This Week on the Hill

Week of January 14, 2019


Friday, January 18, 2019
(Last Updated: January 18 , 2019 at 2:00 am EST)
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
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This Week's Hearings
No Scheduled Immigration-, Human Trafficking, or Refugee-Related Hearings
This Week's Markups
No Scheduled Immigration-, Human Trafficking, or Refugee-Related Markups
This Week's Floor Actions
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
  • House Floor Consideration of Short Term FY ’19 Continuing Appropriations Act:  The full House of Representatives is expected this week to take up H.J. Res. 27, a measure providing continuing appropriations for federal departments, agencies, and functions for which funding has lapsed through through February 1, 2019.
With respect to funding for the federal government's immigration- and refugee-related functions, the measure would provide continuing appropriations for functions normally funded by the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Homeland Security; and State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bills.

Parliamentary Situation.  The House is expected to take up the measure under procedures that preclude floor amendments from being offered to it and require the affirmative votes of at least two-thirds of those Members present and voting.
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
  • House Floor Consideration of FY ’19 Disaster Assistance Supplemental Appropriations Act:  The full House of Representatives this week is expected to take up H.R. 268, a bill making supplemental appropriations for the fiscal year ending September 30, 2019, and for other purposes.  This week's House floor debate on H.R. 268 could provide the first direct votes on immigration- or refugee-related matters during the 116th Congress.
The measure would appropriate disaster assistance funding for numerous federal departments and agencies.

Summary of Immigration Provisions.  The underlying measure does not contain any funding for immigration- or refugee-related functions.
 
Parliamentary Situation.  The House is expected to take up the measure under procedures that permit 15 specified  floor amendments to be offered to the measure.  The procedures also provide the minority with the right to offer a Motion to Recommit (MTR) the bill, with or without instructions.

Immigration- and Refugee-Related Floor Amendments.  The following immigration- or refugee-related floor amendments are anticipated:
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LOWEY AMENDMENT.  Amendment by House Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Nita Lowey (D-NY) would fund the operations of the federal government through February 8, 2019.
The Lowey Amendment will automatically be incorporated into the bill upon adoption of the :"rule" providing for consideration of the measure.
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McGOVERN AMENDMENT.  Amendment by House Rules Committee Chairman Jim McGovern (D-MA) providing that none of the funds in the bill for the Army Corps of Engineers o the Department of Homeland Security may be used to plan, develop, or construct the border wall.
The McGovern Amendment will be debatable for ten minutes, with the time equally divided between Representative McGovern and an opponent to the amendment.
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JAYAPAL AMENDMENT.  Amendment by Representative Pramila Jayapal (D-WA) to provide that none of the funds in the bill may be used for the construction or expansion of immigration detention facilities.
The Jayapal Amendment will be debatable for ten minutes, with the time equally divided between Representative Jayapal and an opponent to the amendment.
Outlook.  At the time of this writing, it appears likely that the House will pass the supplemental appropriations bill and all three immigration-related House floor amendments to the measure by near party-line votes.
Thursday, January 17, 2019 (And the Balance of the Week)
  • House Floor Consideration of Short Term FY ’19 Continuing Appropriations Act:  The full House of Representatives this week is expected to take up H.J. Res. 28, a measure providing continuing appropriations for federal departments, agencies, and functions for which funding has lapsed through through February 28, 2019.
With respect to funding for the federal government's immigration- and refugee-related functions, the measure would provide continuing appropriations for functions normally funded by the Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies; Homeland Security; and State, Foreign Operations, and Related Programs Appropriations Bills.
 
Parliamentary Situation.  At the time of this writing, the precise parliamentary situation that will govern House floor consideration of the measure was not yet known.   However, it is believed that the House Democratic Leadership will seek a closed rule that precludes the offering of amendments to the measures but permits the Minority to offer a motion to recommit with or without instructions.
This Week's Hearings
Tuesday, January 15, 2019
  • Hearing on Nomination of William P. Barr to be Attorney General of the United States:  The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled a hearing for next week on the nomination of William P. Barr to be Attorney General of the United States.  The hearing, is scheduled for 10:00 am EST on Tuesday, January 15, 2019, in Room SH-216 of the Hart Senate Office Building..
Anticipated Witnesses.  At the time of this writing, the sole witness scheduled to testify at the hearing is Attorney General-Designate William P. Barr.
Wednesday, January 16, 2019
  • Hearing on Nomination of William P. Barr to be Attorney General of the United States:  The Senate Committee on the Judiciary has scheduled a hearing for next week on the nomination of William P. Barr to be Attorney General of the United States.  The hearing, is scheduled for 10:00 am EST on Wednesday, January 16, 2019, in Room SH-216 of the Hart Senate Office Building..
Anticipated Witnesses.  At the time of this writing, the sole witness scheduled to testify at the hearing is Attorney General-Designate William P. Barr.
This Week's Markups
No Scheduled Immigration-, Human Trafficking, or Refugee-Related Markups
This Week's Floor Actions
No Scheduled Immigration-, Human Trafficking, or Refugee-Related Floor Activity
Hearings and Briefings
No Scheduled Immigration-, Human Trafficking, or Refugee-Related Hearings or Briefings
This Week's Activities
No Scheduled Immigration-, Human Trafficking, or Refugee-Related Events