Looming debates over the 2008 Budget [3] will take center stage this week, as Democrats prepare a $700 billion spending bill package for most of the discretionary budget. The package, containing such priorities as Defense, Veterans Affairs, Labor and HHS, could be hard for President Bush to veto. Several remaining budget bills might be placed in a second package, while others will see individual fights between Congress and the White House.

In other business, the Senate will once again vote on the $35 billion SCHIP [4] expansion. The House passed a revised version of the bill last week, amid Republican complaints that the vote was poorly timed while wildfires raged in California. House lawmakers will turn their attention to an overhaul of the Trade Adjustment Assistance [5] program, which assists workers whose jobs move oversees.

Here are the committee hearings scheduled for this week in Congress:

Hearings Schedules:

October 29, 2007

Senate

• Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
  To hold hearings to examine the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) and simmering tensions with Russia before parliamentary and presidential elections -- Oct 29 at 4 p.m.

October 30, 2007

Senate

• Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs [6]
  To hold hearings to examine the role of local law enforcement in countering violent Islamist extremism [SD-342] – Oct 30 at 9:30 a.m.
• Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions [7]
  To hold hearings to examine ways to protect the United States from drug-resistant tuberculosis, focusing on reinvesting in control and new tools research [SD-430] -- October 30 at 10 a.m.
• Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation [8]
  Business meeting to consider S. 2096, to amend the Do-Not-Call Implementation Act to eliminate the automatic removal of telephone numbers registered on the Federal "do-not-call" registry, S. 1580, to reauthorize the Coral Reef Conservation Act of 2000, S. 2045, to reform the Consumer Product Safety Commission to provide greater protection for children's products, to improve the screening of noncompliant consumer products, to improve the effectiveness of consumer product recall programs, S. 1853, to promote competition, to preserve the ability of local governments to provide broadband capability and services, S. 1675, to implement the recommendations of the Federal Communications Commission report to the Congress regarding low-power FM service, H. Con. Res. 225, honoring the 50th anniversary of the dawn of the Space Age, and the ensuing 50 years of productive and peaceful space activities, and the nominations of Todd J. Zinser, of Virginia, to be Inspector General, Department of Commerce, Robert Clarke Brown, of Ohio, to be a Member of the Board of Directors of the Metropolitan Washington Airports Authority, and promotions lists in the United States Coast Guard, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration [SR-253] -- Oct 30 at 2:30 p.m.
• Senate Committee on Foreign Relations [9]
  To hold hearings to examine the nominations of Sean R. Mulvaney, of Illinois, to be an Assistant Administrator of the United States Agency for International Development, and Daniel D. Heath, of New Hampshire, to be United States Alternate Executive Director of the International Monetary Fund [SD-419] -- Oct 30 at 2:30 p.m.
• Senate Select Committee on Intelligence [10]
  To hold closed hearings to examine certain intelligence matters [SH-219] -- Oct 30 at 2:30 p.m.

House

• House Committee on Foreign Affairs [11]
  Hearing on Russia on the Eve of National Elections, 9:30 a.m., 2172 Rayburn.
• Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations [12]
  Hearing entitled "Preserving and Expanding Minority Banks," 10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn.
• House Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on the Constitution, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties [13]
  Oversight hearing on the Voting Section of the Civil Rights Division of the U.S. Department of Justice, 10 a.m., 2141 Rayburn.
• Committee on Armed Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations [14]
  Hearing on Stabilization and Reconstruction Operations: Learning from Provincial Reconstruction Team (PRT) Experience, 10 a.m., 2212 Rayburn.
• Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia [15]
  Hearing on Will Increased Postal Rates put Mailers out of Business? 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn.
• [[House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform| Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on National Security, and Foreign Affairs, hearing on Iran: Reality, Options, and Consequences--Iranian People and Attitudes, 10 a.m., 2247 Rayburn.
• Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forest and Public Lands [16]
  Hearing on the following bills: H.R. 415, To amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate segments of the Taunton River in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts as a component of the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System; H.R. 1143, To authorize the Secretary of the Interior to lease certain lands in Virgin Islands National Park; H.R. 1286, Washington-Rochambeau Revolutionary Route National Historic Trail Designation Act; H.R. 1545, To direct the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a boundary study to evaluate the significance of Fort San Geronimo and other related resources in the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico and the suitability and feasibility of their inclusion in the National Park System as part of the San Juan National Historic Site; H.R. 1836, Weir Farm National Historic Site Amendment Act; H.R. 3022, Sequoia-Kings Canyon National Park Wilderness Act of 2007; H.R. 3120, Stranahan House, Trading Post and Campsite Historic Preservation Act; H.R. 3265, Harry S. Truman Birthplace Study Act; H.R. 3473, Bountiful City Land Consolidation Act; H.R. 3616, Lewis and Clark National Historic Trail Extension Study Act of 2007; and H.R. 3821, Battle of Matewan Study Act, 10 a.m., 1324 Longworth.
• House Committee on Ways and Means [17]
  Hearing on the Appropriateness of Retirement Plan Fees, 10 a.m., 1100 Longworth.
• House Committee on Energy and Environment Subcommittee on Environment and Hazardous Materials [18]
  Tto mark up H.R. 1747, Safe Drinking Water for Healthy Communities Act of 2007, 10:30 a.m., 2123 Rayburn.
• House Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law [19]
  To continue hearings on Straightening Out the Mortgage Mess: How Can We Protect Home Ownership and Provide Relief to Consumers in Financial Distress?--Part II, 12 p.m., 2141 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Agriculture [20]
  Hearing to review technologies in the meat industry, 1:30 p.m., 1300 Longworth.
• House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on State, Foreign Operations, and Related Agencies [21]
  Hearing on Assessing an Effective Diplomatic and Development Program in Iraq: an Examination of the Diplomatic Surge, 2 p.m., 2359 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Energy and Commerce [22]
  To mark up the following bills: H.R. 1534, Mercury Export Ban Act of 2007; H.R. 2830, Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2007; H.R. 3461, Safeguarding America's Families by Enhancing and Reorganizing New and Efficient Technologies Act of 2007; H.R. 2601, To extending the authority of the Federal Trade Commission to collect fees to administer and enforce the provisions relating to the "Do-not-call" registry of the Telemarketing Sales Rule; H.R. 3541, Do-Not-Call Improvement Act of 2007; H.R. 3526, To include all banking agencies within the existing regulatory authority under the Federal Trade Commission Act with respect to depository institutions; H.R. 3403, 911 Modernization and Safety Act of 2007; and H.R. 3919, Broadband Census of America Act of 2007; 2 p.m., 2123 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Financial Services Subcommittee on Capital Markets, Insurance and Government Sponsored Enterprises [23]
  Hearing entitled "Additional Perspectives on the Need for Insurance Regulatory Reform," 2 p.m., 2128 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific and the Global Environment [11]
  Hearing on Renewable Energy and the Global Environment, 2 p.m., 2172 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Border, Maritime and Global Counterterrorism [24]
  Hearing entitled "The SAFE Port Act: Status of Implementation One Year Later," 2 p.m., 311 Cannon.
• House Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Courts, the Internet, and Intellectual Property [13]
  Hearing on Stifling or Stimulating--Role of Gene Patents in Research and Genetic Testing, 2 p.m., 2141 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Rules [25]
  To consider the following: H.R. 2262, Trade and Globalization Act of 2007, 2 p.m., H-313 Capitol.
• House Committee on Science and Technology Subcommittee on Energy and Environment [26]
  Hearing on Research to Improve Water-Use Efficiency and Conservation: Technologies and Practices, 2 p.m., 2318 Rayburn.

October 31, 2007

Senate

• Senate Committee on the Budge [27]
  To hold hearings to examine S. 2063, to establish a Bipartisan Task Force for Responsible Fiscal Action, to assure the economic security of the United States, and to expand future prosperity and growth for all Americans [SD-608] -- Oct 31 at 9 a.m.
• Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs [28]
  To hold an oversight hearing to examine the Uniformed Services Employment and Reemployment Rights Act (USERRA) [SD-562] – Oct 31 at 9:30 a.m.
• Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works [29]
  To hold hearings to examine the licensing process for the Yucca Mountain Repository [SD-406] -- Oct 31 at 10 a.m.
• Senate Judiciary Committee [30]
  To hold hearings to examine Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) amendments, focusing on ways to protect Americans' security and privacy while preserving the rule of law and government accountability [SD-226] -- Oct 31 at 10 a.m.
• Senate Committee on Foreign Relations [31]
  Full Committee, business meeting to consider S. Res. 334, expressing the sense of the Senate regarding the degradation of the Jordan River and the Dead Sea and welcoming cooperation between the peoples of Israel, Jordan, and Palestine, United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, with Annexes, done at Montego Bay, December 10, 1982 (the "Convention"), and the Agreement Relating to the Implementation of Part XI of the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea of 10 December 1982, with Annex, adopted at New York, July 28, 1994 (the "Agreement"), and signed by the United States, subject to ratification, on July 29, 1994 (Treaty Doc. 103-39), Convention Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Kingdom of Belgium for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and accompanying Protocol, signed on November 27, 2006, at Brussels (the "proposed Treaty") (Treaty Doc. 110-03), Protocol Amending the Convention Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income signed at Copenhagen May 2, 2006 D1431(the "Protocol") (Treaty Doc. 109-19), Protocol Amending the Convention Between the Government of the United States of America and the Government of the Republic of Finland for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and on Capital, signed at Helsinki May 31, 2006 (the "Protocol") (Treaty Doc. 109-18), and Protocol Amending the Convention Between the United States of America and the Federal Republic of Germany for the Avoidance of Double Taxation and the Prevention of Fiscal Evasion with Respect to Taxes on Income and Capital and to Certain Other Taxes, Signed on August 29, 1989, signed at Berlin June 1, 2006 (the "Protocol"), along with a related Joint Declaration (Treaty Doc. 109-20) [SD-419] -- Oct 31 at 10:30 a.m.
• Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Subcommittee on Securities, Insurance and Investment [32]
  To hold hearings to examine climate disclosure, focusing on measuring financial risks and opportunities [SD-538] -- Oct 31 at 2:30 p.m.
• Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery [6]
  To hold hearings to examine post-catastrophe crisis, focusing on addressing the dramatic need and scant availability of mental health care in the Gulf Coast [SD-342] -- Oct 31 at 2:30 p.m.

House

• House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Telecommunications and The Internet [22]
  To continue hearings entitled "Status of the DTV Transition--Part 3", 9:30 a.m., 2123 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Foreign Affairs [11]
  Full Committee, hearing on The Mexico City Policy/Global Gag Rule: Its Impact on Family Planning and Reproductive Health, 10 a.m., 2172 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform [15]
  Full Committee, hearing on Oil and Gas Development: Exemptions from Health and Environmental Protections, 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Education and Labor [33]
  To mark up Supplemental Mine Improvement and New Emergency Response Act, 10 a.m., 2175 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Legislative Branch [21]
  On CVC Oversight, 10 a.m., 2362A Rayburn.
• House Committee on Homeland Security [24]
  Full Committee, hearing entitled "Homeland Security: TWIC Failures: TWIC Examined," 10 a.m., 311 Cannon.
• House Committee on Science and Technology Subcommittee on Research and Science Education [26]
  Hearing on Research on Environmental and Safety Impacts of Nanotechnology: Current Status of Planning and Implementation under the National Nanotechnology Initiative, 10 a.m., 2318 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Small Business Subcommittee on Investigations and Oversight [34]
  Hearing entitled "Competitive Bidding for Durable Medical Equipment: Will Small Suppliers Be Able To Compete?" 10 a.m., 2360 Rayburn.
• House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence [35]
  Executive, briefing on Hot Spots, 8:45, and executive, briefing on DNI Personnel, 10 a.m., H-405 Capitol.
• House Committee on Natural Resources [16]
  Full Committee, hearing on H.R. 2801, Izembek and Alaska Peninsula Wildlife Refuges and Wilderness Enhancement and King Cove Safe Access Act, 11 a.m., 1324 Longworth.
• House Committee on Science and Technology [26]
  Full Committee, hearing on Aviation Safety: Can NASA Do More to Protect the Public? 1 p.m., 2318 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on International Organizations, Human Rights, and Oversight [11]
  Hearing on the Activities of the Department of State's Office of the Inspector General, 2 p.m., 2172 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emerging Threats, Cybersecurity, and Science and Technology and the Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection [24]
  Joint hearing entitled "Enhancing and Implementing the Cybersecurity Elements of the Sector Specific Plans," 2 p.m., 311 Cannon.
• House Committee on House Administration [36]
  Oversight hearing on the Use of Robocalls' in Federal Campaigns, 2 p.m., 1310 Longworth
• House Committee on the Judiciary [13]
  Full Committee, hearing on Combating Modern Slavery: Reauthorization of Anti-Trafficking Programs, 2 p.m., 2141 Rayburn.

November 1, 2007

Senate

• Senate Committee on Indian Affairs [37]
  To hold an oversight hearing to examine the impact of the Flood Control Act of 1944 on Indian Tribes along the Missouri river [SD-628] -- Nov 1 at 9:30 a.m.
• Joint Hearing: Senate Select Committee on Intelligence [10]
  Meeting of conferees on proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 2008 for the intelligence community [S-407, Capitol] -- 10 a.m.
• Senate Committee on Finance [38]
  To hold hearings to examine pending nominations [SD-215] -- Nov 1 at 10 a.m.
• Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions [7]
  Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine the nominations of Gregory F. Jacob, of New Jersey, to be Solicitor, and Howard Radzely, of Maryland, to be Deputy Secretary, both of the Department of Labor [SD-430] -- Nov 1 at 10 a.m.
• Senate Committee on the Judiciary [39]
  Full Committee, business meeting to consider S. 1946, to help Federal prosecutors and investigators combat public corruption by strengthening and clarifying the law, S. 2168, to amend title 18, United States Code, to enable increased federal prosecution of identity theft crimes and to allow for restitution to victims of identity theft, S. 352, to provide for media coverage of Federal court proceedings, and the nominations of John Daniel Tinder, of Indiana, to be United States Circuit Judge for the Seventh Circuit, and Julie L. Myers, of Kansas, to be Assistant Secretary of Homeland Security [SD-226] – Nov 1 at 10 a.m.
• Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security [6]
  To hold hearings to examine the Small Business Administration, focusing on the efficacy of the 7(a) loan program [SD-342] -- Nov 1 at 2 p.m.
• Senate Select Committee on Intelligence [10]
  Full Committee, meeting of conferees on proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 2008 for the intelligence community [S-407, Capitol] – Nov 1 at 10 a.m.
• Senate Select Committee on Intelligence [10]
  Full Committee, to hold closed hearings to examine certain intelligence matters [SH-219] – Nov 1 at 2:30 p.m.

House

• House Committee on Natural Resources Subcommittee on National Parks, Forests and Public Lands [16]
  Hearing on H.R. 3301, Southeast Arizona Land Exchange and Conservation Act of 2007, 1324 Longworth.
• House Select Committee on Energy Independence and Global Warming [40]
  Hearing entitled "Wildfires and the Climate Crisis," 9:30 a.m., room to be announced.
• House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee on Highway and Transit [41]
  Hearing on Drug and Alcohol Testing of Commercial Motor Vehicle Drivers, 10 a.m., 2167 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Veterans' Affairs Subcommittee on Health [42]
  Hearing on the VA Construction Process, 10 a.m., 334 Cannon.
• House Committee on Education and Labor [33]
  Full Committee, hearing on Barriers to Equal Educational Opportunities: Addressing the Rising Costs of a College Education, 10 a.m., 2175 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Oversight and Investigations [43]
  Hearing entitled "FDA Foreign Drug Inspection Program: A System at Risk," 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn.
• House Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Crime [13] Hearing on H.R. 2878, Enhanced Financial Recovery and Equitable Retirement Treatment Act of 2007, 10 a.m., 2141 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform [15]
  Full Committee, hearing on The Administration's Regulatory Actions on Medicaid: The Effects on Patients, Doctors, Hospitals, and States, 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Small Business [34]
  Full Committee, hearing on Evaluating the Impact of Pending Free Trade Agreements upon U.S. Small Businesses, 10 a.m., 2360 Rayburn.
• House Committee on the Budget [44]
  Hearing on Counting the Change: Accounting for the Fiscal Impacts of Controlling Carbon Emissions, 11:30 a.m., 210 Cannon.
• Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law [13]
  Hearing on H.R. 3359, Mobile Workforce State Income Tax Fairness and Simplification Act of 2007, 12 p.m., 2237 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection [24]
  Hearing entitled "Aviation Security Part II: A Frontline Perspective on the Need for Enhanced Human Resources and Equipment," 2 p.m., 311 Cannon.
• House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform Subcommittee on Government Management, Organization and Procurement [15]
  Hearing on Too Many Cooks? Coordinating Federal and State Health IT, 2 p.m., 2154 Rayburn.

November 2, 2007

House

• House Committee on Financial Services [23]
  Full Committee, hearing entitled ``Progress in Administration and Other Efforts to Coordinate and Enhance Mortgage Foreclosure Prevention," 10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn.