Legislative Activity President Trump Expected to Discuss Infrastructure in Coming Weeks The President is expected to release additional information on his infrastructure agenda in the coming weeks. White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer said the President will discuss infrastructure in his address to Congress on Tuesday. Additionally, he noted that more information will be included … Continue Reading
Senate Legislative Activity The Senate stands adjourned until 12:00pm today, February 13. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will enter Executive Session and resume consideration of the nomination of Steven Mnuchin to be Secretary of the Treasury. There are seven hours of post-cloture debate time remaining. Upon the use or yielding back of time, the … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity House Transportation Committee to Begin Holding FAA Hearings The House Transportation and Infrastructure (T&I) Committee will begin examining Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization this week, with the first of five expected hearings on the issue. The first hearing, titled “Building a 21st Century Infrastructure for America: State of American Aviation Manufacturing.” The witnesses … Continue Reading
Senate Legislative Activity The Senate stands adjourned until 12:00pm today, February 6. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the nomination of Betsy DeVos to be Secretary of Education. The confirmation vote on the DeVos nomination is expected on Tuesday, February 7. Procedural votes are possible tonight around 6:00pm. As a reminder, … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Congress Begins to Evaluate Infrastructure Needs, Senate EPW to Hold Hearing this Week The Trump Administration has provided few specifics on its trillion-dollar infrastructure proposal, and it has become increasingly clear that Congress will not act on a broad infrastructure bill in the first 100 days of the new administration. Recently, House Speaker … Continue Reading
Senate Legislative Activity The Senate will convene today, January 30, at 3:00pm. Following any leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 5:00pm. At 5:00pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to resume consideration of Executive Calendar #2, the nomination of Rex Tillerson to be Secretary of State. There … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Senate to Approve Chao Nomination This Week On Tuesday, the Senate will vote on the Honorable Elaine Chao’s nomination to serve as Transportation Secretary. Secretary-designate Chao is expected to face little opposition in the Senate and should be confirmed easily. For additional information on Ms. Chao and her nomination hearing in the Senate … Continue Reading
Senate Legislative Activity The Senate will convene on Monday, January 23, at 3:00pm. Following any leader remarks, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to resume consideration of the nomination of Mike Pompeo to be the Director of the Central Intelligence Agency. There will be up to six hours of debate, equally divided, followed by a … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Senate May Approve Chao Nomination This Week While Nominee-designate Elaine Chao was not included in the two cabinet members approved by the Senate on Friday (Defense Secretary James Mattis and Homeland Security Secretary John Kelly were confirmed), but Ms. Chao may be confirmed this week. Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee Chairman John … Continue Reading
Senate Legislative Activity The Senate will convene on Tuesday, January 17 at 3:00pm. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business until 4:15pm. At 4:15pm, the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee will be discharged from further consideration of H.R.72, GAO Access and Oversight Act. There will be 30 … Continue Reading
Senate Activity The Senate will convene on Monday, January 9 at 2:00pm. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of S.Con.Res.3, the FY 2017 Budget Resolution. At 5:30pm, the Senate will vote on Paul Amendment #1 (Substitute), with additional votes possible. At 2:30pm on Tuesday, January 10, the Senate will vote on Sanders Amendment #19 … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Senate Commerce Committee to Hold Chao Nomination Hearing The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee will hold a nomination hearing for Transportation Secretary-designate Elaine Chao. In addition to serving as the Secretary of Labor under President George W. Bush, she served as Deputy Secretary at US DOT under President George H. W. Bush, … Continue Reading
Senate Legislative Activity The Senate will convene on Monday, December 5, at 3:00pm. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the House Message to accompany H.R.34 (Cures). The filing deadline for first degree amendments is 4:00pm. At 5:30pm, the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to … Continue Reading
Congressional Activity Congress, NHTSA, and Outside Organizations Continue to Evaluate DOT’s Automated Vehicles Policy Congress continues its oversight of the Department of Transportation’s (DOT) Automated Vehicles policy, and a House Committee Roundtable is scheduled for this Tuesday, December 6. Many Members of Congress have lauded the expected benefits of automated vehicles on the economy and … Continue Reading
Senate Legislative Activity The Senate will convene on Monday, November 28, at 3:00pm. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business, with Senators permitted to speak for up to 10 minutes each. There will be no roll call votes. By consent, at 11:00am on Tuesday, November 29. the Senate … Continue Reading
Regulatory Activity Obama Administration DOT to Continue Issuing Regulations The Obama Administration’s Department of Transportation (DOT) is expected to continue issuing regulations until President-Elect Donald Trump takes office in January. Over the final two months of the Administration, DOT is expected to issue regulations banning cellphone calls on flights and requiring freight trains to use … Continue Reading
A New Administration and a New Congress: What to Expect On Tuesday, November 8, the American public elected Donald J. Trump as the 45th President of the United States and elected one-third of the 100 Senators and all of the House Members who will make up the 115th Congress. As a result of the elections, … Continue Reading
Note from Capital Thinking Given that we expect all legislative business will wrap-up in Washington this week, this will likely be our last Capital Thinking Blog until Congress returns in November following the Election. Senate Legislative Activity The Senate will convene on Monday, September 26, at 3:00pm. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity No Trucking Rider in Continuing Resolution The current fiscal year ends on September 30, and Congress will need to pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) to continue funding the federal government. The Senate is expected to vote on a CR that Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) introduced last week that does not include a … Continue Reading
Senate Legislative Activity The Senate will convene on Monday, September 19, at 3:00pm. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R.5325, the legislative vehicle for the short-term Continuing Resolution (CR). At 5:30pm, the Senate will vote on the motion to invoke cloture on the motion to proceed … Continue Reading
Legislative Activity Continuing Resolution Likely, with Potential Trucking Rider The current fiscal year ends on September 30, and Congress will need to pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) to continue funding the federal government. The Senate is expected to pass a CR this week that would fund the federal government through December 9. That approach would … Continue Reading
Senate Legislative Activity The Senate will convene on Monday, September 12, at 3:00pm. Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will resume consideration of S.2848, the Water Resources Development Act. By way of reminder, Senator Mitch McConnell (R-KY) has filed cloture on Inhofe-Boxer substitute amendment #4979 and on the on the underlying bill, S.2848. The filing … Continue Reading
Congress to Continue Focus on Appropriations The current fiscal year ends on September 30, and Congress will need to pass a Continuing Resolution (CR) in the next few weeks to continue funding the federal government. Last week, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) proposed advancing a CR that would extend funding for the federal government … Continue Reading
Note from Capital Thinking As Congress prepares to wrap up remaining business in Washington this week prior to adjourning until the Fall, please be advised that Capital Thinking will also be on recess until Congress returns. Expect our next post on Monday, September 12. Senate Legislative Activity The Senate will convene on Monday, July 11, at 4:00pm. Following any … Continue Reading
