WASHINGTON, April 22, 2013 – Debate and heavy discussion of the Senate’s proposed immigration reform legislation (S.744) will likely dominate the landscape of the U.S. Capitol this week.
The bill, which aims to provide a pathway to citizenship for millions of undocumented farm workers and other people, is scheduled to be the topic of a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing today. Prominent scheduled witnesses include Arturo Rodriguez, president of the United Farm Workers, and Charles Conner, president and chief executive officer of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives.
In the wake of the Boston terrorist attacks, Senate Republicans, including Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., and Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, have intensified their push to slow down the bill’s progress.
Meanwhile, movement on the 2013 farm bill will begin in earnest when the House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Horticulture, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture holds a hearing on Wednesday to review priorities for horticulture policy. This comes after Committee Chairman Frank Lucas, R-Okla., announced he would hold a mark-up of the legislation on May 15.
The House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies is expected to be busy as well with budget hearings scheduled on USDA’s Rural Development, Natural Resources and Environment, and Farm and Foreign Agriculture Services.
Other events include:
Monday, April 22.
Demetrios Marantis, acting U.S. trade representative, will travel to Hanoi, Vietnam today through Wednesday for bilateral meetings with Vietnamese officials and the business community to discuss the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TTP).
10:00 a.m. The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on “The Border Security, Economic Opportunity, and Immigration Modernization Act, S.744” in 216 Hart. Scheduled witnesses include Arturo Rodriguez, president of the United Farm Workers; Charles Conner, president and chief executive officer of the National Council of Farmer Cooperatives; Alyson Eastman, president of Book-Ends Associates; Megan Smith, commissioner of Vermont Dept. of Tourism and Marketing; former Rep. Jim Kolbe, R-Ariz.; Tamar Jacoby, president and chief executive officer of Immigration Works USA; Rick Judson, chairman of the National Association of Home Builders; Brad Smith, general counsel and executive vice president of legal and corporate affairs for Microsoft; and Ron Hira, associate professor of public policy at Rochester Institute of Technology.
2:00 p.m. The Senate will convene for morning business.
3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Cold Storage
3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Catfish Feed Deliveries
3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Catfish Processing
3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Chickens and Eggs
3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Livestock Slaughter Annual Summary
4:00 p.m. USDA Report: Crop Progress
5:30 p.m. The Senate will hold a cloture vote on the motion to proceed to S. 743, the Marketplace Fairness Act.
Tuesday, April 23.
Miriam Sapiro, deputy U.S. trade representative, will meet with French Foreign Trade Minister Nicole Bricq to discuss the proposed TTIP.
Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will travel to Arkansas to give the Dale and Betty Bumpers lecture at University of Arkansas.
10:00 a.m. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing in 366 Dirksen on S. 306 and H.R. 678, Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act; S. 545, the Hydropower Improvement Act of 2013; H.R. 267, Hydropower Regulatory Efficiency Act of 2013; and S. 761, Energy Savings and Industrial Competitiveness Act of 2013.
12:00 p.m. The House will meet for morning hour debate.
2:00 p.m. The House will meet for legislative business.
4:00 p.m. USDA Report: Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin (WAOB)
Wednesday, April 24.
10:00 a.m. The House will meet for morning hour debate.
10:00 a.m. The House Agriculture Committee’s Subcommittee on Horticulture, Research, Biotechnology, and Foreign Agriculture will hold a hearing to review the horticulture priorities for the 2013 farm bill in 1300 Longworth.
10:00 a.m. The Senate Finance Committee will hold a hearing on “The Trans-Pacific Partnership: Opportunities and Challenges” in 215 Dirksen. Scheduled witnesses include Karan Bhatia, vice president and senior counsel of global government affairs and policy of the General Electric Company, Bob Hanson, president of the Montana Farm Bureau Federation, David Hirschmann, president and chief executive officer of the Global Intellectual Property Center at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and Tom Suber, president of the U.S. Dairy Export Council.
10:00 a.m. The House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies will hold a budget hearing on USDA’s Rural Development in 2362-A Rayburn. Scheduled witnesses include Dallas Tongager, USDA under secretary for rural development, John Padalino, acting administrator, Lillian Salerno, acting administrator for USDA’s Rural Business-Cooperative Service, Tammye Trevino, administrator for USDA’s Rural Housing Service, and Michael Young, USDA budget officer.
10:00 a.m. The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hold a hearing on an overview of the U.S. freight transportation system in 2167 Rayburn.
12:00 p.m. The House will meet for legislative business.
2:00 p.m. The House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Relate Agencies will hold a budget hearing on USDA’s Natural Resources and Environment in 2362-A Rayburn. Scheduled witnesses include Ann Mills, deputy under secretary of Natural Resources and Environment, Jason Weller, acting chief of USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, and Michael Young, USDA’s budget officer.
3:00 p.m. USDA Report: National Dairy Products Sales Report
3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Broiler Hatchery
Thursday, April 25.
8:30 a.m. USDA Report: U.S. Export Sales
9:00 a.m. USDA Report: Food Price Outlook
10:00 a.m. The House will meet for morning hour debate.
10:00 a.m. The House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Relate Agencies will hold a budget hearing on USDA’s Farm and Foreign Agriculture Services in 2362-A Rayburn. Scheduled witnesses include Michael Scuse, under secretary for USDA’s Farm and Foreign Agriculture Services, Juan Garcia, administrator of USDA’s Farm Service Agency, Suzanne Heinen, of USDA’s Farm Service Agency, Brandon Willis, administrator of USDA’s Risk Management Agency, and Michael Young, USDA’s budget officer.
10:00 a.m. The House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Water and Power will hold an oversight hearing on “Federal Impediments to Water Rights, Job Creation and Recreation: A Local Perspective” in 1334 Longworth.
10:00 a.m. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing in 366 Dirksen to explore drought and the effects on energy and water decisions.
10:00 a.m. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will hold an executive session in 430 Dirksen to consider the nomination of Thomas Perez to serve as labor secretary.
12:00 p.m. The House will meet for legislative business.
3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Floriculture Crops
3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Livestock Slaughter
3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Meat Animals - PDI
3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Milk - PDI
3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Poultry Slaughter
Friday, April 26.
8:30 a.m. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce will hold a summit on the benefits of immigration reform at their headquarters. Scheduled participants include Thomas J. Donohue, chamber president and chief executive officer, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., Rep. Zoe Lofgren, D-Calif., Rep. Ted Poe, R-Texas, Bruce Josten, chamber executive vice president for government affairs, Randel Johnson, chamber senior vice president of labor, immigration, and employee benefits, and Doug Holtz Eakin, president of the American Action Forum.
9:00 a.m. The House will meet for legislative business.
10:30 a.m. The House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Relate Agencies will hold a budget hearing on the FDA in 2362-A Rayburn. Scheduled witnesses include Margaret Hamburg, FDA commissioner, James Tyler, FDA chief financial officer, and Norris W. Cochran, deputy assistant secretary for the Department of Health and Human Services.
3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Peanut Prices
4:00 p.m. USDA Report: Monthly Milk Cost of Production
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