The Week Ahead: Shutdown, the sequel

Debate over the budget will continue this week as both sides
work to strike a deal and the Senate holds test votes to see where lawmakers
stand.

The temporary resolution funding the government will expire
March 18, and if another continuing resolution is not passed by then, the
government will shut down.

{mosads}The Republican plan would cut an additional $57 billion in
government spending. The White House proposal, released by Senate Democrats
last week, cuts $6.5 billion.

That means the two sides are $50.5 billion apart.

The Senate is planning a pair of test votes Tuesday on two
plans. Both bills are expected to fail to reach the 60-vote mark needed to
proceed to a final vote. But the votes are expected to show neither side has
enough support to get a plan through the Senate, meaning it’s back to the
negotiating table.

The president’s budget request for 2012 is still under
consideration, as well, and hearings will continue on that subject.

Meanwhile, the White House is hosting the Australian prime
minister Monday, a conference against bullying on Thursday, and the Stanley Cup
Champion Chicago Blackhawks on Friday.

Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and first lady Michelle
Obama will celebrate women this week with events commemorating 2011
International Women’s Day.

Plus, actor Ben Affleck will be in town Tuesday to testify
about the situation in the Congo.

Monday, March 7

President Obama welcomes Australian Prime Minister Julia
Gillard to the White House. Obama and Gillard will discuss Australian-U.S.
relations, and both countries’ shared interest in the Asia-Pacific region –
including Afghanistan. Gillard’s visit marks the 60th anniversary of the
U.S.-Australia alliance.

Vice President Joe Biden and his wife, Dr. Jill Biden,
travel to Finland, Russia and Moldova. Biden will meet with key leaders in each
country to advance U.S.-Russian relations, talk to Finnish leaders on shared
priorities between Finland and the U.S., and voice America’s support for
democratic reforms in Moldova. 

Clinton will deliver remarks at the State Department to
celebrate the 100th anniversary of International Women’s Day at the launch of
the “100 Women Initiative: Empowering Women and Girls through International
Exchanges.” The event starts at 1:45 p.m. in the Marshall Conference Center.

Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) Mark Kirk
(R-Ill.) Carl Levin (D-Mich.) and Rep. Keith Ellison (R-Minn.) will address the
2011 Jewish Council for Public Affairs Plenum – the largest annual gathering of
the Jewish community in the U.S., according to the JCPA. Klobuchar will speak
at 1:30 p.m. Monday at the conference, which takes place at the Mayflower
Hotel. Ellison speaks at 5:30 p.m., followed by Wyden at 8:15. Kirk and Levin
address conference attendees at 9 a.m. Tuesday.

President Clinton, who established a foundation six years
ago to fight childhood obesity, will address the School Nutrition Association’s
legislative action conference, which takes place in Washington at the J.W.
Marriott Hotel.

The Senate convenes at 2 p.m.

Tuesday, March 8

The House convenes at 2 p.m.

Obama travels to the TechBoston Academy in Boston where he
will continue his message of “winning the future” through education. He’ll be
joined by Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and Melinda Gates of the Bill and
Melinda Gates Foundation.

Clinton will host the 2011 International Women of Courage
Awards. Michelle Obama will be a special guest at the event, which begins at 11
a.m. in the Dean Acheson Auditorium of the State Department.

In the evening, the first lady will give remarks at a White
House reception commemorating the 100th anniversary of International Women’s
Day. Her speech begins at 5:30 p.m.

The Senate Armed Services Committee will hold a hearing on
the Defense Authorization Request for 2012 for the Department of the Navy. Navy
Secretary Raymond Mabus, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead and
Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos will testify. The hearing starts at
9:30 a.m. in Dirksen G-50.

The co-chairmen of the National Commission on Fiscal
Responsibility and Reform, former Sen. Alan Simpson and former White House
Chief of Staff Erskine Bowles, will testify before the Senate Budget Committee
at 10 a.m. in 608 Dirksen.

Office of Management and Budget Director Jacob Lew testifies
before the Senate Appropriations Committee about the 2012 budget proposal. The
hearing takes place at 10:30 a.m. in 216 Hart.

Affleck will testify before the House Foreign Affairs
Committee on “The Democratic Republic of the Congo: Securing Peace in the
Midst of Tragedy.” The hearing begins at 1 p.m. in Rayburn 2172.

Wednesday, March 9

Prime minister Gillard will address a joint session of
Congress at 11 a.m.

Secretary of State Clinton will deliver opening remarks to
the first Senior Officials Meeting (SOM) for the Asia Pacific Economic
Cooperation (APEC) forum at 10:00 a.m. in the atrium of the Ronald Reagan
Building.

The House Appropriations Committee will hold a hearing on
the budget for the National Park Service. National Park Service Director Jon
Jarvis, among others, will testify at the hearing, which starts at 9:30 a.m. in
Rayburn B-308.

The House Homeland Security Committee will meet to assess
the 2012 budget for the Federal Emergency Management Agency, including whether
or not the budget can ensure “effective preparedness and response” in crisis
situations. The hearing begins at 9:30 a.m. in Cannon 311.

Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood testifies before the
House Appropriations Committee on the department’s budget. The hearing begins
at 9:30 a.m. in Rayburn 2358-A.

Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Alan Bersin
testifies before the House Appropriation’s Homeland Security subcommittee at 10
a.m. on the budget for Customs and Border Protection. That hearing takes place
in Rayburn 2359.

The House Judiciary Committee meets to discuss the
reauthorization of the Patriot Act at 1:30 p.m. in Rayburn 2141.

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner testifies before the
House Appropriations Committee on the budget for international programs at the
Treasury Department. The hearing takes place at 1:30 p.m. in Rayburn 2359.

U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk testifies before the
Senate Finance Committee on the administration’s trade agenda. The hearing
begins at 10:00 a.m. in 215 Dirksen.

Duncan testifies before the House Education and the
Workforce Committee on the department’s budget and policy proposals. The
hearing begins at 2 p.m. in Rayburn 2175.

The U.S. Capitol Historical Society hosts a reception in
honor of the new members of Congress. The House and Senate leadership is
expected to attend this invitation-only event, which takes place at 6 p.m. in
Statuary Hall of the U.S. Capitol.

The Congressional Women’s Caucus holds its annual gala at
6:30 p.m. with special guest Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis. The event takes
place in the East Hall of Union Station.

Thursday, March 10

Obama will host a conference on bullying prevention at the
White House. Students, teachers and parents who have been affected by bullying
will discuss ways to address the issue. Michelle Obama will also be there.

The Heritage Foundation will host “A Preview of President
Obama’s Latin America Trip” with the ambassadors of El Salvador, Chile and
Brazil. The event begins at 11 a.m. in the Allison Auditorium at Heritage (214
Massachusetts Ave NE).

Ellison and others will testify before the House Homeland
Security Committee on “The Extent of Radicalization in the American Muslim
Community and that Community’s Response.” The hearing begins at 9:30 a.m.
in Cannon 311.

The House Appropriations Committee will meet to discuss the
budget for the Executive Office of the President at 10 a.m. in H-T2 in the
Capitol building. Allyson Laackman, CFO of the Executive Office of the
President, will testify.

Duncan testifies for the second time this week before the
Labor, HHS, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee within the House
Appropriations Committee on the Department of Education’s budget. The hearing
begins at 10 a.m. in Rayburn 2358-C.

Housing and Urban Development Secretary Shaun Donovan
testifies before the Transportation, Housing and Urban Development, and Related
Agencies Subcommittee on HUD’s budget. The hearing begins at 10 a.m. in Rayburn
2358-A.

Security and Exchange Commission Chairman Mary Schapiro
testifies before the TARP and Financial Services Subcommittee and Government
Organization, Efficiency and Financial Management Subcommittee on “Who’s
Watching Wall Street’s Watchdog.” The hearing begins at 1:30 p.m. in Rayburn
2154.

Friday, March 11

The Obamas welcome the Chicago Blackhawks to the White House
to honor their 2009-2010 Stanley Cup Championship win. National Hockey League
Commissioner Gary Bettman,and USA Hockey Executive Director Dave Ogrean will
preside over a street hockey workout and clinic on a rink set up on the South
Lawn of the White House after the event, which is part of the first lady’s
“Let’s Move!” campaign.

EPA Administrator Lisa Jackson will testify before a House
Energy and Commerce subcommittee on the 2012 budget.  The hearing begins at 10 a.m. in 2123 Rayburn.

Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Margaret Hamburg
testifies before the Agriculture, Rural Development, FDA, and Related Agencies
Subcommittee on the FDA’s budget. The hearing begins at 10 a.m. in Rayburn
2362-A.

Librarian of Congress James Billington testifies before the
Legislative Branch Subcommittee in the House Appropriations Committee on the
LoC’s budget. The hearing will take place in H-T2 in the Capitol at 10 a.m.

Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius
testifies before the Labor, HHS, Education and Related Agencies Subcommittee
within the House Appropriations Committee on the HHS budget. The hearing starts
at 10:30 a.m. in Rayburn 2358-B.

U.S. Comptroller General Gene Dodaro testifies on the
Government Accountability Office’s budget before the House Appropriations
Committee’s Legislative Branch Subcommittee. The hearing takes place in H-T2 in
the Capitol at 11 a.m.

—Peter Schroeder, Erik Wasson, Jason Millman and Emily
Goodin contributed