The Senate Armed Services Committee kicked off Capitol Hill’s defense legislative activity Monday afternoon as the Readiness subcommittee began markups of the fiscal 2020 National Defense Authorization Act in a closed Monday afternoon session.
Tuesday morning the House Appropriations Committee finalizes its defense spending bill, hoping to complete it before the upcoming Memorial Day recess. The House will debate its bill in a public hearing.
The Senate Armed Services Committee’s fiscal 2020 NDAA markup and most of its subcommittee activity will be closed except the Personnel panel which will hold a public markup Tuesday afternoon.
The House defense appropriations bill and Senate’s NDAA draft are both key to setting fiscal 2020 DOD funding, though final appropriations aren’t expected until next fall. Once approved, the measures will establish defense spending toplines for the GOP-led Senate and Democrat-led House, and will tee up negotiations over the summer.
Here is a roundup of the important hearings taking place on Capitol Hill this week:
- House Transportation Committee hearing with Coast Guard officials testifying on the fiscal 2020 budget, Tuesday, 10 a.m.
- House Appropriations Committee markup of the defense appropriations bill, Tuesday, 10:30 a.m.
- House Armed Services Committee/House Veterans’ Affairs Committee joint hearing with DOD and VA experts testifying on preventing veteran suicide, Tuesday, 2 p.m.
- Senate Armed Services Committee Personnel subcommittee markup of the fiscal 2020 NDAA, Tuesday, 2:30 p.m.
- Senate Armed Services Committee closed-door markup of the fiscal 2020 NDAA, Wednesday, 9 a.m.
- House Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing on implementation of the VA Mission Act, Wednesday, 10 a.m.
- House Veterans’ Affairs Committee hearing with oversight agencies testifying on ideas to improve VA efficiency, Wednesday, 2 p.m.
- Senate Veteran’s Affairs Committee hearing on a series of VA health and benefits bills, Wednesday, 2:30 p.m.
