| | | | | |  | | By Katherine Tully-McManus | | | With Sarah Ferris. LET THE INVESTIGATION BEGIN — This morning the House Select Committee to Investigate the Jan. 6 Attack gets off the ground, with testimony from four police officers — two from the Capitol Police and two from D.C. police — who faced physical violence and verbal abuse from rioters on Jan. 6. The select committee is tasked with investigating the security failures and political motivations that culminated in a mob of President Donald Trump's supporters breaking into the Capitol in an effort to stop Congress's votes to certify the 2020 electoral college results and declare Joe Biden the next president. Chair Benny Thompson (D-Miss.) and Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wy.) will give opening statements before lawmakers on the panel ask a single round of questions. It won't be a marathon hearing that tests the stamina of witnesses and lawmakers, but the officers are expected to deliver gripping and emotional testimony. Violent and profane video clips will be played during the hearing, including some never-before-seen footage, according to committee aides. The videos, some taken by the officers themselves, will be interspersed with testimony from and questions for the witnesses. With seven Democrats and two Republicans, the committee is attempting to project cooperation and bipartisanship in the face of Republican attacks on the panel and their two GOP colleagues who have agreed to participate. A smart preview of today's action from Nick, Heather and Olivia is here: https://politi.co/373onpw Meanwhile... This morning House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) and his cohort of GOP appointees to the Jan. 6 committee — some rejected and some yanked from consideration by the House Republican leader — will hold a press conference to counterprogram the hearing, which they allege is a partisan effort to damage Republicans in the midterms. GOP Reps. Matt Gaetz (Fla.) Louie Gohmert (Texas), Paul Gosar (Ariz.) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.) will hold a press conference outside the Justice Department "demanding answers on treatment of Jan. 6 prisoners." Olivia and Nick explored the backlash Cheney and Kinzinger face from House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy and other Republicans: https://politi.co/2WeMXl1 | | | | SUBSCRIBE TO WOMEN RULE : The Women Rule newsletter explores how women, in Washington and beyond, shape the world, and how the news — from the pandemic to the latest laws coming out of statehouses — impacts women. With expert policy analysis, incisive interviews and revelatory recommendations on what to read and whom to watch, this is a must-read for executives, professionals and rising leaders to understand how what happens today affects the future for women and girls. Subscribe to the Women Rule newsletter today. | | | | | INFRASTRUCTURE OPTIMISM, OR DOOMSDAY — Bipartisan negotiators on the infrastructure package, along with White House aides, are officially in scramble-mode. They're trying to keep the talks from collapsing altogether, with some negotiators projecting optimism, but there's no deal in hand. If talks fall apart and the $1.2 billion bipartisan framework is scuttled, it would be a debilitating blow to President Joe Biden's top policy priority and efforts by moderates to shepherd a deal. But they insist that it's not over yet. Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.), the ultimate Senate optimist in a sea of skeptics, told reporters on Monday that talks had slowed, but was back to his usual positivity in the evening after he and other Democratic negotiators met with Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.). "I feel bullish that it will be done by the morning," Tester said, referring to Tuesday. "Is there still outstanding issues? Yeah. Nobody's bailed." Talks and phone calls continued into Monday night between Republicans and the White House and other configurations continued the conversation with the hopes of coming closer to finalizing a deal. Schumer basically told everyone to hurry it up on Monday afternoon, pointing to the five weeks of negotiations that have already passed. "We have reached a critical moment," he said in a floor speech. He signaled that the Senate could stay in session into the weekend or abandon the August recess to get the proposal done. "It's time for everyone to get to yes and produce an outcome for the American people," he added. | | A message from AARP: Americans are sick of paying the highest prices in the world for prescription drugs — more than three times what people in other countries pay for the same medicine. The President, members of Congress in both parties, and the people agree: we must cut drug prices. By giving Medicare the power to negotiate, we can save hundreds of billions of dollars. Tell Congress: Cut prescription drug prices now. | | | GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Tuesday, July 27. Dearest Huddle Readers: If you're part of this Capitol Hill community, in whatever capacity, be sure to take care of yourself and your mental health today as the violence of Jan. 6 is revisited. MONDAY'S MOST CLICKED: Many of you were interested on Sen. Mike Enzi and Gillette News Record's report on his bike crash . Enzi died Monday, more on that below. GONNA NEED A BIGGER BUS — House Democrats might just have the votes to add three more spending bills to the floor this week, sources tell Sarah and Heather. It would be a major win for Dem appropriators, who have been whipping those bills despite divisive issues such as Israeli and Palestinian aid, police funding, and member pay hikes. (The bills are State-Foreign Operations, Legislative Branch and Commerce-Justice-Science.) Hoyer confirmed that he's aiming to add those bills to the seven-bill minibus already leaving the station this week: "I hope so. We're counting and we want to make sure," House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) said in a brief interview. Our team was first to report this spending update last night. Stay tuned: The House Rules Committee is set to take up that trio of bills at 2 p.m. on Tuesday -- as long as Dems are still feeling good about their whip count. SECURITY SPENDING — Sen. Richard Shelby (R-Ala.), the top Republican on Senate Appropriations, told reporters Monday night that a deal on an emergency supplemental spending bill for Capitol security and the National Guard was within reach. "We're really close," Shelby told reporters after talking to Democratic Appropriations staff during votes on Monday evening. "I can't tell you we wrapped it up, but we're really close." He teased that a deal could be reached by Monday night, but here we are on Tuesday morning. But be on the lookout today for a possible agreement on a path forward for Capitol security spending. "At the moment I don't see any obstacles, but they spring up sometimes," said Shelby, couching the timeline. THE FREE LUNCH PRINCIPLE — The cash register in the Senate Carryout wasn't working Monday and the stellar staff got the okay from higher ups on the Restaurant Associates chain to give away the food without charge. Many customers were surprised and delighted after ordering and receiving their food to be told it would be free. Others flocked after getting a tip from colleagues. No word on the status of the register heading into Tuesday. | | | | Be a Policy Pro. POLITICO Pro has a free policy resource center filled with our best practices on building relationships with state and federal representatives, demonstrating ROI, and influencing policy through digital storytelling. Read our free guides today . | | | | | SENATORS SAY CHEESE — It is picture day in the Senate. The official portrait will be taken with senators in their assigned desks mid-day, either before or after policy lunches. Will Sen. Tim Scott wear shoes? TBD, but he's opted to show off his socks before. BOXER ASSAULTED — Former Sen. Barbara Boxer (D-Calif.) was assaulted and robbed in Oakland Monday afternoon, her representatives tweeted. "The assailant pushed her in the back, stole her cell phone and jumped in a waiting car. She is thankful that she was not seriously injured," the tweet read. Boxer, 80, served as California's U.S. Senate representative from 1993 to 2017. She also served in the House for a decade. MABMA MOMENT — Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Calif.) has introduced a resolution to designate August 24, 2021 as "Kobe Bryant Day," in honor of the basketball legend. August 24th (8/24) honors Bryant's two numbers during his 20 seasons with the Los Angeles Lakers, 8 and 24. "Kobe Bryant used his platform to inspire millions and help kids around the world achieve success and strive for greatness. On August 24th we should remember Kobe, celebrate his life, and encourage the next generation to dream big just like Kobe did," said Rep. Steel. ENZI REMEMBERED — Former Sen. Mike Enzi (R-Wyo.) died Monday after suffering serious injuries in a bicycle accident. The former Budget and Health Education Labor Pensions chairman was 77. Enzi was riding his bicycle near his home in Gillette, Wyo., on Friday when he was injured and later flown to a hospital in Loveland, Colo. Enzi "passed away peacefully today surrounded by his family," a statement posted to his Twitter account late Monday said. His family said they plan to share details about a "celebration of a life well-lived" at a later time. He was a low-key dealmaker and staunch conservative in the Senate, who preferred getting legislation passed over grandstanding. "Nothing gets done when we're just telling each other how wrong we are," Enzi said in his farewell address to the Senate in 2020. "Just ask yourself: Has anyone ever really changed your opinion by getting in your face and yelling at you or saying to you how wrong you are? Usually that doesn't change hearts or minds." In the same speech, he pushed for the Senate to modernize and allow electronic tablets like ipads and Kindles on the senate floor. Paul Kane from the Washington Post captures Enzi in a nice obituary here: https://wapo.st/3rEeus0 | | | |   | | | TRANSITIONS Jeff Carroll is leaving his role as staff director for the House Energy and Commerce Committee to become a partner at Capitol Counsel after nearly 30 years on Capitol Hill. This is a huge get for downtown -- Carroll previously served more than a decade as Rep. Frank Pallone (D-N.J.)'s chief of staff, working his way up from executive assistant in the late 1990s. Well known to Hill denizens on both sides of the aisle and rarely not at Pallone's side, Carroll has an indispensable knowledge of Democratic Caucus and New Jersey politics. Emily Berret was named deputy chief of staff by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) on Monday, moving from her previous role as director of operations in the speaker's office. TODAY IN CONGRESS The House meets at noon for legislative business. The Senate convenes at 10:30 a.m., with a vote at 11:30 a.m. and with a break for policy lunches. AROUND THE HILL 9 a.m. McCarthy, House Minority Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (N.Y.) and the slate of McCarthy's picks for the Jan. 6 select committee hold a press conference about the Jan. 6 hearing. 9:30 a.m. House Select Committee to Investigate the Jan. 6 Attack on the Capitol holds its first hearing. 9:45 a.m. Democratic Caucus Chair Rep. Hakeem Jeffries (N.Y.) holds a news conference following the Democratic Caucus meeting Noon Schumer and Massachusetts Democrats Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Rep. Ayanna Pressley hold a press conference calling on Biden to extend the pause on student loan payments and cancel student loan debt. 1 p.m. GOP Reps. Matt Gaetz (Fla.) Louie Gohmert (Texas), Paul Gosar (Ariz.) and Marjorie Taylor Greene (Ga.) will hold a press conference outside the Justice Department "demanding answers on treatment of Jan. 6 prisoners." 2 p.m. Senate Democrats and Senate Republicans hold their separate post-policy lunches press conferences. 5 p.m. Scalise, Reps. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.), Mike Bost (R-Ill.) and others hold a press conference on a proposed rule from the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms to review the use of stabilizing braces used to convert pistols to short-barreled rifles. TRIVIA MONDAY'S WINNER: Patricia Bieze correctly answered that the four people who were both the youngest members of the Senate and then went on to be president are James Monroe, Andrew Jackson, Franklin Pierce and Joe Biden. TODAY'S QUESTION: What shape is the Capitol's red brick summerhouse or grotto? (Bonus if you can say why there is only one summerhouse on Capitol grounds.) The first person to correctly guess gets a mention in the next edition of Huddle. Send your answers to ktm@politico.com GET HUDDLE emailed to your phone each morning. Follow Katherine on Twitter @ktullymcmanus. | | A message from AARP: It's outrageous that Americans pay more than three times what people in other countries pay for the same medicine. And these unfair prices keep going up. Even during the pandemic and financial crisis, the prices of more than 1,000 drugs were increased. It's time for the President and Congress to cut prescription drug prices.
Currently, Medicare is prohibited by law from using its buying power to negotiate with drug companies to get lower prices for people. This must change. Giving Medicare the power to negotiate will save hundreds of billions of dollars.
And the American people agree. In a recent AARP survey of Americans 50+, a vast majority supported allowing Medicare to negotiate with drug companies for lower prices, including 88% of Democrats and 85% of Republicans.
Tell Congress: Act now to lower prescription drug prices. Let Medicare negotiate. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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