Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of April 15, 2024. A number of U.S. and South Korean guided missile destroyers and a Japanese warship joined for drills in the disputed East China Sea. A new military quality of life improvement plan would include targeted pay increases for young troops and bigger housing stipends for families. U.S. Navy leadership has advocated for a hybrid fleet, with sailors and Marines augmented by smart machines and the equipment they carry. "What grocery store runs out of potatoes?" asked one military wife in South Korea. Defense and veterans hearings on Capitol Hill for the week of April 8, 2024. If Congress does not approve a federal appropriations plan by midnight, some military activities could be postponed or canceled over the weekend. Under the latest congressional budget plan, troops E-6 and below could start getting monthly bonuses from the Defense Department to offset low base pay. More troops and their families will be able to get groceries delivered directly to their doorsteps starting this summer. The latest aid comes as the U.S. military remains deeply overdrawn and needs at least $10 billion to replenish all the weapons it has pulled for Ukraine. Load More