This week: Senate returns to Supreme Court fight

President Obama’s Supreme Court pick will meet with almost a dozen senators this week—including two Republican lawmakers—as Democrats keep up pressure on the nomination.

Republican Sens. Susan Collins (Maine) and John Boozman (Ark.) will sit down with nominee Merrick Garland on Tuesday as senators return from a two-week recess.

{mosads}Collins has been a vocal skeptic of her party’s strategy to block the president’s pick from getting a hearing.

“It just seemed to me that there was no basis for saying that no matter who the president nominates, we were not going to consider that individual,” she told a local radio station, adding that Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s “not real happy with me.” 

Meanwhile, Patrick Creamer, Boozman’s spokesman, told The Hill the Arkansas Republican will use the meeting “to personally convey his position that the next president should fill the vacancy.”

While Boozman is up for reelection, he won his primary last month and isn’t considered vulnerable.

Approximately 17 GOP senators have suggested they are open to meeting with Garland. Most, like Boozman, believe the Supreme Court seat should be kept empty until next year.

Sen. Mark Kirk (R-Ill.), who faces a tough reelection bid, became the first Republican to meet Garland last week. He told reporters before the meeting that he would consider voting for Obama’s nominee, and that some of his colleagues were being “close-minded.” 

Republican leadership, however, has shown no signs they are backing away from their strategy.

Speaking to a Texas Alliance for Life luncheon Friday, Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) pledged that Republicans wouldn’t allow an “Obama judge” to get confirmed.

Asked why Republicans couldn’t hold a hearing, he added, “I think—and you’ve already begun to see this a little bit—that some folks who originally said yes we’re not going to vote to confirm the judge are now changing their minds. And it’s a slippery slope. I think it would be a travesty for us to confirm Judge Garland.”

Republicans are also facing pressure from conservatives to hold the line. 

Adam Brandon, the CEO of FreedomWorks, said Republicans who are willing to sit down with Garland are only bolstering the administration’s effort to get him confirmed.

“By foolishly agreeing to meet with Obama’s nominee, Republicans are playing with fire, and they can’t blame the conservative grassroots when they get burned,” he added. 

Garland will also meet with Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin (W.Va.), Dick Durbin (Ill.), Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.), Jeanne Shaheen (N.H.), Chris Coons (Del.), Richard Blumenthal (Conn.), Sheldon Whitehouse (R.I.), Dianne Feinstein (Calif.) and Sherrod Brown (Ohio).

Separately, Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) will hold a call with MoveOn.org. 

Democrats are focusing on vulnerable incumbents and the seven GOP senators who backed Garland for his current spot on the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit Court.

They argue that a spate of recent polling underscores momentum is on their side. A CNN/ORC International poll released late last month found that a majority of Americans support confirming Garland.

Sen. Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), expected to be the next Senate Democratic leader, said GOP lawmakers “got an earful back home” on the Supreme Court over the two-week recess.

“Every day, voters grow more frustrated with Republican obstruction and more terrified by the prospect of Donald Trump picking the next Supreme Court justice,” he told reporters on a conference call Friday. 

FAA Reauthorization

The Senate could take up a long-term reauthorization of Federal Aviation Administration programs, though the bill hasn’t been scheduled. 

Congress sent a short-term bill to Obama’s desk last month that authorized FAA programs and the ability to collect aviation taxes through July 15.

The Senate Commerce Committee passed its long-term reauthorization last month, which would greenlight FAA programs through September 2017.

But House and Senate lawmakers have struggled to get a consensus. A bill passed out of the House Transportation Committee would extend programs through 2022.

Meanwhile, Democrats are expected to tie the recent terror attacks in Brussels to the reauthorization bill when it reaches the Senate floor. 

Schumer told reporters last month that Congress should focus on increasing airport security as part of a reauthorization bill.

That, he added, would include more Transportation Security Administration officer screening, tightening vetting for aviation workers and improving security of airport perimeters. 

Trade Secrets

The Senate will vote on legislation to allow civil litigation for theft of international trade secrets.

Supporters of the bill, known as the Defend Trade Secrets Act, argue the extra legal options are needed to help businesses remain competitive. The Department of Justice can currently bring trade secret claims up in federal court. 

Senators got an agreement to take up the legislation before leaving town for their two-week recess. With 64 cosponsors it’s expected to easily pass on Monday evening. 

The legislation was approved by the Senate Judiciary Committee in January. Senators would still need to reconcile differences in the Senate bill with a separate House proposal. 

The House isn’t in session this week.