CRAMER IN NO RUSH — Burgess reports that GOP Sen. Kevin Cramer (N.D.) waited until February of 2018 to get the Senate race — and he's taking his time this year too. But don't put Cramer on your retirement watch lists. In an interview, the chatty North Dakotan indicated that although he hasn't done anything official, he's still on track to run for a second term: “We don’t have filing yet nor have I formed exploratory committees or anything like that. But I've been doing a lot of fundraising. My first quarter this year probably signifies” something, he said. He raised $676,000, a tidy sum for a state that at the moment is pretty much safe for the GOP.
WHO’S ON MANCHIN CALENDAR? — Manchin is set to meet with secretary of Labor nominee Julie Su today, according to a person familiar. Manchin has expressed reservations about Su privately to his colleagues and the White House, but hasn’t said whether he will vote against her nomination for Labor secretary. MENENDEZ ON MILITARIZATION — Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), who is often critical of the his own party’s immigration policies, slammed the White House’s decision to send 1,500 troops to the southern border to deal with the influx of migrants expected with the expiration of Title 42. “The Biden Administration’s militarization of the border is unacceptable,” he said in a statement Tuesday afternoon. “There is already a humanitarian crisis in the Western Hemisphere, and deploying military personnel only signals that migrants are a threat that require our nation’s troops to contain. Nothing could be further from the truth.” Menedez pointed to a list of recommended executive actions as a way for the administration to address migrants at the southern border – something he repeated over and over to reporters who asked him Tuesday about the expiration of Title 42 next week. CHC COMMS DIRECTOR DEPARTS ― The Congressional Hispanic Caucus’ communications director is stepping down after about nearly three months on the job ― leaving the caucus down to just one employee, its executive director. Bianca Lugo Lewis, the CHC’s communications director, said she’s leaving the office for a new opportunity, Nancy reports. Lugo began her role back in February of this year, following the firing of the group’s executive director, Jacky Usyk. Lugo’s departure leaves the caucus’ already slim staffing with just one employed staffer ― Angel Colón-Rivera, the CHC’s executive director. BRINGING DOWN THE HAMMER — The bipartisan House China Select Committee is launching an investigation into whether American businesses are using Uyghur forced labor in an effort to send a message to them to fix their supply chains or get out of China. A person familiar told Huddle that the investigation will build off testimony the panel heard at its March 23rd hearing. ICYMI: FEINSTEIN MAY RETURN — They say a picture is worth 1,000 words. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) spoke to Sen. Dianne Feinstein and the ailing California Democrat is “hopeful” she’ll return to Washington next week, according to notes the Senate majority leader held at a Tuesday press conference. A photo of the notes was captured by POLITICO photographer Francis Chung. GAETZ PRESSES CHARGES — A woman who shouted and threw a glass of wine at Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-Fla.) over the weekend — in Florida, not at the WHCD — already faces one felony count of battery on an elected official and another count of misdemeanor battery, but Gaetz says he’ll also be pressing charges. Gaetz told Jesse Waters on Fox News last night that he and his wife are “happy warriors” and are “undeterred” by the incident. He also shared that the drink tossed was white wine. “I would not have been very interested in that. I'm here for the bold reds,” Gaetz said. QUICK LINKS As First Republic Bank faltered, five members of Congress dumped their personal stock investments, from Dave Levinthal, Alexandria Jacobson, Mark Alesia, at Raw Story From TikTok to '90s rap, Jamaal Bowman is learning to raise his voice in Congress, from Scott Wong at NBC News Biden to send Sean Patrick Maloney to Paris as OECD ambassador, from Hans Nichols at Axios Opinion: Can the Capitol hold a much bigger House? Yes, here’s how it would look. From Danielle Allen for The Washington Post Republicans aim to disrupt general election debates amid Trump complaints, from Michael Scherer and Josh Dawsey at The Washington Post TRANSITIONS Reed Powell has been named a legislative assistant for Rep. Greg Steube (R-Fla.). He most recently was a professional staff member for the House Communications Standards Commission and is a Jody Hice and Stephanie Bice campaign alum. Olivia Tripodi is now comms director for Rep. Steve Womack (R-Ark.). She most recently was press secretary for Rep. Stephanie Bice (R-Okla.). Paul Babbitt is now senior legislative assistant/counsel for Sen. Mark Kelly (D-Ariz.). He was previously counsel on House Ag and is a Tom O’Halleran alum. Tyler Jessee is now scheduler for Rep. David Trone (D-Md.). He most recently was a new member orientation assistant for the House Administration Committee. TODAY IN CONGRESS The House is out. The Senate convenes at 10 a.m. and at 11:30 a.m. will vote on confirmation of Orelia Eleta Merchant to be U.S. District Judge for the Eastern District of New York and cloture on Wesley L. Hsu to be U.S. District Judge for the Central District of California. At 6:15 p.m the Senate will hold roll call votes on the solar tariff CRA, the lesser prairie chicken CRA, the Hsu nomination (if cloture is invoked), and cloture on LaShonda A. Hunt to be U.S. District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois. AROUND THE HILL Noon Schumer and committee chairs hold a press conference to launch a new national security and china competition bill. (Ohio Clock Corridor) Noon Sens. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) and John Cornyn (R-Texas) will hold a press conference calling on President Biden to reverse course and keep the Title 42 immigration policy in place. (Senate Studio) 2 p.m. Sen. Rick Scott (R-Fla.) holds a press conference on the debt limit. (Senate Swamp) 3 p.m. Senate Majority Whip Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Sens. Menendez, Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Peter Welch (D-Vt.) will meet with Venezuelan opposition leader Juan Guaidó, who recently fled Venezuela. (S-321)
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