With a government shutdown averted until Dec. 22, lawmakers will shift their attention this week to a host of other business they hope to complete before the end of the year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
At the top of that list will be reconciling the House and Senate tax reform plans, work that is expected to include tense negotiations between the separate chambers\u2019 Republican leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Meanwhile, congressional committees awaiting word on a defense spending budget deal will take up a host of lingering health and safety issues this week. The Senate Armed Services Committee will hear from outside experts on the latest research on traumatic brain injuries, while the House Armed Services Committee will look into continued reports of health problems facing active duty pilots.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Senate committee will also invite back Ryan Crocker, who previously served as both U.S. ambassador to Iraq and Afghanistan, to talk about current U.S. policies in the Middle East.<\/p>\n\n\n\nTuesday, Dec. 12 <\/strong> Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of Dec. 11.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":60726,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-noindex":"","_yoast_wpseo_meta-robots-nofollow":"","_yoast_wpseo_canonical":"","_acf":"","_yoast_wpseo_primary_category":19,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","_smg_distribution_targets":[]},"categories":[160,36,19],"tags":[8603],"coauthors":[3424],"class_list":["post-28212","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-daily-news-roundup","category-newsletters","category-pentagon","tag-cambodia"],"acf":{"subheadline":"","legacy_arc_id":"NEEIRJGKHRHE7H5VNZOOVWDZLE","arc_canonical_url":"\/news\/pentagon-congress\/2017\/12\/10\/this-week-in-congress-closing-in-on-2018\/","remove_feature_photo":false,"is_sponsored":false,"subtype":"","redirect_url":"","disable_inline_ads":false,"native_logo_pretext":"Presented By:"},"yoast_head":"\n
\n
\nHouse Veterans’ Affairs \u2014 2 p.m. \u2014 Cannon 334
\nGI Bill implementation<\/i>
\nVA officials and outside experts will testify before the committee on implementation of the new Forever GI Bill.
\n
\nHouse Foreign Affairs \u2014 2 p.m. \u2014 Rayburn 2200
\nNorth Korea<\/i>
\nThe subcommittee on global human rights will hear from outside experts on way to assist and protect North Korean refugees.
\n
\nHouse Foreign Affairs \u2014 2 p.m. \u2014 Rayburn 2255
\nCambodia<\/i>
\nThe subcommittee on Asia will hear from outside experts on issues with democracy in Cambodia.
\n
\nHouse Foreign Affairs \u2014 2 p.m. \u2014 Rayburn 2200
\nNAFTA<\/i>
\nThe subcommittee on trade will hear from outside experts on issues surrounding the future of the North American Free Trade Agreement.
\n
\nSenate Foreign Relations \u2014 2 p.m. \u2014 Dirksen 419
\nZimbabwe<\/i>
\nThe subcommittee on Africa will hear from outside experts on instability and upheaval in Zimbabwe.
\n
\nWednesday, Dec. 13<\/strong>
\n
\nSenate Foreign Relations \u2014 9:30 a.m. \u2014 Dirksen 419
\nUse of military force<\/i>
\nStephen Hadley, former assistant national security advisor, and Christine Wormuth, former undersecretary of defense for policy, will testify before the committee on political and strategic considerations for the use of military force.
\n
\nHouse Veterans’ Affairs \u2014 10 a.m. \u2014 Cannon 334
\nPre-discharge claims<\/i>
\nThe subcommittee on disability assistance will hear from VA officials on the department\u2019s pre-discharge claims programs.
\n
\nSenate Armed Services \u2014 10 a.m. \u2014 Russell 222
\nBrain injuries<\/i>
\nThe committee will hear from outside medical efforts on the latest research and treatments for traumatic brain injury and concussions in servicemembers.
\n
\nHouse Science and Technology \u2014 10 a.m. \u2014 Rayburn 2318
\nBrain injuries<\/i>
\nThe committee will hear from outside medical efforts on the latest research and treatments related to head trauma in sport and in the military services.
\n
\nHouse Armed Services \u2014 3:30 p.m. \u2014 Rayburn 2118
\nAircraft problems<\/i>
\nAir Force and Navy aviation officials will testify before the tactical air and land subcommittee on recent problems with physiological episodes in military aircraft.
\n
\nThursday, Dec. 14<\/strong>
\n
\nSenate Armed Services \u2014 10 a.m. \u2014 Dirksen G50
\nMiddle East<\/i>
\nRyan Crocker, former U.S. ambassador to Iraq and Afghanistan, and other outside experts will testify before the committee on current American policy and strategy in the Middle East.
\n\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"