On Monday, President George W. Bush will submit his proposed budget for Fiscal Year 2008. This document serves as a starting point for discussing the funding for the many departments, agencies, and programs under federal jurisdiction. As Chairman of the Senate Veterans' Affairs Committee, I am especially concerned about funding for programs and benefits serving existing veterans and new ones returning from the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

Also on Monday, the Senate will consider S. 470, a bill to express the sense of Congress on the war in Iraq.

Tuesday morning, the Armed Services Committee will meet to discuss Defense Department budget issues with Secretary Robert Gates and Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Peter Pace.

Later Tuesday morning, I will meet with House Veterans' Affairs Committee Chairman Bob Filner. We were scheduled to meet last week, but had to reschedule due to House and Senate floor votes.

Tuesday afternoon, I am scheduled for a series of briefings. First, I will meet with new Department of Homeland Security Undersecretary for Management Paul Schneider. Then, Shriner's Hospital President Ralph Semb and Chairman Gene Braswell will be by to discuss funding for their new hospital.

Finally, I will meet with new DC Mayor Adrian Fenty. The District of Columbia falls under the jurisdiction of my Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Oversight of Government Management, Federal Workers and the District of Columbia.

Wednesday morning, our Energy Committee meets to review President Bush's proposed Fiscal Year 2008 budget for the Department of Energy.

Later that afternoon, I will meet with Howard Weizmann who has been nominated to serve as the Office of Personnel Management's Deputy Director.

I am also scheduled to meet with Lt. Gen. John Brown III to discuss Army training sites in Hawaii.

Our Senate Energy Committee meets again on Thursday morning to discuss labor, immigration, law enforcement and economic conditions in the Northern Mariana Islands.

Thursday afternoon, I will meet with representatives from the Hawaii Chapter of the American Institute of Architects to discuss federal tax breaks for commercial buildings utilizing sustainable design and energy efficient concepts.

Friday, I will participate in a video teleconference connecting my office in Washington, D.C. with students at Kahuku High School. I look forward to this high-tech meeting with Kahuku students participating in National History Day.