Thursday: NDAA, possible vote on Patriot Act

The House returns Thursday at 10 a.m. to finish work on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA). This involves debate on just seven more amendments, plus four en bloc amendments.

One amendment to be debated Thursday is from Reps. James McGovern (D-Mass.), Justin Amash (R-Mich.) and others that would require the Defense Department to establish a plan for the "accelerated transition of military operations to Afghan authorities."

After debate, the House will move to hold votes on these and other amendments that were debated Wednesday night.

Also possible is a vote to extend expiring Patriot Act surveillance authorities until June 1, 2015. The Senate is expected to vote on this extension at about 10 a.m., in the form of S. 990, which was a bill to extend small-business programs but now is the vehicle for the Patriot Act.

House Republicans late Wednesday night put a House vote on this bill as "likely" sometime Thursday. House Majority Leader Eric Cantor (R-Va.) told members on Wednesday to also be prepared for possible votes on Friday, depending on how it goes in the Senate.