Saxton Statement for Joint Hearing on Readiness Legislation

Apr 15, 2008
Press Release

Contact: Josh Holly; 202.226.3988 

Saxton Statement for Joint Hearing on Readiness Legislation 

Washington D.C. --- Today, the House Armed Services Air and Land Forces and Readiness Subcommittees held a hearing to examine H.R. 834, legislation that highlights military readiness without acknowledging that the Fiscal Year 2008 Global War on Terror supplemental spending bill could help relieve the stress on America’s Armed Forces.  Rep. Jim Saxton (R-NJ), Ranking Republican on the Air and Land Forces Subcommittee, released the following opening statement: 

“As in the past and I am sure will continue long into the future, nothing is more important to what we do here on the Armed Services Committee than taking care of our brave men and women who serve in the military. 

“And today, we are having a joint hearing with the Readiness and Air Land subcommittees.  From an Air Land perspective, Chairman Abercrombie and I have worked very closely looking at the equipment aspect of readiness.  In fact we have recently had two equipment-related hearings with the Army reserve component and the Army.  What I learned from these hearings is how much progress has been made from an equipment perspective.  For example, in 2001, the Army National Guard had a requirement for 4,722 medium tactical vehicles.  They had 290 on-hand at that time.  Today that requirement has grown to 22,266 and they have over 9,200 on-hand.  I realize this is just one example and we still have a ways to go. 

“I am often reminded by brave American warfighters whom I have been honored to spend time with that battles are won and lost down in the mud by warriors who are armed with the right equipment and are well trained.  This is the core of America’s military success story. 

“The resolution we are discussing today concludes that ‘Congress should restore and maintain the ground forces at the highest levels of readiness in the interest of national security and to ensure the integrity of the entire military force.’  I do not know what it would cost to equip and maintain every unit, both active and reserve, at a ‘C-1’, fully ready status.  I don't know that anyone has ever done those calculations, but I expect that it would be well over trillion dollars annually.  Maybe one of our witnesses will be able to tell us just what that might cost.  

“That aside, I believe that if Congress is really serious about readiness and properly equipping our military, the prudent path forward is to immediately pass the pending 2008 supplemental and work aggressively to increase the defense top line.  Today, we are learning hard lessons from decades of inadequate defense funding.  It will take full and timely supplemental funding, as well as a commitment to raise the defense top line to truly restore readiness and provide the strategic depth we need in this global environment.” 

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