Chairman Visclosky Statement at Hearing on FY 2020 Air Force Budget Request

Congressman Pete Visclosky (IN-01), Chair of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the Subcommittee's hearing on the fiscal year 2020 budget request for the U.S. Air Force:

Good afternoon to everyone and thank you for attending.  This afternoon we will receive testimony on the fiscal year 2020 budget request for the United States Air Force.

First, I would like to welcome our witnesses:

Dr. Heather Wilson, Secretary of the Air Force; and General David Goldfein, Air Force Chief of Staff.

Secretary Wilson and General Goldfein, welcome back before the Subcommittee.  Secretary Wilson, I regret that this will be our last hearing with you.  I understand that you were confirmed as the next president of the University of Texas at El Paso this morning – therefore congratulations are in order.  I think I speak for everyone when I say your leadership will be sorely missed, and we wish you the best in your next endeavor.

General Goldfein, you are, of course, no stranger to the Subcommittee. Welcome back, and as always, we appreciate your views as we begin to shape the fiscal year 2020 Defense bill.

Secretary Wilson, General Goldfein, you have made it clear in your submitted testimony that you believe that the Air Force is too small and under-resourced to carry out its mission requirements under the National Defense Strategy with acceptable risk.  Taking into account your concerns with readiness, capacity, and capability, the Subcommittee is prepared to review your fiscal year 2020 budget request within the scope of the resources that will be provided to the Department.  

With that, I would like to turn to the Ranking Member, Mr. Calvert, for any opening remarks he would like to make.