Opening Remarks of Chairman Wilson

SUBCOMMITTEE ON READINESS

Washington, DC, March 22, 2017
Tags: Readiness
WASHINGTON - Today, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, made the following remarks, as prepared for delivery, on the Subcommittee's hearing titled "The Current State of the U.S. Air Force." For testimony and to watch the hearing click here.

Today, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, made the following remarks, as prepared for delivery, on the Subcommittee's hearing titled "The Current State of the U.S. Air Force." For testimony and to watch the hearing click here.

"I am pleased to welcome everyone here today for an unclassified session on "The Current State of U.S. Air Force".

The purpose of this hearing is to clarify the information we have heard repeatedly over the past several weeks and months. We have received briefings and hearings from leading national security experts, testimony from all of the service Vice Chiefs, the Department of Defense's Quarterly Readiness Report to Congress, and the Government Accountability Office assessment of the military's readiness recovery. We have also recently heard from both the U.S. Army and the U.S. Navy on those services current state of readiness. Each briefing and hearing further confirms that our services are indeed in a readiness crisis.

I reiterate my belief that the first responsibility of the federal government is to provide for the security of its citizens, to accomplish for citizens which they cannot do by themselves; therefore, it is our responsibility as members of this subcommittee to continue to better understand the readiness situation of the United States Air Force, to understand where we continue to take risks, and to understand the plan to recovery readiness.

I would like to welcome the distinguished panel of senior leaders of the U.S. Air Force, the Air National Guard and the Air Force Reserves present today. This afternoon we are honored to have with us:

• Major General Scott D. West, U.S. Air Force
Director of Current Operations and Deputy Chief of Staff for Operations, Headquarters U.S. Air Force

• Lieutenant General L. Scott Rice, U.S. Air Force Director, Air National Guard

AND

• Lieutenant General Maryanne Miller, U.S. Air Force
Chief of Air Force Reserve and Commander, Air Force Reserve Command

I thank each of you for testifying today and look forward to your thoughts and insights as you highlight the current state of the U. S. Air Force."