Good morning … Patriot Act, regulatory review, and (maybe) trade

The House reconvenes at 10 a.m. today, and at noon takes up a rule that will allow for one hour of debate and a vote on H.R. 514, which would extend three surveillance authorities under the Patriot Act.

The House will also begin consideration of H.Res 72, which directs House committees to begin a review of regulations that might impede U.S. job creation. The House is expected to vote on that resolution on Friday. Consideration of the rule for this resolution is expected to be taken up today.

The Senate is expected back at 4 p.m. today. When the Senate adjourned on Tuesday, it was expected to return today and take up a bill to extend the Andean Trade Preferences Act (ATPA) and Trade Adjustment Assistance (TAA). Both of these trade programs expire this weekend.

But the fate of trade bills this week is uncertain, as House Republicans this week postponed their vote to extend these programs to protest the lack of a plan by the White House to finalize the Colombia and Panama free trade agreements. The House is not expected to hold any vote on these programs this week, which will likely lead to complaints from Democratic leaders in the House and Senate that Republicans are not doing enough to help U.S. workers.

TAA provides for benefits, including health benefits, to U.S. workers who are adversely affected by trade.