Capitol Hill This Week - What to Watch For

Both the House and Senate have reconvened following a two-week recess.  Congressional appropriations leaders hope to move their 2015 fiscal year spending bills quickly to the floor for consideration (the House floor as soon as this week and the Senate floor in June).  However, those hopes may be dashed, since the annual spending bills risk getting caught up in partisan policy fights. House leaders have committed to debating the spending bills under what is known as an open rule, which means that House members would not be prohibited from offering specific amendments (or "riders")  that either encourage or prohibit federal agencies from carrying out a variety of politically-charged activities. Therefore, the appropriation measures may end up being amended by a variety of such riders, slowing down debate, and making consensus achievement problematic. Ultimately, the much-hyped fast start to the appropriations process could fizzle quickly.

Below are the U.S. House and Senate committee hearings currently on this week's calendar that relate to Mississippi River Basin water resources.  Links are provided to the relevant committee pages on the Internet. Many Congressional proceedings are webcast live, and these may be, as well (follow the appropriate link). All times are Eastern.  This page will be updated as warranted.

Monday

• House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee field hearing on Federal Regulation of Waters: Impacts of Administration Overreach on Local Economies and Job Creation; 9 AM, Blair County Convention Center, Ballroom 1, One Convention Center Drive, Altoona, PA 16602

Tuesday

• House Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment hearing on "a Review of Recent United States Army Corps of Engineers Chief’s Reports and Post Authorization Change Reports;" 10 AM; room 2167 Rayburn House Office Building
• House Agriculture Subcommittee on Horticulture, Research, Biotechnology and Foreign Agriculture hearing to review the current research and application of management strategies to control pests and diseases of pollinators; 10 AM, room 1300 Longworth House Office Building
• House Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Preparedness, Response, and Communications hearing on Stakeholder Assessments of the Administration’s National Preparedness Grant Program Proposal; 10 AM, 311 Cannon House Office Building
• House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs hearing on The Department of the Interior Office of Insular Affairs’ spending and the President’s Fiscal Year 2015 budget request;” 2 PM; room 1334 Longworth House Office Building

Wednesday

• Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies hearing on Forest Service fiscal 2015 budget; 9:30 AM, room 124 Dirksen Senate Office Building
• House Science, Space and Technology Subcommittee on the Environment hearing on the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Budget Request for Fiscal Year 2015; 10 AM; room 2318 Rayburn House Office Building
• House Natural Resources Committee markup of four bills that would amend the Endangered Species Act; 10 AM, room 1324 Longworth House Office Building