After a week-long recess, Members of Congress return to Washington, D.C. for a five-week work period and a jam-packed agenda. 

The Senate will convene on Monday and resume consideration of the motion to proceed to H.R. 240, the House-passed Department of Homeland Security Appropriations bill.  Current funding for the agency expires on February 27, this Friday.  For the two weeks preceding last week’s recess, Senate Democrats successfully blocked the chamber from moving forward on consideration of the appropriations measure, due to policy riders attached by the House of Representatives to nullify President Obama’s recent Executive Orders on deferred action for immigrants in the country illegally and attendant benefits.  Before departing for the President’s Day recess, Majority Leader McConnell acknowledged to reporters that the Senate is “stuck” on the bill and the next move will be “up to the House.”  House Republicans responded that they have no interest in taking up the bill a second time, without the immigration policy riders.  One major change to the policy debate since last week: a Texas federal district judge issued an injunction against the Obama Administration’s immigration policy, essentially putting it on hold.  The judge held that the policy violates the procedural requirements of the Administrative Procedure Act.  This action by the court may be an opportunity for the Senate to avoid the policy riders and pass a clean funding bill, but it remains unclear whether the House will alter its position.  A short-term, stop-gap funding measure to prevent a shutdown of the agency is the most likely outcome, as allowing DHS to shut down in this era of Islamic State terrorism and global cyber-attacks seems unlikely, but at this point no one knows for sure what will happen. 

It is unclear what the Senate will focus on once the DHS appropriations bill is resolved.  The Senate Judiciary Committee is expected to vote on Thursday on the nominations of Loretta Lynch to be U.S. Attorney General and Michelle Lee to head the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office, and the full chamber may consider the nominations in early March.   

The House will return on Tuesday and consider four bills under suspension of the rules on Tuesday and Wednesday.  The House schedule has also made allowance for House consideration of the DHS Appropriations bill coming back from the Senate.  The House will then resume consideration of tax legislation.  Having passed several bills to make various tax provisions permanent, on Wednesday the House will take up a bill to expand the use of 529 college savings plans on Wednesday.  On Thursday and Friday, House will consider legislation to reform federal elementary and secondary education programs.  House Education and Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (R-MN) held a mark-up of H.R. 5, the Student Success Act, on February 11.  The authorization bill, an update to the No Child Left Behind Act, was reported out of committee on a partisan vote.  The bill consolidates many federal education programs and establishes block grants for other programs to  give states greater flexibility in the use of the funds.   Democrats and the Administration oppose the bill, due to its rollback of federal control over the programs and a concern that leaving more decision-making authority in the hands of each state will undermine the goals of these federal education programs.   An almost identical measure passed the House in 2013, with only one Democratic vote, but was never considered by the then-Democratic-controlled Senate.  Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee Chairman Lamar Alexander (R-TN) has released a working draft of his own reauthorization bill.  He and Ranking Member Patty Murray (D-WA) released a joint statement saying they were working together on developing bipartisan legislation.  Chairman Alexander has previously indicated he would like to have a bill ready for consideration by the full Senate by March 1, but the Committee has not scheduled any action on the issue for next week, so that timetable appears to have slipped. 

This week, both House and Senate authorizing and appropriating committees resume consideration of the President’s 2016 budget request.  A number of Cabinet officials will be attending those hearings:  Secretary of State John Kerry will testify before the House Foreign Affairs Committee on Wednesday regarding the Administration’s foreign affairs budget request; Secretary of Agriculture Tom Vilsack will testify before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture on Wednesday; Housing and Urban Development Secretary Julian Castro will appear before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development on Wednesday; Transportation Secretary Anthony Foxx will appear before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development on Thursday; Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz will appear before the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Energy and Water on Thursday; Health and Human Services Secretary Sylvia Burwell will appear before the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health on Thursday;  Interior Secretary Sally Jewell will testify before the Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee on Tuesday and the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Interior on Wednesday.  Federal Reserve Board Chairman Janet Yellen will also be on Capitol Hill on Wednesday to testify before the House Financial Services Committee.  Senate Finance Committee Chairman Orrin Hatch (R-UT) scheduled a trade hearing on Thursday, and, in a highly unusual move, the scheduling of the hearing drew a rebuke from Ranking Member Ron Wyden (D-OR), a potentially foreboding signal for the prospects of Trade Promotion Authority legislation.  Finally, as noted above, the Senate Judiciary Committee will consider the Lynch and Lee nominations at its executive business meeting on Thursday.  A schedule for these hearings and other key Congressional hearings for the week are included below: 

Tuesday February 24, 2015 

Senate Committees 

Agriculture Legislation and Nominations
Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry
Full Committee Hearing
Feb. 24, 9:30 a.m., 328A Russell Bldg.

Congressional Gold Medal Legislation Markup and Semiannual Monetary Policy Report
Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
Full Committee Markup and Hearing
Feb. 24, 10 a.m., 106 Dirksen Bldg. 

Interior Fiscal 2016 Budget Request
Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Full Committee Hearing
Feb. 24, 10 a.m., 366 Dirksen Bldg. 

Tax Code Overhaul
Senate Finance
Full Committee Hearing
Feb. 24, 10 a.m., 215 Dirksen Bldg.

Higher Education Regulation
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Full Committee Hearing
Feb. 24, 10 a.m., 430 Dirksen Bldg. 

Inspectors General Assessment
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Full Committee Hearing
Feb. 24, 10 a.m., 342 Dirksen Bldg. 

U.S. Human Trafficking
Senate Judiciary
Full Committee Hearing
Feb. 24, 10 a.m., 226 Dirksen Bldg. 

Space Exploration
Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation – Subcommittee on Space, Science and Competitiveness
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 24, 2 p.m., 253 Russell Bldg. 

Joint Committee 

Disabled American Veterans Legislative Issues
House Veterans’ Affairs; Senate Veterans’ Affairs
Committees Joint Hearing
Feb. 24, 2 p.m., G-50 Dirksen Bldg. 

Wednesday February 25, 2015 

House Committees 

SNAP Review
House Agriculture
Full Committee Hearing
Feb. 25, 10 a.m., 1300 Longworth Bldg. 

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Agriculture
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 25, 10 a.m., 2362-A Rayburn Bldg. 

DOJ, NASA and Commerce Oversight
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing
Feb. 25, 10:30 a.m., H-309 Capitol Bldg. 

IRS Oversight
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing
Feb. 25, 10 a.m., 2359 Rayburn Bldg. 

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Labor, HHS, Education
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 25, 10 a.m., 2358-C Rayburn Bldg. 

Military Quality-of-Life Issues
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 25, 9:30 a.m., 2362-B Rayburn Bldg. 

Information Technology and Future Threats
House Armed Services – Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 25, 3:30 p.m., 2118 Rayburn Bldg. 

DoD and European Security
House Armed Services
Full Committee Hearing
Feb. 25, 10 a.m., 2118 Rayburn Bldg. 

Net Neutrality Proposal
House Energy and Commerce – Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 25, 10:30 a.m., 2322 Rayburn Bldg. 

EPA Fiscal 2016 Budget
House Energy and Commerce – Subcommittees on Environment and the Economy and on Energy and Power
Subcommittees Joint Hearing
Feb. 25, 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn Bldg. 

Monetary Policy and Economic Assessment
House Financial Services
Full Committee Hearing
Feb. 25, 10 a.m., HVC-210 Capitol Visitor Center 

Foreign Affairs Fiscal 2016 Budget
House Foreign Affairs
Full Committee Hearing
Feb. 25, 10 a.m., 2172 Rayburn Bldg. 

White House Cybersecurity Proposal
House Homeland Security
Full Committee Hearing
Feb. 25, 11:30 a.m., 311 Cannon Bldg. 

Immigration Executive Action
House Judiciary
Full Committee Hearing
Feb. 25, 10:15 a.m., 2141 Rayburn Bldg. 

Energy Fiscal 2016 Budget
House Science, Space and Technology
Full Committee Hearing
Feb. 25, 10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn Bldg. 

Coast Guard Fiscal 2016 Budget
House Transportation and Infrastructure – Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 25, 10 a.m., 2167 Rayburn Bldg. 

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Interior-Environment
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 25, 1 p.m., B-308 Rayburn Bldg. 

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Transportation-HUD
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 25, 1 p.m., 2358-A Rayburn Bldg. 

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Legislative Branch
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Legislative Branch
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 25, 2 p.m., HT-2 Capitol Bldg. 

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: State-Foreign Operations
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 25, 2 p.m., 2359 Rayburn Bldg. 

Navy Seapower Fiscal 2016 Budget
House Armed Services – Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 25, 2 p.m., 2212 Rayburn Bldg.  

Fiscal 2016 Members’ Testimony
House Budget
Full Committee Hearing
Feb. 25, 1 p.m., 210 Cannon Bldg. 

SBA Fiscal 2016 Budget
House Small Business
Full Committee Hearing
Feb. 25, 2 p.m., 2360 Rayburn Bldg. 

Disability Trust Fund Issues
House Ways and Means – Subcommittee on Social Security
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 25, 2 p.m., B-318 Rayburn Bldg.

Senate Committees 

Internet Governance and Stakeholders
Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation
Full Committee Hearing
Feb. 25, 10 a.m., 253 Russell Bldg.

MAP-21 Reauthorization
Senate Environment and Public Works
Full Committee Hearing
Feb. 25, 9:30 a.m., 406 Dirksen Bldg. 

Homeland Regulatory System
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Full Committee Hearing
Feb. 25, 10 a.m., 342 Dirksen Bldg. 

Regional Nuclear Dynamics
Senate Armed Services – Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 25, 2:30 p.m., 222 Russell Bldg. 

Military Compensation and Retirement
Senate Armed Services – Subcommittee on Personnel
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 25, 2:30 p.m., 216 Hart Bldg.

Federal Debt Issues
Senate Budget
Full Committee Hearing
Feb. 25, 10 a.m., 608 Dirksen Bldg. 

Indian Affairs Legislation Markup and Indian Affairs Fiscal 2016 Budget Hearing
Senate Indian Affairs
Full Committee Markup/Oversight Hearing
Feb. 25, 2:30 p.m., 628 Dirksen Bldg. 

Joint Committees 

American Legion Legislative Issues
House Veterans’ Affairs; Senate Veterans’ Affairs
Committees Joint Hearing
Feb. 25, 10 a.m., 345 Cannon Bldg.

Thursday, February 26, 2015 

House Committees 

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Agriculture
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 26, 10 a.m., 2362-A Rayburn Bldg. 

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Energy-Water
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 26, 9:30 a.m., 2359 Rayburn Bldg. 

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Defense
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Defense
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 26, 10 a.m., H-140 Capitol Bldg. 

Aging and Disability Program Oversight
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing
Feb. 26, 10 a.m., 2358-C Rayburn Bldg. 

AUMF Request
House Armed Services
Full Committee Hearing
Feb. 26, 10 a.m., 2118 Rayburn Bldg.

Federal Labor Executive Orders
House Education and the Workforce – Subcommittees on Workforce Protections and on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions
Subcommittee Joint Hearing
Feb. 26, 10 a.m., 2175 Rayburn Bldg. 

Patent Demand Letter Practices
House Energy and Commerce – Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 26, 10:15 a.m., 2322 Rayburn Bldg. 

HHS Fiscal 2016 Budget
House Energy and Commerce – Subcommittee on Health
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 26, 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn Bldg. 

FHA Oversight
House Financial Services – Subcommittee on Housing and Insurance
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 26, 10 a.m., 2220 Rayburn Bldg. 

U.S.-Asia-Pacific Relations
House Foreign Affairs – Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 26, 10 a.m., 2172 Rayburn Bldg. 

DHS Performance Assessment
House Homeland Security – Subcommittee on Oversight and Management Efficiency
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 26, 10 a.m., 311 Cannon Bldg. 

ISIL and Domestic Terrorism
House Judiciary – Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 26, 10 a.m., 2141 Rayburn Bldg. 

Puerto Rico Chapter 9 Uniformity Act
House Judiciary – Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 26, 11:30 a.m., 2237 Rayburn Bldg. 

NSF, NIST Fiscal 2016 Budget
House Science, Space and Technology – Subcommittee on Research and Technology
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 26, 10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn Bldg. 

SNAP Population Research
House Agriculture – Subcommittee on Nutrition
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 26, 1 p.m., 1300 Longworth Bldg. 

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Interior-Environment
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 26, 1 p.m., B-308 Rayburn Bldg.  

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Transportation-HUD
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 26, 1 p.m., 2358-A Rayburn Bldg. 

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Legislative Branch
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Legislative Branch
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 26, 1:30 p.m., HT-2 Capitol Bldg. 

Strategic Forces Fiscal 2016 Budget
House Armed Services – Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 26, 2 p.m., 2118 Rayburn Bldg. 

Information Sharing Issues
House Homeland Security – Subcommittee on Counterterrorism and Intelligence
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 26, 2 p.m., 311 Cannon Bldg. 

U.S. Copyright Office
House Judiciary
Full Committee Hearing
Feb. 26, 1:30 p.m., 2141 Rayburn Bldg. 

Senate Committees 

Forest Service Fiscal 2016 Budget Request
Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Full Committee Hearing
Feb. 26, 10 a.m., 366 Dirksen Bldg. 

Congress and U.S. Tariff Policy
Senate Finance Committee
Full Committee Hearing
Feb. 26, 10 a.m., 215 Dirksen Bldg. 

Medical and Public Health Preparedness
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Full Committee Hearing
Feb. 26, 10 a.m., 430 Dirksen Bldg.  

Human Trafficking Legislation and Nominations
Senate Judiciary
Full Committee Markup
Feb. 26, 9:30 a.m., 226 Dirksen Bldg. 

Veterans Affairs Fiscal 2016 Budget
Senate Veterans’ Affairs
Full Committee Hearing
Feb. 26, 9:30 a.m., 418 Russell Bldg. 

Friday February 27, 2015 

House Committees 

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Agriculture
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 27, 10 a.m., 2362-A Rayburn Bldg. 

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Interior-Environment
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 27, 10 a.m., B-308 Rayburn Bldg.

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Defense
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Defense
Subcommittee Hearing
Feb. 27, 9 a.m., H-140 Capitol Bldg.