Defense
[[{"fid":"63","view_mode":"teaser","fields":{"format":"teaser","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Rep. Pete Visclosky","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Rep. Pete Visclosky"},"type":"media","field_deltas":{"1":{"format":"teaser","field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]":"Rep. Pete Visclosky","field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]":"Rep. Pete Visclosky"}},"link_text":null,"attributes":{"alt":"Rep. Pete Visclosky","title":"Rep. Pete Visclosky","height":"234","width":"188","style":"float: left;","class":"media-element file-teaser","data-delta":"1"}}]]Pete Visclosky (IN), Ranking Member
Betty McCollum (MN)
Tim Ryan (OH)
Marcy Kaptur (OH)
Jurisdiction
Departments of Army, Navy (including Marine Corps), Air Force, Office of Secretary of Defense, and Defense Agencies including activities related to military personnel; operation and maintenance; procurement; research and development; and the Military Health System. Also includes intelligences activities such as the Office of the Director of National Intelligence and the Central Intelligence Agency. Jurisdiction excludes Department of Defense-related accounts and programs under the Subcommittee on Military Construction and Veterans Affairs and the Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Civil Works).
First, I would like to thank Chairmen Frelinghuysen and Ranking Member Visclosky for this hearing. Also, I want to welcome incoming Secretary Carter, General Dempsey, Undersecretary McCord, and the rest of our distinguished guests.
The President's FY16 Budget submission for the Department of Defense is roughly $33 billion above the BCA level. Some of my friends on the other side of the aisle have stated their opposition to the funding levels and revenue portions of the budget request. I would respond that after this committee has cut $1.5 trillion in discretionary spending, excluding sequestration, are you really unwilling to close tax loopholes for corporations and billionaires in order to invest more in transportation infrastructure, education and job training, biomedical research and other R&D efforts, and the military?
Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I appreciate you holding the hearing.
Defense Secretary Carter and Undersecretary McCord, we look forward to hearing you testify before the Subcommittee for the first time in your current roles.
General Dempsey, I understand today's hearing may be your last official appearance before the Defense Subcommittee as the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs. Your steady leadership has helped the Services navigate some very tumultuous years. We thank you for the dedication and sacrifice you and your family made during your 40 years of service.
Gentleman, your statements and responses to our questions play a crucial role in the crafting of the annual Defense Appropriations bill, especially in what I expect to be a very challenging legislative year.