Lawmakers have planned a number of oversight hearings on ongoing Veterans Affairs Department problems this week, headlined by testimony from five subpoenaed department employees during another late-night House Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing Monday.
Committee members will press the VA officials over reported abuse of the department's now-suspended relocation bonus program, but VA leaders so far have resisted the requests in order to allow criminal investigations to continue uninterrupted.
On defense, Senate Armed Services Committee members this week will look at future threats to national security and House Armed Services Committee members will look into aircraft carrier strategy and force projection.
Behind the scenes, lawmakers on those committees will be seeking a new way forward on the vetoed defense authorization bill now that a two-year federal budget deal has been settled.
House Veterans’ Affairs — 7:30 p.m. — Cannon 334
Relocation bonuses
Five VA employees subpoenaed by the committee last month will testify about problems related to the department's now-suspended relocation bonus program.
Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — Dirksen G50
Future of warfare
Retired Army Gen. Keith Alexander, former chief of U.S. Cyber Command, and other outside experts will discuss emerging national security threats.
Senate Foreign Affairs — 9:30 a.m. — Dirksen 419
Nominations
The committee will consider a series of pending nominations, including the new U.S. ambassador to Uganda.
House Homeland Security — 10 a.m. — Cannon 311
Bioterrorism
The committee will hear from former Sen. Joe Lieberman and former Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Ridge on their blue ribbon panel's research on gaps in biosecurity.
House Veterans’ Affairs — 2 p.m. — Cannon 334
VA information technology
The subcommittee on economic opportunity will discuss information technology offerings to provide job resources to veterans.
House Armed Services — 2 p.m. — Rayburn 2118
Carrier presence
The subcommittee on seapower will hear from Navy officials on aircraft carrier surge capabilities and limitations.
Senate Foreign Affairs — 2:30 p.m. — Dirksen 419
Russia
The subcommittee on Europe will review Russian military actions in Syria.
House Armed Services — 3:30 p.m. — Rayburn 2212
Nuclear deterrence
The subcommittee on strategic forces will hear from Project Atom officials on the future of American nuclear deterrence.
House Foreign Affairs —10 a.m. — Rayburn 2172
Syria
State Department officials will brief the committee on complications to the Syrian battlefield following recent Russian military operations in the region.
Senate Foreign Affairs — 10 a.m. — Dirksen 419
North Africa
Outside experts will discuss U.S. policies toward North Africa.
House Veterans’ Affairs and House Small Business — 10:30 a.m. — Cannon 334
Vets First
The committees will hold a joint hearing regarding ongoing problems with VA's Vets First contracting programs.
House Foreign Affairs — 2 p.m. — Rayburn 2200
Syrian refugees
The subcommittee on Europe will look at the pressures caused by the Syrian refugee crisis.
House Government Reform — 9 a.m. — Rayburn 2154
Iran
The subcommittee on national security will discuss Iran's power projection capabilities and implications for U.S. security.
House Foreign Affairs — 10 a.m. — Miami
Cuba human rights
The committee will hold a field hearing in Florida to discuss human rights violations by the governments of Cuba and Venezuela.
Leo covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He has covered Washington, D.C. since 2004, focusing on military personnel and veterans policies. His work has earned numerous honors, including a 2009 Polk award, a 2010 National Headliner Award, the IAVA Leadership in Journalism award and the VFW News Media award.
