Monday: Senate moves to NDAA, House preps energy bills

The Senate starts at 2 p.m. and will hold four votes, starting with a 5:30 p.m. vote on a motion to end debate on the nomination of Robert Wilkins to be a U.S. judge for the District of Columbia Circuit. Senate Republicans have opposed these nominations to the D.C. Circuit by saying no more additions to the bench are needed.

If the vote fails, the Senate will immediately turn to a vote to end debate on H.R. 3204, the Drug Quality and Security Act. That bill is meant to make it easier to trace the origin of pharmaceuticals across the country.

If debate ends, the Senate will immediately vote on final passage of that bill.

{mosads}Finally, the Senate will vote on a motion to end debate on a motion to proceed to S. 1197, the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

In the House, the Rules Committee will meet in the afternoon to write a rule for two energy bills that will come up later this week. One would set a time limit on government decisions to allow drilling on federal land, and the other would mitigate federal rules requiring the disclosure of chemicals used in hydraulic fracturing.

In the meantime, members will meet in the afternoon to consider up to five suspension bills, with roll-call votes delayed until 6:30 p.m. The suspension bills are:

— H.R. 2061, the Digital Accountability and Transparency Act, to make it easier to track federal spending more effectively.

— H.R. 3343, amending the District of Columbia Home Rule Act to clarify rules regarding compensation for the Chief Financial Officer of the District.

— H.R. 3487, amending the Federal Election Campaign Act to extend the authority of the FEC to impose civil penalties.

— S.Con.Res. 25, a resolution allowing the use of Emancipation Hall to award Native American code talkers with the Congressional Gold Medal.

— H.R. 272, naming a future Department of Defense outpatient clinic after Gen. William Gourley.