{"id":31378,"date":"2017-07-17T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-07-17T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2017\/07\/17\/this-week-in-congress-nominations-abound\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T07:17:28","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T07:17:28","slug":"this-week-in-congress-nominations-abound","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/congress\/2017\/07\/17\/this-week-in-congress-nominations-abound\/","title":{"rendered":"This week in Congress: Nominations abound"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON \u2014 After months of complaints from lawmakers over the slow pace of executive branch nominations, key defense and veterans committees will handle a host of high-profile confirmation hearings this week, potentially stocking President Donald Trump\u2019s administration before the August break. The Senate Armed Services Committee will consider five nominees on Tuesday, including Air Force Gen. Paul Selva for reappointment as vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. The Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee will consider six more on Wednesday. Senate Intelligence Committee members will look at three more. That Senate confirmation work will take place as lawmakers in the chamber continue moving the annual defense authorization bill ahead. House lawmakers approved their version last week. Negotiators are hoping to reconcile the differing versions this fall. Beyond the short-term budget debates, the Senate Armed Services Committee will also discuss long-term military build up issues this week, with a Tuesday hearing on naval expansion. Monday<\/b>Senate Foreign Relations<\/a> \u2014 5 p.m. \u2014 Dirksen 419State Department budget<\/i>Deputy Secretary of State John Sullivan will testify before the committee on his department\u2019s FY18 budget request and reorganization plans.House Veterans’ Affairs<\/a> \u2014 7:30 p.m. \u2014 Cannon 334GI Bill expansion<\/i>Committee members will hear from lawmakers and veterans groups on possible expansions to veterans education benefits.Tuesday<\/b>Senate Armed Services<\/a> \u2014 9:30 a.m. \u2014 Dirksen G50Nominations<\/i>The committee will consider the re-appointment of Air Force Gen. Paul Selva for reappointment to the grade of general and reappointment to be vice chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.House Science and Technology<\/a> \u2014 10 a.m. \u2014 Rayburn 2318NASA Missions<\/i>NASA officials will testify before the committee on the Mars Rover 2020 mission and the Europa Clipper mission.House Appropriations<\/a> \u2014 10:30 a.m. \u2014 Rayburn 2359Homeland Security budget<\/i>The full committee will mark up the FY18 homeland security and interior appropriations bills.House Financial Services<\/a> \u2014 2 p.m. \u2014 Rayburn 2128Terrorism financing<\/i>The subcommittee on terrorism will hear from outside experts on managing terrorism financing risks.Senate Armed Services<\/a> \u2014 2:30 p.m. \u2014 Dirksen G50Nominations<\/i>The committee will consider four nominations, including John Gibson II to be deputy chief management officer of the Defense Department and Matthew Donovan to be undersecretary of the Air Force.Senate Armed Services<\/a> \u2014 4 p.m. \u2014 Russell 222355-ship Navy<\/i>Former Secretary of the Navy John Lehman Jr. and other former defense officials will testify before the committee on the possibility of a Navy build-up.Wednesday<\/b>Senate Intelligence<\/a> \u2014 9 a.m. \u2014 Hart 216Nominations<\/i>The committee will consider three nominations, including Susan Gordon to be principal deputy director of national intelligence in the Office of the Director of National Intelligence.House Appropriations<\/a> \u2014 10 a.m. \u2014 Rayburn 2359State Department appropriations<\/i>The committee will mark up a series of appropriations bills, including FY18 State and Foreign Operations spending.House Veterans\u2019 Affairs<\/a> \u2014 10 a.m. \u2014 Cannon 334Pending legislation<\/i>The full committee will consider a series of pending bills, including legislation to expand GI Bill benefits.Senate Veterans’ Affairs<\/a> \u2014 1:30 p.m. \u2014 Russell 418Nominations<\/i>The committee will consider six nominations, including Thomas Bowman to be Deputy VA Secretary and Brooks Tucker to be assistant VA secretary for congressional and legislative affairs.House Financial Services<\/a> \u2014 2 p.m. \u2014 Rayburn 2128North Korea<\/i>The subcommittee on trade will hear from outside experts on restrictions to North Korea\u2019s access to financial networks.House Foreign Affairs<\/a> \u2014 2 p.m. \u2014 Rayburn 2200Terrorism legislation<\/i>The subcommittee on terrorism will mark up a pair of bills related to screening and entry of foreign nationals into America.House Foreign Affairs<\/a> \u2014 2:15 p.m. \u2014 Rayburn 2200Saudi Arabia<\/i>Outside experts will testify about concerns with education curricula in Saudi Arabia. \u00a0<\/span>