"We are in the midst of a readiness crisis," Rep. Bergman said. "There is an urgent need to recapitalize our rapidly aging strategic sealift and tanker fleet, especially as China’s shipbuilding capacity dwarfs our own. This tyranny of distance is no longer just a geographical challenge; it is a tactical vulnerability that our adversaries intend to exploit through cyber-attacks, anti-access/area-denial systems, and kinetic disruption." Read more »
Washington, D.C. – House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL), delivered the following opening remarks at a hearing on the U.S. military posture and security challenges in the Western Hemisphere.
Chairman Rogers' Statement As Prepared For Delivery:
Today, we begin our fiscal year 2027 posture hearings with U.S. Northern and Southern Commands.
During… Read more »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, submitted the following opening remarks for the record at a hearing on the U.S. Strategic Forces posture in Fiscal Year 2027.
Rep DesJarlais’ Statement Submitted for the Record:
Good afternoon, and welcome to the Strategic Forces subcommittee’s first… Read more »
Washington, D.C. – House Armed Services Committee Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL), delivered the following opening remarks at ahearing on U.S. defense policy and posture.
… Read more »
"The very allies this administration is demanding step up, must wait years for the American weapons they need to shoulder greater responsibility," Chairman Rogers said. "While America allowed critical manufacturing capability to erode, China did not. China’s shipbuilding capacity dwarfs ours. They are outproducing us on ships, drones and munitions. And they have embedded themselves deep into our defense supply chains. The consequences are clear. There are growing doubts about our ability to sustain a protracted fight against China. That’s unacceptable." Read more »
"Taking care of our servicemembers – giving them safe housing and functional infrastructure – is not optional," Rep. Bergman said. "It is fundamental to readiness." Read more »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Rob Wittman (R-VA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Tactical Air & Land Forces, delivered the following remarks at a joint Tactical Air & Land Forces and Readiness subcommittee hearing on Army efforts to modernize and increase the capacity of the organic industrial base.
Stream the hearing… Read more »
“I am not confident that our military is keeping pace with the commercial sector in delivering timely and cost-efficient products," Readiness Subcommittee Chairman Bergman said. "As to the Army’s Organic Industrial Base to generate munitions capacity, our Army arsenals stand at the epicenter. I think using our arsenal’s ability to assemble and build munitions necessary for our combat forces and maintain excess capacity in times of need is a good model to maintain operational readiness." Read more »
“As the Department approaches the end of V-22 production, it is essential that ongoing reliability upgrades and sustainment reforms are fully implemented and sustained,” Seapower & Projection Forces Subcommittee Chairman Kelly said. “The men and women who fly and maintain these aircraft deserve confidence that safety remains the top priority, and we need them for operational requirements. Read more »
“The V-22 Osprey faces readiness challenges due to its complex design, high maintenance manhour requirements, inefficient supply system, and current sustainment strategy, Readiness Subcommittee Chairman Bergman said. “While I remain convinced that the V-22 Osprey program is essential, I find the trends associated with the costs and mission-capability rates particularly troubling. These readiness trends are out of alignment with the balance of the naval aviation enterprise and must be addressed urgently.” Read more »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, delivered the following remarks at a full committee hearing on reforming defense acquisition to deliver capability at the speed of relevance.
Chairman Rogers' opening remarks as prepared for delivery:
The United States faces the most dangerous security… Read more »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, delivered the following remarks on the full committee markup of the FY26 NDAA.
Chairman Rogers' opening statement as prepared for delivery:
This year’s NDAA focuses on reforming our broken acquisition system.
While our adversaries collaborate on… Read more »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Rob Wittman (R-VA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, delivered the following remarks on the Tactical Air and Land Forces Print at the full committee markup of the FY26 NDAA.
Rep. Wittman's opening statement as prepared for delivery:
I thank the members and staff of this subcommittee for all… Read more »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), Chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks on the Strategic Forces Print at the full committee markup of the FY26 NDAA.
Rep. DesJarlais' opening statement as prepared for delivery:
I want to start by thanking all the members of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee for… Read more »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Trent Kelly (R-MS), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, delivered the following remarks on the Seapower and Projection Forces Print at the full committee markup of the FY26 NDAA.
Rep. Kelly's opening statement as prepared for delivery:
I’ll start by thanking the members of the subcommittee, whose… Read more »
