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Budget hearings continue this week as House lawmakers eye a crowded schedule for appropriations and authorization bills in June.
Last week, House Appropriations Committee officials announced plans to hold individual committee mark-ups — including ones for the Departments of Defense and Veterans Affairs — between June 22 and 30, with the hope of bringing the spending bills to the chamber floor soon thereafter.
In addition, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Rep. Adam Smith, D-Wash., said he is targeting June 22 for the full day mark-up of the annual defense authorization bill, similarly hoping to get final passage out of the House a few weeks after.
That timeline would allow lawmakers to possibly finalize all of those measures before the start of fiscal 2023, which is Oct. 1.
However, that reality is dependent on the Senate, and leaders there have not yet set any timeline for when their work will be completed.
Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — G-50 Dirksen
Air Force budget
Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall III, Air Force Chief of Staff Gen. Charles Brown, and Chief of Space Operations Gen. John Raymond will testify on the fiscal 2023 budget request.
Senate Appropriations — 10 a.m. — 192 Dirksen
Defense budget
Defense Department officials will testify on the fiscal 2023 budget request.
Senate Foreign Relations — 10 a.m. — 419 Dirksen
State Department authorizations
Department officials will testify on diplomatic strategy and authorizations needed by Congress to carry out those plans.
Senate Armed Services — 2:30 p.m. — 232-A Russell
Cyberspace
Outside experts will testify on artificial intelligence applications to operations in cyberspace.
Senate Veterans’ Affairs — 3:30 p.m. — 418 Russell
VA workforce
Department officials will testify on recruiting and retention efforts within VA.
Wednesday, May 4
Senate Appropriations — 10 a.m. — 106 Dirksen
Homeland Security budget
Department officials will testify on the fiscal 2023 budget request.
Senate Foreign Relations — 2:15 p.m. — 419 Dirksen
Nominations
The committee will consider several pending nominations.
Senate Appropriations — 3:30 p.m. — 124 Dirksen
VA budget
Department officials will testify on the fiscal 2023 budget request.
Senate Armed Services — 4:30 p.m. — G-50 Dirksen
Nuclear weapons
Defense and Energy officials will testify on the Nuclear Weapons Council and current U.S. nuclear stockpiles.
Thursday, May 5
Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — G-50 Dirksen
Army budget
Army Secretary Christine Wormuth and Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville will testify on the fiscal 2023 budget request.
Senate Homeland Security — 10:15 a.m. — 106 Dirksen
Border security
Administration officials will testify on border security efforts.
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.