Today, Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, made the following remarks on the hearing titled “Effects of Reduced Infrastructure and Base Operating Support Investments on Air Force Readiness:”
"Good morning. Thank you all for being here today for our Readiness hearing on the “Effects of Reduced Infrastructure and Base Operating Support Investments on Air Force Readiness.” This is our third hearing on the topic. The Army, Marine Corps, and Navy have previously testified on this topic, and I look forward to hearing the views of the Air Force today.
This morning we have with us:
• Maj Gen Timothy Green, USAF
Director of Civil Engineers, Deputy Chief of Staff for Logistics, Engineering and Force Protection, Headquarters U.S. Air Force
• Maj Gen Jerry D. Harris, Jr. USAF
Vice Commander, Air Combat Command, Langley Air Force Base, Virginia
• Brig Gen Christopher Azzano, USAF
Commander, 96th Test Wing, Air Force Materiel, Eglin AFB, Florida
During the last several years, the subcommittee has largely focused on operational readiness recovery since the drawdown of forces in the Middle East. The Department of Defense has implemented plans to correct readiness trends, but those plans have assumed risk in infrastructure investments and reduced mission support services to redirect funds from installation programs to other operational and training budget priorities. The purpose of this hearing is to clarify the Air Force’s choices for infrastructure and installation services, to address funding priorities and mitigation strategies, and to gather more detail on the current and future impacts of these decisions on operations and training.
As the witnesses testify, I would ask you to address existing risks being taken in installations investments and impacts to operations and training; how will the recent 2-year budget reshape those risks and impacts; and what will be the level of risk and impacts over the next 10 years if budget levels remain constant or return to sequestration levels?"
