House Cloakroom: September 17 – September 21

Analysis: The House will be in session this week for the final week prior to the November elections and will take up immigration, welfare, and energy legislation. There will be a vote on a resolution under the Congressional Review Act regarding a rule issued by the Department of Health and Human Services that effectively gutted ^[1] the work requirements from welfare reform. The House will also take up bills that make it easier for graduates of American universities from other countries to remain in the United States and expand domestic energy production.

Major Floor Action:

• HJ Res 118 – Congressional Review Act Resolution to overturn HHS rule on TANF work requirements
• HR 3409 – Stop the War on Coal Act
• STEM bill
  

Major Committee Action:

• The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hold a hearing on the “Review of Amtrak Operations.”
• The House Ways and Means Committee will hold a joint hearing on “Capital Gains Taxation.”
• The House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing on “Administration Regulatory Agenda v. Jobs and the Economy.”
• The House Foreign Affairs Committee will hold a hearing on “U.S.–Egypt Relations.”
  

Senate Cloakroom: September 17 – September 21

Analysis: This week, the Senate will continue debate on the veterans jobs bill that appears to be largely a political move by Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV). The Senate is also widely expected to pass the six-month continuing resolution ^[2] that would fund the government until March 2013 at higher levels than last year and that passed the House last week.

Major Floor Action:

• S 3457 ^[3] – Veterans Jobs Corps Act
• HJ Res 117 ^[4] – Six-Month Continuing Resolution
  

Major Committee Action:

• The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will hold a hearing on “Maintaining U.S. Innovation and Technology Leadership.”
• The Senate Finance Committee will hold a joint hearing on “Capital Gains Taxation.”
• The Senate Heath, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will hold a hearing on “Pension Modernization.”
• The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing on “Water Resources Development.”

The House and Senate, as well as the Cloakroom, will be in recess after this week until after the November 6 election.