Today, Rep Mac Thornberry (R-TX) and Senator John McCain (R-AZ), Chairmen of their respective Armed Services Committees, discussed the Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act at the Brookings Institution. To watch the event in its entirety click here.The National Defense Authorization Act passed the House and the Senate with large, bipartisan majorities in early October. The President ... Read More »
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) released the following schedule featuring (4) hearings the week of October 26-30, 2015. Tuesday, October 27, 2015 "Shortening the Defense Acquisition Cycle” Full Committee (10:00 AM - 2118 RHOB - Open) Washington, D.C. Witnesses: Dr. David S.C. Chu President Institute for Defense Analyses Andrew Hunter Director, Defense-Industrial Initi... Read More »
WSJ: Editorial: Obama Takes the Military Hostage He’ll veto a bipartisan defense bill to coerce more domestic spending. Wall Street Journal Editorial President Obama is determined to end his second term in another blaze of spending glory, and toward that end he’s taking the U.S. military hostage. That’s the way to understand his threat to veto the National Defense Authorization Act. The House and ... Read More »
On October 20, Representative Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, and Senator John McCain (R-Az.), Chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, will join Brookings Senior Fellow Michael O'Hanlon for a discussion on the National Defense Authorization Act and the possible presidential veto. Bruce Jones, Vice President and Director of the Foreign Policy Program ... Read More »
The Washington Times By Rowan ScarboroughIn the end, President Obama was forced to listen to his generals — not his political instincts — on Afghanistan troop levels, and he decided to split the difference. Mr. Obama is keeping 5,500 troops in Afghanistan beyond his presidency, about half the strength recommended by his top general in-country. It marks the sixth time he has rejected the advice of ... Read More »
Today, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Chairman of the House Armed Services, made the following statement on the White House's new plan for Afghanistan: “While this new plan avoids a disaster, it is certainly not a plan for success. Given the troubling conditions on the ground in Afghanistan and the other security problems in the region, keeping 9,800 troops there through at least 2016 is necessary to... Read More »
House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) released the following schedule featuring (3) hearings the week of October 19-23, 2015. Wednesday October 21, 2015 "Examining DOD Security Cooperation: When It Works and When It Doesn’t” Full Committee (10:00 AM - 2118 RHOB - Open) Washington, D.C. Witnesses: Dr. Derek Reveron Professor of National Security Affairs U.S. Naval War Colleg... Read More »
Mr. Obama, America's military dogs are heroes, too, please give them a ride home By Robin Ganzert Not every superhero can fly, but now some of our nation’s greatest action figures – America’s war dogs – may finally get a free plane ride home after serving their country, thanks to a long-awaited change to the National Defense Authorization Act which has just passed in both the House and the Senate ... Read More »
Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, made the following statement regarding changes to the President’s effort to train and equip moderate Syrian forces: "The Administration has had a weak, inadequate policy in Syria and a weak, inadequate policy against ISIS. Adjusting one program, even if it were successful, will not solve the problem. Whatever else he does,... Read More »
Today, Rep. Joseph Heck (R-NV), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Military Personnel, made the following remarks on the hearing titled "Update on Military Suicide Prevention Programs :" "Today the Subcommittee meets to hear testimony on the efforts by the Department of Defense and the military services to prevent suicide by service members, family members and civilian employees.... Read More »
Today, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, previewed the Committee's hearing on Afghanistan stating: "Today we meet to discuss U.S. strategy in Afghanistan. I want to thank General Campbell for being here to talk about security conditions on the ground, the development of the Afghan National Security Forces, and the way forward. Fourteen years ago, America’s... Read More »
By DEB RIECHMANN Washington (AP) -- Congress on Wednesday sent President Barack Obama a sweeping $612 billion defense policy bill that he has threatened to veto over an ongoing battle between Democrats and Republicans about government spending. The Senate voted to approve the measure 70 to 27. If Obama vetoes the defense bill, it would be only the fifth time that has happened in the past half-cen... Read More »
"$612 billion, that's what the President asked for and that's what this bill provides. There is no difference between the two." - Chairman Thornberry Read More »
Today, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, made the following remarks on the hearing titled "Plutonium Disposition and the MOX Project:" "This hearing is examining one of the Department of Energy’s largest and highest profile construction projects. The MOX Project and the broader Plutonium Disposition Program have been the subject of sev... Read More »
