Senate to probe Iran deal, Afghanistan transition

Senate committees next week will spend time examining the Iran nuclear deal and the transition out of Afghanistan.

On Thursday, the Senate Banking Committee will meet to assess the Unnited Nations P5+1 agreement with Iran. That agreement, under which the U.S. would ease sanctions against Iran while Iran freezes its nuclear program, sets up a six-month negotiation that could lead to further commitments by Iran.

{mosads}But the agreement has come under increasing criticism from Republicans and Democrats. Senators will have a chance to ask Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman more details about the deal when she testifies next week.

On Tuesday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee meets to discuss “the Transition in Afghanistan.” Special U.S. Representative for Afghanistan and Pakistan James Dobbins testifies.

Details on these and other key Senate hearings follow:

Senate Banking

Dec. 10, “Housing Finance Reform: Fundamentals of Transferring Credit Risk in a Future Housing Finance System”
     10 a.m., 538 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Dec. 11, “Rebuilding American Manufacturing”
     2:30 p.m., 538 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Dec. 12, “Assessing the P5+1 Interim Agreement with Iran: Administration Perspectives,” Undersecretary of State for Political Affairs Wendy Sherman testifies
     10 a.m., 538 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation

Dec. 10, “Crafting a Successful Incentive Auction: Stakeholders’ Perspectives,” dealing with the auction of broadcast television spectrum.
     2:30 p.m., 253 Russell Senate Office Building

Dec. 12, “Forecasting Success: Achieving U.S. Weather Readiness for the Long Term”
     10:30 a.m., G50 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Senate Environment and Public Works

Dec. 11, “Oversight Hearing on Domestic Renewable Fuels”
     10 a.m., 406 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Senate Finance

Dec. 12, hearing on legislation to repeal the sustainable growth rate system
     10 a.m., 215 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Senate Foreign Relations

Dec. 10, “The Transition in Afghanistan”
     2:30 p.m., 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions

Dec. 12, “Accreditation as Quality Assurance: Meeting the Needs of 21st Century Learning”
     10 a.m., 430 Dirksen Senate Office Building