Blog - The Week Ahead in Congress

Looks like it’s going to be yet another week without any significant jobs measures on the calendar. The House this week will be keeping itself busy with the usual raft of routine suspension measures and the obligatory anti-regulation bill at the end of the week. They’ll aslo be voting on another continuing resolution to keep the government from shutting down at the end of the month, the sixth so far this session. In the Senate, Majority Leader Harry Reid [D, NV] is bringing up a bill that would exempt tariffs on imports from developing countries, paving the way for Congress to pass free trade agreements with Panama, Korea, and Colombia. There will also be votes on an amendment to add assistance for American workers who lose their jobs because of trade deals, and another from Sen. Jeff Sessions [R, AL] that would exempt Bangladeshi sleeping bags from the tariff exemption in order to protect a sleeping bag manufacturer in his state.

Below is a look at the full House calendar for the week:

THE WEEKLY WHIP: FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 16, 2011

First Vote Of The Week: Tuesday 6:30 p.m.
Last Vote Predicted: Friday 3:00 p.m.

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 19, 2011
On Monday, the House will meet at 12:00 p.m. for pro forma session. No votes are expected in the House.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2011
On Tuesday, 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 (5 Bills)

1. H.R. 2005 – Combating Autism Reauthorization Act of 2011 (Rep. Smith (NJ) – Energy and Commerce)
2. H.R. 1852 – Children’s Hospital GME Support Reauthorization Act of 2011 (Rep. Pitts – Energy and Commerce)
3. H.R. 2646 – Veterans Health Care Facilities Capital Improvement Act of 2011, as amended (Rep. Johnson (OH) – Veterans’ Affairs)
4. H.R. 2944 – U.S. Parole Commission Reauthorization (Rep. Smith (TX) – Judiciary)
5. H.R. 2189 – Death in Custody Reporting Act of 2011 (Rep. Scott (VA) – Judiciary)

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21, 2011 AND THE BALANCE OF THE WEEK
On Wednesday and Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for Morning Hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business with last votes no later than 3:00 p.m.

Suspensions (3 Bills)

1. S.Con.Res. 28 – A concurrent resolution authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for an event to award the Congressional Gold Medal, collectively, to the 100th Infantry Battalion, 442nd Regimental Combat Team, and the Military Intelligence Service, United States Army, in recognition of their dedicated service during World War II (Sen. Inouye – House Administration)
2. H.R. 2943 – Temporary Assistance for Needy Families Extension (Rep. Davis (KY) – Ways and Means)
3. H.R. 2883 – Child and Family Services Improvement and Innovation Act (Rep. Davis (KY) -Ways and Means)

H.J.Res. 79 – Further Continuing Appropriations Amendments, 2012 (Rep. Rogers (KY) – Appropriations) (Subject to a Rule)

H.R. 2401 – The Transparency in Regulatory Analysis of Impacts on the Nation Act of 2011 (Rep. Sullivan – Energy and Commerce) (Subject to a Rule)

ANd here’s what we know so far about the Senate’s calendar:

Senate Floor Schedule for Monday, September 19, 2011

Convenes: 2:00pm

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in 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.R.2832, the Generalized System of Preferences Act, which will be the vehicle for Trade Adjustment Assistance with the time until 5:30pm equally divided and controlled between Senators Baucus and Hatch, or their designees.

At approximately 5:30pm, there will be a roll call vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed to H.R.2832.  We hope to get consent to proceed to the bill on Monday.