Hearing of the Readiness Subcomittee of the House Armed Services Committee - Opening Remarks of Rep. Wittman, Hearing on "Effects of Reduced Infrastructure and Base Operating Support Investments on Readiness"

Hearing

"Good morning. Thank you all for being here today for our Readiness hearing on the 'Effects of Reduced Infrastructure and Base Operating Support Investments on Readiness.'

For this hearing, we will have two separate panels: one with the Army and one with the Marine Corps.

Our first panel of experts is from the Army:
* Lieutenant General David D. Halverson, U.S.A, Assistant Chief of Staff for Installation Management
* Major General Robert P. White, U.S.A.,
Deputy Chief of Staff, G-3/5/7; and
* Colonel Andrew Cole, U.S.A,
Garrison Commander, Fort Riley, Kansas

The second panel is from the Marine Corps:
* Major General Charles L. Hudson, U.S.M.C.
Commander, Marine Corps Installations Command and Assistant Deputy Commandant, Installations and Logistics Department
* Major General Brian D. Beaudreault, U.S.M.C.
Commanding General, 2nd Marine Division; and
* Colonel Chris Pappas, U.S.M.C., Commander, Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point

Overall operational readiness recovery has been the focus of much of the Readiness Subcommittee's information gathering, legislation, and oversight since the drawdown of forces in Iraq and Afghanistan. Over the past decade, the Department of Defense has consistently taken risk in infrastructure investments and reduced mission support services by redirecting funds from installation programs to other operational and training budget priorities. This risk has been exacerbated by uncertain funding levels stemming from repeated continuing resolutions and sequestration. These infrastructure and installation support risks pose a challenge to the recovery of military readiness. The purpose of this hearing is to clarify the Army and Marine Corps' risk choices for infrastructure and installation services, to address funding priorities and mitigation strategies, and to gather more detail on the current and future impacts of these decisions on operations and training from the commander's perspective.

As the witnesses testify, I would ask you to address existing risks in the infrastructure and installation support program and impacts to readiness; how will the recent 2-year budget reshape those risks and impacts; and what will be the level of risk and impacts over the next 10 years if budget levels remain constant?"

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