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Santa Clarita, California—On Memorial Day, President Obama announced new leadership for the Department of Defense, naming General Martin E. Dempsey to replace Admiral Mike Mullen as the next Chairman and Admiral James Winnefeld as Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. General Raymond Odierno has also been named to replace General Dempsey as Army Chief of Staff.
Washington, DC – House Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-Calif.) today released the following statement after the U.S. House of Representatives approved H.R. 1540, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, by a vote of 322 to 96.
Washington, D.C.---Former CIA Director and Air Force General Michael Hayden wrote to the Armed Service Chairman Howard P. “Buck” McKeon (R-Calif.), offering support and thanks for including an affirmation of the 2001 Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF) in this year’s defense bill.
Former US Attorney General Lauds Affirmation of the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force
Dear Mr. Chairman:
The legislation you have proposed to update and clarify the Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF), passed in September 2001 in the wake of the attacks on the United States that occurred that month, is both timely and constructive.
President Barack Obama
1600 Pennsylvania Avenue
Washington, D.C. 20500
Dear Mr. President:
As the United States military's involvement in Libya approaches 60 days without congressional authorization, I must reiterate concerns expressed at the outset of this operation regarding our strategic objectives, the length of America's commitment, the funding mechanism for this operation, and the potential effect of this operation on other more vital interests.
Washington, D.C. (Permalink) - Two major newspaper editorial boards and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution have decried accusations that a provision in the National Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012 would expand the war on terrorism.
Washington, D.C. —The House Armed Services Committee tonight approved the comprehensive National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2012, legislation which provides $690 billion for the Department of Defense and the national security activities within the Department of Energy for the next fiscal year. The legislation would authorize $553 billion for the Department of Defense’s base
Washington D.C. – The House Armed Services Committee voted on Wednesday to require the four military service chiefs to certify that repealing the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” (DADT) law will not negatively impact combat readiness and effectiveness. The amendment, offered by Rep. Duncan Hunter (R-Calif.), was approved by a vote of 33-27.
Washington, D.C.—Today the House Armed Services Committee overwhelmingly passed an amendment offered by Rep. Rob Andrews (D-N.J.) that compels the Defense Department to allow General Electric and Rolls Royce to use testing facilities for their Joint Strike Fighter competitive engine program at zero cost to American taxpayers.