Opening Statements

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Rob Wittman (R-VA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces, delivered the following remarks on the Tactical Air and Land Forces Print at the full committee markup of the FY26 NDAA. 

Rep. Wittman's opening statement as prepared for delivery:

I thank the members and staff of this subcommittee for all of the effort they have put into building this bipartisan Tactical Air and Land Forces mark.

This product ensures that our warfighters possess the relevant and lethal equipment, weapons, and resources needed to remain the world’s premier fighting force.

The goal of this subcommittee is to ensure that America’s warfighters have the tactical advantages they need on a day-to-day basis to be prepared for any conflict they may face.

It is paramount that every necessary piece of equipment—be it next generation fighter jets, counter-drone technologies, ground combat vehicles, or ammunition—is made available to our servicemembers at the speed of relevance so that they dominate the battlefield.

This Republican administration is laser-focused on delivering cutting-edge capabilities to America’s warfighters and this subcommittee focused on the same.

The Fiscal Year 2026 Tactical Air and Land mark addresses the growing threat of small, unmanned aircraft systems by elevating the Joint Counter Unmanned Aircraft Systems Office (JCO) within the Department of Defense.

This office must be a jointly manned office with the responsibility for leading, advocating, and coordinating all DOD efforts to counter drones as a weapon of strategic influence.

Drones are the IED of our generation – and we must act today with the same urgency we did 20 years ago.

Modeled after the Joint Counter-IED Office from the Global War on Terror, the JCO will finally be empowered with the necessary authorities and force structure to make a real impact in protecting our servicemembers, installations, and homeland.

The mark also takes steps to enable rapid procurement of U.S. manufactured drones across the Joint Force--leveraging and accelerating American innovation.

This subcommittee mark also promotes the improvement of air superiority and strike capabilities by supporting an increase of 21 F-15EX tactical fighter aircraft.

It is also forward-looking to our future combat aviation challenges, as it authorizes the funding of the Air Force’s F-47 and Navy’s F/A-XX 6th Generation Aircraft programs.

The mark also supports the requested quantity of F-35 aircraft in the President’s budget and increases the amount of funding for F-35 spare parts and equipment by $500 million dollars to increase aircraft availability and mission capability rates.

Additionally, the mark continues critical oversight of the F-35 aircraft program.

It improves the transparency of munition supply chains and manufacturing.

We direct reports on the status of the Army’s efforts to modernize and expand the munitions industrial base and on the CL-20 energetics pilot program.

I’d like to thank my valued partner and good friend on the subcommittee, Ranking Member Don Norcross, for his thoughtful and bipartisan cooperation developing this mark.

Through this collective effort, we are sure that this mark will deliver the tactical equipment and advanced technology needed to maintain the United States’ title as the most capable and lethal military the world has ever seen.

Mr. Chairman, I thank you and Ranking Member Smith for your thoughtful leadership, encourage a yes vote on the TAL mark, and I yield back my time.