WASHINGTON — Congress returns from another long weekend with the same problems they left unresolved last week, last month and last year.

Friday is the deadline for a new budget deal to keep the government running. March 5 is the deadline set by the president for a new deal on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals policy. And instead of making progress on either issue in recent days, both sides have continued to fight over long-term solutions.

With that as a backdrop, lawmakers on the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee on Wednesday will invite VA Secretary David Shulkin to talk about 2017 progress in his department and 2018 goals for further reforms. House Armed Services Committee officials on Thursday invite top Navy officials to talk about future surface warfare challenges.

Both of those hearings could be disrupted by inclement weather, which would also further squeeze lawmakers’ timeline for a budget solution.

Tuesday, Jan. 16

House Oversight — 9 a.m. — Miami Dade College, Fla.
Obama’s Cuba policies
The subcommittee on national security will hold a field hearing in Florida to analyze the previous administration’s policies towards Cuba.

Wednesday, Jan. 17

House Science and Technology — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2318
NASA
The subcommittee on space will hear from NASA officials on commercial crew systems development.

House Veterans’ Affairs — 10 a.m. — Cannon 334
Denver medical center
The committee will hear from VA officials on the activation of the new Rocky Mountain Regional Medical Center in Aurora, Colo.

House Oversight — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2154
ISIS
The subcommittee on national security will hear from outside experts on progress in the fight against Islamic State Group fighters in the Middle East.

Senate Intelligence — 11:30 a.m. — Hart 216
Nominations
The committee will consider the nominations of Michael Atkinson to be Inspector General of the intelligence community and Jason Klitenic to be general counsel of the for the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

House Foreign Affairs — 2 p.m. — Rayburn 2172
North Korea
The subcommittee on nonproliferation will hear from outside experts on North Korea’s weapons arsenal and the threats posed to regional neighbors.

Senate Veterans' Affairs — 2 p.m. — Russell 418
State of the VA
VA Secretary David Shulkin will testify before the committee on reforms to the Department of Veterans Affairs in 2017.

Thursday, Jan. 18

House Homeland Security — 10 a.m. — Visitors Center H210
Transnational Gangs
The subcommittee on counterterrorism will hear from outside experts on combating transnational gangs through information sharing.

House Veterans’ Affairs — 10 a.m. — Cannon 334
Veterans homelessness
The committee will hear from VA officials on efforts to help prevent veterans homelessness.

House Armed Services — 3:30 p.m. — Rayburn 2118
Surface warfare
Navy Secretary Richard Spencer and Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson will testify before the subcommittee on readiness on surface warfare challenges.



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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