| | | | | |  | | By Olivia Beavers | Presented by |  | | | GUESS WHO'S BACK: The sun is starting to come out in the beltway, and House members are on their way back to Washington this week, where they have a lot of work in front of them, including Democrats' infrastructure deal. The House returns tomorrow evening for votes, and the Senate returns at 3 p.m. today. It is going to be a busy time — but we are ready to see how this all shakes out. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) revealed last week that she expects the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee to wrap up its work on President Joe Biden's sprawling infrastructure package in May as it seeks to hit a July 4 deadline for House passage. That means Democrats are facing a ticking clock. But there are some rough waters ahead. Democrats are divided on the package's corporate tax hikes and closure of other loopholes -- all while Republicans are likely to be unified in their opposition of the $2 trillion-plus plan. Moving the package won't be easy -- and Democrats still have yet to decide whether to use the reconciliation process to avoid a Republican filibuster. The Biden administration will meet with the following lawmakers today at 1:45 p.m., per the White House: From the Senate side: Sens. Maria Cantwell (Wash.) and Roger Wicker (Miss.), the top Dem and Republican on the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, respectively; and Sens. Deb Fischer (R-Neb.), Alex Padilla (D-Calif.). From the House: Reps. Garret Graves (R-La.), Donald Payne, Jr. (D-N.J.), David Price (D-N.C.) and Don Young (R-Alaska). Some important names missing? In the House: Reps. Peter DeFazio (D-Ore.) and Sam Graves, the chairman and ranking member of the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, Reps. Richard Neal (D-Mass.) and Kevin Brady (R-Texas), the top Dem and Republican on the House Ways and Means Committee and Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) the top Republican on T&I's Highways & Transit Subcommittee. In the Senate: How about Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.V.), who is a key swing vote on this bill, or the Senate Republicans who seem most amenable to working with the Biden administration, like Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and Lisa Murkowski (Alaska). To many Republicans , Monday's meeting is an optics move intended to obscure that the Biden administration has no plans to come to the table and seriously whittle down the legislation to a point where it can get GOP support. While Republicans aren't on board with the price tag, they also don't support provisions in the bill that they say go beyond the scope of traditional infrastructure (e.g. $400 billion proposed to help to expand access to caregiving for the elderly and disabled, or $174 billion to boost the electric vehicle market), hitting these Dem priorities as turning it into a "Green New Deal" filled bill. As one senior GOP staffer told me: "Dem strategy is like texting at 3 a.m. asking if I'm up. They don't care about Republicans." Related: Biden's infrastructure push spurs a flurry of lawmaker lobbying, per NYT's Emily Cochrane, Pranshu Verma and Luke Broadwater: https://nyti.ms/3d8AXaM. | Facing GOP opposition, Biden seeks to redefine bipartisanship, by WaPo's Ashley Parker: https://wapo.st/3e1vVwe | Why big-spending Biden can shrug off GOP warnings of inflation, by our Victoria Guida: https://politi.co/3tb6eQ3 | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO "THE RECAST" TO JOIN AN IMPORTANT CONVERSATION: Power is changing, in Washington and across the country. More people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that all politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. Our twice-weekly newsletter "The Recast" breaks down how race and identity are shaping politics and policy in America and we are recasting how we report on it. Get fresh insights, scoops and dispatches on this crucial intersection from across the country and hear from important new voices that challenge business as usual. Don't miss out, SUBSCRIBE . Thank you to our sponsor, Intel. | | | | | Some more key developments to keep your eye on: -Hate crimes: The Senate is expected to hold a vote on the motion to proceed on legislation from Sen. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii) and Rep. Grace Meng (D-N.Y.), the COVID-19 Hate Crimes Act, which aims to address the surge of anti-Asian hate crimes during the pandemic. This initial procedural vote could come as soon as Wednesday, I'm told. This will also be the first big test for Senate Republicans as to whether they choose to let the Senate proceed or if they decide to filibuster the legislation. Republicans usually aren't on board with these types of bills, often arguing that they give the federal government too much power policing speech. So if the bill dies, expect that nuke-the-filibuster talk to spring back up again. -Immigration: House Judiciary Chairman Jerrold Nadler (D-N.Y.) has stated that he plans to have a hearing about the border crisis/challenge/problem/[insert preferred word choice] sometime this month, though nothing is set on the calendar just yet. And it certainly does not seem like an issue that is going away. There have been multiple trips already, by members of both parties, to the border. This week, Rep. James Comer (R-Ky.), the ranking member of the House Oversight Committee, is leading a committee GOP trip to the border along with Rep. Yvette Harrell (R-N.M.),a further sign Republicans believe that immigraiton is a winning issue in 2022. On this issue: House Democrats are looking to pass the No Ban Act next week, a bill that basically seeks to prevent future presidents from reissuing the so-called Muslim travel ban, which former President Donald Trump enacted against individuals from several majority-Muslim countries early in his administration. -Equal Pay: This week, the House will consider legislation that aims to ensure women receive equal pay for equal work, per Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) - D.C. Statehood: Next week, the House will vote on legislation to grant the District of Columbia statehood, per Hoyer. -U.S. Capitol Police Officer William Evans, who died in the car Capitol attack earlier this month, will lie in honor tomorrow. President Joe Biden is expected to visit the memorial to pay his respects. Related: Outlook: Congress kicks off appropriations season, by the National Journal's Zachary Cohen and Casey Wooten: https://bit.ly/2QaMoWt | | A message from Freight Rail Works: The freight rail industry stands ready to help America rebound, rebuild and reimagine our future. Freight rail is uniquely positioned to help policymakers meet three key priorities to help get the country back on track: strengthen our economy, reinvest in our infrastructure and protect our environment. See why freight rail has both the experience and vision to drive the nation's recovery. | | | HAPPY MONDAY! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill on this April 12, where there are a lot of culprits to blame for a headache these days. FRIDAY'S MOST CLICKED: McClatchy's story on how President Biden's infrastructure bill will raise corporate taxes was the big winner. DISPATCH FROM THE PR TRAIL: Dozens of House Democrats spent the spring recess on a messaging blitz to promote Biden's first legislative achievement — a hugely popular aid package that some lawmakers believe could also be their key to hanging onto their majority next fall. But that sales pitch is more complicated than a classic victory lap, as shown through a 150-mile road trip across three swing seats in eastern Pennsylvania last week. After all, the pandemic isn't over, millions are still out of work and the pace of vaccinations remains uneven. Even as Democrats encountered grateful health officials , mayors and shop owners who heaped praise on the $1.9 trillion aid bill — nearly all said that more would need to be done. "The consequences of this pandemic have just been so expansive, that the response to it has to be, too," Rep. Chrissy Houlahan (D-Pa.) said during a half-dozen stops around her district. There are plenty of political hurdles , particularly in a district like Rep. Matt Cartwright's (D-Pa.), where Donald Trump beat Biden even in his hometown of Scranton, Pa. But there's also the logistical challenge: Touting changes in the U.S. tax code and trying to translate how it means hundreds of extra dollars for parents who aren't exactly listening to politicians, let alone Democrats. "That's job one — to get the word out about them accessing the benefits. And, if along the way, they realize that Matt Cartwright helped get them that, it doesn't bother me at all," Cartwright said. More here from Sarah: https://politi.co/3tf9qdi BIG CASH HAWL: "Sen. Josh Hawley raised more than $3 million during the first three months of the year, underscoring how the Missouri Republican converted his high-profile opposition to the certification of the 2020 election into big fundraising support," per our Alex Isenstadt. "Hawley received more than 57,000 donations during the first quarter, according to a person familiar with the totals. He managed to raise nearly $600,000 during the 2 1/2 weeks following the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, despite temporarily halting his fundraising outreach. It represents a massive increase for Hawley. By comparison, he raised just $43,000 during the first quarter of the last election cycle, immediately after taking office. The senator is not up for reelection until 2024, and his totals are unusual for a senator who is not in-cycle." More here from Alex: https://politi.co/3uNImm3 | | | | TUNE IN TO GLOBAL TRANSLATIONS: Our Global Translations podcast, presented by Citi, examines the long-term costs of the short-term thinking that drives many political and business decisions. The world has long been beset by big problems that defy political boundaries, and these issues have exploded over the past year amid a global pandemic. This podcast helps to identify and understand the impediments to smart policymaking. Subscribe and start listening today. | | | | | MITCH AND MYANMAR: Biden and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) may have many differences -- but there is one foreign issue they both seem to agree on: the promotion of democracy in Myanmar. The Dem president even recently consulted the GOP leader to coordinate the U.S. response when the Southeast Asian nation, also known as Burma, slipped back into military rule last month after its generals orchestrated a coup against Aung San Suu Kyi's democratically elected government. As my colleague Andrew reports: "Involving McConnell so closely has helped the Biden administration create a united front with lawmakers in both parties as they push toward a common goal of restoring Myanmar's legitimately elected government, led by longtime McConnell ally Aung San Suu Kyi." The talks have gone so well, Biden has even won rare praise from McConnell, who is normally steadfast in his GOP messaging. "The White House's discussions with McConnell strengthened the U.S. handling of post-coup Myanmar policy," Biden's national security adviser, Jake Sullivan, told Andrew, noting that the two have discussed the issue. Andrew has the deets: https://politi.co/323hcey HE DOESN'T GAETZ IT: Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.), facing a federal investigation for sex trafficking, traveled to the Trump National Doral resort in Florida last Friday to give a speech at the Women for America First event. The speech, which was announced just days beforehand , was largely viewed as an effort by the Florida Republican to reach Trump and his supporters. BUT, brrr... it seems he received the cold shoulder from the person Gaetz has spent countless public appearances aligning himself with. Aides close to Trump reportedly rejected the idea of scheduling a meeting with Gaetz, who sought to meet with the former president at his Mar-a-Lago estate, per CNN. The aides have reportedly urged Trump not to stick his neck out to defend the embattled House Republican. (Both a spokesman for Gaetz's office and a spokesman for Trump have denied that Gaetz sought a meeting, per CNN.) More here from CNN's Gabby Orr, Dana Bash and Kevin Liptak: https://cnn.it/3dP4JR6 Related: 'Like the Tiger King got elected tax collector': Inside the case that ensnared Matt Gaetz, by NYT's Patricia Mazzei, Michael Schmidt and Katie Benner: https://nyti.ms/3tbZMZ9 MEANWHILE: Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyo.) said Sunday on CBS's "Face the Nation" that the allegations against Gaetz, one of her harshest critics, are "sickening," but she declined to say whether she thinks he should resign. "As the mother of daughters, the charges certainly are sickening. And as the Speaker noted, there's an ethics investigation underway. There are also criminal investigations underway, and I'm not gonna comment further on that publicly right now," Cheney said. All of this very much ties into Melanie's story last week, about how Cheney has racked up a string of wins after facing major backlash for her Trump impeachment vote after Jan. 6. Related: Rep. Dan Kildee (D-Mich.) opens up about PTSD from the Jan. 6 attack with NBC's Hallie Jackson: https://nbcnews.to/3fXf7ZM Campaigns: Old Trump health team rivalries resurface in Texas House race, by our Adam Cancryn: https://politi.co/3uCBY0G | | | | A message from Freight Rail Works:   | | | ICYMI: -'Dumb son of a bitch': Trump rips McConnell at Mar-a-Lago, Isenstadt reports: https://politi.co/3257cS7 … And Republicans are not pleased with Trump's fiery Mar-a-Lago speech, per our Kelly Hooper: https://politi.co/2PMCCKt -Boehner finally calls it as he sees it, by The Hill's Scott Wong: https://bit.ly/3a3oxPu - Rep. Crenshaw says he will be temporarily blind after emergency eye surgery, by Ben Leonard: https://politi.co/3uOrMT7 -Clyburn: Georgia election law is the 'new Jim Crow', by our Kelly Hooper: https://politi.co/3uLjye6 … and Clyburn optimistic Congress can close 'Charleston loophole' on gun purchases, by Ben Leonard: https://politi.co/3s9YCvQ -More than 100 corporate executives hold call to discuss halting donations and investments to fight controversial voting bills, by WaPo's Todd Frankel: https://wapo.st/3g0eeQd TRANSITIONS Jessica Skaggs, formerly press secretary for Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas), joined Rep. Kevin Brady (R-Texas) and Ways and Means Republicans as Deputy Comms director for the Committee last week. Ahmed Elsayed will start as the new press secretary for Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.). Ahmed previously worked for Rep. Tony Cardenas (D-Calif.) the past two years. Nicole Varner will be re-joining the office of Rep. Marc Veasey (D-Texas) as the congressman's Chief of Staff. Varner previously served in the office of Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) as a senior advisor as well as executive director of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC) Health Braintrust. Previous to joining team Kelly, Nicole served as legislative director for Veasey. Logan Hollers is joining Invariant as an environmental counsel and policy expert. Hollers joins Invariant after serving as policy advisor and counsel to Sen. Jeff Merkley (D-Ore.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee and the Environment and Public Works Committee, where he oversaw the Senator's environment, agriculture, and transportation and infrastructure portfolio. Logan is also an alum of Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz's (D-Fla.) office. Nick Goodwin is now district director and comms director for Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.). He most recently was comms director for the Interior Department. ENGAGED: Ian Mariani, comms director for Rep. Cindy Axne (D-Iowa), and Baillee Brown, legislative director for Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.), got engaged recently while visiting family in Arizona and California. They originally met at Occidental College in Los Angeles and began dating in D.C. three years ago. Pic TODAY IN CONGRESS The House is in a pro forma session today starting at noon. The Senate convenes at 3 p.m. with first votes expected at 5:30 p.m. AROUND THE HILL 1:45 p.m.: Lawmakers meet with Biden administration officials about the president's infrastructure proposal. TRIVIA FRIDAY'S WINNER: Jason Morganti was the first person to correctly guess that Steve Mnuchin was the former cabinet secretary who also had multiple credits as a movie producer including movies that starred Robert De Niro and Will Ferrell, including The Intern and Get Hard. TODAY'S QUESTION: From Jason: What former House member holds the record for most consecutive roll call votes and what state did he/she represent? The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your answer to obeavers@politico.com. GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each morning. Follow Olivia on Twitter: @Olivia_Beavers | | A message from Freight Rail Works: As Washington turns its focus to fixing America's outdated infrastructure, freight rail is a model industry that carries its own weight. We've got what it takes to help Congress meet three key priorities for today and tomorrow. The first: supporting the economy. Even during the height of the pandemic, freight rail kept goods moving 24/7 while offering customers competitive rates. Second: modernizing infrastructure. Freight railroads are already paving the way in this area, creating the safest era in rail history thanks to an annual $25 billion investment. Third: protecting our environment. If one-tenth of the freight shipped by the largest trucks were moved by rail instead, we could reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 17 million tons annually. See how freight rail can help America rebound, rebuild and reimagine our future. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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