Cuba, China and CR

House and Senate Democrats have punted their decision about expiring tax cuts, but they still have a lot to tackle this week before they head home to campaign.

The House is expected to vote on a China currency bill, which cleared the Ways and Means Committee last week. The House Foreign Affairs Committee is hoping to mark up a bill that would ease the Cuba embargo, but it’s unclear if Rep. Collin Peterson’s (D-Minn.) legislation has the votes to clear the panel. 

{mosads}The bipartisan bill has been approved by his Agriculture Committee but also attracted bipartisan opposition. It would lift travel restrictions to Cuba, is strongly opposed by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (Fla.), a rising star in the Democratic Party, and Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-Fla.), ranking member on the Foreign Affairs Committee.

The lower chamber is also trying to pass a child nutrition bill, though liberals protest offsets on food stamps to pay for it, which is backed by the White House and specifically first lady Michelle Obama. 

The Senate will debate a bill intended to persuade companies not to move operations overseas as the House takes up legislation that promotes the Democratic “Make It in America” proposals.

It is unclear if Jacob Lew, President Obama’s nominee to be his budget director, will be cleared before the lame-duck session. Sen. Mary Landrieu (D-La.) is holding the nomination hostage to her demand that the administration ease limits on offshore energy drilling.

While some of these bills may move this week, the only must-pass legislation is a continuing resolution (CR) to fund the government. Republicans have repeatedly noted that Democrats did not pass a budget this year and have said they will support a CR only if it is “clean.”

It is unclear if the House ethics committee will announce any movement toward the trials of Reps. Charles Rangel (D-N.Y.) and Maxine Waters (D-Calif.). It is also continuing work on its report on former Rep. Eric Massa (D-N.Y.), who resigned amid accusations that he groped male staffers.

There are also some interesting hearings on a range of topics, including the economic stimulus package, release of the Lockerbie bomber, crimes against the homeless, terrorism financing trends, earthquake preparedness and the implementation of Wall Street reform implementation.