Weekly Newsletter – Week of October 16, 2023

WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WASHINGTON DC

Headlines to Know:

Jim Jordan still facing at least “10 to 20” holdouts as speaker vote looms, Republicans say

  • Although he is the leading candidate for Speaker of the House, Representative Jim Jordan (R-OH) is still facing a challenging journey towards attaining the position. The vote is currently set for Tuesday, 10/17 and Jim Jordan will need 217 votes to become the new speaker. Although many are confident, he can achieve 217 votes, House Republicans said he will likely be short 10 to 20 votes.
  • Jordan is relying on right-wing groups along with his endorsement by former President Donald Trump. Sources say Jordan is going to try to rally GOP members on Monday 10/16 before the vote on Tuesday. 

 

Other News to Know:

President Biden weighs in on Israel-Palestinian conflict

  • As the conflict escalates in and around the Gaza Strip, President Biden put out a statement on Sunday warning Israel that they should not occupy Gaza. Israel has released messaging that they are preparing for a ground invasion of Gaza, but there is a humanitarian outcry for the people of Palestine. Biden condemned the actions of Hamas and stated that the terrorist organization’s actions don’t represent all Palestine people. 

 

This Week on Capitol Hill

Hearings of Interest: (All times EST)

Tuesday, October 17

  • 10:00 am: Senate Judiciary Meeting
    Hearings to examine the future of college sports, focusing on name, image, and likeness
  • 2:30 pm: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Meeting
    Hearings to examine community development financial institutions and promotion of housing and economic opportunity.
  • 2:30 pm: Senate Intelligence (Select) Meeting
    Closed hearings to examine certain intelligence matters


Wednesday, October 18

  • 10:00 am: House Transportation and Infrastructure Hearing; Highways and Transit Subcommittee
    Running on Empty: The Highway Trust Fund
  • 10:00 am: House Homeland Security Hearing
    “An Examination of the Iranian Regime’s Threats to Homeland Security”
  • 10:00 am: House Oversight and Accountability Hearing; Select Subcommittee on the Coronavirus Pandemic
    “Strengthening Biosafety and Biosecurity Standards: Protecting Against Future Pandemics”
  • 10:00 am: House Science, Space, and Technology Hearing; Investigations and Oversight Subcommittee
    Balancing Knowledge and Governance: Foundations for Effective Risk Management of Artificial Intelligence
  • 10:00 am: House Oversight and Accountability Hearing; Government Operations and the Federal Workforce Subcommittee
    “Oversight of Federal Agencies’ Post-Pandemic Telework Policies: Part II”
  • 10:00 am: House Energy and Commerce Hearing; Innovation, Data, and Commerce Subcommittee
    Safeguarding Data and Innovation: Building the Foundation for the Use of Artificial Intelligence
  • 10:00 am: Senate Environment and Public Works Meeting
    Hearings to examine the implications of Sackett v. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for Clean Water Act of wetlands and streams
  • 10:00 am: Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Meeting
    Hearings to examine the nomination of Monica M. Bertagnolli, of Massachusetts, to be Director of the National Institutes of Health
  • 10:00 am: Senate Armed Services Meeting
    Hearings to examine military to civilian transition, focusing on success after service
  • 10:00 am: Senate Finance Meeting
    Hearings to examine Medicare Advantage annual enrollment, focusing on cracking down on deceptive practices and improving senior experiences
  • 10:00 am: Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Meeting
    Business meeting to consider pending calendar business
  • 10:00 am: Senate Budget Meeting
    Hearings to examine achieving health care efficiency, focusing on improving care and lowering costs
  • 10:15 am: House Natural Resources Hearing; Energy and Mineral Resources Subcommittee
    Oversight Hearing titled, “Examining the Biden Administration’s Unprecedented Obstruction of the BOEM Offshore Leasing Program.”
  • 10:15 am: House Education and the Workforce Hearing; Health, Employment, Labor, and Pensions Subcommittee
    “Protecting Workers and Small Businesses from Biden’s Attack on Worker Free Choice and Economic Growth”
  • 10:30 am: House Natural Resources Hearing; Water, Wildlife, and Fisheries Subcommittee
    Legislative Hearing on H.R. 4389, H.R. 4770, and H.R. 5009 
  • 10:30 am: Senate Foreign Relations Meeting
    Hearing to examine the nomination of Jacob J. Lew, of New York to be Ambassador to the State of Israel
  • 2:00 pm: House Ways and Means Hearing; Social Security Subcommittee
    Protecting Beneficiaries from the Harm of Improper Payments
  • 2:30 pm: Senate Intelligence (Select) Meeting
    Closed hearing to examine certain intelligence matters
  • 2:30 pm: Senate Judiciary Meeting; Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Safety Subcommittee
    Hearings to examine the nation’s immigration courts, focusing on preserving due process and the rule of law
  • 2:30 pm: Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Meeting; Space and Science
    Hearings to examine promoting safety, innovation, and competitiveness in U.S. commercial human space activities.
  • 3:00 pm: House Veterans’ Affairs Hearing; Economic Opportunity Subcommittee
    H.R. 522, H.R. 3601, H.R. 3722, H.R. 3738, H.R. 5190


Thursday, October 19

  • 9:00 am: House Armed Services Hearing; Cyber, Information Technologies, and Innovation Subcommittee
    Can it work? Outside Perspectives on DOD’s Replicator Program
  • 9:30 am: Senate Armed Services Meeting
    Open and closed hearings to examine the findings of the Congressional Commission on the Strategic Posture of the United States
  • 10:00 am: House Judiciary Hearing; Courts, Intellectual Property, and the Internet Subcommittee
    IP and Strategic Competition with China: Part III – IP Theft, Cybersecurity, and AI
  • 10:00 am: House Transportation and Infrastructure Hearing; Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management Subcommittee
    Regional Commissions: A Review of Federal Economic Development Program Effectiveness
  • 10:00 am: House Natural Resources Hearing
    Legislative hearing on the following bills: H.R. 1727, H.R. 5283
  • 10:00 am: House Veterans’ Affairs Hearing; Oversight and Investigations Subcommittee
    Trust in Transparency: Holding VA Accountable and Protecting Whistleblowers
  • 10:00 am: House Small Business Hearing
    “Burdensome Regulations: Examining the Effects of DOL Rulemaking on America’s Job Creators”
  • 10:00 am: House Foreign Affairs Markup
    Various Measures
  • 10:00 am: House Oversight and Accountability Hearing
    “Oversight of the U.S. General Services Administration”
  • 10:00 am: House Ways and Means Hearing; Oversight Subcommittee
    Investigating Pandemic Fraud: Preventing History from Repeating Itself
  • 10:00 am: Senate Foreign Relations Meeting
    Hearing to examine nominations
  • 10:00 am: Senate Energy and Natural Resources Meeting
    Hearings to examine the Department of Energy’s due diligence process for awarding competitive grants and loans funded through the Inflation Reduction Act and the bipartisan Infrastructure Law and the Department’s overall innovation investment strategy
  • 10:00 am: Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Meeting
    Hearings to examine certain pending nominations
  • 10:15 am: House Education and the Workforce Hearing; Early Childhood, Elementary, and Secondary Education Subcommittee
    “Protecting Kids: Combating Graphic, Explicit Content in School Libraries”
  • 1:30 om: House Veterans’ Affairs Hearing; Health Subcommittee
    Emerging Therapies: Breakthroughs in the Battle Against Suicide?
  • 3:00 pm: House Natural Resources Hearing; Indian and Insular Affairs Subcommittee
    Legislative Hearing on Discussion Draft on H.J. Res. ____ (Rep. Westerman), “Compact of Free Association Amendments Act of 2023.”


Floor Overview

House is out of session on Monday, October 16, but in session from Tuesday, October 17, to Friday, October 20. 

Senate is in session this week.