Capitol Hill Intern Update (October 11, 2021)
Props to you for making it through another week on the Hill! Between your internship, midterm season, and other responsibilities, it’s easy to get stressed. This is your gentle reminder to get some rest and take care of yourself even during the busiest weeks.
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THIS WEEK ON THE FLOOR
The House is in committee work week but returns Tuesday for a vote on the debt ceiling increase that passed the Senate last week.
The Senate continues negotiations on the infrastructure package.
THIS WEEK IN COMMITTEE
Full Schedule | Select Hearings:
“Task Force on Artificial Intelligence: Beyond I, Robot: Ethics, Artificial Intelligence, and the Digital Age” in House Financial Services, Oct. 13th @ 12 PM, online
“The Future of Forecasting: Building a Weather-Ready Nation on All Fronts” in House Science, Space, and Technology, Oct. 14th @ 11 AM, online
“Investing in American Jobs: Legislation to Strengthen Manufacturing and Competitiveness” in House Energy and Commerce, Oct. 12th @ 12 PM, John D. Dingell Room, 2123 of the Rayburn + online
“Cashed Out: How a Cashless Economy Impacts Disadvantaged Communities and Peoples” in House Financial Services, Oct. 14th @ 12 PM, online
“Zoned Out: Examining the Impact of Exclusionary Zoning on People, Resources, and Opportunity” in House Financial Services, Oct. 15th @ 12 PM, online
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
The Senate voted on Thursday in favor of a short-term debt ceiling extension with support from 11 Republican Senators; the House returns Tuesday to vote on the measure.
The increase covers government spending until about December 3, when Congress will have to again vote to raise or suspend the debt limit; GOP senators say they will not to help raise the debt ceiling again
House and Senate Dems continue to negotiate what’s in the Build Back Better plan, making slow progress on scaling down the framework
The new deadline for voting on the BBB + Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework (BIF) is Oct. 31st, since the short-term transportation authorization expires Oct. 30 (and is extended in the BIF).
Document requests by the Jan 6 Select Committee is setting up a novel legal conflict between the present and previous administrations:
— The committee requested documents from the National Archives & Records Administration (NARA) [letter]
— NARA submitted the records to the current (Biden) administration for a privilege review
— President Biden “determined that an assertion of executive privilege is not in the best interests of the United States, and therefore is not justified as to any of the Documents”
— Former President Trump then “formally asserted executive privilege over the documents” [letter]
— Now NARA will convey this asserting to the White House, which is expected to again refuse to assert privilege, setting up a court battle to answer the question: “Does Executive Privilege Extend Beyond a President’s Term?”
Drugmaker Merck is seeking FDA approval for its anti-COVID pill, the first antiviral drug that could treat COVID symptoms without an IV or injection
President Biden issued the first-ever presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples’ Day in addition to a proclamation for Columbus Day, saying:
Let this day be one of reflection — on America’s spirit of exploration, on the courage and contributions of Italian Americans throughout the generations, on the dignity and resilience of Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities, and on the work that remains ahead of us to fulfill the promise of our Nation for all.
OF INTEREST
The average smartphone user can go barely two hours without unlocking their device; it might be time to break the smartphone addiction
Researchers have found that electrical brain implants can help treat severe depression
If the mail feels slower lately, you’re not imagining it — USPS is slowing down its service to save money
A U.S. couple has been charged with trying to sell sensitive nuclear submarine data… hidden in a peanut butter sandwich!
Three scholars have won this year’s Nobel Prize for economics due to their groundbreaking social sciences research in “natural experiments”
Virtual Mentoring with Black Women’s Congressional Alliance
BWCA is launching a Virtual Mentoring Program! Senior Staff will share their experiences and advice in tailored, small group sessions. Sign up today through this link!
Communications Fellow Opening
Pay Our Interns is looking for a Communications Fellow! Apply by Monday, Oct 18th.
DC Tour Sites Continue to Reopen
Some Tour Updates:
- Most Smithsonian museums no longer use timed-entry passes at most locations. Only the National Museum of African American History and Culture and the National Zoo continue to require passes for entry.
- Library of Congress is open for tours
- For a comprehensive list, check out TourTrackr’s List of DC Tour Sites — What’s Open? and sign up for TourTrackr’s Tour Updates as sites continue to reopen
EVENTS THIS WEEK
Monday, October 11th
- 12 PM — 1 PM: Leadership During Crisis with London Mayor Sadiq Khan
- 2:30 PM — 3:30 PM: Race in America: HBCUs with Ruth J. Simmons, PhD
Tuesday, October 12th
- 12:30 PM — 1:30 PM: Health Equity: The State of Obesity in America with Ala Stanford, MD & Rep. Brad Wenstrup (R-Ohio)
- 1 PM — 2 PM: Cybersecurity Summit
- 1 PM — 2 PM: Investing in America’s Lands for Climate Resilience and Carbon Storage
- 1 PM — 2:30 PM: 7th annual American Family Survey: COVID-19’s impact on family finances, relationships, and well-being
- 2 PM — 3 PM: Lifelines: A doctor’s journey in the fight for public health
- 2 PM — 2:45 PM: Opening Doors: Embracing Diversity in National Security
- 5 PM — 6 PM: What Next? Looking Beyond the Covid-19 Summit
Wednesday, October 13th
- 11 AM — 12 PM: Disability in America with Day Al-Mohamed, Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha & Maria Town
- 12 PM — 1 PM: [ONLINE] — Andrea Elliott, INVISIBLE CHILD
- 1 PM — 2 PM: Book Event: Emily Bass’s “To End a Plague: America’s Fight to Defeat AIDS in Africa”
- 2 PM — 3 PM: Carbon removal innovations and their challenges: A conversation with Susteon President Shantanu Agarwal
- 2:30 PM — 3:30 PM: What Does It Take To Transform Persistent Rural Poverty into Opportunity?
- 6 PM — 7 PM: Science Fiction/Real Policy Book Club: The Ministry for the Future by Kim Stanley Robinson
Thursday, October 14th
- 12 PM — 1 PM: What My Grandparents’ Experience in the Holocaust Taught Me about the First Amendment
- 12 PM — 1 PM: [ONLINE] — Coastal Risk is Rising: How Will We Respond?
- 12 PM — 12:45 PM: October Tech Policy Recess: Ransomware “Business Models” Evolution / What’s It Like To Be A Ransomware Negotiator?
- 1 PM — 2 PM: Diversity & Inclusion Summit
- 2 PM — 3 PM: Financing for Small Business Recovery: What’s Next?
- 4 PM — 5 PM: Securing Cyberspace with Nikesh Arora & Suzanne Spaulding
Friday, October 15th
- 3 PM — 4 PM: Transformers: Manufacturing with U.S. Labor Secretary Martin J. Walsh
- + Many more events at Hill Happenings
Contributors
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