Capitol Hill Intern Update (October 18, 2021)
We’re halfway through October and midterms are upon us (which means we all feel a little like Woody right now). Drink plenty of coffee and push through your exams and papers — you can do it!
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THIS WEEK ON THE FLOOR
The House will consider a number of suspension bills this week with votes on the following:
H.R. 2119 — Family Violence Prevention and Services Improvement Act of 2021 (Rep. McBath — Education and Labor)
H.R. 3110 — PUMP for Nursing Mothers Act (Rep. Carolyn Maloney — Education and Labor)
The Senate will work on presidential nominations this week with an expected vote on the Freedom to Vote Act.
THIS WEEK IN COMMITTEE
Full Schedule | Select Hearings:
“Pride in Patent Ownership: The Value of Knowing Who Owns a Patent” in Senate Judiciary, Oct 19 @ 2:30 PM, Dirksen 226
“Global Supply Chains and Small Business Trade Challenges” in House Small Business, Oct 20 @ 10 AM, 2360 Rayburn
“Investing in Economic Sovereignty: Leveraging Federal Financing for New and Sustained Development in Native Communities” in Senate Indian Affairs, Oct 20 @ 2:30 PM, 628 Dirksen
“The Equal Rights Amendment: Achieving Constitutional Equality for All” in House Oversight and Reform, Oct. 21 @ 10 AM, 2154 Rayburn
“Offshore Wind, Onshore Benefits: Growing the Domestic Wind Energy Industry” in House Energy and Commerce, Oct 21 @ 10:30 AM, 2123 Rayburn
WHAT WE’RE WATCHING
Colin Powell, the first Black US Secretary of State and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, has died at age 84 of Covid-19 complications
As October 31st approaches, Senate Democrats continue to negotiate the Bipartisan Infrastructure Framework (BIF); the package may fall between $1.9 and $2.2 trillion, with climate policy on the chopping block due to pushback from Sen. Manchin [D, WV]
Former Trump adviser Steve Bannon refused to comply with a subpoena from the Jan. 6th committee to appear for a slated deposition. The House committee now plans to refer Bannon to the Justice Department for criminal prosecution
17 American and Canadian missionaries were kidnapped by a gang in Haiti on their way back from a mission trip Saturday. FBI and State Department officials do not know the current location of the kidnapped missionaries and are continuing to investigate
A new poll finds that Congressional approval has dropped to 27 percent, down four points since April; most Americans (55%) still report that they are happy with their representatives
OF INTEREST
Study finds that state lotteries did not have an effect on vaccination rates
The origins of COVID-19 remain unclear; the World Health Organization’s new taskforce may be the last chance to trace the virus
Last year, America saw its biggest single-year rise in car fatalities — the dilemma to switch to self-driving cars presents a 21st century trolley problem
The US has a lot to learn from other countries about data privacy
Tinder’s latest feature will allow users to find a “plus one” for weddings thanks to a 45% increase in “plus one” mentioned in Tinder bios this year
After two decades, Christchurch, New Zealand is parting with its official city wizard
Congressional Staff Associations Call for Strengthened Diversity on the Hill
In a letter published on Friday, the Senate Black Legislative Staff Caucus and the Congressional Black Associates called for better pay and “a stronger college-to-Congress pipeline” to recruit Black graduates. Published on behalf of more than 300 Black staff members who work in the House and the Senate, it offers a glimpse at the experiences of those who work behind the scenes in Congress.
LGBT Congressional Staff Association Happy Hour TODAY
Join LGBT CSA for some free food and mingling with LGBT staffers this evening!
Congressional Progressive Staff Association Happy Hour this Friday @ 5 PM!
EVENTS THIS WEEK
Monday, October 18th
1 PM — 2:15 PM: Briefing on HUD’s Worst Case Housing Needs Report
1 PM — 2 PM: US Capitol Visitor Center: A Historical Visit to the Congressional Page Programs
3 PM — 4:30 PM: Neurodiversity and the future of work
5:30 PM — 6:30 PM: October Happy Hour: LGBT Congressional Staff Association
Tuesday, October 19th
11 AM — 12 PM: Next Generation: Water with Jonathan Nez
11:30 AM — 12:30 PM: Integration, Expansion, Community Education — How to Improve Access to Mental Health Services
12 PM — 1 PM: The Emergent Tech Panic
1 PM — 2 PM: The Lawsuit Reform Alliance of New York Annual Conference: Social Inflation and Nuclear Verdicts
2 PM — 3 PM: Does the US need a national cybersecurity strategy?
2 PM — 3 PM: Improving Data Infrastructure to Reduce Firearms Violence
3 PM — 4:30 PM: Regulatory responses to climate change: Recent research insights
4:30 PM — 5:30 PM: [ONLINE] — Tom Nelson, One Day Stronger
6 PM — 7 PM: Saving Democracy: Foreign Dissidents on How Democracies Fall
Wednesday, October 20th
1 PM — 2 PM: Capitol Conversations: Congress & the Louisiana Purchase
1 PM — 2 PM: Improving Obesity Care
2 PM — 3 PM: Human Capital Management Disclosure: How to Gauge Workforce Diversity?
Thursday, October 21st
4:30 PM — 5:30 PM: [ONLINE] — Damascus Station: Spy Fiction and the Syrian War
1:30 PM — 2:30 PM: Collaborative Climate Action for Exponential Change
1:30 PM — 2:30 PM: How does electric competition fare in a crisis?
2 PM — 3 PM: Creating a tech equity agenda to advance American democracy
3 PM — 4 PM: Internet Policy Wars 3.0 / Is The Past A Prologue To The Fight For Web3?
Friday, October 22nd
1 PM — 2 PM: Race in America: Giving Voice with Maz Jobrani
1 PM — 2 PM: Capitol Conversations: How to Become a Guide
5 PM — 6:30 PM: BARDO Happy Hour: Congressional Progressive Staff Association
- Many more events at Hill Happenings
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