U.S. Representative Mike Waltz (R-FL), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Readiness, delivered the following opening statement at a joint hearing on the posture and readiness of the mobility enterprise.
Rep. Waltz's remarks as prepared for delivery:
I would like to thank our witnesses for being here today. As we face constantly evolving threats from our adversaries, our logistics enterprise is more important than ever. Effective planning for contested logistics operations is critical for any near-peer conflict.
With China as our pacing threat, the tyranny of distance will strain the platforms, people, materiel, and fuel that support the mobility enterprise. The closure of Red Hill is well underway, and defueling is now complete. It's been a couple years since Congress designated TRANSCOM as the executive agent for bulk fuel management in the FY22 NDAA. I am interested in how TRANSCOM has embraced this new responsibility and what you're doing to support strategic operations, especially in INDOPACOM.
I am also keenly interested in the oversight of the Global Household Goods Contract. Our servicemembers deserve to have a functioning and reliable PCS process. I remain concerned about a single point of failure in the new contract and emphasize that oversight from both TRANSCOM and Congress is an important part of implementation. I expect TRANSCOM to work with HomeSafe and the existing tenders to avoid any missteps.
For the third year in a row, TRANSCOM has not submitted an unfunded priorities list. I am concerned that TRANSCOM is taking on unnecessary risk. Without a UPL submission, I have to assume that all of your requirements are met by the budget request and we are on track to meet our military needs, especially in the INDOPACOM AOR.
Recapitalization of our sealift fleet that we will rely on to carry ground platforms and materiel into theater is a pressing issue. Crewing these vessels is also of great concern. We have a significant shortage of credentialed mariners that, combined with poor vessel state, have resulted in less than impressive readiness rates during recent exercises.
We will also rely on this same pool of credentialed mariners to crew commercial vessels in the Maritime Security Program and the Tanker Security Program. We have a tough road ahead and I look forward to hearing how MARAD plans to administer these important programs and bolster the number of credentialed mariners.
In closing, our ability to execute logistical functions in a contested environment will define our ability to succeed in any future strategic competition. I am closely monitoring the overall readiness of our strategic mobility – particularly air and sealift readiness– because these peacetime capabilities will be foundational to executing contested logistics during times of crisis or war.
It's critical we get this right – to ensure we can rapidly deploy, maneuver, and sustain our forces over long distances to effectively respond to any contingency. Our ability to do so is crucial for maintaining a credible deterrent, projecting power, and being prepared to win our nation's wars.
