In a Feb. 18, 2013, letter to Pentagon Comptroller Robert Hale, Reps. Bill Shuster (R-PA), Rick Larsen (D-WA), Michael Turner (R-OH), Rob Andrews (D-NJ), Duncan Hunter (R-CA), Niki Tsongas (D-MA), Mike Coffman (R-C) and Scott Peters (D-CA) remind Hale that no funds may be used to pay for the Medium Extended Air Defense System.

In a Feb. 15, 2013, letter to House Appropriations Committee Chairman Bill Young (R-FL), House Armed Services seapower and projection forces subcommittee Chairman Randy Forbes (R-VA) and readiness subcommittee Chairman Rob Wittman (R-VA) "recommend that specific anomalies and transfer authorities be included in a yearlong Continuing Resolution Act" related to a variety of naval shipbuilding programs.

On Feb. 15, 2013, the House Science, Space and Technology oversight subcommittee held a hearing on "Operating Unmanned Aircraft Systems in the National Airspace System: Assessing Research and Development Efforts to Ensure Safety." Includes a hearing charter . . .

In a Feb. 11, 2013, letter to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Barabra Mikulski (D-MD), Defense Secretary Leon Panetta writes about the effects of sequestration on national security.

On Feb. 14, 2013, the Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing to consider the nominations of Army Gen. Lloyd Austin to become head of U.S. Central Command and Army Gen. David Rodriguez to become chief of U.S. Africa Command. Includes the advance policy questions for Austin and Rodriguez.

The Feb. 12, 2013, Congressional Research Service report -- originally obtained by Secrecy News -- "summarizes what is known from open sources about the North Korean nuclear weapons program -- including weapons-usable fissile material and warhead estimates -- and assesses current developments in achieving denuclearization."

The Feb. 13, 2013, Congressional Research Service report -- originally obtained by Secrecy News -- discusses proliferation and security issues surrounding Pakistan's nuclear weapons program.

The Feb. 12, 2013, Congressional Research Service report -- originally obtained by Secrecy News -- discusses background and current developments regarding the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty.

On Feb. 14, 2013, Senate Appropriations Committee Chairwoman Barabra Mikulski (D-MD) held a hearing on the impacts of sequestration, where her committee received testimony from a variety of government agency officials, including Deputy Defense Secretary Ashton Carter (who submitted written testimony identical to that used in House and Senate Armed Services committee hearings on the same topic earlier in the week).

On Feb. 14, 2013, the House Armed Services Committee held a hearing on a "Framework for Building Partnership Capacity Programs and Authorities to Meet 21st Century Challenges." Includes the opening statements of committee Chairman Buck McKeon (R-CA) . . .

On Feb. 13, 2013, the House Armed Services intelligence, emerging threats and capabilities subcommittee held a hearing on "Perspectives on the Future National Security Environment: Technological, Geopolitical and Economic Trends Affecting the Defense Strategic Guidance." Includes . . .

On Feb. 14, 2012, the House Foreign Relations Committee held a hearing on "The Crisis in Mali: U.S. Interests and the International Response." Includes the opening statements of committee Chairman Edward Royce (R-CA) and Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-NY) as well as the prepared testimony of Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for African Affairs Amanda Dory and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson.

The November 2012 report, submitted to lawmakers on Dec. 12, 2012, outlines "pricing trends of covered supplies and equipment in the Department of Defense."

The January 2013 letter to Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Jim Inhofe (R-OK) outlines Marine Corps Commandant Gen. James Amos' views regarding the potential effects of sequestration on his service.

In a Jan. 17, 2013, letter, Senate Armed Services Committee Ranking Member Jim Inhofe (R-OK) writes to Defense Secretary Leon Panetta to request that the Pentagon provide detailed information on the impact of sequestration.

On Feb. 13, 2013, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce (R-CA) and Ranking Member Eliot Engel (D-NY) introduced a resolution condemning North Korea for its most recent nuclear test and for violating multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions. Also includes a joint statement.

On Feb. 12, 2013, the Senate Armed Services Committee held a hearing on the effects of the continuing resolution and sequestration on the military. Includes the opening statements of committee Chairman Carl Levin (D-MI) and Ranking Member Jim . . .

The Feb. 7, 2013, Congressional Research Service memo obtained by InsideDefense.com analyzes the "potential effects" of a yearlong continuing resolution and sequestration on defense operations and maintenance as well as procurement funding.

The Feb. 12, 2013, Government Accountability Office report looks at "how alternatives were evaluated" for the Standard Missile-3 Block IIB program.

The Feb. 12, 2013, Government Accountability Office report finds that while the Defense Department "has improved its Strategic Management Plan (SMP) by including additional strategic planning elements that were lacking from previous plans . . . the fiscal year 2012-2013 SMP still needs to incorporate some key information that would make it more useful for DOD decision makers as a guide for implementing business transformation efforts and for measuring progress."