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 is celebrating the passage of bipartisan infrastructure legislation, a signature victory for his first year, while hoping for progress on the Build Back Better Act containing elements of the rest of his domestic agenda.
• Biden will also meet virtually with Chinese President Xi Jinping as the two superpowers’ leaders seek to steer away from the possibility of armed conflict amid long-building tensions.
• As Americans look forward to Thanksgiving next week, Biden will renew the annual White House tradition of formally pardoning two turkeys.

HOUSE

• The House plans to hold votes this evening through Thursday. House leaders hope to take up and pass the Build Back Better Act.
• The House Small Business Committee will hold a hearing Tuesday with Administrator Isabella Casillas Guzman of the Small Business Administration.
• The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee will hold a hearing Wednesday examining ongoing challenges to the North American supply chain.
• The full list of this week’s House committee activity can be found here.

SENATE

• The Senate plans to take up the annual defense policy bill, as well as continue voting on Biden’s nominees.
• The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold an oversight hearing Tuesday with Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas.
• The Foreign Relations Committee will hold a hearing Wednesday on lessons learned from the 20-year war in Afghanistan.
• The current list of Senate committee activity can be found here.

WHITE HOUSE

• On a busy Monday, President Biden will hold a signing ceremony this afternoon for the bipartisan Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, followed this evening by a virtual meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
• Tuesday and Wednesday, he will travel to New Hampshire and Michigan to highlight the bipartisan infrastructure legislation.
• Friday, the president will pardon the National Thanksgiving Turkey, the 74th installment of the beloved annual tradition.