Defense Secretary Jim Mattis will return to the Hill on Monday to talk about new military force authorizations for the fight against terrorists groups worldwide, an issue that has drawn new attention in the wake of the deaths of four U.S. service members in Niger.
For the past three years, lawmakers have debated whether new authorizations are needed for such anti-terrorism meetings, but with little progress. Administration officials have argued that authorities approved by Congress after the Sept. 11 attacks give them broad authority to send U.S. troops into regions where extremists could plot similar assaults on the U.S. homeland.
Last week, Senate Armed Services Committee Chairman John McCain, R-Ariz., said he is working on a new authorization draft, one that would focus those war powers more regionally. Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson are expected to discuss those matters at the Monday hearing.
Also this week, McCain’s committee will receive another update behind closed doors on naval readiness following a series of deadly accidents this summer at sea.
Senate Foreign Relations — 5 p.m. — Dirksen 419
Military force authorizations
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will testify before the committee on the need for updated authorizations for the use of military force in the fight against terrorist groups.
Tuesday, Oct. 31
Senate Homeland Security — 10 a.m. — Dirksen 342
Hurricane response
Federal officials, including the head of U.S. Northern Command, Air Force Gen. Lori Robinson, will update the committee on hurricane response efforts this year.
Senate Armed Services — 10 a.m. — Visitors Center S217
Closed hearing
Committee members will receive a closed briefing on recent naval accidents from Pentagon officials.
Wednesday, Nov. 1
Senate Foreign Relations — 10 a.m. — Dirksen 419
Nominations
The committee will consider several pending nominations, including Irwin Goldstein to be under secretary of state for public diplomacy.
House Oversight — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2154
Afghanistan
Committee members will review 16 years of U.S. military operations in Afghanistan and examine possible future missions there.
House Foreign Affairs — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2172
North Korea
Former North Korean diplomat Thae Yong-ho will testify before the committee on government and military issues with the reclusive regime.
Thursday, Nov. 2
Senate Armed Service — 9:30 a.m. — Dirksen G50
Nominations
The committee will consider several pending nominations, including Mark Esper to be Army Secretary and Robert Wilkie to be Under Secretary of Defense for personnel and readiness.
House Veterans’ Affairs — 10 a.m. — Cannon 334
Pending legislation
The committee will consider several pieces of pending legislation.
Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He has covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focusing on military personnel and veterans policies. His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award.
