Press Releases

Washington, D.C. – House Armed Services Readiness Subcommittee Chairman Rob Wittman (VA-1) today hosted a briefing with Department of Defense officials on the impacts of cuts to national security on the military’s readiness to respond to global events. The briefing included including Dr. Laura Junor, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Readiness, Department of Defense and Brigadier General Martin Schweitzer.

Following the briefing, Wittman released the following statement:

“Reality tells us that our forces will be unprepared to deploy, they will face increased risk, their safety will be jeopardized, their missions compromised, and there will be an increased likelihood that more Americans will be killed carrying out their Constitutional duty, both on the battle field and in training if cuts to our national security are allowed to continue. Readiness was already in decline before sequestration. It is critical that Members responsible, under the Constitution, to provide for our common defense, understand what these cuts mean to our neighbors’ sons and daughters who are sacrificing their all to serve our nation. I appreciate the efforts of the DoD to help educate Members of Congress on how best to equip and train our servicemembers, especially as we work to complete the business of fiscal year 2014 and beyond.”

All members of the U.S. House of Representatives were invited to the briefing, titled, “Defense Cut Impacts on the U.S. Military’s Readiness to Respond to Global Events,” hosted by Readiness Chairman Wittman and Ranking Member Madeleine Bordallo, joined by House Armed Services Committee Chairman Buck McKeon (R-CA) and Ranking Member Adam Smith (D-WA).

Congressman Rob Wittman represents the First District of Virginia. He serves on the House Natural Resources Committee and the House Armed Services Committee where he is the Chairman of the Readiness Subcommittee.

# # #