The health care law is widely viewed as the signature domestic policy accomplishment of the Obama Administration and Democrats are preparing to rally behind the president in case the nation’s highest court rules strikes down the measure.
Americans are extremely polarized over whether or not they agree with some or all of the provisions.
This was expected to be a week when you could watch debate on the Agriculture Appropriations bill – and get a preview of what the 2012 Farm Bill debate might look like on the House floor. However, Majority Leader Eric Cantor has only scheduled debate to start on the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act on Tuesday, making no mention of the agriculture appropriations bill. An Appropriations committee spokesman says it is "unclear" whether or not the bill will hit the floor this week.
Late last week, the White House threatened to veto the agriculture appropriations bill if it arrived on the president’s desk in its current form.
The House Agriculture Committee is scheduled to start marking up the 2012 Farm Bill on July 11.
For other events this week:
Monday, June 25:
The Senate convenes at 2:00 p.m. and resume consideration of S. 1940, the Flood Insurance Reform and Modernization Act.
The House will meet at 2:00 p.m. for pro forma session.
Secretary Vilsack will highlight job creation through the biobased economy in Charlotte, N.C.
USDA Reports: Crop Progress, Food Price Outlook
Tuesday, June 26:
The House will meet at 2:00 p.m. for legislative business. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.
Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:
1) H.R. 4850 - Enabling Energy Saving Innovations Act (Sponsored by Rep. Robert Aderholt / Energy and Commerce Committee)
2) H.R. 5625 - Collinsville Renewable Energy Promotion Act (Sponsored by Rep. Chris Murphy / Energy and Commerce Committee)
3) H.R. 5889 - Nuclear Terrorism Conventions Implementation and Safety of Maritime Navigation Act of 2012, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Lamar Smith / Judiciary Committee)
4) H.R. 4223 - Safe Doses Act (Sponsored by Rep. James Sensenbrenner / Judiciary Committee)
5) H.R. 4018 - Public Safety Officers' Benefits Improvements Act of 2012, as amended (Sponsored by Rep. Michael Fitzpatrick / Judiciary Committee)
6) H.R. 3501 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 125 Kerr Avenue in Rome City, Indiana, as the "SPC Nicholas Scott Hartge Post Office" (Sponsored by Rep. Marlin Stutzman / Oversight and Government Reform)
7) H.R. 3412 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1421 Veterans Memorial Drive in Abbeville, Louisiana, as the "Sergeant Richard Franklin Abshire Post Office Building" (Sponsored by Rep. Charles Boustany / Oversight and Government Reform)
8) H.R. 3593 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 787 State Route 17M in Monroe, New York, as the "National Clandestine Service of the Central Intelligence Agency NCS Officer Gregg David Wenzel Memorial Post Office" (Sponsored by Rep. Nan Hayworth / Oversight and Government Reform)
9) H.R. 3772 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 150 South Union Street in Canton, Mississippi, as the "First Sergeant Landres Cheeks Post Office Building" (Sponsored by Rep. Bennie Thompson / Oversight and Government Reform)
10) H.R. 3276 - To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 2810 East Hillsborough Avenue in Tampa, Florida, as the "Reverend Abe Brown Post Office Building" (Sponsored by Rep. Kathy Castor / Oversight and Government Reform)
11) Senate Amendment to H.R. 2297 - To promote the development of the Southwest waterfront in the District of Columbia, and for other purposes (Sponsored by Del. Eleanor Holmes Norton / Oversight and Government Reform)
12) H.R. 4251 - Securing Maritime Activities through Risk-based Targeting for Port Security Act (Sponsored by Rep. Candice Miller / Homeland Security Committee)
13) H.R. 4005 - GAPS Act (Sponsored by Rep. Janice Hahn / Homeland Security Committee)
14) H.R. 1447 - Aviation Security Stakeholder Participation Act of 2011 (Sponsored by Rep. Bennie Thompson / Homeland Security Committee)
15) H.R. 5843 - To amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to permit use of certain grant funds for training conducted in conjunction with a national laboratory or research facility (Sponsored by Rep. Daniel Lungren / Homeland Security Committee)
16) H.R. 3173 - To direct the Secretary of Homeland Security to reform the process for the enrollment, activation, issuance, and renewal of a Transportation Worker Identification Credential (TWIC) to require, in total, not more than one in-person visit to a designated enrollment center (Sponsored by Rep. Steve Scalise / Homeland Security Committee)
Begin Consideration of H.R. 5972 - Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2013 (Open Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Tom Latham / Appropriations Committee)
Postponed Vote on Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 4348 - Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012, Part II (Offered by Rep. Steny Hoyer)
Postponed Vote on Motion to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 4348 - Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012, Part II (Offered by Rep. Diane Black)
2:15 p.m., Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Business Meeting to consider S.1039, to impose sanctions on persons responsible for the detention, abuse, or death of Sergei Magnitsky, for the conspiracy to defraud the Russian Federation of taxes on corporate profits through fraudulent transactions and lawsuits against Hermitage, and for other gross violations of human rights in the Russian Federation. 116 Capitol Building.
Secretary Vilsack will speak at the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities Convocation in Washington, D.C.
Wednesday, June 27:
The House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.
10:00 a.m., House Agriculture Committee, Business Meeting: To approve the Activity Report of the Committee on Agriculture for the 3rd Quarter of the 112th Congress as required by House Rule XI, clause 1 (d), 1300 Longworth House Office Building.
10:00 a.m., House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology | Subcommittee on Research and Science Education, Hearing: The Role of Research Universities in Securing America’s Future Prosperity: Challenges and Expectations, 2318 Rayburn House Office Building.
10:00 a.m., House Committee on Natural Resources, Hearing: Oversight Hearing on "Mandatory Conditioning Requirements on Hydropower: How Federal Resource Agencies are Driving Up Electricity Costs and Decreasing the Original Green Energy,” 1324 Longworth House Office Building.
3:00 p.m., Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources | Subcommittee on Natural Parks, Hearing on Misc. National Park Bills, 366 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
Secretary Vilsack will highlight the importance of renewable energy production, local job creation and the strength of the agricultural economy in Cincinnati and Dayton, Ohio.
Deputy Secretary Merrigan will deliver the opening remarks at Smithsonian Folklife Festival in Washington, D.C.
Thursday, June 28:
The House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for morning hour and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.
9:30 a.m., Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Hearing: Financing Efficient Buildings, 366 Dirksen Senate Office Building.
9:30 a.m., Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Hearing: The Law of the Sea Convention (Treaty Doc. 103-39): Perspectives from Business and Industry, 216 Hart Senate Office Building.
10:00 a.m., House Committee on Ways and Means, Hearing: Joint Hearing on Tax Reform and the Tax Treatment of Capital Gains, 1101 Longworth House Office Building.
10:00 a.m., House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, Hearing: Strengthening the Scientific Backbone of the EPA: An Examination of Agency Practices and Foundations for Regulations Affecting the American Economy, 2318 Rayburn House Office Building.
10:00 a.m., House Committee on Education an the Workforce | Subcommittee on Workforce Protections, Hearing: Promoting Safe Workplaces Through Voluntary Protection Programs, 2175 Rayburn House Office Building.
10:00 a.m., House Committee on Natural Resources | Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands, Hearing on Misc. National Park Bills, 1324 Longworth House Office Building.
2:00 p.m., House Committee on Financial Services | Domestic Monetary Policy and Technology, Hearing entitled “Fractional Reserve Banking and the Federal Reserve: The Economic Consequences of High-Powered Money,” 2128 Rayburn House Office Building.
Secretary Vilsack will highlight agriculture research and job creation at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio.
USDA Reports: U.S. Export Sales, Agricultural Prices
Friday, June 29:
The House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business. Last votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m.
Complete Consideration of H.R. 5972 - Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2013 (Open Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Tom Latham / Appropriations Committee)
H.Res. __ - Resolution recommending that the House of Representatives find Eric H. Holder, Jr., Attorney General, U.S. Department of Justice, in contempt of Congress for refusal to comply with a subpoena duly issued by the committee on Oversight and Government Reform (Privileged Resolution) (Sponsored by Rep. Darrell Issa / Oversight and Government Reform Committee)
H.R. 5973 - Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act, 2011 (Open Rule) (Sponsored by Rep. Jack Kingston / Appropriations Committee)
Further Legislation Relating to H.R. 4628 - Interest Rate Reduction Act
Further Legislation Relating to H.R.4348 - Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012, Part II
Likely Motions to Instruct Conferees on H.R. 4348 - Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012, Part II
9:00 a.m., House Committee on Energy and Commerce | Subcommittee on Energy and Power, Hearing: The American Energy Initiative: A Focus on EPA's Greenhouse Gas Regulations, 2123 Rayburn House Office Building.
Secretary Vilsack will sign a Memorandum of Understanding with EPA and 1890s Universities in Washington, D.C.
USDA Reports: Acreage
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