Amid the anniversary of the Jan. 6, 2021, Capitol riots, both chambers of Congress returned to Washington with the uptick in COVID-19 cases at top of mind.
House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) and others noted upcoming federal funding legislation to prevent a government shutdown could present an opportunity for additional COVID-19 relief dollars. Lawmakers in December passed a continuing resolution (CR) to prevent a government shutdown and maintain current funding levels through Feb. 18.
Meanwhile, the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) will convene a Jan. 11 hearing to address new COVID-19 variants and evaluate the federal pandemic response. The meeting will include testimony from Anthony Fauci, MD, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, and Rochelle Walensky, MD, MPH, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, among others.
The following day, the Senate HELP Committee will consider the nomination of Robert Califf as commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration.
As they returned to session, both the House and Senate released draft schedules for their 2022 work.
Join the Federal Action Network Today!
Stay connected to the latest from Washington! Join our Federal Action Network — free for members — and gain exclusive access to advocacy expertise and updates.
