This Week on the Hill

Week of April 19, 2021


(Last Updated: Monday, April 19, 2021 at 8:00 am EDT)
ThisWeekInImmigration.Com's "This Week on the Hill" page lists the immigration-, human trafficking-, and refugee-related hearings, markups, and floor actions that either have been officially scheduled or that are anticipated to occur during the current week.
  • U.S. House of Representatives
  • ​​U.S. Senate
  • Bicameral
  • Non-Governmental
<
>
This Week's Hearings and Briefings
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
2:00 pm EDT
  • Oversight Hearing on Operations of the DHS Inspector General:  The House Committee on Homeland Security has scheduled a hearing for this week titled,  "Oversight of the Department of Homeland Security's Office of Inspector General."  The hearing is scheduled for 2:00 pm EDT on Wednesday, April 21, 2021.
Anticipated Witnesses.  At the time of this writing, the following witnesses were scheduled to testify at the hearing: Chris Currie, Director of the Government Accountability Office's Homeland Security and Justice Team; and Homeland Security Inspector General Joseph V. Cuffari.
This Week's Markups and Business Meetings
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
9:30 am EDT
  • Meeting to Consider Rule for Immigration Bills:  The House Committee on Rules has scheduled a business meeting for this week to formulate a rule providing for full House consideration of the H.R. 1573, the Access to Counsel Act and the H.R. 1333, the NO BAN Act..   The Meeting is scheduled for 9:30 am EDT on Tuesday, April 20, 2021.
Summary of Migration-Related Provisions of the Access to Counsel Act.  As introduced,  the Access to Counsel Act would provide various protections for covered individuals subject to secondary or deferred inspections when seeking admission into the United States.  
Summary of Migration-Related Provisions in the NO BAN Act.  As introduced, the NO BAN Act would impose limitations on the President's authority to suspend or restrict aliens from entering the United States and terminate certain presidential actions implementing such restrictions. It also would prohibit religious discrimination in various immigration-related decisions, such as whether to issue an immigrant or non-immigrant visa, unless there is a statutory basis for such discrimination. 
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
9:30 am EDT
  • Markup of Measures Relating to Korean Family Reunification:  The House Committee on Foreign Affairs has scheduled a business meeting for this week to mark up several bills, including H.R. 826, the Divided Families Act., and H. Res. 294, a resolution encouraging reunions of divided Korean-American families..
This Week's Floor Actions
Wednesday, April 21, 2021
  • House Floor Consideration of the Access to Counsel Act:  The full House of Representatives this week is scheduled to take up H.R. 1573, the Access to Counsel Act.  The House could take up the measure as soon as Wednesday, April 21, 2021.
Summary of Migration-Related Provisions of the Access to Counsel Act.  As introduced,  the Access to Counsel Act would provide various protections for covered individuals subject to secondary or deferred inspections when seeking admission into the United States.  
  • House Floor Consideration of the NO BAN Act:  The full House of Representatives this week is scheduled to take up H.R. 1333, the NO BAN Act.. The House could take up the measure as soon as Wednesday, April 21, 2021.
Summary of Migration-Related Provisions in the NO BAN Act.  As introduced, the NO BAN Act would impose limitations on the President's authority to suspend or restrict aliens from entering the United States and terminate certain presidential actions implementing such restrictions. It also would prohibit religious discrimination in various immigration-related decisions, such as whether to issue an immigrant or non-immigrant visa, unless there is a statutory basis for such discrimination. 
This Week's Hearings and Briefings
Tuesday, April 20, 2021
9:30 am EDT
  • Senate Appropriations Committee Hearing on Biden Infrastructure Proposal: The Senate Committee on Appropriations has scheduled a hearing for late April on the Biden Administration's "American Jobs Plan.:"  The hearing is scheduled for 10:30 am EDT on Tuesday, April 20, 2021, in Room SD-106 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building.
Anticipated Witnesses.  At the time of this writing, the following witnesses were scheduled to testify at the hearing: Michael S. Regan, Administrator, Environmental Protection Agency; Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Marcia L. Fudge; Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg; and Secretary of Commerce  Gina M. Raimondo.
This Week's Markups and Business Meetings
No Scheduled Immigration-, Human Trafficking, or Refugee-Related Business Meetings
This Week's Floor Actions
Monday, April 19, 2021
  • Senate Floor Consideration of Nominations of the Deputy Attorney General: The full Senate this week is expected to begin skirmishing in connection with the nomination of Lisa O. Monaco to be Deputy Attorney General.  A vote on a motion to invoke cloture on the nomination is expected on Monday, April 19, 2021.
Background on Deputy Attorney General.  The Deputy Attorney General is the second-highest-ranking official in a Department of Justice.  He or she oversees the day-to-day operation of the Department, and may act as Attorney General during the absence of the Attorney General. 

From an immigration perspective, the Executive Office for Immigration Review (EOIR) reports to the Deputy Attorney General.
  • Senate Floor Consideration of Nomination of the Associate Attorney General: The full Senate this week is expected to continue its skirmishing in connection with the nomination of Vanita Gupta to be Associate Attorney General.  At the time of this writing, no date had yet been announced for floor consideration of the nomination.
Background on Associate Attorney General.  The Associate Attorney General is the third-ranking official in the U.S. Department of Justice. The Associate Attorney General advises and assists the Attorney General and the Deputy Attorney General in policies relating to civil justice, federal and local law enforcement, and public safety matters.  It oversees a number of entities within the Department. 

From an immigration perspective, the position oversees the Office of Immigration Litigation (OIL) and the Community Relations Service.
Hearings, Briefings, and Conference Committee Actions
No Scheduled Immigration-, Human Trafficking, or Refugee-Related Legislative Activity