It’ll be quite a week on the Hill for veterans and the military, with multiple hearings in several different committees as well as a landmark vote on VA accountability. Here’s a look at some of what’s going on in DC this week:

Monday: The House is pulling a late night in which both the Armed Services Committee (HASC) and Appropriations Committee (HAC) will hold hearings at 7:00PM. The HASC will hold its hearing on authorization of the 2018 Defense budget. CVA has stressed the need for an audit of the Pentagon and more efficient spending in the Defense Department (see our statement here). Meanwhile, the HAC will hold a markup of the military construction and Veterans Affairs appropriations bill for FY2018.

Tuesday: The Senate Armed Services Committee (SASC) gets their stab at the FY18 Defense budget to start off the day. Tuesday is going to be a historic day for Veterans Affairs as the House will vote on the VA Accountability and Whistleblower Protection Act of 2017. This bill passed the Senate by voice vote last week, and will likely make its way to the President’s desk later this week. It’s not too late to get your Representatives on board, make sure to contact their offices!

Wednesday: The Department of Defense budget conversation makes its way over to the SAC Wednesday morning. Later in the afternoon, the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee (SVAC) will hold a hearing on the proposed VA budget for FY18. CVA Policy Director Dan Caldwell released a memo on the VA’s proposed budget after its release, highlighting changes that should be made once Congress gets ahold of it.

Thursday: Last stop for the Defense budget and Defense Secretary James Mattis this week before the House Appropriations Committee. The SVAC will be marking up a wide array of veterans legislation on Thursday morning as well.

Stay tuned for updates on the Defense budget, VA budget and VA accountability this week!

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