Committee Hearings – Week of 5-24-21

With the Senate in Washington and the House conducting a Hearing Week, there will be a full slate of committee hearings this week. The FY 2022 spending development process continues this week with three hearings of interest here. There are also one cybersecurity hearing and a DHS oversight hearing on the schedule.

FY 2022 Spending

The first year of any new administration is always a bit confused in the development of budget and spending proposals, especially when the change is as abrupt and complicated as this one. But spending bills are still ‘expected’ to be published in the House before the end of next month, we will see. This week we will see three department level hearing in the appropriate subcommittees of the two appropriations committees:

• DHS – 5-26-21, Senate, DHS Subcommittee

• DOD – 5-27-21, House, Defense Subcommittee, and

• DOC – 5-26-21, Senate, CJS Subcommittee

Cybersecurity Hearing

On Tuesday two subcommittees of the House Science, Space, and Technology Committee will hold a joint hearing on “SolarWinds and Beyond: Improving the Cybersecurity of Software Supply Chains”. The witness list includes:

• Matthew Scholl, National Institute of Standards and Technology,

• Trey Herr, Atlantic Council,

• Katie Moussouris, Luta Security, and

• Vijay D’Souza, Government Accountability Office.

DHS Oversight

On Wednesday the DHS Subcommittee of the House Appropriations Committee will be holding a hearing on “Department of Homeland Security Resource Management and Operational Priorities”. The sole witness will be Secretary Mayorkas. While Republicans will be focusing on border and immigration issues, I do expect that there will be significant questions about the Departments response to recent cyber incidents and their future plans to prevent and counter such attacks in the future.

On the Floor

The Senate will continue with their consideration of S 1260, the Endless Frontiers Act. More amendments will be submitted, and some will even be considered. This may take up most of the week.