"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. – 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 »
“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 Jack Bergman (R-MI), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Readiness, delivered the following remarks on the Readiness Print at the full committee markup of the FY26 NDAA.
Rep. Bergman's opening statement as prepared for delivery:
I arrived in Congress with the intent to place our military services in a position to win in any conflict… Read more »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Jack Bergman (R-MI), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Readiness, delivered the following remarks at a Readiness subcommittee hearing on an energy, installations, and environment update.
Rep. Bergman's remarks as prepared for delivery:
Before a single shot is fired or a plane takes off, readiness is built – or broken – in the… Read more »
U.S. Representative Jack Bergman (R-MI), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Readiness, delivered the following remarks at a Readiness subcommittee hearing on the current state of military readiness in Fiscal Year 2026.
Stream the hearing here.
Rep. Bergman's remarks as prepared for delivery:
I want to thank all of our witnesses for being here today to discuss the current state… Read more »
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Jack Bergman (R-MI), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Readiness, delivered the following remarks at a joint Readiness and Seapower and Projection Forces subcommittee hearing on the posture and readiness of the… Read more »
Kelly Opening Statement at Hearing on the Posture and Readiness of the Mobility Enterprise
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Trent Kelly (R-MS), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Seapower and… Read more »
Today, Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, made the following remarks, as prepared for delivery, ahead of the subcommittee's markup for HR 2500, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2020." "Thank you Mr. Chairman. "Ladies and gentlemen, this morning we meet to markup HR 2500, the National Defense Authorization Act… Read more »
Today, Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, made the following remarks, as prepared for delivery, on the Subcommittee's hearing titled "Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Request For Military Readiness."
"Thank you, Mr. Chairman.
"It's appropriate that the Readiness Subcommittee's final budget review hearing before markup is on the… Read more »
Today, Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, made the following remarks, as prepared for delivery, on the Subcommittee's hearing titled "Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Request for Military Construction, Energy, and Environmental Programs." "Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you for calling this important hearing. "I welcome our… Read more »
Last year Military Times published a landmark investigation of military aviation demonstrating that manned aviation accidents "spiked almost 40 percent over the past five years, killing 133 service members since 2013." This week, Military Times has updated their figures for 2018; finding that while total aviation accidents fell for the first time since 2013's budget cuts, military… Read more »
Today, Rep. Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, made the following remarks, as prepared for delivery, on the Subcommittee's joint hearing with the Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces titled "Naval Surface Forces Readiness: Are Navy Reforms Adequate?" "Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thank you for calling this important… Read more »
Today, Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces, made the following remarks, as prepared for delivery, on the Subcommittee's joint hearing with the Subcommittee on Readiness titled "Naval Surface Forces Readiness: Are Navy Reforms Adequate?" "I thank the gentleman for yielding and I too want to thank Admiral Grady… Read more »
