Michael Ettlinger, Vice President for Economic Policy at the CAP Action Fund. Click here to RSVP. 
 
He will discuss House Democrats’ “Make It In America” agenda, a plan to support job creation today and in the future by providing an encouraging environment for businesses to innovate and make products in the US and sell it to the world through strengthening our infrastructure and prioritizing investments in key areas like education and energy innovation. This effort builds on House Democrats' actions to create jobs and continue growing the economy while cutting wasteful spending. 
You can also visit the Make It In America page on Whip Hoyer’s website for regularly updated information. We also encourage you to check the Make It In America on Facebook page to follow news as it is posted.