This week: Time is running out to pass the (already overdue) federal budget (including funding for Iraq and Afghanistan), energy and climate legislation, fixing the Alternative Minimum Tax, the Farm Bill and hearings on the erased waterboarding videotapes.

The federal budget and Iraq funding:Lawmakers are quickly running out of time to pass the 2008 federal budget as the last continuing resolution (which continues funding the government at 2007 levels) will expire at the end of the week, and a looming holiday recess is fast approaching.

The House and Senate will take up an omnibus spending package [3] this week that will contain the funding for the remaining 15 cabinet departments and other agencies comprising the federal government (the Defense Department spending bill was approved last month). Democrats – who had already reduced the amount of spending contained in the package over President Bush's budget request from $22 billion to $11 billion – are planning to sweeten the deal further by including funds for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The last time House Democrats offered an Iraq spending bill, they included language requiring troop reductions, with a full withdrawal complete by December 2008. That bill was defeated [4] in the Senate, where it fell short of the 60 votes required to end debate and move to a vote.

The Democratic plan is now to get the ball rolling in the House, introducing a spending package with $30 billion in funding for Afghanistan, in a move designed to appease anti-war progressives who want to end the Iraq war but one that is ultimately fairly empty, since everyone acknowledges that the Department of Defense will likely shift that money to continue funding Iraq. The Senate will then introduce an amendment including as much as $70 billion for Iraq and Afghanistan.

By cutting the strings to withdrawal from the Iraq funding, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi [5] and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid [6] hope to win over enough Republicans to override a presidential veto. However, though details of the spending package haven’t been disclosed, President Bush has already threatened to veto the measure.

Hearings on the erased waterboarding tapes: Following the revelation last week that the CIA had destroyed the taped interrogations [7] of terrorism detainees, Congressional Democrats are looking to hold hearings on the matter. CIA Director Michael Hayden is set to appear before the Senate Intelligence Committee Tuesday.

Alternative Minimum Tax:The two chambers are considering different proposals to extend an exemption for the alternative minimum tax. Adopted in 1969, the tax was supposed to ensure a level of taxation for families who had regularly paid little or no taxes. Since it was not indexed to inflation, the number of taxpayers affected by the alternative minimum tax has increased, including many middle-class families. Several exemptions have been passed since the AMT was enacted, with the latest expiring this year. Twenty-three million Americans might have to pay the AMT next year if a fix is not approved.

Energy and climate change legislation:Another cloture vote is planned on the CLEAN Energy Act of 2007 [8], which didn’t receive the 60 votes necessary to end debate last week. Though the legislation would increase fuel-efficiency requirements automobiles for the first time in 32 years, Republicans balked at a tax provision and a Renewable Portfolio Standard. The RPS would require utilities to provide 11% of their electricity from renewable sources by 2020. Reid will likely strip a tax provision out of the bill, and try to push the RPS standard through.

Hearing Schedules:
December 11, 2007

Senate

• Senate Committee on Appropriations [9]
  To hold hearings to examine the President's proposed budget request for fiscal year 2008 for the supplemental request for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, 10 a.m., SD-106.
• Senate Committee on Finance [10]
  To hold hearings to examine S. 1673, to facilitate the export of United States agricultural products to Cuba as authorized by the Trade Sanctions Reform and Export Enhancement Act of 2000, to remove impediments to the export to Cuba of medical devices and medicines, to allow travel to Cuba by United States citizens, to establish an agricultural export promotion program with respect to Cuba, 10 a.m., SD-215.
• Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions [11]
  To hold hearings to examine the global challenge of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, 10 a.m., SR-325.
• Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations [12]
  To hold joint hearings with the Committee on Energy and Natural Resources Subcommittee on Energy to examine the role of speculation in recent crude oil prices, 10 a.m., SH-216.
• Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs [12]
  Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine e-government 2.0, focusing on improving innovation, collaboration, and access, 10 a.m., SD-342.
• Senate Committee on the Judiciary Subcommittee on Terrorism, Technology and Homeland Security [13]
  To hold hearings to examine the legal rights of Guantanamo detainees, focusing on what they are, should they be changed, and is there an end in sight, 10 a.m., SD-226.
• Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources [14]
  To hold hearings to examine S. 2156, to authorize and facilitate the improvement of water management by the Bureau of Reclamation, to require the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Energy to increase the acquisition and analysis of water resources for irrigation, hydroelectric power, municipal, and environmental uses, 2:30 p.m., SD-366.
• Senate Committee on Foreign Relations [15]
  To receive a closed briefing on national intelligence estimate on Iran, focusing on nuclear intentions and capabilities, 2:30 p.m., S-407, Capitol.
• Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Right [13]
  To hold hearings to examine the Sunshine in Litigation Act, focusing on whether court secrecy undermines public health and safety, 2:30 p.m., SD-226.

House

• House Committee on Armed Services [16]
  Hearing on Security and Stability in Afghanistan: Status of U.S. Strategy and Operations and the Way Ahead, 2 p.m., 2118 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on Information Policy, Census, and National Archives [17]
  Hearing on A Review of the Census Bureau's Risk Management Activities for IT Acquisitions, 2 p.m., 2154 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Rules [18]
  To consider the following: Conference Report to accompany H.R. 1585, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008; Conference to accompany H.R. 2082, Intelligence Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008; and a resolution Providing for the consideration of the Senate amendment to the bill (H.R. 2764) making appropriations for the Department of State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2008, and for other purposes, 5 p.m., H-313 Capitol.

December 12, 2007

Senate

• Senate Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on the Constitution [13]
  To hold hearings to examine S. 1782, to amend chapter 1 of title 9 of United States Code with respect to arbitration, 9:30 a.m., SD-226.
• Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, Subcommittee on Surface Transportation and Merchant Marine Infrastructure, Safety and Security [19]
  To hold an oversight hearing to examine the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, focusing on truck driver hours-of-service (HOS) rules and truck safety, 10 a.m., SR-253.
• Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions [11]
  Full Committee, business meeting to consider S. 579, to amend the Public Health Service Act to authorize the Director of the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences to make grants for the development and operation of research centers regarding environmental factors that may be related to the etiology of breast cancer, and any pending nominations, 10 a.m., SD-430.
• Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs [20]
  Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine the nominations of Harvey E. Johnson, Jr., of Virginia, to be Deputy Administrator and Chief Operating Officer, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and Jeffrey William Runge, of North Carolina, to be Assistant Secretary for Health Affairs and Chief Medical Officer, both of the Department of Homeland Security, 10 a.m., SD-342.
• Senate Committee on Rules and Administration [21]
  To hold hearings to examine a recently released Government Accountability Office report, focusing on funding challenges and facilities maintenance at the Smithsonian Institution, 10 a.m., SR-301.
• Senate Special Committee on Aging [22]
  To hold hearings to examine reverse mortgages, focusing on polishing not tarnishing the golden years, 10:30 a.m., SD-628.

House

• House Committee on Armed Services, Subcommittee on Readiness [16]
  Hearing on implementation of the Base Realignment and Closure 2005 decisions, 10 a.m., 2118 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations [23]
  Hearing entitled ``Energy Speculation: Is Greater Regulation Necessary to Stop Price Manipulation?'' 10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Financial Services Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit [24]
  Hearing entitled “The Financial Consumer Hotline Act of 2007: Providing Consumers with Easy Access to the Appropriate Banking Regulator,” 10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Foreign Affairs, Subcommittee on the Middle East and South Asia [25]
  Hearing on Connecting the Money to the Mission: The Past, Present, and Future of U.S. Assistance to the Palestinians, 10 a.m., 2200 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Homeland Security, Subcommittee on Transportation Security and Infrastructure Protection [26]
  Hearing on the Chemical Facility Anti-Terrorism Act of 2008, 10 a.m., 311 Cannon.
• House Committee on Natural Resources [27]
  Oversight hearing on New Fees for Filming and Photography on Public Lands, 10 a.m., 1324 Longworth.
• House Committee on Small Business [28]
  Hearing entitled “Sarbanes-Oxley Section 404: New Evidence on the Cost for Small Companies,” 10 a.m., 2360 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure, Subcommittee on Economic Development, Public Buildings, and Emergency Management [29]
  Hearing on the New DHS Headquarters at St. Elizabeths: Local Business Opportunities, 10 a.m., 2167 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Veterans' Affairs [30]
  Hearing on Stopping Suicides: Mental Health Challenges Within the Department of Veterans Affairs, 10 a.m., 345 Cannon.
• House Committee on the Judiciary, Task Force on Antitrust and Competition Policy [31]
  Hearing on Media Consolidation: Impact on Minority Ownership and Localism, 2 p.m., 2141 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, Subcommittee on Domestic Policy [17]
  Hearing on Assessing the Environmental Risks of the Water Bottling Industry's Extraction of Groundwater, 2 p.m., 2154 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and the Subcommittee on Health [30]
  Joint hearing on Outpatient Waiting Times, 2 p.m., 345 Cannon
• House Committee on Veterans’ Affairs, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations and the Subcommittee on Health [30]
  Joint hearing on Outpatient Waiting Times, 2 p.m., 345 Cannon.

December 13, 2007

Senate

• Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works [32]
  To hold hearings to examine the Clean Water Act (Public Law 92-500), focusing on the Supreme Court decisions in Solid Waste Agency of Northern Cook County and Rapanos-Carabell, 9 a.m., SD-406.
• Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources [14]
  Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine ways to reform the Mining Law of 1872, 9:30 a.m., SD-366.
• Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia [12]
  To hold hearings to examine prioritizing management, focusing on implementing chief management officers at federal agencies, 10 a.m., SD-342.
• Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation [19]
  Full Committee, to hold an oversight hearing to examine the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), 10 a.m., SR-253.
• Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety [11]
  To hold joint hearings with the House Committee on Education and Labor Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions to examine the National Labor Relations Board, focusing on decisions and their impact on worker's rights, 10 a.m., 2175-RHOB.
• Senate Committee on the Judiciary [13]
  Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine S. 2402, to provide for the substitution of the United States in certain civil actions, S. 344, to permit the televising of Supreme Court proceedings, S. 1638, to adjust the salaries of Federal justices and judges, S. 1829, to reauthorize programs under the Missing Children's Assistance Act, S. 431, to require convicted sex offenders to register online identifiers, S. 2344, to create a competitive grant program to provide for age-appropriate Internet education for children, and S. Res. 388, designating the week of February 4 through February 8, 2008, as ``National Teen Dating Violence Awareness and Prevention Week'', 10 a.m., SD-226.
• Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs [33]
  To hold hearings to examine shopping smart and avoiding scams, focusing on financial literacy during the holiday season, 10:30 a.m., SD-538.
• Senate Committee on Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies [9]
  To hold hearings to examine mine inspections, focusing on the efficacy of the Mine Safety and Health Administration (MSHA), 2 p.m., SD-124.
• Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations [12]
  To hold hearings to examine United Nations Development Program operations in North Korea, 2 p.m., SD-342.
• Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Public Lands and Forests [14]
  To hold hearings to examine forest restoration and hazardous fuels reduction efforts in the forests of Oregon and Washington, 2:30 p.m., SD-366.
• Senate Committee on Foreign Relations [15]
  Full Committee, to hold hearings to examine perspectives on the next phase of the global fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria, 2:30 p.m., SD-419.
• Select Committee on Intelligence [34]
  To hold closed hearings to examine certain intelligence matters, 2:30 p.m., SH-219.

House

• House Committee on Armed Services [16]
  Full Committee, hearing on global maritime strategy initiatives, 10 a.m., 2118 Rayburn.
• House Committee on the Budget [35]
  Hearing on CBO's Long-Term Budget Outlook, 10 a.m., 210 Cannon.
• House Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Courts, The Internet, and Intellectual Property [31]
  Hearing on H.R. 4279, Prioritizing Resources and Organization for Intellectual Property Act of 2007, 10 a.m., 2141 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform [17]
  Full Committee, hearing on Assessing Veterans' Charities, 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn.
• House Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security [31]
  Hearing on oversight of State-Run Juvenile Correctional Facilities known as ``Boot Camps,'' 1 p.m., 2141 Rayburn.

Joint Meetings

• Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions, Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety [11]
  To hold joint hearings with the House Committee on Education and Labor, Subcommittee on Health, Employment, Labor and Pensions [36]
  To examine the National Labor Relations Board, focusing on decisions and their impact on workers' rights, 10 a.m., 2175-RHOB.
• Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe
  To hold hearings to examine freedom of the media in the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) region, 10 a.m., 318B-RHOB.