WASHINGTON — House lawmakers are inching closer to their first draft of the annual defense authorization bill, with hearings this week setting up for legislative language debuts a week later.
The House Armed Services Committee is scheduled to mark up its initial versions of the military policy legislation on April 26, with six subcommittee drafts set to debut. That means this week’s hearings with service and Pentagon officials will likely be their last chance to sway lawmakers’ minds on a host of funding priorities before they become public debate points.
The Senate Armed Services Committee, which is doing concurrent work, is set to mark up their drafts in early May. Both panels are hopeful they can get the respective bills through their chamber by early summer, allowing committee staffs time to negotiation a final version before the end of the fiscal year.
Also on Capitol Hill this week, Veterans Affairs Secretary nominee Ronny Jackson is scheduled to meet with lawmakers for the first time since being picked for the job. No confirmation hearing dates have yet been set, but the face-to-face time is a signal that the process is moving forward.
Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — Dirksen G50
Nominations
The committee will consider the nominations of Amd. Philip Davidson to take over U.S. Pacific Command and Gen. Terrence O’Shaughnessy to take over U.S. Northern Command.
Senate Foreign Relations — 10 a.m. — Dirksen 419
Yemen
State and Defense Department officials will testify before the committee on U.S. policy in Yemen and security issues in the region.
House Appropriations — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2359
Coast Guard
Service officials will testify before the committee on the Coast Guard’s fiscal 2019 budget request.
House Appropriations — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2358A
Members' input
The subcommittee on military construction and Veterans Affairs will hear from House members on their priorities for the fiscal 2019 federal budget.
House Homeland Security — 10 a.m. — Longworth 1334
Iran
The subcommittee on counterterrorism will hear from outside experts on Iran’s terrorism links.
House Armed Services — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2118
Defense innovation
Research officials and members of the Defense Innovation Board will testify before the committee on the Pentagon’s culture of innovation and ways to improve it.
Senate Appropriations — 10 a.m. — Dirksen 192
National Guard/Reserve
Guard and reserve officials will testify before the committee on the fiscal 2019 budget request.
House Foreign Affairs — 2 p.m. — Rayburn 2172
U.S.-Taiwan Relationship
Outside experts will testify before the committee on the U.S.-Taiwan relationship and challenges in the future.
Senate Armed Services — 2:30 p.m. — Russell 232-A
Navy Shipbuilding
Navy research officials will testify before the committee on the Navy shipbuilding program and the fiscal 2019 budget request.
House Veterans' Affairs — 2:30 p.m. — Cannon 334
Pending Legislation
The subcommittee on health will consider a series of pending bills.
House Armed Services — 3:30 p.m. — Rayburn 2118
Missile defense
Lt Gen. Samuel Greaves, director of the Missile Defense Agency, Gen. Lori Robinson, head of U.S. Northern Command, and John Rood, under secretary of defense for policy, will testify before the committee on missile defense issues.
Wednesday, April 18
House Armed Services — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2118
Fourth Estate agencies
Outside experts will testify on improvements to the defense acquisition workforce.
House Foreign Affairs — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2172
Middle East Policy
State Department officials will testify about U.S. policy towards Syria, Iraq and other Middle East countries.
House Armed Services — 2 p.m. — Rayburn 2212
Defense Installations
Service installation officials will testify before the committee on the fiscal 2019 budget request.
House Foreign Affairs — 2 p.m. — Rayburn 2200
Bosnia/Western Balkans
State Department and outside officials will testify before the committee on eastern Europe security issues, including Bosnia.
House Foreign Affairs — 2 p.m. — Rayburn 2172
Libya
Outside experts will testify before the committee on Libya security issues.
Senate Armed Services — 2:30 p.m. — Russell 232-A
Defense technologies
Michael Griffin, under secretary of defense for research, will testify before the committee on emerging threats and defense technologies.
Senate Armed Services — 3:30 p.m. — Russell 222
Air Force Modernization
Service officials will testify before the committee on Air Force modernization and the fiscal 2019 budget request.
House Armed Services — 3:30 p.m. — Rayburn 2118
Ground Force Modernization
Army and Marine Corps officials will testify before the committee on the fiscal 2019 budget request and the impact on ground force modernization efforts.
Thursday, April 19
Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — Dirksen G-50
Navy Posture
Navy Secretary Richard Spencer, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson, And Marine Corps Commandant Robert Neller will testify before the committee on the fiscal 2019 budget request.
House Armed Services — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2118
Army Readiness
Service officials will testify before the committee on the fiscal 2019 budget request.
House Armed Services — 10:30 a.m. — Rayburn 2212
Military health
Vice Adm. Raquel Bono, director of the Defense Health Agency, and other military health officials will testify before the committee on pain management and opioid prescription in the military health system.
Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He has covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focusing on military personnel and veterans policies. His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award.
