House committees to probe debt limit, Benghazi next week

The House Ways and Means Committee will hold a hearing next week to examine the history of the U.S. debt limit, just weeks before some agreement will be needed to raise the debt limit and avoid a government default.

The committee will meet Tuesday to discuss the history of the debt limit and how past congresses and presidents have arranged for increases in the limit.

Republicans are considering a short-term debt limit hike to allow more time for negotiations on cutting government spending.

Also next week, the House Foreign Affairs Committee will hold a Wednesday hearing to examine the September attack against U.S. officials in Benghazi, Libya, that left four officials dead. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will testify.

Details on these and other hearings follow:

House Armed Services

Jan. 23, "A Review of Sexual Misconduct by Basic Training Instructors at Lackland Air Force Base"
10 a.m., 2118 Rayburn House Office Building

House Foreign Affairs

Jan. 23, "Terrorist Attack in Benghazi: The Secretary of State's View"; Secretary of State Hillary Clinton testifies
2 p.m., 2172 Rayburn House Office Building

House Oversight and Government Reform

Jan. 22, "Wasting Information Technology Dollars: How Can the Federal Government Reform its IT Investment Strategy?"
Time and location TBA

House Ways and Means

Jan. 22, hearing on the U.S. debt limit
1:30 p.m., 1100 Longworth House Office Building

Additionally, House committees on Appropriations, Energy and Commerce, Homeland Security, Natural Resources, Science Space and Technology and Veterans Affairs will hold organizational meetings next week.

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