Week ahead: Senate panel turns to Iran bill

All eyes will be on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, as the panel meets to vote on legislation that would give Congress the right to review any final nuclear deal with Iran.

Senators will convene Tuesday for a business meeting about the measure, proposed by Chairman Bob Corker (R-Tenn.), that would prevent the Obama administration from lifting sanctions against Tehran for 60 days and allow Congers to approve or disapprove of a final accord.

The White House has launched a full-court press against the bill, arguing that it could kill the talks before a final agreement is reached.

{mosads}The measure, once almost assured a veto-proof 67 votes, has seen a softening of support among Democrats since the bargain’s interim framework was released. Liberals, in particular, believe Corker should delay the vote to let a final arrangement to be hammered out.

The Senate Armed Services Committee kicks off a busy week Tuesday afternoon when two of its subpanels meet to hear from Army officials about the service’s modernization efforts and the U.S. military’s cyber programs and posture.

Tuesday morning, the full House Armed Services Committee will hold its annual Member Day. The event gives members who do not sit on the panel — the largest in Congress — a chance to advocate for military concerns in their districts before lawmakers mark up the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal 2016.

The Armed Services panel will reconvene Tuesday afternoon for a hearing on the Air Force’s F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program, the costliest weapons program in U.S. history.

On Wednesday morning, the Armed Services panel will hear testimony from the head of U.S. Pacific Command. The hearing will come just days after Defense Secretary Ashton Carter wraps a tour of the Asia-Pacific meant to reaffirm the administration’s commitment to its “rebalance” strategy.

That same day, two more Senate Armed Services subpanels will come together: The Seapower Subcommittee will receive a classified briefing on threats to U.S. naval forces, and the Strategic Forces Subcommittee will hold a hearing on the National Nuclear Security Administration’s efforts.

Also on Wednesday, the House Veterans’ Affairs Committee will meet to look into the cost overruns for a replacement VA hospital in the Denver suburbs. The Army Corps of Engineers recently estimated the facility would cost $1.73 billion to build, more than five times the original $328 million price tag.

The full Senate Armed Services panel convenes Thursday morning to hear from the chiefs of U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Forces Korea.

Off Capitol Hill, Frank Kendall, undersecretary of Defense for acquisition, will speak at the Brookings Institution on Monday afternoon regarding acquisition reform.

On Tuesday, President Obama will meet with Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi at the White House

It will be al-Abadi’s first visit to Washington since he became prime minister in August. The visit is expected to focus on U.S. and Iraqi efforts to fight the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

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