Capitol Hill This Week - What to Watch For

The U.S. Congress is set to reconvene today (Tuesday),  giving lawmakers only three workweeks left until the September 30 end to the 2015 fiscal year.  Individual fiscal year 2016 spending bills will have no chance of finding floor time, given the very crowded House and Senate schedules, necessitating instead the passage of a "stop-gap" continuing resolution to provide uninterrupted funding for federal agencies and programs, and to keep the government from shutting down at the end of the month.

In the short term, Congressional committee leaders have scheduled some meetings and hearings that somewhat relate to Mississippi River Basin water resources, and those planned for this week are listed below. 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.

Wednesday

• House Foreign Affairs Subcommittees on Europe, Eurasia, and Emerging Threats, and on Africa, Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations hearing on the "Role of Water in Avoiding Conflict and Building Prosperity;" 2:00 PM, room 2172, Rayburn House Office Building.
• House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade hearing on agricultural trade with Cuba; 2:00 PM, room 2200 Rayburn House Office Building.
• House Natural Resources Committee meeting to mark up several pieces of legislation, including H.R. 1644, the “STREAM Act," to "amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to ensure transparency in the development of environmental regulations," 4:00 PM, room 1324 Longworth House Office Building (continued on Thursday at 10:00 AM). 

Thursday

• House Natural Resources Committee meeting to mark up several pieces of legislation, including H.R. 1644, the “STREAM Act," to "amend the Surface Mining Control and Reclamation Act of 1977 to ensure transparency in the development of environmental regulations," 4:00 PM, room 1324 Longworth House Office Building (continued from Wednesday's meeting).