[author: Lai Lam]

The Senate convenes today at 3 p.m. The House returns Tuesday at noon.

House

Farm Bill. The 2018 farm bill (H.R. 2) may land on the House floor for debate as early as Wednesday, May 16. Republicans remain split on the measure, and Democrats are opposed to the bill’s work requirements for food stamp recipients. Passage in the House is up in the air. H.R. 2 is a non-starter for the Senate.

NAFTA. House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-WI) has marked May 17 as the deadline for administration officials to produce an agreement on NAFTA if they want Congress to vote on the renegotiated trade deal this year. Under fast-track procedures (Trade Promotion Authority), Congress must be given a 90-day notice of the administration’s intention to sign the agreement. It remains to be seen whether an agreement in principles can be reached before the deadline.

Hensarling Speaks. On Thursday, POLITICO will be hosting a discussion with House Financial Services Chairman Jeb Hensarling (R-TX) on the U.S. economy and the fiscal fights ahead in 2018. More importantly, let’s see if the chairman will give the audience a better sense of when the House will actually take up the Senate banking bill (S. 2155). House leaders are reportedly aiming to take a vote before the Memorial Day recess.

Senate

Judicial Nominations. Lawmakers have two votes today: the nominations of Michael Scudder and Amy St. Eve to be judges for the 7^th Circuit.

Trump Visit. President Trump is expected to meet with Senate Republicans on Capitol Hill this Tuesday to discuss their legislative agenda.

Fed Nominations. The Senate Banking Committee meets Tuesday for a hearing on the nominations of Richard Clarida to be a member and vice chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and Michelle Bowman to be a member of the Federal Reserve System Board of Governors.

Key Hearings

Tuesday, 5/15

• Senate Banking Committee. Meeting to consider the nominations of Thelma Drake to be administrator of the Federal Transit Administration; Jeffrey Nadaner to be assistant secretary of Commerce for export enforcement; and Seth Appleton to be HUD assistant secretary for policy development and research. The committee will also hold a hearing on the nominations of Richard Clarida to be a member and vice chairman of the Federal Reserve Board of Governors and Michelle Bowman to be a member of the Federal Reserve System Board of Governors.

Wednesday, 5/16

• Senate Commerce Committee. Hearing on nominees to the NTSB, Amtrak Board of Directors, and NHTSA.
• House Education and Workforce Committee. Subcommittee hearing on “Enhancing Retirement Security.”
• House Financial Services Committee. Subcommittee hearing on the “Oversight of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement.”
• House Financial Services Committee. Subcommittee hearing on the “Implementation of FinCEN’s Customer Due Diligence Rule.”
• House Appropriations Committee. Subcommittee markup of the FY 2019 spending bill for Transportation-HUD.
• House Ways and Means Committee. Hearing on the economic impact of the new tax law.

Thursday, 5/17

• Joint Select Committee on Multiemployer Pension Plans. Hearing on the structure and financial outlook of the PBGC.
• House Financial Services Committee. Subcommittee hearing on “Community Development Block Grant-Disaster Recovery Program.”
• House Financial Services Committee. Subcommittee hearing on homelessness in America.

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