Defense Secretary Ash Carter returns to Capitol Hill this week to discuss President Obama’s request for a new military force authorization in the Middle East. But most other Hill visits by Pentagon officials will focus on the White House’s fiscal 2016 budget request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The service secretaries and service chiefs will make multiple appearances before Congress on the budget, and the House and Senate Foreign Affairs committees will take up the issue of Iranian negotiations.
The Veterans’ Affairs committees in both chambers have a series of hearings on pending legislation and advocates priorities, and the House committee resumes its late-night hearings Monday with another look at the VA’s transparency and accountability issues.
Monday<\/b> <\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<\/a>\n\n\n\n<\/a>\n\n\n\n<\/a>\n\n\n\n<\/a>\n\n\n\n<\/a>\n\n\n\n<\/a>\n\n\n\n<\/a>\n\n\n\n<\/a>\n\n\n\n<\/a>\n\n\n\n<\/a>\n\n\n\n House Veterans’ Affairs<\/span><\/a> \u2014 7:30 p.m. \u2014 Cannon 334<\/span> Veterans Affairs officials will discuss department accountability and transparency procedures in light of last year’s patient wait time scandals.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tuesday<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n Senate Armed Services<\/span><\/a> \u2014 9 a.m. \u2014 Visitors Center S217<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Closed Briefing <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n Committee members will receive a closed briefing on cyber, space and strategic competition with China and Russia as part of their fiscal 2016 budget discussions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n House Armed Services<\/span><\/a> \u2014 10 a.m. \u2014 Rayburn 2118<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Service Chiefs <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n Army Secretary John McHugh, Navy Secretary Ray Mabus, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James and the four service chiefs will testify before the committee on the Defense Department’s fiscal 2016 budget request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Senate Foreign Relations<\/span><\/a> \u2014 10 a.m. \u2014 Dirksen 419<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Venezuela<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n The subcommittee on western hemisphere will look at the political and economic crisis in Venezuela and its implications for the U.S.<\/p>\n\n\n\n House Foreign Affairs<\/span><\/a> \u2014 10 a.m. \u2014 Rayburn 2172<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Foreign Assistance <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n The committee will assess the effectiveness of U.S. foreign aid in assisting allies and advancing U.S. national security interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n House Appropriations<\/span><\/a> \u2014 10 a.m. \u2014 Capitol H140<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Guard and Reserve<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n Committee members will examine the fiscal 2016 budget request for the National Guard and Reserve.<\/p>\n\n\n\n House Transportation <\/span><\/a>\u2014 10:30 a.m. \u2014 Rayburn 2167 <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Coast Guard <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n The subcommittee on maritime transportation will discuss the Coast Guard’s fiscal 2016 budget request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n House Foreign Affairs <\/span><\/a>\u2014 2 p.m. \u2014 Rayburn 2172 <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Trade agreements<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n The subcommittee on terrorism will discuss the national security benefits and concerns related to trade agreements with Asian and European allies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Senate Appropriations<\/span><\/a> \u2014 2:30 p.m. \u2014 Dirksen 124<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n MilCon and VA budgets<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n Committee members will examine the administration’s request for military construction funds in the fiscal 2016 budget request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wednesday<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n Senate Armed Services<\/span><\/a> \u2014 9:30 a.m. \u2014 Russell 222<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Navy shipbuilding<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n The subcommittee on sea power will discuss the fiscal 2016 budget request and long-term Navy shipbuilding programs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n House Appropriations<\/span><\/a> \u2014 9:30 a.m. \u2014 Capitol H140<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Closed hearing <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n Committee members will hold a closed hearing to discuss the fiscal 2016 budget request for operations for U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Forces Korea.<\/p>\n\n\n\n House\/Senate Veterans’ Affairs<\/span><\/a> \u2014 10 a.m. \u2014 Dirksen G50<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Legislative presentations <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n The committees will discuss legislative priorities with officials from Jewish War Veterans, Air Force Sergeants Association, Retired Enlisted Association, Fleet Reserve Association, National Association of State Directors of Veterans Affairs, National Guard Association of the United States, American Ex-Prisoners of War, Gold Star Wives and Wounded Warrior Project.<\/p>\n\n\n\n House Armed Services <\/span><\/a>\u2014 10 a.m. \u2014 Rayburn 2118 <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n ISIS AUMF<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n Defense Secretary Ash Carter and Joint Chiefs Chairman Army Gen. Martin Dempsey testify before the committee about the president’s request for a new authorization of force in the Middle East.<\/p>\n\n\n\n House Foreign Affairs<\/span><\/a> \u2014 10:15 a.m. \u2014 Rayburn 2255 Rayburn <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Africa<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n The subcommittee on Africa discusses U.S. election support in the region and plans for future assistance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n House Foreign Affairs <\/span><\/a>\u2014 10:15 a.m. \u2014 Rayburn 2172<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Hezbollah <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n The subcommittee on the western hemisphere discusses Iran’s ties to Hezbollah and the impact on U.S. national security interests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Senate Appropriations<\/span><\/a> \u2014 10:30 a.m. \u2014 Dirksen 192<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Missile Defense<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n The subcommittee on defense will talk to officials from the Missile Defense Agency about their fiscal 2016 budget request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n House Foreign Affairs <\/span><\/a>\u2014 2 p.m. \u2014 Rayburn 2172 <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Middle East instability <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n The subcommittee on the Middle East examines the president’s fiscal 2016 budget request and ongoing national security threats in the region.<\/p>\n\n\n\n House Appropriations<\/span><\/a> \u2014 2 p.m. \u2014 Rayburn 2358C<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n VA cemeteries <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n The subcommittee on veterans affairs will discuss the fiscal 2016 budget request for VA cemeteries and military memorials.<\/p>\n\n\n\n House Armed Services <\/span><\/a>\u2014 2 p.m. \u2014 Rayburn 2118 <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Naval Cooperative Strategy<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n Naval officials will meet with the subcommittee on seapower to discuss the services’ long-term strategies and fiscal 2016 budget request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Senate Armed Services<\/span><\/a> \u2014 2:30 p.m. \u2014 Dirksen 106<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Army\/Air Force budgets<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n Army Secretary John McHugh, Air Force Secretary Deborah Lee James, and the military chiefs of staff of those two services will discuss the Pentagon’s fiscal 2016 budget request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n House Armed Services<\/span><\/a> \u2014 3:30 p.m. \u2014 Rayburn 2212 <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Special Operations<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n The subcommittee on emerging threats meets with Army Gen. Joseph Votel, chief of Special Operations Command, to discuss the fiscal 2016 budget request for his command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Thursday<\/b> House Veterans’ Affairs<\/span><\/a> \u2014 8 a.m. \u2014 Cannon 334<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Pending legislation<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n The subcommittee on oversight will discuss seven legislative proposals under consideration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n House Foreign Affairs<\/span><\/a> \u2014 8:30 a.m. \u2014 Rayburn 2172 <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Iran <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n Committee members will discuss Iran’s nuclear ambitions and recent White House negotiations with Iranian leaders.<\/p>\n\n\n\n House Armed Services<\/span><\/a> \u2014 9 a.m. \u2014 Rayburn 2118<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Missile defense<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n The subcommittee on strategic forces will hear from Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Brian McKeon and other Pentagon officials on missile defense policy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Senate Armed Services <\/span><\/a>\u2014 9:30 a.m. \u2014 Dirksen G50<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Transportation\/Cyber Command <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n Committee members will discuss the fiscal 2016 budget requests for U.S. Strategic Command, U.S. Transportation Command and U.S. Cyber Command.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Senate Foreign Relations <\/span><\/a>\u2014 9:30 a.m. \u2014 Dirksen 419<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Africa policy<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n The subcommittee on Africa will review progress and setbacks since the U.S. summit with Africa leaders seven months ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n House Appropriations<\/span><\/a> \u2014 9:30 a.m. \u2014 Capitol H309<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n VA OIG<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n The subcommittee on Veterans Affairs will discuss the fiscal 2016 budget proposal for VA’s Office of the Inspector General.<\/p>\n\n\n\n House Appropriations<\/span><\/a> \u2014 10 a.m. \u2014 Capitol H140<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n Closed hearing <\/span><\/i><\/p>\n\n\n\n The committee will hold a closed briefing on U.S. European Command’s fiscal 2016 budget request.<\/p>\n\n\n\n House Armed Services<\/span><\/a> \u2014 10:30 a.m. \u2014 Rayburn 2212 <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n
VA transparency<\/i><\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n