Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Mike Rogers (R-AL), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, delivered the following opening remarks at a hearing on U.S. military posture and national security challenges in North and South America.
Chairman Rogers’ remarks as prepared for delivery:
Today, we begin our fiscal year 2026 posture hearings with U.S. Northern and Southern Commands.
I want to thank our witnesses for their service and for joining us today.
We know that border security is national security.
Over the past four years, we learned that the hard way.
President Biden’s open-border policies triggered historic levels of illegal migration.
They also emboldened cartels that flooded our streets with fentanyl and other lethal drugs—made mostly with Chinese precursor chemicals.
The human cost has been staggering.
In the 12 months ending in October 2024, over 52,000 Americans died from fentanyl overdoses.
Republicans have been unequivocal: the real fix had to come from the top.
And President Trump delivered.
Through decisive executive action—including authorizing the deployment of 7,500 additional active-duty troops to the border—illegal crossings have plummeted.
In February, apprehensions were down 94% compared to the year before.
And dangerous criminals and gang members are being removed from our communities.
But the job isn’t done.
I look forward to working with the President and my colleagues on a reconciliation package that provides DoD the resources it needs to support civilian authorities in sealing the border.
Meanwhile, America’s adversaries are developing and fielding more advanced air and missile capabilities.
It is clear the homeland is no longer a sanctuary.
Chinese and Russian aircraft have ramped up activity around Alaska—including their first-ever joint bomber patrol.
North Korea keeps testing its long-range missiles, and there are signs Russia may be helping.
And China and Russia’s strategic missile capabilities, including hypersonic weapons, continue to evolve rapidly.
Amid these threats, it’s alarming there is an effort afoot to auction off parts of the spectrum DOD needs to track incoming missiles.
This spectrum supports most of our military radar systems, including our early warning and homeland missile defense.
Losing it would put President Trump’s Golden Dome Initiative at serious risk, and undermine our security.
Turning to SOUTHCOM, China’s growing presence in our backyard is a direct threat to the United States.
Through its Belt and Road Initiative, China is expanding its control over ports, space facilities, and 5G telecommunications in the region.
It’s also snapping up cooper, lithium, and other critical minerals essential to its military modernization.
These are not business deals—they’re beachheads.
In a conflict, these assets would be weaponized against us.
That’s why I support efforts to roll back Chinese influence in our hemisphere, especially at the Panama Canal.
Thanks to this administration, U.S. investors are potentially set to take control of the Chinese-run ports on either side of this vital waterway.
Panama has also quit the Belt and Road Initiative.
Russia remains active in the region too—providing training and arms to Venezuela, Nicaragua, and Cuba, as well as spreading anti-U.S. propaganda.
And the Kremlin is flexing its military muscle.
Last summer, Russian warships conducted missile drills in the Atlantic before making a port call in Havana.
It is critical the United States wins the strategic competition with China and Russia in the Western Hemisphere.
I look forward to hearing from our witnesses and getting their best military advice on how we meet these growing challenges head-on.
