WASHINGTON – Rep. Mike Rogers (R-Ala.), ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee (HASC), today announced the selection of Rep. Rob Wittman (R-Va.) as Vice Ranking Member of HASC for the 117th Congress.
“Congratulations to Vice Ranking Member Wittman.” Ranking Member Rogers said. “Rob and I have long served on HASC together, so I can personally attest to his profound commitment to our service members. He will be a fierce advocate to properly fund our military, modernize our forces, and counter threats from our adversaries. I am confident his deep understanding of the issues important to our armed forces and his experience leading the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee will be an invaluable addition to our leadership team.”
Congressman Wittman stated, “I am honored to return to the House Armed Services Committee and serve as the Vice Ranking Member. Last Congress, when I served as Ranking Member of the Seapower and Projection Forces Subcommittee, I helped move the committee to better align our military forces into the great powers competition with Communist China. By expanding the authorization in areas that we have a unique asymmetric advantage and inserting additional cost-imposing strategies on other great powers, the committee led Congress in a direction that retains our nation’s ability to shape world events. With the expansion of attack submarines and logistics ships and the continued strategic weapons development associated with the Columbia-class ballistic missile submarine and the B-21 bomber, our nation is better prepared to win this great powers struggle. Additionally, I also advocated for reductions in deficient programs including the KC-46A tanker and other naval programs. I am confident this Congress, under Ranking Member Rogers’s leadership, we will remain a strong, bipartisan committee; providing strict oversight on excessive defense programs; and staying laser-focused on China and the great powers struggle that our nation is engaged.
“As a Member of the Armed Services Committee since I came to Congress in 2007, I have worked to ensure we bring the capability of our Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force closer to meeting the reality of the threats facing the United States as well as continuing to project power around the globe to deter our adversaries, and that will continue to be my chief goal in the 117th Congress. It is no secret that the United States is preparing for global military competition with China, and I have done all I can to make sure our Department of Defense and warfighters are in the best position to succeed in this campaign. I am a strong believer in peace through deterrence, but if we are to succeed in that endeavor, we must have the capability and capacity to deliver force where needed.
“The work that we do on HASC is critical to the well-being of the Commonwealth of Virginia. In Virginia, national security is economic security; it is truly a win-win. With 19% of Virginia’s economy coming from defense spending, the work we put forward reverberates through the Commonwealth and benefits our state immensely. The First District and the surrounding area is home to one of the largest populations of military members, their families, and the hardworking Americans who develop and support the platforms, systems, and programs that our warfighters use to execute their critical missions around the globe. These measures support our military community throughout our nation and the Commonwealth. Advocating for our nation’s heroes is my top priority. As Vice Ranking Member, I look forward to serving both our Nation and the Commonwealth of Virginia, and I am committed to ensuring that our military remains the greatest fighting force the world has ever known.”
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