The Senate returns to the Capitol, the House is in recess, and the President hosts an event about preparing Americans to enter the manufacturing workforce.

On Tuesday, President Obama hosts German Chancellor Angela Merkel. On Wednesday, he hosts the manufacturing event and then meets with the national champion Auburn Tigers football team.  President Obama meets with two African leaders this week: he hosts the president of Nigeria on Wednesday and the president of Gabon on Thursday.

The Senate considers the nomination of Donald Verrilli to serve as Solicitor General of the United States this afternoon. A procedural vote on the nomination is expected to occur around 5:30 p.m. Some background here.

The House is in recess this week.

See more in the Hill’s “The Week Ahead.”

Senate Hearings: TUESDAY—The Energy and Natural Resources Committee holds a hearing on the Nuclear Power 2021 Act (S. 512):, the American Alternative Fuels Act of 2011 (S. 937); and Nuclear Energy Research Initiative Improvement Act (S. 1067).  The Finance Committee looks at the revenue side of deficit reduction.  WEDNESDAY—The Commerce Committee marks up a series of bills, including the Deepwater Horizon Survivors’ Fairness Act (S. 183) and the Public Safety Spectrum and Wireless Innovation Act (S. 911).  An Environment and Public Works Committee subcommittee examines “Air Quality and Children’s Health.”  THURSDAY—The Energy and Natural Resources Committee hears testimony on three energy efficiency bills: the Reducing Federal Energy Dollars Act of 2011 (S. 963), a measure to promote energy savings in residential and commercial buildings and industry (S. 1000), and Alternative Fuel Vehicles Competitiveness and Energy Security Act of 2011 (S. 1001).  That afternoon, the committee considers critical minerals legislation: the Critical Minerals and Materials Promotion Act of 2011 (S. 383), the Powering America’s Lithium Production Act of 2011 (S. 421); and a measure to promote domestic critical minerals (S. 1113).

House Hearings: TUESDAY—The House is in recess, but the Education and the Workforce Committee is holding a field hearing in Indiana on “The Recent Health Care Law: Consequences for Indiana Families and Workers.”

Executive Branch: Today Secretary Locke addresses the Innovation Advisory Board, a group that will study U.S. competitiveness.  Also today Secretary Geithner addresses the International Monetary Conference in Atlanta.  Ben Bernanke addresses the group tomorrow.

Economic Reports: From the New York Times: “Data will include consumer credit for April (Tuesday); Federal Reserve beige book (Wednesday); trade deficit for April, weekly jobless claims and wholesale trade inventories for April (Thursday); and import prices for May (Friday).”