WASHINGTON, DC - Today, Rep. Joe Wilson (R-SC), Chairman of the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Readiness, made the following remarks, as prepared for delivery, on the Subcommittee's Markup.” For information and to watch the markup click here.
"Ladies and gentlemen, I call the hearing of the Readiness Subcommittee of the House Armed Services Committee to order. This morning we meet to markup HR 5515, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2019, the first subcommittee to do so. It is appropriate that the Readiness Subcommittee take the first official legislative action on this year’s National Defense Authorization Act, because readiness is the foundation of national defense.
The mark builds on the return to prudent funding begun with the Omnibus Appropriations Act and will continue to improve readiness across the military services. I’d like to mention a few highlights. This mark would:
• Recommend the Full Committee increase funding for equipment maintenance, spare parts, and training to rebuild readiness for ships, aircraft squadrons, and ground combat units;
• Recommend the Full Committee fund 20 Combat Training Center rotations across the Army—16 Active and 4 Army National Guard
• In response to years of underfunding in facility sustainment accounts, recommend the Full Committee increase funds for facility sustainment above the fiscal year 2019 request;
• Recommend several innovative legislative initiatives that will accelerate infrastructure recovery; to include a new Defense Community Infrastructure Program which will provide for resilient facilities and utilities off-base that directly supporting our military installations, and increased flexibility and funding for construction projects that deliver force protection and safety.
• Authorize the Secretary of the military departments to carry out military construction projects to enhance force protection and safety on military installations;
• Direct the Navy to provide a clear chain of command for operations, for building readiness, and for shipyard maintenance;
• Direct changes to Navy Board of Inspection and Survey to ease the burden of inspections on crews and limits the time a warship may be forward deployed;
Even as we recommend higher funding in several areas, we recognize that we are still in the early stages of readiness recovery. While we are pleased to fund essential readiness accounts, we will expect to see steady readiness recovery over time. The American people deserve no less."
Apr 26, 2018
Opening Statement
115th Congress