Press Releases

Subcommitttee on Emerging Threats & Capabilities Markup

FY16 NDAA

Led by Chairman Joe Wilson (R-SC) and Ranking Member Jim Langevin (D-RI), the House Armed Services Committee (HASC) Subcommittee for Emerging Threats and Capabilities (ETC) released its proposals for the Fiscal Year 2016 National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) today. The Subcommittee will meet at 2:30 PM on Wednesday, April 22nd, in Rayburn 2118. The markup will be webcast on the Committee's YouTube page and at the HASC OpsCenter. The ETC mark is available here: Subcommittee Mark.

The ETC proposal is a vital part of the NDAA through which the Committee enacts oversight of counter-terrorism programs and initiatives, U.S. Special Operations Forces, related Intelligence support, DoD science and technology programs and policy, information technology and Cyber operations and programs, homeland defense, force protection policy and oversight, and combating weapons of mass destruction. Specifically, the ETC proposal will:

Fully resource and authorize U.S. Cyber Command programs and activities, as well as all Military Service cyber programs and science and technology Cyber initiatives to enhance a Cyber mission force that defends our national security objectives;

Direct the Secretary of Defense to identify and assess Cyber vulnerabilities on legacy weapons systems and mission systems;

Direct GAO to review DoD technology transitions efforts to ensure effective and timely transition of technologies developed by industry and the DoD laboratories to war-fighters;

Direct GAO to review U.S. policies and technologies to improve the ability to produce advanced semiconductors and microelectronics to mitigate security risks from procuring those items from foreign sources;

Fully resource and authorize U.S. Special Operations Command programs and activities;

Extend for two years a family support pilot program for Special Operations Forces and their families;

Fully resource the U.S. Special Operations Command Preservation of the Force and Families program;

Make permanent the authorization for the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Special Operations Headquarters, placing an enduring emphasis on this partnership comprised of more than 26 countries;

Extend DoD's authority to assist in the recovery of isolated personnel overseas;

Provides additional funding and authorizations to energize counter ISIL efforts, operations and technologies;

Direct the Secretary of Defense to provide a strategy to counter unconventional warfare threats being posed by Russia, Iran, and others;

Provide the Secretary of Defense with authority to establish a pilot program to counter adversarial propaganda efforts, like those undertaken by Russia, al Qaeda, and ISIL;

Extend a critical authority for the Department of Defense to engage with foreign countries to enhance their own capabilities to respond to incidents involving weapons of mass destruction;

Direct the Secretaries of Defense and State to notify and brief Congress when an embassy or consulate evacuation takes place, ensuring proper congressional oversight during these sensitive operations; and

Streamline reporting requirements placed on DoD by eliminating or modifying a number of mandated annual reports.