The Senate has begun a historic impeachment trial against President Donald Trump after officially receiving two articles of impeachment from the House yesterday afternoon. Senators were sworn in as jurors by Chief Justice John Roberts to consider the charges of abuse of power and obstruction of Congress laid forth by the House. The full trial will begin in earnest on Tuesday, with House managers and White House defense lawyers set to present their respective cases.
Senators are set to close out the week with a historic day of legislative business. First, the Senate is expected to clear implementing legislation for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) after several committees approved President Donald Trump’s signature trade pact on a bipartisan basis this week. President Trump stated Wednesday that he plans to sign the deal next week.
Senators are gearing up the next phase of the impeachment process after the House clears a key procedural vote. House lawmakers will take up a resolution to appoint managers and transmit the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Senate this afternoon. Upon disposition of the resolution, the upper chamber is expected to begin the impeachment trial next Tuesday.
Lawmakers will resume legislative business later this afternoon as the Senate gears up for the next phase of the impeachment process. In a “Dear Colleague” letter to lawmakers late last week, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) announced that the House will take up a resolution to appoint managers and transmit the articles of impeachment against President Donald Trump to the Senate. Senators are expected to swiftly begin the impeachment trial process upon disposition of the resolution.
The Week in Review
Lawmakers kicked off the second session of the 116th Congress last week. In the lower chamber, the House passed a measure that seeks to address controversial “forever chemicals.” The legislation, among other things, would: (1) require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to designate PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances (but not the entire class of PFAS chemicals); (2) establish a grant program to award funding to communities with water supplies that have been contaminated; and (3) promulgate national primary drinking water regulations for these chemicals under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Despite bipartisan support for action on these hazardous chemicals, the lower chamber’s bill faces a difficult path forward after the Trump administration issued a veto threat earlier last week.
House lawmakers have reconvened to resume consideration of a measure that seeks to address controversial “forever chemicals,” with final passage of the bill and outstanding amendments set for this morning. The legislation, among other things, would: (1) require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to designate PFOA and PFOS as hazardous substances but not the entire class of PFAS chemicals; (2) establish a grant program to award funding to communities with water supplies that have been contaminated; and (3) promulgate national primary drinking water regulations for these chemicals under the Safe Drinking Water Act. Despite bipartisan support for action on these hazardous chemicals, the lower chamber’s bill faces a difficult path forward after the Trump administration issued a veto threat earlier this week.
House lawmakers are set to begin consideration of a bill that seeks to address controversial “forever chemicals.” The measure would require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to designate all perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) as hazardous substances, while also setting up a grant program to award funding to communities with water supplies contaminated by the chemicals. Final passage of the PFAS legislation is expected tomorrow after lawmakers consider 22 amendments to the underlying bill today.
The House will convene today as lawmakers eye their first votes of the second session of the 116th Congress. The lower chamber will consider eight bills under suspension of the rules, including: (1) an Energy and Commerce bill that would require the President to develop a strategy to ensure the security of next general mobile telecommunications systems and infrastructure in the U.S.; (2) a Small Business measure that would require contract officers to consider relevant past performance and subcontractor experience of small businesses looking to compete for federal prime contracts; and (3) Foreign Affairs legislation that seeks to bolster U.S. leadership among international standard-setting bodies for mobile telecommunications systems and infrastructure. Additionally, the House will also consider the rule that will govern debate for a bill that seeks to address controversial “forever chemicals.”
Senators on the Finance Committee are meeting to consider implementing legislation for the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA). The bill is expected to clear the Committee with bipartisan support later this morning, allowing for a vote in the full chamber at some point this month. While Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) previously stated that the Senate will vote on the USMCA following the impeachment trial, the vote may be expedited if the House continues to hold on to the articles of impeachment.
Lawmakers are set to begin the second session of the 116th Congress this week, with the Senate returning this afternoon and the House reconvening tomorrow. While Senators await next steps in the impeachment process, the upper chamber is expected to continue working through pending presidential nominations. The Senate will resume consideration of Jovita Carranza's nomination to be Administrator of the Small Business Administration later today.