Congress will have a flurry of hearings and votes this week as it wraps up work before lawmakers' extended summer break.
Typically the House and Senate return home for district work for most of August each year, but the presidential conventions later this month and looming November elections turned this year's recess into an almost two-month gap in Capitol Hill work.
As a result, expect long nights and shifting schedules all week as leaders in both chambers scramble to advance as many bills as they can before leaving town.
The House Armed Services Committee alone has five hearings scheduled for the week, including reviews of U.S. aviation, naval and nuclear systems. They'll also be looking at starting conference work on the annual defense authorization bill as soon as possible, with staffers overseeing the bulk of behind-the-scenes negotiations in weeks to come.
Senate Armed Services -- 9:30 a.m. -- Visitors Center S217
Closed hearing
U.S. Cyber Command director Adm. Michael Rogers will give a closed briefing to committee members on national security cyber and encryption challenges.
House Foreign Affairs -- 10 a.m. -- Rayburn 2172
Human rights
Outside group officials will testify before the committee on human rights abuses worldwide and U.S. response to those crimes.
House Transportation -- 10 a.m. -- Rayburn 2167
Arctic capabilities
The subcommittee on the Coast Guard will meet with service officials to discuss Arctic patrol and survey capabilities.
Senate Foreign Relations -- 10 a.m. -- Dirksen 419
Human trafficking
State Department officials will testify on the 2016 Trafficking in Persons report and progress on preventing those crimes.
House Appropriations -- 10:30 a.m. -- Rayburn 2359
State department budget
The committee will mark up the fiscal 2017 State and Foreign Operations budget proposal.
Senate Foreign Relations -- 12:30 p.m. -- Dirksen 419
Nominations
Committee members will consider the nominations of new ambassadors to the Philippines and Malaysia.
House Foreign Affairs -- 2 p.m. -- Rayburn 2200
Human trafficking
State Department officials will testify on the 2016 Trafficking in Persons report and progress on preventing those crimes.
House Foreign Affairs -- 2 p.m. -- Rayburn
Pakistan
The subcommittee on terrorism will hear from regional experts on the reliability of Pakistan in the U.S. fight against terrorism.
House Veterans’ Affairs -- 10 a.m. -- Cannon 334
TBI Claims
The subcommittee on disability assistance will review problems with VA's examinations and handling of traumatic brain injuries.
Senate Appropriations -- 10:30 a.m. -- Dirksen 124
Electronic health records
The subcommittee on Veterans Affairs will review VA progress on electronic health record interoperability with Department of Defense systems.
House Armed Services -- 2 p.m. -- Rayburn 2212
Fifth generation fighters
Air Combat Command chief Gen. Herbert Carlisle will testify before the subcommittee on tactical air and land forces on the role of fifth generation fighters in U.S. air dominance and national security.
House Foreign Affairs -- 2 p.m. -- Rayburn 2172
Cuba
The subcommittee on human rights will discuss ongoing violations of civil and political rights by Cuban government officials.
House Foreign Affairs -- 2 p.m. -- Rayburn 2200
Turkey
The subcommittee on Europe will hear from regional experts on the decline of democracy in recent years and its impact on regional security.
Senate Foreign Relations -- 2:30 p.m. -- Dirksen 419
Zika virus
Federal officials will testify before the committee on the threats posed by the spread of the Zika virus in the Western Hemisphere and the U.S. response so far.
House Armed Services -- 3:30 p.m. -- Rayburn 2118
European Reassurance Initiative
The subcommittee on oversight will examine the European Reassurance Initiative and plans for the future.
Senate Foreign Relations -- 10 a.m. -- Dirksen 419
Iran
Committee members will hear from outside experts on the Iran Nuclear Agreement one year later and the long-term prospects for the deal.
House Armed Services -- 2 p.m. -- Rayburn 2212
Undersea warfare
Rear Adm. Charles Richard, director of the Navy's Undersea Warfare Division, and the program executive for submarines testify before the committee on Navy readiness issues.
House Armed Services -- 3:30 p.m. -- Rayburn 2118
Nuclear modernization
The subcommittee on strategic forces will review the White House's nuclear deterrent modernization plans and their impact on military strategy.
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.
