Capitol Hill This Week - What to Watch For

Russell Senate Office Building
Washington, DC

Below are the congressional activities currently scheduled for the week that relate to Mississippi River Basin water resources.  The House is officially recessed this week, although one House committee will hold an oversight hearing in Arkansas focusing on Fish and Wildlife Service plans to create critical habitat for two river mussels.

The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee hearing scheduled for last Thursday on the Obama Administration's proposal to clarify Clean Water Act jurisdiction was postponed following the death of former committee Chairman Jim Oberstar of Minnesota. Committee leaders are now planning to reschedule the hearing for sometime in early June.

Links are provided to the relevant committee pages. Many Congressional proceedings are webcast live, and these should be, as well (follow the appropriate link).  All times are Eastern except for the Arkansas field hearing time.  This page will be updated as needed.

Tuesday

• Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing to consider the nominations of Dr. Suzette M. Kimball, to be Director of the United States Geological Survey; Mr. Estevan R. Lopez, to be Commissioner of Reclamation; and Dr. Monica C. Regalbuto, to be an Assistant Secretary of Energy (Environmental Management); 10 AM; room SD-366 Senate Dirksen Building. 
• Senate Environment and Public Works Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife hearing on “Solving the Problem of Polluted Transportation Infrastructure Stormwater Runoff;” 3 PM; EPW Hearing Room - 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building.  

Wednesday

• House Natural Resources Committee oversight field hearing on "Protecting the Rights of Property Owners: Proposed Federal Critical Habitat Designations Gone Wild;"  11 AM; University of Arkansas Community College, Independence Hall, 2005 White Drive, Batesville, Arkansas 
• Senate Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Management, Intergovernmental Relations, and the District of Columbia hearing on the Role of Mitigation in Reducing Federal Expenditures for Disaster Response; 2:30 PM; room SD-342, Dirksen Senate Office Building.