Debate on the annual defense authorization bill starts on the Senate floor this week, now that procedural hurdles to the policy legislation are all but finished.

Before the week is done, senators are expected to tackle issues concerning of women in the draft, a proposed housing stipend overhaul and potentially adding billions in defense spending before the week is done. Once the legislation is passed, it still has to survive a long set of conference committee negotiations to survive in the months ahead.

This week also marks the final stretch run before the extended congressional summer break this year. Lawmakers are expected to dash through legislative issues over the next six weeks, then return to their districts for an eight-week break to campaign for the elections this fall.

It remains to be seen whether the defense authorization bill or any of the military and veterans program appropriations bills can be finalized before then remains to be seen.  

Tuesday

Senate Homeland Security -- 10 a.m. -- Dirksen 342

TSA threats

Committee members will hear from outside experts on problems with Transportation Security Administration screening operations at airports and general threats to aviation.

House Veterans Affairs -- 4:15 p.m. -- Cannon 334

VA academic affiliations

The subcommittee on oversight will look at the department's relationships with outside academic institutions and what benefits each side receives from the partnerships.

Wednesday

House Financial Services -- 9 a.m. -- Rayburn 2128

Terrorist funding

Committee members will hear from outside experts about funding streams for terrorist groups in South America.

Senate Appropriations -- 10:30 a.m. -- Dirksen 124

VA electronic records

The subcommittee on Veterans Affairs will hear from VA officials on progress to make Defense Department health records interoperable with their systems.

Thursday

House Foreign Affairs -- 2 p.m. -- Rayburn 2172

Europe

The subcommittee on Europe will look at proposed State Department spending in FY 2017 on European assistance and security operations.

House Foreign Affairs -- 2 p.m. -- Rayburn 2200

Sri Lanka

The subcommittee on Asia will discuss Sri Lanka's transition to democracy and the country's relationship with the United States.

House Armed Services -- 2 p.m. -- Rayburn 2118

Terrorist funding

The committee will hold a joint hearing with the House Committee on Foreign Affairs on terrorism nonproliferation, financing and trade.

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

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.

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