Senate to wrap up defense bill
A look at the Middle East issues Congress will be addressing the week of June 15.
The Senate is expected to wrap up consideration of the annual defense bill next week before moving on to how to fund the military.
Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., filed cloture on the National Defense Authorization bill (NDAA) on June 11 in a bid to get through it this coming week. The Senate is expected to vote early next week on an amendment from Sens. Joni Ernst, R-Iowa, and Barbara Boxer, D-Calif., to provide for defense equipment, services and training to the Kurdistan Regional Government in Iraq.
Other amendments that may come up include an effort by Iran hawk Mark Kirk, R-Ill., to extend Iran sanctions legislation until 2026.
Current law allows the president to temporarily suspend, but not remove, sanctions legislation that expires in 2016. Extending the sanctions could be the next president's ability to stick to any final nuclear deal.
