President Bush this week is expected to sign a sweeping package of housing legislation [3] aimed at providing some relief for the credit crisis that has stalled the economy. The Senate will continue to hammer away at energy legislation [4], and attempt to reduce Sen. Tom Coburn [5]’s legislative stranglehold. Finally, we’ll be taking at look at Oklahoma [6], which is holding a congressional primary election tomorrow.

Follow through after the jump for more on legislation and the week’s committee hearings.

Democrats in the Senate will try once again to move a renewable energy package [4] that extends expiring tax credits for solar, wind and other “green” energy development. Proponents have been trying to pass the measure all year – they wanted to include it in the economic stimulus package [7] back in January. House Democrats joined President Bush in opposing the move, however, so the measure was dropped from the stimulus bill.

Sen. Maria Cantwell [8] (D-Wash.) then sought to include the renewable energy tax credits in the 2008 Iraq War funding [9] bill. There were billions of dollars for domestic initiatives attached to that legislation, but once again the tax credits were scrapped. This time around, the legislation also contains flood relief for Midwesterners impacted by raging storms this summer.

The Senate will also try to force a vote on the “Coburn Omnibus,” a package of 35 bills being held up by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.). The former physician is preventing the measures from being approved by a process call “unanimous consent.” Under Senate rules, if there are no objections or amendments to legislation, it can move quickly through the legislative process without the need for floor debates and roll-call votes.

OpenCongress has a good rundown of some of the legislation being blocked [10] by Coburn. Most of the bills, including such items as the Protect Our Children Act and the Vision Care for Kids Act, have bipartisan support. Majority Leader Harry Reid [11] hopes the sympathetic nature of the bills will help, and he included several measures written by Republicans to entice their support.

Coburn, meanwhile, said he also supports many of the bills, but wants to require debate to ensure taxpayers’ dollars are spent wisely. In a statement delivered on the Senate floor, Coburn said his colleagues should be concerned about the mounting national debt. He also said Americans are much better served when there is an open discussion about legislation.

Oklahoma [6] is holding its congressional primary election tomorrow. You can check out our state portal to find information on all the incumbents and candidates, and stay tuned tomorrow for our full election preview. We also welcome you to participate in our Wiki the Vote [12] project – most of our candidate and incumbent profiles have been built by readers like you!

Hearings Schedules:
July 28, 2008

Senate

• Senate Committee on Armed Services [13]
  A briefing related to Air Force nominations. SR-222, 11:00 am

July 29, 2008

Senate

• Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs; Subcommittee on Investigations [14]
  Hearings to examine the magnitude of outstanding payroll tax debt, focusing on the policies and procedures that are used to collect unpaid payroll taxes. SD-342, 9:00 am
• Senate Committee on Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs [15]
  Hearings to examine the state of the insurance industry, focusing on the current regulatory and oversight structure. SD-538, 10:00 am
• Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works: Subcommittee on Clean Air and Nuclear Safety [16]
  Hearings to examine the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) Clean Air Interstate Rule (CAIR), focusing on a recent court decision and its implications. SD-406, 10:00 am
• Senate Committee on Finance [17]
  Hearings to examine the future of United States trade policy, focusing on perspectives from former United States trade representatives. SD-215, 10:00 am
• Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions: Subcommittee on Employment and Workplace Safety [18]
  Hearings to examine the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), focusing on protecting workers from dangerous dust at the workplace. SD-430, 10:00 am
• Senate Committee on the Judiciary [19]
  Hearings to examine music and radio in the 21st century, focusing on assuring fair rates and rules across the platforms. SD-226, 10:00 am
• Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation [20]
  Hearings to examine the nomination of John P. Hewko, of Michigan, to be an Assistant Secretary of Transportation. SR-253, 10:30 am
• Senate Committee on Appropriations: Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies and Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government [21]
  Joint hearings to examine food marketing to children, focusing on ways to make it safer. SD-192 11:00 am
• Senate Committee on Foreign Relations [22]
  Business meeting to consider pending calendar business. S-116, 2:15 pm
• Senate Select Committee on Intelligence [23]
  Closed business meeting to consider pending intelligence matters. SH-219, 2:30 pm
• Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe [24]
  Hearings to examine human rights and democratization in Azerbaijan, focusing on the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) and the Council of Europe's numerous concerns, including freedom of the media, political prisoners and the conduct of elections. RHOB-B13, 3:00 pm

July 30, 2008

Senate

• Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation [20]
  Hearings to examine ways to improve consumer protection in the prepaid calling card market. SR-253, 10:00 am
• Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs [14]
  Business meeting to consider S.2583, to amend the Improper Payments Information Act of 2002 (31 U.S.C. 3321 note) in order to prevent the loss of billions in taxpayer dollars, S.3176, to amend the Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act to authorize the President to provide mental health and substance abuse services, H.R.3068, to prohibit the award of contracts to provide guard services under the contract security guard program of the Federal Protective Service to a business concern that is owned, controlled, or operated by an individual who has been convicted of a felony, H.R.404, to require the establishment of customer service standards for Federal agencies, S.3328, to amend the Homeland Security Act of 2002 to provide for a one-year extension of other transaction authority, S.3241, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1717 Orange Avenue in Fort Pierce, Florida, as the "CeeCee Ross Lyles Post Office Building", H.R.6150, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 14500 Lorain Avenue in Cleveland, Ohio, as the "John P. Gallagher Post Office Building", H.R.6085, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 42222 Rancho Las Palmas Drive in Rancho Mirage, California, as the "Gerald R. Ford Post Office Building", H.R.5477, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 120 South Del Mar Avenue in San Gabriel, California, as the "Chi Mui Post Office Building", H.R.5631, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 1155 Seminole Trail in Charlottesville, Virginia, as the "Corporal Bradley T. Arms Post Office Building", H.R.5483, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 10449 White Granite Drive in Oakton, Virginia, as the "Private First Class David H. Sharrett II Post Office Building", H.R.6061, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 219 East Main Street in West Frankfort, Illinois, as the "Kenneth James Gray Post Office Building", H.R.4210, to designate the facility of the United States Postal Service located at 401 Washington Avenue in Weldon, North Carolina, as the "Dock M. Brown Post Office Building", an original bill entitled, "Federal Financial Assistance Management Improvement Act of 2008", and the nominations of Gus P. Coldebella, of Massachusetts, to be General Counsel, Department of Homeland Security, James A. Williams, of Virginia, to be Administrator of General Services, Carol A. Dalton, Anthony C. Epstein, and Heidi M. Pasichow, all to be an Associate Judge of the Superior Court of the District of Columbia. SD-342, 10:00 am
• Senate Committee on the Judiciary [19]
  Hearings to examine hiring at the Department of Justice. SD-226, 10:00 am
• Senate Committee on Rules and Administration [25]
  Hearings to examine S.3212, to amend the Help America Vote Act of 2002 to provide for auditable, independent verification of ballots, to ensure the security of voting systems. SR-301, 10:00 am
• Senate Committee on Small Business and Entrepreneurship [26]
  Business meeting to markup an original bill to reauthorize the Small Business Innovation Research Program. SR-428A, 10:00 am
• Joint Economic Committee [27]
  Hearings to examine ways to solve the energy crisis. SD-106, 10:00 am
• Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery [14]
  Hearings to examine planning for post-catastrophe housing needs, focusing on if the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has developed an effective strategy for housing large numbers of citizens displaced by a disaster. SD-562, 12:00 pm
• Senate Committee on the Judiciary [19]
  Hearings to examine S.J.Res.45, expressing the consent and approval of Congress to an inter-state compact regarding water resources in the Great Lakes - St. Lawrence River Basin. SD-226, 1:00 pm
• Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources: Subcommittee on National Parks [28]
  Hearings to examine S.1816, to authorize the Secretary of the Interior to establish a commemorative trail in connection with the Women's Rights National Historical Park to link properties that are historically and thematically associated with the struggle for women's suffrage, S.2093, to amend the Wild and Scenic Rivers Act to designate a segment of the Missisquoi and Trout Rivers in the State of Vermont for study for potential addition to the National Wild and Scenic Rivers System, S.2535, to revise the boundary of the Martin Van Buren National Historic Site, S.2561, to require the Secretary of the Interior to conduct a theme study to identify sites and resources to commemorate and interpret the Cold War, S.3011, to amend the Palo Alto Battlefield National Historic Site Act of 1991 to expand the boundaries of the historic site, S.3113, to reinstate the Interim Management Strategy governing off-road vehicle use in the Cape Hatteras National Seashore, North Carolina, pending the issuance of a final rule for off-road vehicle use by the National Park Service, S.3148, to modify the boundary of the Oregon Caves National Monument, S.3158, to extend the authority for the Cape Cod National Seashore Advisory Commission, S.3226, to rename the Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historic Site in the State of Kentucky as the "Abraham Lincoln Birthplace National Historical Park", S.3247, to provide for the designation of the River Raisin National Battlefield Park in the State of Michigan, and H.R.5137, to ensure that hunting remains a purpose of the New River Gorge National River. SD-366, 2:30 pm
• Senate Select Committee on Intelligence [23]
  Closed hearings to examine certain intelligence matters. SH-219, 2:30 pm

July 31, 2008

Senate

• Senate Committee on Indian Affairs [29]
  Business meeting to consider pending calendar business; to be immediately followed by an oversight hearing to examine Indian health service management, focusing on lost property, wasteful spending and document fabrication. SD-562, 9:30 am
• Senate Committee on Armed Services [13]
  Hearings to examine the North Korean Six-Party Talks and implementation activities. SR-325, 9:30 am
• Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources [28]
  Hearings to examine the state of the nation's transmission grid, focusing on the implementation of the transmission provisions of the Energy Policy Act (Public Law 109-58), including reliability, siting, and infrastructure investment. SD-366, 9:30 am
• Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security [14]
  Hearings to examine the state of information technology planning in the federal government. SD-342, 9:30 am
• Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation [20]
  Business meeting to consider S.3198, to amend title 46, United States Code, with respect to the navigation of submersible or semi-submersible vessels without nationality, S.3274, to reauthorize the 21st Century Nanotechnology Research and Development Act, H.Con.Res.375, to honor the goal of the International Year of Astronomy, H.Con.Res.305, recognizing the importance of bicycling in transportation and recreation, an original bill entitled,"The Whaling Amendments Act of 2008", the nomination of John P. Hewko, of Michigan, to be an Assistant Secretary of Transportation, and a promotion list in the United States Coast Guard. SR-253, 10:00 am
• Senate Committee on Finance [17]
  Hearings to examine health benefits in the tax code. SD-215, 10:00 am
• Senate Committee on the Judiciary [19]
  Business meeting to consider S.3155, to reauthorize and improve the Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention Act of 1974, S.2746, to amend section 552(b)(3) of title 5, United States Code (commonly referred to as the Freedom of Information Act) to provide that statutory exemptions to the disclosure requirements of that Act shall specifically cite to the provision of that Act authorizing such exemptions, to ensure an open and deliberative process in Congress by providing for related legislative proposals to explicitly state such required citations, S.3061, to authorize appropriations for fiscal years 2008 through 2011 for the Trafficking Victims Protection Act of 2000, to enhance measures to combat trafficking in persons, S.2838, to amend chapter 1 of title 9 of United States Code with respect to arbitration, S.3136, to encourage the entry of felony warrants into the NCIC database by States and provide additional resources for extradition, S.1276, to establish a grant program to facilitate the creation of methamphetamine precursor electronic logbook systems, and S.3197, to amend title 11, United States Code, to exempt for a limited period, from the application of the means-test presumption of abuse under chapter 7, qualifying members of reserve components of the Armed Forces and members of the National Guard who, after September 11, 2001, are called to active duty or to perform a homeland defense activity for not less than 90 days. SD-226, 10:00 am
• Senate Special Committee on Aging [30]
  Hearings to examine aging in rural America, focusing on preserving elderly citizens access to health care. SD-106, 10:30 am
• Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Disaster Recovery [14]
  Joint hearings with the House Committee on Homeland Security Subcommittee on Emergency Communications, Preparedness to examine ways to ensure the delivery of donated goods to survivors of catastrophes. CHOB-311, 1:00 pm
• Senate Committee on Foreign Relations [22]
  Hearings to examine ways to define the military's role towards foreign policy. SD-419, 2:00 pm
• Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs: Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, the Federal Workforce, and the District of Columbia [14]
  Hearings to examine reliance on smart power, focusing on reforming the foreign assistance bureaucracy. SD-342, 2:00 pm
• Senate Committee on the Judiciary: Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights [19]
  Hearings to examine consolidation in the Pennsylvania health insurance industry. SD-226, 2:00 pm
• Senate Select Committee on Intelligence [23]
  Closed hearings to examine certain intelligence matters. SH-219, 2:30 pm

July 31, 2008

Senate

• Joint Economic Committee [27]
  Hearings to examine the employment-unemployment situation for July 2008. SD-562, 9:30 am