Press Releases

Today, Rep. Mike Rogers (R-AL), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, made the following remarks on the Subcommittee's hearing titled “President Obama’s Nuclear Deterrent Modernization Plans and Budgets: The Military Requirements.” For testimony and to watch the hearing live click here.

"Welcome to our hearing on 'President Obama’s Nuclear Modernization Plans and Budgets: The Military Requirements.'

I want to thank our witnesses for being here today and for serving our country. We know how hard you work—both day-to-day and to prepare for these hearings.

We thank you. Our witnesses are:

• The Honorable Frank Klotz
o Administrator
o National Nuclear Security Administration

• The Honorable Robert Scher
o Assistant Secretary of Defense for Strategy, Plans, and Capabilities

• Admiral Cecil Haney
o Commander
o U.S. Strategic Command

• General Robin Rand
o Commander
o Air Force Global Strike Command

The purpose of this hearing is to review and conduct oversight of President Obama’s nuclear weapons modernization plans, budgets, and schedules—and the military requirements driving them.

We will also take a hard look at the nuclear policies that frame and guide our nuclear forces.

Most importantly, we’ll take some time to reflect on the broad, bipartisan consensus that has developed over the past 7 years on the need to support President Obama’s nuclear modernization plan.

The genesis of it was back in 2009, with the report of the bipartisan and congressionally-mandated Strategic Posture Commission. The Commission blazed a bipartisan trail for U.S. nuclear policy and directly led to the Administration’s Nuclear Posture Review.

The consensus crystallized with Senate consideration and ratification of the New START Treaty. The Senate approved the treaty based on President Obama’s commitment to modernize all U.S. nuclear forces and request the money required to do so.

Without objection I’d like to introduce for the record two statements by the President on this front.

And here are two short quotes in them from President Obama:

• 'I intend to modernize or replace the triad of strategic nuclear delivery systems: a heavy bomber and air-launched cruise missile, an ICBM, and a nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarine and SLBM.'

• 'I recognize that nuclear modernization requires investment for the long-term, in addition to this one-year budget increase. That is my commitment to the Congress—that my Administration will pursue these programs and capabilities for as long as I am President.'

In the years since then, this subcommittee has sought to ensure the Administration sticks to that commitment. And I think we can judge that—largely—it has.

We’ve seen civilian leader in the Department of Defense, the Department of Energy, and senior military officers, say time and again that nuclear deterrence is their “highest priority mission” and fund it appropriately.

And that agreement extends to Capitol Hill. My friend and our Ranking Member has said several times that the bipartisan consensus on the nuclear modernization program is remarkable and astonishing.

I agree, and value his leadership and thoughtfulness on these critical national security issues.

Over in the Senate, the most recent example of the bipartisan consensus comes in the form of a letter sent to Secretary Carter last Friday by 14 senators—7 Republicans and 7 Democrats.

Without objection, I’d like to introduce that for the record. A brief quote:
• 'We strongly believe in the value of the interlocking capabilities of the three legs of the triad…We must modernize these forces to preserve their deterrent capabilities.'

These senators and the members of this subcommittee are well aware of why we need to modernize our nuclear deterrent.

Our forces and enterprise are aging rapidly—while potential adversaries are modernizing and deploying new capabilities.

President Putin in particular seems intent on aggressively challenging the U.S., our allies, and international stability in general.

Directly after this hearing, the subcommittee will meet in a closed session to hear the latest details on this front.

Russia’s belligerent actions and threatening statements are incredibly dangerous but must be met with resolve and strength.

Russia’s actions are not the one-off, reckless actions of subordinate forces—these are highly orchestrated engagements probing for weakness and gaps.
We must signal our professionalism and resolve to both allies and adversaries by calmly carrying out the nuclear modernization program to which we’ve committed.

So we hope that President Obama, in his final five months in office, sticks to his plan. We hope he will ignore the small—but well-funded and vocal—nuclear disarmament echo chamber.

Making significant changes to the nuclear modernization program and nuclear policy framework would not only endanger U.S. national security, it would send a terrible signal to our allies and adversaries.

Upending this consensus would be foolhardy and dangerous. We need to stick to the plan.

Thank you again to our witnesses—I look forward to the discussion."