Welcome to AR/Intel’s Look Ahead briefing, your beginning-of-the-week round up for all the political news that should be on your radar.
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NEED TO KNOW FOR THE WEEK
The House & Senate are both in session this week as they kick off the first legislative week of 2020.
A War Powers Resolution is expected to be considered by the House this week. Following President Trump’s decision to target, and kill, Iranian Gen. Qassem Soleimani by an airstrike late last week, Democrats on Capitol Hill have been vocal about wanting to rein in the president’s war powers. On Sunday night, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) released a “Dear Colleague” letter notifying members that the House will vote on a resolution this week to rein in President Trump’s ability to take military action against Iran without congressional approval.
Impeachment Proceedings Are In Limbo this week, as Washington waits to see what Nancy Pelosi will do with the articles passed last month. Pelosi has been mum about her strategy over the holiday, as she has not yet sent the articles of impeachment to the Senate for consideration. Since Congress adjourned last month, Pelosi has declined to say when, or if, she would send the articles across the Capitol.
The USMCA Trade Deal will receive attention from the Senate this week after the House approved the agreement last month. On Tuesday, the Senate Finance Committee will hold a mark-up of the president’s deal. According to Politico, “the timing of a full Senate vote remains in limbo as lawmakers wait for the impeachment articles to be sent over from the House. The trade deal was initially expected to wait until after the Senate finished the impeachment trial.”
Kelly Loeffler, who will replace Sen. Johnny Isakson (R-GA) as Georgia’s next senator, will be sworn into office by Vice President Mike Pence on Monday.
The Filing Deadline to run for federal office in Mississippi is Friday, January 10.
AR/Intel Insiders: A full state-by-state breakdown of filing deadlines as well as primary dates can be found here.
WEEKEND QUICK HITS
PRESIDENTIAL
Former Vice President Joe Biden earned endorsements from three swing-district Democrats: Reps. Chrissy Houlahan and Conor Lamb of Pennsylvania and Rep. Elaine Luria of Virginia. (NBC News, 1/5/20)
Sen. Elizabeth Warren’s campaign announced that she raised $21.2 million in the fourth quarter of 2019. (Politico, 1/3/20)
Former San Antonio mayor Julián Castro, who ended his presidential campaign last week, endorsed Warren on Monday, saying she is the “one candidate I see who’s unafraid to fight like hell to make sure America’s promise will be there for everyone.” (The Washington Post, 1/6/20)
SENATE
KENTUCKY: Former Marine Corps pilot Amy McGrath (D-KY) announced that she raised $6.2 million for her U.S. Senate campaign in the fourth quarter of 2019 and has $9.1 million on hand. (Politico, 1/3/20)
KENTUCKY: Freshman state Rep. Charles Booker ended weeks of speculation and announced he will seek the Democratic nomination in Kentucky’s 2020 Senate race. Booker’s entrance into the race is viewed as a progressive response to McGrath’s candidacy. (The Louisville Courier-Journal, 1/5/20)
SOUTH CAROLINA: Democrat Jaime Harrison raised $3.5 million in the fourth quarter of last year for his bid to challenge Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC), his campaign announced, and ended the quarter with $4.6 million in cash on hand. (Politico, 1/6/20)
HOUSE
KS-02: Topeka mayor Michelle De La Isla announced she is entering the Democratic race for Kansas’s 2nd Congressional District, filling a vacuum created when the party’s only candidate dropped out in October. (The Wichita Eagle, 1/6/20)
NJ-02: Amy Kennedy (D-NJ), wife of former Rep. Patrick Kennedy (D-RI), announced she is seeking the Democratic nomination to challenge Rep. Jeff Van Drew, the former Democratic lawmaker who switched parties in December. (The Washington Examiner, 1/6/20)
TN-01: Six-term Rep. Phil Roe (R-TN) announced he will not seek reelection in 2020, making him the 26th Republican to announce their retirement this cycle. (Politico, 1/3/20)
UT-04: Three-term Republican state legislator Kim Coleman announced that she’s running for the 4th Congressional District seat currently held by Rep. Ben McAdams (D-UT). (Salt Lake Tribune, 1/4/20)
THE PRESIDENT’S AGENDA
On Thursday, January 9, President Trump will hold a campaign rally in Toledo, Ohio.
2020 PRIMARY EVENTS
Monday (1/6)
Joe Biden will attend a fundraising event in New York, NY.
Elizabeth Warren will appear on Late Night with Seth Meyers on NBC.
Tuesday (1/7)
Elizabeth Warren will appear on The View on ABC.
Wednesday (1/8)
Pete Buttigieg will attend a fundraiser in Denver, CO.
Thursday (1/9)
No Known Events
Friday (1/10)
Elizabeth Warren will host a town hall in New Hampshire.
Saturday (1/11)
No Known Events
Sunday (1/12)
No Known Events
EXPECTED VOTES
U.S. Senate
Monday (12/9)
The Senate will convene at 5:30 p.m. and proceed to a vote on the motion to invoke cloture on Executive Calendar #555 Jovita Carranza to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration.
The Senate also has a number of appointments that it may consider this week.
U.S. House of Representatives
Monday (1/6)
On Monday, the House is not in session. No votes are expected.
Tuesday (1/7)
On Tuesday, the House will meet at 2:00 p.m. for legislative business and recess immediately. Votes will be postponed until 6:30 p.m.
Quorum Call at 6:30 p.m. – Establishing a quorum in the House of Representatives for the Second Session of the 116th Congress.
Wednesday (1/8)
On Wednesday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for Morning Hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business.
Suspensions (8 bills)
- H.Res. 575 – Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that all stakeholders in the deployment of 5G communications infrastructure should carefully consider and adhere to the recommendations of “The Prague Proposals”, as amended (Rep. Flores – Energy and Commerce)
- H.R. 2881 – Secure 5G and Beyond Act of 2020, as amended (Rep. Spanberger – Energy and Commerce)
- H.R. 4500 – Promoting United States Wireless Leadership Act of 2019, as amended (Rep. Walberg – Energy and Commerce)
- H.R. 3763 – Promoting United States International Leadership in 5G Act of 2019, as amended (Rep. McCaul – Foreign Affairs)
- H.R. 5078 – Prison to Proprietorship, as amended (Rep. Velazquez – Small Business)
- H.R. 5065 – Prison to Proprietorship for Formerly Incarcerated Act (Rep. Jeffries – Small Business)
- H.R. 5130 – Capturing All Small Businesses Act of 2019 (Rep. Veasey – Small Business)
- H.R. 5146 – Unlocking Opportunities for Small Businesses Act of 2019, as amended (Rep. Hagedorn – Small Business)
Thursday (1/9) & the Balance of the Week
On Thursday, the House will meet at 10:00 a.m. for Morning Hour debate and 12:00 p.m. for legislative business. On Friday, the House will meet at 9:00 a.m. for legislative business, with last votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m.
H.R. 535 – PFAS Action Act of 2019 (Rep. Dingell – Energy and Commerce) (Subject to a Rule)
ON THE CAMPAIGN TRAIL
U.S. Senate
Tuesday (1/7)
Andrew Romanoff (D-CO) will attend a meet in Denver, CO.
Wednesday (1/8)
John Hickenlooper (D-CO) will attend a meet and greet in Greeley, CO.
Cal Cunningham (D-NC) will attend a campaign fundraiser in Winston-Salem, NC.
Sara Gideon (D-ME) will attend a “Coffee, Pie, and Conversation” event in Old Town, ME.
Thursday (1/9)
John Hickenlooper (D-CO) will attend a meet and greet in Sterling, CO.
Betsy Sweet (D-ME) will attend a town hall in Old Orchard Beach, ME.
Lorena Garcia (D-CO) will attend a Democratic Women of Loveland meeting in Loveland, CO.
Friday (1/10)
John Hickenlooper (D-CO) will attend a meet and greet in Fort Morgan, CO
Mark Kelly (D-AZ) will attend a fundraiser in Pacific Palisades, CA
Saturday (1/11)
Sarah Riggs Amico (D-GA) will host a meet and greet in Savannah, GA.
John Hickenlooper (D-CO) will attend a meet and greet in Adams County, CO.
Multiple Senate Candidates will attend a 2020 Senate Democratic Primary Candidate Forum in Houston, TX.
Sunday (1/12)
Eddie Mauro (D-IA) will attend an economic development roundtable in Webster City, IA.
Andrew Romanoff (D-CO) will participate in a town hall in Denver, CO.
U.S. House of Representatives
Monday (1/6)
No Known Events
Tuesday (1/7)
No Known Events
Wednesday (1/8)
Rep. Dana Balter (NY-24) will attend the Palmyra Democratic Committee Forum in Palmyra, NY.
Thursday (1/9)
No Known Events
Friday (1/10)
Rep. Dean Phillips (MN-03) will attend a “Donuts with Dean” event in Washington, DC.
Saturday (1/11)
No Known Events