Washington, D.C. – U.S. Representative Doug Lamborn (R-CO), Ranking Member of the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces, delivered the following opening statement at the full committee markup for the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2023. The Subcommittee's mark is available here.
Rep. Lamborn’s remarks as prepared for delivery:
Mr. Chairman, thank you.
It’s been a busy year for the Strategic Forces Subcommittee. I would like to start my remarks by noting that this will be the last NDAA markup for my friend and colleague Jim Cooper.
I’d like to again thank you for the years of dedicated service you’ve provided on the Strategic Forces Subcommittee and for the way in which you have approached the job of Chairman and Ranking Member. You always bring a no-nonsense and intellectually honest approach to your work, which has been appreciated and will be missed. I have no doubt that even from the comfort of retirement you will keep us honest and continue diligently monitoring the progress made by our newest service and one of your most significant contributions to our military – the Space Force.
I am very pleased with the work we have done this year in the Strategic Forces Subcommittee. I’m particularly pleased some key provisions have made their way in the Chairman’s mark. One provision directs the Department of Defense to establish a National Hypersonic Initiative. The top-line amendment that we will consider today will put important funding behind this effort and will go a long way towards helping us catch up with Russia and China on hypersonics.
Also, I’m optimistic that we will include full funding for a 16th Patriot Battalion and directed the Department of Defense to plan for 4 additional Battalions. These assets are in high demand, and we’re going to be needing more of them.
Russia and China are only becoming more belligerent in space, and we are taking action to counter their actions. We are telling the Department to make publicly available a strategy for how we are going to defend and protect our on-orbit satellites. We are also requiring the Space Force to establish requirements for defense and resilience of space systems.
With that, I’d like to thank my good friend Mr. Cooper yet again for his service. As the Subcommittee puts together its mark next year I hope, and expect, that we will hear from him. Jim, your thoughts and inputs will always be valued.
With that I yield.