The Small Business Watchdog

Each week while Congress is in session the Office of Advocacy will post a highlights schedule of congressional hearings and committee markups that we think will be of interest to stakeholders in the small business community. For further information on the hearings in question please contact the relevant congressional committee.

THIS WEEK

The House and Senate are both in session this week.  They will meet for a joint session for President Obama’s State of the Union address on Tuesday evening.Also Tuesday, conferees from both chambers will meet for the first time to work out differences over a bill to extend the Social Security payroll tax cut.

Majority Leader Reid postponed a vote on a continuous online piracy measure, so the Senate may not have much legislative action this week. On Wednesday, the House takes up a bill to repeal the Community Living Assistance Services and Supports program, a long-term care program created by the 2010 health care overhaul.

HEARING AND MARKUP SCHEDULE

Tuesday, January 24^th

1:30 p.m.          Subcommittee Hearing
TARP, Financial Services and Bailouts of Public and Private Programs Subcommittee of House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will hold a hearing titled “How Will the CFPB [Consumer Financial Protection Bureau] Function Under Richard Cordray?”
Location: 2154 Rayburn Bldg.
Webcast: http://oversight.house.gov/

Wednesday, January 25^th

8:00 a.m.          Subcommittee Hearing
Energy and Power Subcommittee of House Energy and Commerce Committee will hold a hearing titled “American Jobs Now: A Legislative Hearing on HR 3548, the North American Energy Access Act.”
Location: 2123 Rayburn Bldg.
Legislation: HR 3548 — North American Energy Access Act
Webcast: http://energycommerce.house.gov/

Thursday, January 26^th

10:00 a.m.        Full Committee Hearing
Senate Budget Committee will hold a hearing on the outlook for the U.S. and global economy.
Location: 608 Dirksen Bldg.
Witnesses: Alan S. Blinder, professor of economics and public affairs, Princeton University
Joel Prakken, chairman, Macroeconomic Advisors
Ike Brannon, director of economic policy, American Action Forum
Webcast: http://budget.senate.gov/