Today on the Hill

The biggest news today on the Hill is that President Obama will be giving his State of the Union Address tonight. I'll have some more on what to expect during the speech later today, but here's what's going on in Congress earlier in the day.

Both parties in the House of Representatives will be having their caucus meetings today. While the Democrats don't have any media availability scheduled after the meeting (though reporters can often grab individual members as they leave), Speaker Boehner and other GOP leaders are scheduled to hold a brief press conference after their meeting is over. Considering how the Republicans have already started going after Obama's economic plans in recent days and Senate Republicans are scheduled to have a press conference on the budget later in the day, I imagine Boehner will be focusing in on an economic message.

As far as the Committee Hearings for the day go, there are definitely a whole lot more than we've seen in the previous weeks that Congress was in session this year. For people following the Occupy DC movement, you might be interested in knowing that an Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee will be holding a hearing on the decision making process surrounding camping in McPherson Square. 

That hearing will be at 9:30 and another OGR subcommittee will be holding a hearing at 1:30 on how the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau under Richard Cordray. Considering that the Republicans were furious about Cordray's appointment (well, furious about the whole program in general) and that he's going to be the sole witness, I imagine this hearing could be a little testy. Hopefully they'll actually get down to some of the good that the organization can do under Cordray's leadership.

As for what's going on on the floor of the House, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for Morning Hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. The House will recess no later than 5:30 p.m. to allow for a security sweep of the House Chamber prior to the President’s State of the Union address. The House will meet again at approximately 8:35 p.m. in a joint session with the Senate for the purpose of receiving an address from the President of the United States.

First/Last votes: 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.

You can see the full Committee schedule and what's taking place on the floor below the fold.


 The following bills and motions are scheduled to be discussed on the floor.

1. H.R. 2070 - World War II Memorial Prayer Act of 2011 (Rep. Johnson (OH) - Natural Resources)
2. H.R. 290 - War Memorial Protection Act (Rep. Hunter - Natural Resources)
3. H.R. 1022 - Buffalo Soldiers in the National Parks Study Act (Rep. Speier - Natural Resources Committee)
4. H.R. 3800   - To amend the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 to extend the funding and expenditure authority of the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, to amend title 49, United States Code, to extend authorizations for the airport improvement program, and for other purposes (Rep. John Mica - Transportation and Infrastructure/Ways and Means)
5. H.Res. 516 - Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the passage of a fiscal year 2013 Federal budget is of national importance (Rep. Nugent -Budget)

Democratic Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 3630 - Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011 (One Hour of Debate) (Offered by Rep. Capps)

Possible Motion to go to Conference on H.R. 658 - FAA Air Transportation Modernization and Safety Improvement Act and Possible Democratic Motion to Instruct Conferees (One Hour of Debate)

The following is the schedule for Committee Hearings today.

ARMED SERVICES-------------------------------------------------------------------10:30-Open

Full Committee. On Department of Defense perspectives on financial improvement and audit readiness efforts. Dept. witnesses. 2118 RHOB.

BUDGET---------------------------------------------------------------------------------10:00-Open

Full Committee. Markup of H.R. 3582 – Pro-Growth Budgeting Act, H.R. 3578 – Baseline Reform Act, H.R. 3581 – Budget and Accounting Transparency Act, and H.R. 3575 – Legally Binding Budget Act. 210 CHOB.


FOREIGN AFFAIRS---------------------------------------------------------------------2:00-Open

Africa, Global Health, and Human Rights Subc. On examining ongoing human rights abuses in Vietnam. Public witnesses. 2200 RHOB.

JUDICIARY-----------------------------------------------------------------------------10:00-Open

Full Committee. Markup of H.R. 1433 – Private Property Rights Protection Act, and H.R. 3796 – Adam Walsh Reauthorization Act. 2141 RHOB.

NATURAL RESOURCES-------------------------------------------------------------10:00-Open

National Parks, Forests, and Public Lands Subc. On pending legislation. MC’s and public witnesses. 1324 LHOB.

OVERSIGHT & GOVERNMENT REFORM--------------------------------------- 9:30-Open

Health Care, District of Columbia, Census, and the National Archives Subc. On discussing the decision-making process that allowed continued camping in McPherson Square. Dept. and public witnesses. 2154 RHOB.

OVERSIGHT & GOVERNMENT REFORM----------------------------------------1:30-Open

TARP, Financial Services, and Bailouts of Public and Private Programs Subc. On discussing how the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will function under Richard Cordray. Richard Cordray, Director, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. 2154 RHOB.


RULES------------------------------------------------------------------------------------10:15-Open

Legislative and Budget Process Subc. On H.R. 114 – Biennial Budgeting and Appropriations Act of 2011. H-313 Capitol.


RULES-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------1:30-Open
Full Committee. On H.R. 1173 – Fiscal Responsibility and Retirement Security Act. H-313 Capitol.


SCIENCE, SPACE, & TECHNOLOGY----------------------------------------------2:00-Open

Investigations and Oversight Subc. On a review of the Advanced Research Projects Agency - Energy. Dept. witnesses. 2318 RHOB.

VETERANS’ AFFAIRS---------------------------------------------------------------10:00-Open

Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs Subc. On the Department of Veterans Affairs disability ratings. 334 CHOB.


WAYS & MEANS----------------------------------------------------------------------10:30-Open

Social Security Subc. On the future of the Social Security Disability Insurance program. Dept. and public witnesses. B-318 RHOB.

CONFERENCE---------------------------------------------------------------------------2:30-Open

Conference. On H.R. 3630 – To extend the payroll tax holiday, unemployment compensation, Medicare physician payment, provide for the consideration of the Keystone XL pipeline, and for other purposes. 1100 LHOB.