Alston & Bird’s Legislative & Public Policy Group previews the week ahead highlighting anticipated federal legislative, regulatory, and political activity, and key upcoming actions in Congress, the Administration, and relevant policy arenas.
Administration
- As war in the Middle East intensifies, President Trump called on NATO nations to assist in reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The White House is also beginning discussions with Congress about a pathway for a supplemental appropriations bill to fund U.S. military efforts.
- The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has remained closed for a month, with little progress toward reopening the agency.
- Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard, CIA Director John Ratcliffe, FBI Director Kash Patel, and senior military officials will testify before the House and Senate Intelligence Committees for their annual worldwide threats assessment hearings.
- South Korean trade representatives will be in Washington this week to discuss investment in American energy projects with Commerce Department and National Energy Dominance Council officials.
House
- Floor votes are canceled for Monday evening due to inclement weather, though the Rules Committee will meet to consider three bills for floor consideration later in the week.
- The House is expected to consider a constitutional amendment to require the federal government to maintain a balanced budget.
Senate
- The Senate will vote to advance Anna St. John’s nomination to serve as a judge for the Eastern District of Louisiana.
- Likely Tuesday, the Senate will begin a lengthy debate on the SAVE America Act, which currently does not have enough votes for passage. Long nights and politically charged votes may last up to two weeks, including weekends, as the Senate considers the bill’s proposed changes to U.S. election law.
Key Hearings
March 17, 2026
- Senate Judiciary Committee: Stealth Stealing: China’s Ongoing Theft of U.S. Innovation.
- House Appropriations Committee: Oversight Hearing—National Institutes of Health.
- House Ways and Means Committee: Advancing America’s Interests at the World Trade Organization’s 14th Ministerial Conference.
March 18, 2026
- Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee: Nomination of the Honorable Markwayne Mullin to Be Secretary, U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
- Senate Commerce, Science, & Transportation Committee: Liability or Deniability? Platform Power as Section 230 Turns 30.
- House Energy & Commerce Health Subcommittee: Lowering Health Care Costs for All Americans: An Examination of the U.S. Provider Landscape.
March 19, 2026
- Senate Energy & Natural Resources Committee will examine the Department of Energy’s Implementation of President Trump’s May 2025 Nuclear Energy Executive Orders.
Executive Order, Action & Proclamation Task Force
Alston & Bird's multidisciplinary Executive Order, Action & Proclamation Task Force advises clients on the business and legal implications of President Trump's Executive Orders.
Learn more about administrative actions on our tracker.