The main event on Capitol Hill this week is tonight when President Obama will deliver the State of the Union address, in which he will raise many divisive issues for Congress, including a defense of his November 2014 executive action on immigration, which expanded the Administration’s deferred action policy for persons in the country illegally.  In advance of the speech, the White House has made clear that the President will seek to lay out a robust liberal agenda to confront the new Republican majority in Congress.  Given that majority, the President’s speech cannot be intended to be a meaningful outline of his policy priorities but is instead the first salvo in the 2016 presidential election, as he clearly means to draw very sharp lines of distinction between the two parties.  In addition to reacting to the President’s remarks, both chambers will be considering some contentious legislation of their own.

The Senate returns to work today at 10 a.m. and will resume consideration of S. 1, the Keystone XL Pipeline Act.  Floor activity will be focused on moving some of the amendments that have been filed to S. 1.  More than 50 amendments have been filed so far, but it remains unclear how many will actually come to a vote.  Many of the amendments are “sense of the Senate” resolutions, which do not result in particular action being taken, but would put the Senate on record on issues of climate change and global warming.  Four amendments are teed up for the initial votes on the legislation.  These are an amendment by Senator Ed Markey to require that the oil transferred through the Keystone pipeline reduce U.S. dependence on middle eastern oil; a bipartisan energy efficiency proposal offered by Senators Rob Portman and Jeanne Shaheen; a domestic-content proposal by Senator Al Franken; and the proposed substitute amendment offered by Energy Committee Chairman Lisa Murkowski.  Roll call votes on amendments to S. 1 are expected to begin on Tuesday afternoon and take place throughout the remainder of the week.  A final vote on S.1 could occur before the chamber adjourns on Friday.  Next in line for the Senate once it completes action on the Keystone pipeline bill will be the House-passed appropriations bill for the Department of Homeland Security.

The House returns today at noon to consider a resolution condemning the recent terrorist attacks in Paris.  On Wednesday, the chamber will take up H.R. 161, the Natural Gas Pipeline Permitting Reform Act, sponsored by Rep. Mike Pompeo, under a rule.  The bill would expedite the federal review process for natural gas pipeline permit applications by establishing a 12-month deadline for the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission to approve such applications.  A previous version of the bill passed the House 252-165 in 2013, but did not move in the U.S. Senate.  Even if the legislation passes both chambers this time, the White House has already issued a veto threat.

On Thursday, the House will consider H.R. 36, the Pain-Capable Unborn Child Protection Act, sponsored by Rep. Trent Franks, also under a rule.  This bill would prohibit women from terminating a pregnancy after the 20th week.  A previous iteration of the legislation passed the House in June 2013 on a vote of 228-196, but was not considered by the U.S. Senate.  New Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell has pledged to bring the bill to a vote in the Senate this Congress.  House consideration of H.R. 36 on Thursday coincides with the annual National Right to Life March in Washington, D.C., on the anniversary of the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision.

In addition to the floor schedules, a number of key hearings in both chambers is expected this week as committees get down to business.  These hearings are:

January 20th

Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs – Iran Sanctions
Full Committee Hearing, 10 a.m., 538 Dirksen Bldg.

January 21st

House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Communications and Technology – Protecting the Internet and Consumers Through Congressional Action (net neutrality) — see also Senate Commerce hearing in the afternoon
10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn Bldg.

House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health – Medicare Sustainable Growth Rate Formula
10:15 a.m., 2322 Rayburn Bldg.

House Transportation and Infrastructure – FAA Regulatory Certification Process
Full Committee Hearing, 10 a.m., 2167 Rayburn Bldg.

House Veterans’ Affairs – VA Construction Management Issues
Full Committee Hearing, 10:30 a.m., 334 Cannon Bldg.

House Science, Space and Technology – Unmanned Aerial Systems Issues
Full Committee Hearing, 2:30 p.m., 2318 Rayburn Bldg.

Senate Armed Services – U.S. National Security Strategy (with former National Security Advisors Brent Scowcroft and Zbigniew Brzezinski testifying)
Full Committee Hearing, 9:30 a.m., 216 Hart Bldg.

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions – No Child Left Behind
Full Committee Hearing, 10 a.m., 430 Dirksen Bldg.

Senate Judiciary – Nominations: Michelle Lee, To Be Under Secretary Of Commerce For Intellectual Property And Director Of The United States Patent And Trademark Office; and Daniel Marti, To BeIntellectual Property                            Enforcement Coordinator
Full Committee Confirmation Hearing, 2:30 p.m., 226 Dirksen Bldg.

Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation – Protecting the Internet and Consumers Through Congressional Action (net neutrality) — see also House Energy & Commerce hearing in morning
Full Committee Hearing, 2:30 p.m., 253 Russell Bldg.

January 22nd

House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Environment and the Economy – EPA Coal Ash Rule
10 a.m., 2123 Rayburn Bldg.

House Veterans’ Affairs Subcommittee on Disability Assistance and Memorial Affairs – Veterans Claims and Appeals System
10:30 a.m., 334 Cannon Bldg.

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions – Job-Based Health Insurance
Full Committee Hearing, 10 a.m., 430 Dirksen Bldg.

Kaitlyn McClure, Covington & Burling LLP Policy Advisor, co-authored this post.