Capitol Hill This Week - What to Watch For

Entering its second week of work for the year, the Senate will likely consider a contentious bill to approve the Keystone XL oil pipeline from Canada, through several Plains states to the Gulf of Mexico. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) filed a cloture motion last Thursday to proceed with debating the legislation.  A cloture vote on whether to proceed will likely take place Monday afternoon.  The House passed a companion bill on Friday.

On the House side, the chamber is scheduled to consider the Fiscal Year 2015 Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, which, in part, funds FEMA.  Homeland Security was only funded into early this year when the December, 2014 "cromnibus" spending package was passed, in large part so that the new Republican Congress would have another opportunity in early 2015 to block the Obama Administration's immigration executive actions.  Since the House is not in session on Thursday and Friday, consideration of the Homeland Security spending bill will likely happen before then.

Below are the other U.S. House and Senate activities currently scheduled for the week that relate, albeit marginally, to Mississippi River Basin water resources. Links are provided to the relevant committee web pages, and, where appropriate, to pieces of legislation. Many Congressional proceedings are webcast live, and these should be, as well (follow the appropriate link). All times are Eastern. This page will be updated as warranted.

Monday

• House Rules Committee meeting to set rules for debating H.R. 185, the Regulatory Accountability Act of 2015, which, among its many provisions, would require agencies to adopt new rules "only on the basis of the best reasonably obtainable scientific, technical, economic, and other evidence," 5:00 PM, room H-313 The Capitol.

Tuesday

• House Ways and Means Committee hearing on the state of the U.S. economy and policies that can promote job creation and economic growth (including consideration of "stifling regulatory apparatus"), 10:00 AM, House Visitors Center room 210.
• House Energy and Commerce Committee Full Committee Organizational Meeting, including establishment of the Committee's plan for agency oversight during 2015; 1:00 PM, room 2123 Rayburn House Office Building (rescheduled from meeting originally set for Friday, January 9).