| | | | |  | | By Katherine Tully-McManus | Presented by The Alzheimer's Association | With help from Olivia Beavers and Jordain Carney in Orlando and Daniella Diaz and Anthony Adragna in Washington NOT OVER ‘TILL IT’S OVER — After 20 years, the Senate is still considering the Iraq War. The chamber will take a second procedural vote tonight to move toward action on repealing both the 1991 and 2002 authorizations for the use of military force against the Iraqi government. Behind the scenes, Senate leaders will be discussing a potential deal to allow amendments to the narrow resolution and possibly an agreement on speeding up action on the measure. But there’s no guarantee of that. Multiple Senate aides said they expect the Senate to simmer on the resolution for a bit before there’s movement towards cloture or amendment action. Huddle explored the two types of amendments expected last week. House Majority Leader Steve Scalise (R-La.) told Olivia on Monday that his conference is looking at the question of revising or revisiting the 2002 AUMF, though most House Republicans have voted against repealing the 2002 Iraq AUMF in the past. Scalise said it will "be interesting to watch" if two chambers can reach an agreement "on something they can pass." Scalise said that House lawmakers want to examine it and ensure it goes through committee because “the threats of terrorism are still real, but the battlefields have changed.” "I think that all the committees of jurisdiction are starting to have that conversation. And so at some point getting a bill to the House floor …our members are having these conversations right now." THE OTHER AUMF: Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) has, in multiple previous congresses, introduced legislation to prospectively repeal the 2001 AUMF that Congress approved in direct response to the 9/11 attacks for action in Afghanistan. The idea is to put a one-year ticking clock on the repeal to motivate the White House to “come to Congress and with an updated, tailor made AUMF that makes sense in the modern world, rather than relying indefinitely on the ‘01 AUMF,” a senior Democratic aide told Huddle. There were concerns that if Cardin introduced his measure while Sen. Tim Kaine’s (D-Va.) resolution on the 1991 and 2002 Iraq AUMFs is on the floor, it could sow confusion. So it will not be an amendment or in the mix this week, but Cardin is expected to resume his push for an altered 2001 AUMF soon.
| | | | A message from The Alzheimer's Association: The Biden Administration has made the unprecedented decision to block access to FDA-approved treatments for people living with Alzheimer’s. Each day CMS denies access, more than 2,000 people transition to a more advanced stage of Alzheimer’s where they are no longer eligible for treatment. The role and responsibility of CMS is to provide health care coverage, not to stand between a patient and a doctor when deciding what FDA-approved treatments are appropriate. Learn more at http://alz.org/coverage. | | | GOOD MORNING! Welcome to Huddle, the play-by-play guide to all things Capitol Hill, on this Tuesday, March 21, where Congress is really easing into the week. SITUATIONAL AWARENESS — The potential indictment of former President Donald Trump has the Capitol Police preparing for possible protests, although intelligence suggests agitation is more likely to be centered around Trump’s residence at Mar-a-Lago and in New York City. Bike rack fencing went up around the Capitol overnight and everyone should anticipate an elevated security posture around the Capitol this morning. Nicholas and Jordain have more. Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) said this weekend he doesn’t think Trump allies should protest an indictment, saying “We want calmness out there,” breaking with a message from Trump himself, who called on his supporters to “protest, take our nation back.” DEFENSIVE LINE — House Republicans are in a familiar spot: preparing to play a whole lot of defense for former President Donald Trump. In anticipation of a possible Trump indictment on charges related to alleged hush money payment to Stormy Daniels, House Republicans are calling on Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg to testify amid an ongoing investigation. “The conference, I think, all supports it because they all see this for what it is,” Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) told Olivia. More on the potential indictment, including how House Republicans are taking preemptive strikes and what the moves could mean for House races in 2024, from Jordain and Olivia in Orlando. THE FLORIDA DISPATCH — Here’s a roundup of what’s cooking down at the House Republican retreat in Orlando: Banks: McCarthy and a trio of key Republicans held an outdoor gaggle (a move the speaker acknowledged came without a warning to wear sunscreen). McCarthy pulled back the curtain into who he spoke with in the immediate aftermath of the SVB news: Fed Chair Jerome Powell, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen (though he noted he did the outreach there) and House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.). Meanwhile, McHenry… House Financial Services Chair Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) said Monday that contributions from a fundraiser with executives at Signature Bank, secured just ten days before its collapse, have been returned. McHenry is tasked with overseeing one of the House’s inquiries into the bank’s failure but raised thousands from its top brass at a March 2 fundraiser. Bloomberg scooped the fundraiser on Monday along with details of McHenry’s perch as a favorite lawmaker of the doomed bank. McHenry has announced that his committee will hold a bipartisan hearing digging into the collapse of both Signature and Silicon Valley Bank next week, which he said would be “the first of multiple.” Border package coming soon: Reps. Jordan and Mark Green (R-Tenn.), the chairs of the Judiciary and Homeland Security committees, respectively, pledged during a joint press conference that they would soon be ready to take up border security and immigration legislation through their respective panels. Jordan said he would take a package of eight bills up for a vote. Meanwhile, Green told Jordain afterward that he’ll have a bill and a mark up by the end of April, confirming what we scooped last week. After that Green said he expects what emerges from the two panels to get merged into one bill before heading to the House floor.
| | | | 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. | | | | | Balanced budget who?: Top House Republicans are sending up an early warning sign that Republicans might not be able to adopt a balanced budget plan this year—a promise talked up by members of the conference last year. Budget Committee Chair Jodey Arrington, (R-Texas) warned that a budget that balances over 10 years is “aspirational,” but signaled that it might not be feasible. Instead, he said that his committee, as well as McCarthy, will be focused on what financial moves they can make over the next two years. Arington sidestepped committing to a deadline by which Republicans would put out a budget, noting that the process is running behind. “Our focus right now is giving the speaker what he needs to negotiate on the debt ceiling … and unpacking and understanding what is in President Biden’s budget.” Scalise told Olivia that “We're talking about it here at the issues conference. And there are a lot of good ideas." Rep. Ralph Norman (R-S.C.), one of McCarthy’s dissenters during the speaker race, said he has had “ a good line of communication” with the speaker about the budget and promised “we're going to provide him a budget.” Norman stressed on Monday that he and fellow conservatives are “not going to be put in a box like we were on the omnibus during Christmastime,” because they plan to move a budget and separate spending bills. As for McCarthy, Norman says: “Let's let him go fight for it. Let's let him know what he's going to have to deliver on….He will battle for us on what we put forward and I think he knows he's got to do that. Because we finally put the confidence in him. We gave him the five votes that he needs.” Olivia asked Scalise about the House Freedom Caucus’ budget and spending proposal, which he called “all really good starting points for this conversation.” He said the arch-conservative group “is engaged in the negotiations within our conference, about how to get a budget out of committee and ultimately pass that budget through the house and engage the president in deeper conversations about getting spending under control in Washington.” GOWDY’S DINNER GUIDANCE — Former Oversight Committee Chair Trey Gowdy (R-S.C.) spoke with House Republicans during the final night of their confab as part of a discussion on how to conduct committee investigations—something GOP lawmakers have put at the heart of their agenda given the limitations of divided government. Gowdy talked to Olivia about his message, describing it as focused on some of the bread-and-butter of oversight to a conference with plenty of new members and first-time chairs. “Who is your jury? What’s your objective? Are you going to use the Republican witness to get where you want to get, or are you going to use the Democrat witness? How do you cross examine someone? …It’s, ‘how do I ask questions?’” Gowdy said. (Flagging for House Dems: Gowdy says he told McCarthy that if Democratic Leader Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) asked him, he would also have this same discussion with the minority leader.) As part of the event, Gowdy also fielded questions from Republicans. One thing that did get discussed, GOP members told Jordain, is the GOP’s investigation of the Manhattan district attorney, as well as basic elements of congressional life like how to get to all your committee meetings.
| | | | A message from The Alzheimer's Association:   | | | DEBTOR’S DANCE — Democrats aren’t sweating one House GOP plan on the debt. The proposal would allow the Treasury Department to exceed the limit to pay principal and interest to all U.S. debt holders, including foreign countries like Japan and China. Democrats are convinced Americans will balk at being left behind. Jennifer Scholtes digs in. Senate Budget Chair: “As a Democrat, I actually look forward to them voting to put foreign investors ahead of American families for payment,” said Sheldon Whitehouse (D-R.I.). “I’m not sure that’s the message they want to take to the public in 2024, but God bless them if they do.” House Ways and Means Chair: “I’m actually surprised my colleagues on the other side aren’t supportive of this legislation,” Rep. Jason Smith (R-Mo.) said before his panel approved the measure this month. “After all, the bill says we will never default on our debt and seniors will always be protected.” McCAUL’S UKRAINE TAKE — House Foreign Affairs Chair Rep. Michael McCaul (R-Texas) isn’t sweating the words of Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis questioning the need for continued U.S. involvement in Ukraine’s war with Russia. “It was very bipartisan in the beginning. I think it still is,” he said of Ukrainian aid at the House GOP retreat in Florida. “It's democracy. Everybody's entitled to their points of view.” He said the conflict is inevitably connected to China and their ambitions, and said a more isolationist wing of his party has always been present in one form or another. “The isolationist wing has always been there,’ he said. “It was in 1938-39. And every time I go to Poland, they talk about 1939 and Hitler invading. This is the largest invasion in Europe since World War Two.” STARBUCKS SHOWDOWN — Even though Howard Schultz, the interim CEO of Starbucks, is stepping down from his position, he is still expected to testify before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions about workers’ efforts to unionize. “Starbucks has confirmed with the Senate's Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions committee that Howard Schultz's early departure as CEO will not affect his scheduled testimony next week,” Sanders’ spokesperson tweeted Monday. BACK TO IRAQ — What your Huddle host is (still) reading about the invasion and the 20 years that followed.
| | | | DOWNLOAD THE POLITICO MOBILE APP: Stay up to speed with the newly updated POLITICO mobile app, featuring timely political news, insights and analysis from the best journalists in the business. The sleek and navigable design offers a convenient way to access POLITICO's scoops and groundbreaking reporting. Don’t miss out on the app you can rely on for the news you need, reimagined. DOWNLOAD FOR iOS– DOWNLOAD FOR ANDROID. | | | | | | | | GYM JORDAN — Rep. Jordan is known amongst his colleagues for his workout routine — and being able to tell if he completed it that morning based on whether or not he is taking the Rayburn basement train or walking. In Florida, Jordan decided to do at least part of that work out in full view of reporters and some of his colleagues as he ran through the lobby and main hallway on the first floor of the Marriott (presumably toward the fitness center?). SECRET MENU — House Republicans are keeping close company with run-of-the-mill spring break tourists this week in Orlando — and the latter group is starting to notice. Jordain was asked several times on Monday why there were so many police officers stationed around the hotel (Capitol Police have a noticeable presence) and why hotel visitors seemed to think (correctly) that they were seeing so many members of Congress. One hotel guest — while standing next to Rep. Chuck Fleischmann (R-Tenn.), who they didn’t recognize — said he had asked Starbucks workers inside the hotel what was up but were told they had been asked not to talk about it. (Members are walking around the hotel wearing lanyards that include a badge with their name and a small photo, making their presence hardly a state secret.) Hump day plans… Join the Modernization Staff Association, Demand Progress, Pay Our Interns, and R Street for a listening session on “How to Modernize Congress for Junior Staffers” tomorrow from noon to 1 PM ET in CVC 217. RSVP. QUICK LINKS Why Congress is still waiting for answers about spy balloons, from Erin Banco How Rick Scott Became the Senator Washington Loves to Hate, from Sam Brodey at The Daily Beast ‘I’m emancipated now’: Nancy Pelosi enjoying life after leadership, from Nolan D. McCaskill at The Los Angeles Times Biden’s appeals court nominee faces rare Democratic scrutiny from Seung Min Kim at the Associated Press TRANSITIONS Jillian Smith will be a legislative assistant for Rep. Lloyd Doggett (D-Texas). She previously was a scheduler for Rep. Judy Chu (D-Calif.). Josiah Adams is now special assistant to DCCC Chair Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.). He previously was deputy scheduler for Rep. Steny Hoyer (D-Md.). Madison Andrus is now press secretary for Rep. Dan Goldman (D-N.Y.). She most recently was comms director for Rep. Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Calif.). Jesse Von Stein has joined the office of Rep. Jim Baird (R-Ind.) as legislative director. Jesse was previously legislative director for the late Rep. Don Young (R-Alaska). TODAY IN CONGRESS The House convenes at 5 p.m. The Senate convenes at 3 pm and will vote at 5:30pm on the motion to proceed to S.316, a bill to repeal the authorizations for use of military force against Iraq. AROUND THE HILL Slow start to the week today.
| | | MONDAY’S WINNER: Casey Burgat correctly answered that in the 117th Congress, 17 veterans served in the Senate. TODAY’S QUESTION from Casey: Which first lady made history by being the first to fly in an airplane? And who was her pilot? 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 Alzheimer's Association: The Biden Administration is continuing to block access to FDA-approved Alzheimer’s treatments. Despite the fact that Medicare has always covered FDA-approved treatments for those living with a disease, CMS has made the unprecedented decision to deny access to FDA-approved treatments for people living with Alzheimer’s. Each day CMS blocks access, more than 2,000 people transition to a more advanced stage of Alzheimer’s where they are no longer eligible for treatment. Each day matters to someone living with early stage Alzheimer's when it comes to slowing the progression of this disease. The Administration’s policy to block access to these treatments eliminates people’s options, resulting in continued irreversible disease progression and contributes to greater health inequities. The role and responsibility of CMS is to provide health care coverage, not to stand between a patient and a doctor when deciding what FDA-approved treatments are appropriate. This decision must be reversed. | | | | | | | Follow us | | | | |
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