| | | | |  | | By Katherine Tully-McManus | Presented by The American Petroleum Institute (API) | There's no question that the mass shootings in Buffalo, N.Y. and Laguna Woods, Calif., (along with one in Dallas, Texas last week) will be on the minds — and tongues — of lawmakers on Capitol Hill this week. Your Huddle host is thinking of the victims and their families this morning, plus the district and state office staff handling the needs of the impacted communities. MITCH v. MAGA — Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), fresh off his visit to Ukraine, said that the Senate will be on track to pass the $40 billion aid package to the nation by the middle of this week, after his own GOP colleague delayed the measure last week. Oh to be a fly on the wall if McConnell and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy discussed the junior senator from Kentucky, who held up the aid package last week. The non-interventionist wing of the Republican party, which includes former President Donald Trump and MAGA acolytes both in Congress and candidates, have punched at the aid package and McConnell's trip, pointing to problems within American borders. There were 57 no votes in the House on the package and Sen. Rand Paul's (R-Ky.) unilateral delay. "Well, it's no secret Rand and I have a different worldview about the importance of America's role around the world," McConnell told reporters on Sunday. "We'll get the job done by Wednesday." Sens. Susan Collins (R-Maine), John Barrasso (R-Wyo.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) joined McConnell on his trip to Kyiv. "This is not a charity we're involved in here. It's in our interests to help Ukrainians just like it's in the interest of NATO countries. So this is not some handout," McConnell told reporters on a call Sunday. "This is to prevent this ruthless thug [Vladimir Putin] from beginning a march through Europe. And the first place to stop him is in Ukraine." Burgess dissected McConnell's positioning, wedged between the rest of his party and the rest of the world. Senate action: Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) filed cloture on a motion to proceed on Thursday, setting up a procedural vote for tonight. Cloture, post-cloture debate and a final passage vote still lay ahead. The Ukraine aid is expected to get plenty of Republican votes, so Democratic attendance shouldn't be an issue. (More on that below.)
| | | | A message from The American Petroleum Institute (API): President Biden's agreement to send more U.S. liquefied natural gas (LNG) to Europe will help our allies achieve key energy security and decarbonization goals. Another breakthrough is the European Commission's recognition of natural gas as sustainable for the purposes of investing. Without question, America is the best-prepared nation to help Europe and others meet energy and climate needs amid international conflict. The administration should authorize more LNG infrastructure to match its commitments. Learn more here. | | | GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Monday, May 16, where the moon was wild last night. TWO STROKES OF MISFORTUNE — Sen. Chris Van Hollen (D-Md.) was admitted to George Washington University Hospital this weekend after suffering a minor stroke caused by "a small venous tear," according to a statement. Van Hollen will remain under observation for a few days, but has been told "there are no long-term effects or damage as a result of this incident." Van Hollen's abscenece is not expected to impact the outcome of the Ukraine aid vote, but could shuffle other Senate action that Democrats need all 50 votes for. GOTV Weekend Shock: Pennsylvania Lt. Gov. John Fetterman, the leading candidate in the state's Senate Democratic primary race, was hospitalized after suffering a stroke Friday but said Sunday he's "well on his way to a full recovery." Fetterman said the doctors told him he suffered no cognitive damage. "The doctors have assured me that I'll be able to get back on the trail, but first I need to take a minute, get some rest, and recover," he said. He is just one day away from facing opponents U.S. Rep. Conor Lamb and state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta at the polls. Lamb, Kenyatta and Republican primary candidate Mehmet Oz all wished Fetterman well on Sunday. Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) has been back at work in the Senate since March after his stroke on Jan. 27. MACE'S PLACE IS A MOVING TARGET — Rep. Nancy Mace (R-S.C.) is hard to pin down, moving between Trump critic and Trump loyalist, trashing the former president in private, taking anti-Trump votes, but filming videos in front of Trump Tower celebrating Trump's "America First" policies and tying her reelection to the former president. "She's shown the ability to win," Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.), himself a political chameleon, said of Mace. "And I think in a district like that, you have to have an open mind on issues. You can't be doctrinaire. I think she's shown a streak of independence that'll probably be helpful." Olivia looks at the contrast between Mace's public image, the tough political realities she faces and how she has tried to acclimate to Washington while campaigning for a second term in a swing district. Plus, the workplace culture in her office and her management style are facing scrutiny. The latest from Olivia: Nancy Mace tests her place in the GOP Door knocks and wedding bells… Mace knows where she stands with one person: her fiancé. A campaign door-knocking ruse turned into a proposal surprise over the weekend. "I said YES!!!" Mace tweeted.
| | | | 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. | | | | | FORMULA FOR ACTION — House Appropriations Chair Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.) is planning an emergency funding package aimed at alleviating the baby formula crisis facing families across the country. The package would allow the import of FDA-approved baby formula from abroad. On Thursday, the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Agriculture will hold a hearing with FDA Commissioner Robert M. Califf on both oversight of infant formula and the agency's fiscal 2023 budget request. The House Energy and Commerce has a hearing Thursday on the shortage and production of formula. PATTY MURRAY ON OFFENSE — Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) has been a leader on women's healthcare and abortion rights for years, but the anticipated reversal of Roe v. Wade is thrusting the savvy backroom dealmaker into the spotlight. "Now Murray is contemplating how she and other Democrats need to move from defense to offense — and move their fight out of the backrooms of Capitol Hill onto the campaign trail and into the homes of American women. She has been tasked by Schumer with leading a small group of Democratic women in formulating ways to quickly raise the salience of abortion rights on Capitol Hill and well beyond," reports Mike DeBonis of The Washington Post.
| | | Cheers to bulk bevvys… Staff can now buy drinks in bulk right in Rayburn, either for their office and work events, or just for themselves. "House Drinks sells water, soda, juice, alcohol, and spirits. Six, twelve, and twenty-four packs are available depending on the drink," and all can be delivered right to House offices. Quite the subtweet… From one legislature to another. From a member of the Ukrainian parliament to "one single man in the US Senate." QUICK LINKS China Competitiveness Bill Faces Hurdles as Time Runs Short, from John D. McKinnon and Yuka Hayashi at The Wall Street Journal 'A magnet for rip-off artists': Fraud siphoned billions from pandemic unemployment benefits, from Tony Romm and Yeganeh Torbati at The Washington Post Stefanik echoed racist theory allegedly espoused by Buffalo suspect, from Marianna Sotomayor at The Washington Post Liberals, blocked on gun control, call for a new domestic terror law after the shooting, from Glenn Thrush and Emily Cochrane at The New York Times Sen. Cynthia Lummis apologizes for 'two sexes' comment that evoked jeers, boos at UW commencemen t, from Briar Napier at Oil City News
| | | | A message from The American Petroleum Institute (API):   | | |
TRANSITIONS
Ivy English is now a legislative correspondent for Sen. Bill Cassidy (R-La.). She previously was a legislative correspondent for Rep. Jody Hice (R-Ga.). Kota Mizutani is the new deputy communications director for the House Education and Labor Committee. He was formerly the committee's press secretary. Ian O'Keefe has been promoted to be deputy comms Director for Rep. Rick Larsen (D-Wash.). Brad Middleton is joining the Education Department's Office of Federal Student Aid enforcement unit as senior adviser for strategy. Middleton previously served as education policy director for Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.). Makenzie Shellnutt is joining NTCA as director of government affairs. She previously was a legislative assistant for the Congressional Western Caucus.
| | | | 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. | | | | | TODAY IN CONGRESS The House convenes at noon for morning hour and 2 p.m. for legislative business, with votes postponed until 6:30 p.m. The Senate convenes at 3 p.m. with a vote at 5:30 p.m. AROUND THE HILL 3 p.m. Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) will hold a photo-op and give brief remarks with First Minister Nicola Sturgeon of Scotland (Speaker's Balcony Hallway).
| | | FRIDAY'S WINNER: Shiv Patel correctly answered that Congressional Asian Pacific American Caucus (CAPAC) was founded in 1994. TODAY'S QUESTION: Which president signed the act creating the United States Marine Band? 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): Much of the world's work to meaningfully address climate risk and tackle climate change is already underway and accelerating right here in America. In fact, our emergence as the world's top oil and natural gas producer is occurring while overall emissions have been declining.
This trend is a nod to the widespread and growing use of cleaner natural gas in the power generation sector, as well as the embrace of technologies to reduce the industry's overall footprint. Energy producers are taking meaningful steps to improve our environment and enable America to be a positive force in difficult times as increased shipments of U.S. LNG mobilize in response to geopolitical turmoil in Europe.
Innovation and technology have allowed American natural gas and oil producers to get real results for the environment and for energy security at home and abroad. Learn more here. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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