Armed Services Republicans

McKeon Statement On House Passage Of National Defense Authorization Act For 2014

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 01:30:00 EST

House Passes National Security Measure 315-108...

"Carter and Obama Militaries Quickly Becoming Synonymous"

Fri, 14 Jun 2013 11:30:00 EST

By Sen. Jim Talent in National Review Online Opposing Van Hollen Amendment...

National Guard Association Opposes Van Hollen Amendment. #247 (Rules #39)

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 09:30:00 EST

In Letter to McKeon and Smith, NGAUS cite "mounting challenges regarding how to replace worn out equipment"...

Coffman Amendment to Remove U.S. Troops in Europe Draws Wide Opposition

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 08:00:00 EST

Foreign Policy Initiative, Heritage Foundation Both Oppose...

Chairman McKeon Statement on Latest Developments in Syria

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 07:30:00 EST

WASHINGTON - House Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard P. "Buck" McKeon made the following statement on the House floor today as prepared for delivery:

"Just an hour ago, the President confirmed that chemical weapons, including Sarin gas, have been used by the Assad Regime against Syrian civilians.

"The President has stated that a red line has been crossed. But I would observe that red lines are meaningless unless they are backed by action. The underlying bill reflects a sense of Congress that any red line should be backed with substantive measures. The White House stated this evening that President Obama agrees with this sentiment. Tonight, representatives of the National Security Council stated, 'The President has made the decision to support Syrian opposition. That includes military support.' I expect to see more details in the coming days from the White House and the Department of Defense.

"I am, however, deeply concerned about our ability to honor and uphold red-lines. Our military readiness and our ability to respond is degraded today.

"Seventeen combat coded Air Force squadrons are grounded due to budget cuts. A carrier battle group should be in the Middle East, but is instead in port. We just pulled the last A-10 ground attack squadron out of Germany, because some felt that a forward operating presence was unnecessary for a so-called Cold War mission.

"And yet, we have an amendment here this evening that would cut $5 billion dollars that, in addition to funding the troops in Afghanistan, provides support to help alleviate deep readiness problems that are porting our ships and grounding our fighter jets. Another amendment this evening would strike the very sense of Congress that all courses of action – not just military – should be considered in Syria and that our red lines must have meaning.

"Reality has overwhelmed both of these proposals.

"To my friends who think there is no risk to ever deeper cuts, I ask you to tell that to the airman and the sailor who may well face down Syrian missiles in the coming weeks. To my friends who are contemplating further cuts when they vote tomorrow, consider that you may be denying that warfighter the hour of training or the piece of hardware that means the difference between life and death. None of us in comfortable putting them into harm’s way at this time, or in that place, but that does not mean they may not have to go. And that does not mean we shouldn’t give them all they need.

"Here Congress and the White House agree in principal. Boundaries are useless unless they enforced and resourced."

H.R. 1960 Amendments and Floor Tracker

Thu, 13 Jun 2013 10:30:00 EST

View the list of amendments ruled in order by the Rules Committee.

Chairman McKeon: Budget cuts chip away at military readiness

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 09:00:00 EST

Washington Post Opinion Editorial...

Chairman McKeon writing in Washington Post: Budget cuts chip away at military readiness

Fri, 07 Jun 2013 10:00:00 EST

In an op-ed for the Washington Post, HASC Chairman explains how the 52nd annual National Defense Authorization Act seeks to preserve military readiness in the face of the challenges posed by President Obama's sequestration cuts to national defense. ...

House Armed Services Committee Passes Fiscal Year 2014 National Defense Authorization Act

Thu, 06 Jun 2013 03:00:00 EST

52nd Consecutive Defense Bill Expected On The Floor Next Week...

Opening Statement of Chairman McKeon for Full Committee Markup

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 01:00:00 EST

WASHINGTON- Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, made the following opening statement as prepared for delivery at the full committee markup of H.R. 1960 - The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014.

A live video feed of the markup can be seen on the Committee website starting at 10AM.

"Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining us today as the Committee on Armed Services prepares to mark up H.R. 1960, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014.
I want to first express my appreciation to Ranking Member Smith for his commitment to the bipartisan spirit that has seen this bill passed for 51 consecutive years.

"I’d also like to thank our members for their professionalism and for demonstrating once again that support for our troops is one of the highest of priorities in this Congress.

"I have always been proud of the process we use to build this legislation. For several years now, this Committee has maintained the most transparent process in Congress for national security legislation.
A copy of my mark was distributed to all Committee members’ offices on Friday, five days before the mark up. And the legislation itself, including the funding tables, was posted on-line on Monday. While we will delve into the details of the mark during today’s debate, the details have been subject to public scrutiny for days.

"In addition to our transparency, I have maintained my ban on earmarks in the mark. It authorizes $552.1 billion in spending for national defense and an additional $85.8 billion for the war, consistent with the House budget. It provides our warfighters and their families with the care and support they need, deserve, and have earned. It ensures that America’s forces are ready and capable enough to face threats with resolve, while protecting them from the unacceptable risk of sexual assault. It provides our warfighters with resources and authorities they need to win the war in Afghanistan and to pressure al Qaeda and its affiliates.

"We have made controlling costs a top priority; however, the mark guards against achieving false short-term savings at the expense of vital long-term strategic capabilities. The mark also continues investments and oversight for key systems while preserving our capacity to meet future challenges. But our hardworking members have additional good ideas, so we will consider all amendments thoroughly.

"With that in mind, I know today will be a long day, starting with consideration of the subcommittee marks and then with mine, but let’s work together to avoid making it unnecessarily long. Senator Mo Udall once said: “Everything has been said, but not everyone has said it.” That reminds me of past markups, where everyone did say it – and sometimes two or three times. Our troops count on us to get this bill right, and on time, every year. And every year we have delivered. With that, let’s begin."

Full Committee Markup of FY14 NDAA

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 10:00:00 EST

H.R. 1960 – National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014...

Live Video Feed of Markup

Wed, 05 Jun 2013 08:30:00 EST

Watch the full committee markup live>>

Chairman McKeon Releases Full Committee Mark

Mon, 03 Jun 2013 01:00:00 EST

WASHINGTON- Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon, Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee today released his version of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2014. This is the fifty-second annual consecutive defense authorization bill and provides valuable funding, authorities, and accountability for the Armed Forces. The bill will be marked up by the full House Armed Services Committee at 10:00 AM on Wednesday, June 5th in the Carl Vinson Room (Rayburn 2118).

In releasing this legislative text and other materials two days before it is considered by the Armed Services Committee; Chairman McKeon is leading the most transparent process in Congress for considering national security legislation. The full text of the legislative language, plus section-by-section descriptions and Directive Report Language, as well as an extensive summary of the Chairman's proposal can be found here below:

>>Read the Chairman's Mark (PDF) (Online)
>>Read Highlights of the Chairman's Mark Fact Sheet (PDF) (Online)

The markup will be streamed on the Committee website.

"I continue to be proud of the bi-partisan way that Members of the Armed Services Committee have come together to craft this legislation. We serve well aware of our obligation not only to national security, but to the men and women in uniform that provide it. It is our duty to give them the tools to ensure they are ready, capable, and safe. To do so, the bill restores vital readiness programs, invests in capabilities to meet the threats of the future, and supports our troops and their families. In addition we are pushing for sweeping changes to the way sexual assaults in the military are prevented and prosecuted. As a proud Army grandfather, I have no tolerance for sexual assault in the military. It is a cultural crisis within the ranks that simply must change and members from both parties have come together in this bill to make sure victims are supported, predators are punished, and real change happens," McKeon said.

DOD Letter to Chairman McKeon on Status of Women in Service

Thu, 30 May 2013 04:30:00 EST

Washington Post: Budget cuts clip fighter squadron's wings

Tue, 28 May 2013 02:00:00 EST

A front page story in today's Washington Post details how the cuts to national security under President Obama's sequestration plan have stopped the flying of the "World Famous Rocketeers" squadron of F-15s...

Myth vs Fact: Obama’s Strained View Of National Security

Fri, 24 May 2013 01:00:00 EST

WASHINGTON- As the country continues to assess yesterday’s conflicted and inconsistent Presidential address, Rep. Howard P. “Buck” McKeon, (R-CA) Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, made the following statement:

"Too often, this President has sought to end combat operations through rhetoric rather than reality. He has declared the war in Iraq over, but the insurgency there continues. He has declared an end to combat operations in Afghanistan, but the Taliban fight on. He has now declared the war on terrorism over, despite a terrorist attack in Britain this week, a terrorist attack in Boston last month, and a terrorist attack in Libya that left a U.S. Ambassador and three other Americans dead last year.

“He has said he wants to work with Congress to refine the authorization for use of military force to pursue terrorists, but he threatened to veto a Congressional bill to do precisely that.”

"The President has said GTMO must close, but offers no plan on what to do with the terrorists currently held there. He has said the threat continues, but he is looking to ultimately repeal this same authorization that underpins his ability to meet that threat. He says terrorists in Yemen pose the gravest threat to the United States, but plans to transfer captured terrorists there. He says he has expanded consultations with Congress, but he has never responded to a single communication about his counterterrorism policies from the Armed Services Committee.”

To highlight the inconsistencies in the President’s speech, the Armed Services Committee offers the following:

Authorization For Use of Military Force

MYTH: The President is open to adjusting the Authorization for Use of Military Force to better reflect the threat America faces today: “And that is why I intend to engage Congress about the existing Authorization to Use Military Force, or AUMF, to determine how we can continue to fight terrorists without keeping America on a perpetual war-time footing.”

FACT: The House voted to reaffirm the President’s authority to strike associated forces of al Qaeda as part of the AUMF in 2011. These are the very groups President Obama described today as having “continued to plot acts of terror, like the attempt to blow up an airplane on Christmas Day in 2009.” Despite this, President Obama threatened to veto the House passed AUMF language.

Transferring Detainees

MYTH: Congressional restrictions are the only impediment to transferring terrorist detainees to third countries. “Congress imposed restrictions to effectively prevent us from either transferring detainees to other countries, or imprisoning them in the United States.”

FACT: While Congress has required the Secretary of Defense to certify that terrorists transferred to other countries will not be able to rejoin the fight againstAmerica, the Secretary has also been given broad authority to waive specific certification requirements in the interest of national security when the threat can be substantially mitigated. In the past several weeks both Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee and the Washington Post editorial page has urged President Obama to use this waiver to transfer detainees.

MYTH: Restrictions on detainee transfer make no sense. The President asserted that restrictions on detainee transfer “make no sense. After all, under President Bush, some 530 detainees were transferred from GTMO with Congress’s support.”

FACT: Many of the remaining detainees are the most hardened terrorists of the original GTMO population- including the 9/11 plotters. Restricting terrorist transfers is good national security policy. There has been a sharp increase in the number of transferred or released detainees who are suspected or confirmed of reengaging in terrorist or insurgent activities (from 7% in 2007 to 27.9% in 2012). The U.S. Intelligence Community determined in 2010 that if detainees are transferred from GTMO, some will re-engage.

Closing Guantanamo Bay

MYTH: President Obama says that history will “cast a harsh judgment” on continued detention of terrorists who “have participated in dangerous plots or attacks, but who cannot be prosecuted.”

FACT: The President’s proposals to date have been to move such terrorist to the United States for continued detention in recognition of the enduring threat they pose to our national security. In his speech Thursday, he offered no other alternative. Indeed he acknowledged that those detainees that “cannot be prosecuted” will continue to pose a problem for policymakers.

MYTH: Politics, not good policy, are the source of opposition to closing GTMO: “Given my Administration’s relentless pursuit of al Qaeda’s leadership, there is no justification beyond politics for Congress to prevent us from closing a facility that should never have been opened.”

FACT: Republicans and Democrats alike are concerned with the President’s determination to close GTMO and bring terrorist detainees to our shores. They share many concerns, including constitutional and immigration rights conferred upon foreign terrorists once they arrive on American soil. That is why a bans on transferring detainees to the United States has passed with broad bi-partisan support every year since 2009.

MYTH: The cost of GTMO is especially or extraordinarily high, when compared to detaining those terrorists in the United States: “During a time of budget cuts, we spend $150 million each year to imprison 166 people –almost $1 million per prisoner.”

FACT: When the Obama Administration proposed transferring five detainees to Manhattan for the purpose of trying them in federal court, New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg, in consultation with the Justice Department, estimated that it would cost at least $206 million each year to hold just 5 GTMO detainees in the United States.

Consulting With Congress

MYTH: President Obama has expanded his consultations with Congress to chart a new course for the War on Terror. “After I took office, we stepped up the war against al Qaeda, but also sought to change its course. We relentlessly targeted al Qaeda’s leadership. We ended the war in Iraq, and brought nearly 150,000 troops home. We pursued a new strategy in Afghanistan, and increased our training of Afghan forces. We unequivocally banned torture, affirmed our commitment to civilian courts, worked to align our policies with the rule of law, and expanded our consultations with Congress.

FACT: President Obama has avoided any meaningful consultation with House Republicans on National Security. On the issue of detainees alone, Chairman McKeon has sent no fewer than 5 letters over the past two years to which the White House has never responded.

Targeted Counter-terrorism Attacks

MYTH: The President has enacted new laws to make sensitive military operations accountable. President Obama claimed that the Executive Branch policy guidance he signed Wednesday “codified” “oversight and accountability” for his counter-terrorism operations: “That’s why, over the last four years, my Administration has worked vigorously to establish a framework that governs our use of force against terrorists – insisting upon clear guidelines, oversight and accountability that is now codified in Presidential Policy Guidance that I signed yesterday.”

FACT: Only Congress can “codify” oversight and accountability. An executive policy document is not the law. Next month the House Armed Services Committee will consider a bipartisan congressional initiative designed to codify oversight and accountability of military operations in law. The “Oversight of Sensitive Military Operations Act” was authored by HASC Vice-Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX).

New York Times: Congress Stepping Up Its Efforts Against Sexual Assault in Military

Fri, 24 May 2013 12:00:00 EST

Article highlights HASC efforts to prevent and prosecute military sexual assault ...

NDAA Home

Thu, 23 May 2013 01:30:00 EST

View Schedules, Subcommittee Marks and all resources related to the FY14 NDAA.

Early Reviews Show FY2014 NDAA Protects Today's Military While Preparing for Tomorrow's Challenges

Thu, 23 May 2013 12:00:00 EST

Rejects Lower Pay Raise, TriCare Fee Hikes: A key House panel is rejecting the idea that budget cuts must mean pain for service members, retirees and their families. On Wednesday, the House Armed Services subcommittee on personnel is scheduled to take up draft legislation that rejects the 1 percent capped pay raise proposed by the Obama administration and rejects, again, efforts to increase Tricare fees for military retirees and their families. The draft bill prepared by Rep. Joe Wilson, R-S.C., the panel chairman, calls for the 1.8 percent pay raise required by law to keep pace with private sector wages.... Wilson’s draft bill also flatly rejects the Defense Department’s latest proposals to increase Tricare Prime enrollment fees, create enrollment fees for Tricare Standard and Tricare for Life, and raise pharmacy copayments. - Army Times, 5/21/13

1.8 Percent Pay Raise for Troops: Troops would see a 1.8 percent pay raise and TRICARE users would see their fees unchanged under a budget bill proposed by House Republicans on Tuesday. The early draft of the annual defense authorization bill also includes plans to eliminate 24 general and flag officer billets, prohibit commanders from dismissing most court martial decisions, and allow Special Operations Command officials to use some of their funding for family support services. - Stars and Stripes, 5/21/13

Sweeping Change to Military Sexual Assault Laws: A House panel is poised to pass sweeping changes in sexual assault prevention programs on Wednesday, with less command flexibility in reducing or dismissing rape and assault charges and wider support for victims. The hot-button personnel issue will come up Wednesday afternoon when the House Armed Services subcommittee on military personnel passes its part of the 2014 defense authorization bill. - Military Times, 5/21/13

Ensuring Resources for Defense Intelligence: Intent on ensuring the American taxpayers gets value for money and the Defense Department gets tactical intelligence it needs, Rep. Mac Thornberry, wants to fence half of the money for the Pentagon’s new Defense Clandestine Service. “I think that DIA has made significant progress in developing and explaining the DCS,” Thornberry, chairman of the House Armed Services intelligence and emerging threats subcommittee, said in an interview. “Remember, they are not adding money or people to do this.” He argued that DCS would result in better trained and more effective human collectors. DIA has long fielded spies but they have not been trained or run by anything like the CIA’s Clandestine Service. - BreakingDefense.com, 5/21/13

Blocking Satellite Contracts with China: The Pentagon insists that its deal with a Chinese satellite firm to carry U.S. troops’ communications isn’t a security risk. But Congressmen with the ultra-influential House Armed Services Committee don’t want to leave military data in Beijing’s hands. They’re moving to block any future contracts, like the one the Defense Department just signed. - Wired, 5/21/13

New Forward Looking Shipbuilding Plan: Rep. Randy Forbes (R-Va.), the chairman of the House Armed Services seapower subcommittee, said the Navy is living in a “fantasy land” by putting forward a 30-year shipbuilding plan when the service can’t guarantee funding beyond five years. That puts Forbes at odds with senior Navy officials who are trying to map out what their fleet will look like over the next three decades. His rewrite of the shipbuilding plan was included in the subcommittee’s markup of the Navy’s fiscal 2014 budget plan that was issued Tuesday. - The Hill, 5/21/13

Background Material on Guantanamo Bay

Thu, 23 May 2013 12:00:00 EST

HASC Assembles Record Of White House Inactivity Ahead Of NDU Speech / McKeon Statement Ahead Of Presidential Address ...