Round-the-clock activity

 

June 4, 2022

This coming week is shaping up to be a busy one with round-the-clock activity on Capitol Hill we will be watching closely. The House Armed Services subcommittees will begin work on the National Defense Authorization Act, the annual defense bill that authorizes Pentagon spending. We’ll be monitoring any attempts to increase the already bloated budget, as well as efforts to add amendments that would limit defense contractors’ ability to price gouge the federal government and require defense contractors to reveal their true owners. The House Select Committee on January 6 is also set to hold its first public hearing Thursday. The committee has started soliciting witnesses but the exact agenda for the hearing has yet to be confirmed publicly. One of the committee’s members, Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-MD), said the hearings will “blow the roof off this house,” so we’re very curious to see what the committee reveals. We’ll also be looking to see what the Justice Department does with any new information, as we’re concerned the DOJ may shy away from pursuing criminal charges against former President Donald Trump even if they are warranted. LISTEN NOW Episode 5: Out of Control Hosts Walt Shaub and Virginia Heffernan dive into how Customs and Border Protection came to prioritize stopping border crossings over protecting human life. Listen, rate, and review now. ANALYSIS Staff Minimum Pay Invests in Congress’s Oversight Capacity A minimum pay for staffers is a big step toward ensuring more staff with oversight experience remain on the Hill, but Congress must do more to invest in their training. Read More PODCAST Episode 5: Out of Control In the final episode of The Continuous Action, hosts Walt Shaub and Virginia Heffernan sound a dire warning about the largest law enforcement agency in the country, U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Read More ANALYSIS Is a Presidential Coup a Federal Crime? DOJ Owes Us an Answer The Department of Justice has dodged questions about whether it is criminally investigating former President Donald Trump for his role in January 6 for too long. Read More LETTER Coalition Calls for Permanent Inspectors General at the Defense and State Departments Inspectors General are essential to ensure that all U.S. aid to Ukraine is subject to independent oversight. Read More ANALYSIS The Hypocritical Legislative-Confirmation Conundrum Given how easily the Supreme Court can overturn an act of Congress, the Senate should focus on reforming the filibuster as a means of bringing more balance to the branches of government. Read More TESTIMONY Increasing Transparency of Inspector General Reporting We urge Congress to make it easier for the public to track the findings and recommendations of inspectors general—or at least be made aware such reports exist. Read More QUOTE OF THE WEEK “These [Supreme Court] clerks are in a no-win position right now.” Liz Hempowicz, Director of Public Policy, in CNN OVERHEARD ONE LINERS “The current state of the transparency and disclosure framework around higher education is pretty poor.” Dylan Hedtler-Gaudette, Government Affairs Manager, in Insider Higher Ed

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