With major legislation apparently off the table for the rest of the month, lawmakers will turn their attention this week to getting some basic congressional functions done before the next election break in October.
On Thursday, the Senate Armed Services Committee’s top Democrat said he doubts lawmakers will have time to finalize the annual defense authorization bill before the end of the month, and chamber leaders have already given up on the possibility of tackling the defense or Veterans Affairs budgets before then.
That leaves lawmakers with work on a continuing resolution, to keep the government running through the November elections, and a host of nomination and business meetings in the last two weeks of the month.
Several committees this week will also look back on progress made on combatting terrorism in the last 15 years, including a hearing with outside security experts before the House Armed Services Committee.
Those hearings could be among the last for Congress for the next two months, as chamber leaders are discussing an early exit from Capitol Hill if they can get other work finished.
Tuesday
House Veterans’ Affairs — 9 a.m. — New York
Field hearing
Committee members will meet at Northport VA Medical Center in New York to discuss problems and complaints at that facility.
Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — Hart 216
Nominations
The committee will consider the nomination of Air Force Gen. John Hyten to become head of U.S. Strategic Command.
Senate Foreign Relations — 10 a.m. — Dirksen 419
Nominations
The committee will consider the nominations of the new ambassadors to Nigeria, Burkina Faso and Indonesia.
Senate Foreign Relations — 2:30 p.m. — Dirksen 419
Nominations
The committee will consider the nominations of Sens. Christopher Coons and Ronald Johnson to serve as representatives to the United Nations session and nominations of new ambassadors to the Philippines, the Lao People’s Democratic Republic and Malaysia.
House Veterans’ Affairs — 4 p.m. — Cannon 334
VA procurement
Committee members will hear from VA and business officials on department procurement problems and opportunities for reform.
House Armed Services — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2118
Islamic Terrorism
Former U.S. Ambassador to Iraq James Jeffrey and outside experts will discuss threats posed by Islamic terrorists 15 years after the attacks on New York and the Pentagon.
House Homeland Security — 10 a.m. — Cannon 311
Terrorism
The committee will hear from outside analysts on ways to prevent terrorist attacks inside American borders.
House Foreign Affairs — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2172
Iran
A former pastor detained by Iranian authorities and several think tank analysts will discuss the potential effects of supplying cash and aid to the Iranian regime.
House Armed Services — 2 p.m. — Rayburn 2212
South China Sea
The seapower subcommittee will discuss security issues in the South China Sea with a panel of outside experts.
Thursday
House Judiciary — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2237
Immigration
The panel will review U.S. Immigration and customs enforcement practices, and the potential impact on national security.
House Homeland Security — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2237
Terrorism
The subcommittee on oversight will review the domestic threat posed by radical Islamic terrorists.
Leo Shane III covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He can be reached at lshane@militarytimes.com.
This week in Congress: NDAA and defense budget get delayed
Wednesday
