WASHINGTON — Lawmakers return from their Thanksgiving break on Monday with just a few weeks left in the 115th Congress and a looming partial government shutdown threat less than 12 days away.
Republicans and Democrats have until Dec. 7 to work out full-year funding plans for a host of government agencies including the State and Homeland Security Departments. But the departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs aren’t among the budgets to be worked out, muting the potential impact of a funding impasse for military families.
But lawmakers do have a host of military and veterans work to complete before the end of the legislative year.
The Senate Armed Services Committee will work on a pair of pending nominations this week, while the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee will continue oversight work on implementation of a series of major initiatives passed by Congress this year.
Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — G-50 Dirksen
National Defense Strategy
Members of the Commission on the National Defense Strategy will testify before the panel on their findings and recommendations.
Senate Armed Services — 2:30 p.m. — 220 Russell
Navy Shipbuilding Programs
Navy officials will testify before the committee on current shipbuilding programs and strategy for the future.
Senate Foreign Relations — 2:30 p.m. — 419 Dirksen Bldg.
US Foreign Policy
Treasury and State Department officials will testify before the committee on multilateral economic institutions and U.S. foreign policy
Wednesday, Nov. 28
Senate Homeland Security — 10 a.m. — 342 Dirksen
Nominations
The committee will consider several nominations, including Ronald Vitiello to be Assistant Secretary for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
Senate Foreign Relations — 10 a.m. — 419 Dirksen
Modern Slavery
State Department officials and outside experts will testify before the committee on the fight to end modern slavery across the globe.
Senate Foreign Relations — 2 p.m. — S-116 Capitol
Pending business
The committee will consider a series of pending bills and nominations.
Thursday, Nov. 29
Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — G-50 Dirksen
Nominations
The committee will consider the nominations of Thomas McCaffery to be Assistant Secretary Of Defense for Health Affairs and William Bookless to be Principal Deputy Administrator for the National Nuclear Security Administration.
House Transportation — 10 a.m. — 2253 Rayburn
National Maritime Strategy
The committee will review recent reports on icebreaker acquisition and the National Maritime Strategy.
Senate Foreign Relations — 10 a.m. — 419 Dirksen
Pending business
The committee will consider a series of pending bills and nominations.
House Veterans' Affairs — 10:30 a.m. — 334 Cannon
VA Development
The committee will review implementation plans for recent VA development and policy initiatives.
House Foreign Affairs — 2 p.m. — 2172 Rayburn
Syria
State Department officials will testify before the committee on U.S. policy towards Syria.
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.
