The Week Ahead: Deficit talks times three

Deficit-reduction talks will heat up as much as the Washington summer temperatures this week as the deadline to raise the debt ceiling draws ever closer.

The debt commission, led by Vice President Biden, will meet three times this week to continue negotiations to raise the debt ceiling. The group has only met sporadically since early May, and the members last met on Thursday. The first meeting of the week is scheduled for Tuesday.

{mosads}All sides are said to want a deal in place before Congress leaves for the July 4th recess.

On Monday, Biden will make an appearance at the Eisenhower Executive Office Building with White House budget director Jacob Lew to announce a proposal that would help federal agencies reduce wasteful spending.

While both houses of Congress are in Washington this week, President Obama will travel widely, with stops in North Carolina, Florida and Puerto Rico. His visit to San Juan, Puerto Rico on Tuesday will be the first by a sitting president since 1961.

The president and the first lady will headline multiple Democratic National Committee (DNC) fundraisers this week. President Obama will attend one on Tuesday, and Michelle Obama will attend a total of four DNC events during her trip to California early in the week.

MONDAY

Biden will make an announcement regarding a new proposal to help federal agencies become more efficient. Office of Management and Budget Director Jacob Lew will join Biden at the announcement.

President Obama will visit the corporate and manufacturing headquarters of Cree, an LED lighting manufacturer, in Durham, N.C. He will tour Cree’s facility, deliver remarks and meet with the Jobs and Competitiveness Council.

Later in the day, the president will travel to Miami, Fla. and stay overnight.

Several Republican presidential candidates will participate in primary debate in Manchester, N.H. The debate is sponsored by CNN, WMUR and the New Hamsphire Union Leader. It begins at 8 p.m. ET.

The Senate meets at 2 p.m., with no votes scheduled. The House will also meet at 2 p.m. with votes postponed until 6:30 p.m.

First lady Michelle Obama will speak at an event in Los Angeles for military families sponsored by entertainment industry workers, including the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Directors Guild of America, Producers Guild of America, Screen Actors Guild and the Writers Guild of America West.

The first lady will also headline a DNC luncheon in Pasadena and a dinner in Los Angeles.

TUESDAY

President Obama will travel to San Juan, Puerto Rico, the first visit to the country from a sitting president since John F. Kennedy in 1961. He will deliver remarks at Muniz Air National Guard Base and visit the governor’s mansion. Later in the day, the president will attend a DNC event.

The Senate could take up the nomination of CIA director Leon Panetta for Defense Secretary.

At 11 a.m. the Senate will consider the nominations of Claire Cecchi to be U.S. District Judge for the District of New Jersey and Esther Salas to U.S. District Judge for the District of New Jersey. Later in the afternoon the Senate will resume consideration of Economic Development Revitalization Act of 2011, which will include an amendment sponsored by Sen. Tom Coburn (R-Okla.) to repeal the Volumetric Ethanol Excise Tax Credit.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee will hold a hearing on “Achieving Transparency and Accountability in Federal Spending.” Witnesses are yet to be announced. The hearing will begin at 9:30 a.m. in 2154 Rayburn.

A House Financial Services subcommittee will hold a hearing on “Does the Dodd-Frank Act End ‘Too Big to Fail’?” Witnesses are yet to be announced. The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. in 2128 Rayburn.

The Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will hold a hearing on emerging threats to rail security. The hearing will begin at 2:30 p.m. in 253 Russell.

First lady Michelle Obama will speak at a DNC breakfast in Oakland and luncheon in San Francisco.

WEDNESDAY

The Obama will host a picnic for members of Congress at the White House Wednesday evening.

Michelle Obama will join congressional families and Americorps volunteers to build a playground at Imagine Southeast Public Charter School in Washington, D.C.

The House Homeland Security Committee will hold a hearing on “The Threat of Muslim-American Radicalization in U.S. Prisons.” Witnesses are yet to be announced. The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. in 311 Cannon.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will testify before the House Financial Services Committee on the state of the international financial system. The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. in 2128 Rayburn.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing on “The Clean Air Act and Public Health.” The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. in 406 Dirksen.

Defense Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Adm. Mike Mullen will testify before the Senate Appropriations Committee on proposed budget estimates for FY 2012 for the Defense Department. The hearing will begin at 10:30 a.m. in 192 Dirksen.

A House Energy and Commerce subcommittee will hold a hearing on “PPACA’s (Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act) Effects on Maintaining Health Coverage and Jobs: A Review of the Health Care Law’s Regulatory Burden.” Steve Larsen, the director of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services’ Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, will testify.

THURSDAY

President Obama meets with Mongolian President Elbegdorj at the White House.

Biden will participate in a discussion with representatives from public safety, state and local officials, and private industry regarding the opportunity to deploy a nationwide, interoperable public safety broadband network.

The Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing on “The Nuclear Regulatory Commission’s Preliminary Results of the Nuclear Safety Review in the United States following the Emergency at the Fukushima Daiichi Power Plant in Japan.” The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. in 406 Dirksen.

The Senate Small Business and Entrepreneurship Committee will hold a hearing on “An Examination of SBA (Small Business Administration) Programs: Eliminating Inefficiencies, Duplications, Fraud and Abuse.” The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. in 428-A Russell.

The House (Select) Intelligence Committee will hold a closed committee hearing on “U.S. Involvement in Libya.” The hearing will begin at 10 a.m. in HVC-304 in the Capitol.

“Daily Show” host Jon Stewart keynotes the Bob Woodruff Foundation “Stand Up for Heroes” fundraiser. The invitation-only event takes place at 6:30 p.m. at the Ronald Reagan building.