{"id":45740,"date":"2017-05-15T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2017-05-15T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/uncategorized\/2017\/05\/15\/this-week-in-congress-prepping-for-the-white-house-budget\/"},"modified":"2026-08-08T08:06:23","modified_gmt":"2026-08-08T08:06:23","slug":"this-week-in-congress-prepping-for-the-white-house-budget","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/one.sightlinemg.com\/defensenews\/congress\/2017\/05\/15\/this-week-in-congress-prepping-for-the-white-house-budget\/","title":{"rendered":"This week in Congress: Prepping for the White House budget"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

WASHINGTON\u00a0\u2014\u00a0With a week to go before the White House unveils its fiscal 2018 budget request, lawmakers will spend this week laying the groundwork for an abbreviated, hectic budget season over the next two months. Most Hill staffers are still hopeful that their normal budget process can be finished before Congress breaks in August, but that will mean a host of hearings and mark-ups in June and July. Typically, that work is already underway in April, but the change in administrations pushed the calendar back significantly. Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft will be on Capitol Hill Thursday to discuss his fiscal 2018 budget plans, which will receive extra attention given the White House\u2019s preliminary plans to cut back on service funding. And amid the budget talk, members of the Senate Veterans\u2019 Affairs Committee will begin work on their VA accountability compromise announced last week, in the hopes of moving the legislation quickly through both chambers. Wednesday<\/b>House Armed Services<\/a> — Rayburn 2118 — 10 a.m.Defense Acquisition<\/i>Members of the Section 809 Panel will testify before the committee on ways to streamline and simplify the defense procurement and acquisition process.House Foreign Affairs<\/a> — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2172South America<\/i>The subcommittee on the Western Hemisphere will hear from outside experts on energy opportunities in South America.House Veterans\u2019 Affairs<\/a> — 10 a.m. — Cannon 334Legislative Markup<\/i>Committee members will mark up a series of bills related to veterans reforms.Commission on Security and Cooperation in Europe<\/a> — 9:30 a.m. — Visitor\u2019s Center 208Russia<\/i>The commission will discuss the growing Russian military threat in Europe, focusing on possible U.S. response.Senate Armed Services<\/a> — 2 p.m. — Russell 222Space policy<\/i>Air Force Secretary Heather Wilson, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. David Goldfein, Air Force Space Command head Gen. John Raymond and other service officials will testify before the committee on U.S. military space organization, policy and programs. \u00a0Senate Foreign Relations<\/a> — 2:00 p.m. — Dirksen 419Nominations<\/i>The committee will consider the nomination of Scott Brown to be ambassador to New Zealand.House Foreign Affairs<\/a> — 2 p.m. — Rayburn 2200Security in the Balkans<\/i>The subcommittee on Europe will hear from outside experts on peace and stability issues in the Balkans.House Foreign Affairs<\/a> — 2:30 p.m. — Rayburn 2172Southeast Asia<\/i>The subcommittee on Asia will hear from outside experts on the U.S. relationship with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.Senate Veterans’ Affairs<\/a> — 2:30 p.m. — Russell 418Pending legislation<\/i>The committee will consider pending legislation, including a new VA accountability measure.Senate Armed Services<\/a> — 3:30 p.m. — Russell 232ASmall Arms<\/i>Former military officials will testify before the committee on the military\u2019s small arms requirements and possible new equipment purchases.House Armed Services<\/a> — 3:30 p.m. — Rayburn 2118Military personnel policies<\/i>Chief of Naval Personnel Vice Adm. Robert Burke and other service personnel leaders will testify before the committee on the military\u2019s personnel posture for fiscal 2018.Thursday<\/b>House Appropriations<\/a> — 8 a.m. — Rayburn 2007Coast Guard<\/i>The subcommittee on homeland security will hear from Coast Guard Commandant Adm. Paul Zukunft on fiscal 2018 budget priorities.House Foreign Affairs<\/a> — 10 a.m. — Rayburn 2172Africa<\/i>The subcommittee on Africa will hear from outside experts on the U.S. security issues there.House Armed Services<\/a> — 2 p.m. — Rayburn 2212Amphibious warfare<\/i>Outside analysts will testify before the committee on amphibious warfare strategy and challenges ahead.House Foreign Affairs<\/a> — 2 p.m. — Rayburn 2172China<\/i>The subcommittee on human rights will hear from families affected by Chinese detention policies.Friday<\/b>House Armed Services<\/a> — 9 a.m. — Rayburn 2118Space<\/i>Gen. John Raymond, head of Air Force Space Command, and other defense officials will testify on fiscal 2018 priorities for the National Security Space Enterprise.<\/span>