What’s happening in Washington, D.C.- Week of September 18, 2023
Headlines to Know
As Federal Shutdown Looms, Local Lawmakers Warn Of Impact On D.C. Region’s Economy
Congress has until the end of the month to approve the funding needed to keep the federal government open. If they fail to do so – DC will struggle. Dc holds about 370,000 federal workers. Shutdowns in the past have affected all aspects of local life in DC. The idea of a surplus of furloughed workers will strain food banks, social safety nets, cause mental health burdens, and strain sales in local businesses.
What’s happening with the Iran-US prisoner swap deal?
This deal promises to release 10 million people and billions of dollars in frozen assets. As part of the deal, five US prisoners held in Iran will be exchanged with five Iranians held by the US, and Iran will gain access to roughly $6bn of its assets frozen abroad. It also mentions exchanging prisoners were running in parallel to indirect negotiations aimed at restoring Iran’s 2015 nuclear deal with world powers that the US unilaterally abandoned in 2018.
News to know:
House GOP deal to avert shutdown gets icy reception from conservatives
House Republicans proposed short-term spending bill is facing internal opposition that could sink the measure and complicate the conference’s attempt to show unity in its opening offer to the Senate and White House.
Second neo-Nazi arrested for violating Florida’s new public nuisance law, police say
In a recent development, a second individual associated with neo-Nazi activities has been arrested in Florida for allegedly violating the state’s new public nuisance law. According to law enforcement authorities, this arrest underscores the state’s commitment to combating hate groups and extremist ideologies within its borders. The implementation of such legislation reflects Florida’s proactive approach in addressing public safety concerns related to hate-driven organizations.
This week (Hearings) on Capitol Hill:
Tuesday, Sep 19, 2023
10:00 AM – SD-215, Finance
Subcommittee on Health Care, Hearings to examine aging in place, focusing on the vital role of home health in access to care.
Tuesday, Sep 19, 2023
10:00 AM – SD-226, Judiciary
Hearings to examine corporate manipulation of Chapter 11 bankruptcy.
Tuesday, Sep 19, 2023
2:30 PM – SD-124, Appropriations
Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government, Hearings to examine proposed budget estimates and justification for fiscal year 2024 for the Federal Communications Commission.
Tuesday, Sep 19, 2023
2:30 PM – SD-562, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Spending Oversight, Hearings to examine advanced technology, focusing on threats to national security.
Tuesday, Sep 19, 2023
2:30 PM – SH-216 Intelligence
Hearings to examine advancing intelligence in the era of Artificial Intelligence, focusing on addressing the national security implications of AI.
Wednesday, Sep 20, 2023
10:00 AM – SD-538 Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs
Hearings to examine artificial intelligence in financial services.
Wednesday, Sep 20, 2023
10:00 AM – SD-608 Budget
Hearings to examine public investment.
Wednesday, Sep 20, 2023
10:00 AM – SR-253 Commerce, Science, and Transportation
Hearings to examine the nominations of Rebecca Kelly Slaughter, of Maryland, Melissa Holyoak, of Utah, and Andrew N. Ferguson, of Virginia, each to be a Federal Trade Commissioner, and Douglas Dziak, of Virginia, to be a Commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Wednesday, Sep 20, 2023
10:45 AM – S-116 Foreign Relations
Business meeting to consider the nominations of James C. O’Brien, of Nebraska, to be an Assistant Secretary (European and Eurasian Affairs), Dennis B. Hankins, of Minnesota, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Haiti, Nathalie Rayes, of Massachusetts, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Croatia, and Tobin John Bradley, of California, to be Ambassador to the Republic of Guatemala, all of the Department of State, and other pending nominations.
Wednesday, Sep 20, 2023
2:00 PM – SD-538 Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs- Subcommittee on Economic Policy
Hearings to examine childcare since the pandemic, focusing on macroeconomic impacts of public policy measures.
Wednesday, Sep 20, 2023
2:15 PM – SH-216 Joint Economic Committee
Hearings to examine growing the economy of the future, focusing on job training for the clean energy transition.
Wednesday, Sep 20, 2023
2:30 PM – SD-366 Energy and Natural Resources
Subcommittee on Water and Power
Hearings to examine drought impacts on drinking water access and water availability.
Wednesday, Sep 20, 2023
2:30 PM – SD-406 Environment and Public Works- Subcommittee on Fisheries, Water, and Wildlife
Hearings to examine drinking water infrastructure and tribal communities.
Wednesday, Sep 20, 2023
2:30 PM – SH-219 Intelligence
To receive a closed briefing on certain intelligence matters.
Wednesday, Sep 20, 2023
2:45 PM – SD-226 Judiciary
Subcommittee on Federal Courts, Oversight, Agency Action, and Federal RightsHearings to examine restoring transparency and accountability in the accommodation process.
Wednesday, Sep 20, 2023
3:30 PM – SR-418 Veterans’ Affairs
Hearings to examine improving mental health and suicide prevention measures for our Nation’s veterans.
Thursday, Sep 21, 2023
9:30 AM – SD-G50 Armed Services
Hearings to examine the nominations of Derek H. Chollet, of Nebraska, to be Under Secretary for Policy, and Cara L. Abercrombie, of Virginia, to be an Assistant Secretary, both Department of Defense.
Thursday, Sep 21, 2023
10:00 AM – SD-430 Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions
Business meeting to consider S.1573, to reauthorize the Prematurity Research Expansion and Education for Mothers who deliver Infants Early Act, S.2415, to amend title III of the Public Health Service Act to reauthorize Federal support of States in their work to save and sustain the health of mothers during pregnancy, childbirth, and the postpartum period, to eliminate disparities in maternal health outcomes for pregnancy-related and pregnancy-associated deaths, to identify solutions to improve health care quality and health outcomes for mothers, S.1624, to require certain civil penalties to be transferred to a fund through which amounts are made available for the Gabriella Miller Kids First Pediatric Research Program at the National Institutes of Health, an original bill entitled, “Bipartisan Primary Care and Health Workforce Act”, and other pending calendar business.
Thursday, Sep 21, 2023
10:00 AM – SD-562 Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Hearings to examine the nominations of Thomas G. Day, of Virginia, to be a Commissioner of the Postal Regulatory Commission, and Katherine E. Oler, Judith E. Pipe, and Charles J. Willoughby, Jr., each to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia.
Wednesday, Sep 27, 2023
10:00 AM – SD-406 Environment and Public Works
An oversight hearing to examine the General Services Administration, focusing on examining the Federal real estate portfolio.
Thursday, Sep 28, 2023
10:00 AM – SD-406 Environment and Public Works– Subcommittee on Chemical Safety, Waste Management, Environmental Justice, and Regulatory Oversight
Hearings to examine solutions to address beverage container waste.
Floor Overview
- Both the House and the Senate have reconvened and are in session.