The Lower House Special Committee on Guidelines for Japan-U.S. Defense Cooperation decided Friday the committee will wrap up its debate Monday and vote on the bills, committee members said.
The decision will pave the way for the passage of the controversial bills by the Lower House at its plenary session scheduled for the following day.
The ruling Liberal Democratic Party and its coalition partner Liberal Party have been hoping the bills will get the lower chamber's approval before Prime Minister Keizo Obuchi's scheduled visit to the United States later next week.
While holding full debate at the committee sessions, the LDP now has been holding behind-the-scenes negotiations with the opposition as well as its coalition partner, the Liberal Party, to discuss possible revisions to the bills.