WASHINGTON — State Department officials will make their first pitches for their fiscal 2019 agency budgets this week, even as lawmakers are still working out the details of the current fiscal year.
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will make two appearances before Congress on Tuesday and Wednesday to talk about reorganization of the department, the president’s plans for future funding and criticism of the downsizing of some State Department missions.
Similar military budget hearings were also expected to begin this week, but several were postponed due to scheduling issues. Pentagon officials will be on Capitol Hill in force in weeks to come to lobby for a sizable increase in spending authority in the months ahead.
Also this week, the major veterans groups begin their legislative presentations to the House and Senate Veterans’ Affairs Committees. The American Legion and Disabled American Veterans will be the first to make their presentations on Capitol Hill, with about 20 more expected in coming weeks.
House Foreign Affairs — 9 a.m. — Rayburn 2172
State Department Budget
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will testify before the committee on the fiscal 2018 and fiscal 2019 federal budget requests.
Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — Hart 216
Cyber Command
Adm. Michael Rogers, head of U.S. Cyber Command, will testify before the committee on the fiscal 2019 budget request for his agency and looming cyber threats to the country.
House Armed Services — 10 a.m — Rayburn 2118
Terrorism and Iran
Gen. Joseph Votel, head of U.S. Central Command, will testify before the committee on instability in the Middle East and the threats posed by Iran.
Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs — 2 p.m. — Dirksen G-50
Disabled American Veterans
Leadership officials from Disabled American Veterans will testify before the committees on their priorities for the upcoming year.
House Homeland Security — 2 p.m. — Visitors Center H210
Contractor vetting
Department of Homeland Security officials will testify before the committee on procedures for vetting the contractor employees and potential security concerns with that process.
House Foreign Affairs — 2 p.m. — Rayburn 2172
Women countering terrorism
Outside experts will testify before the committee on the role of women’s rights advocates and support programs in combating terrorism worldwide.
Senate Foreign Relations — 2:30 p.m. — Dirksen 419
Nominations
The committee will consider the nominations of Kevin Edward Moley to be assistant Secretary of State for international affairs and Josephine Olsen to be director of the Peace Corps.
Wednesday, Feb. 28
Senate and House Veterans’ Affairs — 2 p.m. — Dirksen G-50
American Legion
Leadership officials from the American Legion will testify before the committees on their priorities for the upcoming year.
House Foreign Affairs — 2 p.m. — Rayburn 2172
Zimbabwe
The subcommittee on Africa will hear from outside experts on the future of Zimbabwe’s government and potential challenges for regional security.
Senate Foreign Relations — 2:30 p.m. — Dirksen 419
State Department Budget
Secretary of State Rex Tillerson will testify before the committee on the fiscal 2018 and fiscal 2019 federal budget requests.
Thursday, March 1
Senate Foreign Relations — 2:30 p.m. — Dirksen 419
Nominations
The committee will consider the nominations of Robert Pence to be ambassador to Finland and Judy Shelton to be executive director of the European Bank for reconstruction and development.
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.
