Members of the House Armed Services Committee today approved the rules and oversight plan for the 112th Congress at an organizational meeting.
The rules for the committee, which were approved by voice vote, established the following subcommittees: Emerging Threats and Capabilities, Military Personnel, Oversight and Investigations, Readines, Seapower and Projection Forces, Strategic Forces, and Tactical Air and Land Forces.
The approved rules package also included several transparency requirements which were recently adopted by the full House, including:
- Commitment to post online within 24 hours any amendment adopted by the committee;
- Commitment to post online within 48 hours the results of all roll call votes of the committee; and
- Commitment to post legislation online at least 24 hours prior to consideration by the committee.
The oversight plan, which was also approved by voice vote, continues the committee's strong bipartisan tradition of translating oversight activities into prescriptive legislative action that provides for the nation’s common defense and the men and women of our Armed Forces.
In his opening statement, House Armed Services Committee Chairman Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (R-Calif.) reiterated his pledge "to continue this committee’s longstanding bipartisan tradition in the furtherance of a strong national defense."
He continued, "The security challenges facing our nation require that we find solutions and not merely prolong political debate."
"Second, our armed services are being tested in the field on a daily basis. They are completing their mission, we must as well. As my good friend Ike Skelton, my predecessor as Chairman, would remind us, there is a plaque in front of this rostrum that states what our job is. It quotes the constitution, Article 1, Section 8, 'The Congress shall have the Power to … raise and support Armies … to provide and maintain a Navy … to make Rules for the Government and Regulation of the land and naval Forces.'
"This is a heavy responsibility – it is particularly weighty in a time of war and demands that this committee also operate on a war footing. It is the job of this committee to ensure that our men and women in uniform are properly trained, resourced, equipped and supported so that they can fulfill their difficult mission and return as safely as possible to their family and loved ones."
To view a video of today's organizational meeting, please click here.