Congress returns to Washington, and President Obama unveils his jobs plan to the nation on Thursday.

President Obama travels to Detroit today to discuss jobs and the economy. On Wednesday, he will welcomes NASCAR racers to the White House. On Friday, he visits Richmond, Va.

The Senate gavels in tomorrow afternoon. At 5:30 p.m., the Senate will vote on the confirmation of Bernice Bouie Donald to serve on the Sixth Circuit Court of Appeals. Following the disposition of that nomination, the Senate will hold a procedural vote to set the stage for consideration of the patent reform bill. (H.R. 1249).

The House convenes on Wednesday and will vote on three bills that evening, including on relating to trade, including H.R. 2832, which would extend the Generalized System of Preferences. For more on the House’s week, see the Majority Leader’s schedule here.

Additional information from The Hill here.

Senate Hearings: TUESDAY—The Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee holds a hearing on proposals to prevent a Post Office shutdown. The Banking Committee holds a hearing to consider the nominations of Patricia Loui and Larry Walther to serve as members the Board of Directors of the Export-Import Bank of the United States and Richard Cordray to serve as director of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. WEDNESDAY—The Finance Committee holds a hearing on several nominations, including positions in the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative and the Department of Commerce. The Judiciary Committee holds a hearing on “Cybercrime: Updating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act to Protect Cyberspace and Combat Emerging Threats.” THURSDAY—The Finance Committee holds a hearing to consider international issues relating to tax reform.

House Hearings: THURSDAY—A Science, Space and Technology subcommittee holds a hearing on “Empowering Consumers and Promoting Innovation through the Smart Grid.” The Natural Resources Committee considers “U.S. Offshore and Renewable Energy Production.” A Judiciary subcommittee holds a hearing on the Chapter 11 Bankruptcy Venue Reform Act of 2011 (H.R. 2533). An Energy and Commerce subcommittee holds a hearing on two bills: the EPA Regulatory Relief Act of 2011 (H.R. 2250) and the Cement Sector Regulatory Relief Act of 2011 (H.R. 2681). The Small Business Committee considers “Innovative Approaches to Meeting the Workforce Needs of Small Businesses.” The Science, Space and Technology Committee holds a hearing on the LightSquared network. FRIDAY—A Ways and Means subcommittee holds a hearing on “Health Care Industry Consolidation.” A Natural Resources subcommittee examines “Impacts to Onshore Jobs, Revenue, and Energy: Review and Status of Sec. 390 Categorical Exclusions of the Energy Policy Act of 2005.” A Judiciary subcommittee holds a hearing on “How Fraud and Abuse in the Asbestos Compensation System Affect Victims, Jobs, the Economy, and the Legal System.”

Executive Branch: On Monday, Vice President Biden attends the AFL-CIO’s Labor Day picnic in Cincinatti. Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis accompanies the President to Detroit. On Thursday, the patent office director and the Acting Secretary of Commerce attend the signing ceremony of patent number 8 million.

Economic Reports: From the New York Times: “Data will include the I.S.M. nonmanufacturing index for August (Tuesday); the Federal Reserve’s beige book (Wednesday); weekly jobless claims and the July trade deficit and consumer credit figures (Thursday), and wholesale trade for July (Friday).” More from the Washington Post.