Below is this week’s congressional update by BakerHostetler’s Federal Policy team. We’ll continue to post in weeks when both chambers of Congress are in session.

HEADLINES

• President Joe Biden will travel to the Middle East, including a controversial visit to Saudi Arabia and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.
• Congress is returning from its Independence Day recess, and leaders are strategizing on bipartisan China competition legislation as well as Democrats’ budget reconciliation package.
• Washington is also continuing to react to the Supreme Court’s decisions at the end of its term, including the overturning of Roe v. Wade.

HOUSE

• The House is in session tomorrow through Friday. The agenda includes the House’s annual Pentagon policy bill.
• As Biden visits the Middle East, the Foreign Affairs Middle East and North Africa Subcommittee will hold a hearing Thursday on U.S. interests in the region.
• The Ways and Means Committee on Wednesday will hold a hearing on housing policy.
• The full hearing schedule can be found here.

SENATE

• The Senate will begin its week with votes on Biden’s nominees.
• The Energy and Natural Resources Energy Subcommittee will hold a hearing Wednesday on lowering energy prices.
• Thursday, the Senate Banking Committee will hold an oversight hearing examining the Bureau of Industry and Security’s export controls.
• The current list of committee meetings can be found here.

WHITE HOUSE

• Tomorrow, Biden will host Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador at the White House.
• The president will begin his Middle East trip Wednesday in Israel, visiting Israeli leaders before traveling to Bethlehem to meet with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas.
• From Israel, Biden will travel directly to Saudi Arabia Friday, where he will meet with heads of state from around the region – including a controversial meeting with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman.

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