May 17, 2022
Press Release
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, delivered the following opening statement at a hearing on the FY23 budget request for U.S. nuclear weapon and warhead modernization and sustainment plans.
Rep. Lamborn’s remarks as prepared for delivery:
Mr. Chairman, thank you for calling today’s hearing. Thank you also to our witnesses for joining us today.
When I was appointed the Ranking Member of the Strategic Forces Subcommittee, I assumed that hearings on nuclear triad modernization were going to be the more contentious events of the year. However, I have been pleasantly surprised by the largely bipartisan nature of these issues, and the general consensus that has emerged in this subcommittee on the way forward.
Of course, some of the credit for the unity in this subcommittee can be attributed to the actions of Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping. But most of the credit goes to the rigor and dedication demonstrated by members of this subcommittee. We’ll still have our debates on specific items including SLCM-N and the B83 gravity bomb, but it is refreshing that we can spend most of our time on rigorous oversight and fixing problems together.
Nuclear triad modernization remains the number one priority in the national defense budget and we need to keep it on track. Unfortunately, we are in a situation in which there is no margin for error or delay in any of our nuclear modernization programs. We must urgently work together to ensure our nuclear deterrent remains credible now and in the future.
Our actions across the globe are underpinned by a reliable nuclear deterrent. This is essential when considering China’s nuclear breakout, North Korea’s continued nuclear testing, Iran’s nuclear ambitions, and of course, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and complete nuclear recapitalization.
Without a robust and modern nuclear deterrent, the United States would be hamstrung in our ability to act in our interests and take actions such as providing needed lethal aid to Ukraine. Our nuclear deterrent and common article five are what keeps Putin from striking resupply lines in NATO countries as we stand with Ukraine.
To our witnesses gathered here today, there are some priority areas that I hope we focus our conversations during this fiscal year budget process.
Administrator Hruby, I am interested to know what actions NNSA is taking to fix the longstanding recruitment and retention problems we’re having at the national laboratories. If NNSA needs legislative fixes, now is the time to make that request.
General Dawkins, I am interested in your assessment regarding the rigor with which the Air Force is preparing for Sentinel to come online. Swapping one Sentinel for one Minuteman III on the projected schedule will be very complicated and the planning needs to be taking place now.
Admiral Wolfe, I would like an update on how the D5LE2 program is progressing and if there is any risk in this year’s budget request.
Finally, Secretary Plumb, I feel that I learned more from your opening statement about this Administration’s view on the nuclear security landscape than I did from the three-paragraph press release on the Nuclear Posture Review. While I appreciated the opportunity to review the classified NPR, it seems high time that the American people, our allies and partners, and our competitors have more insight into America’s nuclear deterrence posture. I hope that the unclassified NPR is released soon.
I again thank our witnesses and look forward to their testimony.