Statement : Defense
March 3, 2020
Statement
"This Subcommittee has provided the Reserve Component with significant resources through the National Guard and Reserve Equipment Account – an appropriation which is not included in the President’s Budget Request, as well as additional funding for counter-drug operations, Humvee modernization, helicopters, fixed wing aircraft, and more."
June 12, 2019
Statement
"The bill would provide $690.2 billion for the Department of Defense, which is $15.8 billion above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level and $8 billion below the request. The base funding recommendation is $622.1 billion, which is $15.6 billion above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level and $88.2 billion above the request. The overseas contingency operations recommendation is $68.1 billion, which is $165 million above the fiscal year 2019 enacted level and $96.2 billion below the request."
May 20, 2019
Statement
"In a dangerous world, we must be united to ensure our armed services have the equipment, training, and resources to succeed at every level."
May 20, 2019
Statement
"But most importantly, the Subcommittee has been focused on the well-being and morale of those in uniform, their families, DoD civilians, and defense communities."
May 15, 2019
Statement
"National defense is of paramount importance, and our committee’s commitment to securing American interests at home and abroad should transcend party lines. The world becomes more dangerous each day, and we must be united to ensure our armed services have the equipment, training, and resources to succeed at every level."
May 1, 2019
Statement
"We owe it to our service members and their families to put forth serious spending proposals. The idea of using OCO spending for base requirements is a thinly-veiled attempt to skirt budget caps and increase defense spending without a complementary increase for non-defense spending. Moreover, requesting OCO funds for base is fiscally irresponsible, as costs to increase end strength dovetail in future spending bills as service members receive raises and eventual pensions. Our service members deserve the stability and to know they will be taken care of in the future, and the Administration’s proposal makes that less likely."
May 1, 2019
Statement
"I must also say that as a Member of the Legislative Branch, I am grossly offended by the unconstitutional actions taken by the Executive Branch to fund the construction of the unauthorized wall on the southern border. Using funds that Congress declined to appropriate for that purpose and over the denial of this Committee and others, the Defense Department is in the process of conveying billions to the Department of Homeland Security. There is no emergency at the border that requires the use of the armed forces. We are here to appropriate funds needed for the military, not to make good on a campaign promise."
April 30, 2019
Statement
"The Committee has made significant investments in Navy platforms and readiness over the past several years to ensure that Sailors and Marines are prepared for whatever happens throughout the world. We want to understand how the fiscal year 2020 budget request is focusing on increasing readiness, utilizing the platforms currently in the Navy inventory to their full capacity, and taking care of Sailors and Marines and their families."
April 9, 2019
Statement
This afternoon the Committee will receive testimony on the posture of the United States Army and the fiscal year 2020 budget request for the Army.
Our two witnesses are the Honorable Dr. Mark Esper, Secretary of the Army, and General Mark A. Milley, the Chief of Staff of the Army. We welcome you back before the Subcommittee and thank you for your service. General Milley, I’d like to take this opportunity to congratulate you on your nomination to be the next Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
April 3, 2019
Statement
"I am particularly interested in an update on the defense health budget as it relates to the reductions to the Services’ medical corps; what the future of care looks like for our servicemembers and their families; and an update on the electronic health record system – MHS GENESIS."