It鈥檚 the most wonderful time of the year, and Washington is in full holiday mode after the National Christmas Tree was lit last Friday evening. For too many political observers, however, it鈥檚 hard to look at the festive d茅cor without thinking of what comes after the holidays are through: 2014 and its midterm elections.
While the looming specter of the next election always hangs over the heads of Washingtonians, look for members of Congress on both sides of the aisle to grow even more cautious as November 2014 ticks closer.
Don鈥檛 believe me? Word is that Rep. Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) and Sen. Patty Murray (D-Wash.) are working together on a budget deal to avert another government shutdown next month. While it鈥檚 far from a done deal, the fact that a potential deal is in the works at all shows that Republicans are eager to avoid angering voters with another shutdown.
Fortunately there are still three full weeks left before the calendar flips to 2014, so let鈥檚 check out what鈥檚 going on in Washington this week:
Monday, December 9th
National Defense Authorization (NDAA)
The Senate will resume debate on the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014 (S. 1197). The bill currently includes helpful transfer provisions of Guantanamo Bay detainees, as well as provisions concerning sexual assault in the military, and religious liberty.
Tuesday, December 10th
Employment
The Department of Labor will host a symposium, 鈥50 Years Later: Women, Work & the Work Ahead.鈥
Employment
The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee will hold a hearing to consider the nomination of David Weil to be administrator of the Wage and Hour Division, Department of Labor.
Immigration
The Bipartisan Congressional Women鈥檚 Working Group on Immigration Reform, of which 老澳门开奖结果 is a part, will co-host a congressional briefing called 鈥淪eeking Asylum at the U.S. Border: Challenges, Gaps and Solutions.鈥
Wednesday, December 11th
NSA Surveillance
The Senate Judiciary Committee will hold its second hearing on 鈥淥versight of U.S. Government Surveillance Authorities.鈥 NSA Director, Gen. Keith Alexander, Deputy Attorney General James Cole, and DNI General Counsel Robert Litt are expected to testify.
State and Local Surveillance
Policy Counsel Mike German will speak on a panel at an event hosted by the Brennan Center titled 鈥淲ho鈥檚 Watching Little Brother? Local Surveillance, National Concerns.鈥
Thursday, December 12th
Sentencing Reform
The Senate Judiciary Committee is scheduled to markup several criminal justice bills, including the Smarter Sentencing Act of 2013.
National Security
Legislative Counsel Michelle Richardson will speak at the 8th Annual Office of General Counsel Intelligence/National Security Law Conference on an off-the-record panel on the future of predictive analysis.
Immigration
The House Judiciary Committee will hold a hearing called, 鈥淎sylum Abuse: Is it Overwhelming Our Borders?鈥 The House Homeland Security Committee will also hold a hearing on vacancies at the Department of Homeland Security titled 鈥淗elp Wanted at DHS: Implications of Leadership Vacancies on the Mission and Morale.鈥
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