Coming Up This Week in Congress: Alberto Gonzales, Energy, and the Budget

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Both the House and Senate are in session this week, with each chamber expected to debate and consider several important bills and resolutions. Highlights include:

• The Senate is expected to consider a "no-confidence" vote on Attorney General Alberto Gonzales. Numerous Democratic and Republican senators have already called for Gonzales' resignation in light of the ongoing Bush administration U.S. attorney firings controversy.
• The Senate will debate a comprehensive energy bill intended to promote energy independence and security, an increase in the production of renewable fuels, an increase in the energy efficiency of products, buildings and vehicles, and additional research on controlling greenhouse gas emissions.
• The House will take up four fiscal year (FY) 2008 appropriations bills, including Homeland Security, Military Construction and Veterans Affairs, Energy and Water, and Interior and the Environment. The funding levels considered are expected to be greater than those initially proposed by President Bush.

After the jump is a full listing of this week's House and Senate hearings, courtesy of GovTrack.

June 12, 2007

House

• House Appropriations
  To consider the following: Revised Suballocation of Budget Allocations, Fiscal Year 2008; and the following Appropriations for Fiscal Year 2008; the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs; and the Legislative Branch -- Jun 12, 2007 at 9 a.m.
• House Energy and Commerce – Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
  To consider issuance of subpoenas for Subcommittee hearing entitled "Diminished Capacity: Can the FDA Assure the Safety and Security of the Nation's Food Supply--Part II," planned for June 19 -- Jun 12, 2007 at 9:30 a.m.
• House Financial Services – Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigation and the Subcommittee on Management, Investigations and Oversight of the Committee on Homeland Security
  Joint hearing on National Flood Insurance Program: Issues Exposed by the 2005 Hurricanes -- Jun 12, 2007 at 2:30 p.m.
• House Judiciary – Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil rights, and Civil Liberty and the Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security
  Joint hearing on H.R. 923, Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Act -- Jun 12, 2007 at 10 a.m.
  H.R. 923: To establish an Unsolved Crimes Section in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, and an Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Investigative Office in the Civil Rights Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and for other purposes.
• House Science and Technology – Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight
  Hearing on the duPont Aerospace DP-2 Aircraft -- Jun 12, 2007 at 9:30 a.m.
• House Transportation and Infrastructure – Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials
  Hearing on Amtrak Strategic Initiatives -- Jun 12, 2007 at 2 p.m.

Senate

• Senate Armed Services
  To hold hearings to examine the nominations of Michael J. Burns, of New Mexico, to be Assistant to the Secretary of Defense for Nuclear and Chemical and Biological Defense Programs, Vice Admiral Eric T. Olson, USN, for appointment to the grade of admiral and to be Commander, United States Special Operations Command, Thomas P. D'Agostino, of Maryland, to be Under Secretary for Nuclear Security, Department of Energy, and Michael G. Vickers, of California, to be an Assistant Secretary of Defense. [SD-106] -- Jun 12, 2007 at 9:30 a.m.
• Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation
  To hold hearings to examine the Universal Service Fund, focusing on assessing the recommendations of the Federal-State Joint Board. [SR-253] -- Jun 12, 2007 at 10 a.m.
• Senate Environment and Public Works
  To hold hearings to examine the health affects of asbestos, focusing on methods of mitigating such impacts. [SD-406] -- Jun 12, 2007 at 10 a.m.
• Senate Finance
  To hold hearings to examine trade enforcement for a 21st century economy. [SD-215] -- Jun 12, 2007 at 10 a.m.
• Senate Foreign Relations – International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs, and International Environmental Protection
  To hold hearings to examine the efficacy of the Foreign Assistance Reform, focusing on successes, failures, and the next steps; to be followed immediately by a full committee hearing to examine the nomination of the Reuben Jeffery III, to be Under Secretary of State for Economic, Energy and Agricultural Affairs. [SD-419] -- Jun 12, 2007 at 2:30 p.m.
• Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs – Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia
  To hold hearings to examine assessing telework policies and initiatives in the federal government. [SD-562] -- Jun 12, 2007 at 2:30 p.m.
• Senate Intelligence
  To hold hearings to examine terrorist ideology. [SH-216] -- Jun 12, 2007 at 2:30 p.m.
• Senate Judiciary
  To hold hearings to examine rising crime in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. [SD-226] -- Jun 12, 2007 at 10 a.m.

June 13, 2007

House

• House Armed Services
  Full committee, hearing on China: Recent Security Developments -- Jun 13, 2007 at 10 a.m.
• House Armed Services – Subcommittee on Military Personnel
  Hearing on Walter Reed progress reviews and results of the Independent Review Group -- Jun 13, 2007 at 2 p.m.
• House Education and Labor
  Full Committee, to mark up the College Cost Reduction Act of 2007 -- Jun 13, 2007 at 10 a.m.
• House Financial Services
  Full Committee, hearing on Improving Federal Consumer Protection in Financial Services -- Jun 13, 2007 at 10 a.m.
• House Foreign Affairs
  Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation and Trade, hearing on the United States-South Korea FTA: The Foreign Policy Implications -- Jun 13, 2007 at 10 a.m.
• House Natural Resources
  Full Committee, to continue markup of H.R. 2337, Energy Policy Reform and Revitalization Act of 2007; and to hold a hearing on the following bills: H.R. 673, Cocopah Lands Act; H.R. 1575, Burt Lake Band of Ottoawa and Chippewa Indians Reaffirmation Act; and H.R. 2120, To direct the Secretary of the Interior to proclaim as reservation for the benefit of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians a parcel of land now held in trust by the United States for that Indian tribe -- Jun 13, 2007 at 10 a.m.
  H.R. 2337: To promote energy policy reforms and public accountability, alternative energy and efficiency, and carbon capture and climate change mitigation, and for other purposes
  H.R. 673: To direct the Secretary of the Interior to take lands in Yuma County, Arizona, into trust as part of the reservation of the Cocopah Indian Tribe, and for other purposes
  H.R. 1575: To reaffirm and clarify the Federal relationship of the Burt Lake Band as a distinct federally recognized Indian Tribe, and for other purposes
  H.R. 2120: To direct the Secretary of the Interior to proclaim as reservation for the benefit of the Sault Ste. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians a parcel of land now held in trust by the United States for that Indian tribe.
• House Oversight and Government Reform
  Hearing on Continuing Allegations of Misconduct at the GSA -- Jun 13, 2007 at 10 a.m.
• House Science and Technology
  Full Committee, to consider pending business -- Jun 13, 2007 at 10 a.m.

Senate

• Senate Appropriations – Subcommittee on Homeland Security
  Business meeting to markup proposed legislation making appropriations for Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008. -- Jun 13, 2007 at 2 p.m.
• Senate Appropriations – Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans’ Affairs, and Related Agencies
  Business meeting to markup proposed legislation making appropriations for Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008. [SD-124] -- Jun 13, 2007 at 10 a.m.
• Senate Foreign Relations
  To hold hearings to examine the nominations of Anne Woods Patterson, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Nancy J. Powell, of Iowa, to be Ambassador to Nepal, Joseph Adam Ereli, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Richard Boyce Norland, of Iowa, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Uzbekistan, and Stephen A. Seche, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Yemen. [SD-419] -- Jun 13, 2007 at 2 p.m.
• Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Business meeting to consider original bills entitled, “The Higher Education Access Reconciliation Act”, and “The Higher Education Amendments of 2007”, and other pending calendar business. [SD-628] -- Jun 13, 2007 at 10 a.m.
• Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
  Business meeting to consider S.1257, to provide the District of Columbia a voting seat and the State of Utah an additional seat in the House of Representatives, S.274, to amend chapter 23 of title 5, United States Code, to clarify the disclosures of information protected from prohibited personnel practices, require a statement in nondisclosure policies, forms, and agreements that such policies, forms, and agreements conform with certain disclosure protections, provide certain authority for the Special Counsel, H.R.1254, to amend title 44, United States Code, to require informationon contributors to Presidential library fundraising organizations, S.Res.22, reaffirming the constitutional and statutory protections accorded sealed domestic mail, S.967, to amend chapter 41 of title 5, United States Code, to provide for the establishment and authorization of funding for certain training programs for supervisors of Federal employees, S.1046, to modify pay provisions relating to certain senior-level positions in the Federal Government, S.1099, to amend chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, to make individuals employed by the Roosevelt Campobello International Park Commission eligible to obtain Federal health insurance, S.597, to extend the special postage stamp for breast cancer research for 2 years, H.R.1255, and S.886, bills to amend chapter 22 of title 44, United States Code, popularly known as the Presidential Records Act, to establish procedures for the consideration of claims of constitutionally based privilege against disclosure of Presidential records, and S.381, to establish a fact-finding Commission to extend the study of a prior Commission to investigate and determine facts and circumstances surrounding the relocation, internment, and deportation to Axis countries of Latin Americans of Japanese descent from December 1941 through February 1948, and the impact of those actions by the United States, and to recommend appropriate remedies. [SD-342] -- Jun 13, 2007 at 10 a.m.
  S. 1257: A bill to provide the District of Columbia a voting seat and the State of Utah an additional seat in the House of Representatives
  S. 274: A bill to amend chapter 23 of title 5, United States Code, to clarify the disclosures of information protected from prohibited personnel practices, require a statement in nondisclosure policies, forms, and agreements that such policies, forms, and agreements conform with certain disclosure protections, provide certain authority for the Special Counsel, and for other purposes
  H.R. 1254: Presidential Library Donation Reform Act of 2007
  S. Res. 22: A resolution reaffirming the constitutional and statutory protections accorded sealed domestic mail, and for other purposes
  S. 967: A bill to amend chapter 41 of title 5, United States Code, to provide for the establishment and authorization of funding for certain training programs for supervisors of Federal employees
  S. 1046: A bill to modify pay provisions relating to certain senior-level positions in the Federal Government, and for other purposes
  S. 1099: A bill to amend chapter 89 of title 5, United States Code, to make individuals employed by the Roosevelt Campobello International Park Commission eligible to obtain Federal health insurance
  S. 597: A bill to extend the special postage stamp for breast cancer research for 2 years
  H.R. 1255: Presidential Records Act Amendments of 2007
  S. 886: A bill to amend chapter 22 of title 44, United States Code, popularly known as the Presidential Records Act, to establish procedures for the consideration of claims of constitutionally based privilege against disclosure of Presidential records
  S. 381: A bill to establish a fact-finding Commission to extend the study of a prior Commission to investigate and determine facts and circumstances surrounding the relocation, internment, and deportation to Axis countries of Latin Americans of Japanese descent from December 1941 through February 1948, and the impact of those actions by the United States, and to recommend appropriate remedies, and for other purposes.
• Senate Rules and Administration
  To hold hearings to examine nominations to the Federal Election Commission. [SR-301] -- Jun 13, 2007 at 10 a.m.
• Senate Veterans’ Affairs
  To hold an oversight hearing to examine Department of Veterans Affairs, Department of Defense, and Department of Labor cooperation on employment issues. [SD-562] -- Jun 13, 2007 at 9:30 a.m.

June 14, 2007

House

• House Foreign Affairs
  Full Committee, hearing on Deal or No Deal: The State of the Trans-Atlantic Relationship -- Jun 14, 2007 at 10 a.m.
• House Judiciary
  Full Committee, hearing on H.R. 2102, Free Flow of Information Act of 2007 -- Jun 14, 2007 at 10 a.m.
  H.R. 2102: To maintain the free flow of information to the public by providing conditions for the federally compelled disclosure of information by certain persons connected with the news media.
• House Natural Resources – Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands
  Hearing on the following bills: H.R. 442, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating the Wolf House, located in Norfolk, Arkansas, as a unit of the National Park System; H.R. 761, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to convey to the Missouri River Basin Lewis and Clark Interpretative Trail and Visitor Center Foundation, Inc. certain Federal land associated with the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail in Nebraska, to be used as a historical interpretive site along the trail; H.R. 1625, Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area Act; H.R. 1835, Rim of the Valley Corridor Study Act; and H.R. 2197, Hopewell Culture National Historical Park Boundary Adjustment Act -- Jun 14, 2007 at 10 a.m.
  H.R. 442: To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to study the suitability and feasibility of designating the Wolf House, located in Norfolk, Arkansas, as a unit of the National Park System, and for other purposes
  H.R. 761: To authorize the Secretary of Interior to convey to The Missouri River Basin Lewis and Clark Interpretive Trail and Visitor Center Foundation, Inc. certain Federal land associated with the Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail in Nebraska, to be used as an historical interpretive site along the trail
  H.R. 1625: To establish the Abraham Lincoln National Heritage Area, and for other purposes
  H.R. 1835: To provide for a resource study of the area known as the Rim of the Valley Corridor in the State of California to evaluate alternatives for protecting resources of the corridor, and for other purposes
  H.R. 2197: To modify the boundary of the Hopewell Culture National Historical Park in the State of Ohio, and for other purposes.
• House Science and Technology – Subcommittee on Energy and Environment
  Hearing on A Path Toward the Broader Use of Biofuels: Enhancing the Federal Commitment to Research and Development to Meet Growing Needs -- Jun 14, 2007 at 2 p.m.
• House Ways and Means
  Full Committee, hearing on Promoting U.S. Worker Competitiveness in a Globalized Economy, focusing on the Trade Adjustment Assistance program -- Jun 14, 2007 at 10 a.m.

Senate

• Senate Appropriations
  Business meeting to markup proposed legislation making appropriations for Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Homeland Security for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008. [SD-106] -- Jun 14, 2007 at 2 p.m.
• Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation
  To hold hearings to examine public safety and competition issues, focusing on the 700MHz auction. [SR-253] -- Jun 14, 2007 at 10 a.m.
• Senate Intelligence
  To hold closed hearings to examine certain intelligence matters. [SH-219] -- Jun 14, 2007 at 2:30 p.m.
• Senate Judiciary
  Business meeting to consider S.535, to establish an Unsolved Crimes Section in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, and an Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Investigative Office in the Civil Rights Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, S.456, to increase and enhance law enforcement resources committed to investigation and prosecution of violent gangs, to deter and punish violent gang crime, to protect law-abiding citizens and communities from violent criminals, to revise and enhance criminal penalties for violent crimes, to expand and improve gang prevention programs, S.1145, to amend title 35, United States Code, to provide for patent reform, S.Res.105, designating September 2007 as “Campus Fire Safety Month”, S.Res.215, designating September 25, 2007, as “National First Responder Appreciation Day”, the nomination of Leslie Southwick, of Mississippi, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit, and possible authorization of subpoenas in connection with the investigation of the legal basis for the warrantless wiretap program. [SD-226] -- Jun 14, 2007 at 10 a.m.
  S. 535: A bill to establish an Unsolved Crimes Section in the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice, and an Unsolved Civil Rights Crime Investigative Office in the Civil Rights Unit of the Federal Bureau of Investigation, and for other purposes
  S. 456: A bill to increase and enhance law enforcement resources committed to investigation and prosecution of violent gangs, to deter and punish violent gang crime, to protect law-abiding citizens and communities from violent criminals, to revise and enhance criminal penalties for violent crimes, to expand and improve gang prevention programs, and for other purposes
  S. 1145: A bill to amend title 35, United States Code, to provide for patent reform
  S. Res. 105: A resolution designating September 2007 as "Campus Fire Safety Month"
  S. Res. 215: A resolution designating September 25, 2007, as "National First Responder Appreciation Day."
• Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship
  To hold hearings to examine the impact of rising gas prices on America's small businesses. [SR-428A] -- Jun 14, 2007 at 9:30 a.m.