The Senate and House are both in session this week. Several congressional hearings are scheduled to consider federal budgetary issues including sequestration. The House Budget Committee will hold a hearing on the budget and economic outlook prepared by the Congressional Budget Office (CBO), while the Senate Appropriations Committee has a hearing scheduled to hear about the impact of sequester on both defense and non-defense agencies. The House and Senate Armed Services Committees will both hold hearings on the impact of sequestration and a full-year continuing resolution on defense. Also, the Senate Finance Committee will hold a confirmation hearing for Treasury Secretary nominee Jacob Lew.

This week, the Senate is set to continue its work on a bill to reauthorize the Violence Against Women Act (S 47). The House will take up several measures early in the week, including a bill to improve hydropower (HR 267) and a measure to clarify that houses of worship are eligible for the same disaster relief and emergency assistance available to other nonprofits. The House is also set to take up a measure (HR 273) that would freeze pay for federal employees for the remainder of the current fiscal year.

President Obama is scheduled to deliver his “State of the Union” address tomorrow, February 12 at 9:00 PM Eastern.

Links: S 47; HR 267; HR 273