Defense hearings: Senate talks ISIS, budget, Ukraine

With House members back in their districts for the week, all of the congressional work will be on the Senate side of Capitol Hill. But that still leaves a full schedule of defense/veterans hearings.

The most-watched event will be Wednesday's Senate Foreign Relations Committee hearing on the fight in Iraq and Syria. Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Secretary of State John Kerry will attend the event, pushing for lawmakers to adopt the White House's draft for a new military force authorization for the fight.

Veterans Affairs Secretary Bob McDonald wraps up his budget briefings this week with the Senate Appropriations Committee. And members of the Senate Armed Services Committee boast six budget hearings while their House counterparts are at home.

Tuesday

Navy/Marine Corps budget

Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, CNO Adm. Jon Greenert and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Joseph Dunford brief senators on their fiscal 2016 budget requests.

Ukraine

State department officials discuss the current conflict in Ukraine and U.S. options to deal with Russia aggression in the region.

VA budget

VA leadership will brief senators on their department's fiscal 2016 budget request.

Closed briefing

The subcommittee on emerging threats will receive a closed briefing on Iran's military and intelligence activities.

Wednesday

Marine Corps modernization

The subcommittee on seapower will discuss Marine Corps ground modernization proposals in the service's fiscal 2016 budget request and the future years defense program.

AUMF

Defense Secretary Ash Carter, Joint Chiefs Chairman Martin Dempsey

and Secretary of State John Kerry brief senators on the fight against Islamic State militants in Iraq and the president's request for a new military force authorization.

BRAC

The subcommittee on management support will discuss military construction proposals and the possibility of a new base closure round as part of the military's fiscal 2016 budget request.

Thursday

NORTHCOM/SOUTHCOM

The committee will look at challenges ahead in U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Southern Command, and the fiscal 2016 budget request for both.

Closed briefing

The subcommittee on strategic forces will receive a closed briefing on missile defense programs and proposed fiscal 2016 spending.

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