Opening Statements

Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Scott DesJarlais (R-TN), Chairman of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, delivered the following remarks on the Strategic Forces Print at the full committee markup of the FY26 NDAA. 

Rep. DesJarlais' opening statement as prepared for delivery:

I want to start by thanking all the members of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee for their work this year.

I would also like to Ranking Member Moulton for his help and partnership in my first year as Chairman.

As we both often say, the issues within our jurisdiction are some of the most important topics before us as members, so I appreciate the focus and participation that we get from all our subcommittee members.
 
I would also like to thank the subcommittee’s professional staff for their hard work to produce a successful bill – Whitney Verett, Peter Schirtzinger, Maria Vastola, and Austin Richards.

Finally thank you to Lindsey Keller on my personal staff who does a great job day-in and day-out and took over for the long-serving Tony Lorio who left my staff earlier this year.  
 
I’m proud of the mark before us today.

It supports the ongoing efforts to modernize the nation’s nuclear triad, in addition to the scientific capabilities and nuclear command, control, and communications (NC3) architecture that support our nuclear deterrent.

We also establish a new Rapid Capabilities Program within the National Nuclear Security Administrator to enhance our ability to respond to growing nuclear threats from China and Russia.
 
The mark also supports the development of Golden Dome to achieve the President’s goals outlined in the Executive Order.

Our mark also provides legislative authority for the Missile Defense Agency to work with the Maritime Administration to recapitalize aging missile range instrumentation vessels that will be vital to this effort.
 
In space, we establish the tactical surveillance, reconnaissance and tracking program as a formal “program of record” to provide badly needed space products from commercial providers to combatant commands.

We also push the department to use a private sector payment model for commercial satellite communication services, giving flexibility to military users and using scarce funds more efficiently.
 
Finally, I’m happy to support the work of Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith in their efforts to sustain the growth and development of Space Force Guardians to ensure we have the highly skilled and technically proficient acquisition cadre capable of bringing online the next-generation of systems necessary to fight and win in space.