WASHINGTON — Congress returns from a short holiday recess to a busy three weeks of work before their extended August break.
Officials from the Senate Armed Services Committee hope to clear numerous nominations before then, and start this week with five would-be military appointees. That work begins on Tuesday, with the confirmation hearing for Richard Spencer as the next Navy secretary.
The panel and their House counterparts will also be working behind the scenes for full-chamber passage of their respective drafts of the annual defense authorization bill. If the House and Senate can advance those, negotiators will spend most of August reconciling the differences in the massive budget policy measures.
The congressional Veterans Affairs panels also have crowded schedules, with several dozen pieces of legislation being considered by lawmakers. The committees will also need to deal with authorizing more money for VA’s Choice program in the next few weeks, to keep it from going bankrupt in early August.
Tuesday
Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — Dirksen G50
Navy Secretary nomination
The committee will hold a confirmation hearing for Richard Spencer, nominated to be the next Secretary of the Navy.
Senate Veterans’ Affairs — 2:30 p.m. — Russell 418
Pending legislation
The committee will consider 13 health care bills, including a draft of a proposed overhaul of the department’s Choice program.
Wednesday
Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — Dirksen G50
Nomination
The committee will consider the nominations of four would-be Defense Department officials, including Ryan McCarthy’s nomination to be the next undersecretary of the Army.
Senate Foreign Relations — 10 a.m. — Dirksen 419
Foreign aid
Outside experts will testify before the committee on pending legislation to limit foreign aid to the Palestinian Authority.
House Veterans’ Affairs — 10 a.m. — Cannon 334
Capital Assets
The committee will head from VA officials on the department’s capital asset needs and the fiscal 2018 budget request.
House Foreign Affairs — 10 a m. — Rayburn 2172
Foreign development
Outside experts will testify before the committee on proposals to support women in impoverished countries.
House Veterans’ Affairs — 1 p.m. — Cannon 334
Pending legislation
The subcommittee on oversight will consider a series of pending bills.
Senate Appropriations — 2:30 p.m. — Dirksen 106
MilCon/VA appropriations
The subcommittee on military construction and veterans issues will mark up its draft of the fiscal 2018 VA and military construction budget.
House Foreign Affairs — 2 p m. — Rayburn 2172
State Department FY18 budget
Officials from the State Department will testify before the committee on U.S. interests in the Western Hemisphere and funding priorities in the fiscal 2018 budget request.
House Foreign Affairs — 2:30 p m. — Rayburn 2200
Terrorism
Outside experts will testify before the committee on terrorist attacks in Southeast Asia and the implications for U.S. national security.
House Veterans’ Affairs — 2 p.m. — Cannon 334
Pending legislation
The subcommittee on economic oversight will consider a series of pending bills.
Thursday
Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — Dirksen G50
Montenegro
The committee will hear from outside experts on the recent attempted coup in Montenegro and the negative influence of Russia in Europe.
House Veterans’ Affairs — 2 p.m. — Cannon 334
Gulf War illness
A pair of subcommittees will hear from health officials on VA’s processing of Gulf War Illness claims.
House Homeland Security — 10 a.m. — Visitors Center H210
Al Qaeda
The committee will hear from outside experts on changes in the terrorist group and the current threat it poses to U.S. national security.
Senate Appropriations — 10:30 a.m. — Dirksen 106
MilCon/VA appropriations
The full committee will mark up its draft of the fiscal 2018 VA and military construction budget.
House Veterans’ Affairs — 2 p.m. — Cannon 334
VA efficiency
The subcommittee on health will hear from department officials on recent productivity and efficiency changes for VA health services.
House Homeland Security — 2 p.m. — Visitors Center H210
ISIS
The committee will hear from outside experts on the threat of terrorists entering the United States following the fall of Islamic State group strongholds in the Middle East.
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.
