Capitol Hill This Week - What to Watch For

The U.S. Senate and House are each planning to consider their respective budget resolutions this week. Under the textbook legislative scenario, each chamber will vote on its own budget before resolving differences, merging them and then voting on a unified budget plan.  That compromise resolution (if passed) would set overall spending levels to guide Senate and House appropriators as they draft spending bills for the upcoming (2016) fiscal year. Congressional leaders are aiming to approve the House and Senate resolutions this week before Congress recesses for a two-week spring break. Leaders then hope to have the differences resolved by mid-April to give the appropriations committees their fiscal year 2016 spending maximums.

In addition to that action on the Senate and House floors, below are the House and Senate activities currently scheduled for the week that relate 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. 

Tuesday

• Senate Agriculture Committee hearing on "Waters of the United States: Stakeholder Perspectives on the Impacts of EPA’s Proposed Rule;" 10:00 AM, room 106 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
• Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee hearing on management reforms to improve forest health and socioeconomic opportunities on the nation’s forest system; 10:00 AM, room 366 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
• House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Federal Lands oversight hearing on "Examining the Spending Priorities and Missions of the Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management in the President's FY 2016 Budget Proposals;" 10:00 AM; room 1324 Longworth House Office Building.
• House Judiciary Committee markup of several "regulatory reform bills" that aim to cut back government rules, simplify the rulemaking process and speed up environmental reviews: H.R. 348 the “Responsibly And Professionally Invigorating Development (RAPID) Act of 2015,” H.R. 712, the “Sunshine for Regulatory Decrees and Settlements Act of 2015:” H.R. 1155, the “Searching for and Cutting Regulations that are Unnecessarily Burdensome (SCRUB) Act of 2015:” and H.R. 690,the “Providing Accountability Through Transparency Act of 2015;” 10:00 AM, room 2141 Rayburn House Office Building.
• House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies budget hearing - Department of Agriculture Research Agencies;10:00 AM, room 2362-A Rayburn House Office Building.
• House Appropriations Subcommittee on Homeland Security budget hearing - Coast Guard; 10:00 AM , room H-309 Capitol Building.
• House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Water, Power, and Oceans oversight hearing on "Examining the Spending Priorities and Missions of the Bureau of Reclamation, the Power Marketing Administrations and USGS Water Division in the President’s FY 2016 Budget Proposal;” 10:30 AM, room 1334 Longworth House Office Building.
• House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources oversight hearing on "Examining the Spending Priorities and Mission of the U.S. Geological Survey in the President’s FY 2016 Budget Proposal;” 1:00 PM, room 1324 Longworth House Office Building.
• House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy hearing on (and subsequent 5:00 PM markup of) H.R. ___, the Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015;  2:00 PM, room 2123 Rayburn House Office Building.

Wednesday

• House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy continued markup of  H.R. ___, the Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015;  9:30 AM, room 2123 Rayburn House Office Building.

Thursday

• House Agriculture Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management hearing on Implementing the Agricultural Act of 2014: Commodity Policy and Crop Insurance; 9:00 AM, room 1300 Longworth House Office Building.
• House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources hearing on how BLM and Forest Service policies affect domestic mineral production, job growth and the federal deficit; 9:00 AM, room 1324 Longworth House Office Building.