WASHINGTON, April 8, 2013 – Spring has finally sprung in the nation’s capitol and lawmakers are making their return from a two-week recess.

The week is expected to be dominated by the Wednesday release of the administration’s fiscal year 2014 budget, which is sure to cause consternation not only among Republicans but also Democrats because it is expected to include cuts to Social Security and Medicare.

The Senate will resume its business on Monday with consideration of a judicial nomination, followed by a Tuesday vote. A nomination hearing for Ernest Moniz to serve as Energy Secretary will be held on Tuesday and for Gina McCarthy to serve as new administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency will be held on Thursday. The House will convene on Tuesday.

Other issues that may emerge include a comprehensive immigration reform bill that could contain some sort of farm worker program, debate on a gun control bill, and discussion of the North Korea situation.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has also expressed interest in moving to the Water Resources Development Act (S. 601) that was recently approved easily by the Senate Environment and Public Works Committee.

The bill would authorize funding to modernize the nation’s locks and dams, assist with flood protection and restore key environmental areas.

Meanwhile, the House Agriculture Committee and the Senate Agriculture, Forestry and Nutrition Committee continue to gear up for farm bill negotiations.

Monday, April 8.

10:00 a.m. USDA Report: Livestock and Meat Trade Data

12:00 p.m. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack will speak at the annual North American Agricultural Journalists meeting at the Cosmos Club, 2121 Massachusetts Ave., NW.

2:00 p.m. The Senate will convene for morning business debate.

4:00 p.m. USDA Report: U.S. Agricultural Trade Data Update

4:00 p.m. USDA Report: Crop Progress

5:00 p.m. The Senate will proceed to executive session to consider a judicial nomination, Patty Shwartz to be a judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

Tuesday, April 9.

9:00 a.m. USDA Secretary Tom Vilsack will deliver the closing remarks following a panel on obesity, hunger and food literacy in America at the Center for American Progress, 1333 H St. NW, 10th floor.

10:00 a.m. The Senate Energy and Natural Resources Committee will hold a hearing to consider the nomination of Ernest Moniz to serve as energy secretary in Dirksen 366.

10:30 a.m. The Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation’s Subcommittee on Communications, Technology and the Internet will hold a hearing on the “State of Rural Communications” in 253 Russell Senate Office Building.

12:00 p.m. The Senate will vote on the nomination of Patty Shwartz to be a judge for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit.

2:00 p.m. The House will convene for legislative business.

4:00 p.m. USDA Report: Weekly Weather and Crop Bulletin

4:00 p.m. The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Health will hold a hearing on the “Reauthorization of Animal Drug User Fees: ADUFA and AGDUFA”  in 2123 Rayburn.

5:00 p.m. The House Rules Committee will hold a hearing to consider a rule for H.R. 678, the Bureau of Reclamation Small Conduit Hydropower Development and Rural Jobs Act in the Capitol, Room H-313.

Wednesday, April 10.

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

10:00 a.m. The House Energy and Commerce Committee’s Subcommittee on Energy and Power will hold a hearing in 2322 Rayburn on legislation (H.R. 3) that would remove federal blocks on construction of the Keystone pipeline project.

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

12:00 p.m. USDA Report: WASDE

12:00 p.m. USDA Report: Cotton, Grains, Oilseeds, and World Agricultural Production Data

12:00 p.m. USDA Report: Crop Production

12:00 p.m. USDA Report: World Agricultural Production

12:00 p.m. USDA Report: Oilseeds: World Markets and Trade

12:00 p.m. USDA Report: Grains: World Markets and Trade

12:00 p.m. USDA Report: Cotton: World Markets and Trade

2:30 p.m. The Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committee will hold a hearing in 253 Russell on “Expanding the Panama Canal: What does it mean for American Freight and Infrastructure?”

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

3:00 p.m. USDA Report: Broiler Hatchery

3:30 p.m. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce will host an event to demonstrate support for the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership in the Capitol, Room H-137. Scheduled speakers include House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Dave Camp, R-Mich., and Vital Moreira, EU parliament member and chairman of the International Trade Committee.

4:00 p.m. USDA Report: Aquaculture Trade Data

4:00 p.m. USDA Report: Season Average Price Forecast

Thursday, April 11.

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

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

10:00 a.m. The House Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing on the President’s Fiscal Year 2014 Budget proposal with Treasury Secretary Jacob Lew in 1100 Longworth House Office Building.

10:30 a.m. The Senate Committee on Environment and Public Works will hold a hearing on the nomination of Gina McCarthy to be Administrator of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in 406 Dirksen.

2:00 p.m. The Senate Budget Committee will hold a hearing on President Obama’s Fiscal Year 2014 Budget in 608 Dirksen.

2:30 p.m. The Committee on Finance will hold a hearing on President Obama’s 2014 Fiscal Year budget in 215 Dirksen. Secretary of the Treasury Jacob Lew will testify.

12 p.m. The House will meet for legislative business.

Friday, April 12.

9:00 a.m. The House will meet for legislative business.

10:00 a.m. The House Appropriations Committee’s Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and Related Agencies will hold a budget hearing on the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) in 2362-A Rayburn. This hearing was rescheduled from March 6. Scheduled witnesses include CFTC Chairman Gary Gensler and CFTC Commissioner Scott O’Malia.

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