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News and updates

This Week on Capitol Hill December 7-11

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IN THE HOUSE

The House convenes at noon on Monday to consider a number of parks and lands bills.

Tuesday and The Balance Of The Week  —  The House convenes at 10 am for legislative business. Members will consider a number of bills under suspension of the rules, including an FAA extension, bills on consumer data privacy,  Andean  trade preferences, extending expiring tax provisions, and a package of financial regulations.

IN THE SENATE

The Senate convenes at 10 am Monday to continue debate on amendments to the health care overhaul bill.  Roll call votes expected.

 Source: CQ Today Print Edition

Congressional Schedule

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The Senate is off to a slow start on debating their health reform measure this week, which may force the Senate to return to DC the week between Christmas and New Year’s Day to wrap up work on a the bill.

While no decisions have been made yet, Senate Leadership is warning members of the possibility of keeping the chamber in session the week of December 28th.  Senators have previously been told to prepare to work weekends up until Christmas to complete a health care bill, including this coming weekend. Senate Leadership has issued threats of Saturday work days and recess-time sessions in the past.  These warnings are typically used as leverage to try to forge legislative deals.

The House and Senate traditionally adjourn for the year sometime before Christmas and return sometime in the following year – usually the second or third week in January.

While they still don’t have a firm timeline for leaving DC for the year, House Leadership announced today that the House would reconvene January 12, 2010. The Senate has yet to announce next year’s schedule but the “district work periods” or recesses will likely mirror the House schedule.  Click here to view the 2010 House Calendar.

Seen in DC in November

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The pace of visitors coming to Washington DC slowed quite a bit in November, which is typical for this time of year.  In fact there were only three from campus.  The first was Randy Hodgins, Vice President of External Affairs, who was here the first week of November.  Randy and the Federal Relations team of Christy Gullion (Director) and Jonathan Nurse (Assistant Director)  visited offices of the Washington delegation to discuss the projects that have been submitted for inclusion as directed appropriations (earmarks) in the FY 2011 budget.   Randy was able to stay through Saturday to join UW alums in cheering on the Huskies football game.

 Elaine Oneil, Dean of Forest Resources and Executive Director of CORRIM (Consortium for Research on Renewable Industrial Materials), was in DC November 18 to the 20th.  She testified before a subcommittee of the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources on “The Management of Federal Forests in Response to Climate Change, Including for Natural Resource Adaptation and Carbon Sequestration.”  While she was here she was also able to meet with some of the Washington delegation staff about the issue.  In Congresswoman Cathy McMorris Rodgers’ office, Elaine briefed staff on a project she recently completed on biomass availability from forest residuals from McMorris Rodgers’ district.

 The last visitor to DC was David Allen, Chair of Women’s Studies, who was here to attend a meeting of the White House Council on Women and Girls at the White House on November 23.  This Council was appointed by President Obama in March of this year; they were interested in gathering feedback regarding the UW’s efforts in this area and the UW program.

This Week on Capitol Hill Nov 30 – Dec 4

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The Senate reconvened Monday, November 30, to begin formal debate on the health care legislation; the debate will most likely last through the month of December.

The House will reconvene Tuesday at 2:00 pm, with votes postponed until 6:30 pm.  It will consider measures under suspension of the rules, including HR 3598, the Energy and Water Research Integration Act.

Senate Committee Meetings

Wednesday, 12/2:

Energy & Natural Resources will hold a full committee hearing on Reducing Greenhouse Gas Emissions.

Thursday, 12/3:

  • Energy & Natural Resources will hold a full committee hearing on Medical Isotopes Production.
  • Indian Affairs will mark up a bill on  Indian Youth suicide Prevention; Indian Health Care, and will also hold a full committee oversight hearing on Dental Health Care for Indians and Underfunding of Indian Health Services.

House Committee Meetings

Wednesday, 12/2:

  • Agriculture will hold a subcommittee hearing on the Economic Impact of Climate Change.  
  • Select Energy Independence & Global Warming  will hold a full committee hearing on the State of Climate Science.
  • Veterans’ Affairs will hold a full committee hearing on VA Health Care Funding.

Thursday, 12/3:

  • Oversight & Government Reform will hold a subcommittee hearing on Marine and Hydrokinetic Energy.
  • Veterans’ Affairs will hold a subcommittee hearing on Veterans’ Education Issues.

Source:  CQ.com Alert

Dept. of Commerce Seeking Nominations for Innovation Advisory Council

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The Department of Commerce (DOC) is seeking nominees for a new Advisory Council on Innovation and Entrepreneurship whose primary purpose is to “identify and recommend solutions to issues critical to enabling entrepreneurs and firms to successfully commercialize new ideas and technologies into high-growth, innovation-based businesses and to create new jobs.”

The deadline for nominations is close of business, Monday, November 30.

Nomiees will be selected to provide a balance of perspectives and expertise, with diversity in industry, experience, and geographic area. Priority “may be given to successful entrepreneurs, innovators, angel investors, venture capitalists, and other experts drawn from non-governmental organizations, foundations and non-profits that have significant experience in innovation and entrepreneurship.” Candidates are limited to U.S. citizens who are not full-time government employees, registered foreign agents, or federally registered lobbyists.

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