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WASHINGTON - Rep. Robert Wittman (R-VA), Chairman of the Subcommittee on Readiness made the following opening statement for today's hearing entitled "Alignment of Infrastructure Investment and Risk and Defense Strategic Requirements".
"This is our first hearing of the 114th Congress, and I would like to welcome back our returning members, especially the gentlewoman from Guam, Ms. Madeline Bordallo. I look forward to another Congress where we can continue to work together to solve the complex readiness issues facing our military.
I welcome our new Members here today as well. I won’t go name-by-name, but, I look forward to working with each of you. We have some important issues to address this year.
Along those lines, I believe that providing for the nation’s defense is the primary job of the federal government. And, as Chairman Thornberry stated in a letter last week to the House Budget Committee, one I co-signed, “Meeting the security needs of the country is more difficult now than at any time since World War II – and perhaps ever. We confront a wide array of serious, complex threats which are growing more dangerous because of doubts about the United States security posture.” As we evaluate the Department’s fiscal year 2016 budget, I believe we must ensure the investments made in our military are also vested in our long-term National Military Strategy, and not swayed by near-term budget battles. It is more important than ever that we invest wisely in our national security, and for today’s hearing, “Alignment of Infrastructure Investment and Risk and Defense Strategic Requirements”, we expect to discuss this very issue as it relates to the Department’s planned investments in infrastructure.
For this hearing, I would like to welcome our distinguished panel of experts. This morning we have with us:
• Mr. John Conger
Performing the Duties of the Assistant Secretary of Defense
Energy, Installations, and Environment
• Ms. Katherine Hammack
Assistant Secretary of the Army
Installations, Energy, and Environment
• Mr. Dennis McGinn
Assistant Secretary of the Navy
Energy, Installations, and Environment
• Ms. Miranda Ballentine
Assistant Secretary of the Air Force
Installations, Environment, and Energy
This hearing is critically important in helping us understand and evaluate this year’s infrastructure budget as it relates to readiness. Although we recognize that the Bipartisan Budget Act of 2013 provided some relief over the last two years, even if funded at the current President’s Budget request level, the Department continues to take risk in infrastructure in its effort to balance force structure, modernization and readiness.
The infrastructure budget we have before us today includes
- $8.4 billion for military construction, family housing, and BRAC;
- $10.8 billion for facilities sustainment, restoration, and modernization, representing 81% of the total sustainment requirement; and,
- A request for an additional round of base realignment and closure, with a $10.5 million request for BRAC analytical efforts
As the witnesses testify, I would ask you to address the following questions:
• How has the Department aligned infrastructure investments with the long-term defense strategic requirements?
• What level of risk in installations has the Department taken?
• What mitigation efforts has the Department implemented or plans to implement in the installations portfolio?"
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