It's crunch time for Congress. Coming off of their two-week Thanksgiving recess, lawmakers have a full plate on their table: 11 appropriations bills (the bulk of the federal budget) remain to be approved; energy legislation might have a shot in both chambers; warrantless wiretapping will be on the agenda; and the farm bill waits in the wings.

Appropriations
Even with high-profile, controversial subjects on the agenda in both chambers, funding the federal government will have to take front stage soon. Congress included a continuing resolution tucked in the FY08 Defense Appropriations Bill to generally fund the government at the same levels as last year, but that will expire on Dec. 14, and 11 of the 12 spending bills are still unresolved. The House and Senate approps. committees will be busy consolidating funding for 15 Cabinet departments and numerous smaller agencies, with Democratic leaders likely to push for an omnibus spending package [3] rather than try to pass each individually.

For details on the Senate and House calenders, including committee schedules, click through below the fold.

In the Senate
Negotiations throughout the recess yielded a compromise on comprehensive energy legislation. At issue were tougher fuel-efficiency standards, long-opposed by automakers, for the U.S. automobile fleet. Under the agreement, vehicles will have to meet 35 mile-per-gallon requirements by 2020. That translates to a 40% increase in efficiency, and would be the first such increase in 32 years. It also requires utility companies to get 15% of their portfolio from renewable resources over the same time frame. Sen. Pete Domenici (R-N.M.), ranking member of the Senate Energy Committee, called the renewable portfolio standard "costly" and "ineffective," and said the bill would be "untenable for many in the Senate."

A controversial bill that would limit the president's authority to conduct surveillance without a warrant will likely appear on the Senate schedule this week. Debate is expected on retroactive immunity for telecom companies that may have helped federal agencies listen in on American's phone calls—without a warrant—following the Sept. 11 attacks. The House already approved similar legislation, which did not include such immunity.

The 2007 farm bill [4], long delayed in the Senate, might also find its way to the floor this week. The energy bill compromise may receive some credit for movement on this bill, but Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) had promised to bring the bill to a vote prior to the recess. At that time, Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.)accused Reid of preventing "an open dialog and debate." Republicans want to hold votes on amendments that would change the estate tax and install a ban on issuing driver's licenses to illegal immigrants. Democrats say the issues are unrelated to the legislation.

Democrats' promise to pay-as-you-go (match every spending increase with a tax increase or equal spending decrease) might be scrapped because of the expiring alternative minimum tax. The AMT could affect 23 million families in 2008 if it is not renewed, but the question of paying for package remains: spending cuts elsewhere, or a tax increase in an election year? We might have to wait until next week to find out.

But first things first: the Senate today should begin debate on the Peru Free Trade Agreement [5], and a vote is expected Tuesday. The majority is split on the measure, and the final tally could mirror the House vote: enough Democrats voting with Republicans to approve the measure.

In the House
The State Children's Health Insurance Program [6] is on the radar once again, with House leaders working to bring a bill acceptable to enough Republicans to override a promised veto. President Bush has already vetoed a $35 billion expansion once. Pressure is mounting to pass an expansion or, at least, a bill that provides funding for states who will run out of money early next year.

The House Financial Services Committee will discuss two measures that would address the subprime lending crisis. The first, by Chairman Barney Frank (D-Mass.), would create penalties for lenders that repeatedly violated lending standards. Rep. Michael Castle's (R-Del.) bill would remove "legal liability" for lenders that change loans under certain circumstances.

The House is also set to consider the establishment of an independent ethics office to conduct oversight on representatives, with language expected to appear by the end of the week. The panel would conduct preliminary investigations into House members, but such queries would have to be initiated by House members. A vote is not expected before the end of the year.

Committee Schedules
(Only the Senate has their schedule currently posted. We'll update this post with the House's schedule as soon as it is available.)

December 3 - December 7, 2007

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

December 4, 2007

Senate

• Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs – Subcommittee on Investigations [7]
  To hold hearings to examine credit card practices, focusing on unfair interest rate increases, 9:30 a.m., SD-342.
• Senate Committee on the Judiciary [8]
  To hold hearings to examine electronic prescribing of controlled substances, addressing health care and law enforcement priorities, 10 a.m., SD-226
• Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions [9]
  To hold hearings to examine developing a comprehensive response to food safety. 10:30 a.m., SD-430
• Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation [10]
  Business meeting to consider S.1581, to establish an interagency committee to develop an ocean acidification research and monitoring plan and to establish an ocean acidification program within the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, S.2307, to amend the Global Change Research Act of 1990, S.2355, to amend the National Climate Program Act to enhance the ability of the United States to develop and implement climate change adaptation programs and policies, and S.2332, to promote transparency in the adoption of new media ownership rules by the Federal Communications Commission, and to establish an independent panel to make recommendations on how to increase the representation of women and minorities in broadcast media ownership, and promotion lists in the U.S. Coast Guard and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Commission Corps, 2:30 p.m., SR-253.
  S. 1581: Federal Ocean Acidification Research And Monitoring Act of 2007
  S. 2307: A bill to amend the Global Change Research Act of 1990, and for other purposes
  S. 2355: A bill to amend the National Climate Program Act to enhance the ability of the United States to develop and implement climate change adaptation programs and policies, and for other purposes
  S. 2332: A bill to promote transparency in the adoption of new media ownership rules by the Federal Communications Commission, and to establish an independent panel to make recommendations on how to increase the representation of women and minorities in broadcast media ownership.
• Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs –Subcommittee on State, Local, and Private Sector Preparedness and Integration [7]
  To hold hearings to examine the earthquake zone within the central Mississippi Valley, extending from northeast Arkansas, through southeast Missouri, western Tennessee, western Kentucky to southern Illinois, known as the Madrid Seismic Zone, 2:30 p.m., SD-342.

House

• House Committee on Energy and Commerce, Subcommittee on Health [11]
  Hearing on the following bills: H.R. 1343, Health Centers Renewal Act of 2007; H.R. 2915, National Health Service Corps Scholarship and Loan Replacement Programs Reauthorization Act of 2007; and H.R. 4230, School-Based Health Clinic Act of 2007, 2 p.m., 2322 Rayburn.

December 5, 2007

Senate

• Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works [12]
  Business meeting to consider S. 2191, to direct the Administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency to establish a program to decrease emissions of greenhouse gases, and the nominations of John S. Bresland, of New Jersey, to be Chairperson, and Charles Russell Horner Shearer, of Delaware, both to be Members of the Chemical Safety and Hazard Investigation Board, William H. D1561Graves, of Tennessee, Susan Richardson Williams, of Tennessee, and Thomas C. Gilliland, of Georgia, all to be Members of the Board of Directors of the Tennessee Valley Authority, 9 a.m., SD-406.
• Senate Committee on Veterans' Affairs [13]
  To hold hearings to examine the nomination of James B. Peake, of the District of Columbia, to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs, 9:30 a.m., SD-G50.
• Senate Committee on the Judiciary [8]
  To hold hearings to examine reauthorization of the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act (Public Law 93-415), focusing on protecting children and communities. 10 a.m., SD-226.
• Senate Special Committee on Aging [14]
  To hold hearings to examine the elderly who have been displaced by war, poverty, and persecution abroad, 10:30 a.m., SD-106.
• Senate Committee on the Judiciary [8]
  To hold hearings to examine the foreclosure crisis, focusing on helping families save their homes, 2:30 p.m., SD-226.
• Senate Select Committee on Intelligence [15]
  Meeting of conferees on proposed legislation authorizing funds for fiscal year 2008 for the intelligence community. 3 p.m., S-407, Capitol.

House

• House Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Telecommunications and the Internet [16]
  Hearing entitled “Oversight of the Federal Communications Commission: Media Ownership,” 9:30 a.m., 2322 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform [17]
  Hearing on Executive Pay and the Role of Compensation Consultants, 10 a.m., 2154 Rayburn.
• House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence [18]
  Full Committee, executive, briefing on Iran, 10 a.m., H-405 Capitol.
• House Committee on Financial Services, Subcommittee on Housing and Community Opportunity [16]
  Hearing entitled “Affordable Housing Needs of America's Low Income Veterans,” 10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn.
• House Committee on the Budget [19]
  Hearing on the State of the U.S. Economy and Implications for the Federal Budget, 10 a.m., 210 Cannon.
• House Committee on Natural Resources, Subcommittee on Fisheries, Wildlife and Oceans [20]
  Oversight hearing entitled “Rebuilding overfished fisheries under the Magnuson-Stevens Fishery Management Act,” 11 a.m., 1334 Longworth.
• House Committee on Education and Labor [21]
  To mark up a resolution to add a Rules 24 to the Rules of the Committee to Provide a Process for Taking Depositions, 12 p.m., 2175 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Armed Services, Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations [22]
  Hearing on Provincial Reconstruction Teams--Historical and Current Perspectives on Doctrine and Strategy, 2 p.m., 2212 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Foreign Affairs [23]
  Hearing on After Annapolis: Next Steps in the Middle East Peace Process, 2:30 p.m., 2128 Rayburn.

December 6, 2007

Senate

• Senate Committee on the Judiciary [8]
  Full Committee, business meeting to consider 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. 352, to provide for media coverage of Federal court proceedings, S. 2344, to create a competitive grant program to provide for age-appropriate Internet education for children, and the nomination of Ronald Jay Tenpas, of Maryland, to be an Assistant Attorney General, 10 a.m., SD-226.
• Senate Committee on Armed Services, Subcommittee on Readiness and Management Support [24]
  To hold hearings to examine the report of the Commission on Army Acquisition and Program Management in Expeditionary Operations entitled ``Urgent Reform Required: Army Expeditionary Contracting'', 2:30 p.m., SR-222.
• Senate Committee on Foreign Relations, Subcommittee on International Development and Foreign Assistance, Economic Affairs and International Environmental Protection [25]
  To hold hearings to examine the United States foreign assistance to Pakistan, 2:30 p.m., SD-419.

House

• House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Subcommittee on Intelligence Community Management [18]
  Hearing on DNI's 500 Day Plan, 9:30 a.m., 2212 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Financial Services [16]
  Full Committee, hearing entitled “Accelerating Loan Modifications, Improving Foreclosure Prevention and Enhancing Enforcement,” 10 a.m., 2128 Rayburn.
• House Committee on Small Business [26]
  Hearing to review legislation to improve the Regulatory Flexibility Act, 10 a.m., 2360 Rayburn.
• House Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Commercial and Administrative Law [27]
  Hearing on H.R. 3396, Sales Tax Fairness and Simplification Act, 10 a.m., 2237 Rayburn.
• House Committee on House Administration, Subcommittee on Elections [28]
  Oversight hearing on the Use of Robocalls in Federal Compaigns, 11 a.m., 1310 Longworth.
• House Committee on the Judiciary, Subcommittee on Crime, Terrorism, and Homeland Security [27]
  Hearing on Promoting Inmate Rehabilitation and Successful Release Planning, 11 a.m., 2141 Rayburn.
• House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, Subcommittee on Terrorism, Human Intelligence, Analysis and Counterintelligence [18]
  Executive, briefing on Colombia, 2 p.m., H-405 Capitol.