Press Releases

​Washington, D.C. – Congressman Rob Wittman (VA-1) today supported passage of H.R. 4435, The Howard P. “Buck” McKeon National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2015, which was approved by the House of Representatives by a vote of 325-98.

“Passage of the Fiscal Year 2015 National Defense Authorization Act sends a strong message that our nation’s military has the support of Congress,” Wittman said. “It’s our constitutional responsibility, and my highest priority, to ensure our all-volunteer force has the training and equipment necessary to complete their missions and come home safely. We must be committed to ensuring that our force is always ready to respond if a crisis arises. The charge for our nation’s leaders is to navigate difficult issues and confront budget choices that will impact our national security for years to come. Our nation’s defense must not be dictated by numbers, but by strategy. The fact remains that national security requirements, as outlined in the defense strategy, far exceed the budget that has been provided.”

“This bill attempts to limit operational risk, while also balancing present -- and future -- readiness requirements within an unrealistic and ultimately damaging topline. However, our work here is not done. We must continue to focus on restoring the readiness lost as a result of compounding budget cuts and arbitrary budget decisions. We ask a lot of our men and women who serve. I will continue to fight to bolster the overall readiness of our military to ensure that our force is manned, trained, equipped, and prepared to meet the challenges on the horizon with overwhelming superiority and strength.”

Important national security imperatives in the legislation include:

• 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;

·         Funding the Marine Corp Air-Ground Task Forces or MAGTAFs in SOUTHCOM AND CENTCOM which are needed to secure embassies and military installations across the globe – a requirement made clear after the tragedy of Benghazi;

·         Funding flying hour programs, training and depot maintenance across the services;

·         Ensuring robust steaming days critical to fleet training;

• Ensuring a ready and robust Navy that is prepared to support global Combatant Commander requirements by funding the construction of a 12th San Antonio class amphibious ship (LPD-28); and,

·         Restoring CVN-73 funding to retain its viability as a fleet asset.

READ:

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

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

Committee Summary of the FY15 NDAA

WATCH:

Floor Statement of Readiness Chairman Rob Wittman on H.R. 4435, the Fiscal Year 2015 NDAA

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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