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Wittman Supports Committee Passage of Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act

Washington, D.C., May 8, 2014

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1) today supported passage of H.R. 4435, The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, through the full House Armed Services Committee. The annual legislation provides policy guidance and authorization for the Department of Defense.

“Our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, and Marines that comprise our military deserve unwavering support from Congress, and in an era of tough budget times, I am pleased with the legislation passed through the Committee early this morning,” Wittman said. “As I said during the committee debate, this legislation goes far toward addressing critical readiness concerns, but cannot address every concern when we are faced with an unmovable top line. When we legislate to a top-line rather than a national security strategy, we risk making ill-advised choices. Strategy should drive our national security budget, not the other way around. This also shifts our attention from other pressing and equally important concerns. However, I am proud of the work done by the Readiness Subcommittee to prioritize critical issues facing the military and their ability to be prepared and equipped for any conflict and to project power.

“The work here is not done; we must continue to focus on restoring the readiness lost as a result of compounding budget cuts and addressing the larger overall issue of senseless and arbitrary budget decisions. I will continue to fight to bolster the overall readiness and training of our force. The men and women who serve and sacrifice for our freedom remain our top priority, and we must ensure they are manned, trained, equipped, and prepared to meet the challenges on the horizon with overwhelming superiority and strength.”

Wittman outlined important national security imperatives in the legislation:

  • Prohibiting the Department from pursuing an additional BRAC round, or any other effort, aimed at locking in unwise force structure reductions during a time of accelerated transition and the withdrawal of troops from Afghanistan;
  • Addressing deficiencies in the Air Force’s nuclear enterprise by resourcing several unfunded requirements for the Nuclear Force Improvement Program (FIP), while also addressing nuclear security forces equipment shortfalls which have exacerbated the challenges; 
  • Addressing the Marine Corps requirement to establish two new special Marine Air-Ground Task Forces in SOUTHCOM and CENTCOM which are needed to support U.S. diplomatic and military installations around the world, requirements made exceptionally clear after the attack on the consulate in Benghazi; 
  • Taking steps to enhance the hard-won readiness of the Army by funding unmet requirements for training, flying hours, and depot maintenance necessary to support ongoing and future operations, particularly in Africa where I recently visited; and,
  • Ensuring a ready and robust Navy – prepared to support global Combatant Commander requirements by:

                                mitigating shortfalls in the aviation depot maintenance accounts;
                                restoring CVN-73 funding to retain it as a viable fleet asset to maintain an 11-carrier fleet; 
                                construction of a 12th San Antonio class amphibious ship;
                                recommending plans for the Ticonderoga Class Cruisers and Dock Landing Ships in the Chairman’s mark;
                                restoring steaming days critical to training our fleet at sea; and, 
                                fully funded flying hour programs across the services to ensure our pilots don’t have to step into an aircraft without appropriate flying time and necessary pre-qualifications.

The legislation will be considered by the full U.S. House of Representatives during the week of May 19, 2014.

READ:

Release: Readiness Subcommittee Approves Language for the Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act

Committee Summary of the FY15 NDAA

WATCH:

Opening Statement of Readiness Chairman Rob Wittman for Readiness Portion of Fiscal Year 2015 NDAA (full text here)

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.

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