| | | | |  | | By Katherine Tully-McManus | Presented by The American Petroleum Institute (API) | With reporting help from Nicholas Wu, Sarah Ferris and Nancy Vu HODGE PODGE OF HIGH PRIORITIES — Congress is trying to tackle a tangled web of crises this week, including baby formula shortages, domestic terrorism, gas prices and the war in Ukraine…and some are moving more smoothly than others. Ukraine aid: Senate leaders wanted the $40 billion aid package for Ukraine to head to the President's desk by Wednesday, but Thursday is looking more realistic at this point. The chamber voted 81-11 Monday night on a procedural move to advance the bill. But Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) isn't letting up on his insistence that the special inspector for Afghanistan reconstruction also take on oversight to police the disbursement of funding in Ukraine. That means there won't be unanimous consent to speed up debate and send it to President Joe Biden's desk. If all debate time is used, Thursday is the target. Domestic terror: In the wake of the racist mass shooter's attack over the weekend in Buffalo, Democrats are looking to revive a bill focused on domestic terrorism and the rise of white supremacist violence. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) said Monday that the measure, which stalled about a month ago, is still "in play." House Rules Chair Jim McGovern (D-Mass.) said Monday night that the terror bill "takes on added urgency given current events." The bill is in his committee today. "The leader of the Republican Party needs to reel in his members," McGovern said. But it took work to unite Democrats behind the bill. "My understanding is we got everybody on board," bill sponsor Rep. Brad Schneider (D-Ill.), said of his fellow Democrats. Some progressive Democrats had previously objected to some provisions of the legislation including its definitions of domestic terrorism, though most of those concerns are expected to be addressed with a manager's amendment. "I hope we can get broad support like we did two years ago," when the legislation passed on a voice vote, said Schneider. Formula crisis: Appropriations Chair Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) briefed the House Democratic Steering and Policy Committee yesterday on the state of play on an anticipated infant formula supplemental spending bill. DeLauro told Sarah last night that she's still negotiating a precise topline number for the bill, which is expected to be in the $20-30 million range (but those numbers are not final yet, per Democratic sources). Democratic chiefs of staff were told to stay flexible with the end-of-week schedule, which could mean Friday votes. Gas prices: While Americans are scrounging for gas money, Democrats are scrounging for votes on a bill targeting price gouging on gasoline. The bill would bar "excessive or exploitative" price increases for fuel during a presidentially-declared Energy Emergency Proclamation. The Rules Committee held over the gas gouging bill on Monday and put off consideration until today. Democrats are still kicking the tires to see if they have the votes to pass the bill on the floor. Don't count on lower gas prices for a Memorial Day drive.
| | | | 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 Tuesday, May 17, where there's finally some acknowledgement that the truth is out there (more on that below). GREEK TO ME — Today's schedule is skewed a bit to accommodate this morning's joint meeting of Congress featuring Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. He is the first foreign head of state to appear in-person in the House chamber for a joint meeting since 2017. (It isn't a joint session, which is more formal and requires adoption of a concurrent resolution.) WILD PRIMARY RIDE — It's primary election day in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Idaho, Kentucky and Oregon today and the outcomes could reveal a lot about the direction that both the Democratic and Republican parties are headed. There is almost too much to watch today, but here's where we're training our attention: Keystone State: Trump backed Mehmet Oz, fanancier David McCormick and far-right candidate Kathy Barnette face off tonight in one of the most dizzying primary races this cycle. Whoever wins is likely to face Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman in November, who leads in the polls against Rep. Connor Lamb (D-Pa.). But Fetterman has been sidelined while recovering from a stroke. We're also watching the 12th district, where the race to fill retiring Rep. Mike Doyle's (D-Pa.) seat has gotten interesting. Liberal state Rep. Summer Lee has the makings of a Squad member and has the backing of progressives (Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) recently campaigned with her.) Steve Irwin is running as the moderate candidate and has Doyle's backing, along with pro-Israel groups like AIPAC's super PAC and Democratic Majority for Israel. Tar Heel State: Are scandals a boon or a bust for Rep. Madison Cawthorn (R-N.C.)? The conservative freshman, a magnet for controversy through his first two years in office, is working to hold off a pack of challengers, including state Sen. Chuck Edwards, who is backed by Sen. Thom Tillis (R-N.C.). Open seats in NC-1 and NC-4: Retiring Rep. G.K. Butterfield's (D-N.C.) open seat in NC-1 is pitting the moderate and progressive wings of the party against each other. Trump test: Trump-backed Rep. Ted Budd (R-N.C.) will try to fend off Gov. Pat McCrory in the Senate primary. Beaver State: In Oregon, seven-term Democratic incumbent Rep. Kurt Schrader faces a progressive challenger, Jamie McLeod-Skinner. | | | | 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. | | |
EMPIRE STATE SCRAMBLE — The new electoral map for New York sent shockwaves through the Congressional delegation which now pits five (!) sets of incumbents against each other. Ouch.
On Capitol Hill Monday night, the New York delegation was reeling. And some were already throwing political punches. New York Nix: "Sean Patrick Maloney did not even give me a heads up before he went on Twitter to make that announcement," Rep. Mondaire Jones (D-N.Y.) told POLITICO'S Ally Mutnick. "And I think that tells you everything you need to know about Sean Patrick Maloney." Oversight Chair Carolyn Maloney said she was "absolutely stunned" by the map. She's now set to run against Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler in a new version of her current Manhattan district. "I've never lost an election; I don't intend to start now," Maloney said. Sarah and Ally talked to the New Yorkers and sorted through the district (and personal) dynamics at play. NOT JUMPING THE GUN — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) is heading to Buffalo today with President Joe Biden to meet with the victims of a racist mass shooter's attack over the weekend, families and first responders. But in Washington, Democrats are not using their regular playbook. With no realistic legislative prospects for gun legislation, Democrats are focusing instead on the racist replacement theory – which casts minorities as an existential threat to white people – that the shooter espoused. That racist theory has made its way from far right extremists into mainstream GOP rhetoric. Burgess and Marianne dug into the Dems' approach. "We have seen a mainstreaming of … explicitly racist philosophy," Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) said Monday, tying the rhetoric to top Republicans who have leaned into the vitriol. Schumer blamed "MAGA Republicans" and Fox News for embracing — and spreading — the racist ideology embraced by the attacker. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) lambasted Fox star Tucker Carlson as a "leading ideologue in the white supremacist movement." Some Democrats weren't willing to go that far. Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) said: "Yeah. I'm not going to go down that road. We'll let them do that." Republicans criticized Democrats for trying to score political points off of a tragedy and denied that their party, mainstream elected members of Congress, have espoused the same ideology as the shooter. "We've never supported white supremacy," House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said Monday night. "The suspect is the very worst of humanity and for political individuals to try to make some political game out of this shows how little they are."
| | | | 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. | | | | | CONGRESS CRACKS OPEN THE X-FILES — Congress holds its first public hearing since 1966 on "unidentified aerial phenomena," this morning, featuring testimony from Ronald Moultrie, the Pentagon's top intelligence official, and Scott Bray, the deputy director of naval intelligence. (Harry Reid would be thrilled, RIP.) The hearing before the House Intelligence Counterterrorism, Counterintelligence and Counterproliferation Subcommittee comes on the heels of a report released last year by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence that chronicled dozens of reports of unidentified flying objects between 2004 and 2021. "There is a tug of war among competing factions inside the national security bureaucracy that will make it difficult for Congress to compel military branches, spy agencies, national laboratories and other organizations to come clean given the longstanding secrecy and stigma surrounding the issue," reports Bryan Bender. "They fetishize their secret society, " an intelligence official told Bender. "They take it seriously but they have no accountability. Zero. There is a whole group of us that know in great detail this subject, a lot of which has not been reported to Congress because of security issues." Don't miss this preview: 'A Skull and Bones-type vibe': Spy agencies grapple with how much to share at UFO hearing MAIL TIME — It is political mailer season. Before you toss 'em, we want you to send us photos of what you're getting. Help us shine a light on how campaigns and outside groups are using political mailers to target, persuade and talk to voters. Learn more about the project. | | |
Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee (D-Texas) has tested positive for COVID.
| | | No rules for this Byrd… A bird was spotted flying around the Ohio Clock Corridor and the rotunda Monday, maybe searching for a Byrd bath, definitely breaking some Byrd rules… we'll stop there. QUICK LINKS Harris left the Senate to become VP. Now she can't quit the Senate, literally. From Eugene Daniels Ketanji Brown Jackson on being a 'first' and why she loves 'Survivor', from Roxanne Roberts at The Washington Post Garcetti's nomination remains stalled in Senate, from Jennifer Haberkorn at The Los Angeles Times TRANSITIONS Stephanie Johnson has joined the National Grocers Association as VP of government relations, where she will be responsible for food and nutrition issues. She previously was a legislative assistant for Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.). Locust Street Group has hired Wes Wright as a senior director. Wright was previously a legislative assistant for Sen. Pat Toomey (R-Pa.), where he oversaw the energy, transportation, and telecom portfolios. | | | | A message from The American Petroleum Institute (API):   | | |
TODAY IN CONGRESS
The House convenes at 9 a.m. but will recess immediately and reconvene at 11 a.m. for the joint meeting with a speech from Greek Prime Minister Kyriakos Mitsotakis. The Senate convenes at 2:30 p.m. and will vote at 4 p.m. on the motion to proceed to the Ukraine aid bill. AROUND THE HILL 10:15 a.m. House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) and Vice Chair Pete Aguilar (D-Calif.) hold their weekly news conference along with Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) (Studio A). 10 a.m. House GOP Whip Steve Scalise (R-La.), GOP Conference Chair Elise Stefanik (R-N.Y.) and Reps. Chip Roy (R-Texas) and Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) hold a press conference following the GOP conference meeting (HVC-210 Alcove). 10 a.m. McCarthy, Scalise, Stefanik, NRCC Chairman Tom Emmer (R-Minn.) and Reps. Drew Ferguson (R-Ga.), Mario Diaz-Balart (R-Fla.), Carlos Gimenez (R-Fla.), Tony Gonzales (R-Texas), Jaime Herrera-Beutler (R-Wash.), Nicole Malliotakis (R-N.Y.), Maria Salazar (R-Fla.) and David Valadao (R-Calif.) hold an event to launch the Hispanic Leadership Trust (NRCC HQ) 1:30 p.m. House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer (D-Md.) holds a pen-and-pad briefing.
| | |
MONDAY'S WINNER: Adam Rothman correctly answered that John Adams signed the measure that created the United States Marine Band in 1798, which now holds the distinction of being the oldest active professional musical organization in the United States.
TODAY'S QUESTION: What food did Rep. George W. Andrews try to make a national institution in 1960? 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 | | | | |
No comments:
Post a Comment