Congress in Holding Pattern as House, Senate, and Administration Negotiators Attempt to Fashion
COVID-19 Legislative Relief Package
COVID-19 Legislative Relief Package
Monday, August 3, 2020
After a busy week last week, during which the House passed four bills and Congress held six hearings that either focused or touched on immigration or refugees, Congress will be in a bit of a holding pattern during the week of August 3, 2020, with much of the action taking place behind the scenes.
The big behind-the-scenes this week will be the negotiations taking place involving the House and Senate Democratic Leadership, the Senate Republican Leadership, and the Trump Administration to reach an agreement on the terms of the next COVID-19 relief legislation. Democrats are seeking enactment of a $3 TRILLION package that includes assistance to individuals, businesses, and state and local government, as well as funding for election administration, funding for the U.S. postal service, and provisions assisting immigrants. The White House and congressional Republicans are seeking enactment of a much smaller, $1 TRILLION package that includes much smaller enhanced federal unemployment compensation; less aid to state and local governments; and COVID-19-related liability protections for employers.
The big behind-the-scenes this week will be the negotiations taking place involving the House and Senate Democratic Leadership, the Senate Republican Leadership, and the Trump Administration to reach an agreement on the terms of the next COVID-19 relief legislation. Democrats are seeking enactment of a $3 TRILLION package that includes assistance to individuals, businesses, and state and local government, as well as funding for election administration, funding for the U.S. postal service, and provisions assisting immigrants. The White House and congressional Republicans are seeking enactment of a much smaller, $1 TRILLION package that includes much smaller enhanced federal unemployment compensation; less aid to state and local governments; and COVID-19-related liability protections for employers.
As far as the week beginning August 3rd is concerned, from the perspective of those interested in migration policy, the week's legislative schedule includes three hearings (one of which is occurring in the House and the other two in the Senate); no substantive markup sessions, and possible floor action in the Senate on a COVID-19 relief bill.
This Week's House and Senate Floor Activity
At the time of this writing, the following measures that contain significant immigration-, refugee-, or human trafficking-related provisions or that could become a target for amendments on those subjects are scheduled for floor consideration in the full House or full Senate during the week ahead:
- Senate Floor Consideration of COVID-19 Relief Legislation: The full Senate this week is scheduled to begin legislative skirmishing on legislation to provide continued relief to persons, entities, and communities negatively impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.
This Week's House and Senate Markups
At the time of this writing, no measures that either contain significant immigration-, refugee-, or human trafficking-related provisions or that could become a target for amendments on those subjects are scheduled for markup in House or Senate committees during the week ahead.
This Week's Hearings and Briefings
At the time of this writing, the following hearings that are likely to touch on significant immigration-, refugee-, or human trafficking-related matters are scheduled during the week ahead:
- Hearing on the Rohingya Crisis: The House Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, and Nonproliferation has scheduled a hearing for next week titled, "An Update on the Rohingya Crisis.""
- Hearing on the Situation in Venezuela: The Senate Committee on Foreign Relations has scheduled a hearing for next week titled, "Venezuela in Maduro's Grasp: Assessing the Deteriorating Security and Humanitarian Situation."
- Hearing on Deployment of DHS Officers: The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs has scheduled a hearing for next week titled, ".Oversight of DHS Personnel Deployments to Recent Protests," at which it will hear from Acting Secretary of Homeland Security Chad Wolf.
RSS Feed