• Military Menu                       

• Introduction
• Systems
• Facilities
• Agencies
• Industry
• Operations
• Countries
• Hot Documents
• News
• Reports
• Policy
• Budget
• Congress
• Links

• WMD
• Intelligence
• Homeland Security
• Space

House Armed Services Committe
Chairman Skelton's Opening Statement --May 09, 2007

I call the committee to order to begin the mark-up of H.R. 1585, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2008. Four months ago, we gathered in this same room to organize the committee and begin our work. In the weeks since then, this committee has undertaken 55 hearings and marked up two significant pieces of legislation. That's a big job in a short period of time.

It couldn't have happened without the outstanding work of our subcommittees. They all reported out really fine products under the leadership of their chairmen and ranking members. I commend them and look forward to hearing their reports in a little while. I'd like to thank my own partner and ranking member, Duncan Hunter, and I'd like to recognize the efforts of the staff who have put many hours in supporting the members' product today.

This mark today is a collective effort in the bipartisan tradition of this committee. I had no doubt that we would get here because at the heart of everything we do is that soldier, sailor, airman, and Marine who gets up every day and does his or her duty for this Nation.

This bill is about readiness first. Continued reports on the state of readiness for our ground forces, particularly our non-deployed and next-to-deploy forces, were a clarion call to action. Our forces must be ready if they are called upon for the next fight¡­wherever that might be. To do this, we can be proud that this bill:

• Fully funds the budget request for Army and Marine Corps reset of equipment at $13.6 billion and $8.4 billion respectively;

• Adds $1 billion in a strategic readiness fund to meet critical readiness requirements identified by a new Defense Readiness Production Board. This Board will take on an absolutely crucial task spurring the defense industrial base with money, authority, innovative thinking, and getting government and industry to work together to creatively find ways to meet the military's readiness needs faster;

• Increases training funds by $250 million so that our units get more training time. We ensure that when they deploy they are the most effective force they can be;

• Requires a plan and a timeline for replenishing prepositioned stocks. These stocks ensure we are ready to fight in the far corners of the world and we must restore the stocks that have been seriously depleted. This mark forces the Department to get its house in order and deal with the readiness of this essential part of our warfighting preparation.

• Critically, this mark takes on the issue of strengthening the National Guard. This week in Kansas, we see again how critical the Guard is and how hamstrung they are when they don't have all the equipment they need. This mark adds $1 billion for National Guard and Reserve equipment from their unfunded requirements list. It also ensures that the National Guard's ability to meet its homeland and civil support missions is formally taken into account in readiness reporting. Finally it adds a range of authorities through the National Guard Empowerment Act.

At the heart of readiness and of everything this committee does are the troops and their families. We couldn't be prouder of them. This mark gives them a 3.5 percent pay raise, continuing to close the gap with civilian pay. It blocks any TRICARE fee increases and gives the Department of Defense access to federal pricing for pharmaceuticals.

It maintains our strong commitment to those who have served and their families by providing an expansion of the combat-related special compensation for combat-related disabled retirees and by establishing a special survivor indemnity allowance to begin to address the offset to the survivor benefit plan and the dependents' indemnity plan.

Near and dear to my heart, this bill will take a big step forward in Army and Marine Corps end-strength. I was thrilled that the Department embraced what I and others have been saying for over a decade we need a larger Army. This bill will do that. These troops and their families are being worn out, and we must give them relief. They have earned it.

We have been at war for over five years. Our force is feeling that strain and the American people are getting worn out as well. We have oversight responsibility for the war in Iraq. This mark puts careful and detailed reporting requirements on the Department to look at what metrics General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker are using to measure American efforts in Iraq. These leaders owe Secretary Gates and the President an assessment in September and, under this bill, they owe us the same. We must ask tough questions and we must be able to give the American people real answers about how we are going to pass the baton to the Iraqis.

I am convinced that the sectarian violence will only be overcome by Iraqi political progress and thus far I have not seen much evidence of that. September's report will be an opportunity for General Petraeus and Ambassador Crocker to lay out the straight facts and for Secretary Gates to tell us the implications for force levels. Time is short with the American people; the Iraqis must act and soon. This report will provide some real information.

This mark looks beyond Iraq to the conflict that desperately needs our attention the forgotten war in Afghanistan. This bill not only has money for the Afghan security forces, it requires a long-term sustainment plan so that they can build the logistics and other capabilities they need for long-term security. The bill also establishes a Special Inspector General for Afghan Reconstruction to ensure accountability in contracting there, while we also 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.

This is a lot, but if we don't look forward at the things that will impact our military in the next, future fight we risk being unprepared. It's for that reason that we invest in three additional ships, in a range of modernization programs for our Air Force and our Army, and in basic research and development.

But it is also why we require the Secretary of Defense to undertake a basic look at the Department's roles and missions. Why do the military and the department do what they are doing? What capabilities do they all bring to the fight? I look at some of the duplication among the services, or at some of the things that each has gotten into by necessity or chance, and it just doesn't make sense. A similar effort was undertaken in 1947 and it helped shape the Pentagon through the National Security Act. Some of that is needed again today. We need to use each part of the military's strength to best advantage and we must use every penny wisely. That is what this committee is committed to helping the Department do.

Now, let me spend just a moment talking about something that is NOT in the bill. The Military Commissions Act, which the last Congress made law, precludes detainees in Guantanamo from petitioning courts under habeas. As an attorney and former prosecutor, I feel very strongly about upholding the principle of habeas corpus. Habeas corpus is fundamental to our legal heritage and even predates the founding of our nation; we must not abandon it lightly. To that end, I have prepared legislation to undo this mistake. My judgment is that the House is best able to undertake this effort and to be successful by acting on this issue as a separate bill. I intend to work with leadership, members of our committee, and with the Judiciary Committee to act on this as quickly as possible.

This is a critical time in the defense of our nation and this is an important bill. I am proud of what our members have accomplished. There will be a lot of good debate here today. I am confident we can undertake it in the spirit of comity that has always characterized this committee.

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