"Every day we live under a continuing resolution is a day we do damage to our military." - Mac Thornberry, Chairman, House Armed Services Committee Carrier Air Groups THE PROBLEM: Stocks of working equipment- including fighter jets- and trained personnel are so low that the Navy has to go to extraordinary lengths to send fully equipped Carrier Air Groups to sea. Vice Admiral Mike Shoemaker testif... Read More »
"Every day we live under a continuing resolution is a day we do damage to our military." - Mac Thornberry, Chairman, House Armed Services Committee Nuclear Deterrence THE PROBLEM: As we have heard from three successive Secretaries of Defense from two different Administrations, nuclear deterrence is the Department of Defense's "highest priority mission." And as HASC heard from the Vice Chairman of... Read More »
Today, Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) filed the Conference Report for the FY18 NDAA. The language of the report can be found here and the summary of the report can be found here. Read More »
Today, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, made the following remarks, as prepared for delivery, on the Subcommittee's joint hearing titled "Aviation Readiness: What's the Flight Plan?" For testimony and to watch the hearing click here. "A year ago, this subcommittee heard testimony from each of your services about the readiness levels of militar... Read More »
"Every day we live under a continuing resolution is a day we do damage to our military." - Mac Thornberry, Chairman, House Armed Services Committee Eyes On The Battlefield THE PROBLEM: U.S. geographic combatant commanders have increased their airborne intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance (ISR) requirements by over 800% during the past 10 years, but the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of St... Read More »
As part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018, HASC Strategic Forces Chairman Mike Rogers (AL) and Ranking Member Jim Cooper (TN) began a systematic effort to reform the Department of Defense national security space enterprise, starting with the United States Air Force. Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Cooper released the following joint statement: "We are pleased the Na... Read More »
"Every day we live under a continuing resolution is a day we do damage to our military." - Mac Thornberry, Chairman, House Armed Services Committee Russian INF Violations THE PROBLEM:Russia continues to violate the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (INF Treaty). The Commander of U.S. Pacific Command, Admiral Harry Harris recently testified, "there are only two countries that signed on to a... Read More »
Representative Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee and U.S. Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and Jack Reed (D-RI), Chairman and Ranking Member of the Senate Armed Services Committee, today announced details of the conference report for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018. This legislation authorizes funding for the Department of Defense and the ... Read More »
Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) released the following statement regarding the Air Force's handling of the criminal records of former Airman Devin P. Kelley: "News that the Air Force failed to notify the FBI of Devin Kelly's military criminal record is appalling. I understand that Secretary Wilson has initiated an investigation, but I don't believe that the Air Force should be left to self-police a... Read More »
"Every day we live under a continuing resolution is a day we do damage to our military." - Mac Thornberry, Chairman, House Armed Services Committee CLEARING MASSIVE SECURITY CLEARANCE BACKLOG THE PROBLEM: The United States Government conducts security background investigations using manual, industrial-age processes. These processes focus on manual fact checking and records checks that have long a... Read More »
Rep. Mike Coffman (R-CO), Chairman of the Military Personnel Subcommittee, released the following statement regarding the DoD IG examination of NCIC reporting issues: "As Chairman of the Military Personnel Subcommittee, I am committed to working with the Department of Defense (DoD) Inspector General to ensure that any systemic reporting issues by DoD to the National Crime Information Center (NCIC)... Read More »
Representative Mac Thornberry (R-TX) and U.S. Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chairmen of the House and Senate Armed Services Committees, released the following statement today on the Administration's Fiscal Year 2018 budget amendment for the Department of Defense: "We welcome the President's amendment to his initial defense budget request and look forward to giving it the serious consideration it des... Read More »
"Every day we live under a continuing resolution is a day we do damage to our military." - Mac Thornberry, Chairman, House Armed Services Committee Avoiding Disasters THE PROBLEM: Last week the Navy concluded a comprehensive review of recent fatal collisions in the Pacific Fleet that resulted in the deaths of 17 Sailors. The review concluded that readiness shortfalls contributed to the tragedies.... Read More »
"Every day we live under a continuing resolution is a day we do damage to our military." - Mac Thornberry, Chairman, House Armed Services Committee Cannibalizing Naval Aircraft THE PROBLEM: Half of the Navy's strike aircraft cannot fly. This is due in part to a shortage of the spare parts and mechanics needed to keep aircraft working, forcing sailors to pull parts from one aircraft to keep anothe... Read More »
The Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), made the following comments after the Senate confirmation hearing of Mark Esper, President Trump's nominee to serve as Secretary of the Army: "Mark is an excellent choice to lead the Army having distinguished himself as a soldier, public servant, and senior executive. Throughout his career, Mark has proven himself to b... Read More »
