Senate panel to debate fight against ISIS

The Senate Foreign Relations Committee will hold a hearing Tuesday on how to combat the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria (ISIS).

Some lawmakers have called for a vote during the lame-duck session to authorize military use of force against the terrorist organization. Others have said it can wait until next year, when Republicans take control of the Senate.

{mosads}On Thursday, the Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee will hold a hearing titled, “Examining Takata Airbag Defects and the Vehicle Recall Process.”

The hearing follows one of the largest auto part recalls, affecting more than 7 million cars. Senators will grill officials on how defective Takata airbags were installed in so many vehicles, with responses by both automakers and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).

“I’ll be asking tough, penetrating questions to uncover the concealment that apparently occurred and that these companies have a responsibility now to fully disclose,” Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) said. “Why did NHTSA fail to pick up on the problem for so long, and why has the agency not acted more urgently to warn Americans to stop driving dangerous vehicles?”

Details on these and other hearings follow:

Senate Aging

-Nov. 19, “Private Industry’s Role in Stemming the Tide of Phone Scams”

2:15 p.m., 562 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Senate Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs

– Nov. 19, “The Federal Housing Finance Agency: Balancing Stability, Growth, and Affordability in the Mortgage Market”

10 a.m., 538 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation

– Nov. 20, “Examining Takata Airbag Defects and the Vehicle Recall Process”

10 a.m., 253 Russell Senate Office Building

Senate Foreign Relations

– Nov. 18, “Countering ISIL in Iraq and Syria”

10 a.m., 216 Hart Senate Office Building

– Nov. 19, “Nomination”

2:30 p.m., 419 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions

-Nov. 19, “S. 2917, Adding Ebola to the FDA Priority Review Voucher Program Act, HR. 669, Sudden Unexpected Death Data Enhancement and Awareness Act, and Nominations”

10 a.m., 430 Dirksen Senate Office Building

-Nov. 20, “Nomination”

10 a.m., 430 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs

– Nov. 18, “Nomination”

2:30 p.m., 342 Dirksen Senate Office Building

– Nov. 19, “Preparedness and Response to Public Health Threats: How Ready Are We?”

10 a.m., 342 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Senate Indian Affairs

– Nov. 19, “Protecting our Children’s Mental Health: Preventing and Addressing Childhood Trauma in Indian Country.”

2:30 p.m., 628 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Senate Judiciary

– Nov. 19, “The FANS Act: Are Sports Blackouts and Antitrust Exemptions Harming Fans, Consumers, and the Games Themselves?”

11 a.m., 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building

– Nov. 20, “Nominations”

10 a.m., 226 Dirksen Senate Office Building

Senate Veterans Affairs

– Nov. 19, “Veterans’ Mental Health and Suicide”

10 a.m., 418 Russell Senate Office Building