Weekly Washington Outlook — March 30, 2015

on March 30, 2015 in Weekly Washington Outlook

By Vinoth Chandar (Flickr: Capitol Hill - Washington, DC) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons — By Vinoth Chandar (Flickr: Capitol Hill – Washington, DC) [CC BY 2.0 (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

What to Watch This Week:

Congress:

House:
The House is in recess, returning the week of April 13th.

Senate:
The Senate is in recess, returning the week of April 13th.

White House:

On Monday, the President and First Lady, joined by the Vice President, will celebrate the life and legacy of Senator Edward M. Kennedy and the importance of the U.S. Senate in the lives of all Americans at the dedication of the Edward M. Kennedy Institute for the United States Senate in Boston, Massachusetts. The President will also attend a DNC event in Massachusetts.

The balance of the week, the President will attend unspecified meetings at the White House.

Also this Week:

Nominations – When the Senate returns, the chamber may resume consideration of a stalled anti-trafficking bill that has become mired in abortion politics. Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has said repeatedly that the Senate must complete work on this legislation before he will move to confirm Loretta Lynch to be Attorney General.

Health – The Senate is expected to vote in mid-April on legislation that would permanently alter Medicare’s sustainable growth rate. This legislation also extends the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) for two years. It passed overwhelmingly in the House at the end of last week.

Education – There is considerable speculation House Leadership will try again to pass H.R. 5, an ESEA reauthorization bill, after the recess. The legislation had to be pulled from the floor in February and there is still unclear whether the measure has enough Republican support. In the Senate, HELP Committee Chairman Alexander (R-TN) and Ranking Member Murray (D-WA) are continuing to negotiate a bipartisan ESEA reauthorization bill. A mark-up has been scheduled for the week of April 13th and it is possible details may soon be announced.