Senate Returns to Finish Work on China Competition Package, House Continues Recess

What’s happening in Congress?

• The Senate returns to the Capitol this week to complete work on a bipartisan bill aimed to bolster U.S. competitiveness with China that has been amended and debated over the last several weeks. The House will wind down its three-week break from floor business ahead of its return next week.

SENATE SCHEDULE

• The Senate’s week begins Monday with a procedural vote on the nomination of Julien Neals to be a district judge in New Jersey. If it succeeds, a confirmation vote will likely occur Tuesday or Wednesday.
• On Tuesday, senators will take a series of votes on a bill known as the U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, which aims to help the U.S. compete with China through initiatives to expand research, development, and production of critical technologies, along with other measures aimed at blunting China’s geopolitical ascendance.
• The rest of the week may feature the confirmation of at least one more district court judge, a possible circuit court judge, and a potential procedural vote on the Paycheck Fairness Act ― which is expected to lack the 60 votes needed to overcome the legislative filibuster.
• Committees will hold hearings on defense issues related to U.S. strategic competition with China; the Colonial Pipeline cyber attack and threats to critical infrastructure; and the gender wage gap.  

HOUSE SCHEDULE 

• The House’s recess will end when it reconvenes on Monday, June 14th. Information on that week’s schedule will be made available later this week. House committees are expected to conduct a number of virtual hearings this week.
• Committees will hold hearings on a bill to “promote accountability for the Sackler family’s role in the opioid epidemic”; lessons on cyber threats to critical infrastructure based on the Colonial ransomware attack; and proposals to end homelessness.

Check below throughout the week to see the vote results and updates to the schedule.

Schedule subject to change. All times Eastern.

SENATE

Monday after 5:30pm

• Cloture motion on the nomination of Julien Neals to be U.S. District Judge for the District of New Jersey Invoked 66-28.

Tuesday

• Confirmation of Julien Neals to be U.S. District Judge for the District of New Jersey Confirmed 66-33.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Regina Rodriguez to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Colorado Invoked 72-28.
• Confirmation of Regina Rodriguez to be U.S. District Judge for the District of Colorado Confirmed 72-28.
• Cornyn Amendment (#1858) to S. 1260: U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, as amended Not adopted 42-58 (60 vote threshold).
• Motion to waive the Budget Act for S. 1260 (if a point of order is raised) Waived 72-28.
• Schumer Substitute Amendment (#1502) to S. 1260: U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, as amended Agreed to 68-32 (60 vote threshold).
• S. 1260: U.S. Innovation and Competition Act, as amended Passed 68-32 (60 vote threshold).
• Cloture motion on the motion to proceed to H.R. 7: Paycheck Fairness Act Not invoked 49-50 (60 vote threshold).

Wednesday

• No votes are scheduled. Consideration of Quraishi nomination.

Thursday (Tentative)

• Cloture motion on the nomination of Zahid Quraishi to be U.S. District Judge for the District of New Jersey Invoked 83-16.
• Confirmation of Zahid Quraishi to be U.S. District Judge for the District of New Jersey Confirmed 81-16.
• Cloture motion on the nomination of Kentanji Brown Jackson to be U.S. Circuit Judge for the District of Columbia Circuit Invoked 52-46.

HOUSE

• No votes are expected.

Tell your reps how to vote on this week's bills and share your thoughts below!

— Eric Revell