| Sign up for The Hill's Newsletters: Policy at The Hill: | Week ahead: Final vote for AG nominee? By Tim Devaney and Lydia Wheeler The Senate could finally vote on Loretta Lynch, President Obama’s nominee for attorney general, after a four-month wait. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) has said he intends to bring Lynch’s nomination up for a vote next week, and many observers are saying it could be one of the closest confirmation votes in recent memory. http://j.mp/1GAEx4d One of the biggest things Lynch has going in her favor is that she would replace controversial Attorney General Eric Holder, who has had a testy relationship with Republicans. But many GOP lawmakers are concerned that she will push ahead implementing Obama’s controversial immigration actions. Lynch cleared a Senate panel last month and is now waiting for a floor vote. http://j.mp/1CddnkP Assuming Lynch receives universal support from Senate Democrats, she would need at least four Republican votes to be confirmed. That would lead to a tie, and Vice President Biden could break the stalemate. It just so happens that exactly four Republicans have promised to vote for Lynch: Sens. Orrin Hatch (Utah), Jeff Flake (Ariz.), Lindsey Graham (S.C.) and Susan Collins (Maine). Barring any surprises, Lynch will likely be confirmed — the only question is when. McConnell said he would like to bring Lynch’s nomination to the floor for a vote at some point in the week, but he didn’t say which day. Furthermore, her nomination could potentially be delayed by debate on the human trafficking bill the Senate is working on. Meanwhile, the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee will hold a hearing on Wednesday to discuss the latest chemical reform legislation. Unveiled last week, the Frank R. Lautenberg Chemical Safety for the 21st Century Act, introduced by Sens. Tom Udall (D-N.M.) and David Vitter (R-La.), would force the Environmental Protection Agency to base chemical safety decisions solely on considerations of risk to public health and the environment and eliminate the Toxic Substances Control Act’s “least burdensome” requirement for regulating a chemical, which prevented the EPA from banning asbestos. And with the House back in session, the House Small Business Committee will hold a full committee hearing on Wednesday to discuss new challenges for small manufacturers. Elsewhere, the House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Energy and Environment Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the Improving Coal Combustion Residuals Regulation Act of 2015, which would give states the enforcement authority to implement the EPA’s coal ash standards. Recent stories: Schumer moves to ban powdered alcohol.http://bit.ly/1MybPoz ATF shelves bullet ban proposal http://bit.ly/1D1eQvU Dems push ATF to revive bullet banhttp://bit.ly/1HMYWnM Petition tells feds: ‘Hands off my hot dog’http://bit.ly/1Fg6dx9 Senate bill would give military vets access to medical marijuana http://bit.ly/1wqJjkK Legal pot? Not for federal workershttp://bit.ly/18HgwwN Boxer introduces her own chemical reform legislationhttp://bit.ly/1wAx312 Senators again targeted candy-coated drugshttp://bit.ly/18fMwIF FDA issues guidance for reusable medical devices linked to ‘superbugs’ http://bit.ly/1C9VlQk Nuke regulator chided for safety ‘sluggishness’http://bit.ly/1Aguo92 |
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