A closer look at next week…

Also up in the House is a bill to authorize federal highway spending by another three months, time Republicans say is needed to let them sort out how best to write a longer-term extension. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) said that the GOP is grappling with out to authorize money given that “we’re just out of money.”

The House is also expected to pass a bill that would dramatically slow the ability of the Federal Communications Commission to release regulations affecting the communications industry. The bill fits in with the GOP’s theme of keeping Washington off the backs of companies so they can create jobs, although it again is likely to encounter Democratic opposition.

{mosads}In the upper chamber, senators on Monday will hold a vote on whether to proceed to a bill that would repeal tax breaks for oil companies. But if this vote fails, as it likely will given GOP opposition, the Senate will move to a bill that would let the U.S. Postal Service spread out its retirement benefit payments in a bid to keep the entity in the black.

The Senate is also expected to either consider the House-passed three-month highway, or come up with another alternative before leaving

Below is a more detailed look at the week ahead:

Monday

The Senate meets at 2 p.m., and at 4:30 p.m. will debate S. 2204, the Repeal Big Oil Tax Subsidies act. At 5:30 p.m., members will hold a cloture vote on a motion to proceed to that bill.

If that cloture vote fails (as it likely will, as 60 votes are needed), the Senate will hold a cloture vote on a motion to proceed to S. 1789, the 21st Century Postal Service act.

The Senate is in for the rest of the week, but with no definite schedule beyond Monday.

The House returns at 2 p.m. for work on five suspension bills:

H.R. 2779, to exempt inter-affiliate swaps from certain regulatory requirements put in place by the Dodd-Frank Wall Street Reform and Consumer Protection Act.

H.R. 2682, the Business Risk Mitigation and Price Stabilization Act of 2011.

H.R. 4014, to amend the Federal Deposit Insurance Act with respect to information provided to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.

H.R. 3298, the Homes For Heroes Act of 2011.

H.R. 4239, the Surface Transportation Extension Act of 2012, extending federal highway programs for three months.

Tuesday

The House meets at noon to work on two bills. One is H.R. 3309, the Federal Communications Commission Process Reform act, and the other is the Senate amendment to H.R. 3606, the Jumpstart Our Business Startups (JOBS) act.

Before the Senate approved the House version, it added an amendment that increases reporting requirements for companies that raise money through “crowdfunding.” This change to legislation aimed at helping small companies raise money and go public faster is not seen as controversial, and House Republicans have planned a suspension vote for the Senate-amended bill.

Wednesday

The House meets at noon again to start work on its FY 2013 budget resolution. Republicans have said they will allow various budget alternatives to be presented and considered, and budgets from the Republican Study Committee, the Progressive Caucus and others are likely to be debated.

Thursday

The House meets at 9 a.m., and by early afternoon is expected to conclude voting on the GOP budget resolution and any others that require a vote.

Friday

The House has no votes planned for Friday.