House Armed Services Committee members will start publicly marking up their drafts of the annual defense authorization bill on April 20, so their return from spring recess this week will be filled with plenty of behind-the-scenes defense negotiations.
The Senate defense committee won't finalize its drafts until mid-May, but the panel has a handful of defense budget hearings this week to help move that work along.
Meanwhile, several different committees this week will look at challenges stemming from ongoing problems with the Islamic State group's, and its spread beyond the borders of Iraq and Syria.
And as the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee prepares to drop a new omnibus bill dealing with a host of VA reforms, the House Veterans' Affairs Committee has planned a flurry of legislative work to advance some more modest proposals.
Senate Foreign Relations -- 10 a.m. -- Dirksen 419
ISIS
Outside experts will testify before the committee on the spread of ISIS and terrorism, and the impact on U.S. national security.
Senate Appropriations -- 2 p.m. -- Dirksen 192
Terrorism
The subcommittee on foreign operations will look at causes and consequences of violent extremism, and the role of U.S. aid in the issue.
Senate Armed Services -- 2:30 p.m. -- Russell 222
Technology offsets
The subcommittee on emerging threats will hear from defense research officials on the Pentagon's technology offsets initiative and the fiscal 2017 defense budget.
House Veterans' Affairs -- 10 a.m. -- Cannon 334
Pending legislation
The subcommittee on disability assistance will review 11 bills related to benefits issues and memorial affairs.
Senate Appropriations -- 10:15 a.m. -- Dirksen 192
VA budget mark up
The committee will mark up it's first draft of the fiscal 2017 defense military construction and Veterans Affairs budget proposal.
Senate Appropriations -- 10:30 a.m. -- Dirksen 192
Missile defense
The committee will hear from defense officials on proposed fiscal 2017 spending on the Missile Defense Agency.
House Appropriations -- 11 a.m. -- Rayburn 2359
VA budget mark up
The full committee will mark up its FY 2017 military construction and Veterans Affairs budget proposal.
House Foreign Affairs -- 11:30 a.m. -- Rayburn 2172
Middle East
The subcommittee on the Middle East will review State Department efforts in the Middle East and North Africa, and fiscal 2017 budget plans for those programs.
House Foreign Affairs -- 2 p.m. -- Rayburn 2172
ISIS
The subcommittee on Asia will look at efforts to combat the spread of Islamic State group ideology in southeast Asia and nearby countries.
Senate Armed Services -- 2 p.m. -- Russell 232A
Marine Corps modernization
Service acquisition officials will testify before the seapower subcommittee on Marine Corps ground modernization efforts.
Senate Armed Services -- 2:30 p.m. -- Russell 222
Missile defense
Principal Deputy Under Secretary of Defense for Policy Brian McKeon and other department officials will testify on ballistic missile defense policies and the fiscal 2017 budget request.
House Armed Services -- 3:30 p.m. -- Rayburn 2118
Navy force structure
Former Secretary of the Navy John Lehman and Former Commander of Fleet Forces Command Adm. Robert Natter will testify about current Navy force structure and plans for the future.
Senate Homeland Security -- 10 a.m. -- Dirksen 342
Biodefense
Federal health officials will testify before the committee on U.S. biodefense efforts and potential looming threats.
House Veterans’ Affairs -- 10 a.m. -- Cannon 334
VA modernization
Members of the oversight subcommittee will hear from department officials on modernization plans and consolidation of the choice card program.
House Appropriations -- 10 a.m. -- Capitol H140
Closed hearing
Committee members will meet with U.S. Pacific Command officials on the fiscal 2017 defense budget request.
House Veterans' Affairs -- 2 p.m. -- Cannon 334
Pending legislation
The subcommittee on economic opportunity will review a series of bills pending before the committee.
House Armed Services -- 2 p.m. -- Rayburn 2118
Missile defense
McKeon and Missile Defense Agency officials will testify before the committee on missile defense posture and strategy related to the fiscal 2017 budget request.
House Armed Services -- 9 a.m. -- Rayburn 2212
Afghanistan
Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction John Sopko will brief the subcommittee on oversight on U.S. weapons sustainment in Afghanistan.
Leo Shane III covers Congress, Veterans Affairs and the White House for Military Times. He can be reached at lshane@militarytimes.com.
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.
