Congress is back Monday for its final push of 2014, with a long list of unfinished work but only a handful of hearings on the schedule.
The Senate Armed Services holds a clean-up nominations hearing on Tuesday while negotiators try to finalize the annual defense authorization bill behind the scenes. The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee will hold two hearings this week — the first time it has done that since March — and its House counterpart has a pair of oversight hearings as well.
Tuesday
Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — Hart 216
Nominations
Among those being considered are Robert Scher to be assistant defense secretary for strategy and capabilities; Elissa Slotkin to be assistant defense secretary for international security; David Berteau to be assistant defense secretary for logistics; and Adm. Harry Harris Jr. to be chief of U.S. Pacific Command.
House Armed Services — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2118
The 2014 Quadrennial Defense Review
Rumored defense secretary candidate Michèle Flournoy is scheduled to talk about ways to improve the four-year military planning process.
House Foreign Affairs — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2172
The Threat from Foreign Fighters
The subcommittee on terrorism is expected to talk about Islamic State fighters and the possible threat they pose to American citizens.
House Armed Services — 3:30 p.m. — Rayburn 2118
DoD’s Third Offset Strategy
The subcommittee on seapower will hear from think tankers on new maritime and air technologies.
Wednesday
Senate Veterans’ Affairs — 10 a.m. — Russell 418
VA health care
A look at the high cost of treating veterans with Hepatitis C and the impact of the disease on the VA health care system.
House Veterans’ Affairs — 10 a.m. — Cannon 334
VA’s Caregiver Program
The subcommittee on health will examine current operations of the caregiver program and future obstacles to families looking to participate.
Thursday
House Veterans’ Affairs — 10 a.m. — Cannon 334
Land-Use Agreements
The subcommittee on oversight will look at waste and inefficiency in VA’s management of land-use agreements.
Senate Veterans’ Affairs — 10 a.m. — Russell 418
Nomination
The committee will review the nomination of Leigh Bradley to be VA general counsel.
