Blog - The Week Ahead in Congress

No jobs bills on the calendar yet. But don’t worry, they’re going pivot soon. For now, Congress is sticking to pretty much what they’ve been doing all along. In the House they’ll be treading water with suspensions bills, passing anti-union legislation that’s going to die on the Senate. Stuff like that. In the Senate they’ll start out by voting on a motion to overcome Republican opposition to a bill to apply sanctions to the military regime in Burma. That bill will probably pass unanimously, but the Republican minority is going to use the Senate rules to make sure it takes up as much of the Democratic majority’s time as possible, because, you know, they don’t want them to have time for other stuff that might be more popular, like job creation.

We’ll be looking more closely at some of these bills later this week. For now, here’s the House’s official schedule, click on the bill numbers for official legislative information, news and blog coverage, social commentary, the money trail, and to write your members of Congress.

THE WEEKLY WHIP: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 9, 2011

First Vote Of The Week: Monday 6:30 p.m.
Last Vote Predicted: Thursday 3:00 p.m.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 12, 2011
On Monday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for Morning Hour debate and 2:00 p.m. for legislative business with votes postponed until 6:30 p.m.

Suspensions (3 Bills)

1. H.R. 2076 Investigative Assistance for Violent Crimes Act of 2011 (Rep. Gowdy – Judiciary)
2. H.R. 2633 – Appeal Time Clarification Act of 2011 (Rep. Coble – Judiciary)
3. H.R. 1059 – To protect the safety of judges by extending the authority of the Judicial Conference to redact sensitive information contained in their financial disclosure reports, and for other purposes (Rep. Conyers – Judiciary)

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2011 AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Tuesday and Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for Morning Hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. On Thursday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business with last votes no later than 3:00 p.m. On Friday, the House is not in session.

Suspension (1 Bill)

1. H.R. 2867 – United States Commission on International Religious Freedom Reform and Reauthorization Act of 2011 (Rep. Wolf – Foreign Affairs )

Legislation related to expiring authority for the nation’s FAA and surface transportation programs

Complete Consideration of H.R. 2218 – Empowering Parents through Quality Charter Schools Act (Rep. Hunter – Education and Workforce)

The Rule provides for no further general or amendment debate.

Postponed Amendment Votes:
·Rep. Holt (NJ) Amendment
·Rep. King (IA) Amendment

H.J.Res. 77 – Resolution of Disapproval (Rep. Reed – Ways and Means) (Privileged Resolution, Two Hours of Debate)

H.R. 2587 – Protecting Jobs From Government Interference Act (Rep. Scott (SC) – Education and the Workforce)(Subject to a Rule)

And here’s what we know so far about the Senate’s schedule for the week.

Senate Floor Schedule for Monday, September 12, 2011

Convenes: 2:00pm

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 4:30pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Following morning business, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.J.Res.66, Burma Sanctions.

At 5:30pm, the Senate will conduct a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.J.Res.66.

Additionally, there will be a 9/11 Remembrance Ceremony on Monday on the East Front Steps of the Capitol.  Members will gather in the Rotunda at 5:50pm.