WASHINGTON — Lawmakers from the House Appropriations Committee will open a budget-filled Capitol Hill schedule this week with their first revisions to President Trump’s fiscal 2018 spending plan at an unusual evening hearing Monday night.
The committee, which typically holds all events during standard business hours, will mark up its draft of the annual military construction and Veterans Affairs budget for next fiscal year at 7 p.m. ET Monday. It’s an attempt by lawmakers to catch up to the normal budget process in Congress, delayed by the president’s mid-May proposal release.
In the same spirit, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford will testify before four different committees this week, as will Secretary of State Rex Tillerson. Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committee members will tackle the VA budget on Wednesday, with an eye towards their chamber marking up the agency’s budget soon.
In non-budget news, former Sen. Elizabeth Dole and actor Ryan Phillippe will bring star power to the issue of military caregivers in a Senate hearing Wednesday afternoon. They’re expected to discuss possible legislative help for families of wounded troops who have assumed primary caregiver roles for their loved ones.
Monday
House Armed Services — 7 p.m. — Rayburn 2118
FY18 defense budget
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford will testify before the committee on the president’s fiscal 2018 budget request for the Department of Defense.
House Appropriations — 7 p.m. — Rayburn 2362
VA/Milcon budget
The subcommittee on military construction and VA will mark up its first draft of the fiscal 2018 budget for those programs.
Tuesday
Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — Dirksen G50
FY18 defense budget
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford will testify before the committee on the president’s fiscal 2018 budget request for the Department of Defense.
House Foreign Affairs — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2172
Saudi Arabia
Outside experts will testify before the committee on the U.S. relationship with Saudi Arabia and future challenges.
Senate Foreign Relations — 10 a.m. — Dirksen 419
FY18 State Department budget
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will testify before the committee on the president’s fiscal 2018 request for his department.
Senate Armed Services — 2:30 p.m. — Russell 222
Navy and Marine Corps aviation
The services’ top aviation officials will testify before the committee on the fiscal 2018 budget request and future challenges.
Senate Appropriations — 2:30 p.m. — Dirksen 192
FY18 State Department budget
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will testify before the committee on the president’s fiscal 2018 request for his department.
Senate Foreign Relations — 2:30 p.m. — Dirksen 419
Cyberspace threats
The committee will hear from outside experts on recent cyberspace security incidents and the long-term threat to American national security.
Wednesday
House Foreign Affairs — 9 a.m. — Rayburn 2172
FY18 State Department budget
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will testify before the committee on the president’s fiscal 2018 request for his department.
Senate Homeland Security — 10 a.m. — Dirksen 342
Terrorism
The committee will hear from outside experts on tactics and techniques of violent extremism, and ways to counter the threat.
Senate Appropriations — 10:30 a.m. — Dirksen 192
FY18 defense budget
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford will testify before the committee on the president’s fiscal 2018 budget request for the Department of Defense.
House Appropriations — 2 p.m. — Rayburn 2359
FY18 State Department budget
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will testify before the committee on the president’s fiscal 2018 request for his department.
Senate Foreign Relations — 2:30 p.m. — Dirksen 419
Southeast Europe
The committee will hear from outside experts and State Department officials on security issues in southeast Europe.
Senate Veterans’ Affairs — 2:30 p.m. — Russell 418
FY18 VA budget
Veterans Affairs Secretary David Shulkin will testify before the committee on the president’s fiscal 2018 request for his department.
Senate Aging — 2:30 p.m. — Dirksen 106
Military caregivers
Former Sen. Elizabeth Dole, actor Ryan Phillippe and family advocates will testify before the committee on the challenges facing military caregivers.
Thursday
Senate Appropriations — 9 a.m. — Dirksen 192
FY18 defense budget
Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford will testify before the committee on the president’s fiscal 2018 budget request for the Department of Defense.
Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — Dirksen G50
FY18 Navy budget
Acting Navy Secretary Sean Stackley, Chief of Naval Operations Adm. John Richardson, and Marine Corps Commandant Gen. Robert Neller will testify before the committee president’s fiscal 2018 budget request for their services.
House Foreign Affairs — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2172
Foreign Military Sales
Vice Adm. Joseph Rixey, director of the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency, and other federal officials will testify before the committee on foreign military sales policy and challenges.
Senate Veterans’ Affairs — 11 a.m. — Russell 418
Bill mark-up
The committee will consider 13 bills, including several related to veterans education benefits.
House Foreign Affairs — 2p.m. — Rayburn 2172
Russia
The committee will hear from outside experts on Russia strategic goals in the Middle East.
House Foreign Affairs — 2p.m. — Rayburn 2172
Taiwan
The committee will hear from outside experts on U.S./Taiwan ties and long-term national security strategies.
Leo Shane III covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He can be reached at lshane@militarytimes.com.
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.
