Impeachment Trial
The Senate is continuing to move towards President Trump’s impeachment trial. Disagreements between Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi (D-CA) have delayed the start of the trial; however, McConnell told Republican Senators on Tuesday that he has the votes to start an impeachment trial without witnesses, something Democrats have demanded. The Leader has said he will not take up any vote on USMCA or any other business until the trial has concluded.
USMCA
The Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) and Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committees have scheduled sessions to markup and vote on USMCA on January 15. These votes will follow the Senate Budget Committee’s January 14 hearing.
World Economic Forum
Secretary of the Treasury Steve Mnuchin will lead the Presidential Delegation to the World Economic Forum January 20-24 in Davos, Switzerland. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross, Secretary of Transportation Elaine Chao, Secretary of Labor Eugene Scalia, and US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer are among those attending.
FY21 Budget
The White House is expected to release its FY21 budget request on February 10. Although the language is not yet disclosed, many analysts have predicted the budget will ask for increased defense spending as the Trump Administration continues its competition and pressure campaigns against China, Iran, and Russia.
Read more in McGuireWoods Consulting’s Emerging Technologies Washington Update.