WASHINGTON, May 13, 2013 – The week is set to be flush with action as both chambers of Congress have set up an aggressive one-two punch on moving a long-term farm bill.
The Senate Agriculture, Forestry and Nutrition Committee will kick it off with a Tuesday markup of farm policy legislation (S. 10), drafted by Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow, D-Mich. Senate leaders have said they plan to have the bill on the floor next week.
Then, the House Agriculture Committee will hold a markup of its bill, the FARRM Act, on Wednesday. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., has indicated that the bill would be allowed to hit the House floor, unlike last year.
Meanwhile, the Senate Judiciary Committee will continue a markup Tuesday of comprehensive immigration reform legislation, which could bring major changes to the agricultural guest worker program. The House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security will hold a hearing Thursday on the Agriculture Guestworker Act (H.R. 1773).
Also, the Senate will continue its work on the Water Resources Development Act (S. 601), which authorize funding to modernize the nation’s locks and dams, to improve passage for freight on rivers, assist with flood protection, and restore key environmental areas.
In addition, the Organic Trade Association will hold its annual policy meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday.
The week’s events include:
Monday, May 13.
USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack and Interior Secretary Sally Jewell will hold a joint national event at the National Interagency Fire Center to announce federal, state, tribal and local efforts to prepare for the upcoming wildfire season in Boise, Idaho.
2:00 p.m. The Senate will convene for a morning business until 5:00 p.m. There will be no votes.
2:00 p.m. The House will meet in pro forma session and no votes are expected.
4:00 p.m. USDA Report: Crop Progress
Tuesday, May 14.
9:00 a.m. Michael Scuse, USDA acting deputy secretary, will address the National Association of Farm Broadcasting.
10:00 a.m. The Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee will hold a markup of the farm bill, otherwise known as the Agriculture Reform, Food, and Jobs Act of 2013 (S. 10) in 328A Russell.
10:00 a.m. The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a markup of comprehensive immigration reform legislation (S. 744) in G-50 Dirksen.
10:30 a.m. Secretary Vilsack will address the National Association of Farm Broadcasting.
12:00 p.m. The Senate will vote on a cloture motion for the Water Resources Development Act (S. 601) if needed.
12:00 p.m. The House will meet for morning hour debate.
1:00 p.m. USDA Report: Wheat Outlook
1:00 p.m. USDA Report: Cotton Wool Outlook
1:00 p.m. USDA Report: Oil Crops Outlook
1:00 p.m. USDA Report: Rice Outlook
2:00 p.m. The House will meet for legislative business with votes postponed until 6:30 p.m.
4:00 p.m. USDA Secretary Vilsack will address the Organic Trade Association’s annual policy conference at the Newseum, 555 Pennsylvania Ave., NW.
4:00 p.m. USDA Report: Feed Grains Outlook
4:00 p.m. USDA Report: Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin (WAOB)
4:00 p.m. The House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a markup of the Resolving Environmental and Grid Reliability Conflicts Act (H.R. 271) and the Animal Drug User Fee Amendments (H.R. 1407) in 2123 Rayburn.
Wednesday, May 15.
10:00 a.m. The House Agriculture Committee will hold a markup of the farm bill, which it calls the Federal Agriculture Reform and Risk Management Act (FARRM) in 1300 Longworth.
10:00 a.m. The House will meet for morning hour debate.
10:00 a.m. The House Committee on Natural Resources will hold a markup in 1324 Longworth on the following bills:
- H.R. 687, To facilitate the efficient extraction of mineral resources in southeast Arizona by authorizing and directing an exchange of federal and non-federal land.
- H.R. 761, To require the secretary of the interior and the secretary of agriculture to more efficiently develop domestic sources of the minerals and mineral materials of strategic and critical importance to United States economic and national security and manufacturing competitiveness.
- H.R. 1063, To require the secretary of the interior to conduct an assessment of the capability of the nation to meet our current and future demands for the minerals critical to U.S. manufacturing and agricultural competitiveness and economic and national security in a time of expanding resource nationalism.
- H.R. 1300, To amend the Fish and Wildlife Act of 1956 to reauthorize the volunteer programs and community partnerships for the benefit of national wildlife refuges.
12:00 p.m. The House will meet for legislative business to consider, under suspension, five bills including the Hill Creek Cultural Preservation and Energy Development Act (H.R. 356) and legislation to amend the Energy Policy Act of 2005 to modify the pilot project offices of the Federal Permit Streamlining Pilot Project (H.R. 767).
2:30 p.m. The Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development will hold a hearing on the administration’s FY 2014 budget request for the Energy Department in 192 Dirksen. Acting Energy Secretary Daniel B. Poneman is the scheduled witness.
3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Agricultural Chemical Usage-Field Crops
3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Broiler Hatchery
3:00 p.m. USDA Report: National Dairy Products Sales Report
3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Turkey Hatchery
4:00 p.m. USDA Report: Bioenergy Data
Thursday, May 16.
8:30 a.m. USDA Report: U.S. Export Sales
9:15 a.m. The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will vote on the nomination of Thomas E. Perez to serve as labor secretary in 430 Dirksen.
10:00 a.m. The House Judiciary Committee’s Subcommittee on Immigration and Border Security will hold a hearing on various Homeland Security Department reports, the Legal Workforce Act (H.R. 1772), and the Agriculture Guestworker Act (H.R. 1773) in 2141 Rayburn.
10:00 a.m. The House will meet for morning hour debate.
10:00 a.m. The Senate Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies will hold a hearing on the administration’s FY 2014 budget request for various USDA agencies in 124 Dirksen. Scheduled witnesses include Ed Avalos, under secretary of USDA Marketing and Regulatory Programs; Kevin Concannon, under secretary of USDA Food, Nutrition, and Consumer Services; Elisabeth Hagen, under secretary of USDA Food Safety; and Catherine Woteki, under secretary of USDA Research, Education, and Economics.
10:00 a.m. The House Small Business Committee’s Subcommittee on Agriculture, Energy and Trade will hold a hearing on “If You Build It: Keystone XL Pipeline and Small Business Job Growth” in 2360 Rayburn.
10:00 a.m. The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Power with the Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy will hold a hearing on the administration’s FY 2014 proposed budget for the EPA in 2123 Rayburn.
10:00 a.m. The House Natural Resources Committee’s Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife, Oceans and Insular Affairs will hold an oversight hearing on the 2008 Lacey Act Amendments in 1324 Longworth.
10:00 a.m. USDA Report: Meat Price Spreads
10:30 a.m. The Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee will hold a hearing on the impact of mandatory E-Verify on small business in 428A Russell.
12:00 p.m. The House will meet for legislative business to consider a repeal of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (H.R. 45).
1:00 p.m. USDA Report: Livestock, Dairy & Poultry Outlook
2:00 p.m. The House Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing on U.S.-EU trade and investment partnership negotiations in 1100 Longworth.
4:00 p.m. USDA Report: Feed Grains Database
4:00 p.m. USDA Report: Sugar & Sweeteners Outlook
Friday, May 17.
9:00 a.m. The House will meet for legislative business with last votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m.
10:00 a.m. The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy will hold a legislative hearing on the Reducing Excessive Deadline Obligations Act, the Federal and State Partnership for Environmental Protection Act, and the Federal Facility Accountability Act in 2123 Rayburn.
3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Cattle of Feed
3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Peanut Prices
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