Senate Homeland Security and Government Affairs Committee Chairman Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.) on Monday said he expects relatively smooth passage of a bill to extend three expiring surveillance authorities under the Patriot Act.

"As I understand it, there's been a leadership agreement, which I certainly support, to adopt a so-called clean bill on the three provisions that are running out at the end of this week, which are very important to our national security and the war on terrorism," he said after a hearing Monday.

Democratic Rep. Sandy Levin has criticized the bill as something that would "end the guarantee of federal unemployment insurance."

The world didn't end, which makes us even more comfortable in our prediction that the House and Senate will both return at 2 p.m. Monday.

The Senate on Monday evening is planning a cloture vote on S. 1038, which would extend Patriot Act surveillance authorities until June 1, 2015. That bill reflects a deal worked out late last week between House and Senate leaders on these surveillance techniques, which expire this Friday.

When the House returns, it will take up five non-controversial bills under a suspension of House rules. Four of these are related to veterans, while the fifth extends funding for the Airport and Airway Trust Fund, details here.

Congress returns next week with two key national security issues on its plate: an extension of intelligence surveillance authority, and passage of the FY 2012 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA).

Freshman Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.) on Friday predicted that House Republican leaders would not allow a vote to be held on whether the U.S. military should be allowed to continue operations in Libya.

In an editorial in the The Detroit News, Amash noted that he has introduced a bill requiring the Obama administration to get congressional approval, but gave his bill little chance of passing.

"[I]t's unlikely that congressional leadership will permit a vote on it," he wrote. "The status quo provides cover for Congress, by allowing the people's representatives to complain about the president's actions without committing to a position for or against the war."

Rep. Dennis Kucinich, who could lose his Ohio seat because of redistricting, will attending a fundraiser in Washington state.

President Obama’s energy policy smacks of unparalleled hypocrisy, Rep. Jack Kingston (R-Ga.) told the conservative website Newsmax in an interview published Thursday. 

“It’s surreal to think about the president of the United States says, 'You can’t drill in America,' but goes down to Brazil and tells them, 'Have at it,' " said Kingston, a senior member of the House Committee on Appropriations. "Such hypocrisy. Unparalleled.”

An aide close to Democratic leadership said Friday that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) remains committed to bringing the House-passed budget proposal to the floor next week but the timing has yet to be determined.

Reid may wait until Thursday, however, which is the same day the Senate is set to begin a weeklong recess.

House members next week will spend a considerable amount of time on foreign affairs and national security issues, although high gas prices will also be a focus.

The House Homeland Security Committee on Wednesday will hold a hearing to assess threats to the U.S. after the death of Osama bin Laden. On the same day, the House Foreign Affairs Committee meets to discuss whether Congress needs to approve further military action in Libya.