The Week Ahead: Two budgets

The clock will be ticking toward a government shutdown once again this week.

The current spending measure funding the government runs out on Friday, creating another deadline for Senate Democrats and House Republicans to agree on a spending plan for the remaining six months of fiscal 2011.

{mosads}Both sides continue to negotiate and sources told The Hill the parties are working toward cutting $33 billion in this year’s spending although Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) said Friday his side hadn’t agreed to any number.

And all that 2011 talk leads to the 2012 budget.

Republicans are expected to unveil their proposal, an alternative to President Obama’s 2012 spending plan, sometime this week, most likely on Tuesday. 

Expect House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan (R-Wis.), as the public face of the GOP budget, to defend the plan. He is scheduled to give a speech at American Enterprise Institute (AEI) on Tuesday, where he’s expected to outline budget details, including a proposal to block grants for Medicaid and a modified version of his earlier Medicare voucher plan.

Meanwhile, President Obama will deliver a speech on the rising price of gas on Wednesday, and actors Alec Baldwin and Kevin Spacey will be on Capitol Hill on Tuesday.

Monday, April 4

The Senate is in session at 2 p.m. The House is also in session with first votes expected around 6:30 p.m.

Vice President Biden and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan will introduce new sexual assault prevention guidance during a visit to the University of New Hampshire in Durham, New Hampshire. The event is scheduled to begin at 11:45 a.m.

Members of the Senate and House Judiciary Committees, including Chairmen Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-Vt). and Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Texas), along with representatives of the AFL-CIO hold a news conference on the economic threat of online infringement and counterfeits. The press event takes place in room S-115 of the Capitol at 2 p.m.

Robots will invade Capitol Hill as student-built creations compete in a demonstration game in support of Sen. Jeanne Shaheen’s (D-N.H.) education legislation. The event takes place at 2 p.m. in Room SDG-50 of the Capitol.

Tuesday, April 5

Ryan will deliver a speech on his plan to reform the budget at 12 p.m. at AEI. The event includes a question and answer period. It is invitation only.

Obama will host Israeli President Shimon Peres for lunch at the White House. The two leaders are expected to discuss U.S.-Israeli security cooperation, recent developments across the Middle East, and the pursuit of peace between Israel and its neighbors.

Actors Alec Baldwin and Kevin Spacey will testify, with others, on a hearing on “National Arts Advocacy Day.” The House Appropriations Committee’s Interior, Environment, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing will take place at 9:30 a.m. in 2359 Rayburn.

The Defense subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee holds a hearing on the 2012 health budget for the Defense Department. The Surgeon Generals of the Army, Navy and Air Force testify. The hearing takes place at 10 a.m. in room H-140 of the Capitol.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will consider the nominations of Mara Rudmam as assistant administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development and Robert Patterson to be ambassador to Turkmenistan. The hearing takes place at 10:15 a.m. in 419 Dirksen.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will also consider the nominations of Jonathan Scott Gration as ambassador to the Republic of Kenya and Michelle Gavin as ambassador to the Republic of Botswana at 2:30 p.m. in 419 Dirksen.

The House Foreign Affairs Committee’s subcommittee on Middle East and South Asia will hold a hearing on “Assessing U.S. Foreign Policy Priorities and Needs Amidst Economic Challenges in South Asia.” Representatives from the State Department and U.S. Agency for International Development will testify. The hearing will take place at 2 p.m. in 2172 Rayburn.

American Federation of Government Employees President John Gage will speak on current labor-management struggles at 10 a.m. at the National Press Club.

Wednesday, April 6

Obama will travel to the Philadelphia area to speak on his plans to confront rising oil prices by decreasing oil imports as part of his larger energy plan. The speech will take place at 2 p.m. at the Gamesa Technology Corporation in Fairless Hills, Penn.

He will then head to New York to deliver remarks at the National Action Network’s 20th anniversary and national convention.

GOP Reps. Michele Bachmann (Minn.), Mike Pence (Ind.) and Jim Jordan (Ohio) will speak at Americans for Prosperity’s “Cut Spending Now” event at noon outside of the Capitol building.

FBI Director Robert Mueller testifies on the FBI’s budget before the House Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee. The hearing begins at 9 a.m. in Rayburn 2359.

U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Susan Rice testifies at a House Appropriations Committee subcommittee meeting on the budget for the United Nations and other international organizations. The State, Foreign Operations and Related Programs Subcommittee hearing takes place at 10 a.m. in B-308 Rayburn.

Federal Emergency Management Agency Administrator Craig Fugate testifies on FEMA’s budget before the House Homeland Security Subcommittee. The hearing begins at 10 a.m. in Rayburn 2362-A.

Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Randy Babbitt testifies on the FAA’s budget before the House Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee. The 10 a.m. hearing will take place in Rayburn 2358-A.

The Defense subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee holds a hearing on the 2012 budget for the Defense Health Program. The Surgeon Generals of the Army, Navy and Air Force testify. The hearing will take place at 10 a.m. in 194 Dirksen.

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will consider the nominations of David Bruce Shear as ambassador to the Socialist Republic of Vietnam and Kurt Walter Tong to be U.S. senior official for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Forum. The hearing takes place at 2:30 p.m. in 419 Dirksen.

U.S. Comptroller General Gene Dodaro testifies on the Government Accountability Office’s “Report on Government Waste” in a House Education and the Workforce Committee hearing. The hearing takes place at 10 a.m. in 2175 Rayburn.

The House Small Business Committee will hold a hearing on the benefit of Free Trade agreements to small businesses. Representatives from the National Pork Producers Council and the United States Chamber of Commerce will testify. The hearing starts at 1 p.m. in 2360 Rayburn.

Thursday, April 7

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan testifies before the Senate Transportation, HUD, and Related Agencies Subcommittee on the future of housing finance and the Federal Housing Administration. The hearing begins at 9:30 a.m. in Dirksen 138.

Education Secretary Arne Duncan testifies on the Department of Education’s 2012 budget before the Senate Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee. The hearing begins at 10 a.m. in Dirksen 124.

Donovan testifies on the future of housing finance before the Senate Appropriations Committee. The hearing takes place at 9:30 a.m. in 138 Dirksen.

Duncan testifies on proposed 2012 budget estimates for the Department of Education at the Senate Appropriations Committee’s Labor, HHS, and Education, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing taking place at 10 a.m. in 124 Dirksen.

Amtrak President and CEO Joseph Boardman testifies at a subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee. The Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing begins at 10 a.m. in 2358-A Rayburn.

Gen. Norton Schwartz, the Air Force chief of staff, testifies on the military posture of the Air Force before a subcommittee hearing of the House Appropriations Committee. The Military Construction, Veterans’ Affairs, and Related Agencies Subcommittee hearing starts at 10 a.m. in room H-140 of the Capitol.

Commerce Undersecretary for Standards and Technology Patrick Gallagher testifies on the budget for the National Institute of Standards and Technology before the House Appropriations Committee’s Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies Subcommittee. The hearing takes place at 10 a.m. in room H-309 of the Capitol.

The House Appropriations Committee holds a hearing on the U.S. Capitol Police budget for 2012. Chief Phillip Morse Sr. testifies at the Legislative Branch Subcommittee hearing beginning at 10 a.m. in room H-T2 of the Capitol.

Rice returns to Capitol Hill to testify at before the House Foreign Affairs on “Reforming the United Nations: The Future of U.S. Policy.” The hearing begins at 10 a.m. in 2172 Rayburn.

Friday, April 8

Air Force Gen. Douglas Fraser, commander of the U.S. Southern Command, delivers remarks on “Security in the Americas: What is New?” at The Heritage Foundation (214 Massachusetts Avenue NE) at 12 p.m.

—Emily Cahn contributed to this report.