5 things you need to know Wednesday
House to take up aid for Harvey victims
House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., on Wednesday plans to bring to the House floor a $7.9 billion aid package for victims of Hurricane Harvey, a down payment on what will likely be $100 billion or more of federal aid. President Trump has urged "very rapid action" by Congress, but some conservative Republicans in recent years have balked at spending on relief efforts without offsetting cuts in federal programs. Meanwhile, Harvey aid is just one item on Congress' daunting September to-do list. And that was before President Trump on Tuesday dumped the DACA program for undocumented immigrants in Congress' lap.
Senators begin bipartisan work on health care
Senators looking for ways to help the individual health insurance market will hear from governors and state health insurance commissioners this week. In hearings beginning Wednesday, the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions Committee will focus on stabilizing premiums and helping people in the individual market in light of Congress’ failure to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act, or Obamacare. The bipartisan approach to fixing health care marks a change in strategy for Senate Republicans. The GOP repeal bill that failed in July was pieced together behind closed doors with no input from Democrats.
Hurricane Irma on its way to Florida
"Potentially catastrophic" Hurricane Irma continues to roar toward the U.S., with landfall possible in Florida over the weekend. After strengthening to a Category 5 storm with winds of 185 mph, Irma made landfall in several Caribbean islands Wednesday. Gov. Rick Scott warned Floridians to "prepare for the worst." He declared a statewide state of emergency and activated 100 Florida National Guard members to help with storm preparations. The state's full complement of 7,000 Guard members will report for duty Friday. A mandatory evacuation for visitors to the Florida Keys was set to begin Wednesday, with residents required to evacuate later in the day. “If ever there was a storm to take seriously in the Keys, this is it,” Monroe County Emergency Management Director Martin Senterfitt said.
Menendez trial starts Wednesday
Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., is promising he will be cleared of bribery and corruption charges at his trial that starts Wednesday, but Republicans in Washington are launching an aggressive campaign to get his colleagues to pressure him to resign if convicted.The effort by the Republican National Committee will be aimed at the New Jersey senator's fellow Democrats, including Minority Leader Charles Schumer of New York; senators running for re-election in states that President Trump won last year; and those with potential aspirations for the presidency in 2020, such as Sens. Cory Booker of New Jersey and Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts. Booker called the GOP campaign "offensive."
Trump to visit North Dakota refinery
President Trump will speak Wednesday at a Mandan refinery in Bismarck, N.D., the White House said Monday. Trump’s speech, which is expected to be focused on tax reform, is scheduled for just after 3 p.m. Wednesday at the Andeavor refinery. The visit comes a week after the Republican president gave his first major speech on tax reform in Missouri. North Dakota is friendly territory for Trump. He’s less than a year removed from winning the state with almost 63% of the vote, and a recent Gallup poll showed Trump's 59% approval rating in North Dakota is second only to West Virginia.
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