This week in Congress: The Marine Corps scandal

WASHINGTON — Marine Corps officials will travel to Capitol Hill this week to brief lawmakers on the unfolding nude photos scandal, which could involve prison sentences for some active-duty troops.

Throughout last week, service leaders scrambled to stay on top of new reports of multiple online forums where Corps veterans and current Marines shared nude pictures of female troops, in some cases identifying them by name and unit.

Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller is scheduled to speak to House Armed Services Committee members in a closed session this week and a partially open hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday.

U.S. Central Command’s Gen. Joseph Votel, who testified before senators last week, will appear before the House this week to give a similar update on operations in the Middle East. Throughout the week, both chambers will also continue their preparation work for the annual defense budget debates, with a series of hearings on readiness and military strategy.  

Tuesday

Senate Armed Services -- 10 a.m. -- Russell 222
Marine Corps scandal
Committee members will hear from Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller on information surrounding the service’s nude photo sharing scandal. Much of the session will be closed, but at least a portion of the hearing will be open to the public.

Wednesday

House Armed Services -- 10 a.m. -- 2118 Rayburn
Middle East
Gen. Joseph Votel, head of U.S. Central Command, will testify before the committee on security challenges in the Middle East.

House Transportation -- 10:30 a.m. -- Rayburn 2253
Coast Guard
The committee will review authorization of Coast Guard and maritime transportation programs.

Senate Appropriations -- 10:30 a.m. -- Visitors Center 217
Closed hearing
The subcommittee on defense will hear from Pentagon officials on ballistic missile programs.

Senate Foreign Relations -- 11 a.m. -- Dirksen 419
Syria
Syrian aid workers and representatives from the International Rescue Committee will testify about the human toll of the ongoing civil war in Syria.

House Foreign Affairs -- 2 p.m. -- Rayburn 2172
Venezuela
Members of the subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere will hear from outside experts on security challenges posed by instability in Venezuela.

Senate Veterans’ Affairs -- 2:30 p.m. -- Russell 418
VHA management
The committee will hear from GAO researchers on why the Veterans Health Administration received a high-risk rating in their latest reviews.  

House Armed Services -- 3:30 p.m. -- Rayburn 2118
Counter propaganda
Outside experts will testify on crafting an information warfare and counter-propaganda strategy for U.S. threats.

Senate Armed Services -- 3:30 p.m. -- Russell 232A
Warfare
Outside experts will brief the committee on all-arms warfare and strategies for the U.S. military.

Thursday

House Armed Services -- 8 a.m. -- Rayburn 2118
Navy
Officers from Navy Fleet Readiness and the Naval Reserve will testify before the committee on the current state of the service.

House Appropriations -- 10 a.m. -- Capitol HT2
Members input
The committee will hear budget priorities and suggestions from fellow members on State Department and foreign operations issues.

House Armed Services -- 2 p.m. -- Rayburn 2212
Nuclear enterprise
Frank Klotz, head of the National Nuclear Security Administration, and other nuclear security officials will testify before the committee on infrastructure needs.


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