CNO Testifies Before HASC on FY06 Budget Proposal
Navy NewsStand
Story Number: NNS050218-02
Release Date: 2/18/2005 9:22:00 AM
From Chief of Naval Operations Public Affairs
WASHINGTON (NNS) -- The most ready and capable Navy and Marine Corps in the nation's history is how Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm. Vern Clark described the joint team Feb. 17, as he testified along with Secretary of the Navy Gordon England and Commandant of the Marine Corps Gen. Michael W. Hagee before the House Armed Services Committee (HASC).
The HASC, chaired by Rep. Duncan Hunter, received testimony from Clark, England and Hagee concerning the 2006 National Defense Authorization budget proposal during an open hearing held on Capitol Hill.
Before receiving testimony, Hunter and other HASC members were unanimous in their praise of the Navy and Marine Corps' performance in the global war on terror and continuing transformation.
"I'm confident I speak for the entire committee in recognizing the sacrifices of the men and women of the Navy and Marine Corps as they continue to conquer the challenges of the 21st century," Hunter said.
England began the testimony by saying that today's Navy and Marine Corps team is the most capable that the United States has ever had, and that the men and women that make up that team "are indeed, our greatest asset."
During his opening statement, CNO said it was an "honor to represent your sons and daughters of America. I am so proud of what we've accomplished this last year. They have done an absolutely superb job around the world, around the clock, in the defense of freedom."
Clark highlighted the Navy's major missions for the past year, including deterring and disrupting terrorist movements at sea, supporting U.S. and coalition forces on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan, and keeping watch over Iraqi oil platforms at sea. Clark also said that the Navy/Marine Corps team provided "critical support operations to the countries devastated by the tsunami, proving the inherent value of being there, from the sea base, and the responsiveness that naval forces can bring to any crisis."
"In short, I could not be more proud of the operational accomplishments that we made," Clark added.
Clark also said challenges lay ahead for both the Navy and nation. Those challenges include keeping an eye on anti-access and sea denial capabilities now being developed by Middle East and Asia nations, rising operational and overhead costs that directly impact the Navy's ability to transform for the future, and shipbuilding and aircraft procurement costs.
Another area Clark is focusing on is revamping the current 50-year-old human resource practices into a Human Capital Strategy for the 21st century. He said it's necessary to ensure that the force is properly shaped, trained and educated, and then coupled with a solid standard of living that "reflects the great value of their service to our nation, so we can provide maximum return on our nation's investment."
The Navy's approach for the fiscal year 2006 budget was striking a balance between funding current operations, such as the global war on terror, and future investments such as DDX and the littoral combat ship (LCS). The four new construction ships in FY06 include one SSN 774, one LCS, one T-AKE and one LPD 17.
If the budget is approved, Sailors will see a 3.1 percent basic pay raise come January 2006, with the Navy's civilian workforce seeing a 2.3 percent raise. Other initiatives include eliminating inadequate barracks and family housing by FY07, and housing shipboard Sailors ashore while in homeport by FY08.
The number one priority for the Navy and the budget will remain fighting the global war on terrorism. Clark told the committee that the Navy is very proud to stand beside their joint partners in fighting the global war on terrorism, and that Sailors and civilian shipmates are delivering the highest readiness the Navy has ever known.
"Your Navy, today, is more ready than I have ever seen it during my career," Clark said.
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