This week in Congress: Just days left before the budget expires

Questions on whether lawmakers can finalize a continuing resolution this week and prevent a government shutdown will dominate Capitol Hill conversation this week, with most defense legislation now pushed off to November.

Plans already unveiled for a short-term budget deal would keep all government operations open through Dec. 9 and fund the Department of Veterans Affairs for all of fiscal 2017, but Senate Democrats have already objected to the bill because it omits assistance funding neighborhoods in Flint, Mich., with dangerous drinking water issues.

If lawmakers can’t find a compromise by Friday, funding for a host of government programs will end on Oct. 1.

Negotiations continue on the annual defense authorization bill, but no resolution is expected on that issue or the longer-term defense budget until later this year.

Tuesday
Senate Homeland Security -- 10 a.m. -- Dirksen 342
Terrorism
Committee members will hear from outside experts on threats to the homeland 15 years after the Sept. 11 attacks.

House Veterans’ Affairs -- 10:30 a.m. -- Cannon 334
VA fraud
The subcommittee on disability assistance will discuss the problem of improper payments to veterans in prison.

House Foreign Affairs -- 2 p.m. -- Rayburn 2200
Libya
Committee members will mark up a bill requiring a report on whether Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps is a terrorist entity, then discuss the rising threat of terrorist groups in Libya.

House Foreign Affairs -- 2 p.m. -- Rayburn 2172
Asian policy
The subcommittee on Asia will discuss American foreign policy strategy in Asia and the U.S. relationship with Japan and South Korea.

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 Armed Services -- 3:30 p.m. -- Rayburn 2118
National security
The subcommittee on strategic forces will discuss will hear from former defense officials on outdated bureaucracies within federal national security agencies.

Wednesday
Senate Foreign Relations -- 10 a.m. -- Dirksen 419
North Korea
The subcommittee on East Asia will hear from outside experts on the threat posed by North Korea and U.S. strategic response.

House Transportation -- 10:30 a.m. -- Rayburn 2253
VA leases
Committee members will review problems with overpaying for leased medical facilities by Veterans Affairs officials.

House Armed Services -- 2 p.m. -- Rayburn 2212
DOD laboratories
The subcommittee on emerging threats will hear from service research officials on science and engineering in support of military operations.

Thursday
Senate Foreign Relations -- 10 a.m. -- Dirksen 419
Syria and Iraq
Deputy Secretary of State Antony Blinken will discuss the regional impact of the Syria civil war, including the security situation in Turkey and Iraq.

House Foreign Affairs -- 10 a.m. -- Rayburn 2172
Latin America
Committee members will discuss U.S. interests in Latin America and the Caribbean and regional security concerns.

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Leo Shane III covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He can be reached at lshane@militarytimes.com.