WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Mac Thornberry (R-TX), Chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, made the following opening statement, as prepared for delivery, at the Full Committee's hearing entitled, "Assessing the Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Request and Acquisition Reform Progress." For testimony and other information and to watch the hearing click here.
"Today the Committee will hear testimony from the three Service secretaries on the Administration’s fiscal year 2019 budget request, as well as on their progress in implementing the acquisition reforms already passed into law.
The two are closely tied because both branches of government have a responsibility to get more defense value for the taxpayers from the money that is spent, as well as a responsibility to get innovation into the hands of the warfighter faster. Acquisition reform has put more authority and more responsibility with the Services. We have begun to reverse the decline in funding. Now DOD and the Services have to deliver results.
The budget agreement, which Congress must complete by passing the Appropriations bill this week, begins to repair and rebuild the military. But our adversaries are not waiting around for us to catch up. We must reform as we rebuild. We must be prepared across the full spectrum of modern warfare -- from nuclear deterrence to the kind of political and information campaigns we will discuss at greater length in our hearing tomorrow. And we must measure success by output and results rather than inputs and process.
The budget agreement gives us an opportunity, but the Legislative and Executive must work together to make the most of it. Business as usual will not adequately defend our nation in today’s world. I know I speak for all my colleagues on this Committee in saying that we stand ready to do our part to get us on the right track."