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House Armed Services Committe
Chairman Skelton's Statement on the Full Committee Mark --May 09, 2007

"This mark today is a collective effort in the bipartisan tradition of this committee. I would like to again take the opportunity to thank our Ranking Member, Duncan Hunter. This mark, and especially the full committee section, was put together in full cooperation with him. While we may have differences on many subjects, I am proud that we are always able to work together in our efforts to enhance our nation's defense and take care of our men and women in uniform.

"We have been at war for over five years, and our military and the American people are getting tired. We need to be sure of where we're going in Iraq, and how we're doing. This mark will have General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker report on their plan in Iraq and how they think we're doing. In addition to this assessment, the report will require Secretary Gates to lay out the proposed force levels for the six months following September, discuss the missions of our forces, and inform us about contingency planning. The information coming from this report will allow us to make the frank judgments our committee is charged with making.

"I am proud of what this mark does for Afghanistan. I have often called Afghanistan "the forgotten war", but I am hopeful that the measures we take in this bill brings our attention back to that country. The bill contains funding for the Afghan security forces, and it requires a sustainment plan so that they can build the logistics and other capabilities they need for long-term security. It establishes a Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction to ensure accountability in contracting there.

"The Chairman's mark will also extend the authority of the Special Inspector General for Iraq Reconstruction, and take a variety of other good government steps. We bring more contracting accountability to both Afghanistan and Iraq by forcing the Departments of Defense and State to work together in assigning responsibility for overseeing the thousands of contractors in these places, particularly those carrying weapons. Back at home, the Chairman's mark proposes that we establish the position of Chief Management Officer for the Department of Defense, a proposal that both my staff and the Ranking Member's have worked closely on.

"The mark also requires that the Secretary of Defense undertake an analysis of the Department's roles and missions. We haven't taken a real hard look at what the Department and Services do and asked why they do those things in a long time. We can all name some of the examples of duplication among the services, and we know that some of these just don't make sense. In 1947, a similar effort to this helped shape the Pentagon through the National Security Act. It's been 60 years since that analysis, and it's long past time it was done again. I am confident that this analysis will strengthen the Department of Defense and the military while helping us spend money more wisely. That is what this committee is committed to helping the Department do.

"I would note again that I did not include a provision restoring the principle of habeas corpus for detainees at Guantanamo, even though I frankly feel very strongly that this must be restored. However, I fully recognize that the Ranking Member and other members on that side of the aisle feel strongly otherwise and that to include such a provision in the defense authorization bill would threaten the passage of this bill. Because of that, I have written separate legislation to restore habeas corpus, and I hope to work with the Judiciary Committee and the House Leadership on passing that in the near future.

We have spent a long time in this room together today, and so I won't go over all the other good things that are in this mark. Let me just say that it has been my great honor to chair this committee and my real pleasure to work with the Ranking Member and all the other members of the committee. I am proud of what our members have accomplished, and how we have done it-cooperatively and in a bipartisan manner. Our men and women in uniform deserve no less, and I am proud that we have again delivered.

"I would now recognize my friend and ranking member, Duncan Hunter, for any remarks he would like to make."