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Wittman Opening Statement for Hearing on Defense Travel System
Washington, D.C. – U.S. Rep. Rob Wittman (R-VA), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations, today released the following prepared remarks for the subcommittee’s hearing on the Defense Travel System:
“Thank you, Chairman Snyder, and welcome back to our witnesses – we appreciate your returning to provide the subcommittee an update on your progress over the last year improving the Defense Travel System and increasing its use within the Department of Defense.
“We heard from these same witnesses in March, 2009, of the Department’s efforts to make the Defense Travel System, or DTS, more comprehensive and user friendly. During that hearing, my first as ranking member of the subcommittee, we acknowledged that progress had been made, but that DTS had a ways to go before it was a mature, fully accepted system used throughout the Department. My understanding from your testimony today is that further incremental progress has been made, but that more work remains. While any progress is good, it is discouraging that we never seem to get to the point where we can see the finish line. We achieve results, but project completion remains elusive.
“I also understand that you have begun a new initiative, called Defense Travel Simplification, to find ways to simplify the myriad of travel related laws, rules, and regulations the Department must adhere to. No doubt the process of designing a Department-wide web based travel booking, approval, and accounting system would be greatly eased if you had fewer mandates to consider as you design the system. I am interested in hearing about your plans in this regard, the challenges you face, the timelines of this project, and how we on the committee can help. I know we’ve already “helped” by providing you a multitude of travel statutes to contend with. Any suggestions you may have on how we may streamline these laws without disadvantaging DOD travelers would be welcome.
“The Department has been working on DTS for 15 years, and the subcommittee is completing two years of oversight on the enterprise. There is no question that developing and fielding an on-line travel system for an organization as large and diverse as the Department of Defense is a daunting challenge that anyone would expect would take some time, but 15 years seems excessive. While I am encouraged that the Department continues to progress, I am discouraged that after 15 years we still have some ways to go. I have to wonder when we can finally call this system complete.
“Again, thank you to our witnesses for being here today and I look forward to your testimony.”
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