State of the Union Address, Examination of the Administration's Family Separation Policy, and Deliberations on Border Security Funding Highlight the Coming Week's Capitol Hill Immigration
and Refugee Action
and Refugee Action
Sunday, February 3, 2019
 Trump, Barr, and Bass | The immigration- and refugee-related highlight of the week-to-come will be the delivery by President Trump of his second State of the Union Address, as well as the delivery by former Georgia State Representative Stacey Abrams of the official Democratic response. |
Both are scheduled for the evening of Tuesday, February 5th.
The President and his staff have strong;y suggested that he will use the Address as an opportunity to highlight what has become the signature issue of his presidency: his demand that Congress appropriate funds for the construction of a wall along much of the border between the U.S. and Mexico. And the President has hinted that he may use the occasion to declare a national emergency that would permit him to commandeer federal resources and use the military to construct the wall that Congress has so far refused to fund.
The President and his staff have strong;y suggested that he will use the Address as an opportunity to highlight what has become the signature issue of his presidency: his demand that Congress appropriate funds for the construction of a wall along much of the border between the U.S. and Mexico. And the President has hinted that he may use the occasion to declare a national emergency that would permit him to commandeer federal resources and use the military to construct the wall that Congress has so far refused to fund.
There will be plenty of immigration action occurring in committee rooms, as well, during the coming week, including Congress's first hearing on the President's family separation policy, the first (and probably last) appearance before a congressional committee of Acting Attorney General Whitaker, and a vote in the Senate Committee on the Judiciary on the nomination of William P. Barr to be attorney general of the United States. And there is always the possibility of action somewhere on Capitol Hill on the President's request for increased funding for border security and the wall.
In all, from the perspective of those interested in immigration, refugee, homeland security, or human trafficking policy, the coming week's schedule includes a presidential address to a Joint Meeting of Congress; two hearings; two business meetings, one floor action, and possible conference committee action on those subjects.
In all, from the perspective of those interested in immigration, refugee, homeland security, or human trafficking policy, the coming week's schedule includes a presidential address to a Joint Meeting of Congress; two hearings; two business meetings, one floor action, and possible conference committee action on those subjects.
The Week's Executive Branch Actions
The following executive branch actions that could either reference immigration, refugee, or human trafficking policy or that could significantly impact policy in those areas are scheduled, likely, or possible this week:
The following executive branch actions that could either reference immigration, refugee, or human trafficking policy or that could significantly impact policy in those areas are scheduled, likely, or possible this week:
- State of the Union Address: President Trump is scheduled this week to deliver his second State of the Union Address to a joint meeting of Congress. The Address will take place at 9:00 pm EST on Tuesday, February 5, 2019, in the Chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives..
- Democratic Alternative to the State of the Union Address: Once the President delivers his State of the Union Address, it is expected that Democrats will present an alternative to it. The President's State of the Union Address is scheduled for 9:00 pm EST on Tuesday, February 5, 2019, in the Chamber of the U.S. House of Representatives. The Democratic alternative will follow shortly afterward.
The Week's House and Senate Floor Actions
The following House or Senate floor actions that could either reference immigration, refugee, or human trafficking policy or that could significantly impact policy in those areas are scheduled, likely, or possible this week:
The following House or Senate floor actions that could either reference immigration, refugee, or human trafficking policy or that could significantly impact policy in those areas are scheduled, likely, or possible this week:
- Put Trafficking Victims First Act: The U.S. House of Representatives this week is scheduled to take up legislation intended to assist human trafficking victims by encouraging more victim-centered approaches to arrests, prosecutions, and the provision of services and assistance to persons who are or who may be the victims of human trafficking. This week’s House floor action is set to occur in connection with H.R. 507, the "Put Trafficking Victims First Act of 2019". The House will take up the measure on Thursday, February 7, 2019.
The Week's Conference Committee Activity
The following immigration- or refugee-related activities (or activities that could pose consequences for legislation, policy, or oversight on those subjects) are scheduled for this week in House-Senate conference committees:
The following immigration- or refugee-related activities (or activities that could pose consequences for legislation, policy, or oversight on those subjects) are scheduled for this week in House-Senate conference committees:
- Conference Committee Deliberations on the Fiscal Year 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations Act: Having had its first meeting on Wednesday, January 30, 2019, the conference committee established to develop a border security package for inclusion in the Fiscal Year 2019 Homeland Security Appropriations Act has not yet scheduled a subsequent meeting to continue its deliberations. However, discussions will likely take place at both the Principals and the staff levels throughout the week.
The Week's House and Senate Markups
The following immigration- or refugee-related activities (or activities that could pose consequences for legislation, policy, or oversight on those subjects) are scheduled for this week in House or Senate committees:
The following immigration- or refugee-related activities (or activities that could pose consequences for legislation, policy, or oversight on those subjects) are scheduled for this week in House or Senate committees:
- Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs 116th Congress Organizational Meeting: The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs has scheduled an Organizational Meeting for this week, during which it will organize itself for the 116th Congress, a process that entails adopting its rules, establishing its subcommittee structure, and agreeing to the leadership and roster of its subcommittees.
- Senate Committee on the Judiciary Vote on the Nomination of Attorney General-Designate: Initially scheduled for Tuesday, January 29, 2019, the Senate Committee on the Judiciary has rescheduled a business meeting for this week, during which it is expected to vote on the nomination of William P. Barr to be Attorney General of the United States.
The Week's House and Senate Hearings
The following hearings featuring immigration- or refugee-related themes or subjects are scheduled in the House or Senate this week:
- House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations Oversight Hearing on the Trump Administration's Family Separation Policy: The House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations has scheduled a hearing for this week titled, "Examining the Failures of the Trump Administration's Inhumane Family Separation Policy."
- House Judiciary Committee Oversight Hearing on the Operations of the Department of Justice: The House Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled an oversight hearing for next week on the operations of the Department of Justice. Among the matters expected to be examined and information sought at the hearing is “an explanation for several apparently false statements by Administration officials about national security threats at the Southern border.
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