| Sign up for The Hill's Newsletters: Policy at The Hill: | Week ahead: House puts spotlight on war powers, budget By Martin Matishak The House Armed Services Committee will have its turn to examine President Obama’s proposed war powers resolution against the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS). On Wednesday, the largest panel in Congress will question Defense Secretary Ashton Carter and Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Gen. Martin Dempsey about the administration's authorization for the use of military force (AUMF). The hearing follows a week in which Carter, Dempsey and Secretary of State John Kerry testified before the Senate on the proposed measures. The trio faced tough questions from lawmakers in both parties skeptical of the president's proposal. Democrats fear the resolution’s vague text could open the door to another long-term U.S. ground presence in the Middle East, while Republicans argue the language could limit military commanders. In addition to the war powers debate, lawmakers will also be busy with budgetary matters when the House returns on Monday. The Armed Services panel kicks off the week on Tuesday when it convenes to hear from the leaders of all four military branches about the president’s fiscal 2016 budget requests for their departments. The service leaders will likely paint a bleak picture of what would happen if lawmakers fail to lift spending caps put in place under the 2011 Budget Control Act. The House Armed Services panel meets again on Wednesday afternoon and Thursday to dissect the budget requests for U.S. Special Operations Command and the Pentagon’s missile defense efforts, respectively. Not to be outdone, the Senate Armed Services Committee kicks off its week on Tuesday with a classified briefing on strategic competition with China and Russia, specifically in regards to cybersecurity and space. On Wednesday and Thursday, the panel and its subcommittees will dig into the Navy’s shipbuilding programs, the budget requests for the Army and the Air Force, as well as those for the U.S. Strategic Command, Transportation Command and Cyber Command. The Senate Armed Services week wraps up on Thursday when the Airland subcommittee, led by Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.), holds a hearing on the Air Force’s modernization efforts. Also on Thursday, the House Foreign Affairs Committee will hear updates from Deputy Secretary of State Tony Blinken and a Treasury Department official about nuclear talks with Iran. Lawmakers have been on edge over the talks with GOP frustration spilling over in a letter, spearheaded by Cotton, to Iranian leaders. That letter warns Iran that any deal it reaches with Obama could be voided by Congress or future presidents. The letter sparked an intense war of words between Democrats, who saw it as a breach of protocol, and Republicans, who fear the administration will sign off on a deal without consulting Congress. Off Capitol Hill, on Tuesday, House Homeland Security Committee Chairman Michael McCaul (R-Texas) will speak at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) about his panel’s legislative priorities for the 114th Congress. RECENT STORIES - Obama team struggles to sell war powers plan - Defense hawks demand Senate GOP budget include reserve fund - Obama sends Humvees, drones to Ukraine - GOP letter to Tehran backfires - Dems offer support for Menendez |
The Hill Newspaper | 1625 K Street NW | Washington, DC 20006 | 202-628-8500
댓글 없음:
댓글 쓰기