Politics

The Week Ahead in Congress

By Sunlight Foundation & Participatory Politics Foundation

The House kicks things off this week with a quick vote on extending three government surveillance powers from the PATRIOT Act. It’s going to be done under a closed rule so it’s expected to pass without any hiccups, though it’s going to be interesting to see what kind of motion to recommit the Democrats go with on this. Once that’s all set, the House will transition to budget land, with debate beginning on the Republicans’ budget proposal for the rest of the year just one day after President Obama is scheduled to officially his preferred plan for next year. The 2011 budget was left unfinished by the Democrats last year and is being handled as a continuing resolution. A copy of the cuts Republicans are proposing can be downloaded here.

The Senate, meanwhile, will continues debating that left-over FAA Authorization bill that they’ve been on for two weeks already. Remember, this passed the Senate last year by a vote of 93-0. It’s not a controversial bill, it’s just taking forever because Majority Leader Harry Reid [D, NV] has left it open to amendments as a test run of his gentlemen’s agreement with Minority Leader Mitch McConnell [R, KY]. There’s no way of knowing how long this “debate” will last.

Here’s a look at the official scheduled for the week. First, the House, via House Majority Leader Rep. Eric Cantor [R, VA-7]:

THE LEADER’S WEEKLY SCHEDULE
WEEK OF FEBRUARY 14, 2011

MONDAY, FEBRUARY 14TH
On Monday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for morning hour and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.

H.R. 514 – To extend expiring provisions of the USA PATRIOT Improvement and Reauthorization Act of 2005 and Intelligence Reform of Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004 relating to access to business records, individual terrorists as agents of foreign powers and roving wiretaps until December 8, 2011
(Closed Rule, One Hour of Debate) (Sponsored by Rep. James Sensenbrenner / Judiciary Committee / Permanent Select Intelligence Committee)

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 15, 2011
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

Begin Consideration of H.R. 1 – Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Hal Rogers / Appropriations Committee)

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 16TH
On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.

Continue Consideration of H.R. 1 – Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Hal Rogers / Appropriations Committee)

THURSDAY. FEBRUARY 17TH
On Thursday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m.

Complete Consideration of H.R. 1 - Full Year Continuing Appropriations Act, 2011 (Subject to a Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Hal Rogers / Appropriations Committee)

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18TH
On Friday, the House is not in session.

And here’s what we know of the Senate’s schedule so far, via the Senate Democrats’ calendar:

Covenes: 2:00pm

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of S.223, the Federal Aviation Administration Authorization bill.

At 4:30pm, the Senate will turn to Executive session to consider the following nominations:

- Calendar #1, James E. Graves, of Mississippi, to be a U.S. Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit; and

- Calendar #5, Edward J. Davila, of California, to be a U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of California.

There will be 1 hour for debate prior to a vote on confirmation of the nominations in the order listed.

At 5:30pm, there will be a voice vote on the Graves nomination and a roll call vote on the Davila nomination. Senators should expect additional roll call votes in relation to amendments to the FAA bill Monday evening.

Full post as published by Open Congress on February 14, 2011 (boomark / email).