| | | | |  | | By Katherine Tully-McManus | Presented by The American Petroleum Institute (API) | CRISIS MANAGEMENT — Democrats said they weren't going to take messaging votes while they control both Congress and the White House, but Dems in the House are trying to see what sticks as they try to tackle a constellation of crises — and convince voters they're working to solve problems. The House is taking up bills this week on gas prices, domestic extremism and the infant formula shortage — issues that are alarming constituents across the country. House lawmakers head home for a two-week recess to try to convince constituents that they are taking action, even if much of the legislation faces insurmountable odds in the 50-50 Senate. "We gotta show the people that we're working our asses off," is how one progressive, Rep. Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.), described the party's recent push for floor action. Nicholas, Jordain and Sarah have more on the whack-a-mole Democrats are playing with important crises facing the country, and what it could yield in November. Democratic leadership was still working late last night to get enough votes for their price gouging bill expected on the floor today. Roughly a half-dozen moderates and oil-state Democrats were privately grumbling about the bill aimed at tackling high fuel prices, but leadership is getting closer to having the votes ready in time for floor action, Sarah reported last night. "If you don't support legislation to stop price gouging, you are for price gouging," House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) warned in a private meeting on Monday – a line she echoed throughout the week, according to a person in the room. SPEAKING OF LAST NIGHT — In case late night C-SPAN isn't your thing, the House on Wednesday evening passed two bills aimed at tackling the baby formula shortage that is panicking parents of hungry little ones across the country. The House cleared a mesure to send $28 million to bolster Food and Drug Administration's infant formula safety and inspection capabilities and another to extend formula purchasing flexibility under the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children, known as WIC. Domestic terror: Republican Rep. Adam Kinzinger of Illinois was the only member of his party to vote in favor of a bill aimed at preventing domestic terrorism and combating the threat of violent extremism by White supremacists last night. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) said Wednesday that he plans to file cloture on the measure next week. | | | | STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING: What's really happening in West Wing offices? Find out who's up, who's down, and who really has the president's ear in our West Wing Playbook newsletter, the insider's guide to the Biden White House and Cabinet. For buzzy nuggets and details that you won't find anywhere else, subscribe today. | | | | |
GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Thursday, May 19, where the fly-out-day energy is real.
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Sen. Joe Manchin talks with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, before an event in the Indian Treaty Room in the Eisenhower Executive Office Building on the White House Campus in Washington, Tuesday, March 15, 2022. | Patrick Semansky/AP Photo |
THE CHUCK AND JOE SHOW — Schumer met for the second time in a month with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) on Wednesday about how to tackle inflation that is driving up prices across the country. Manchin wants the issue to be the keystone of any party-line bill that would be Democrats' last major piece of legislation before the midterms.
Some Democrats have been eyeing Memorial Day as an unofficial deadline for deciding if a sweeping Democratic bill packed with priorities is possible. But that's quickly approaching without the hint of a deal. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) summed up his take: "I put so much time into immigration on reconciliation. It took a year of my legislative life. I have nothing to show for it. I wish Chuck well on reconciliation. I'm going to focus my legislative efforts in the 60-vote world." Manchin's fellow West Virginian, Republican Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, told Burgess: "I don't think there's a deal to be cut. I just don't. Not leading up to the election like this." Burgess dives into what's going on with the Schumer-Manchin meetings, where other senators stand and the delicate calculations at hand ahead of the midterms. FINALLY, AN AMBASSADOR — After three years without a U.S. ambassador in Ukraine, the Senate confirmed Bridget Brink on Wednesday night by voice vote. The career Foreign Service officer was already serving as the U.S. ambassador to Slovakia, but will now head to Kyiv. Andrew has more. The Senate is set to vote this morning on the $40 billion package of aid for Ukraine to assist in their defense against the brutal Russian invasion. NEW CISNEROS BACKER — Rep. Pramila Jayapal (D-Wash.) is endorsing Jessica Cisneros in her bid to oust Rep. Henry Cuellar (D-Texas.), Nicholas scooped this morning. "At a time when our reproductive freedoms are under attack by an extremist Supreme Court, we must elect pro-choice candidates that will fight to make sure abortion remains the law of the land. Jessica Cisneros embodies the kind of progressive we need in Congress," Jayapal said in a statement to POLITICO released Thursday. Cuellar is the only anti-abortion rights House Democrat remaining in the caucus.
| | | | A message from The American Petroleum Institute (API): Russian aggression has complicated Europe's path to energy security. Abundant American natural gas is helping to fill Europe's energy needs and can provide a reliable, sustainable energy solution over the long-term. Yet Washington policymakers are sending mixed signals. Now more than ever, the administration should speak without equivocation that America will remain a reliable producer and supplier of oil and natural gas domestically and to our allies across the world. Learn more. | | | FIRST IN HUDDLE: BOOKER INTRODUCES GUN LEGISLATION — Democrats have not leaned into gun control measures in the wake of the racist shooter's deadly attack in Buffalo over the weekend, but Sen. Cory Booker (D-N.J.) is taking on the issue despite long legislative odds. Booker, along with Sens. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.) and Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), is introducing legislation today that would require people trying to get a firearm to get a license from the Department of Justice before they can buy or receive a gun. The DOJ license would require both a written firearm safety test and hands-on training, a criminal background check and submission of fingerprints and proof of identity. The license would only be available to people over 21 years of age, essentially raising the age of gun ownership to 21. "This is the moment to enact ambitious legislation - as a nation, we must rise to it, or we are fated to witness the deadly scenes of this past weekend and years past over again," Booker said in a statement. Read the bill text. Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.), a leading advocate for gun safety legislation shares Booker's sense of urgency and told The New York Times' Annie Karni that even if legislation cannot clear Congress, Democrats need to talk more about guns, especially with voters. Congress Is Paralyzed on Guns. Here's Why Chris Murphy Is Still Hopeful. FIRST IN POLITICO: FORM(ULA) LETTER — Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wisc.) and Sen. John Hoeven (R-N.D.) wrote a letter to FDA Commissioner Robert Califf requesting answers about the formula shortage crisis. They are seeking a timeline of the FDA's inspections of the Abbot facility in Sturgis, Michigan, including all problems encountered there. The top two lawmakers on the Senate Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration Appropriations Subcommittee are also seeking detailed explanations on evaluation of imported formula "without in person inspections." Read the full letter. Califf testifies this morning before House appropriators on the Agriculture-FDA Subcommittee. The hearing topic is the agency's fiscal 2023 budget, but the formula crisis is expected to dominate the discussion. | | | | DON'T MISS DIGITAL FUTURE DAILY - OUR TECHNOLOGY NEWSLETTER, RE-IMAGINED: Technology is always evolving, and our new tech-obsessed newsletter is too! Digital Future Daily unlocks the most important stories determining the future of technology, from Washington to Silicon Valley and innovation power centers around the world. Readers get an in-depth look at how the next wave of tech will reshape civic and political life, including activism, fundraising, lobbying and legislating. Go inside the minds of the biggest tech players, policymakers and regulators to learn how their decisions affect our lives. Don't miss out, subscribe today. | | | | |
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PELOTON PIVOT — Peloton is not coming to the House, but Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy's (R-Calif.) fiery floor speech Wednesday alleging waste of taxpayer dollars isn't why.
"A proposal was made to provide all House staff with a digital Peloton subscription. Upon reviewing the proposal, I rejected it," House Administration Committee Chair Zoe Lofgren (D-Calif.) said in a statement Wednesday. Last week the House Chief Administrative Officer presented a proposal to Lofgren to provide House employees (including district staff and Capitol Police) with a digital Peloton membership – that's access to the classes, not the pricey workout bike itself. A draft dear colleague letter that was part of that proposal was circulated, including to your Huddle Host, who reported on the letter last week after multiple House aides who claimed to have knowledge of the Peloton plan incorrectly said it was a done deal. The draft letter announced the deal and a May 18 launch date and touted the proposed addition to the House Wellness Center offerings. But at that point, Lofgren had not yet exercised her veto power. Republican aides who were previously enthusiastic about the potential of Peloton access told reporters Wednesday that a contract between the House and Peloton had been inked and that the House would have to pay to break the contract with Peloton. But senior aides involved with the process say that isn't the case and that the proposal was floated and rejected before becoming official. There was no taxpayer money spent on the proposal, the senior aides said. Special delivery… Senate dining workers delivered a letter to the Architect of the Capitol demanding action on solidifying their contract. Read the letter. Say cheese… Congressional Asian Pacific American Staff Association, Congressional Korean American Staff Association and Congressional South Asian American Staff Association are celebrating Asian Pacific American Heritage Month with a group photo today at 3 p.m. on the East steps of the Capitol. "No RSVP required — just meet us at 3pm!" they say. 'Attempting to dance'... Schumer was spotted Wednesday night at Audi field cheering on New York City FC, which triumphed over D.C. United. Schumer took selfies and was 'attempting to dance,' per POLITICO's Alex Daugherty. Cameo cash… Alaska House candidate Sarah Palin made $211,529 from personalized videos on the app Cameo in 2021, which is much more than she'd make as a member of Congress. Insider has more. QUICK LINKS Group Seeks Disbarment of Ted Cruz Over Efforts to Overturn 2020 Election, from Maggie Haberman at The New York Times | | | | A message from The American Petroleum Institute (API):   | | |
TODAY IN CONGRESS
The House convenes at 9 a.m. The Senate convenes at 10 a.m. with votes scheduled at 11:30 a.m. and 1:45 p.m. AROUND THE HILL 9 a.m. Reps. David Ciciline (D-R.I.) and Fred Upton (R-Mich.) hold a press conference on the Active Shooter Alert Act (House Triangle). 10:30 a.m. The Republican Study Committee holds a press conference on legal protections for women and girls (House Triangle). 10:30 a.m. Pelosi holds her weekly press conference (Studio A). 11 a.m. Pelosi, Schumer, McCarthy and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) meet with President Sauli Niinistö of the Republic of Finland, and Magdalena Andersson, Prime Minister of Sweden, for a trilateral bipartisan leadership meeting. Noon House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) and others hold a press conference on the Puerto Rico Status Act (Studio A). Noon Pelosi and members of the Congressional Tri-Caucus hold a press conference on the mass shooting in Buffalo, New York. (House East Front Steps).
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WEDNESDAY'S WINNER: Mark Schoenbaum correctly answered that Rep. James Oberstar (D-Minn.) is the former clerk for the Rivers and Harbors Subcommittee who eventually rose to be Chairman of the House Transportation Committee.
TODAY'S QUESTION from Mark: Which 20th century president created a new federal agency on March 1 and three days later appointed his brother-in-law to run it? 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 The American Petroleum Institute (API): America's natural gas and oil is helping to fill the European energy gap left by Russia. Our nation has already substantially increased exports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe as the continent faces war in Ukraine and a prolonged supply crunch. Yet President Biden's recent pledge to increase U.S. LNG shipments to Europe requires ongoing supportive policies from Washington. Measures like onshore lease sales, a new Interior Department offshore five-year plan, approval of LNG export applications, and a clear timeline for infrastructure permitting will unleash investment and help deliver on America's vast energy abundance. Learn more here. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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