Capitol Hill This Week - What to Watch For

Below is a listing of activities currently scheduled this week in the U.S. House and Senate that relate to Mississippi River Basin natural 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

• House Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing - overview of the Renewable Fuel Standard: Stakeholder Perspectives; 9:45 AM; room 2123 Rayburn House Office Building 
• House Appropriations Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee markup of fiscal 2014 Interior and EPA appropriations bill; 10:00 AM, room B-308 Rayburn House Office Building
• Senate Environment and Public Works Committee hearing on three EPA nominations, including the nomination of Kenneth Kopocis to be Assistant Administrator for the Office of Water; 10:00 AM, room 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building
• Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee hearing on two USDA nominations  - Krysta Harden and Robert Bonnie for Deputy Secretary of Agriculture and Under Secretary of Agriculture for Natural Resources and Environment, respectively; 10:30 AM, room 328-A Russell Senate Office Building

Wednesday

• House Joint Economic Committee hearing on America's crumbling infrastructure; 9:30 AM, location TBD
• House Natural Resources Committee markup of public lands bills, including S. 304, from Sen. Thad Cochran (R-MS) that would transfer federal land along the Natchez Trace Parkway to the state of Mississippi; 10:00 AM, 1324 Longworth House Office Building
• House Science Space and Technology Energy and Environment Subcommittees'  hearing on EPA's investigations of hydraulic fracturing; 10:00 AM, room 2318 Rayburn House Office Building

Thursday

• House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs legislative hearing on several bills, including: H.R. 358 (McCollum), To direct the United States Fish and Wildlife Service, in coordination with the Army Corps of Engineers, the National Park Service, and the United States Geological Survey, to lead a multiagency effort to slow the spread of Asian Carp in the Upper Mississippi and Ohio River basins and tributaries, and for other purposes. “Strategic Response to Asian Carp Invasion Act.” And H.R. 709 (Ellison), To authorize the Secretary of the Army to take actions to manage the threat of Asian carp traveling up the Mississippi River in the State of Minnesota, and for other purposes. “Upper Mississippi Conservation and River Protection Act of 2013.” 10:00 AM; 1324 Longworth House Office Building
• Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water and Power hearing on aging U.S. water infrastructure; 2:30 PM, room 366 Dirksen Senate Office Building