This Week in the US House and Senate (UPDATED from July 1 posting)

A bill limiting the reach of the federal flood insurance program (H.R. 1309 - Flood Insurance Reform Act of 2011)  and possibly the energy and water 2012 appropriations bill will be on tap this week on the House floor, as it reconvenes on Wednesday (mid-day) and votes Wednesday night, Thursday and Friday morning.  

Following an off-day for the July Fourth holiday, the Senate reconvenes on Tuesday.  Senate Budget Committee Chairman Kent Conrad (D-ND) announced on June 29 that Democrats had reached agreement on a Fiscal Year 2012 budget plan, and that the plan may be announced as soon as next week. Conrad’s proposal would reportedly cut more than $4 trillion from the Federal deficit over the next ten years.

One House hearing and two spending bill markup meeting are currently scheduled during the week of particular relevance to Mississippi River Basin water resource issues:

• House Appropriations Committee's Interior and Environment Subcommittee markup of Fiscal Year 2012 Interior Department, EPA and the U.S. Forest Service spending bill; Thursday, July 7, 9 AM; room B308 Rayburn House Office Building
• Committee on Agriculture's Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry's Agricultural Program Audit: Examination of Conservation Programs; Thursday, July 7, 10 AM; room 1300 Longworth House Office Building 
• House Appropriations Committee's Commerce, Justice and Science Appropriations Subcommittee markup of Fiscal Year 2012 National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (Department of Commerce) spending bill; Thursday, July 7, 10:15 AM; room H140 US Capitol 
  

This page will be updated as warranted throughout the week.