Contractors seeking additional information on what FY’24 spending levels and priorities might look like should monitor multiple hearings taking place on Capitol Hill this week.  At least six major cabinet officials, and several other top executive branch representatives, are testifying before various House and Senate appropriations subcommittees.  Each witness is going into deeper detail on what the President’s FY’24 budget request means for their agencies and specific programs.  Just some of the witnesses include DOD Secretary Lloyd Austin, Treasury head Janet Yellen, and VA Secretary Dennis McDonough.  Not only can contractors pick up additional information from the publicly available prepared testimony of each witness, but key insights and potential changes can be gleaned from questions and answers between appropriations panel members and witnesses.  Contractors seeking to shape the appropriations process need this information in order to make their own best presentations on why they think spending should be supported in some areas, but perhaps re-ordered in others.  Industry will have a narrow window to get their points across over the next two months, but should take every opportunity to offer their views.  Congress is not only holding hearings on appropriations right now.  Agency officials from GSA, DHS, and other agencies are increasingly being called to testify or provide reports on a host of issues on which Congress is paying increased oversight.  This poses challenges for meeting with senior federal officials, but should be notable in that the current Congress, especially the House, is paying closer attention to agency priorities and operations.  This is the time of year when the legislative branch sets the stage for actions it will take on spending and policy measures later on.  Contractors should understand how these actions can impact their business.