Below is the Federal Policy team's weekly preview, published each Monday that Congress is in session.
HEADLINES
- Foreign policy – particularly trade with China and the standoffs with Iran and North Korea – is likely to compete for attention this week among policymakers in the Trump administration and on Capitol Hill. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said trade talks with China are producing tangible benefits, and both countries appear to be backing down from threated tariffs. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, in his first major speech since becoming the nation's top diplomat, will outline the administration's approach to Iran after the United States withdrew from the multilateral nuclear deal with Iran. President Trump on Tuesday will meet with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, after a flare-up last week threatened to derail next month's summit with North Korea's Kim Jong Un.
- The House takes up veterans' healthcare bills this week in advance of next week's Memorial Day recess, as GOP House leaders deal with the fallout from Friday, when conservatives sunk a farm bill because of a lack of progress on unrelated immigration legislation. The Senate continues to focus on approving Trump's nominations.
- Primaries Tuesday in Arkansas, Georgia and Kentucky; primary runoff in Texas.
HOUSE
- The House plans to vote Monday through Thursday. A busy week on the floor will kick off with several bills out of the Veterans Affairs Committee in advance of Memorial Day. On Tuesday, the House plans to take up and likely approve a Senate-passed financial regulatory reform bill, sending it to Trump's desk for signature. Later in the week, lawmakers expect to vote on two Trump priorities: prison reform and "right-to-try" legislation to allow patients with life-threatening illness to use medicines not yet approved by the FDA. Lawmakers also will take up annual Pentagon policy legislation.
- Two Cabinet secretaries visit House committees this week: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Wednesday will appear before the Foreign Affairs Committee to discuss the State Department's budget, operations and priorities; Education Secretary Betsy DeVos on Tuesday will discuss her department's priorities with the Education and Workforce Committee.
- The Financial Services Committee on Tuesday will take up several bills, including legislation to update and enhance the Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) authority to review foreign investments in American companies.
- A full listing of House committee activity can be found here.
- The House is not scheduled to be in session next week; lawmakers are scheduled to reconvene June 5.
SENATE
- The Senate will continue with floor consideration of Trump agency nominees. Senators also expect to give final congressional approval to veterans' health legislation, which would allow former service members to receive care outside of VA facilities.
- The Banking Committee on Tuesday will take up CFIUS reform legislation.
- The Commerce Committee on Tuesday will vote on legislation addressing opioid abuse; the HELP Committee on Wednesday plans to review a reauthorization of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act.
- The current listing of Senate committee activity can be found here.
- The Senate is not scheduled to be in session next week; senators are scheduled to reconvene June 4.
WHITE HOUSE
- Trump continues to escalate a battle with his own Justice Department and Special Counsel Robert Mueller. Trump on Sunday tweeted a demand that the Justice Department investigate his claims of politically motivated surveillance of his presidential campaign by the Obama administration.
- Trump on Monday will travel to CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, to attend the swearing in of new CIA Director Gina Haspel, whom the Senate confirmed last week. Haspel is the first female director to lead the agency.
- Trump on Tuesday will meet South Korean President Moon Jae-in to discuss the June summit with North Korea's Kim Jong Un.
- Trump on Tuesday will address the Susan B. Anthony List's 11th Annual Campaign for Life Gala.
- Trump on Friday will attend the U.S. Naval Academy commencement ceremony.
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