This week in Congress: Military readiness takes center stage

WASHINGTON — Lawmakers will take a close look at military readiness and quality of life issues in a series of hearings this week, and Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin will make his first appearance before Congress in his new Cabinet post.

The House and Senate Armed Services committees will hold six hearings on force readiness issues over three days, including three on the military’s nuclear arsenal. Gen. Paul Selva, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Gen. John Hyten, head of U.S. Strategic Command, are among the military leaders who will testify on the challenges ahead.

Meanwhile, Shulkin will appear in an unusual evening hearing to discuss renewing the VA Choice Card program, set to run out of funding this summer. The timing comes as committee members return early from an extended weekend break for House lawmakers.

Gen. Joseph Votel, head of U.S. Central Command, and Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, head of U.S. Africa Command, will also appear on Capitol Hill this week, to discuss regional threats and challenges facing their areas of responsibility.  

Tuesday

Senate Appropriations -- 2:15 p.m. -- Dirksen 192
Russia
The subcommittee on foreign operations will hear from outside experts on Russian aggression in Europe.

House Veterans’ Affairs -- 7:30 p.m. -- Cannon 334
Community Care
VA Secretary David Shulkin and Sen. John McCain will testify before the committee on ideas for extending the Choice Card program and simplification of outside care offerings.

Wednesday

Senate Homeland Security -- 9:30 a.m. -- Dirksen 342
Nominations
The committee will consider the nomination of Elaine Duke to be deputy secretary of the Department of Homeland Security.

House Appropriations -- 10 a.m. -- Rayburn 2362A
Military quality of life
Senior enlisted officials from each of the services will testify before the committee on quality of life issues for troops and military families.

House Armed Services -- 10 a.m. -- Rayburn 2118
Nuclear weapons
Gen. Paul Selva, vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Gen. John Hyten, head of U.S. Strategic Command, will testify before the committee on nuclear deterrence requirements.

House Veterans’ Affairs -- 10:30 a.m. -- Cannon 334
Pending legislation
The committee will meet to mark up pending legislation on accountability in the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Army readiness
Army Deputy Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Joseph Anderson and other senior Army officials will testify before the committee on service readiness challenges and solutions.

Senate Armed Services -- 2:30 p.m. -- Visitors Center S217
Closed briefing
The committee will receive a closed briefing on cybersecurity.

Senate Armed Services -- 2:30 p.m. -- Russell 222
Nuclear weapons
Retired Gen. C. Robert Kehler, former head of U.S. Strategic Command, and other outside experts will testify on the global nuclear weapons environment.

House Armed Services -- 3:30 p.m. -- Rayburn 2118
Navy fleet
Naval assessment officials will testify before the seapower subcommittee on fleet readiness and strategy.

Thursday

Senate Armed Services -- 9:30 a.m. -- Hart 216
Africa Command
Gen. Joseph Votel, head of U.S. Central Command, and Gen. Thomas Waldhauser, head of U.S. Africa Command, will testify before the committee on regional threats and challenges.

House Appropriations -- 9:30 a.m. -- Capitol 140
Members Day
Committee members will hear from fellow lawmakers on their priorities for defense spending in fiscal 2018.

House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs -- 10 a.m. -- Dirksen G-50
Veterans groups
The committee will hear legislative priorities from representatives of various veterans groups, including  AUSN, AMVETS, Vietnam Veterans of America, Paralyzed Veterans of America, and Wounded Warrior Project.

House Appropriations -- 10 a.m. -- Rayburn 2362A
Members Day
Committee members will hear from fellow lawmakers on their priorities for state department spending and foreign operations in fiscal 2018.

House Armed Services -- 3:30 p.m. -- Rayburn 2118
Nuclear weapons
Members of the Defense Science Board will testify before the committee on nuclear deterrence priorities.

Friday

House Armed Services -- 9 a.m. -- Rayburn 2118
Marine Corps readiness
Lt. Gen. Gary Thomas, deputy commandant for programs at the Marine Corps, will testify before the committee on the effects of sequestration on service readiness and modernization. 


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