Capitol Hill This Week - What to Watch For (UPDATED July 16)

Photo: Sean Pavone

Below are the U.S. House and Senate activities currently scheduled for this week that relate to Mississippi River Basin natural resources.  Links are provided to the relevant committee web pages and appropriate pieces of legislation. Many Congressional proceedings are webcast live, and these may be, as well (follow the respective meeting or hearing link).  All times are Eastern. This information will be updated as warranted. 

Tuesday

• House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and Power hearing on “Oversight of Pipeline Safety, Regulatory Certainty, and Job Creation Act of 2011 and Related Issues;” 10:15 AM, room 2123 Rayburn House Office Building.
• House Appropriations Committee meeting to markup the fiscal year 2016 Homeland Security Appropriations Bill (funds, among other agencies, the Federal Emergency Management Agency ("FEMA")); 10:15 AM in 2359 Rayburn House Office Building.
• Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies meeting to markup the fiscal year 2016 spending bill for the USDA and FDA; 2:30 PM, room 192 Dirksen Senate Office Building.

Wednesday

• House Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy and Mineral Resources oversight hearing entitled “The Future of Hydraulic Fracturing on Federally Managed Lands;” 10:00 AM, room 1324 Longworth House Office Building.
• House Judiciary Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law oversight hearing on the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs; 3:00 PM, room 2141 Rayburn House Office Building.

Thursday

• Senate Agriculture Committee legislative hearing "to review pending Forest Service and forestry related bills," including S. 1691, to expedite and prioritize forest management activities to achieve ecosystem restoration objectives, and for other purposes (among other things the bill would limit the length of National Environmental Policy Act reviews); and S. 326, "Stewardship End Result Contracting Improvement Act," to amend the Healthy Forests Restoration Act of 2003; 10:00 AM, room 328A Russell Senate Office Building.
• Senate Appropriations Committee meeting to markup the Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act for Fiscal Year 2016; NEW TIME - 10:00 AM, room 106, Dirksen Senate Office Building.
• Senate Regulatory Affairs Subcommittee on Regulatory Affairs and Federal Management hearing to review the Office of Information and Regulatory Affairs’ Role in the Regulatory Process; 2:00 PM, room 342 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
• Senate Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Public Lands, Forests and Mining hearing on several pieces of legislation, including S. 1691, the National Forest Ecosystem Improvement Act of 2015, "to expedite and prioritize forest management activities to achieve ecosystem restoration objectives, and for other purposes;" 2:45 PM, room 366 Dirksen Senate Office Building.