WASHINGTON — This week, while House lawmakers hold a public debate on the chamber floor over dozens of lingering issues with the annual defense authorization bill, the Senate Armed Services Committee will stick to their tradition of marking up their draft in secrecy.
For the second year in a row, none of the seven subcommittee mark ups nor the full committee debate on the massive defense budget policy measure will be open to the public.
The House Armed Services Committee holds all of their authorization business in the open, but committee members have said the secret setting allows them to have uninterrupted, in-depth debates on the pending military issues.
Meanwhile, House Rules Committee officials on Monday and Tuesday will decide how many of the 500-plus amendments to their draft of the authorization bill will be considered during floor debate later in the week. Both the House and the Senate committee are expected to finish their work on the measures by Friday.
Senate Armed Services — 5 p.m. — Russell 232A
Closed mark-up
The subcommittee on airland will mark-up its section of the fiscal 2019 defense authorization bill in a closed session.
Tuesday, May 22
Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — Russell 232A
Closed mark-up
The subcommittee on seapower will mark-up its section of the fiscal 2019 defense authorization bill in a closed session.
House Veterans' Affairs — 10 a.m. — Cannon 334
VA's governance structure
The committee will hear from VA officials on the current VISN system in the department and issues with management of those regional authorities.
Senate Armed Services — 11 a.m. — Russell 232A
Closed mark-up
The subcommittee on readiness will mark-up its section of the fiscal 2019 defense authorization bill in a closed session.
Senate Foreign Relations — 2:15 p.m. — Capitol S116
Pending business
The committee will consider a series of legislation and treaties.
Senate Armed Services — 2:30 p.m. — Russell 232A
Closed mark-up
The subcommittee on personnel will mark-up its section of the fiscal 2019 defense authorization bill in a closed session.
House Foreign Affairs — 2:30 p.m. — Rayburn 2172
Post-election Lebanon and Iraq
Outside experts will discuss the democratic futures of Iraq and Lebanon.
Senate Armed Services — 3:30 p.m. — Russell 232A
Closed mark-up
The subcommittee on cybersecurity will mark-up its section of the fiscal 2019 defense authorization bill in a closed session.
Senate Armed Services — 4:30 p.m. — Russell 232A
Closed mark-up
The subcommittee on emerging threats will mark-up its section of the fiscal 2019 defense authorization bill in a closed session.
Senate Armed Services — 5:15 p.m. — Russell 232A
Closed mark-up
The subcommittee on strategic forces will mark-up its section of the fiscal 2019 defense authorization bill in a closed session.
Wednesday, May 23
House Foreign Affairs — 9:00 a.m. — Rayburn 2172
State Department budget
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo will testify before the committee on the fiscal 2019 budget request.
Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — Russell 222
Closed mark-up
The full committee will mark-up the fiscal 2019 defense authorization bill in a closed session.
House Veterans' Affairs — 10 a.m. — Cannon 334
Pending legislation
The subcommittee on economic opportunity will consider a series of pending measures.
House Homeland Security — 10:30 a.m. — Visitors’ Center H210
ISIS
Former Ambassador Ryan Crocker and other outside experts will testify before the committee on Middle East stability issues after the fall of ISIS.
House Foreign Affairs — 2 p.m. — Rayburn 2255
Chinese Influence in Europe
Outside experts will testify on Chinese investment in Europe and the possible strategic impact of those moves.
Senate Appropriations — 2:30 p.m. — Dirksen 192
NASA budget
Jim Bridenstine, administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration, will testify before the committee on the fiscal 2019 budget request.
Thursday, May 24
Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — Russell 222
Closed mark-up
The full committee will mark-up the fiscal 2019 defense authorization bill in a closed session.
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.
