Press Releases

Today, Rep. Robert Wittman (R-VA), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, made the following remarks as prepared for delivery on the joint hearing titled "Navy Force Structure and Readiness: Perspectives from the Fleet." For testimony and to watch the hearing click here.

"Good morning, and welcome! Before we begin, I’d like to thank the distinguished panel of operational Navy leaders for their testimony today.

Every service branch is suffering from readiness deficits, and we know that those shortfalls in training and equipment have serious consequences for our war fighters. This hearing will give us the opportunity to hear from the men and women on the ground, in the air, and on the water who deal with the devastating effects of our readiness shortfalls on a daily basis. If Congress is to address the obstacles that successive cuts in defense spending have posed, we need a clear, unadulterated view of the challenges our forces are facing. The testimony that these officers will give is invaluable in that regard. They are looking on as our fleet dwindles and as our sailors and their families suffer under the strain of less training and longer deployments.

In March, Vice Chief of Naval Operations, Admiral Michelle Howard, testified before the Readiness Subcommittee, that the Navy is 'still paying down the readiness debt we accrued over the last decade' and to the Senate Armed Services Committee that 'Sequestration is the greatest threat to our future readiness; it has a ripple effect for us through the years.' Today, our subcommittees would like to hear from you, our nation’s operational leaders, about the maintenance status of your equipment, the operational availability of your ships, aircraft, and weapons systems, and perhaps most importantly, the obstacles you face as you train your sailors.

Once again, I want to thank our witnesses for participating in our hearing this morning. I look forward to discussing these important topics and gaining on understanding of what resources the Navy needs to improve its state of readiness."