News : Congress returns with packed mid-summer agenda

Monday, July 11, 2022

Congress returns with packed mid-summer agenda

Jul 11, 2022

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By Katherine Tully-McManus

Presented by

With an assist from Sarah Ferris

SO BEGINS THE MID-SUMMER SPRINT — Congress returns this week for the pressure cooker that is the few weeks between Independence Day and August Recess, trying to crank through legislative to-dos before the late summer break.

Plus, August in an election year unofficially marks when appetite for compromise or major legislative action usually runs dry as focus turns in earnest to the midterm election races. And Democrats want to bring home wins to sell on the campaign trail.

THE STATE OF SCHUMER — Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) won't be sitting down with Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) to talk about the Democrats party line spending bill this week. He has tested positive for Covid and will be isolating this week, his team announced Sunday night. But he could hop on the phone.

"Anyone who knows Leader Schumer knows that even if he's not physically in the Capitol, through virtual meetings and his trademark flip phone he will continue with his robust schedule and remain in near constant contact with his colleagues," Schumer spokesperson Justin Goodman said.

Senate schedule adjustments haven't been announced just yet, but anything that would require all 50 Democratic votes can be expected to be put on ice until Schumer (and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt.), who is recovering from a broken hip) can return to vote.

On the agenda this week are the nominations of Ashish Vazirani to become deputy under secretary of defense; Michael Barr for the Federal Reserve's top job overseeing banks and Steve Dettelbach to become director of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Vazirani and Barr both received GOP support in committee and Dettelbach has backing from GOP Sens. Rob Portman of Ohio and Susan Collins of Maine. The bipartisan backing could keep the noms on track despite the Democratic absences. Marianne has more on this.

HERE COMES THE HOUSE — Okay, not until tomorrow. But the chamber is slated to tackle a packed legislative schedule in the coming days, taking up a bill on public alerts in active shooter situations and the massive annual National Defense Authorization Act. A whopping 1,212 amendments have been submitted to the NDAA. Just a fraction will get floor time, but still… brace yourself.

ABORTION VOTES — The House votes this week on a pair of bill aimed at protecting abortion access post-Roe , as they return this week for the first time since the Supreme Court overturned the constitutional right to an abortion. One measure would protect a woman's right to travel to seek an abortion — a major concern for Democrats, as some state legislators are eying bills to prosecute women who cross state lines for the procedure. The other bill is back for a second lap. The House will again vote on a measure to codify Roe v. Wade into law, while expanding other protections. (All but one Democrat voted for the bill last September, though it failed in the Senate.) Both bills are expected to be thwarted by the 60-vote filibuster threshold in the Senate.

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GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Monday, July 11. Are you ready for the July grind?

Scenes from outside the Supreme Court after the overturn of Roe v. Wade.

Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) leaves the U.S. Capitol and walks toward demonstrations occurring outside the U.S. Supreme Court after the court announced its decision in Dobbs v. Jackson on June 24, 2022. | Francis Chung/E&E News/POLITICO

SPEIER AT THE CENTER — As Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.) prepares to leave Congress, she's watching the escalation of two enormous political fights — fights that she knows better than maybe anybody else in Congress.

As a survivor of the Jonestown Massacre , Speier knows first-hand the damage done by semi-automatic weapons. Decades later, she became the first member to discuss their own abortion, the result of a miscarriage, in a floor speech. And Speier, who is deeply respected within the party for taking on contentious policy fights from military sexual assualt to House harrassment policies, says it's time for Democrats to seize the moment on both guns and abortion rights.

Progress, where you can get it: She said Democrats should also be willing to accept gradual change, even when it falls short. That's how she got Pentagon leaders to reform their handling of sexual misconduct cases. That's how she got the House to update its harassment guidelines, spurred by the #MeToo movement. In the words of House Armed Services Chairman Adam Smith (D-Wash.): "She pushes and pushes and pushes ... but when we finally get to the point where we've done what we can do, this is where we're at — there are a lot of members that I've worked with who, at that point, would basically cut off their nose to spite their face. Jackie doesn't do that."

A WHO'S WHO AHEAD OF THE NEXT JAN. 6 HEARINGS — If you've tuned into the Jan. 6 select committee hearings, you've seen some big-names referenced and some non-household names provide bombshell testimony. There are more live and taped interviews expected at this week's two hearings. (Some names will be more familiar to Hill folks than others, since some are past or present Hill staff.) If you've felt like you could benefit from a rundown of the key players or a proverbial org chart of who's who… Kyle, Nick and Betsy Woodruff Swan have you covered. Clip and save… I'd bookmark this to pull it up as you tune in: Meet the key players in the next Jan. 6 hearings

Behind the scenes of that surprise testimony: Cassidy Hutchinson: Why the Jan. 6 Committee Rushed Her Testimony, from Robert Draper at The New York Times

You've heard of this guy, though: Longtime Donald Trump ally Steve Bannon has made a last-minute offer to testify to the Jan. 6 select committee. The move came just days before his criminal trial for defying the panel's subpoena is set to begin. Kyle has more.

Speaking of testimony... Trump's attorney Justin Clark interviewed with federal investigators two weeks ago, the Justice Department revealed in a court filing early Monday morning. Clark was also interviewed by the Jan. 6 select committee recently. Kyle broke down what it all means, before the sun came up.

RELATED: I Was Betrayed by President Trump , from Capitol Police Sergeant Aquilino Gonell in The New York Times

MIDTERM MATH — It's t-minus four months until the midterms and President Joe Biden's anemic approval ratings are putting a lot more of his party's seats in play than expected.

Already, Democrats were on defense in at least 30 districts. But Biden's toxicity is now allowing Republicans to seriously contest about a dozen additional seats — many of those he won by *nine* or more points in 2020. Think: Rhode Island, California's Central Valley, the suburbs of Arizona's capital, Gary, Indiana, and more.

Here's a data snapshot of Biden's approval in some already-tough districts, according to GOP polling obtained by POLITICO:

— Rep. Susie Lee (D-Nev.): 37 approval of Biden, 57 disapproval

— Rep. Susan Wild (D-Pa.): 33 approval, 65 disapproval

— Rep. Annie Kuster (D-N.H.): 41 approval, 57 disapproval

— Rep. Angie Craig (D-Minn.): 41 approval, 58 disapproval

How bad could it get? GOP operatives are even pointing to some "Biden tens" — districts that the president carried by double digits last election. Some of those we heard mentioned:

— Rep. Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.)

— Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-Conn.)

— CA-13 (vacated by Rep. Josh Harder due to redistricting)

— NY-18 (vacated by Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney due to redistricting)

— CO-07 (vacated by retiring Rep. Ed Perlmutter)

— RI-02 (vacated by retiring Rep. Jim Langevin)

A Roe-sized caveat: Democrats insist Biden numbers alone won't seal the fates of their candidates, especially if they can channel their base's fury over abortion. Tim Persico, executive director of DCCC: "Prior to the devastating Dobbs decision, Frontline Democrats consistently performed ahead of the generic ballot, and they remain untethered from President Biden's approval rating. Ally Mutnick and Sarah have the story: House GOP marches into deeper blue terrain as Dem prospects fade

A message from Air Line Pilots Association Intl.:

Hearing a lot about a pilot shortage? Don't believe it. Airlines are cutting service to improve profits and are blaming the cuts on a "pilot shortage." They've even suggested more savings by reducing safety training for pilots. In reality, there are 1.5 certified pilots for every pilot job. Don't let airlines put profits over passengers' safety. Get the facts about pilot supply.

CALIFORNIA DATELINE — Olivia hit the road to California's Central Valley last week to bring us a deep look at Republican Rep. David Valadao's race to hold onto a district that broke hard for Joe Biden, where he's leaning hard into his anti-abortion views. But he also voted to impeach former President Donald Trump. His opponent, state Assemblymember Rudy Salas is making abortion a defining issue in the race. Democrats bet on abortion in bid to oust pro-impeachment Republican

CHENEY RAKES IN DEM DOLLARS — "Most Democratic donors are profoundly out of step with Ms. Cheney on those issues and others. But the Democrats supporting her say they have been impressed by her courage in opposing the former president — whom she voted to impeach after the Jan. 6 attack — and standing up for the peaceful transfer of power," write Kate Kelly and Maggie Haberman for the New York Times.

RELATED: Why Liz Cheney is in a lot of trouble in Wyoming, from Harry Enten, CNN

SPARTZ SPARKS — After Rep. Victoria Spartz (R-Ind.) asked President Joe Biden to brief Congress on years-old allegations against Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, and publicly criticized both Biden and Zelenskyy for their approaches to the ongoing war… Ukraine's Foreign Ministry didn't hold back their own criticism of the first and only Ukraine-born U.S. lawmaker.

"We advise Ms. Spartz to stop trying to earn extra political capital on baseless speculation around the topic of war in our country and the grief of Ukrainians," Oleg Nikolenko, the spokesperson for Ukraine's Foreign Ministry, said in a lengthy statement on Facebook. "Especially cynical are manipulations about Ukraine and its leadership from congresswomen of Ukrainian origin." Andrew and Christopher Miller have the story.

A WEEKEND READ WORTH A MONDAY LOOK — Your Huddle host grew up going to town meetings where school budgets were approved by a show of hands, which may be why this story caught my attention. But this deep dive into one New Hampshire town and a wild wake-up call after the school budget was slashed by more than half, is worth a read: One Small Step for Democracy in a 'Live Free or Die' Town

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HUDDLE HOTDISH

Are raises in the air?... Senate leaders and appropriators will receive a letter today calling for them to make funding available in the fiscal 2023 Legislative branch spending bill to allow Senate-side offices to match the House's new salary floor of $45,000.

The letter has been circulating for signatures among Senate staff and has 110 signatories, though staff signed with their initials out of concern for retribution. (Huddle flagged the letter when it was first circulating among staff back in June.)

The letter does not call for a pay floor, but instead asks for funding to be made available for members to choose to pay their staff higher starting salaries. The House's pay floor goes into effect Sept. 1. Read the letter.

Back to basics… The Modernization Staff Association and the Congressional Hispanic Staff Association are co hosting a panel discussion about entry-level jobs on Capitol Hill tomorrow, featuring staffers from both parties and chambers sharing their wisdom. RSVP to attend.

Who's on deck?... Assistant Speaker Rep. Katherine Clark (D-Mass.) hosted House Democratic Caucus Chair Hakeem Jeffries at Fenway Park Sunday night, where the home team walloped Jeffries' Yankees 11-6, with a winning run from a guy named Jeter.

QUICK LINKS

Sen. Ted Cruz threatened by Houston-area man in cryptic phone call, from Ahmed Sharma and Sherman Desselle at FOX 26 Houston

TRANSITIONS

Kasey Lovett is joining the American Beverage Association as senior director of communications. Lovett was previously press secretary for Sen. Tommy Tubberville (R-Ala.)

Sophia Allred is now assistant to the chief of staff and deputy scheduler for Sen. Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.). She is a former intern for Rep. Teresa Leger Fernandez (D-N.M.).

Caroline Franklin is now comms director for Rep. Jodey Arrington (R-Texas). She most recently was comms director for the Alabama Senate Republican Caucus.

Clarification on two transitions from Friday:

Max Richards was promoted from intern to special assistant in Rep. Carolyn Bordeaux's (D-Ga.) office. A different Max Richards remains a legislative assistant for Rep. Frank Lucas (R-Okla.) and has not changed offices or parties.

Will Kiley, former communications director for Rep. Mariannette Miller-Meeks' (R-Iowa), starts today as communications director for Herschel Walker's Senate campaign in Georgia. Miller-Meeks' chief of staff Tyler Menzler remains in his role.

A message from Air Line Pilots Association Intl.:

TODAY IN CONGRESS

The House convenes at 2:30 p.m. for a pro forma session.

The Senate convenes at 3 p.m.

AROUND THE HILL

Slow start to an action-packed week.

TRIVIA

FRIDAY'S WINNER: Reginald McCoy correctly answered that a farmer's strike brought farmers, their trackers and their livestock to Capitol Hill . Organized by the American Agriculture Movement, an estimated group of 3,000 farmers drove tractors to the Capitol demanding higher prices for their crops.

TODAY'S QUESTION: Though three presidents (Adams, Jefferson, and Monroe) died on the 4th of July, who was the only president to have been born on that date?

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 Air Line Pilots Association Intl.:

Airlines have invented a "pilot shortage" to justify cost cutting service reductions to smaller communities across the country. Airline profits are being prioritized over passenger service. The fact is America has 1.5 certified pilots for every pilot job. That's more than enough. But now airlines are recommending cuts to essential pilot safety training – just to put more pilots in service. This is the same training that has reduced airline fatalities by 99.8% since they were increased in 2010. There is no pilot shortage—don't be fooled. Proper training and diligence will maintain air travel's record as the safest mode of transportation. Get the facts about pilot supply.