"This Readiness mark fully endorses the idea that the quickest way to expand our force structure is by having our military units ready in terms of both training and maintenance."
Chairman Bergman's Statement as Prepared for Delivery:
This mark is an unprecedented acceleration of the readiness of our armed forces. By expanding funding by almost 10% to support the sustainment of our ground forces, our naval forces, our aviation forces and our space forces, this Readiness mark fully endorses the idea that the quickest way to expand our force structure is by having our military units ready in terms of both training and maintenance.
Specifically, this mark supports critical investments to increase mobile and lethal combat formations. It strengthens our military’s commitment to servicemembers, civilians and their families by resourcing major quality of life initiatives including significant funding for facilities.
And in keeping with the Chairman’s focus on the industrial base, this mark resources the Organic Industrial Base to deliver the maintenance and sustainment that our forces need to support our combatant commander requirements. This mark endorses an Army initiative that mandates annual sustainment reviews to identify and fix major weapon systems that do not meet materiel readiness objectives.
Finally, these generational investments in the readiness of our forces are accompanied by a framework to measure success. For example, cost controls are placed on the largest-ever military construction project to limit cost overruns, and an expansion of the accounting on construction overhead costs is mandated to ensure additional governmental transparency.
In closing, I want to specifically thank my Ranking Member John Garamendi for his support in delivering this mark. Our nation is better when we work in a collaborative manner to deliver world-class products to our service members to ensure their safety with a heavy dose of warrior lethality.
