Capital Thinking Update

Given that the 113th Congress is scheduled to adjourn this week, please note that today, December 8, will be the last Capital Thinking update until January 5, 2015, the week when the 114th Congress is scheduled to begin.

Senate Legislative Activity

On Monday, December 8, following any Leader remarks, there will be a period of morning business until 5:30 pm. At 5:30pm, the Senate will proceed to roll call votes on various nominations.  The roll call votes include:

  1. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #1082, Jeffery Martin Baran, to be a Member of the Nuclear Regulatory Commission for the remainder of the term expiring June 30, 2018;
  2. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #1083, Lauren McGarity McFerran, to be a Member of the National Labor Relations Board for the term of five years expiring December 16, 2019; and
  3. Confirmation of Executive Calendar #552, Ellen Dudley Williams – to be Director of the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy, Department of Energy.

House Legislative Activity

On Monday, December 8, the House will meet at 12:00 pm for morning hour and 2:00 pm for legislative business, with no votes expected.

Lawmakers will consider H.R. 5781, the California Emergency Drought Relief Act of 2014, under a closed rule with one hour of debate.

Additionally, the following legislation will be considered under suspension of the rules:

  1. H.R. 5385 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 55 Grasso Plaza in St. Louis, Missouri, as the “Sgt. Amanda N. Pinson Post Office”;
  2. H.R. 5794 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 16105 Swingley Ridge Road in Chesterfield, Missouri, as the “Sgt. Zachary M. Fisher Post Office”;
  3. H.R. 4030 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 18640 NW 2nd Avenue in Miami, Florida, as the “Father Richard Marquess-Barry Post Office Building”;
  4. H.R. 5562 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 801 West Ocean Avenue in Lompoc, California, as the “Federal Correctional Officer Scott J. Williams Memorial Post Office Building”;
  5. H.R. 5687 – To designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 101 East Market Street in Long Beach, California, as the “Juanita Millender-McDonald Post Office”;
  6. H.R. 579 – To designate the United States courthouse located at 501 East Court Street in Jackson, Mississippi, as the “R. Jess Brown United States Courthouse”;
  7. H.R. 1378 – To designate the United States courthouse located at 333 West Broadway in San Diego, California, as the “James M. Carter and Judith N. Keep United States Courthouse,” as amended;
  8. H.R. 4926 – To designate the “James L. Oberstar Memorial Highway” and the “James L. Oberstar National Scenic Byway” in the State of Minnesota, as amended;
  9. H.R. 5146 – To designate the United States courthouse located at 700 Grant Street in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as the “Joseph F. Weis Jr. United States Courthouse”;
  10. S. 1434 – To designate the Junction City Community-Based Outpatient Clinic located at 715 Southwind Drive, Junction City, Kansas, as the “Lieutenant General Richard J. Seitz Community-Based Outpatient Clinic”;
  11. S. 229 – Corporal Michael J. Crescenz Act of 2013; and
  12. S. 2921 – To designate the community based outpatient clinic of the Department of Veterans Affairs located at 310 Home Boulevard in Galesburg, Illinois, as the “Lane A. Evans VA Community Based Outpatient Clinic.”

On Tuesday, December 9, and Wednesday, December 10, the House will meet at 10:00 am for morning hour and 12:00 pm for legislative business.  Lawmakers will also consider H.R. 1422, the EPA Science Advisory Board Reform Act of 2013, subject to a rule.  On Thursday, December 11, the House will meet at 9:00 am for legislative business, with last votes expected by 3:00 pm.

The following legislation will be considered under suspension of the rules:

  1. H.R 5086 – To amend the National Trails System Act to direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a study on the feasibility of designating the Chief Standing Bear National Historic Trail, and for other purposes, as amended;
  2. H.R 5699 – John Muir National Historic Site Expansion Act, as amended;
  3. H.R 5701 – Western Oregon Indian Tribal Lands Act, as amended;
  4. S. 1000 – Chesapeake Bay Accountability and Recovery Act of 2014;
  5. H.R. 5705 – Propane Education and Research Enhancement Act of 2014;
  6. H.R. 5185 – EARLY Act Reauthorization of 2014, as amended;
  7. H.R. 5764 – Great Lakes Restoration Initiative Act of 2014;
  8. S. 2759 – To release the City of St. Clair, Missouri, from all restrictions, conditions, and limitations on the use, encumbrance, conveyance, and closure of the St. Clair Regional Airport;
  9. H.R. 5059 – Clay Hunt SAV Act, as amended;
  10. H.R. 5656 – Global Food Security Act of 2014, as amended;
  11. H.R. 2901 – Senator Paul Simon Water for the World Act, as amended;
  12. S. 1683 – Naval Vessel Transfer Act of 2013; and
  13. S. 1691 – Border Patrol Agent Pay Reform Act of 2014.

The House will also consider legislation related to the Terrorism Risk Insurance Act (TRIA), as well as legislation related to the FY 2015 Appropriations process.

No votes are expected on Friday, December 12.