Washington, D.C. – The new chairman of the House Armed Services Committee, Rep. Howard P. "Buck" McKeon (R-Calif.), today announced his intent to realign the committee’s subcommittee structure in order to better align the committee’s oversight activities with the country’s national security challenges, as well as breakthrough stovepipes and inefficiencies within the Department of Defense.
The revised subcommittee structure will allow the Armed Services Committee to conduct better oversight over major weapons platforms from "tooth to tail," such as rotorcraft programs and land ground combat systems, without requiring multiple subcommittees to hold joint hearings.
The Armed Services Committee carries out its oversight of the Department of Defense and its subordinate departments and agencies as well as portions of the Department of Energy through activities involving the full committee and its standing subcommittees. Each subcommittee conducts oversight of the programs within its jurisdiction as specified in the committee’s rules.
The seven standing subcommittees of the Armed Services Committee and their specific jurisdictions follow (listed by total budget authority, which does not change from the 111th Congress):
- Subcommittee on Military Personnel: Military personnel policy, Reserve Component integration and employment issues, military health care, military education, and POW/MIA issues. In addition, the subcommittee will be responsible for Morale, Welfare and Recreation issues and programs.
- Subcommittee on Readiness: Military readiness, training, and logistics; and deployment preparation and processes. In addition, the subcommittee will be responsible for all military construction, depot policy, civilian personnel policy, environmental policy, installations and family housing issues, including the base closure process, and energy policy and programs of the Department of Defense.
- Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces: All Army, Air Force and Marine Corps acquisition programs (except Marine Corps amphibious assault vehicle programs, strategic missiles, space, lift programs, special operations, science and technology programs and information technology accounts) and the associated weapons systems sustainment accounts. In addition, the subcommittee will be responsible for Navy and Marine Corps aviation programs and the associated weapons system sustainment accounts, National Guard and Army, Air Force and Marine Corps Reserve modernization, and ammunition programs.
- Subcommittee on Seapower and Projection Forces: Navy acquisition programs, Naval Reserve equipment, and Marine Corps amphibious assault vehicle programs (except strategic weapons, space, special operations, science and technology programs, and information technology programs), deep strike bombers and related systems, lift programs, and the associated weapons systems sustainment accounts. In addition, the subcommittee will be responsible for Maritime programs under the jurisdiction of the Committee as delineated in paragraphs 5, 6, and 9 of clause 1(c) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives.
- Subcommittee on Strategic Forces: Strategic weapons (except deep strike bombers and related systems), space programs, ballistic missile defense, national intelligence programs, the associated weapons systems sustainment accounts and Department of Energy national security programs (except non-proliferation programs).
- Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities: Defense-wide and joint enabling activities and programs to include: Special Operations Forces; counter-proliferation and counter-terrorism programs and initiatives; science and technology policy and programs; information technology programs; homeland defense and Department of Defense related consequence management programs; related intelligence support; and other enabling programs and activities to include cyber operations, strategic communications, and information operations.
- Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations (no budget authority): Any matter within the jurisdiction of the Committee, subject to the concurrence of the Chairman of the Committee and, as appropriate, affected subcommittee chairmen. The subcommittee shall have no legislative jurisdiction.
Members of the Armed Services Committee are expected to consider and adopt the rules package and oversight plan for the 112th Congress when it meets to organize on Wednesday, January 19, at 10:00 a.m.
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