Published 06 Jul, 2011
Senate leadership chose to forgo their planned July 4 vacation this week, placing both chambers in session this week. In the House, the Defense Appropriations will be brought to the floor, while the Senate debates a resolution on the US’s involvement in Libya. Senate Republicans boycotted the mark-ups of the three pending free trade bills, angry over short notice the week before a holiday and the inclusion of Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA) for workers affected by outsourcing. This week the House will hold its own mark-ups, with the TAA provision excluded.
The House Education and Workforce Committee will hold a hearing on the proposed NLRB rule to reduce litigation in union certification elections, and the Judiciary Committee will mark up a number of bills, including a bill on regulatory flexibility. House T&I Chairman Mica is expected to release a draft of the Surface Transportation Reauthorization this week, with a hearing and mark-up following rapidly in the next two weeks. This bill will likely include the privatization of Amtrak services in the Northeast Corridor. The Senate version, coming from Chairwoman Boxer’s committee, will not promote privatization, and is expected to appropriate more robust funding.