The House Armed Services Committee holds a member day hearing on the NDAA.
Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more:
https://account.forbes.com/membership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=growth_non-sub_paid_subscribe_ytdescript
Stay Connected
Forbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbes
More From Forbes: http://forbes.com
Fuel your success with Forbes. Gain unlimited access to premium journalism, including breaking news, groundbreaking in-depth reported stories, daily digests and more. Plus, members get a front-row seat at members-only events with leading thinkers and doers, access to premium video that can help you get ahead, an ad-light experience, early access to select products including NFT drops and more:
https://account.forbes.com/membership/?utm_source=youtube&utm_medium=display&utm_campaign=growth_non-sub_paid_subscribe_ytdescript
Stay Connected
Forbes on Facebook: http://fb.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/forbes
Forbes Video on Instagram: http://instagram.com/forbes
More From Forbes: http://forbes.com
Category
🗞
NewsTranscript
00:00 - Member Day, I thank you for taking time to be here today.
00:03 We look forward to hearing from you all
00:06 on your priorities for the fiscal 2025
00:09 National Defense Authorization Act.
00:11 In addition to testimony provided today,
00:13 several members have submitted statements for the record.
00:16 I ask unanimous consent that all members' written statements
00:19 be made part of the record without objection, so ordered.
00:21 The members will, the committee will recognize members
00:24 giving statements one at a time in order that they arrive.
00:29 We limit the testimony to four minutes a day,
00:31 but we will enter full remarks into the record.
00:33 Thank you all for being here today.
00:34 With that, I yield the ranking member
00:36 for any opening statement he may have.
00:37 - Just to say that I thank the members for coming.
00:41 This process of the NDAA and the Armed Services Committee
00:44 is for the whole house, so we work with members,
00:47 regardless if you're on the committee or not.
00:50 We understand you have equities, interests
00:52 in our national security and oversight of DOD,
00:55 and we always look forward to getting those contributions
00:58 and incorporating them into the product.
00:59 So, look forward to hearing your ideas.
01:01 And with that, I'll yield back to the chair.
01:04 - Thank you, ranking member.
01:04 Chair will now recognize our first witness,
01:07 Mr. Moore of Utah.
01:09 You're recognized.
01:09 - Thank you, Mr. Chairman, to both of you.
01:11 It is excellent and a great experience
01:14 to be back in your committee room today.
01:17 Many good experiences here, and I appreciate
01:19 the work that you all do as you navigate tumultuous waters
01:24 and continue to find a way to build our armed services
01:27 sincerely, both when I was on committee as off,
01:31 still just as dedicated to serving that same cause.
01:34 So, sincerely thank you for what you do.
01:36 As a former member of this committee,
01:39 I'm honored to have the opportunity to testify
01:40 on this year's defense priorities
01:42 for the 1st District of Utah and the over 28,000
01:45 uniformed and civilian airmen and workers
01:47 of Hill Air Force Base whom I represent in Congress,
01:49 because it has the rare privilege of being
01:51 both an operational active duty installation
01:53 with combat-ready F-35 aircraft,
01:56 while also hosting a major civilian workforce.
01:58 Hill Air Force Base serves multiple mission sets
02:01 that will be crucial to the war fighter
02:02 during a potential peer conflict scenario
02:05 in the Indo-Pacific.
02:07 As more F-35s become operational,
02:09 opening more hangar space in the Ogden Air Logistics Complex
02:12 at Hill to maintain these fighters
02:14 will be critical to the future of US air superiority.
02:18 However, critical resources, technical expertise,
02:20 and man hours are pulled away from the F-35 program
02:23 every day to maintain legacy aircraft,
02:25 such as the A-10, that do not fit
02:28 modern day operational relevance.
02:31 I've worked with committee members and staff
02:32 on base text language that would require the Air Force
02:35 to go through an annual briefing exercise
02:37 to determine where A-10 divestiture delays are occurring,
02:41 their strategy for maintaining an aggressive timeline,
02:43 and how to transition civilian maintainers
02:45 towards the F-35 program.
02:47 However, organic depot performance
02:50 is also driven by access to talent.
02:52 I'm deeply concerned about the DoD's inability
02:54 to hire qualified and skilled military members
02:56 shortly after they retire,
02:58 and how this impacts the overall readiness
02:59 of our armed forces.
03:01 I've supported language both on and off
03:02 the Armed Services Committee that would repeal
03:04 the existing 180-day waiting period
03:07 that a military retiree must complete
03:09 until he or she can enter a civilian job at the DoD.
03:12 And today, I'd like to again emphasize
03:14 how important this change is as this committee
03:16 drafts and considers our next NDAA.
03:20 At a time when our depots, arsenals, shipyards
03:23 struggle to keep up with the brutally competitive
03:25 hiring environments for the private sector,
03:27 the federal government needs access to candidates
03:29 who possess active security clearances
03:31 and the specialized skills required
03:33 to support our national security priorities.
03:35 Hill Air Force Base in all of Utah
03:36 is honored to be the home of the 388th Fighter Wing,
03:40 the Air Force's first combat-coded
03:42 fifth-generation fighter unit.
03:43 When I speak to the leadership at Hill,
03:44 they remind me that F-35 aircraft
03:47 have not consistently been accompanied
03:49 by equally modern fifth-generation weaponry
03:51 and sensory equipment, which could gravely
03:54 impact national security in a conflict scenario.
03:57 I look forward to working with members of this committee
03:58 to include the language in the NDAA
04:00 that would require Air Force to develop
04:02 an annual service-wide planning initiative
04:04 to quickly implement fifth-generation weapons
04:06 into the F-35 program and a strategy
04:08 for any needed policy changes to accomplish this.
04:11 Additionally, Hill Air Force Base
04:13 and surrounding defense partners
04:14 are rightfully proud of their work
04:15 developing the LGM 35A Sentinel program,
04:20 which will replace our aging Minuteman III
04:23 intercontinental ballistic missiles
04:25 and bring nearly 4,000 jobs to northern Utah.
04:28 Utahns know that the foundation of strategic deterrence
04:30 and the protection of the American homeland
04:32 is a credible nuclear force,
04:34 which is why supporting the Sentinel program
04:36 remains so crucial given the unstable
04:37 geopolitical environment we find ourselves in today.
04:41 I remain a steadfast advocate for the program
04:43 and look forward to working with committee members
04:44 to ensure its delivery.
04:46 Lastly, I would be remiss not to mention
04:48 the major quality of life challenges
04:51 currently facing military service members in my district.
04:54 Fueled by pandemic population shifts
04:56 and DOD programs at Hill,
04:58 housing costs in northern Utah have exploded,
04:59 rising by 27% in 2021 alone.
05:02 At the same time, MilCon backlog
05:04 and military dormitory crisis remains a permanent issue,
05:06 meaning that lower enlisted airmen
05:08 are being forced off base to seek housing
05:10 they cannot afford.
05:11 I've worked with committee members to craft language
05:13 requiring Comptroller General of the United States
05:15 to access alternate locality pay formulations
05:18 to more appropriately reflect changes,
05:19 cost of living, cost of housing,
05:20 and other factors impacting civilian
05:22 and uniformed service members
05:24 to the Department of Defense and the VA.
05:26 Thank you again for this opportunity to testify.
05:27 I look forward to working with your teams
05:29 as securing these priorities in this year's NDAA.
05:31 Thank you.
05:32 - Thank you, Mr. Moore.
05:34 Mr. Stanton, you're recognized.
05:35 - Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman, Chairman Rogers,
05:37 Ranking Member Smith, members of this committee.
05:39 Thank you so much for the opportunity to testify today
05:41 about my priorities and concerns
05:44 as the representative
05:44 of Arizona's 4th Congressional District.
05:47 As you work on crafting this year's NDAA,
05:50 I ask you to keep in mind the issues
05:52 that will have an impact on those constituents.
05:54 Our defense sector is a huge source of pride in Arizona.
05:57 We play a vital role in the national security
06:00 for all Americans.
06:01 Arizona has experts in innovation, technology,
06:03 manufacturing, and the defense industry
06:06 supplies a great number of jobs for my district and state.
06:09 Overall, the defense industry has an economic impact
06:11 of $19 billion equating to 80,000 jobs.
06:16 So I ask you to continue to invest
06:17 in these innovative technologies
06:19 and production manufacturing.
06:21 One of my top priorities before this committee
06:22 is to finally bring justice to Arizona's downwinders.
06:26 Downwinders is a term where people who were downwind
06:29 of radioactive pollution
06:30 from more than 200 weapons tests done in Arizona
06:33 between 1945 and 1962.
06:36 My bill, HR 4754, the Downwinders Parity Act,
06:41 would extend the Radiation Exposure Compensation Act
06:45 to communities in Northern Arizona and Southern Nevada
06:48 who were exposed to cancer-causing radiation
06:50 from atomic weapons testing.
06:53 We as partners in the federal government
06:54 have a responsibility to make amends to downwinders
06:56 and miners who were exposed to radiation,
06:59 but I am profoundly disappointed
07:00 that the bipartisan effort to extend RECA
07:02 and expand it to Arizonas
07:04 was stripped from the final NDA bill last year,
07:07 and I implore HASC to include RECA
07:09 as part of this year's NDA
07:12 and welcome the opportunity to support
07:13 Representatives Vasquez and Moylan
07:15 in their efforts on this committee.
07:18 Radioactive fallout doesn't adhere to state boundaries.
07:20 It is imperative that we expand eligibility
07:22 to all impacted parties,
07:24 and I hope the expansion will be included
07:26 in this year's bill.
07:27 As the committee knows, Arizona is getting warmer.
07:31 Last year, the state's capital of Phoenix
07:33 had 133 days with temperatures at or above 100 degrees.
07:37 That is harmful to anyone,
07:38 but those on our military installations
07:41 can face even higher levels of danger.
07:44 The Marine Corps Station in Yuma, Arizona,
07:46 right on the border,
07:47 is one of the country's hottest military bases.
07:49 The heat impacts our recruiting ability
07:52 and our service readiness.
07:53 In fact, almost 3,000 troops
07:55 experienced heat-related illness last year,
07:58 a number that has grown 50% in five years.
08:00 As you craft this critical bill,
08:02 I ask you to think of weatherizing
08:04 our defense infrastructure
08:05 and consider innovations to keep our military men
08:07 and women cool and safe.
08:09 Finally, I wanna touch on the importance
08:11 of keeping Arizona's, America's data safe.
08:15 Right now, the DOD purchases many of its computers
08:17 and printers from manufacturers in China.
08:19 Healthy trade and global consumerism are important,
08:22 yet as we focus on building our own business
08:24 and nearshoring our own technologies,
08:26 we need to think of the implications
08:28 of procurement from our strategic competitors.
08:32 This is not just in weapons and manufacturing,
08:33 but in personnel equipment.
08:36 Other agencies have prohibited the purchase of good
08:38 from select companies starting back in 2007.
08:41 Believing procuring personnel equipment
08:42 from a competitor in this way
08:44 could be a national security risk.
08:46 America's defense systems has some
08:47 of the most sensitive information in the world,
08:49 especially now as we invest
08:50 in American semiconductor manufacturing initiatives.
08:53 I ask you to consider data sensitivity
08:55 as you craft this year's NDA.
08:57 Thank you again, Mr. Chairman, ranking member,
08:59 for allowing me to speak at this Member Day.
09:01 I appreciate your great leadership
09:02 and your attention to these important issues.
09:04 Thank you.
09:06 - Thank you, Mr. Stanton.
09:07 Mr. Kielmeyer, you're recognized.
09:09 - Thank you, Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith
09:12 for holding this hearing today.
09:13 I'm here to discuss three of my legislative priorities
09:15 focused on improving infrastructure
09:17 in and around military installations,
09:19 affordable housing for our nation's veterans
09:21 and service members, and lastly, maternal health care
09:24 for our service members and their families.
09:27 First, I wanna touch on the
09:28 Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program
09:30 and the Defense Community Infrastructure Program.
09:32 I represent Washington State.
09:37 That's all right.
09:38 I represent Washington State's 6th Congressional District,
09:40 home to Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton.
09:42 Kitsap is home to one of the Navy's four public shipyards,
09:45 the Puget Sound Naval Shipyard
09:46 and Intermediate Maintenance Facility.
09:49 PSNS plays an outsized role for the Department of Defense's
09:52 current priority feeder, Indo-Paycom,
09:54 in that it is the Navy's only dry dock on the West Coast
09:57 capable of performing carrier maintenance.
09:59 As you know, in 2018, the Navy released
10:02 its 20-year Shipyard Infrastructure Optimization Program,
10:05 or PSIOP, to revitalize and modernize infrastructure
10:08 at the shipyards, increase climate resilience,
10:10 and improve resistance to natural disasters.
10:12 The timely execution of PSIOP is vital
10:15 to the Navy's mission, to the security
10:16 of the work being done in the yards,
10:18 and to our national security.
10:20 Any delays or shortfalls in funding for PSIOP
10:22 could result in additional deterioration and damage
10:24 to the already substandard facilities, utilities,
10:27 dry docks, equipment, and information technology
10:29 infrastructure at our public shipyards.
10:33 PSNS has already faced seismic mitigation needs,
10:35 and without robust funding, our shipyards will be unable
10:38 to meet current and future demands of the fleet.
10:40 Additionally, the Defense Community Infrastructure Program,
10:43 DSIP, was created in 2019 to help communities
10:46 around military installations
10:48 address infrastructure deficiencies.
10:50 It's a unique program because it allows
10:52 the Defense Department to partner with local communities
10:55 and share the often expensive costs
10:57 of infrastructure upgrades.
10:58 So I appreciate your consideration of my request
11:00 to prioritize funding for the PSIOP,
11:03 including continued seismic mitigation efforts,
11:05 and my request for authorizing $100 million
11:07 for the Defense Community Infrastructure Program
11:09 to grow this important program.
11:11 Second, I wanna bring the VALID Act to your attention.
11:14 The VALID Act is a bipartisan, bicameral,
11:17 and focuses on affordable housing,
11:18 specifically for our nation's veterans.
11:20 One important way we can honor their sacrifice
11:22 is by ensuring those who serve can achieve their dream
11:25 of one day owning a home.
11:26 VA home loans can offer veterans, active duty service
11:29 members, reservists, and guard members advantages
11:31 over other loan options, including lower down payments,
11:34 more favorable interest rates, and lower closing costs,
11:37 often saving tens of thousands of dollars
11:39 over the life of the loan.
11:41 Unfortunately, despite these benefits,
11:42 overall usage of the VA home loan program
11:45 is surprisingly low.
11:47 Providing a simple update to the Department of Housing
11:49 and Urban Development's existing
11:51 Informed Consumer Choice Disclosure Notice
11:53 will help close that loop and ensure veterans
11:56 and service members are aware of their hard-earned
11:58 VA home loan benefit.
11:59 Specifically, the bill would add VA home loans
12:02 to the current disclosure form lenders provide
12:04 to prospective home buyers, which right now only compares
12:07 conventional and FHA loan options.
12:10 Several members of your committee have sponsored the bill,
12:12 and it's supported by stakeholder organizations,
12:14 including the Veterans Association
12:16 of Real Estate Professionals, Veterans United Home Loans,
12:19 the Military Officers Association of America,
12:21 National Association of Realtors, and the VFW.
12:24 Lastly, I plan to introduce the Midwives
12:26 for Service Members Act of 2024.
12:28 This legislation would direct the DOD
12:30 to develop and establish a five-year demonstration project
12:33 designed to evaluate the cost, quality of care,
12:36 and impact on maternal and fetal outcomes
12:38 of using certified professional midwives
12:41 and certified midwives under the TRICARE program.
12:44 Like the Doula and Lactation Counselors Pilot Program
12:47 in the fiscal year 2021 NDAA,
12:49 this bill aims to expand healthcare access,
12:52 which is becoming a, including in districts like mine,
12:55 which is becoming a maternity care desert
12:57 after the labor and delivery unit
12:58 at Naval Hospital Bremerton closed.
13:01 We need to expand and increase the quality of
13:04 and access to maternal care nationwide.
13:06 So thank you for your time,
13:07 thank you for your leadership on these issues.
13:09 Look forward to working with you
13:10 to move these critical pieces of legislation forward,
13:12 and I yield back.
13:13 Thank you.
13:13 - Thank you, Mr. Kilmer.
13:15 Mr. McGovern, you're recognized.
13:16 - Thank you very much,
13:17 Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith,
13:19 for giving me the opportunity to talk to you
13:21 about one of my priorities
13:22 for the FY 2025 National Defense Authorization Act.
13:26 The Wounded Warrior Service Dog Program
13:29 was created as a $1 million pilot program
13:32 in the FY 2015 Defense Appropriations Bill,
13:35 and has seen consistent bipartisan support
13:38 to increase funding to its current level of $60 million
13:40 for FY 2024.
13:43 I want to thank this committee
13:44 for recognizing the success of the program in 2020
13:48 by including the amendment that I filed
13:50 with the late Representative Jackie Walorski
13:52 and a bipartisan en bloc amendment,
13:54 which established the Wounded Warrior Service Dog Program
13:57 as a program of record in the FY 2021 NDAA.
14:01 Regrettably, the program shifted its primary purpose in 2023.
14:06 It's no longer a competitive grant program
14:09 that provides resources for nonprofits
14:11 to increase capacity to raise, train, and place service dogs
14:15 with eligible veterans and service members.
14:18 Instead, the primary goal now is to research standards
14:22 for raising service dogs.
14:24 The new guidelines for organizations applying for funding
14:27 do not even consider if the award would increase capacity
14:30 to place service dogs with veterans.
14:33 As you well know, so many of our service members
14:35 and veterans return home from the battlefield
14:38 suffering from post-traumatic stress,
14:40 traumatic brain injury,
14:41 and other mental and physical disabilities.
14:44 Over the past decade, I've had the opportunity
14:46 to spend time at the National Education
14:48 for Assistant Dog Services, or NEADS,
14:51 which is located in Princeton, Massachusetts.
14:54 Like similar nonprofits,
14:55 NEADS customizes each dog's training
14:58 to serve its future owner.
15:00 Dogs can be trained to retrieve medicine
15:01 from a refrigerator, turn the lights on,
15:04 and scan an empty house before the owner enters,
15:07 guard an owner's back in a public setting,
15:09 and even wake up an owner from a nightmare.
15:12 I've had countless conversations with constituents
15:14 and other veterans around the country who tell me
15:17 that having a service dog on their support team
15:20 has saved their lives.
15:21 They tell me about how it helped them reintegrate
15:24 into the social framework of their families and communities
15:28 and often reduces their reliance on prescription drugs.
15:31 So today, I'm here to ask the committee
15:33 to include the text of the bipartisan amendment
15:35 I submitted last year with Representatives Fitzpatrick,
15:38 Loloa, D'Esposito, and Gabarino
15:41 that was included in the House Pass 2024 NDAA,
15:45 which would clarify the congressional intent
15:48 of establishing the Wounded Warrior Service Dog Program.
15:52 Rather than repurposing these resources,
15:54 let's get back to supporting
15:56 these highly technical nonprofits
15:58 so they can continue to do what they do best,
16:01 help our veterans.
16:02 Again, thank you, Chairman Rogers
16:04 and Ranking Member Smith for your attention.
16:06 - Thank you, Mr. McGovern.
16:09 Mr. James, you're recognized.
16:10 - Thank you, Chairman Rogers.
16:11 I appreciate your time and this opportunity to address you.
16:14 As I did last year, I'm here again to advocate
16:17 for Selfridge Air National Guard Base.
16:19 Selfridge is home to the 127th Wing,
16:21 houses the A-10s and the KC-135 tankers,
16:24 with both missions being divested
16:27 in 2027 and 2029, respectively.
16:30 We welcome a new KC-46 Alpha mission
16:32 that will come in a few years,
16:33 but Selfridge is a fighter base.
16:36 It has been for over a century.
16:39 Selfridge, the jewel of Southeast Michigan,
16:41 is located next to Lake St. Clair
16:43 and in the Great Lakes region,
16:44 a northern border that provides
16:46 critical security not just to the United States,
16:48 but our allies to the north.
16:50 It is most critical that the assets,
16:52 our most critical assets,
16:54 the men and women on the ground, are protected.
16:56 This great wing includes six weapons school graduates,
17:01 top gun equivalent for the Air Force,
17:04 and many other pilots, maintainers,
17:06 and hundreds of jobs in the area,
17:09 on the base, and in the region
17:10 that would be lost if we do not replace our fighter mission.
17:14 These are things that are difficult to come by,
17:16 yet despite the Michigan's delegation's best efforts
17:18 to secure a future fighter mission for Selfridge,
17:21 it has eluded us.
17:23 Through the work of our governor,
17:26 our senators, our house members,
17:28 and our community, we are confident
17:29 that we can welcome an F-15EX mission
17:33 or an F-35 mission to Southeast Michigan
17:37 for a state that has lost three fighter missions
17:40 in as many decades,
17:41 for a state that feels left behind and disinvested,
17:45 and for a state that has outsized capacity and ability
17:48 to fight and win our nation's wars.
17:50 Along with fighters, Selfridge is a prime location
17:53 to host future armed reconnaissance platforms.
17:56 I personally can account for that
17:58 as a former Apache pilot myself.
18:00 Following the Army's cancellation of the fire program,
18:03 I hope that the Army considers
18:05 stationing manned attack aircraft
18:08 in the form of Apache 64 Echo models
18:11 with the Army National Guard of Michigan.
18:13 My hope is that in this NDAA,
18:15 we can help the Army consider
18:17 a future attack aircraft mission
18:19 because we formerly had Cobras before 9/11 in Michigan.
18:23 Again, Michigan is an outsized
18:26 and has an outsized role in defense of this nation,
18:28 and we have a legacy of attack and fighter missions.
18:31 What we've done so far,
18:35 we've advocated for fleet leveling.
18:37 The process in which the Air Force
18:38 would temporarily recapitalize its fighters like the A-10,
18:41 unfortunately this idea has received significant pushback
18:45 from the Air Force, leaving us with little other options
18:47 but to seek action in this NDAA.
18:49 We've advocated for increasing capacity
18:52 for advanced fighter production.
18:54 I'm concerned that the Air Force
18:55 is canceling the F-15EX production starting next year
18:58 when this is the only other platform available
19:01 to joint strike fighter.
19:03 Our governor and I don't always agree,
19:07 but what we do agree about is the importance of Selfridge.
19:10 She has worked well with our state legislature
19:14 and our delegation and has transmitted
19:17 significant investment in Selfridge
19:19 in order to enable us to bring a fighter mission to Selfridge
19:24 as this committee formulates the FY25 NDAA,
19:28 it is critical that Congress enact
19:30 a fighter recapitalization policy
19:33 that will maintain 25 or 25 fighter wings
19:35 across the National Guard to include Selfridge.
19:37 Congress has a vital role to ensure
19:39 that our total force maintains its critical strategic assets
19:42 to remain competitive with China and future pacing threats.
19:45 Lastly, as the chairman
19:46 of the Foreign Affairs Subcommittee on Africa,
19:48 I want to advocate for supporting the critical mission
19:50 that AFRICOM is doing on the continent
19:52 by requesting funding for Somalia persistent presence,
19:56 high-risk ISR, enterprise C2 resiliency,
19:59 and commercial satellite communications.
20:01 Along with these priorities,
20:02 I hope the committee considers
20:03 supporting AFRICOM's objectives
20:05 with the Combined Joint Interagency Coordination Group,
20:07 West Africa.
20:09 These priorities will help stem the threats
20:10 coming from Russia and China
20:12 and terrorist organizations like Al-Shabaab.
20:14 We are seeing China considering building
20:16 a naval base in West Africa,
20:18 which presents a direct threat to the United States
20:20 given its strategic location in the Atlantic.
20:22 I would appreciate your feedback, Mr. Chairman,
20:24 and I hope your team can connect with mine
20:26 on these critical matters to Michigan and to our nation.
20:29 Thank you, sir.
20:30 - Thank you, Mr. James.
20:31 Ms. Baczynski, you're recognized.
20:33 - I don't think your microphone's on.
20:38 Sorry, thank you very much. - There you go.
20:39 - That helps.
20:40 Good morning, Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith.
20:44 Thank you for this opportunity to provide testimony
20:46 before the House Armed Services Committee
20:48 as a part of the fiscal year 2025
20:51 National Defense Authorization Act, NDAA, member day.
20:56 I'm here today to advocate for the inclusion
20:58 of a bipartisan initiative focused on the safety
21:01 of our military members
21:03 and in support of domestic manufacturing.
21:06 This bipartisan provision crafted in partnership
21:09 with House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Bost
21:12 has two major aims.
21:13 The first is that it will require the Department of Defense
21:17 to issue regulations to the Department of Army
21:21 to ensure all boots are Barry Amendment compliant
21:24 and meet the highest quality and performance standards.
21:27 Our troops deserve to have the best quality
21:30 military equipment and uniforms
21:32 to support the rigors of training and deployment.
21:35 The second aim of this provision
21:37 is to improve our domestic industrial supply base
21:41 by requiring boots be American made
21:43 and that all materials in the supply chain
21:46 are American sourced.
21:48 Over the past several years,
21:49 there have been a concerning influx of poorly made,
21:53 non-Barry compliant and foreign sourced footwear
21:56 targeted at the United States Army.
21:59 Army Regulation 671 was created to ensure
22:04 that garments and equipment worn by our soldiers
22:07 meet certain appearance and quality standards
22:10 and to make sure equipment could withstand
22:13 severe conditions.
22:15 However, over time, the market for Army soldier footwear
22:19 has been taken over by foreign manufacturers
22:22 to the point where much of the Army footwear we see today
22:26 only have the appearance of AR 670 design
22:30 but do not meet the performance or quality standards.
22:33 This means current Army uniform regulations
22:36 allow soldiers to purchase foreign made combat boots
22:40 that pose a significant safety threat to them
22:43 and their fellow soldiers.
22:45 Ensuring American sourced and made boots
22:48 are worn by our military is not a novel idea.
22:52 In fact, the US Navy and Marine Corps
22:55 required their service members wear
22:58 American made boots at all times.
23:00 It is past time we require the same
23:03 for the Department of the Army.
23:05 I thank Chairman, Congressman, Chairman Bost
23:08 for his partnership on this important provision
23:11 and I ask that the committee support its inclusion
23:13 and passage in this year's
23:15 National Defense Authorization Act.
23:18 Thank you again for this opportunity to submit testimony
23:21 and I look forward to working with you
23:23 on these important issues.
23:25 - We thank you.
23:26 And the chair and I recognize
23:27 Representative Glucen Camp Perez.
23:30 - Thank you Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member Smith
23:32 for the opportunity to testify today.
23:35 I am here to advocate for the inclusion
23:37 of certain provisions of my bipartisan bill,
23:39 the Para EMT Act, which I introduced
23:41 with Congressman Finstad in FY25
23:44 National Defense Authorization Act.
23:47 Our service members who completed
23:49 a military emergency medical technical training
23:52 while serving have an incredible skill set
23:55 that should be celebrated and utilized
23:57 as they transition to the civilian,
23:59 to the armed forces.
24:02 We can better serve both those transitioning service members
24:05 as well as our rural communities
24:07 by making it easier for experienced veterans
24:11 to transition from medics
24:12 to becoming certified civilian paramedic and EMT.
24:16 This provision would create a program
24:18 for states to facilitate and expedite
24:20 the transition of medics coming out of the military
24:22 to meet certification, licensure,
24:24 and other requirements applicable
24:26 to becoming an EMT or a paramedic.
24:28 This will support the recruitment of EMS staff
24:31 in rural areas like mine,
24:32 cut red tape for veterans looking to build
24:35 on their service to their country
24:36 by becoming a certified EMT or paramedic.
24:39 I appreciate Representative Finstad's partnership
24:43 to support rural first responders
24:44 and strengthen this line of defense for our communities.
24:48 I also wanna touch on a few other priorities
24:50 that are important to my district and constituents.
24:52 First, I wanna say I'm grateful for my repair amendment,
24:55 which was adopted on the floor in last year's House NDAA,
25:00 and I'd like to reiterate the importance
25:02 of the armed forces being able to fix its own equipment.
25:06 This continues to be critical for our military readiness
25:08 and equipment confidence.
25:10 When military maintenance technicians
25:12 aren't able to fix equipment on the field,
25:15 whether it's an engine or a generator
25:17 because of restrictive contracting terms,
25:20 it harms our military readiness,
25:22 and it is a gut pinch to technicians
25:24 who came here to fix things,
25:27 not to be on a wait list and a phone call
25:30 with a representative from a manufacturer.
25:32 Lastly, I want to note that I was glad
25:34 to see last year's final NDAA include
25:37 the historically high 5.2% pay raise for service members.
25:42 I hope this year proves no different,
25:45 and we again show our service members
25:48 that their selflessness and service is valued
25:51 and deserves appropriate compensation.
25:54 I thank you again for the opportunity to testify,
25:57 and I yield back.
25:58 - We thank you, and I think you're gonna be very happy
26:02 when you see what we propose for pay increases this year
26:04 for our service members.
26:06 In fact, this afternoon, we're gonna have
26:07 our quality of life panel report press conference
26:10 that will disclose that along with some other things
26:12 we're gonna do to enhance the quality of life
26:14 of our service members.
26:15 I thank the gentlelady for her testimony.
26:17 The ranking member is recognized
26:18 for any closing comments he may have.
26:21 All right, with that, thank you for your participation.
26:23 We are adjourned.