The Week Ahead: Full-swing campaign

The Senate takes up the defense authorization bill this week, setting
up a battle over repeal of the “Don’t ask, don’t tell” policy and an
amendment to add the DREAM Act, which would provide certain children
of illegal immigrants a pathway to citizenship.

The House, meanwhile, is cutting its legislative schedule by a day to
give lawmakers extra time to campaign back home. The first vote is
scheduled for Wednesday evening and the lone item on the agenda is the
small-business jobs bill that passed the Senate last week.

President Obama plans to do some stumping for Democrats, first in
Philadelphia, then in New York City, where he’ll be addressing the
United Nations General Assembly.

Vice President Joe Biden will also hit the campaign trail in Ohio,
Massachusetts, Maryland and Florida.

Monday, Sept. 20

— Obama takes part in a live CNBC town hall on jobs, then travels to
Philadelphia for campaign events on behalf of Democratic Senate
candidate Joe Sestak — whom the White House had opposed in the
Pennsylvania Democratic primary against Arlen Specter — and the
Democratic National Committee.

— Biden delivers remarks at the U.S.-Japan Council’s annual
conference, then travels to Ohio for events with Gov. Ted Strickland
(D).

— The Center for American Progress holds a discussion, “The
Affordable Care Act Six Months Later: Progress and Promise,” on the
healthcare reform law. It runs from noon to 1:30 p.m. 1333 H St. NW,
10th floor.

— Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) delivers an address at the American
Enterprise Institute on “The Way Forward in the War on Terror.” The
event, including a question-and-answer session and analysis, runs from
12:30 to 2 p.m. 1150 17th St. NW, 12th floor.

— New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg (I) is scheduled to host a
fundraiser for Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) in the Big
Apple.

Tuesday, Sept. 21

— The Senate Homeland Security Committee meets at 9:15 a.m. to
consider the nomination of Jacob Lew as director of the Office of
Management and Budget. 342 Dirksen Senate Office Building.

— The Senate Banking Committee holds a 10 a.m. hearing on “Investing
in Infrastructure: Creating Jobs and Growing the Economy,” with
testimony expected by Gov. Ed Rendell (D-Pa.), administration
officials and others. 538 Dirksen.

— The House Energy and Commerce Oversight and Investigations
subcommittee holds a noon hearing on food safety and the nationwide
egg recall. 2123 Rayburn House Office Building.

— And its Health subpanel meets at 2 p.m. on “Cutting Waste, Fraud
and Abuse in Medicare And Medicaid.” 2322 Rayburn.

— The Brookings Institution and the Center for American Progress
co-host a conference on “Regional Innovation Clusters: Advancing the
Next Economy.” Among the speakers: Commerce Secretary Gary Locke;
Jason Furman, deputy director of the National Economic Council; Eli
Lilly CEO John Lechlieter; and Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack, who
will deliver the afternoon keynote. Registration for the event, which
runs from 8:45 a.m. to 3:45 p.m. at the Washington Mayflower Hotel, is
closed, but it will be webcast.

— Obama awards the Medal of Honor posthumously to Chief Master
Sgt. Richard L. Etchberger of the U.S. Air Force for heroic
actions in combat in Laos in 1968.

— Biden meets Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou at the White House.

Wednesday, Sept. 22

— Obama holds an event on the patient’s bill of rights. He then heads
to New York City for the U.N. General Assembly. In the evening, he
headlines a party fundraiser with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (Calif.)
and Reid. He is scheduled to return to Washington on Friday.

— Biden is in Boston for an event for Sen. Blanche Lincoln (D-Ark.).
He’ll then return to Washington for a Medal of Valor Ceremony with
Attorney General Eric Holder at the White House.

— The U.S. Census Bureau director, Robert Groves, provides an update
on the 2010 census at 9 a.m. at the National Press Club. 529 14th St.
NW.

— The House Financial Services Committee meets at 10 a.m. on
restructuring the housing finance system and at 2 p.m. on the state of
the international finance system.

— The Senate Rules Committee holds another hearing on filibuster
reform at 10 a.m. 301 Russell.

— Senate Banking holds a 10 a.m. hearing on the performance of the
Securities and Exchange Commission, including the case of Texas
financier Robert Allen Stanford and his alleged Ponzi scheme.
Witnesses include SEC Inspector General David Kotz and Robert Khuzami,
director of the SEC’s Division of Enforcement. 538 Dirksen.

— Homeland Security Secretary Janet Napolitano, FBI Director Robert
Mueller and National Counterterrorism Center Director Michael Leiter
testify before a 10 a.m. hearing of the Senate Homeland Security
Committee on “Nine Years After 9/11: Confronting the Terrorist Threat
to the Homeland.” 342 Dirksen.

— A House Transportation subpanel holds a 2 p.m. hearing on “Five
Years after Katrina: Where We Are and What We Have Learned for Future
Disasters.” 2167 Rayburn.

— The Log Cabin Republicans hold a dinner with Tucker Carlson,
National Republican Senatorial Committee Chairman John Cornyn
(Texas) and National Republican Congressional Committee Chairman
Pete Sessions (Texas). It takes place at the Capitol Hill Club and
is invitation-only.

Thursday, Sept. 23

— Obama addresses the U.N. General Assembly. He and first lady
Michelle Obama, along with former President Bill Clinton, address the
annual meeting of the Clinton Global Initiative, also in New York
City. Obama will also hold bilateral meetings with the Chinese and
Japanese leaders.

— Army Gen. Keith Alexander, commander of the U.S. Cyber Command,
testifies before the House Armed Services Committee at 10 a.m. on
“Organizing for Cyberspace Operations.” 2118 Rayburn.

— Biden heads to Chevy Chase, Md., for a campaign event for Sen.
Barbara Mikulski (D) and hosts a lunch meeting with British Deputy
Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

Friday, Sept. 24

— The president attends General Assembly meetings, including one
hosted by the U.N. on Sudan “to look ahead at the critical 2011
referendum,” the White House said. The president also meets with
leaders of the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN).

— Michelle Obama hosts a special event for the spouses of world
leaders participating in the U.N. General Assembly at the Stone Barns
Center, a nonprofit farm and education center north of New York City,
according to the White House. The event begins at 11 a.m. and includes
a lunch where the first lady will give remarks.

— Biden travels to the Miami area for an event for Delaware
Senate candidate Chris Coons, the Democrat running for his old seat.
He will also campaign with Florida candidates, the White House said.