WASHINGTON, April 23 – Senate Agriculture Committee staff members have been working overtime to put the finishing touches on a new farm bill that they hope can win support from the majority of Republicans and Democrats on the Committee. But there is still a lot of work to be done before the full committee meets to markup the legislation at 9:00 am on Wednesday. Work is expected to continue through Thursday, with the commodity title saved for last.
Although Senate Agriculture Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich., released the legislative text on Friday (See http://bit.ly/IjFm5Y ) there were still a lot of folks trying to fine tune the language and work on amendments, which are due into the Chairwoman by 5 pm today. Committee sources expect a strong effort to change the supply management portion of the dairy provisions and additional changes to the commodity title.
The House Agriculture Committee also continues work on the 2012 Farm Bill this week, with subcommittee hearings scheduled for Wednesday and Thursday.
For other hearings and events this week:
Monday, April 23
The House will meet at 11:00 am for Pro Forma Session. No votes expected.
Tuesday, April 24
Secretary Vilsack will meet with the National Association of Farm Broadcasters in Washington, D.C.
Deputy Secretary Merrigan will speak to the Wholesome Wave conference in Washington DC.
10:00 a.m., Senate Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs; the Collapse of MF Global: Lessons Learned and Policy Implications, 538 Dirksen Senate Office Building
10:00 a.m., Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Refugees and Border Security meets to examine the constitutionality and prudence of state and local governments enforcing immigration law.
10:15 a.m., Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works, Subcommittee on Water and Wildlife Legislative Hearing will hold a legislative hearing to consider several items.
10:30 a.m., Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development, markup of FY 13 Energy and Water Development Appropriations Bill, Dirksen 192
The Senate convenes at 12:00 pm and will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to S.1925, the Violence Against Women Reauthorization Act. At 2:00 pm, the Senate begins consideration of S. J. Res. 36, a joint resolution of disapproval of a rule submitted by the National Labor Relations Board relating to representation election procedures.
The House will meet at 12:00 pm for Morning Hour debate and 2:00 for legislative business with votes postponed until 6:30 pm.
Interior Secretary Ken Salazar speaks at the National Press Club on gas prices, domestic energy and other related topics at 1 pm.
Connecticut, Delaware, New York, Pennsylvaniaand Rhode Island hold their presidential primaries.
Wednesday, April 25
9:00 a.m., Senate Agriculture Committee will meet to mark up 2012 Farm Bill Committee Print, Russell 328A
The House will meet at 10:00 am for Morning Hour debate and 12:00 pm for legislative business. Suspensions:
H.R. 2146 – DATA Act (Rep. Issa – Oversight and Government Reform)
Possible Motion to go to Conference on H.R. 4348 – Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012, Part II
President Obama will speak at the University of Iowa in Iowa City about student loan interest rates.
10:00 a.m. Senate Finance Committee meets to examine tax reform
10:00 a.m., House Committee on the Budget, Hearing: Replacing the Sequester, 210 Cannon HOB
10:00 a.m., Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions, Executive Session - S. ______, the Food and Drug Administration Safety and Innovation Act, 106 Dirksen Senate Office Building
Deputy Secretary Merrigan will speak at the 10th Annual Organic Trade Association’s Policy Conference in Washington, DC
2:30 p.m., House Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on Rural Development, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture, RE: Formulation of the 2012 Farm Bill: Rural Development Programs, 1300 Longworth House Office Building
2:30 p.m. Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government: Expanding broadband Access, promoting innovation and protecting consumers in a communications revolution: Fiscal year 2013 resources needs for the Federal Communications Commission, Dirksen 138.
Thursday, April 26
Secretary Vilsack and Forest Service Chief Tom Tidwell will host a national conference call to announce government efforts to prepare for the upcoming fire season.
9:30 a.m., House Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on Conservation, Energy, and Forestry, RE: Formulation of the 2012 Farm Bill: Conservation Programs, 1300 Longworth House Office Building
The House will meet at 10:00 am for Morning Hour debate and 12 pm for legislative business. Suspensions:
H.R. 2096 – Cybersecurity Enhancement Act of 2011, as amended (Rep. McCaul – Science, Space, and Technology)
H.R. 3834 – Advancing America's Networking and Information Technology Research and Development Act of 2012 (Rep. Hall – Science, Space, and Technology)
H.R. 4257 – Federal Information Security Amendments Act of 2012 (Rep. Issa – Oversight and Government Reform)
H.R. 3523 – Cyber Intelligence Sharing and Protection Act (Rep. Rogers (MI) – Permanent Select Intelligence) (Subject to a Rule)
2:00 p.m., House Committee on Agriculture, Subcommittee on Livestock, Dairy, and Poultry
RE: Formulation of the 2012 Farm Bill: Dairy Programs, 1300 Longworth House Office Building
2:15 p.m., U.S. Congress Joint Economic Committee (JEC) will hold a hearing entitled, “Gas Prices in the Northeast: Potential Impact on the American Consumer Due to Loss of Refining Capacity,” room G-50 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
Friday, April 27
