House Armed Services Committee leaders will unveil the first outlines of their annual defense authorization bill this week, providing hints at their plans for defense spending and military training changes in fiscal 2024.
The defense policy bill is one of the few reliable pieces of legislation to advance through Congress annually, passing into law for more than six consecutive decades. It sets the parameters for military spending priorities, renews a host of pay and benefits authorizations, and includes hundreds of new program parameters and personnel rules.
The six sections of the bill to be released (and likely approved by subcommittees) this week will show just a few sections of the full measure to be marked up by the full committee later this month. But issues like scaling back diversity initiatives in military training and limits on defense abortion policies — topics expected to be major debate points this year — could be previewed in those early looks.
Both the House committee and its Senate counterpart are hoping to get their respective drafts of the legislation onto their respective chamber floors in June. But the ongoing fight between Republicans and Democrats over extending the nation’s debt ceiling could push that schedule back.
Tuesday, May 9
House Veterans' Affairs — 3 p.m. — 390 Cannon
Electronic Health Records
Veterans Affairs Officials will testify on ongoing problems with the electronic health records modernization effort.
Senate Armed Services — 4:45 p.m. — 222 Russell
Missile Defense Activities
Gen. Glen VanHerck, head of U.S. Northern Command, and other defense leaders will testify on missile defense activities and the fiscal 2024 budget request.
Wednesday, May 10
Senate Foreign Relations — 9:45 a.m. — 419 Dirksen
Sudan Conflict
State Department officials will testify on the current turmoil in Sudan and U.S. diplomatic response.
House Foreign Affairs — 10 a.m. — Visitors Center H-210
Arms Exports
State and Defense Department officials will testify on U.S. arms exports to Australia and Britain.
Thursday, May 11
House Armed Services — 9 a.m. — 2118 Rayburn
NDAA Cyber panel markup
The subcommittee on cyber issues will vote on its section of the annual defense authorization bill.
Senate Appropriations — 9 a.m. — 124 Dirksen
Defense Budget
Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin III and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Mark Milley will testify on the fiscal 2024 budget request.
House Armed Services — 10 a.m. — 2212 Rayburn
NDAA Strategic Forces panel markup
The subcommittee on strategic forces issues will vote on its section of the annual defense authorization bill.
House Oversight — 10 a.m. — 2154 Rayburn
U.S. Shipbuilding Capacity
Navy officials will testify on U.S. shipbuilding capacity and the implications for national defense.
House Transportation — 10 a.m. — 2253 Rayburn
Coast Guard Recruitment
Service officials will testify on recruiting and retention challenges.
House Armed Services — 11 a.m. — 2118 Rayburn
NDAA Seapower panel markup
The subcommittee on seapower issues will vote on its section of the annual defense authorization bill.
House Armed Services — 12 p.m. — 2212 Rayburn
NDAA Personnel panel markup
The subcommittee on personnel issues will vote on its section of the annual defense authorization bill.
House Armed Services — 1 p.m. — 2118 Rayburn
NDAA Tactical Air panel markup
The subcommittee on tactical air issues will vote on its section of the annual defense authorization bill.
House Armed Services — 3 p.m. — 2212 Rayburn
NDAA Intelligence panel markup
The subcommittee on intelligence issues will vote on its section of the annual defense authorization bill.
Friday, May 12
House Armed Services — 8:30 a.m. — 2118 Rayburn
NDAA Readiness panel markup
The subcommittee on readiness issues will vote on its section of the annual defense authorization bill.
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.
