The Senate will reconvene today, and the House tomorrow, for a relatively brief three week work period before the lengthy August recess. This month the Senate is scheduled to be in session for about twelve days, and the House for twelve days, before both are scheduled to adjourn on Friday, July 28th. Over the weekend, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-New York) laid out the Senate’s July work session in a Dear Colleague letter saying he plans to work on (1) appropriations, (2) the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA), (3) artificial intelligence briefings and (4) judicial confirmations. Leader Schumer also said he hopes to make progress on bipartisan bills dealing with prescription drug pricing, permitting reform, rail safety, marijuana industry banking, the Farm Bill and FAA reauthorization. In total, the letter lists more than eleven policy items to get through before August, and Leader Schumer will need to win over at least nine Republicans to get any of the bills passed.
On Tuesday, all senators will receive a classified briefing on how the Department of Defense and intelligence agencies are using artificial intelligence (AI) to protect national security as well as how foreign adversaries are developing the emerging technology. Leader Schumer, who is working with Senators Martin Heinrich (D-New Mexico), Mike Rounds (R-South Dakota) and Todd Young (R-Indiana) on the issue, announced last month that the Senate will hold AI “insight forums” with top experts in the field to help guide the Senate Committees in developing potential legislation.
For today, the Senate convenes at 3 P.M. and will resume consideration of Xochitl Torres Small’s nomination to be a Deputy Secretary of Agriculture with a 5:30 P.M. vote on a motion to invoke cloture.
