Weekly Washington Outlook — April 6, 2015

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What to Watch This Week:

Congress:

House:

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

Senate:

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

White House:

On Monday, the president and the his family will participate in the White House Easter Egg Roll. The event will feature live music, sports courts, cooking stations, storytelling, and Easter egg rolling.

On Tuesday, President Obama will host an Easter Prayer Breakfast at the White House; the vice president will also attend.

On Wednesday, the president will depart the White House en route to Kingston, Jamaica.

On Thursday, President Obama will hold a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Portia Simpson-Miller of Jamaica and participate in a meeting with Caribbean Community leaders. The president will also participate in a town hall with young leaders. In the evening, President Obama will depart Kingston en route to Panama City, Panama.

On Friday, the president will hold a bilateral meeting with Panamanian President Juan Carlos Varela and participate in the Summit of the Americas CEO Forum. In the evening President Obama will attend the Summit of the Americas Opening Ceremonies.

On Saturday, the president will attend official Summit of the Americas events. The President will participate in a press conference before departing Panama en route to Washington.

Coming Up Next Week:

Budget – When Congress returns on the April 13, the budget process will continue, with House Budget Committee Chairman Price (R-Ga.) and Senate Budget Chairman Enzi (R-Wyo.) wanting to resolve differences in the budget by April 15, the statutory deadline for adopting a concurrent resolution. There is no penalty for failing to meet the deadline, whether by adopting a budget late or not adopting one at all. If no agreement is reached, each chamber can deem its resolution as binding on the spending and revenue bills that come later.

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. Last week Senator Kirk (R-Ill.) became the fifth Republican to say he will vote to confirm Lynch, hypothetically assuring her confirmation.

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 on March 26.

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 it is still unclear whether the measure has enough Republican support. In the Senate, Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee Chairman Alexander (R-Tenn.) and Ranking Member Murray (D-Wash.) are continuing to negotiate a bipartisan ESEA reauthorization bill.  A mark-up has been scheduled for the week of April 13, and it is possible details may soon be announced.

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