U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, delivered the following opening remarks at a hearing on the findings and recommendations of the Commission on the National Defense Strategy.
Chairman Rogers’ remarks as prepared for delivery:
Today we are meeting to receive the findings and recommendations of the Commission on the National Defense Strategy.
I want to thank our witnesses for being here.
I also want to thank you both for agreeing to take on this role and continuing find ways to serve our nation.
The Commission’s report is a sobering reality check for our nation.
The first lines of the report lay it out pretty clear:
“The threats the United States faces are the most serious and most challenging the nation has encountered since 1945 and include the potential for near-term major war. The nation was last prepared for such a fight during the Cold War, which ended 35 years ago. It is NOT prepared today.”
The Commission is absolutely correct.
We are not prepared.
The Commission finds that the current National Defense Strategy, completed just two years ago, does not adequately address the threat environment we currently face.
Specifically, the Commission highlights the growing alliance between our four largest adversaries – China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea.
They find the United States in not properly positioned or resourced to counter this combined threat.
The Commission also confirms what we’ve been hearing for years from our combatant commanders - that China is outpacing us on many fronts.
They find that through two decades of focused investment in military modernization, China has largely negated our military advantage in the Western Pacific.
To restore our advantage, they urge a change in culture at DoD to move past bureaucratic risk-aversion, and adopt an acquisition system that speeds the delivery of innovation.
We heard a lot about that at our field hearing on Monday and I look forward to working with my colleagues to address it.
The Commission rejects the current force sizing construct because it does not meet the threat.
Instead, they recommend a new construct where the U.S. leads coalitions capable of simultaneously defeating China and Russia, while also deterring other adversaries.
To achieve that, they call for a larger, more integrated military, as well as further strengthening our allies and partners so they fight along with us.
They find that our Defense Industrial Base has atrophied to the point that it can no longer meet our military needs.
They call for increased industrial capacity, more competition, and partnerships with our allies to share the burden.
They recommend a whole of government approach to leverage not only our military might, but also our diplomatic, and economic power to expand the field of allies and partners.
I think most of us here today wholeheartedly agree with these and the other important recommendations made by the Commission.
But, as the Commission points out, all of this will cost more than we are currently spending.
The Commission urges Congress to immediately pass a FY24 defense supplemental to begin a multiyear investment in revitalizing the DIB and delivering innovation to the warfighter.
Then they call for sustained growth in the out years of at least 3 to 5 percent above inflation to ensure the military is properly resourced to deter the very real threats we face.
I agree with them and I know many of my colleagues do as well.
But as the Commission notes, it’s incumbent on Congress and the administration to make the case to the American public.
As such, I urge my colleagues to share the Commission’s report with their constituents and with members who don’t serve on HASC.
Everyone needs to understand that sustaining American deterrence against our adversaries, especially an alliance of China, Russia, Iran, and North Korea, will be very expensive.
But they also need to understand that if we fail, the price will be catastrophic.
I thank all the Commissioners for their service and for providing us with some very thoughtful recommendations.
