IN THE HOUSE
- The House convenes at 12:00 p.m.
- One Minute Speeches
- Legislation Considered Under Suspension of the Rules:
1) H.R. 1954 – To implement the President’s request to increase the statutory limit on the public debt (Sponsored by Rep. Dave Camp / Ways and Means Committee)
2) H.R. 1484 – Veterans Appeals Improvement Act, as amended(Sponsored by Rep. Bob Filner / Veterans’ Affairs Committee)
3) H.R. 802 – To direct the Secretary of Veterans Affairs to establish a VetStar Award Program (Sponsored by Rep. Bob Filner / Veterans’ Affairs Committee)
4) S. 1082 – Small Business Temporary Extension Act of 2011 (Sponsored by Sen. Mary Landrieu / Small Business Committee)
5) S.Con.Res. 16 – Authorizing the use of Emancipation Hall in the Capitol Visitor Center for an event to celebrate the birthday of King Kamehameha (Sponsored by Sen. Kahikina Akaka / House Administration Committee)
6) H.R. 1194 – To renew the authority of the Secretary of Health and Human Services to approve demonstration projects designed to test innovative strategies in State child welfare programs (Sponsored by Rep. Jim McDermott / Ways and Means Committee)
- Special Order Speeches
- House Democrats unite on Afghanistan exit - It’s more angst than outright anger, but House Democrats are showing real unity for the first time in pressuring President Barack Obama on Afghanistan — with influential moderates now expressing their impatience alongside the anti-war left that drove the early Iraq war debate. (Politico)
IN THE SENATE
- The Senate convenes at 10:00am in pro-forma session; no votes are scheduled.
- Senate’s Slow Pace Frustrates Newer Members - The glacial pace of action in the Senate this year is starting to wear on some of the ambitious junior Democrats who want more of a record to run on. (Roll Call)
OTHER NEWS
- Cyber Combat: Act of War - The Pentagon has concluded that computer sabotage coming from another country can constitute an act of war, a finding that for the first time opens the door for the U.S. to respond using traditional military force. (Wall Street Journal)
- Food safety advocates decry FDA cuts - Budget cuts proposed by the House to the Food and Drug Administration would undermine the agency’s ability to carry out a historic food-safety law passed by Congress just five months ago, food safety advocates say. (Washington Post)
- Gen. Martin Dempsey to chair Joint Chiefs of Staff - President Obama chooses Memorial Day to announce the nomination and two others, rounding out his new national security team. The three nominees require Senate confirmation. (Los Angeles Times)
- Biden plays dealmaker on deficits, debt - Since Republicans won a share of power in Congress last November, they’ve struck deals with Democrats on about $900 billion in tax cuts and $38 billion in spending cuts. Now the two sides are talking about something far more ambitious: $4 trillion in deficit cuts. (USA Today)
- 2012 presidential field lacks charisma - The Republican presidential field may be lacking in charisma but so is President Obama, political observers say. (The Hill)
FEDERAL GRANT OF THE DAY
- Community Services Block Grant (CSBG) Training and Technical Assistance (T/TA) Program: Leadership Development Center of Excellence- The Office of Community Services (OCS) within the Administration for Children and Families (ACF) announces that competing applications will be accepted for a new grant to support a national CSBG Leadership Development Center of Excellence (LDCE). The LDCE will serve as a central gateway to high-quality and relevant leadership development T/TA activities, information, and resources, and develop a recommended approach for talent management within Community Action Agencies (CAAs) and other CSBG-eligible entities. The T/TA is intended to help these agencies prepare for transition into the next decade with the strongest talent available. This effort will focus on helping to ensure CAAs and other CSBG-eligible entities develop leadership with the broad range of skills (e.g., public administration, strategic planning, succession planning, financial management, human resource development, community relations, performance evaluation, and cultural competence) necessary for management of complex non-profit and public entities according to the high standards necessary for oversight of public funds. The core functions of the LDCE will be training and continuing education development and coordination, information collection and resource management, and information dissemination. For more information, see HHS.
TODAY IN HISTORY
- May 31, 1913- On this day, the 17th Amendment to the Constitution, providing for the popular election of U.S. senators, was declared in effect.
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