House Cloakroom: July 19-23

Analysis:

Only two legislative weeks remain until the House adjourns for the August recess on August 2nd – a week earlier than expected. This coming week, the House may consider H.R. 5618, the Restoration of Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act – legislation which would extend unemployment benefits through November 2010. Without offsetting spending cuts, the bill would add $34 billion to the deficit over 10 years. Potential legislation for next week also includes H.R. 2693 and H.R. 5716, two bills related to the Gulf oil spill. H.R. 5716 threatens to reduce funding for deepwater drilling research and development technology. Finally, the Department of Defense continues to wait for an emergency war supplemental bill for our military efforts in Afghanistan & Iraq. The bill is currently stalled in the Senate after the House passed version of the bill for $75 billion included $33 billion to conduct ongoing war operations while the rest of the spending included items such as a $10 billion bailout to the states. As it stands, the House bill would add an additional $60 billion to the deficit.

Major Floor Action:

  • H.R. 5618 – Restoration of Emergency Unemployment Compensation Act
  • H.R. 2693 – Federal Oil Spill Research Program Act
  • H.R. 5716 – Safer Oil and Natural Gas Drilling Technology Research and    Development Act

Major Committee Action:

  • The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Energy and the Environment will hold a joint hearing on the role of the Interior Department in the Deepwater Horizon Disaster.
  • The House Oversight & Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security and Foreign Affairs will hold a briefing on “Rethinking the Defense Budget”.
  • The House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on ensuring justice for Gulf Coast oil spill victims.

Senate Cloakroom: July 19-23

Analysis:

Senator Harry Reid continues to push an extremely aggressive agenda for the remainder of this work period, with talks of completing a Cap and Tax bill, a Tax Extenders bill, DOD Reauthorization, and a confirmation vote on Solicitor General Kagan’s nomination to the Supreme Court all before the August recess.

The Senate is scheduled to resume consideration of the Small Business Lending bill on Monday. This bill is essentially a bailout for small businesses. The legislation authorizes the federal government to lend over $30 billion to banks with the intent that banks will then extend the funds to troubled small businesses.

Also on the agenda for next week is the Extenders bill. West Virginia Governor Joe Manchin III’s announcement of Carte Goodwin as a replacement for the late Senator Robert Byrd may give the Democrats the votes in the Senate to pass this legislation.

Major Floor Action:

  • H.R. 5297: The Small Business Lending Fund Act of 2010
  • H.R. 4213: The Tax Extenders bill

Major Committee Action: