Washington Week Ahead: Inauguration craziness descends on Capitol

WASHINGTON, Jan. 20, 2013 - The week is set to kick off with an inaugural bang as lawmakers - at least Democrats - celebrate the second swearing-in of President Obama on Monday.

The inauguration is expected to draw between 700,000 to 800,000 observers, far less than the estimated 1.8 million in 2009. Still, Capitol Hill was beginning to hunker down in barricades as early as last Tuesday.

The Senate and the House are scheduled to hold a joint session of Congress in honor of the inauguration. No votes are expected in either chamber.

Meanwhile, both the Senate Agriculture, Nutrition and Forestry Committee and the House Agriculture Committee have yet to schedule any hearings on the farm bill.

On the House side, official committee action on the farm bill is not expected before March. On the Senate side, Committee Chairwoman Debbie Stabenow (D-Mich.) has said she would like to move on a bill “as soon as possible,” but has not set a tentative date or week for action.

Some additional fireworks are expected Jan. 23 when Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testifies before skeptical Republican lawmakers during a House Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the terrorist attack in Benghazi.

Monday, Jan. 21.

10:00 a.m. The House will meet for the Inauguration of Barack Obama as the 44th President of the United States. No votes expected.

11:30 a.m. The Senate will meet for a Joint Session of the Inaugural Ceremonies.

Tuesday, Jan. 22.

10:00 a.m. The House will meet for morning hour.

10:00 a.m. The Senate will meet for morning business.

12:00 p.m. The House will meet for legislative business and suspension vote.

H.R. 307 - Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Reauthorization Act of 2013 (Suspension, 40 Minutes of Debate) (Sponsored by Rep. Mike Rogers (MI) / Energy and Commerce Committee)

12:30 p.m. to 2:15. The Senate will hold policy lunches.

1:00 p.m. The House will meet for tentative votes.

3:00 p.m. Catfish Processing

3:00 p.m. Catfish Feed Deliveries

3:00 p.m. Chickens and Eggs

3:00 p.m. Cold Storage

Wednesday, Jan. 23.

9:00 a.m. The House will meet for legislative business. Last votes expected no later than 3:00 p.m.

Legislation conditioning an increase in the nation's debt limit upon Congress passing a budget

11:00 a.m. House Agriculture Committee business meeting on organizational matters, 1300 Longworth.

2:00 p.m. House Foreign Affairs Committee hearing on “Terrorist Attack in Benghazi: The Secretary of State’s View”

3:00 p.m. Last votes expected in the House.

3:00 p.m. N. American Potatoes

3:00 p.m. Broiler Hatchery

4:00 p.m. Wheat Data

Thursday, Jan. 24.

No votes expected in the House.

3:00 p.m. National Dairy Products Sales Report

3:00 p.m. Livestock Slaughter

3:00 p.m. Poultry Slaughter

3:00 p.m. Citrus: World Markets and Trade

Friday, Jan. 25.

No votes expected in the House.

8:30 a.m. U.S. Export Sales

12:00 p.m. Cotton Ginnings

3:00 p.m. Noncitrus Fruits and Nuts - Preliminary

3:00 p.m. Peanut Prices

3:00 p.m. Cattle on Feed

4:00 p.m. Dairy Data