UPDATED: Capitol Hill This Week - What to Watch For

Senate floor activity on the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) moved along slowly last week (with only four of the amendments to the bill considered and passed thus far).  Here is a link to a description of the significant amendments passed last week. Further full Senate activity likely will occur during this week.  There will be a Senate floor vote on a motion to invoke cloture on the Water Resources Development Act (WRDA) at noon Tuesday, unless the two sides come to an agreement.  The vote would take a 3/5 majority to pass and would limit further bill consideration to 30 hours.

Below are the other activities currently scheduled this week in the U.S. House and Senate that could have a significant impact on the sustainability of the Mississippi River Basin's natural and built resources. Where available, links are provided to the relevant Committee and legislation pages on the Internet. Many of the proceedings are webcast live (follow the appropriate link).  All times are Eastern.

Tuesday

• Senate Agriculture Committee Markup of the "Farm Bill" (Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013); 10:00 AM; room 328A Russell Senate Office Building
• Senate Appropriations Homeland Security Subcommittee hearing on the FY 2014 Budget Request for the U.S. Coast Guard; 2:30 PM; room 138 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Wednesday

• House Agriculture Committee Markup of the "Farm Bill;" 10:00 AM; room 1300 Longworth House Office Building

Thursday

• House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands and Environmental Regulation  Oversight Hearing on “Invasive Species Management on Federal Lands;” 10:00 AM; room 1334 Longworth House Office Building
• House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs Oversight Hearing on “The 2008 Lacey Act Amendments” (Lacey Act combats trafficking in “illegal” wildlife, fish, and plants); 10:00 AM; room 1324 Longworth House Office Building
• Senate Appropriations Agriculture, Rural Development, and Food and Drug Administration Subcommittee Hearing to review the fiscal year 2014 budget request for various agencies within the Department of Agriculture; 10:00 AM; room 124 Dirksen Senate Office Building
• House Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing on the Fiscal Year 2014 Environmental Protection Agency Budget; 10:00 AM; room 2123 Rayburn House Office Building
• Senate Environment and Public Works Committee business meeting to consider Gina McCarthy, nominee to be Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency; 12 noon; room 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building