This Week in Congress

This week, Congress returned to session with the Senate focusing on nomination votes, along with committee hearings on oversight of Ukraine funding and enshrining the Equal Rights Amendment.  The House voted on the REIN IN Act, which would require the administration to report the inflationary effects of executive orders before the president issues them.  Also, the House voted on the Congressional Review Act resolution to rescind the Labor Department’s environmental, social, and governance fiduciary rule, which would make it simpler for employers to consider factors such as climate change when selecting investment funds for their 401(k) plans.  The House held hearings on the border with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and on the fentanyl crisis.  On Wednesday, the House Democrats left for their annual retreat.

Congress will need to act by September 30th on expiring authorizations for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the farm bill.  Congress is eyeing bipartisan legislation this year on children’s online privacy, energy permitting, and cannabis banking.

Finally, the Senate Agriculture Committee held a hearing on Wednesday focusing on conservation and forestry programs, along with the House Agriculture Committee holding a hearing on inflation, uncertainty, and regulations.  On Tuesday, the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee considered a resolution condemning the Biden Administration’s latest iteration of the Waters of the United States rule.