This week in Congress: Nominations abound

WASHINGTON — After months of complaints from lawmakers over the slow pace of executive branch nominations, key defense and veterans committees will handle a host of high-profile confirmation hearings this week, potentially stocking President Donald Trump’s administration before the August break.

The Senate Armed Services Committee will consider five nominees on Tuesday, including Air Force Gen. Paul Selva for reappointment as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee will consider six more on Wednesday. Senate Intelligence Committee members will look at three more.

That Senate confirmation work will take place as lawmakers in the chamber continue moving the annual defense authorization bill ahead. House lawmakers approved their version last week. Negotiators are hoping to reconcile the differing versions this fall.

Beyond the short-term budget debates, the Senate Armed Services Committee will also discuss long-term military build up issues this week, with a Tuesday hearing on naval expansion.

Monday

Senate Foreign Relations — 5 p.m. — Dirksen 419
State Department budget
Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan will testify before the committee on his department’s FY18 budget request and reorganization plans.

House Veterans' Affairs — 7:30 p.m. — Cannon 334
GI Bill expansion
Committee members will hear from lawmakers and veterans groups on possible expansions to veterans education benefits.

Tuesday

Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — Dirksen G50
Nominations
The committee will consider the re-appointment of Air Force Gen. Paul Selva for reappointment to the grade of general and reappointment to be vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

House Science and Technology — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2318
NASA Missions
NASA officials will testify before the committee on the Mars Rover 2020 mission and the Europa Clipper mission.

House Appropriations — 10:30 a.m. — Rayburn 2359
Homeland Security budget
The full committee will mark up the FY18 homeland security and interior appropriations bills.

House Financial Services — 2 p.m. — Rayburn 2128
Terrorism financing
The subcommittee on terrorism will hear from outside experts on managing terrorism financing risks.

Senate Armed Services — 2:30 p.m. — Dirksen G50
Nominations
The committee will consider four nominations, including John Gibson II to be deputy chief management officer of the Defense Department and Matthew Donovan to be undersecretary of the Air Force.

Senate Armed Services — 4 p.m. — Russell 222
355-ship Navy
Former Secretary of the Navy John Lehman Jr. and other former defense officials will testify before the committee on the possibility of a Navy build-up.

Wednesday

Senate Intelligence — 9 a.m. — Hart 216
Nominations
The committee will consider three nominations, including Susan Gordon to be principal deputy director of national intelligence in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.

House Appropriations — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2359
State Department appropriations
The committee will mark up a series of appropriations bills, including FY18 State and Foreign Operations spending.

House Veterans’ Affairs — 10 a.m. — Cannon 334
Pending legislation
The full committee will consider a series of pending bills, including legislation to expand GI Bill benefits.

Senate Veterans' Affairs — 1:30 p.m. — Russell 418
Nominations
The committee will consider six nominations, including Thomas Bowman to be Deputy VA Secretary and Brooks Tucker to be assistant VA secretary for congressional and legislative affairs.

House Financial Services — 2 p.m. — Rayburn 2128
North Korea
The subcommittee on trade will hear from outside experts on restrictions to North Korea’s access to financial networks.

House Foreign Affairs — 2 p.m. — Rayburn 2200
Terrorism legislation
The subcommittee on terrorism will mark up a pair of bills related to screening and entry of foreign nationals into America.

House Foreign Affairs — 2:15 p.m. — Rayburn 2200
Saudi Arabia
Outside experts will testify about concerns with education curricula in Saudi Arabia.  

 
Leo Shane III covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He can be reached at lshane@militarytimes.com.