The Senate met at 10 a.m. and resumed consideration of S.937, COVID–19 Hate Crimes Act. The Senate will vote Wednesday on the legislation which addresses a rise in hate crimes against Asian Americans, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said Monday. The bill introduced by Senator Mazie Hirono, (D-Hawaii), and Representative Grace Meng, (D-New York), would instruct the Justice Department to speed up the review of COVID-19 related hate crimes. It also aims to give local law enforcement more support to respond to violence against Asian Americans and curb the use of discriminatory language on the rise since the pandemic started last year. The Senate plans to consider two bipartisan amendments to the bill before a final vote Wednesday. Last week, the chamber voted to start debate on the proposal by a 92-6 margin. At 12:00 noon, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session, and resume consideration of the nomination of Gary Gensler to be a Member of the Securities and Exchange Commission for a term expiring in 2026. The Senate will then vote on confirmation of Lisa O. Monaco to be Deputy Attorney General.
At 10:30 a.m. the Senate Appropriations Committee began a hearing on the American Jobs Plan, infrastructure and climate change, featuring Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Michael Regan, Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and HUD Secratey Marcia Fudge. President Biden met in the Oval Office Monday with Buttigieg and a bipartisan group of lawmakers to discuss his plan. The president insisted he is “prepared to compromise” on what is included in the package as well as how to pay for it. The White House has telegraphed that far more of this package is open to negotiation than was the case with the COVID-19 bill, but it has also made clear that Biden is also preparing to go it alone, if necessary, to get the bill passed. That would leave the GOP in the politically unpopular position of explaining why it objected to investments many Americans want and need. Republicans have signaled they might be open to a much smaller infrastructure package, focused on investing in traditional infrastructure areas such as roads, bridges and waterways. Biden’s plan would put money toward critical additional areas, such as upgrading broadband and water systems, expanding Medicaid support and job training for caregivers and funding electric vehicle charging stations.
At 10 a.m. the Senate Judiciary Committee began a hearing to examine voting rights.
The House met at 12 p.m. for legislative business and is expected to consider the Rule for H.R. 1333 – NO BAN Act, H.R. 1573 – Access to Counsel Act of 2021, and H.R. 51 – Washington, D.C. Admission Act, which would provide for the admission of the State of Washington, D.C. into the Union. The White House on Tuesday formally declared its support for the bill that would finally grant statehood to Washington, D.C., saying it would provide the residents of the District with “long overdue full representation in Congress.” The District is home to roughly 700,000 full-time residents, which is significantly more than Wyoming or Vermont. The House will also resume work on seventeen bills under suspension of the Rules.
President Biden plans to meet Tuesday with the leadership of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus in the Oval Office to discuss topics expected to include immigration and diversity in his administration. The lawmakers are expected confront Biden directly on immigration – including raising the idea of passing some measures through the reconciliation process – and Hispanic representation in the administration. The meeting is also expected to address vaccine distribution in Hispanic communities. The session will come in the aftermath of the administration backtracking after Biden referred to the situation at the U.S.-Mexico border as a “crisis” Saturday, arguing he meant the conditions in Central America that have led more people to flee.
Later today, the President will take a virtual tour of a Proterra plant in South Carolina that manufactures electric buses.
Statement from President Joe Biden and First Lady Dr. Jill Biden on the passing of Walter Mondale.
