WASHINGTON — Senate committees will vote on President Donald Trump’s nominee to be Secretary of State, meet his nominee to be Secretary of Veterans Affairs and grill his Secretary of Defense in a series of high-profile hearings this week.
On Monday, the Senate Foreign Relations Committee will decide whether to forward Mike Pompeo’s nomination for the top State Department post to the full Senate in what is expected to be a divided, partisan vote.
Two days later, the Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee will welcome White House physician Ronny Jackson for his confirmation hearing, with an eye towards another possible contentious partisan vote next month.
Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis has two appointments on Capitol Hill this week to defend the president’s fiscal 2019 budget request: on Wednesday, before the House Appropriations Committee, and on Thursday, before the Senate Armed Services Committee.
The moves come as the House Armed Services Committee releases its first drafts of the annual defense authorization bill, which helps set budget levels and priorities for next fiscal year.
Senate Foreign Relations — 5 p.m. — Dirksen 419
Pompeo vote
The committee will vote on the nomination of Mike Pompeo to be Secretary of State, as well as other department nominations.
Tuesday, April 24
Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — Dirksen G-50
Air Force posture
Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson and Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein will testify before the committee on the fiscal 2019 budget request.
Senate Foreign Relations — 10 a.m. — Dirksen 419
Nominations
The committee will vote on the nomination of Adm. Harry Harris Jr. to be ambassador to Australia, as well as other state department nominations.
Senate Appropriations — 10 a.m. — Dirksen 192
Navy/Marine Corps budget
Service officials will testify before the committee on the fiscal 2019 budget request.
Wednesday, April 25
House Appropriations — 1 p.m. — Capitol H140
Defense budget
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr. will testify before the committee on the fiscal 2019 budget request.
House Veterans' Affairs — 2:30 p.m. — Cannon 334
VA life insurance
The subcommittee on disability assistance will hear from VA officials on department life insurance programs.
Senate Veterans’ Affairs — 2:30 p.m. — Dirksen G50
Jackson nomination
The committee will hold a confirmation hearing for Rear Adm. Ronny Jackson to become the next Veterans Affairs secretary.
Thursday, April 26
House Veterans' Affairs — 8 a.m. — Cannon 334
Pending legislation
The full committee will mark up several pending bills.
House Armed Services — 9 a.m. — Rayburn 2212
NDAA readiness mark up
The subcommittee on readiness will mark up its draft section of the annual defense authorization bill.
Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — Hart 216
Defense budget
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford Jr. will testify before the committee on the fiscal 2019 budget request.
House Armed Services — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2118
NDAA emerging threats mark up
The subcommittee on emerging threats will mark up its draft section of the annual defense authorization bill.
Senate Appropriations — 10 a.m. — Dirksen 192
Military health
Military medical leaders will testify before the committee on the fiscal 2019 budget request and ongoing challenges to their mission.
Senate Appropriations — 10:30 a.m. — Dirksen 138
Military housing
Pentagon personnel officials will testify before the committee on the fiscal 2019 budget request with regards to family housing priorities.
House Armed Services — 11 a.m. — Rayburn 2212
NDAA personnel mark up
The subcommittee on personnel will mark up its draft section of the annual defense authorization bill.
House Armed Services — 12:30 p.m. — Rayburn 2118
NDAA tactical air and land forces mark up
The subcommittee on tactical air and land forces will mark up its draft section of the annual defense authorization bill.
House Armed Services — 1:30 p.m. — Rayburn 2212
NDAA seapower mark up
The subcommittee on seapower will mark up its draft section of the annual defense authorization bill.
House Armed Services — 3 p.m. — Rayburn 2118
NDAA strategic forces mark up
The subcommittee on strategic forces will mark up its draft section of the annual defense authorization bill.
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.
