Opening Statements

Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, made the following statement at the Committee's FY21 posture hearing for U.S. Northern Command and U.S. Southern Command:

"Thank you, Mr. Chairman, and let me join in welcoming all of our witnesses here today.

"Like the other combatant commands, these two have a lot on their plate. It is absolutely part of our responsibility to understand their budgetary needs and capabilities to meet their responsibilities.

"I am struck by the fact though, that with these two commands, as with others, extraneous events also get a vote. In SOUTHCOM you have got to watch and deal with what happens in Venezuela. With NORTHCOM, as you mentioned, what's the military support for corona virus not only now, but how may that develop in the future?

"That's part of, I think, the specific challenging part of putting together a military budget. It's the other side – whatever the other side is- gets a vote. I appreciate the challenges that both of these commanders have with a whole variety of issues and will look forward to their answers to our questions.

"I yield back."