House Republicans postponed a Friday vote on an education reform bill for federal elementary and secondary education programs, turning instead to resume debate over the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) appropriations bill.  The chamber had worked through more than 40 amendments to H.R. 5, the Student Success Act, on Thursday of last week, but House Education and the Workforce Committee Chairman John Kline (R-MN) and Republican Leadership still seem to be working to garner the necessary votes for final passage in the face of what is likely to be close-to-unanimous Democratic opposition and opposition from conservatives who believe the bill does not go far enough to curb the federal role in education.  The authorization bill, an update to the No Child Left Behind Act, is considered highly partisan,  due to its rollback of federal control over education programs and concerns that leaving more decision-making authority in the hands of each state will undermine the goals of these federal education programs.  Further, the bill establishes block grants from federal funds for education programs to give states greater flexibility in the use of the funds.  It remains unclear when House leadership will schedule a vote on final passage.

As predicted twice previously in this column, Congress managed to avoid a shutdown of DHS by passing a short-term continuing resolution to fund the agency, but it was a shorter CR than expected.  The previous appropriations measure was set to expire at midnight on February 27, but the Senate had been unable to advance a House-passed bill that funded the agency and undid President Obama’s executive actions benefitting those in the country illegally.  Senate leaders finally broke the logjam by separating the two issues and passing a clean DHS funding bill.  The House, however, was not prepared to accept the Senate bill, necessitating a short-term funding extension.  When the House tried to provide funding for three weeks to allow the two chambers to work out their differences, however, the bill was defeated through a combination of conservative Republican and Democratic votes.  As the clock ticked down on shutting DHS, the two chambers were able to agree on a one-week extension of funding. This patch will require both chambers to spend time next week again trying to resolve the issue.

In addition to dealing with DHS funding this week, the Senate is likely to consider two high-profile nominations from the Administration.  Last Thursday, the Senate Judiciary Committee approved the nominations of Loretta Lynch to serve as U.S. Attorney General and Michelle Lee to serve as Director of the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.  While the vote on Ms. Lee’s nomination was unanimous, the vote for Ms. Lynch divided the committee 12-8, with the nomination needing the votes of three Republican members voting in favor in order to get out of committee.  The committee vote may foreshadow a partisan debate and vote by the full chamber, although Ms. Lynch, who currently serves as the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, is expected to garner enough Republican votes to be confirmed as the first African-American woman to serve as Attorney General.

U.S.-Israel relations and Iranian nuclear development will be at the forefront of congressional attention this week, as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to address Congress on Tuesday, March 3 at the invitation of congressional Republican Leadership, which asked him without notifying the President.  His speech, openly opposed by the White House and many congressional Democrats, will focus on the Iranian nuclear threat.  The Administration has been leading a group of countries in negotiations with Iran over its nuclear capabilities, and Prime Minister Netanyahu has been highly critical of the negotiations, which are reaching a decisive stage.

The House returns on Monday to tackle two suspension bills dealing with veterans issues and the Department of Veterans Affairs.  It will then take up three bills subject to rules.  One, sponsored by House Transportation Committee Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA), will reauthorize and reform Amtrak, the National Passenger Railway.  The two others, one sponsored by Rep. Frank Lucas (R-OK) and the second by House Science Committee Chairman Lamar Smith (R-TX), would reform the rule-making process at the Environmental Protection Agency.  The bills are controversial and will attract little Democratic support; as a result, prospects for moving either in the Senate are minimal.

In addition to the floor activity in each chamber and the hearings discussed below, much attention in Congress this week will be focused across First Street.  The Supreme Court will hear oral argument in the case of King v. Burwell, the challenge to subsidy payments to individuals enrolled in health insurance plans under federal exchanges pursuant to the Affordable Care Act because they are in states that did not set up their own exchanges.  If the Court rules that subsidies are not available to individuals enrolled in federal exchanges, it would deal a severe blow to the Act’s ability to cover uninsured persons.  This case will be the blockbuster of the Supreme Court’s term and may have significant repercussions on the congressional agenda once it is decided, prior to the end of June.

Both House and Senate authorizing and appropriating committees resume consideration of the President’s 2016 budget request.  Hearings regarding Fiscal year 2016 funding are scheduled throughout the week, with several Cabinet officers testifying.  Commerce Secretary Pritzker appears before both the House and Senate on Tuesday.  Transportation Secretary Foxx joins Pritzker on Tuesday afternoon before the Senate Commerce Committee.  Interior Secretary Jewell appears before committees of both chambers as well.  Education Secretary Duncan comes before House Appropriations on Wednesday.  Newly installed Defense Secretary Carter makes his first post-confirmation appearance on the Hill in front of the Senate Armed Services Committee.  Treasury Secretary Lew appears before both Senate (Tuesday) and House (Wednesday) Appropriations; sparks may fly at his Tuesday hearing, when he appears with IRS Commissioner Koskinen and Senate Republicans get the chance to focus on the various scandals plaguing the IRS.  A schedule for these and the other hearings is listed below:

Monday March 2, 2015 

House Committees 

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Financial Services
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
Subcommittee Hearing
3 p.m., 2359 Rayburn Bldg.

Regulatory Legislation
House Judiciary – Subcommittee on Regulatory Reform, Commercial and Antitrust Law
Subcommittee Hearing
4 p.m., 2141 Rayburn Bldg.

Intelligence Issues
House Select Intelligence
Full Committee Hearing
5 p.m., HVC-304 Capitol Visitor Center

Senate Committees

Small Businesses and U.S. Energy Issues
Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship
Full Committee Field Hearing
12:30 p.m., Policy Jury Meeting Room, Calcasieu Parish Policy Jury, 1015 Pithon St., Lake Charles, La.

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

House Committees

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Labor, HHS, Education
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
8:30 a.m., 2358-C Rayburn Bldg.

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

Military Force Authorization Issues
House Armed Services
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 2118 Rayburn Bldg.

Immigration Legislation (Part 1)
House Judiciary
Full Committee Markup
10 a.m., 2141 Rayburn Bldg.

FAA Reauthorization
House Transportation and Infrastructure – Subcommittee on Aviation
Subcommittee Hearing
9:30 a.m., 2167 Rayburn Bldg.

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

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Commerce-Justice-Science
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
2 p.m., H-309 Capitol Bldg.

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

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Military Construction-VA
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
1 p.m., 2358-A Rayburn Bldg.

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

Defense Infrastructure and Strategic Requirements
House Armed Services – Subcommittee on Readiness
Subcommittee Hearing
3:30 p.m., 2212 Rayburn Bldg.

World Energy Markets
House Energy and Commerce – Subcommittee on Energy and Power
Subcommittee Hearing
1:30 p.m., 2123 Rayburn Bldg.

Cyber Threats and Economic Issues
House Energy and Commerce – Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations
Subcommittee Hearing
2 p.m., 2322 Rayburn Bldg.

CFPB Semi-Annual Report
House Financial Services
Full Committee Hearing
2:30 p.m., HVC-210 Capitol Visitor Center

Senate Committees

Commerce and Transportation Fiscal 2016 Budget
Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation
Full Committee Hearing
9 a.m., 253 Russell Bldg.

U.S. Tax Policy
Senate Finance
Full Committee Hearing
9 a.m., 215 Dirksen Bldg.

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Financial Services and General Government
Senate Appropriations – Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
Subcommittee Hearing
2:30 p.m., 124 Dirksen Bldg.

Fiscal 2016 Defense Authorization
Senate Armed Services
Full Committee Hearing
2:30 p.m., 216 Hart Bldg.

Federal Reserve Accountability and Reform
Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs
Full Committee Hearing
2:30 p.m., 538 Dirksen Bldg.

Campaign Against ISIS
Senate Foreign Relations
Full Committee Hearing — CLOSED
4:00 p.m., SVC-217

U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services Oversight
Senate Judiciary – Subcommittee on Immigration and the National Interest
Subcommittee Hearing
2:30 p.m., 226 Dirksen Bldg.

Wednesday, March 4, 2015

House Committees

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

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Commerce-Justice-Science
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
10:30 a.m., H-309 Capitol Bldg.

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Defense
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Defense
Subcommittee Hearing
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
10 a.m., 2358-C Rayburn Bldg.

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Military Construction-VA
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
9:30 a.m., H-140 Capitol Bldg.

U.S.-Afghanistan Policy
House Armed Services
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 2118 Rayburn Bldg.

NLRB Rule Disapproval Resolution
House Education and the Workforce – Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions
Subcommittee Hearing
10 a.m., 2175 Rayburn Bldg.

FCC Fiscal 2016 Budget
House Energy and Commerce – Subcommittee on Communications and Technology
Subcommittee Hearing
10:30 a.m., 2322 Rayburn Bldg.

U.S. Electricity System
House Energy and Commerce – Subcommittee on Energy and Power
Subcommittee Hearing
10:15 a.m., 2123 Rayburn Bldg.

U.S.-Ukraine Relations
House Foreign Affairs
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 2172 Rayburn Bldg.

Immigration Legislation (Part 2)
House Judiciary
Full Committee Markup
10 a.m., 2141 Rayburn Bldg.

Small Business and Entrepreneurship Assessment
House Small Business
Full Committee Hearing
11 a.m., 2360 Rayburn Bldg.

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Energy-Water
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
Subcommittee Hearing
1 p.m., 2362-B Rayburn Bldg.

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Financial Services
House Appropriations – Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government
Subcommittee Hearing
2 p.m., 2359 Rayburn Bldg.

Military Cybersecurity Issues
House Armed Services – Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities
Subcommittee Hearing
3:30 p.m., 2118 Rayburn Bldg.

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

Trans-Pacific Partnership Outlook
House Foreign Affairs – Subcommittee on Asia and the Pacific
Subcommittee Hearing
2 p.m., 2172 Rayburn Bldg.

White House Cybersecurity and Industry Issues
House Homeland Security – Subcommittee on Cybersecurity, Infrastructure Protection and Security Technologies
Subcommittee Hearing
2 p.m., 311 Cannon Bldg.

Senate Committees

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Interior and Environment
Senate Appropriations – Subcommittee on Interior, Environment and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
10 a.m., 124 Dirksen Bldg.

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Defense
Senate Appropriations – Subcommittee on Defense
Subcommittee Hearing
10:30 a.m., 192 Dirksen Bldg.

Duplication in Federal Programs
Senate Budget
Full Committee Hearing
10:30 a.m., 608 Dirksen Bldg.

Surface Transportation Reauthorization
Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation – Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security
Subcommittee Oversight Hearing
10 a.m., 253 Russell Bldg.

Miscellaneous Legislation
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Full Committee Markup
10 a.m., 342 Dirksen Bldg.

FBI Whistleblower Protection and Oversight
Senate Judiciary
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 226 Dirksen Bldg.

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Energy and Water Development
Senate Appropriations – Subcommittee on Energy and Water Development
Subcommittee Hearing
2:30 p.m., 192 Dirksen Bldg.

Fiscal 2016 Defense Authorization: Military Personnel Programs
Senate Armed Services – Subcommittee on Personnel
Subcommittee Hearing
2:30 p.m., 232A Russell Bldg.

Fiscal 2016 Defense Authorization: U.S. Nuclear Weapons Policy
Senate Armed Services – Subcommittee on Strategic Forces
Subcommittee Hearing
3:30 p.m., 222 Russell Bldg.

Irrigation Rehabilitation and Renovation Bill
Senate Indian Affairs
Full Committee Hearing
2:30 p.m., 628 Dirksen Bldg.

Joint Committees

Veterans of Foreign Wars Legislative Issues
House Veterans’ Affairs; Senate Veterans’ Affairs
Committees Joint Hearing
10 a.m., G-50 Dirksen Bldg.

Executive Economic Report
Joint Economic Committee
Full Committee Hearing
2:30 p.m., 106 Dirksen Bldg.

Thursday, March 5, 2015

House Committees

Proposed Waters of the United States Rule and Rural America
House Agriculture – Subcommittee on Conservation and Forestry
Subcommittee Hearing
9:15 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
10 a.m., 2362-A Rayburn Bldg.

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

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

Joint Strike Fighter Program and Budget
House Armed Services – Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces
Subcommittee Hearing
9 a.m., 2118 Rayburn Bldg.

Drug Pricing Assessment
House Energy and Commerce – Subcommittee on Health
Subcommittee Hearing
10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn Bldg.

CPSC Fiscal 2016 Budget
House Energy and Commerce – Subcommittee on Commerce, Manufacturing and Trade
Subcommittee Hearing
10:15 a.m., 2322 Rayburn Bldg.

Restoration of America’s Wire Act
House Judiciary – Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, Homeland Security and Investigations
Subcommittee Hearing
9:30 a.m., 2141 Rayburn Bldg.

Interior Fiscal 2016 Budget
House Natural Resources
Full Committee Oversight Hearing
9 a.m., 1324 Longworth Bldg.

Cyber Threats and American Businesses
House Select Intelligence
Full Committee Hearing
9 a.m., HVC-210 Capitol Visitor Center

SBA Capital Access Programs
House Small Business – Subcommittee on Economic Growth, Tax and Capital Access
Subcommittee Hearing
10 a.m., 2360 Rayburn Bldg.

Senate Committees

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Commerce-Justice-Science
Senate Appropriations – Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice and Science, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee Hearing
10:30 a.m., 192 Dirksen Bldg.

U.S. Arctic Opportunities
Senate Energy and Natural Resources
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 366 Dirksen Bldg.

Health IT Innovation
Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions
Full Committee Hearing
10 a.m., 430 Dirksen Bldg.

Fiscal 2016 Appropriations: Legislative Branch
Senate Appropriations – Subcommittee on Legislative Branch
Subcommittee Hearing
3 p.m., 138 Dirksen Bldg.

Joint Committees

Veterans Service Organizations Legislative Issues
House Veterans’ Affairs; Senate Veterans’ Affairs
Committees  Joint Hearing
10 a.m., 345 Cannon Bldg.

This post was written with contributions from Kaitlyn McClure.