Date: 2009-06-24
Speaker: BUCK MCKEON (republican)
Chamber: H

and am confident that he and Chairman SKELTON will make a great team. I would also like to thank ROSCOE BARTLETT. our subcommittees tanking member. for all his support and advice in putting our bill together. This bill is about balancing the capabilities and readiness of our current military forces with desired future required military capabilities. Our military personnel are at risk each and every day. Our first priority is to make sure those men and women are properly supported by ensuring our military programs adequately support current military requirements. We are doing everything possible to provide. our personnel in Iraq and Afghanistan the equipment they need as well as provide for the equipment needs of our National Guard units here at home. to meet crisis response and potential natural disaster requirements. The subcommittees jurisdiction includes $82 billion in. Department of Defense procurement and research and development. in Titles I and II and another $20 billion in Title XV. for overseas contingency operations. We have made nearly $3 billion in reallocations within the Subcommittee. funding Iiigher priority current requirements. using funds from programs with excessive unexpended balances. delayed execution. and excessive cost growth. Our Subcommittee increased the unfunded requirements of the Army and Air Force by over $1 billion by reallocating funding from these lower priority projects. The mark also provides an additional $603 million for procurement and research and development of the F136 competitive engine for the F35 aircraft program. This is largely offset by rebalancing within the F35 program. by reducing procurement from 32 to 30 aircraft. Nearly $2.7 billion is authorized for 176 Apache. Kiowa. Black Hawk. and Chinook helicopters and an additional $1.2 billion is provided for helicopter modifications. Our bill: Fully funds elements of the Future Combat Systems program that will continue in some form. at $2.55 billion. Provides $2.5 billion for new and upgraded Army ground combat vehicles. Provides $263 million for research and development of future Army ground combat.vehicle upgrades and improvements. and Provides $600 million for National Guard and Reserve Equipment. above and beyond what is in the budget request. The change by the National Guard to an operational reserve status. coincident with a reorganization of the Army. has greatly increased the amount of equipment Guard and Reserve units are required to have. While the Department is making improvements and progress in. providing improved funding to equip the National Guard and Reserve to enhance its role as an operational reserve. there are a significant number of units that do not have their required equipment. Given the operational reserve equipage model. a large percentage of nondeployed Army National Guard units are far below Army standards for equipment on hand. Without the right type and amounts of equipment. even the most dedicated and experienced soldier or airman cannot train for combat. or provide adequate assistance when there is a domestic emergency. The committee continues to work on improving intelligence. surveillance. and reconnaissance. known as ISR capabilities. as well as improving counter improvised explosive device technology. vehicle armor. body armor. and helmet protection. Like many other mission areas in the Department of Defense. there is no apparent nexus for intelligence. surveillance. and reconnaissance joint strategy. requirements coordination. acquisition or deployment focus. where a single lead organization is responsible. An example that can be cited is the unplanned and expensive proliferation of dissimilar ISR platforms all seeking to provide the same capability. Coalition forces control the skies in both theaters and has the worlds best ISR technology. but does not .use this advantage to full advantage. The Department still fails to provide joint ISR employment plans for both Iraq and Afghanistan. This bill directs the Department to assess the current use of ISR systems in Iraq and Afghanistan and make recommendations on how to more effectively coordinate and use all the systems we have deployed and plan to .deploy. The committee has in the past directed the Department to define joint ISR requirements and develop a longterm strategic plan to make informed acquisition decisions to meet ISR goals. That continues to be a work in progress.