This week in Congress: UFO debate flies into Capitol Hill
Congress has a full slate of budget hearings scheduled across Capitol Hill this week, but much of that attention will be abducted by UFOs on Tuesday.
Members of the House Select Intelligence Committee will hold an open hearing on “unidentified aerial phenomena,” the first in more than 50 years. Under Secretary of Defense for Intelligence Ronald Moultrie and Deputy Director of Naval Intelligence Scott Bray will testify before the panel on recent research and findings from the Defense Department.
The move comes almost one year after a military report outlined 144 instances of “unidentified aerial phenomena” from 2004 to 2021. Defense officials have said the mysterious aircraft are likely not alien visitors, but instead unknown new technologies developed by other countries.
But they also haven’t completely ruled out alien influence, making the hearing a prime target for jokes and conspiracy theories.
Although the hearing is scheduled to be public (and broadcast over the internet), committee members will also hold a closed session later on Tuesday to cover topics that touch on classified materials.
House Foreign Affairs — 9 a.m. — 2172 Rayburn
International development priorities
Samantha Power, administrator of the U.S. Agency for International Development, will testify on administration international development priorities.
House Appropriations — 9 a.m. — online hearing
NASA budget
Bill Nelson, administrator of National Aeronautics and Space Administration, will testify on the agency’s fiscal 2023 budget request.
House Appropriations — 9:30 a.m. — 2362-A Rayburn
Army budget
Army Secretary Christine Wormuth and Army Chief of Staff Gen. James McConville will testify on the fiscal 2023 budget request.
Senate Appropriations — 10 a.m. — 192 Dirksen
Air Force/Space Force budgets
Service officials will testify on the fiscal 2023 defense budget request.
House Select Intelligence — 10 a.m. — 2360 Rayburn
Unidentified aerial phenomena
Defense Department officials will testify on research into unidentified aerial phenomena.
House Armed Services — 2 p.m. — 2118 Rayburn
Army modernization
Lt. Gen. James Richardson, acting commander of U.S. Army Futures Command, will testify on modernization plans for fiscal 2023.
Senate Armed Services — 2:30 p.m. — 222 Russell
Air Force modernization
Service officials will testify on the fiscal 2023 defense budget request and the future years defense program.
House Armed Services — 4:30 p.m. — 2118 Rayburn
Atomic energy defense budget
Defense and Energy officials will testify on atomic energy defense policies and spending for fiscal 2023.
Wednesday, May 18
House Armed Services — 8 a.m. — 2118 Rayburn
Navy projection forces
Service officials will testify on the fiscal 2023 budget request.
Senate Appropriations — 10 a.m. — 192 Dirksen
National Nuclear Security Administration
Defense and Energy officials will testify on atomic energy defense policies and spending for fiscal 2023.
House Foreign Affairs — 10 a.m. — online hearing
Ukraine refugee crisis
Outside experts will testify on the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and resulting refugee crisis.
Senate Foreign Relations — 10 a.m. — 419 Dirksen
Nominations
The committee will consider several pending nominations, including Elizabeth Frawley Bagley to serve as U.S. ambassador for Brazil.
House Veterans’ Affairs — 10 a.m. — Visitors Center H210
Pending legislation
The subcommittee on economic opportunity will consider several pending bills.
House Appropriations — 10:30 a.m. — 2358-A Rayburn
Navy-Marine Corps budget
Service officials will testify on the fiscal 2023 budget request.
House Appropriations — 10:30 a.m. — 2358-A Rayburn
Navy-Marine Corps installations
Service officials will testify on the installation and quality of life issues.
House Armed Services — 2 p.m. — 2118 Rayburn
Professional military education
Shawn Skelly, assistant secretary of Defense for readiness, will testify on professional military education programs.
Senate Foreign Relations — 2 p.m. — 419 Dirksen
Syria
Victoria Nuland, Under Secretary of State for political affairs, will testify on U.S. policy towards Syria.
House Judiciary — 3 p.m. — 2141 Rayburn
Immigrant veterans
Outside groups will testify on issues facing immigrant servicemembers and veterans.
Senate Appropriations — 3:30 p.m. — 124 Dirksen
Military construction budget
Service officials will testify on the fiscal 2023 budget request for military construction issues.
Senate Armed Services — 4:30 p.m. — 232-A Russell
Missile defense strategy
Vice Adm. Jon Hill, director of the Missile Defense Agency, and other officials will testify on missile defense strategy.
Thursday, May 19
House Armed Services — 8 a.m. — 2118 Rayburn
Air Force projection forces
Service officials will testify on aviation programs in the fiscal 2023 budget request.
House Foreign Affairs — 8:30 a.m. — 2172 Rayburn
Ukraine crisis
Outside experts will testify on the Ukraine conflict and implications for other U.S. foriegn affairs strategy.
House Appropriations — 9 a.m. — 2358-A Rayburn
Veterans budget member day
House members will offer their suggestions for the fiscal 2023 budget request for Veterans Affairs.
Senate Armed Services — 9:30 a.m. — G-50 Dirksen
Atomic energy defense activities
Energy Secretary Jennifer Granholm will testify on the National Nuclear Security Administration’s fiscal 2023 budget request.
This article has been archived for your research. The original version from Military Times can be found here.
