Published 07 Sep, 2011
Congress returns to session this week after the August recess. The “supercommittee” tasked with bringing the deficit into control has scheduled its organizational meeting for Thursday (9/8) morning, the same day President Obama will unveil his jobs plan to a joint session of Congress.
The Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works (EPW) is set to vote on a four-month extension of the current Surface Transportation Bill, which includes the revenue-raising fuel tax. Lacking Congressional action, the Surface Bill will expire on September 20. Similarly, the FAA extension passed after the frenzied shutdown in August expires next Friday, the 16th, an additional extension to keep the aviation system running will be required while the full reauthorization continues to be negotiated.
The Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on The Constitution will hold a hearing on the legality of state-passed voting laws, and the budgets for Labor, Education, and HHS will be marked up in a House Appropriations subcommittee hearing.