Coming Up This Week in Congress: Energy, Immigration and Labor

Both the House and Senate are in session this week, with each chamber expected to debate and consider several important bills and resolutions. Highlights include:

• The Senate will continue to debate a comprehensive energy bill, including provisions which would raise corporate fuel economy standards, require utilities to produce at least 15% of their electricity from renewable energy sources by 2020, and add loan guarantees to enhance private investment in coal-to-liquids plants.
• The Senate will consider a long list of amendments pertaining to a comprehensive immigration bill, including one which would provide more than $4 billion for border security and employment verification initiatives.
• The Senate will vote on the Employee Free Choice Act, a bill previously approved by the House which would make it easier for workers to form unions.
• The House will likely take up several appropriations measures this week, most likely aiming to pass the Energy and Water, Legislative Branch, and State-Foreign Operations spending bills.

After the jump is a full listing of this week's House and Senate hearings, courtesy of GovTrack and Thomas.

June 19, 2007

House

• House Agriculture – Subcommittee on General Farm Commodities and Risk Management
  To consider H.R. 2419, Farm Bill Extension Act of 2007, 10 a.m., 1300 Longworth.
• House Education and Labor – Subcommittee on Higher Education, Lifelong Learning and Competitiveness
  Hearing on Building on the Success of 35 Years of Title IX, 10 a.m., 2175 Rayburn.
• House Energy and Commerce – Subcommittee on Health
  To mark up the following: Prescription Drug User Fee Amendments of 2007; Medical Device User Fee Amendments of 2007; Best Pharmaceuticals for Children Amendment of 2007; Pediatric Research Improvement Act; to amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to improve drug safety; To amend the Public Health Service to provide for the establishment of a clinical trial registry database and a clinical trial registry database and a clinical trial results database; To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act with respect to conflicts of interest; To amend the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act to provide for the establishment of the Reagan-Udall Institute for Applied Biomedical Research; and the Pediatric Medical Device Safety and Improvement of 2007, 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn.
• House Financial Services
  Hearing on Credit Reports: Consumers' Ability to Dispute and Change Inaccurate Information, 10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn.
• House Foreign Affairs
  Hearing on South America and the United States: How to Fix a Broken Relationship, 10 a.m., 2172 Rayburn.
• House Foreign Affairs
  Hearing on South America and the United States: How to Fix a Broken Relationship, 10 a.m., 2172 Rayburn.
• House Foreign Affairs – Subcommittee on Middle East and South Asia
  Hearing on Working in a War Zone: Post Traumatic Stress Disorders in Civilians Returning from Iraq, 2 p.m., 2172 Rayburn.
• House Foreign Affairs – Subcommittee on Middle East and South Asia
  Hearing on Working in a War Zone: Post Traumatic Stress Disorders in Civilians Returning from Iraq, 2 p.m., 2172 Rayburn.
• House Oversight and Government Reform
  To consider pending business, 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn.
• House Homeland Security – Subcommittee on Management, Investigations and Oversight
  Hearing on Ensuring We Have Well-Trained Boots on the Ground at the Border, 11 a.m., 311 Cannon.
• House Homeland Security – Subcommittee on Transportation Security, and Infrastructure Protection
  Hearing on Keeping the Border Secure: Examining Potential Threats Posed by Cross Border Trucking, 1:30 p.m., 1539 Rayburn.
• House Homeland Security – Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology
  Hearing on Hacking the Homeland: Investigating Cybersecurity Vulnerabilities at the Department of Homeland Security, 2 p.m., 311 Cannon.
• House Judiciary – Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security
  Hearing on War Profiteering and Other Contractor Crimes Committed Overseas, 2 p.m., 2141 Rayburn.
• House Judiciary – Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, Refugees, Border Security, and International Law
  To continue hearings on Comprehensive Immigration Reform: Government Perspectives on Immigration Statistics, 4 p.m., 2237 Rayburn.
• House Natural Resources – Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans
  To mark up the following bills: H.R. 1834, National Ocean Exploration Program Act; and H.R. 2400, Ocean and Coastal Mapping Integration Act, 10 a.m., 1334 Longworth.
• House Natural Resources – Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands
  Oversight hearing on Wildfire Preparedness: An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure, 10 a.m., 1324 Longworth.
• House Natural Resources – Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives
  Hearing on Protecting Patient Privacy in Healthcare Information Systems, 2 p.m., 2154 Rayburn.
• House Rules Committee
  To consider the State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs appropriations for fiscal year 2008, 2 p.m., H-313 Capitol.
• House Science and Technology – Subcommittee on Energy and Environment
  Hearing on Research, Education and Training Programs to Facilitate Adoption of Solar Energy Technologies, 10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn.
• House Science and Technology – Subcommittee on Research and Science Education
  Hearing on the Role of Community Colleges and Industry in Meeting the Demand for Skilled Production Workers and Technicians in the 21st Century Economy, 3 p.m., 2318 Rayburn.
• House Transportation and Infrastructure – Subcommittee on Railroads, Pipelines, and Hazardous Materials
  Hearing on Benefits of Intercity Passenger Rail, 2 p.m., 2167 Rayburn.
• House Veterans’ Affairs – Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs
  Hearing on the following bills: H.R. 585, To amend title 38, United States Code, to expand the number of individuals qualifying for retroactive benefits from traumatic injury protection coverage under Servicemembers' Group Life Insurance; H.R. 156, To amend title 38, United States Code, to provide for payment of dependency and indemnity compensation to the Survivors of former prisoners of war who died on or before September 30, 1999, under the same eligibility conditions as apply to payment of dependency and indemnity compensation to the Survivors of former prisoners of war who died after that date; and H.R. 704, To amend title 38, United States Code, to reduce from age 57 to age 55 the age after which the remarriage of the surviving spouse of a deceased veteran shall not result in termination of dependency and indemnity compensation otherwise payable to that surviving spouse, 2 p.m., 334 Cannon.
• House Ways and Means – Subcommittee on Income Security and Family Support
  Hearing on Disconnected and Disadvantaged Youth, 1 p.m., B-318 Rayburn.

Senate

• Senate Appropriations – Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
  Business meeting to markup proposed legislation making appropriations for Interior and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008. [SD-124] -- Jun 19, 2007 at 10 a.m.
• Senate Appropriations – Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
  Business meeting to markup proposed legislation making appropriations for Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008. [SD-124] -- Jun 19, 2007 at 4 p.m.
• Senate Armed Services
  Business meeting to consider the nomination of Preston M. Geren, of Texas, to be Secretary of the Army. [SH-216] -- Jun 19, 2007 at 9:30 a.m.
• Senate Foreign Relations
  To hold hearings to examine the nominations of June Carter Perry, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Sierra Leone, Frederick B. Cook, of Florida, to be Ambassador to the Central African Republic, Robert B. Nolan, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of Lesotho, and Maurice S. Parker, of California, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of Swaziland. [SD-419] -- Jun 19, 2007 at 10 a.m.
• Senate Foreign Relations – Subcommittee on International Operations and Organizations, Democracy and Human Rights
  To hold hearings to examine the passport backlog and the Department of State's response to the Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative. [SD-419] -- Jun 19, 2007 at 2:30 p.m.
• Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
  To hold hearings to examine the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation and the federal government, focusing on a model public-private partnership accelerating research toward a cure. [SD-106] -- Jun 19, 2007 at 9:30 a.m.
• Senate Intelligence (Select)
  To hold hearings to examine the nomination of John A. Rizzo, of the District of Columbia, to be General Counsel of the Central Intelligence Agency. [SD-106] -- Jun 19, 2007 at 2:30 p.m.

June 20, 2007

House

• House Armed Services
  Hearing on Organizing the Roles, Missions, and Requirements of the Department of Defense, 10 a.m., 2118 Rayburn.
• House Education and Labor
  To mark up the following bills: H.R. 980, Public Safety Employer-Employee Cooperation Act of 2007; and H.R. 2693, To direct the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to issue a standard regulating worker exposure to diacetyl, 10:30 a.m., 2175 Rayburn.
• House Financial Services
  Hearing to receive the annual testimony of the Secretary of the Treasury regarding the State of the International Financial System, 10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn.
• House Foreign Affairs – Subcommittee on Africa and Global Health
  Hearing on World Refugee Day 2007, 9:30 a.m., 2172 Rayburn.
• House Foreign Affairs – Subcommittee on Europe
  Hearing on Adding Hezbollah to the EU Terrorist List, 1 p.m., 2200 Rayburn.
• House Natural Resources – Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization, and Procurement
  Hearing on Inspectors General: Independence Accountability, 2 p.m., 2247 Rayburn.
• House Small Business – Subcommittee on Contracting and Technology
  Hearing on meeting the Workforce Demands of Small Bio-Energy Businesses, 10 a.m., 2360 Rayburn.

Senate

• Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
  To hold hearings to examine reauthorization of the Hope VI Program. [SD-538] -- Jun 20, 2007 at 2 p.m.
• Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation – Subcommittee on Aviation Operations, Safety, and Security
  To hold an oversight hearing to examine foreign aviation repair stations. [SR-253] -- Jun 20, 2007 at 2:30 p.m.
• Senate Environment and Public Works – Subcommittee on Superfund and Environmental Health
  To hold hearings to examine the Environmental Protection Agency's response to 9-11, focusing on lessons learned for future emergency preparedness. [SD-406] -- Jun 20, 2007 at 10 a.m.
• Senate Foreign Relations
  To hold hearings to examine the nominations of William R. Brownfield, of Texas, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Colombia, Peter Michael McKinley, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Peru, and Patrick Dennis Duddy, of Maine, to be Ambassador to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela. [SD-419] -- Jun 20, 2007 at 10 a.m.
• Senate Foreign Relations
  To hold hearings to examine the nominations of Anne Woods Patterson, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Nancy J. Powell, of Iowa, to be Ambassador to Nepal, Joseph Adam Ereli, of the District of Columbia, to be Ambassador to the Kingdom of Bahrain, Richard Boyce Norland, of Iowa, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Uzbekistan, and Stephen A. Seche, of Virginia, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Yemen. [SD-419] -- Jun 20, 2007 at 3 p.m.
• Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
  Business meeting to consider original bills entitled, “The Higher Education Access Reconciliation Act”, and “The Higher Education Amendments of 2007”, and other pending calendar business. [SD-628] -- Jun 20, 2007 at 9:30 a.m.
• Senate Judiciary
  To hold hearings to examine rising crime in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. [SD-226] -- Jun 20, 2007 at 10 a.m.

June 21, 2007

House

• House Education and Labor – Subcommittee on Workforce Protection
  Hearing on Balancing Work and Family: What Policies Best Support American Families? 1:30 p.m., 2175 Rayburn.
• House Financial Services – Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance, and Government Sponsored Enterprises
  Hearing entitled ``Examining a Legislative Solution to Extend and Revise the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act,'' 10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn.
• House Financial Services – Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity
  Hearing entitled ``Reauthorization of the HOPE VI Program,'' 2 p.m., 2128 Rayburn.
• House Foreign Affairs – Subcommittee on Terrorism, Nonproliferation, and Trade
  To mark up the Overseas Private Investment Corporation Reauthorization Act of 2007, 1 p.m., 2255 Rayburn.
• House Homeland Security – Subcommittee on Management, Investigations and Oversight
  To continue hearings on You Don't Know D838What You Don't Know: Has the Department of Homeland Security Improved its Ability to Maintain Situational Awareness Since Hurricane Katrina? 12 noon, 1539 Longworth.
• House Judiciary – Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law
  To continue hearings on the Continuing Investigation into the U.S. Attorney Controversy and Related Matters, 12 p.m., 2141 Rayburn.
• House Judiciary – Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights, and Civil Liberties
  Hearing on the following bills: H.R. 558, African American Farmers Benefit Relief Act of 2007; and H.R. 899, Pigford Claims Remedy Act of 2007, 9 a.m., 2141 Rayburn.
• House Natural Resources – Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans
  Hearing on H.R. 767, Refuge Ecology Protection, Assistance, and Immediate Response Act, 10 a.m., 1324 Longworth.
• House Natural Resources – Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Services, and the District of Columbia
  Hearing on Ensuring a Merit-Based Employment System: An Examination of the Merit Systems Protection Board and the Office of Special Counsel; followed by a meeting on the District of Columbia Autonomy legislation, 2 p.m.,2247 Rayburn.
• House Science and Technology –Subcommittee on Energy and Environment
  To consider the following measures: the Biofuels Research and Development Enhancement Act; and H.R. 1933, Department of Energy Carbon Capture and Storage Research, Development, and Demonstration Act of 2007, 10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn.
• House Small Business
  Hearing on Increasing Investment in Our Nation's Small Businesses, 2 p.m., 2360 Rayburn.
• House Transportation and Infrastructure
  To continue consideration H.R. 2701, Transportation Energy Security and Climate Change Mitigation Act of 2007, 11 a.m., 2167 Rayburn.
• House Transportation and Infrastructure – Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management
  Hearing on the Responsibility of the Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Protective Service to Ensure Contract Guards Protect Federal Employees and Workplaces, 10 a.m., 2253 Rayburn.
• House Veterans’ Affairs
  Hearing on Priority 8 Veterans, 10 a.m., 334 Cannon.
• House Ways and Means – Subcommittee on Health
  Hearing on Beneficiary Protections in Medicare Part D, 2 p.m., 1100 Longworth.
• House Ways and Means – Subcommittee on Social Security
  Hearing on Protecting the Privacy of the Social Security Number from Identity Theft, 10 a.m., B-318 Rayburn.
• House Energy Independence and Global Warming
  Hearing on Green Cities: Mayoral Initiatives to Reduce Global Warming Pollution, 2 p.m., room to be announced.

Senate

• Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
  To hold hearings to examine working towards ending homelessness, focusing on the reauthorization of the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act (Public-Law 100-77). [SD-538] -- Jun 21, 2007 at 10 a.m.
• Senate Budget
  To hold hearings to examine health care and the budget, focusing on issues and challenges for reform. [SD-608] -- Jun 21, 2007 at 10 a.m.
• Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation – Subcommittee on Science, Technology, and Innovation
  To hold hearings to examine energy efficiency technologies and programs. [SR-253] -- Jun 21, 2007 at 2:30 p.m.
• Senate Finance
  To hold hearings to examine barriers to work to be overcome for individuals receiving Social Security Disability Benefits. [SD-215] -- Jun 21, 2007 at 10 a.m.
• Senate Foreign Relations
  To hold hearings to examine the nominations of John L. Withers II, of Maryland, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Albania, Charles Lewis English, of New York, to be Ambassador to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cameron Munter, of California, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Serbia, Roderick W. Moore, of Rhode Island, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Montenegro, and J. Christian Kennedy, of Indiana, to be Ambassador during his tenure of service as Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues. [SD-419] -- Jun 21, 2007 at 2 p.m.
• Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs – Subcommittee on State, Local, and Private Sector Preparedness and Integration
  To hold hearings to examine the state of public-private collaboration in preparing for and responding to national catastrophes. [SD-342] -- Jun 21, 2007 at 2 p.m.
• Senate Indian Affairs
  To continue oversight hearings to examine law enforcement in Indian Country. [SR-485] -- Jun 21, 2007 at 9:30 a.m.
• Senate Intelligence (Select)
  To hold closed hearings to examine certain intelligence matters. [SH-219] -- Jun 21, 2007 at 2:30 p.m.
• Senate Judiciary
  Business meeting to consider S.1145, to amend title 35, United States Code, to provide for patent reform, S.Res.230, designating the month of July 2007, as “National Teen Safe Driver Month”, S.Res.231, recognizing the historical significance of Juneteenth Independence Day and expressing the sense of the Senate that history should be regarded as a means for understanding the past and solving the challenges of the future, and the nomination of Leslie Southwick, of Mississippi, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Fifth Circuit, and possible authorization of subpoenas in connection with the investigation of the legal basis for the warrantless wiretap program. [SD-226] -- Jun 21, 2007 at 10 a.m.
  S. 1145: A bill to amend title 35, United States Code, to provide for patent reform
  S. Res. 230: A resolution designating the month of July 2007, as "National Teen Safe Driver Month"
  S. Res. 231: A resolution recognizing the historical significance of Juneteenth Independence Day and expressing the sense of the Senate that history should be regarded as a means for understanding the past and solving the challenges of the future.
• Senate Judiciary
  To hold an oversight hearing to examine the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice. [SD-226] -- Jun 21, 2007 at 2 p.m.

June 22, 2007

House

• House Energy and Commerce – Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials
  Hearing on H.R. 1534. Mercury Export Ban Act of 2007, 10 a.m., 2322 Rayburn.
• House Energy and Commerce – Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet
  Hearing entitled ``Images Kids See on the Screen," 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn.
• House Financial Services – Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity
  Hearing entitled ``Homeowner Downpayment Assistance Programs and Related Issues, 10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn.
• House Foreign Affairs
  Hearing on the Future of NATO: How Valuable an Asset? 10 a.m., 2172 Rayburn.
• House Homeland Security – Subcommittee on Emerging Communications, Preparedness, and Response
  Hearing on Challenges Facing First Responders in Border Communities, 10 a.m., 1539 Longworth.
• House Natural Resources
  Hearing on the Response of the Department of Health and Human Services to the Nation's Emergency Care Crisis, 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn.
• House Science and Technology
  To consider H.R. 2698, Federal Aviation Research and Development Reauthorization Act of 2007, 10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn.