Below is the Federal Policy team's weekly preview, published each Monday that Congress is in session.
HEADLINES
" Congress returns from Memorial Day recess with the Senate in session today and the House reconvening Tuesday. The House plans to take initial steps on spending bills central to the GOP's strategy to avoid a government shutdown in October, and House Republicans will convene a closed-door meeting to try to defuse a potential partywide meltdown on immigration. The Senate this week continues to focus on advancing judicial nominations.
" The Supreme Court this morning is scheduled to release opinions as several high-profile cases await decisions, including a business's ability to refuse service to same-sex couples, whether public sector unions can charge fees to nonmembers and President Trump's travel ban. Court-watchers will be closely monitoring Justice Anthony Kennedy's future, too, amid speculation he could announce his retirement this summer.
" Seven states hold congressional primaries on Tuesday — including New Jersey and California, which will both be battlegrounds for control of the House in November's midterm elections.
HOUSE
- The House plans to vote Tuesday through Friday. Lawmakers will take up the Water Resources Development Act, aimed at improving U.S. water infrastructure and reauthorizing Army Corps of Engineers programs. The House also will vote on an appropriations package that includes spending for energy and water, military construction and veterans, and the Legislative Branch. Congressional leaders want that bill signed into law soon to avoid it being caught up in potential budget brinkmanship this fall.
- The Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee on Wednesday will review a reauthorization of the Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act.
- An impasse over immigration could flare as House Republicans hold a two-hour meeting Thursday to discuss differences in policy and strategy. GOP leaders want to head off a confrontation as more than a dozen moderates are backing a procedural motion that would force votes on a series of immigration bills, including addressing so-called Dreamers. The issue risks becoming a significant intraparty dispute that, in a worst-case scenario, could trigger early leadership elections for House Republicans as well as affect the party's standing in the November midterm elections.
- A full listing of House committee activity can be found here.
SENATE
- The Senate will continue with floor consideration of President Donald Trump's judicial nominees.
- Senate appropriators will hear from Commodities Future Trading Commission Chairman Christopher Giancarlo, Securities and Exchange Commission Chairman Jay Clayton and Education Secretary Betsy DeVos regarding their respective agencies' fiscal 2019 funding requests.
- The Commerce Committee on Tuesday plans a hearing addressing the sexual abuse scandal in the U.S. Olympic gymnastics program and ensuring athletes' safety in the future.
- The current listing of Senate committee activity can be found here.
WHITE HOUSE
- Trump has meetings scheduled early this week with several Cabinet members focused on foreign policy. Today he'll meet with Vice President Mike Pence and Defense Secretary Jim Mattis. Tomorrow, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley will visit with Trump. He will also host the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles at the White House.
- Trump on Wednesday will visit FEMA headquarters and receive a briefing on this year's hurricane season.
- Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Thursday will meet with Trump to discuss the planned summit with North Korea's Kim Jong Un, now back on for June 12.
- Trump at the end of the week will depart for Charlevoix, Canada, to attend a meeting with G-7 leaders.
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