National Security Legislative Wrap-up

Congress returns this week from recess.

On April 8 and 9, Gen. David Petraeus and Ambassador Ryan Crocker will testify before the Senate and House Armed Services Committees and the Senate Foreign Relations and House Foreign Affairs Committees. These hearings will provide the focus for questions about the U.S. occupation of Iraq. Click on The Iraq Insider early and often for live blogging during the hearings.

The first mark-up or writing of the second portion of the Fiscal Year 2008 Supplemental Appropriations bill totaling more than $100 billion is likely to begin next week or the week after in the House Appropriations Committee. That bill is expected to be the vehicle for many legislative fights on ending the Iraq war, including a deadline for troop withdrawal, mandates for training and equipping troops, longer rest time between deployments, blocking long-term commitments to the Iraqi government and increasing education benefits for veterans.