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Appropriations, Congressional Workplace Fairness and Inclusion, Modernization, Appropriation Tracking, First Branch Forecast, Blog posts

First Branch Forecast for June 27, 2022: Apropos everything

By DanielSchuman June 27, 2022 16 min read

TOP LINE What to expect from Congress this week? The House is holding a committee work week before joining the Senate, which is already out on recess. They will return the week of July 11th. We are writing this newsletter before 5pm on Friday, so you’ll have to check the House committee calendar for upcoming hearings, but we know […]

Tags: Staff Pay, Congressional Unionization, Congressional Data Task Force, Legislative Branch

Appropriations, Congressional Security, Congressional Workplace Fairness and Inclusion, Appropriation Tracking, First Branch Forecast, Blog posts

First Branch Forecast for June 21, 2022

By DanielSchuman June 21, 2022 21 min read

TOP LINE This week. The House is in today and so is the Senate. After this week, both chambers will take a break from floor legislative activities until July 11th — according to the House floor calendar and Senate floor calendar — although the House will hold a committee work week next week. Afterward, the House has scheduled only 3 weeks of […]

Tags: Appropriations, US Capitol Police, January 6, Congressional Data Task Force, Legislative Branch, Political Violence, House Digital Service, Staff Pay

Appropriations, Congressional Security, Ethics and Influence, Modernization, Appropriation Tracking, First Branch Forecast, Blog posts

First Branch Forecast for June 13, 2022: Everything at once

By DanielSchuman June 13, 2022 13 min read

TOP LINE As hearings into the Trump insurrection start, we join the #CapitolStrong community in recognizing that this can bring up strong feelings among the Members, staff, employees, journalists, and others who work on Capitol Hill or are close to those who do. Some mental health resources are available on the coalition website. This week. The House is […]

Tags: SCOTUS, Appropriations, Staff Pay, US Capitol Police, January 6

Accountability and Oversight, Congressional Security, Congressional Workplace Fairness and Inclusion, First Branch Forecast, Blog posts

First Branch Forecast for June 6, 2022: Congress heats up

By DanielSchuman June 6, 2022 8 min read

TOP LINE This week. We promised we’d take the week off from the newsletter, but we just can’t quit you. Please note that House subcommittee markups for the NDAA are happening this week and appropriations hearings are continuing. (See our appropriations tracker for the latest deadlines.) We understand the January 6th Committee will hold the first hearing in a series […]

Tags: Congressional Unionization, US Capitol Police, January 6, Political Violence, War Powers

Accountability and Oversight, Appropriations, Modernization, Rules, First Branch Forecast, Blog posts

First Branch Forecast for May 31, 2022: Capture the Flag

By DanielSchuman May 31, 2022 12 min read

TOP LINE This week. Happy Memorial Day recess—both chambers are out this week, giving us (and hopefully you, too) a chance to take a break, or at least slow down. Approps. We were expecting Senate Leg branch approps hearing with the USCP, GAO, and Library of Congress last week, but it was postponed. Stay tuned. […]

Tags: Modernization, Appropriations, Rules, Data, Transparency, Congressional Ops

Appropriations, Congressional Security, Congressional Workplace Fairness and Inclusion, Modernization, First Branch Forecast, Blog posts

First Branch Forecast for May 23, 2022: Member Days

By DanielSchuman May 23, 2022 17 min read

TOP LINE This week. The Senate is back Tuesday; the House has a committee work week. Approps hearings continue, with USCP, GAO, and the Library of Congress testifying re: their budget requests before the Senate Leg Branch SubCmte on Wednesday. Also on Wednesday, HSGAC will hold a markup for a slate of good government bills, some of which are […]

Tags: Office of Legal Counsel, Freedom of Information Act, Staff Pay, Congressional Unionization, January 6, Legislation, Modernization

Appropriations, Congressional Workplace Fairness and Inclusion, Ethics and Influence, First Branch Forecast, Blog posts

First Branch Forecast for May 16, 2022: A better Congress

By DanielSchuman May 16, 2022 22 min read

TOP LINE This week. The Senate is in today as is the House. Next week is a House committee-only work week, followed by the Memorial Day break in both chambers. On suspension on the House floor is a bill to strengthen the VA IG. The committee schedule is filled with appropriations hearings, but we also note that the House Judiciary Cmte […]

Tags: Budget Justifications, Judicial Security and Privacy Act, SCOTUS, Congressional Unionization

Accountability and Oversight, Appropriations, Congressional Security, Congressional Workplace Fairness and Inclusion, Modernization, Appropriation Tracking, First Branch Forecast, Blog posts

First Branch Forecast for May 9, 2022: Union means together

By DanielSchuman May 9, 2022 34 min read

TOP LINE Welcome back. The Senate is in today; the House is back tomorrow. On the House floor, a resolution to allow House staff to unionize will be brought to a vote later this week. Senate Leg branch approps has started its hearings, with the Architect, CBO, and Senate SAA on Wednesday; House FSGG approps will hear from the federal judiciary on […]

Tags: Congressional Research Service, Appropriations, Access to Congressionally Mandated Reports Act, Congressional Unionization, US Capitol Police, January 6, Political Violence

Accountability and Oversight, Congressional Workplace Fairness and Inclusion, Ethics and Influence, Appropriation Tracking, First Branch Forecast, Blog posts

First Branch Forecast for May 2, 2022: A real coup

By DanielSchuman May 2, 2022 7 min read

TOP LINE This week. The Senate is in; the House is out until May 10. We are sending an abbreviated First Branch Forecast because we are tired. Don’t worry, we’ll have the highlights from the gazillion hearings this past week, including 3 Leg Branch, 2 CJS, and House Judiciary and ModCom hearings. TREATING STAFF LIKE PEOPLE No one noticed, but […]

Tags: Staff Pay, PLUM Act, Appropriations, Office of Legal Counsel, SCOTUS, Statements of Disbursements

Appropriations, Congressional Workplace Fairness and Inclusion, Ethics and Influence, Appropriation Tracking, First Branch Forecast, Blog posts

First Branch Forecast: April 25, 2022

By DanielSchuman April 25, 2022 21 min read

TOP LINE This week. The Senate is in today; the House is in tomorrow. This week, we’ll be glued to another round of Leg branch approps hearings on the Library of Congress, GPO, & the AOC; a CJS approps double-header with the Justice Department, a ModCom hearing on modernizing the legislative process; and a House Judiciary hearing on […]

Tags: SCOTUS, US Capitol Police, Congressional Unionization, Appropriations, Library of Congress, Congressional Research Service

Appropriations, Appropriation Tracking, First Branch Forecast, Blog posts

First Branch Forecast: April 18, 2022

By DanielSchuman April 18, 2022 10 min read

TOP LINE This week. The House and Senate are out until next week. When they’re back it is going to be pandemonium— the next three months everything accelerates and decelerates at the same time — so prep now and remember to spend some time outside. Appropriations redux. Our calendar of upcoming testimony deadlines is here, with […]

Tags: Staff Pay, Congressional Unionization

Accountability and Oversight, Appropriations, Congressional Security, Congressional Workplace Fairness and Inclusion, Continuity and Resiliency, Ethics and Influence, First Branch Forecast, Blog posts

First Branch Forecast for April 11, 2022: Fox on Stocks

By DanielSchuman April 11, 2022 28 min read

TOP LINE This week. The House and Senate are in recess for two weeks and not a moment too soon, with many Members of Congress reporting they’ve tested positive for COVID-19 and, we suspect, many others failing to make a public announcement. Mandatory mask wearing should return to the halls of Congress, positive tests should be recorded and […]

Tags: Staff Clearances, Government Accountability Office, Staff Pay, Congressional Unionization, Foreign Lobbying, House Ethics Committee, US Capitol Police, SCOTUS, PRESS Act, Earmarks, Budget Justifications, Office of Congressional Workplace Rights, Cybersecurity

First Branch Forecast for June 27, 2022: Apropos everything

First Branch Forecast for June 21, 2022

First Branch Forecast for June 13, 2022: Everything at once

First Branch Forecast for June 6, 2022: Congress heats up

First Branch Forecast for May 31, 2022: Capture the Flag

First Branch Forecast for May 23, 2022: Member Days

First Branch Forecast for May 16, 2022: A better Congress

First Branch Forecast for May 9, 2022: Union means together

First Branch Forecast for May 2, 2022: A real coup

First Branch Forecast: April 25, 2022

First Branch Forecast: April 18, 2022

First Branch Forecast for April 11, 2022: Fox on Stocks

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