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

• Tuesday will serve as an important test of the national political mood, with gubernatorial elections in Virginia and New Jersey.
• Congressional Democrats negotiated through the weekend trying to find a path forward on their Build Back Better Act, but that path remains unclear.
• President Joe Biden is in Scotland for the United Nations summit on climate change, returning to Washington Wednesday.

HOUSE

• The House will hold votes today through Thursday. The schedule is again fluid as Democratic leaders work toward finding a way forward on their agenda.
• The House Agriculture Committee will hold a hearing Wednesday on challenges to the food supply chain.
• The House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee on Thursday will hold a hearing on cyber threats to the nation’s infrastructure.
• The full list of this week’s House committee activity can be found here.

SENATE

• The Senate will continue votes on Biden’s nominees, with negotiations on their social spending package ongoing.
• The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing tomorrow on protecting against counterfeit and unsafe products in online marketplaces.
• The Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing Thursday on nuclear energy.
• The current list of Senate committee activity can be found here.

WHITE HOUSE

• Today, President Biden will speak at the UN Climate Change Conference of the Parties in Glasgow.
• Biden returns to Washington Wednesday, after a news conference on the climate summit.
• Friday, the president and first lady will attend the funeral of Colin Powell, who died October 18.