Congresspedia Preview: This Week in Congress (May 16 - 23, 2008)

by Conor Kenny — May 21, 2008 - 4:54pm
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Legislation to fund the Iraq War through early 2009 will head to the Senate this week, and both chambers will try to iron out differences on a 2009 budget resolution. In addition, Congress may have to vote on a veto override of the 2007 Farm bill. In elections news, Arkansas, Kentucky and Oregon hold congressional primary elections this week, while a controversial nominee to the Federal Election Commission withdraws his name from consideration.

The Senate will take up the 2008 Iraq war supplemental this week, following the House’s vote on the measure last Thursday. The Senate will serve to temper the bill produced by the House, by reinserting $162 billion for the Iraq and Afghanistan wars while likely stripping out some of the most controversial provisions.

One potential victim could be the new G.I. bill, which – along with extended unemployment benefits and other domestic spending – was part of the package approved by the house last week.

A planned markup of the Housing bill should occur this week, after Banking Committee Chairman Sen. Chris Dodd (D-Conn.) delayed the legislation last Thursday. Dodd is working with ranking member Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.) to reach a deal on a proposed homeowner bailout. Under the legislation, the Federal Housing Administration would insure $300 billion in new loans. Banks could then work with homeowners threatened with foreclosure to renegotiate mortgages.

Critics have argued the legislation is actually a bailout to financial institutions, since banks would have the final say on whether to rehabilitate mortgages. In addition, the Dodd-Shelby deal to use money allocated for an affordable housing trust fund to pay for the mortgage rescue has drawn fire from a number of charitable organizations.

We reported last week that President George W. Bush had named four additional candidates to be appointed to the Federal Elections Commission, despite a years-long battle over a previous nominee, Hans von Spokovsky. On Friday, von Spokovsky withdrew his name from contention, easing fears that the oversight board would remain toothless during a pivotal election cycle.

The 2007 Farm Bill, which finally passed last week, is sitting on the president’s desk awaiting his signature. The legislation – which had been debated for the better part of a year – flew through the House and Senate on Wednesday and Thursday with veto-proof majorities. It includes a delicate balance of spending and policy proposals, but several watchdog groups have come out against the number (and amounts) of subsidies including in the Farm bill, especially since food prices are at record levels.

Following the party’s third special election loss this cycle, Republicans were scrambling to refine their image in the face of an increasingly hostile electorate. Eyes also fell upon the National Republican Congressional Committee, the party’s fundraising arm for House candidates and incumbents. House Minority Leader John Boehner (R-Ohio) met with NRCC Chairman Rep. Tom Cole (R-Okla) on Friday to discuss strategy for the rest of the cycle.

Speculation swirled last week that the minority leader would seek to replace Cole, but Boehner dismissed the rumors and said Cole was in for the long haul. He also recognized changes were needed to help the struggling GOP brand in the face of a “very difficult environment.”

Finally, Sen. Ted Kennedy suffered a seizure over the weekend, requiring a medical airlift from his home. The Democratic senator is recovering in Massachusetts General Hospital.

Hearings Schedules:
May 20, 2008

Senate

House

May 21, 2008

Senate

  • Senate Committee on Rules and Administration To hold hearings to examine the nominations of Cynthia L. Bauerly, of Minnesota, Caroline C. Hunter, of Florida, and Donald F. McGahn, of the District of Columbia, each to be a Member of the Federal Election Commission, 2 p.m., SR-301.
  • Senate Committee on Agriculture, Nutrition, and Forestry To hold hearings to examine efforts to create jobs with climate solutions, focusing on the ways agriculture and forestry can help lower costs in a low-carbon economy, 2:30 p.m., SR-328A.
  • Senate Committee on Veterans’ Affairs To hold hearings to examine pending health care legislation, 9:30 a.m., SR-418.
  • Senate Committee on Foreign Relations To hold hearings to examine treaty Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland Concerning Defense Trade Cooperation, done at Washington and London on June 21 and 26, 2007 (Treaty Doc. 110-07), and treaty Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of Australia Concerning Defense Trade Cooperation, done at Sydney, September 5, 2007 (Treaty Doc. 110-10), 9:15 a.m., SD-419.
  • Senate Committee on the Judiciary To hold hearings to examine the skyrocketing price of oil, 10 a.m., SD-226.
  • Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Business meeting to consider the nomination of Paul A. Schneider, of Maryland, to be Deputy Secretary of Homeland Security, Time to be announced, S-216, Capitol.

House

May 22, 2008

Senate

  • Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia To continue hearings to examine improving the security clearance process, focusing on reform efforts to streamline, standardize, and update the process, 2:30 p.m., SD-342.
  • Senate Committee on the Judiciary To hold hearings to examine closing the justice gap, focusing on providing civil legal assistance to low-income Americans, 2 p.m., SD-226.
  • Senate Committee on Foreign Relations To hold hearings to examine the International Convention Against Doping in Sport, adopted by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization on October 19, 2005 (Treaty Doc. 110-14), 9:30 a.m., SD-419.
  • Senate Committee on Armed Services To hold hearings to examine the nominations of General David H. Petraeus, USA, for reappointment to the grade of general and to be Commander, United States Central Command, and Lieutenant General Raymond T. Odierno, USA, for appointment to the grade of general and to be Commander, Multi-National Force-Iraq, 9:30 a.m., SD-106.
  • Senate Committee on Indian Affairs To hold oversight hearings to examine the status of backlogs at the Department of the Interior, 9:30 a.m., SD-562.
  • Senate Committee on the Judiciary Business meeting to consider S. 2756, to amend the National Child Protection Act of 1993 to establish a permanent background check system, S. 2982, to amend the Runaway and Homeless Youth Act to authorize appropriations, S. 1210, to extend the grant program for drug-endangered children, S. Res. 563, designating September 13, 2008, as ``National Childhood Cancer Awareness Day'', and the nominations of Elisebeth C. Cook, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Attorney General for the Office of Legal Policy, Department of Justice, William T. Lawrence, of Indiana, to be United States District Judge for the Southern District of Indiana, and G. Murray Snow, of Arizona, to be United States District Judge for the District of Arizona, 10 a.m., SD-226.
  • Senate Committee on Finance To hold hearings to examine S. 1919, to establish trade enforcement priorities for the United States, to strengthen the provisions relating to trade remedies, 10 a.m., SD-215.
  • Senate Special Committee on Aging To hold hearings to examine improving Medicare for the most vulnerable, focusing on senior citizens at risk, 10:30 a.m., SH-216.

House