WASHINGTON - Chairman Joe Wilson (R-SC), of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, made the following opening remarks on the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities Markup today...
Opening Remarks of Chairman Wilson
Subcommittee on Emerging Threats & Capabilities
Chairman Joe Wilson (R-SC), of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities, made the following opening remarks on the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities Markup today.
"This is the first subcommittee mark-up for the Armed Services Committee this year as we begin our legislative process for fiscal year 2016 – and in some ways it is fitting that this subcommittee is going first.
We are a subcommittee that oversees some of the most forward-looking, critical, cutting-edge, and in-demand aspects of the Department of Defense, including –
- Defense-wide science and technology efforts, including the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency – or DARPA – and the Military service labs;
- Special Operations Forces and U.S. Special Operations Command;
- U.S. Cyber Command, portions of the National Security Agency, and our cyber capabilities and programs across the Department of Defense and the Military services;
- Other enabling programs and activities that deal with evolving and emerging threats such as those being posed by an expansionist Russia and the rise of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL);
- And programs that counter weapons of mass destruction from State and non-state actors alike.
This subcommittee has been active in conducting oversight this year in all of these major jurisdictional areas – and this mark represents a comprehensive and bi-partisan product that all members can be proud of.
It is worth noting that much of the oversight this subcommittee conducts is classified – and behind closed doors – where we review and remain current on sensitive activities and programs involving Department of Defense intelligence capabilities, special operations forces, and cyber forces. And I am proud to say that the members of this subcommittee take this sensitive oversight roll very seriously, as we consider Department of Defense authorities and programs that enable these sensitive activities.
Our Emerging Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee Mark provides for stronger cyber operations capabilities, looks to safeguard our technological superiority, fully enables our Special Operations Forces for today and tomorrow, and provides resources and authorities to counter terrorism, unconventional warfare threats, and weapons of mass destruction.
Before we continue, I'd like to say thank you to our Ranking Member, Mr. Jim Langevin, who has been an energetic and thoughtful partner and leader on many of these issues. It has been a pleasure working with you, Jim, and I look forward to continuing our bipartisan working relationship."
