The Week Ahead: Back in session

It’ll be a busy week as Congress returns from its August recess and
the last of the major 2010 primaries takes place Tuesday.

After a month back home listening to voters, lawmakers return to the
Capitol for some unfinished legislative business.

{mosads}The Senate will discuss the small-business jobs bill; a vote could
happen as early as this week. Sen. George Voinovich (R-Ohio) announced
his support for the legislation, giving Democrats the 60 votes needed
to end debate on the measure, presuming all of their members stay in
line.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will appear before Congress on
Thursday to discuss exchange rate policies as discussions over China’s
currency heat up.

The return of Congress means the start of the Washington fall social
season. Wednesday night will feature the Congressional Hispanic Caucus
Institute’s 33rd Gala with scheduled guests President Obama, first
lady Michelle Obama, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Majority
Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.), New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and
actress Eva Longoria Parker.

And the Family Research Council holds its Fifth Annual Values Voter
Summit in Washington beginning Friday. There are several big-name
conservatives scheduled to speak.

Monday, Sept. 13

— The Senate reconvenes at 2:30 p.m. after its August recess.

— President Obama will visit Fairfax, Va., where he will meet with a
local family at their home before hosting a discussion on the economy
with families from the area. His official remarks are scheduled for
1:55 p.m.

Later, he’ll host championship teams and student athletes from across
the NCAA with a reception at the White House. That event begins at
5:45 p.m.

— Vice President Joe Biden will be in Philadelphia to campaign for
Democratic Senate candidate Joe Sestak.

— First lady Michelle Obama will deliver remarks at the National
Restaurant Association’s (NRA) Fall Board Meeting at the Hyatt Regency
Washington at 10:30 a.m.

— Geithner and Labor Treasury Secretary Hilda Solis will speak at 2010
Hispanic Heritage Month events held by the Congressional Hispanic Caucus
Institute. The events take place at the Ronald Reagan Building and are
scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. Homeland Security Secretary Janet
Napolitano speaks at 3 p.m.

Tuesday, Sept. 14

— The House is back in session, with the first votes scheduled for early evening.

— Obama will deliver his second annual Back-to-School Speech at Julia R.
Masterman Laboratory and Demonstration School in Philadelphia. The
event takes place at 1 p.m.

— Delaware, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode
Island, Vermont and Wisconsin hold primaries Tuesday.

The biggest House race to watch is that of Rep. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.),
who faces a challenge from State Assembly member Adam Clayton Powell
IV. A couple of other House primaries worth watching are the
Democratic battles for retiring Reps. Bill Delahunt’s (D-Mass.) and
Patrick Kennedy’s (D-R.I.) seats, because the primary winner will
likely win the general election.

On the Senate side, New Hampshire and Delaware Republicans will
pick their candidates. The Tea Party has made inroads in Delaware,
hoping candidate Christine O’Donnell can mimic what happened in
Alaska and knock off party-backed Rep. Mike Castle. In New Hampshire,
a tough, multi-candidate primary features party favorite Kelly Ayotte
in a nasty battle with Jim Bender while former gubernatorial candidate
Ovide Lamontagne tries to claim the Tea Party mantle.

D.C. primary voters will pick their candidates for mayor, with the
winner of the Democratic contest the favorite to win in November.
Mayor Adrian Fenty (D) has brought in big-name Democratic consultant
Anita Dunn to help his final push as he faces a tough challenge from
City Council Chairman Vincent Gray (D).

— Michelle Obama will attend the Congressional Hispanic Caucus
Institute Public Policy Conference at the Ronald Reagan Building to
talk about her Let’s Move! Initiative. Her speech is scheduled for
10:30 a.m.

— The Cato Institute holds a book forum, Give Us Liberty: A Tea Party
Manifesto, with its author, former House Majority Leader Dick Armey
(R-Texas). It begins at noon; a lunch follows. 1000 Massachusetts
Ave. NW.

— The Center for American Progress holds a discussion called “Debating
Our Fiscal Future” on policy responses to the U.S. budget deficit. The
event runs from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. George Washington University,
Jack Morton Auditorium, 805 21st Street NW.

— Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton and special Middle East envoy George Mitchell attend Israeli-Palestinian peace talks
Tuesday and Wednesday in the region.

— There will be a book launch for Young Guns: A New Generation of
Conservative Leaders with authors Reps. Eric Cantor (R-Va.), Kevin
McCarthy (R-Calif.) and Paul Ryan (R-Wis.). This invitation-only event
takes place at Johnny’s Half Shell at 6:30 p.m.

Wednesday, Sept. 15

— The Brookings Institution, Migration Policy Institute and Active Voice
co-host a screening and discussion of “Welcome to Shelbyville.” The
documentary “takes an intimate look at a Southern town as its leaders
and residents — whites and African-Americans, Latino and Somali
immigrants — grapple with their beliefs, their histories and their
evolving ways of life.” The event runs from 4 to 6:15 p.m. at
Brookings. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW.

— The Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute holds its 33rd annual gala
awards at 7 p.m. with scheduled guests President Obama, first lady
Michelle Obama, Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.), Senate Majority
Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) and New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg.
There will be a presentation of the “Medallion of Excellence” to
actress Eva Longoria Parker. The event takes place at the Washington
Convention Center.

Thursday, Sept. 16

— Geithner will testify before Congress on exchange rate policies and
discuss the Treasury Department’s “International Economic and Exchange
Rate Policies” report. He’s scheduled to appear before the Senate
Banking Committee at 10 a.m. and the House Ways and Means panel at 2 p.m.

— Jacob Lew, the nominee to be director of the Office of Management and
Budget, will testify before the Senate Budget Committee at 10 a.m. He
speaks before the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Committee at 2:30 p.m.

— Obama heads to Connecticut to attend events for Democratic Senate
candidate Richard Blumenthal and the Democratic National Committee.

— Nevada Senate candidate Sharron Angle will be in town for a National
Republican Senatorial Committee fundraiser.

— Michelle Obama will attend the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation
Annual Legislative Conference at the Washington Convention Center.
Once again, she’ll discuss her Let’s Move! Initiative. Her speech will
be at 1:45 p.m.

— The American Enterprise Institute (AEI) holds another in its “Election
Watch” series, featuring analysis by Michael Barone and Norman
Ornstein. The event runs from 8:30 to 10 a.m. 1150 17th Street NW,
12th floor.

— Brookings and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs unveil the results
of a public opinion survey on American attitudes toward U.S. foreign
policies. The panel discussion runs from 9:45 to 11:15 a.m. at
Brookings.

— The U.S. Census Bureau releases its poverty and family income report,
and Brookings’s Center on Children and Families holds a 2:30 p.m.
briefing on the new data. Reserve Officers Association of the United
States, 1 Constitution Ave. NE.

— AEI holds a discussion on the Deficit Reduction and Budget Reform Act
with its sponsor, Sen. John Thune (R-S.D.). It runs from 2:30 to
4 p.m. at the think tank’s headquarters.

Friday, Sept. 17

— The Family Research Council holds its Fifth Annual Values Voter Summit
at the Omni Shoreham Hotel. Scheduled speakers include:

8:45 a.m.: Sen. Jim DeMint (R-S.C.), House Republican Conference
Chairman Mike Pence (Ind.), Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-Minn.), former
Arkansas Gov. Mike Huckabee (R) and group President Tony Perkins deliver
opening remarks.

2 p.m.: Former Sen. Rick Santorum (R-Pa.), American Values
President Gary Bauer and Tea Party Express Chairman Amy Kremer are
among the participants in the afternoon plenary session.

7:30 p.m.: Fox News Channel’s Sean Hannity will be joined by the
Duggar family of “19 Kids and Counting” in the evening plenary
session.

— Federal Reserve Board Governor Daniel Tarullo will be at the Brookings
Institution to discuss “Regulating the Shadow Banking System” at
11:30 a.m.

— The National Archives holds events to celebrate the 223rd anniversary
of the signing of the U.S. Constitution, including a “Happy Birthday,
U.S. Constitution!” party with a birthday cake and a Dolly Madison
re-enactor. The party will begin at 1 p.m.