Ranking Member McCollum Statement at Fiscal Year 2025 Budget Request for the National Guard and Reserves Forces
Congresswoman Betty McCollum (D-MN), Ranking Member of the Defense Appropriations Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks at the Subcommittee's hearing on the fiscal year 2025 budget request for the National Guard and Reserves Forces:
Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
I want to welcome each of you to the Committee today.
A warm welcome to Lieutenant General Anderson, your first appearance before the Committee.
And our sincere thanks to General Hokanson, Lieutenant General Daniels, and Vice Admiral Mustin for what may be your last appearances before the Committee.
Each of you have dedicated your life to service, and we are indebted to you.
Each of your components are a vital part of our national security structure.
Each of you has personnel deployed to areas of conflict, assisting your Active Component counterparts in a seamless manner.
Thank you for the work that you do in leading our Guard and Reserve personnel.
Today, I am particularly interested to hear how the Administration's fiscal year 2025 request will enhance your ability to meet your mission goals and if any capability gaps exist.
Our National Guard and Reserve Components are called upon to support a variety of missions, including humanitarian missions, continued support to the Southwest border, overseas operations and for the Guard in particular, the State Partnership program activities.
It would be helpful to receive an update on if the pace of deployments is affecting our troops' morale, readiness, and retention efforts.
It would be helpful too for each of you to share how your budget request will impact the current pace of operations for each of your Services.
Serving your country, on top of managing a civilian job, and in many cases supporting a family, is one of the highest forms of service.
You are truly putting country above yourself.
Thank you for all your efforts and I look forward to a productive dialogue today.
I yield back.