Sen. Begich Receives Armed Services Committee Assignments

Press Release

Sen. Mark Begich is well positioned to work for a strong national defense and to represent Alaskan military interests as a result of his subcommittee assignments on the Senate Armed Services Committee. Begich requested and has been assigned to the Subcommittee on AirLand, the Subcommittee on Personnel, and the Subcommittee on Strategic Forces.

"Having already served in full committee meetings of the Senate Armed Services Committee, including the confirmation hearings for our Under Secretaries of Defense, I am eager to begin my work on these prestigious subcommittees," Sen. Begich said. "My service on the Strategic Forces Subcommittee is of particular importance considering the growing threat of North Korea and the strategic importance that Alaska serves to our missile defense shield."

The AirLand Subcommittee has jurisdiction over issues pertaining to the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force. Alaska hosts several military installations that are under the oversight of the Army and Air Force including Fort Greely, Fort Richardson, Fort Wainwright, Eielson Air Force Base, and Elmendorf Air Force Base.

The Subcommittee on Personnel has jurisdiction over issues of pay rates, education benefits, health care, military justice, and morale for all active and reserve personnel. Alaska is currently home to 25,000 service members and 72,000 military veterans.

The Subcommittee on Strategic Forces has jurisdiction over strategic forces, ballistic missile defense, nuclear armaments, and space programs. Alaska plays a crucial role to the country's missile defense with Fort Greely hosting one of two Ground-Based Midcourse Defense systems.

Senator Begich is currently cosponsoring two bills before the Senate Armed Services Committee including S. 342 providing for the treatment of service as a member of the Alaska Territorial Guard during World War II as active service for purposes of retirement pay for members of the Armed Forces.

The second bill is S. 262 to improve and enhance the operations of the reserve components of the Armed Forces, to improve mobilization and demobilization processes for members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces, and for other purposes.

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