Opening Remarks of Ranking Member Hartzler

WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Vicky Hartzler (R-MO), Ranking Member of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Tactical Air And Land Forces, made the following remarks, as prepared for delivery, on the Subcommittee's hearing titled “Department of Navy Modernization Programs and the Fiscal Year 2020 Budget Request."

"Thank you Mr. Chairman and welcome to our witnesses. 

"I would like to thank you for being here today to review the fiscal year 2020 budget request for Navy and Marine Corps modernization programs in the Subcommittee’s jurisdiction.

"Since this is our first subcommittee hearing of the 116th Congress, I would like to congratulate my colleague Donald Norcross on his Chairmanship of this important subcommittee. 

"As many of you know this subcommittee has a strong bi-partisan tradition and I look forward to carrying that tradition forward alongside Donald. 

"Overall it appears this budget request continues to build on the progress made in the previous two budgets in rebuilding readiness and modernization.

"This is important because years of continuous combat operations and deferred modernization created a crisis in military readiness in both capability and capacity. 

"It will take many years of increased defense budgets representing real growth in order to fully address this crisis.

"We cannot afford to go backwards. This level of spending in the FY 20 budget request is the minimum needed to continue to repair our military and defend the country. 

"The Chairman in his opening remarks did a great job in covering the major program areas we plan to focus on today. 

"I will briefly touch on a few issues. First, regarding physiological episodes in aircraft: I am encouraged by the progress being made as well as the amount of resources requested by the Navy in FY20, approximately $278.0 million, in the areas of upgrading the aircraft, changes in aircrew education and training, improved maintenance practices and bringing in the medical community to better understand the human dynamic. This needs to remain a top priority and today’s hearing is a good opportunity for the witnesses to update us on the Navy’s efforts to mitigate these events in F-18 and T-45 aircraft.

"Second, regarding the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter program. The Chairman covered several areas we are focusing on and I will add that we need to better understand what actions are being taken now in this budget request to lower operation and sustainment costs, to include ramping up organic depot capability, improving the autonomic logistics information system or 'Alice', and improving the time associated for long-lead parts. The Block 4 modernization program, which includes hardware and software, has 66 approved requirements associated with it. The current estimated cost to complete the initial program is approximately $10.0 billion. The Director of Operational Test and Evaluation has indicated the schedule could be viewed as high risk due to the large amount of planned capabilities to be delivered in 6-month increments. Given the scope and complexity of this effort we expect Admiral Winter to provide additional details on the challenges and risks associated with this critical program. Lastly we would expect to get an update on current efforts to improve reliability and maintainability of the aircraft, in particular for those aircraft fielded to operational squadrons. 

"There is no doubt the capabilities the F-35 brings to the battlefield against advance threats by peer competitors is needed to meet the goals and objectives of the National Defense Strategy.

"However, we all share concerns about rising F-35 operations and support costs affecting long term affordability which could result in lower procurement quantities in the out-years. 

"The F-35 Joint Program Office along with the military services appear to be very focused on reducing these costs and we look forward to working with each of you and industry in a collaborative manner to reach your objectives. 

"Lastly, regarding aviation readiness and strike fighter inventories, it is my understanding the Navy continues to take risk in its management of the strike fighter inventory and has an identified shortfall of 54 aircraft, which amounts to one carrier air wing. 

"We need to better understand what impacts this has to overall readiness and what we can we do to improve the situation from a modernization standpoint. 

"I thank the Chairman for organizing this important hearing and I yield the balance of my time."