Subcommittee Chairman Neil Abercrombie Opening Statement Subcommittee Hearing Army Equipment Reset

Subcommittee Chairman Neil Abercrombie Opening Statement Subcommittee Hearing Army Equipment Reset

"The Army has been confronted for nearly four years with the difficult task of providing and supporting the full range of equipment -- helicopters, tanks, trucks, humvees, unmanned aerial systems, counter improvised explosive device equipment, and other equipment -- to its forces in Iraq and Afghanistan.

"Now it must quickly equip and support another 17,500 personnel. Meanwhile, equipment will continue to be destroyed and worn out as more troops are sent to theater.

"This is in addition to equipping, supporting, manning, and training those Army forces not deployed -- rebuilding prepositioned equipment stocks to meet other contingency requirements and funding and executing its modernization programs.

"We want to be assured first, that our men and women will not be deployed into Iraq without having all of the necessary equipment for them to safely as possible accomplish their assigned missions.

"Secondly, we would like to hear that the FY 08 request will include all known requirements for FY 08 that I have mentioned -- including the $13.6 billion projected for reset in FY 08.

"Thank you, Mr. Chairman."

http://armedservices.house.gov/apps/list/speech/armedsvc_dem/aberc_opening013107.shtml