Senate to Work on Nominees While Negotiations Continue on Security Funding, House Is in Recess
Jason Pye - Director, Rule of Law Initiatives
Point of Order is a (mostly) weekly preview of key congressional activity for those with more than a passing interest in federal policy.
Another CR passed: On Thursday, the Senate and the House passed the Further Additional Continuing Appropriations and Other Extensions Act, H.R. 2872. President Biden signed the bill into law on Friday. Agriculture; Energy and Water; Military Constriction and Veterans Affairs (MilCon-VA); Transportation, Housing, and Urban Development (T-HUD), per this continuing resolution (CR), are funded through March 1. Everything else, including Defense, is funded through March 8. Appropriators hope to spend the next several weeks piecing together an omnibus. The next big step, though, is finding agreement on the subcommittee allocations under 302(b) of the Budget Act.
We’re back to nominees in the Senate: The Senate returns today at 3:00 pm and will resume consideration of the nomination of Christopher Koos to serve as Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years. A roll call vote on the cloture motion for the Koos nomination is expected to begin at 5:30 pm. Cloture was also filed on the nominations of Anthony Rosario Coscia to serve as a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years and Joel Matthew Szabat to serve as a Director of the Amtrak Board of Directors for a term of five years.
Security funding update: Although negotiations continue on funding for Ukraine, Israel, and the border, a framework has been finalized. There are hopes in the Senate for moving on the package this week. Getting a bill through the House looks like a tough sell. Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) has thrown cold water on the border provisions of what could be in the final deal. Making passage of any deal tougher, the ex-president has also opened his mouth on the subject. At least one House Republican (you’ll never guess who) has threatened to move to vacate the chair if any more money goes to Ukraine. Let’s be clear here, this bill would likely pass both chambers if Johnson allows it to go to the floor. House Republicans are simply being unreasonable.
Senate committee schedule: Below are some Senate committee hearings that may be of interest. The full Senate committee schedule for the week is here.
Nominations Hearing (Armed Services, Tuesday at 9:30 am)
The Patent Eligibility Restoration Act – Restoring Clarity, Certainty, and Predictability to the U.S. Patent System (Judiciary Subcommittee on Intellectual Property, Tuesday at 2:30 pm)
Improving Export Controls Enforcement (Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight, Tuesday at 2:45 pm)
Nominations Hearing (Judiciary, Wednesday at 10:00 am)
AI in Criminal Investigations and Prosecutions (Judiciary Subcommittee on Criminal Justice and Counterterrorism, Wednesday at 2:30 pm)
Business Meeting (Foreign Relations, Wednesday at 10:00 am)
Oversight of Toxic Substances Control Act Amendments Implementation (Environment and Public Works, Wednesday at 10:00 am)
Warming Seas, Cooling Economy: How the Climate Crisis Threatens Ocean Industries (Budget, Wednesday at 10:00 am)
The Use of Artificial Intelligence at the Library of Congress, Government Publishing Office, and Smithsonian Institution (Rules and Administration, Wednesday at 2:15 pm)
Succession Planning: Opportunities to Build Wealth and Keep Jobs in Local Communities (Small Business and Entrepreneurship, Wednesday at 2:15 pm)
Nominations Hearing (Foreign Relations, Thursday at 10:00 am)
Assisted Living Facilities: Understanding Long-Term Care Options for Older Adults (Aging, Thursday at 10:00 am)
Reauthorization of the National Flood Insurance Program: Local Perspectives on Challenges and Solutions (Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs; Thursday at 10:00 am)
If you’re interested in watching any of these hearings online, you can find committee websites here.
The House is in recess, but there are some updates: The House will return on Monday, January 29. However, there has been a change to the schedule. There will be votes Wednesday, February 28, through March 1. Originally, these days were supposed to be part of a district work week, but the CR passed last week runs through March 1. The House is already scheduled to be in session the week of March 4.
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