| Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities made the following opening statement for today's hearing entitled "Department of Defense (DOD) Fiscal Year 2016 Science and Technology Programs: Laying the Groundwork to Maintain Technological Superiority". "I am pleased to welcome everyone here today for this hearing on the Fiscal Year 2016 Budget Request for science and technology programs within the Department of Defense. We are all aware of the intense downward budget pressure the Department is under these days, and the ever growing universe of threats we are forced to deal with. Science and technology programs are part of the modernization investments that keep the Department prepared and ready to deal with those threats, and ensure that when we send our soldiers, sailors, airmen and marines into harm's way, we make sure that is never a fair fight because technology is on their side.
But Defense Sequestration jeopardizes that technological superiority, and our ability to out-match and out-class potential adversaries. I agree we cannot ignore today's concerns, including readiness, equipment recapitalization, and the health and welfare of our service members; nor can we expect to raid our modernization accounts to pay those bills. That's like taking money from our retirement accounts to pay the mortgage today - there will be short-term rewards, but you create an even bigger problem in the down the line.
I say that to make the point that we understand why science and technology is important and should be protected, but we also recognize that in this budget environment, it will continue to be under pressure. The fiscal year 2016 budget request for science and technology is seeing a modest increase, but that request was also well above the budget caps set by Defense Sequestration. If we have to remain at sequestration levels, I fear the adverse impact that will have on our science and technology programs. Not only will we have to defer sought-after and important programs, but we will continue to defer the hiring of needed scientists and engineers, defer investments in necessary equipment, and defer building or upgrading facilities that support world-class research and world-class researchers.
I know I've painted a bleak picture, but it is only to punctuate how important we think science and technology is to our national security and the defense of our great nation. Every time we push off research one more year, we give our adversaries another year to catch up with us.
With that, I would like to welcome our distinguished panel of witnesses for their thoughts on the subject:
• Mr. Alan Shaffer, Principal Deputy to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering
• Ms. Mary Miller, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army for Research and Technology
• Rear Admiral Mat Winter, USN, Chief of Naval Research
• Dr. David Walker, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Air Force for Science, Technology, and Engineering
• Dr. Arati Prabhakar, Director, Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency
Mr. Shaffer, we will begin with you, and we look forward to your opening statement. Before we do, though, I understand that you will be retiring from government service at the end of May to take a position as the Chief Scientist of the NATO Science and Technology Organization. You have been a good friend to this committee, so I would like to thank you for your many years of service in the Air Force, your public service within the Department, and we wish you and your family good luck in your new position." |
