WASHINGTON - Today, Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX), of the House Armed Services Committee, made the follow opening remarks on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Markup for Fiscal Year 2016...
Thornberry on FY16 NDAA Markup
Providing For The Common Defense
Today, Chairman Mac Thornberry (R-TX), of the House Armed Services Committee, made the follow opening remarks on the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) Markup for Fiscal Year 2016.
"As we begin today, I would like to thank the Ranking Member and all of the Members of the Committee for the hard work and cooperative spirit which has characterized our efforts thus far. There will certainly be some differences among us, but as long as our focus is the national security of the nation and the best interests of those who provide it, we will emerge with a bill all of us can be proud of.
Consistent with the House-passed budget, the proposal under consideration today authorizes $515 billion for national defense and an additional $89 billion for overseas contingency operations. It matches the President's request and the level General Dempsey said was the "lower ragged edge" of what is necessary.
The NDAA is the primary legislative vehicle through which Congress exercises our Constitutional obligation to "provide for the common defense." In my view, that is the first job of the federal government. The bill advances the vital funding and authorities America's military requires. At a time of unprecedented threats, uncertainty, and technological change, the NDAA strives to ensure that our forces are agile, efficient, ready, and lethal.
There is a lot for the Committee to be proud of in this bill. We take major steps to reform the military compensation system, ensuring that we continue to retain the best and brightest. We advance the first elements of a long-term acquisition reform effort designed to ensure our warfighters maintain their technological edge. We redistribute resources to balance the tooth and the tail within the military.
Reform is hard. We can't fix every problem at the Department of Defense with one NDAA. Not everyone in this room will agree with every provision in this bill, which is part of the legislative process. But our military faces a number of challenges that cannot be resolved unless we act. That is why I am always going to push for reforms that help us be better prepared for the challenges we face.
We are going to have a long day, a late night, and most likely an early morning ahead of us, so in advance let me thank all of our Members and staff for your patience, your good cheer, and for your dedication to the defense of our nation."
