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Category: On the Hill

This Week in Congress

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An overview of relevant House and Senate committee hearings and markups on the schedule this week:

TUESDAY, July 9th

Senate Appropriations
Fiscal 2014 Appropriations: Labor-HHS
Subcommittee Markup
11 am, 138 Dirksen

House Education and the Workforce
Innovation in Higher Education
Full Committee Hearing
10 am, 2175 Rayburn

WEDNESDAY, July 10th

House Appropriations
Fiscal 2014 Appropriations: Commerce, Justice, Science
Subcommittee Markup
11 am, H-140 Capitol Building

House Science, Space, and Technology
NASA Authorization Act
Subcommittee Markup
10 am, 2318 Rayburn

THURSDAY, July 11th

Senate Appropriations
Fiscal 2014 Appropriations: Labor-HHS
Full Committee Markup
10 am, 106 Dirksen

Senate Passes Immigration Reform

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A short time ago, the US Senate approved sweeping immigration legislation. By a vote of 68 to 32, the Senate approved and concluded a month-long debate of a measure which was nearly 1,200 pages. To note the historic significance of the vote, Vice President Biden presided over the vote and Senators voted from their desks, which is a rare procedural move to mark historic votes and special occasions. The Senate used the same formal procedure of voting from their desks to pass ObamaCare three years ago.

Continue reading “Senate Passes Immigration Reform”

Student Loan Deal Unlikely

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Today, Senate Leader Harry Reid admitted that a deal to keep student loan interest rates from doubling to 6.8% before July 1st is unlikely. Several Senators continue to work to produce a last minute deal, including Senator Joe Manchin (D-WV) who has been working with Senator Angus King (I-ME), an independent who caucuses with Democrats, and several Republicans, for a student loan compromise.

It is unclear how much support Manchin-King proposal would have if brought to a vote.

Some Senators are now hinting of the possibility of a retroactive fix after the House and Senate come back from the July 4th Recess. However, it is unclear and unlikely that Congress will have the political will to do so.

Senate Confirms Pritzker

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Today, the Senate confirmed Penny Pritzker as Secretary of Commerce by a vote of 97-1.

Pritzker, a member of the family that owns Hyatt Hotels, was the national finance chairwoman of President Barack Obama’s 2008 campaign and the national co-chairwoman of his reelection campaign.

The Commerce Department is comprised of of 12 different agencies responsible for everything from weather forecasts to patent protection, including: