Defense hearings: Preparing for NDAA proposals

As House and Senate leaders finalize their budget plans next week, the armed services committees in both chambers are finalizing their public hearings with military officials in preparation for next month's debut of their respective draft defense authorization bills for fiscal 2016.

In addition, House Armed Services Committee members will resume their review of the Military Compensation Retirement Modernization Commission recommendations Wednesday, with an eye toward future defense budgets. Meanwhile, their Senate counterparts will look at long-range U.S. strategy in the Middle East, and potential shortfalls there.

The Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee has a pair of hearings, including Tuesday's on the controversial implementation of the new VA Choice Card program.

Tuesday

Middle East policy

Committee members will hear from think tank experts on issues related to the fight against Islamic State militants and the Syrian civil war.

Coast Guard

The committee will review the Coast Guard's fiscal 2016 budget request with that service's commandant, Adm. Paul Zukunft.

Missile defense, closed briefing

The subcommittee on homeland security will hold a closed briefing on the Missile Defense Agency.

Islamic extremism

Former CIA director Michael Hayden and former House Speaker Newt Gingrich will discuss the threat of global Islamic extremism.

South Asia

The subcommittee on the Pacific will discuss U.S. foreign aid to the Asia/Pacific region and national security priorities.

Pending legislation

The subcommittee on economic opportunity will discuss bills up for consideration.

Veterans Choice Act

Committee members will look at possible fixes to problems with implementation of the new VA Choice Card program, focusing on rules concerning veterans in rural areas.

Atomic energy

Officials from the National Nuclear Security Administration will discuss their fiscal 2016 budget request with the committee.

Wednesday

Defense health programs

The subcommittee on defense will review proposed budget estimates and justification for defense health programs in the Pentagon's fiscal 2016 budget request.

Aviation programs

The subcommittee on sea power will review Navy and Marine Corps aviation programs in the fiscal 2016 budget request.

Compensation commission

Outside advocacy and veterans groups offer their views on the Military Compensation and Retirement Modernization Commission recommendations.

Vice chiefs

The subcommittee on readiness will hear from the four service vice chiefs on readiness and funding concerns with the fiscal 2016 budget.

Missile defense

The subcommittee on strategic forces will discuss ballistic missile defense programs and the fiscal 2016 budget request.

Weapons of mass destruction

The subcommittee on emerging threats will review the fiscal 2016 budget request for the Chemical Biological Defense Program and Defense Threat Reduction Agency.

Space

Committee members will discuss national security issues related to the Defense Department's fiscal 2016 budget request.

Thursday

Readiness posture

The service vice chiefs testify about the fiscal 2016 defense budget request and future readiness issues.

Combat aviation

Representatives from the Air Force, Navy and Marine Corps will discuss aviation modernization programs and the fiscal 2016 budget request.

Combatant commands

The committee will hear from the chiefs of U.S. Central Command, U.S. Africa Command and U.S. Special Operations Command on the fiscal 2016 budget.

Pain medications

The committee will look at VA's opioid prescription policy, practice and procedures in light of recent concerns related to overuse of pain medications.

Army budget

The committee meets with Army Secretary John McHugh and Chief of Staff Gen. Ray Odierno on their service's fiscal 2016 budget request.

Technology programs

The subcommittee on emerging threats discusses American military technological superiority and the fiscal 2016 defense budget request.

Army modernization

The subcommittee on airland will meet with Army officials to discuss modernization plans and the fiscal 2016 budget request.

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