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Today, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, made the following statement on the Senate's passage of the National Defense Authorization Act, sending it to the President's desk: ‎"The strong bipartisan votes in support of the defense bill are further evidence that the bill is critical for our troops and for our security and that the President's veto threat is c... Read More »

Washington Post By Jennifer Rubin Defense Secretary Ash Carter speaks during a news conference at the Pentagon. (Associated Press) The Associated Press reports, “The Senate has moved ahead on a sweeping, $612 billion defense policy bill despite a presidential veto threat. The vote Tuesday was 73-26, 13 votes more than necessary to break any filibuster. The Senate is expected to pass the measure We... Read More »

Last week the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) called on President Obama to "refrain from vetoing the National Defense Authorization Act for 2016." MOAA is the largest military officers association in the United States. MOAA President, Vice Admiral Norbert Ryan, Jr., USN (Ret.), wrote to the White House on behalf of the associations more than 390,000 members saying: "The bill repres... Read More »

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) released the following schedule featuring (3) hearings the week of October 5-9, 2015.Wednesday October 7, 2015"Plutonium Disposition and the MOX Project" Subcommittee on Strategic Forces (3:30 PM - 2118 RHOB - Open) Washington, D.C. Witnesses: The Honorable Frank G. Klotz Administrator National Nuclear Security Administration Mr. John J... Read More »

Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee spoke by phone today with Army Secretary John McHugh. The two discussed the case of Sergeant First Class Charles Martland, who is scheduled to be discharged from the Army for assaulting an Afghan Local Police Officer accused of sexually assaulting a young boy in 2011. The conversation follows several weeks of Committee revi... Read More »

What's In The Defense Bill For Military And Families? Deb Reichmann - Associated Press - October 5, 2015 (AP) - Buried in the 1,915-page defense policy bill are major changes that could affect more than 1 million members of the military and their families. The House has passed the bill 270-156 and the Senate is scheduled to vote on the $612 billion bill this week. President Barack Obama has threat... Read More »

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) released the following schedule featuring (4) hearings the week of October 5-9, 2015. Wednesday October 7, 2015 "Plutonium Disposition and the MOX Project" Subcommittee on Strategic Forces (3:30 PM - 2118 RHOB - Open) Washington, D.C. Witnesses: The Honorable Frank G. Klotz Administrator National Nuclear Security Administration Mr. John... Read More »

Washington Post - Editorial BoardOctober 3, 2015AMERICAN PRESIDENTS rarely veto national defense authorization bills, since they are, well, vital to national security. Since Congress passed the first of these blueprints for Pentagon spending 50-plus years ago, there have been four vetoes — two by Democratic presidents, two by Republicans — according to the House Armed Services Committee. Each time... Read More »

Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, made the following statement on the National Defense Authorization Act for 2016, which passed the House by a vote of 270-156. “This is a strong, bipartisan bill that authorizes pay and benefits for our troops and their families, and offers our men and women in uniform the authorities and support they need to continue defen... Read More »

Today, Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, made the following remarks on the hearing titled "Public Shipyards' Role in Meeting Operational Requirements:" "The Navy’s four public shipyards - Norfolk Naval Shipyard in Virginia, Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard in Hawaii, Portsmouth Naval Shipyard in Maine, and Puget Sound Naval Shipyard in Washington –... Read More »

Today, the House Armed Services Committee wrapped up “Cyber Week,” a detailed and focused look at the Department of Defense’s cyber strategy, capabilities, and vulnerabilities. Committee Members participated in two, open unclassified hearings with experts from industry, and representatives from the Department of Defense. Members also participated in a closed classified brief with Department of Def... Read More »

Today, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), made the following statement in response to White House Press Secretary Josh Earnest's threat that the President will veto the Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act. "It is unbelievable to me that an American President would threaten to veto a defense bill that supports our troops and gives him additional tools to use against aggressors, especially ... Read More »

Today, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, made the following opening remarks for the full committee hearing titled "Implementing the Department of Defense Cyber Strategy:" "Let me welcome our witnesses and guests for our second hearing this week at the full-committee level on cybersecurity. We are very pleased to have a very distinguished group of witnesses... Read More »

House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX) released the following schedule featuring (4) hearings the week of October 5-9, 2015. Wednesday October 7, 2015 "Plutonium Disposition and the MOX Project" Subcommittee on Strategic Forces (3:30 PM - 2118 RHOB - Open) Washington, D.C. Witnesses: The Honorable Frank G. Klotz Administrator National Nuclear Security Administration Mr. John... Read More »

Today, Rep. Randy Forbes (R-VA), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, made the following opening remarks for the subcommittee hearing titled "The Future of Air Force Long-Range Strike - current requirements and future vision:" "Earlier this month, our committee met with an outside panel of witnesses to discuss the future of Air Force Long Range Strik... Read More »