House Armed Services Committee
Subcommittee Chairman Ortiz' Opening Statement--March 27, 2007
"This hearing will come to order. I thank our distinguished panel of witnesses for appearing before the subcommittee today. Today the Readiness Subcommittee will receive testimony on the readiness posture of our Army and Air National Guard.
"National Guard Readiness is an issue that I have followed closely and is of great concern to me - not just because my district is in a hurricane prone area, but also because I understand how important the Guard is in providing for our national defense.
"My concerns for the Guard have grown over the past several years as I have watched the Guard change from a force supporting the strategic base to one that is operational in nature with less focus on state missions. This is an enormous shift in how the Guard is used, and while this change is not the focus of the hearing, it does directly influence Guard readiness.
"It is no secret that all of the services are having readiness shortfalls. Recent testimony before this subcommittee by the services has caused us all great concern about the sustainability of ongoing as well as potential future missions.
"Just yesterday we learned that as many as 1200 Marine reservists are being involuntarily called up for duty in Iraq for jobs the service has been unable to find enough volunteers to fill. While this hearing is focused on the Guard and not the Reserve, this callup illustrates the increasing manpower shortages the Services are facing as the war in Iraq continues.
"The Guard's readiness posture is even more troubling than the Active component's. The shortfalls in equipment and training that plague the Guard will have a direct effect on how they will respond to emergencies at home or abroad.
"General Blum, in testimony before the Commission on the National Guard and the Reserves, you said that it will take $40 billion to bring the Army and Air National Guard up to 80% of their equipment requirements. And I see in your written statement today that the Guard has only 40% of its required equipment.
"That is an enormous shortfall and it is evident when I go out to see National Guard units in my own district. Every unit I visit has shortages of equipment that are affecting their ability to train or to be ready to respond to an emergency.
"This is totally unacceptable. Hurricane Katrina and the Iraq war have shown us that we need a National Guard that is manned, equipped and ready.
"Today I hope you gentlemen will help us better understand the magnitude of the readiness problems the Army and Air Guard face. The Congress wants to help, and we need to fully understand what the Guard needs to be ready for missions at home and abroad.
"Gentlemen, I look forward to hearing your testimony. The Chair recognizes the distinguished gentlewoman from Virginia, Mrs. Davis, the ranking member for the Readiness Subcommittee, for any remarks she would like to make."
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