Week ahead: Senate moves to clear TSA nominee

President Obama’s pick to lead the embattled Transportation Security Administration faces yet another Senate hurdle.

The Senate Homeland Security Committee will vote Monday on the nomination of Coast Guard Vice Adm. Peter Neffenger to take over an agency that was embarrassed by failing a test to locate fake weapons at America’s airports.

Neffenger cleared his first Senate test before the Commerce Committee, but the Homeland Security Committee also has a chance to vet him before his nomination goes to the Senate floor for final confirmation.

{mosads}The Homeland Security Committee held a confirmation hearing for Neffenger on Wednesday and is expected to vote to approve his nomination Monday.

Lawmakers are rushing through Neffenger’s nomination after acting TSA chief Melvin Carraway was removed from duty earlier this month following news of the agency’s failed bomb tests. http://bit.ly/1Sbnqg7

As part of a sting operation, federal agents whisked fake bombs and guns past TSA agents in 95 percent of cases at some of the nation’s largest airports, according to a recent inspector general’s report. http://bit.ly/1BDhmTX

TSA nominee Neffenger said he is dismayed by the results and promised to clean up the agency.

Elsewhere on Capitol Hill, the House Education and the Workforce Committee will meetTuesday to discuss whether federal regulations for school lunch programs are serving the best interests of schools and families.

On Wednesday, the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, Insurance and Data Security will hold a hearing to discuss oversight of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Also, the House Oversight and Government Reform Health Care, Benefits and Administrative Rules, and National Security subcommittees will meet to review President Obama’s executive actions on immigration.

And the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee will meet Thursday to discuss a national framework for labeling genetically modified organisms in food. The panel will discuss the Safe and Accurate Food Labeling Act of 2015, which would create a standard for voluntary GMO labeling and pre-empt states from passing their own mandatory labeling laws.

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