Committee Watch: $15 Minimum Wage, Climate Change, Plus Advancing Attorney General & Judicial Nominations

Before bills and nominations are brought up for a passage vote in Congress, they typically have to be considered and approved by relevant committees ― which also conduct oversight of federal agencies. Here’s a look at what Congressional committees will be holding hearings on this week.

Schedule subject to change. All times Eastern.

Tuesday

• The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold confirmation hearings for the nominations of Neomi Rao to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the D.C. Circuit and two members of the Privacy and Civil Liberties Oversight Board. 10am
• The Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on the outlook for energy and minerals markets in the 116th Congress. 10am
• The Senate Health, Education Labor & Pensions Committee will hold a hearing titled “How Primary Care Affects Health Care costs and Outcomes”. 10am

Wednesday

• The Senate Committee on Aging will hold a hearing titled “Financial Security in Retirement: Innovations and Best Practices to Promote Savings”. 9:30am
• The House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing titled “Preventing Gun Violence: A Call to Action”. 10am
• The House Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing titled “Climate Change: Impacts and the Need to Act”. 10am
• The House Oversight Committee will hold a hearing about H.R. 1: For the People Act & strengthening ethics rules for the executive branch. 10am
• The House Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing titled “Evaluating the Dept. of Defense’s Counterterrorism Approach”. 10am
• The House Foreign Affairs Committee will hold a hearing regarding U.S. policy in the Arabian peninsula and a bill to withdraw troops from Yemen using the War Powers Resolution. 10am
• The Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing on worldwide threats with testimony from Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats and Director of the Defense Intelligence Agency Lt. Gen.Robert Ashley, Jr., U.S. Army. 10am
• The House Education & Labor Committee will hold a hearing titled “Examining Threats to Workers with Preexisting Conditions”. 10:15am

Thursday

• The Senate Judiciary Committee will vote on advancing the nominations of William Barr to be Attorney General, 6 circuit court judges, 33 district court judges, two judges for the international trade court, and two judges for the federal claims court. 10am
• The House Budget Committee will hold a hearing titled “Investing in America’s Economic and National Security”. 10am
• The Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing on the status and outlook of energy innovation in the U.S. 10am
• The House Education & Labor Committee will hold a hearing titled “Gradually Raising the Minimum Wage to $15: Good for Workers, Good for Businesses, and Good for the Economy”. 10:15am

Friday

• The House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing to conduct oversight of the Dept. of Justice. 9:30am

See the full Senate committee schedule here.

See the full House committee schedule here.

Tell your reps what you think they should be focusing on and share your thoughts on the week’s schedule in the comments below!

― Eric Revell