SPEAKERS       CONTENTS       INSERTS    
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85–584
2003
  
[H.A.S.C. No. 108–1]

COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES

ONE HUNDRED EIGHTH CONGRESS

FIRST SESSION

HEARING HELD
FEBRUARY 5, 2003

  
  

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES

One Hundred Eighth Congress

DUNCAN HUNTER, California, Chairman
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CURT WELDON, Pennsylvania
JOEL HEFLEY, Colorado
JIM SAXTON, New Jersey
JOHN M. MCHUGH, New York
TERRY EVERETT, Alabama
ROSCOE G. BARTLETT, Maryland
HOWARD P. ''BUCK'' MCKEON, California
MAC THORNBERRY, Texas
JOHN N. HOSTETTLER, Indiana
WALTER B. JONES, North Carolina
JIM RYUN, Kansas
JIM GIBBONS, Nevada
ROBIN HAYES, North Carolina
HEATHER WILSON, New Mexico
KEN CALVERT, California
ROB SIMMONS, Connecticut
JO ANN DAVIS, Virginia
ED SCHROCK, Virginia
W. TODD AKIN, Missouri
J. RANDY FORBES, Virginia
JEFF MILLER, Florida
JOE WILSON, South Carolina
FRANK A. LOBIONDO,New Jersey
TOM COLE, Oklahoma
JEB BRADLEY, New Hampshire
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ROB BISHOP, Utah
MICHAEL TURNER, Ohio
JOHN KLINE, Minnesota
CANDICE S. MILLER, Michigan
PHIL GINGREY, Georgia
MIKE ROGERS, Alabama
TRENT FRANKS, Arizona

IKE SKELTON, Missouri
JOHN SPRATT, South Carolina
SOLOMON P. ORTIZ, Texas
LANE EVANS, Illinois
GENE TAYLOR, Mississippi
NEIL ABERCROMBIE, Hawaii
MARTY MEEHAN, Massachusetts
SILVESTRE REYES, Texas
VIC SNYDER, Arkansas
JIM TURNER, Texas
ADAM SMITH, Washington
LORETTA SANCHEZ, California
MIKE MCINTYRE, North Carolina
CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ, Texas
ELLEN O. TAUSCHER, California
ROBERT A. BRADY, Pennsylvania
BARON P. HILL, Indiana
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JOHN B. LARSON, Connecticut
SUSAN A. DAVIS, California
JAMES R. LANGEVIN, Rhode Island
STEVE ISRAEL, New York
RICK LARSEN, Washington
JIM COOPER, Tennessee
JIM MARSHALL, Georgia
KENDRICK B. MEEK, Florida
MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO, Guam
RODNEY ALEXANDER, Louisiana
TIM RYAN, Ohio

ROBERT S. RANGEL, Staff Director

COMMITTEE ORGANIZATION

House of Representatives,
Committee on Armed Services,
Washington, DC, Wednesday, February 5, 2003.

    The committee met, pursuant to call, at 12:40 p.m., in room 2118 Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Duncan Hunter (chairman of the committee) presiding.

    The CHAIRMAN. The hearing will come to order.

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    Let me first welcome all members returning and new to the House Armed Services Committee of the 108th Congress edition. It is a great honor to sit here with Bob Stump and Floyd Spence looking over my shoulder, and I just want to report to all the members, I just talked to Bob Stump a few minutes ago and he wished everybody well. I asked him if he had a message for the committee. He said to tell you to give them hell; so the chairman is thinking about you, and I assured him we are all thinking about him.

    We have got a pretty full schedule today, so I will try to make short opening remarks.

    As chairman, it is my intention and pledge to continue what really has been the tradition, the trademark of this committee, and that is bipartisanship. And especially as we look at the backdrop of the world that is unfolding before us and the scenario that is unfolding before us with respect to Iraq and Colin Powell's case that is being made today before the United Nations with respect to Iraq, I think it is more important than ever that we undertake our job with a couple of things the first several months of this year, and that is with a lot of energy, a lot of enthusiasm and a lot of bipartisan dedication to the men and women who serve in uniform for this country.

    There are going to be a lot of important issues that we can't agree on. At times I put my partisan hat on, just like everybody who ever sat in the House of Representatives, and I am sure everyone else has their partisan hat also. But there is a time when we have to link arms and move forward together and perhaps more than any other time in our recent history, this is one of those times.

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    I want to let you know we are going to be very engaged in the months ahead. We have got a new makeup, a new panel structure, which is mission oriented. I think the members are going to find it to be an exciting panel structure, and it is going to allow people to really immerse themselves in defense issues.

    And let me say to all of the new members, we have got a lot of great new members here, Republicans and Democrats. This is a committee in which you can really engage and can really work issues, because when you get immersed in national security issues, you will find that they are so critical to our survival and most of the issues revolve around people, some of the most interesting, most dedicated, finest people in this country are the folks that wear uniforms.

    And, of course, the aspect of national security, our most important function, is always there, letting us know that that is our duty to try to do the very best we can to do a couple of things: one, to give the President of the United States—once American foreign policy is forged and we move ahead and he is commander in chief—give him all the tools he needs; and second, to kind of keep the wheels turning, and that means to ensure that we purchase weapons systems that are at a reasonable cost, that are cost effective, that our R&D establishment continues to percolate and keeps us ahead of potential adversaries.

    We must keep the folks that we represent, in excess of 1 million people in uniform, keep that quality of life up for those folks and do everything we can to make sure that when the conflict is over, they come home safely to their families.

    And so overlaying this committee is, in one word, or two words, ''massive responsibility''.
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    And let me just say to all of the new members, Republicans and Democrats—and I know Ike, I think, will echo this. You can really immerse yourself in those issues and you can be of great value. I think I was never more busy on this committee than when I was a freshman, and I had lots of issues, and I trotted out and worked hard on those issues, engaged in them and tried to create product of value; and I did that as a minority member in the committee.

    But the committee is so bipartisan that you will discover, when you have something to contribute, you are allowed to contribute because what we present as a finished product to the country is better national security and everybody, Republican and Democrat, wants to see that.

    So we are going to move on in just a minute, and I am going to recognize some of our new members, our brand-new members. But before I do that, I want to turn to my partner, to Ike Skelton, the ranking Democrat, a guy with whom I have worked for many, many years, who has a great sense of bipartisanship and who also has really dedicated himself to the business of national security.

    The gentleman from Missouri, Ike Skelton.

    Mr. SKELTON. Thank you very much, Chairman Hunter. We certainly congratulate you on being the chairman. We truly look forward to working with you.

    I might tell the folks here that besides being a colleague, you have been a long-time personal friend, and we have been able to work together on many, many interesting issues through the years since you came to Congress. And I know that we will have excellent leadership. And we will do our very best to work together and work with you; and all of us on both sides of the aisle, I know, give you hearty congratulations on your title, on your opportunity to lead, and we will do our very, very best to be with you.
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    I appreciate your confidence and know you will be very, very fair as a chairman. And the hearing schedule, I know that it is going to be robust. There will be, as you mentioned, some disagreements. They will be civil. At the end of the day we want to do what is best not only for the American military, but for the United States of America and its citizens.

    We do have a bipartisan committee. We are very unique in that respect. And it has worked well despite the occasional—and they are occasional and, frankly, rare—partisan issues that come up. We work very, very well. The bipartisan staff, the attitudes of people in hearings, the way to amend the bill at the end of the day, all have been a bipartisan effort. So I congratulate you.

    And, Mr. Chairman, as I understand, we have three items on today's agenda: the adoption of the many rules, the adoption of the committee oversight plan and the appointment of the committee staff; and I want my colleagues on this side of the aisle to know that I have been consulting extensively on the drafting of the two, the committee rules and the oversight plan, and certainly wholeheartedly endorse the appointment of the staff.

    I might say a special thanks, and the members of our side of the aisle should know that we had a serious problem with one item in the proposed committee rule, and in a bipartisan effort, a successful effort, you, Mr. Chairman, dropped that. And it was a very constructive tone that you set for us for the rest of the year. And I personally thank you, and all of us on our side of the aisle thank you. So I hope——

    Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Chairman, may I be permitted to speak out of order to ask a question of the Chair on a matter of the good and welfare of the committee for a few seconds? There is——
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    The CHAIRMAN. Sure.

    Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Oh, I beg your pardon, Ike. I thought you were finished.

    Mr. SKELTON. No. Well, other than congratulations and we look forward to working with you, in a few moments I will introduce the new members of our committee on the Democratic side. Now, thank you.

    The CHAIRMAN. Well, I thank the gentleman.

    And, Neil, you might want to wait until we have introduced our new members. But if you would like to speak now, go ahead.

    Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Well, it is just that—I don't know if a formal resolution is required or not, but I just wonder whether it might be in order for you to contact Mr. Stump on behalf of the committee assembled today to express our high regard and good wishes for him, and note to him that we note his absence and regret it and wish him all the best.

    The CHAIRMAN. Well, thank you very much, Neil, and I will take that as a unanimous consent request and we will get a—we will draft a message from everyone. I hope everyone would sign it, and we will ship it off to him. And the kid that joined the Navy a couple of months after his 16th birthday and went off to fight at places like Iwo Jima and other great battles is hanging in there in Arizona, and I know he wants to hear from us. So thank you very much—appreciate that.
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    At this time what I would like to do is run down through the list of our very fine new members who are coming into the committee and let everybody have a chance to know who they are. And our first new member is Frank LoBiondo, the first new Republican member. Frank is serving his fifth term. He represents the Second District of New Jersey. It is the home of the New Jersey Air National Guard 177th fighter wing, the Coast Guard Air Station—Atlantic City, for any of those who have a free weekend—and the Coast Guard Training Center in Cape May; and Frank serves on the Transportation and Infrastructure Committee where he is chairman of the Subcommittee on Coast Guard and Maritime Transportation.

    So, Frank, thank you for coming and lending your expertise; and we hope we can get a little cross-pollination of your important issues with this committee, too. So thank you very much. Great to have you aboard. And also let's give Frank a round of applause.

    And leading off with the freshman class is Tom Cole of Oklahoma's Fourth District, formerly represented by our great colleague and committee colleague, J.C. Watts. And Tom's district includes Tinker Air Force Base and Fort Sill, and I have got a special interest because I have got a young man out there at Fort Sill—so I want to work closely with Tom here—at Fort Sill, or at least until the next Marine artillery class is completed at Fort Sill.

    So, Tom, great to have you aboard. You are a talented guy. You have been around in politics and developed a great national respect, and we really appreciate having you aboard.

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    Tom Cole, ladies and gentlemen.

    And next is Jeb Bradley of the First District of New Hampshire, and his district includes the Portsmouth Naval Shipyard.

    And, Jeb, your reputation preceded you as a really bright and enthusiastic person and as somebody that can bring great value to our committee. Thank you for coming aboard.

    Jeb Bradley.

    And next is our new member, Rob Bishop, First District of Utah; and this district, formerly represented by Jim Hanson, a guy who really left his mark on this committee, is home to Hill Air Force Base as well as the Utah Test and Training Range, Toole Army Depot and the Dugway Proving Ground, so a guy who has got a lot of folks in uniform who serve this country.

    And we know you are going to serve us well.

    Rob Bishop.

    And joining us next is Mike Turner. He is taking over for Ambassador Tony Hall in Ohio's Third District. He was twice elected mayor of Dayton, Ohio, first in 1993, and he won re-election in 1997, and of course Wright-Patterson Air Force Base is located just outside of Dayton.

    Mike Turner, thank you for coming aboard.
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    And next is John Kline, representing the Second District of Minnesota, and John spent 25 years in the Marine Corps before retiring as a colonel, and served in both Vietnam and Somalia. And during his time in the service he carried the so-called ''nuclear football'' for Presidents Carter and Reagan.

    So thank you very much, John, and it is great to have you aboard with your military expertise. We look forward to working with you.

    John Kline.

    And from the Tenth District of Michigan we are pleased to welcome Candice Miller. She is succeeding Dave Bonior, and her district includes Selfridge Air National Guard Base.

    And, Candice, I know that Ike Skelton wants to talk to you about one of your first missions being a 10-day tour of military establishments in the Far East. Pack your bags.

    Candice Miller, ladies and gentlemen.

    And next we have Phil Gingrey, representing the new 11th District of Georgia. Dr. Gingrey is an obstetrician and former state senator, and his district includes the Marietta plant of Lockheed Martin, as well Dobbins Air Reserve Base and Fort Benning. And his campaign war cry was, ''Dr. Phil Gingrey, he delivers''.
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    Congratulations, Phil Gingrey. Thank you.

    Speaking of Fort Benning, a neighbor of Phil's district is Mike Rogers of the Third District of Alabama, just across the state line from Fort Benning. And Mike's district, formerly represented by our committee colleague, Bob Riley, includes Anniston Air Depot, or Army Depot, where his father was a long-time employee. And with Anniston in the district, Maxwell Air Force Base in an adjoining district and Fort Benning just across the line in Georgia, the military is a major employer in the Third District, and Mike has evidenced a strong desire to serve that great constituency and serve our country.

    Mike Rogers, ladies and gentlemen.

    And last, but certainly not least, we have joining us Trent Franks, who is succeeding our good friend and former chairman, Bob Stump in the Second District of Arizona; and Trent's base includes Luke Air Force Base.

    And, Trent, thank you for volunteering to come aboard this committee, working hard to do it, and you have a great tradition to carry on in Arizona. We know you are going to do it well.

    Trent Franks.

    So, Mr. Skelton, we have a great team of freshmen coming aboard on the Republican side. I know you have a similar team coming aboard on the Democrat side and you are now recognized to introduce your folks.
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    Mr. SKELTON. Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. I might say that it was a very popular committee and many were standing in line and these are the winners in the choice of the steering committee. So I would like to welcome them if I may.

    First, a gentleman who is in his second House term, who also serves on the Financial Services Committee, Steve Israel from the Second District of New York, which includes much of Long Island's defense industry. We certainly welcome Steve in his maiden voyage on our Armed Services Committee.

    Steve.

    Rick Larsen, who is not here at this moment, is a permanent member of this committee now. He was a temporary member prior to now, and I know that when you see him, you will welcome him. Next to him is Jim Cooper, who I am sure will be here momentarily. Jim is also a former Member from Tennessee's Fifth Congressional District, returning to Congress after several years away from The Hill. He previously represented the Fourth District from 1983 to 1985, during which time he served on the Commerce and Budget Committees. During his time in Congress, Jim worked as an investment banker as well as an adjunct professor at Vanderbilt University.

    Jim Marshall comes to us from Georgia's Third Congressional District, which includes the Warner Robbins Air Logistic Center. And Jim is very familiar with the military on a personal level, raised in a military family. His father and grandfather wore stars on their shoulders. Jim served as an enlisted airborne ranger in Vietnam before completing college and law school; and before coming to Congress, Jim was a law professor and also the mayor of Macon, Georgia. We look forward to him serving on our committee.
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    Welcome, Jim.

    Our next new member is Kendrick Meek, representing Florida's 17th district. Now, if his last name sounds somewhat familiar, it is because he succeeds his wonderful, wonderful mother, our distinguished former colleague, Carrie Meek. And Kendrick, also known as Ken, am I correct, is a former state trooper, as well as a former member of the Florida House of Representatives and the Florida State Senate.

    We are very, very pleased for you to follow your family tradition, Kendrick, by being with us. Congratulations.

    Madeleine Bordallo comes from Guam, where she served as the lieutenant governor from 1995 until last year. In addition to being the first woman lieutenant governor, she also served as the first lady of Guam. As many of you know, Guam is home to a strategically important Navy installation as well as Air Force facilities, and I know Madeleine will do an excellent job of representing the people of Guam on this committee.

    And we welcome you, Madeleine.

    I had confirmed earlier today from our next member that the way you pronounce the name of the State is Louisiana; it is all one syllable. And Rodney Alexander comes from Louisiana's Fifth Congressional District, northeast Louisiana. In addition to having a background in the insurance and construction business, Rodney was a member of the Louisiana House of Representatives where he was a member of the Appropriation and Health and Welfare Committees.
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    And, Rodney, it is certainly a pleasure to welcome you.

    The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Mr. Skelton.

    And let's all—let's—now Mr. Cooper has joined us also. Let's give a round of applause to Mr. Cooper and all of our members.

    And, folks, on to business.

    All members should have before them a copy of Committee Resolution No. 1 concerning the Committee Rules for the 108th Congress. This rules package was coordinated with Mr. Skelton and subsequently provided to all members' offices last Friday. And before entertaining any discussion of the rules, let me call on our staff director, Mr. Rangel, to briefly summarize the rules.

    [The following information was submitted for the record.]

COMMITTEE RESOLUTION NO. 1

    Resolved, That the Committee on Armed Services, U.S. House of Representatives, adopt the committee rules for the 108th Congress, which are stated in the copy before each Member.

             RULES OF THE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES
                                  108TH CONGRESS
                         RULES GOVERNING PROCEDURE

RULE 1. APPLICATION OF HOUSE RULES

The Rules of the House of Representatives are the rules of the Committee on Armed Services (hereinafter referred to in these rules as the "Committee") and its subcommittees so far as applicable.

RULE 2. FULL COMMITTEE MEETING DATE

(a) The Committee shall meet every Wednesday at 10:00 a.m., and at such other times as may be fixed by the chairman of the Committee (hereinafter referred to in these rules as the "Chairman"), or by written request of members of the Committee pursuant to clause 2(c) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives.

(b) A Wednesday meeting of the Committee may be dispensed with by the Chairman, but such action may be reversed by a written request of a majority of the members of the Committee.

RULE 3. SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING DATES

Each subcommittee is authorized to meet, hold hearings, receive evidence, and report to the Committee on all matters referred to it. Insofar as possible, meetings of the Committee and its subcommittees shall not conflict. A subcommittee chairman shall set meeting dates after consultation with the Chairman and the other subcommittee chairmen, and the ranking minority member of the subcommittee with a view toward avoiding simultaneous scheduling of committee and subcommittee meetings or hearings wherever possible.

RULE 4. SUBCOMMITTEES

Pursuant to the authority granted by Section 3(b), relating to Separate Orders, of H. Res. 5 as adopted by the House of Representatives on January 7, 2003, the Committee shall be organized to consist of six standing subcommittees with the following jurisdictions:

Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces:  All Army and Air Force acquisition programs (except strategic weapons and lift programs, special operations and information technology accounts).  In addition, the subcommittee will be responsible for all Navy and Marine Corps aviation programs, National Guard and Army and Air Force reserve modernization, and ammunition programs.

Subcommittee on Readiness: Military readiness, training, logistics and maintenance issues and programs.  In addition, the subcommittee will be responsible for all military construction, installations and family housing issues, including the base closure process.

Subcommittee on Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities:  Department of Defense counter proliferation and counter terrorism programs and initiatives.  In addition, the subcommittee will be responsible for Special Operations Forces, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, information technology and programs, force protection policy and oversight, and related intelligence support.

Subcommittee on Total Force: Military personnel policy, reserve component integration and employment issues, military health care, military education and POW/MIA issues.  In addition, the subcommittee will be responsible for Morale, Welfare and Recreation issues and programs.

Subcommittee on Strategic Forces:  Strategic Forces (except deep strike systems), space programs, ballistic missile defense and Department of Energy national security programs (except non-proliferation programs).

Subcommittee on Projection Forces:  Navy and Marine Corps programs (except strategic weapons, space, special operations and information technology programs), deep strike bombers and related systems, and strategic lift programs.

RULE 5. COMMITTEE PANELS

(a) The Chairman may designate a panel of the Committee consisting of members of the Committee to inquire into and take testimony on a matter or matters that fall within the jurisdiction of more than one subcommittee and to report to the Committee.

(b) No panel so appointed shall continue in existence for more than six months. A panel so appointed may, upon the expiration of six months, be reappointed by the Chairman.

(c) No panel so appointed shall have legislative jurisdiction.

RULE 6. REFERENCE AND CONSIDERATION OF LEGISLATION

(a) The Chairman shall refer legislation and other matters to the appropriate subcommittee or to the full Committee.

(b) Legislation shall be taken up for a hearing or markup only when called by the Chairman of the Committee or subcommittee, as appropriate, or by a majority of those present and voting.

(c) The Chairman, with approval of a majority vote of a quorum of the Committee, shall have authority to discharge a subcommittee from consideration of any measure or matter referred thereto and have such measure or matter considered by the Committee.

(d) Reports and recommendations of a subcommittee may not be considered by the Committee until after the intervention of three calendar days from the time the report is approved by the subcommittee and available to the members of the Committee, except that this rule may be waived by a majority vote of a quorum of the Committee.

RULE 7. PUBLIC ANNOUNCEMENT OF HEARINGS AND MEETINGS

Pursuant to clause 2(g)(3) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Chairman of the Committee or of any subcommittee or panel shall make public announcement of the date, place, and subject matter of any committee or subcommittee hearing at least one week before the commencement of the hearing.  However, if the Chairman of the Committee or of any subcommittee or panel, with the concurrence of the respective ranking minority member of the Committee, subcommittee or panel, determines that there is good cause to begin the hearing sooner, or if the Committee, subcommittee or panel so determines by majority vote, a quorum being present for the transaction of business, such chairman shall make the announcement at the earliest possible date.  Any announcement made under this rule shall be promptly published in the Daily Digest, promptly entered into the committee scheduling service of the House Information Resources, and promptly posted to the internet web page maintained by the Committee.

RULE 8. BROADCASTING OF COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND MEETINGS

Clause 4 of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives shall apply to the Committee.

RULE 9. MEETINGS AND HEARINGS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

(a) Each hearing and meeting for the transaction of business, including the markup of legislation, conducted by the Committee or a subcommittee shall be open to the public except when the Committee or subcommittee, in open session and with a majority being present, determines by record vote that all or part of the remainder of that hearing or meeting on that day shall be in executive session because disclosure of testimony, evidence, or other matters to be considered would endanger the national security, would compromise sensitive law enforcement information, or would violate any law or rule of the House of Representatives. Notwithstanding the requirements of the preceding sentence, a majority of those present, there being in attendance no fewer than two members of the Committee or subcommittee, may vote to close a hearing or meeting for the sole purpose of discussing whether testimony or evidence to be received would endanger the national security, would compromise sensitive law enforcement information, or would violate any law or rule of the House of Representatives.  If the decision is to proceed in executive session, the vote must be by record vote and in open session, a majority of the Committee or subcommittee being present.

(b) Whenever it is asserted by a member of the committee that the evidence or testimony at a hearing may tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate any person, or it is asserted by a witness that the evidence or testimony that the witness would give at a hearing may tend to defame, degrade, or incriminate the witness, notwithstanding the requirements of (a) and the provisions of clause 2(g)(2) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, such evidence or testimony shall be presented in executive session, if by a majority vote of those present, there being in attendance no fewer than two members of the Committee or subcommittee, the Committee or subcommittee determines that such evidence may tend to defame, degrade or incriminate any person.  A majority of those present, there being in attendance no fewer than two members of the Committee or subcommittee, may also vote to close the hearing or meeting for the sole purpose of discussing whether evidence or testimony to be received would tend to defame, degrade or incriminate any person.  The Committee or subcommittee shall proceed to receive such testimony in open session only if the Committee or subcommittee, a majority being present, determines that such evidence or testimony will not tend to defame, degrade or incriminate any person.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, and with the approval of the Chairman, each member of the Committee may designate by letter to the Chairman, a member of that member's personal staff with Top Secret security clearance to attend hearings of the Committee, or that member's subcommittee(s) (excluding briefings or meetings held under the provisions of committee rule 9(a)), which have been closed under the provisions of rule 9(a) above for national security purposes for the taking of testimony. The attendance of such a staff member at such hearings is subject to the approval of the Committee or subcommittee as dictated by national security requirements at that time. The attainment of any required security clearances is the responsibility of individual members of the Committee.

(d) Pursuant to clause 2(g)(2) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, no Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner may be excluded from nonparticipatory attendance at any hearing of the Committee or a subcommittee, unless the House of Representatives shall by majority vote authorize the Committee or subcommittee, for purposes of a particular series of hearings on a particular article of legislation or on a particular subject of investigation, to close its hearings to Members, Delegates, and the Resident Commissioner by the same procedures designated in this rule for closing hearings to the public. 

(e) The Committee or the subcommittee may vote, by the same procedure, to meet in executive session for up to five additional consecutive days of hearings. 

RULE 10. QUORUM

(a)
For purposes of taking testimony and receiving evidence, two members shall constitute a quorum.

(b) One-third of the members of the Committee or subcommittee shall constitute a quorum for taking any action, with the following exceptions, in which case a majority of the Committee or subcommittee shall constitute a quorum:

(1) Reporting a measure or recommendation;

(2) Closing committee or subcommittee meetings
     and hearings to the public;

(3) Authorizing the issuance of subpoenas;

          (4) Authorizing the use of executive session
               material; and

          (5) Voting to proceed in open session after voting
               to close to discuss whether evidence or 
               testimony to be received would tend to
               defame, degrade, or incriminate any person.

(c) No measure or recommendation shall be reported to the House of Representatives unless a majority of the Committee is actually present.

RULE 11. THE FIVE-MINUTE RULE

(a) The time any one member may address the Committee or subcommittee on any measure or matter under consideration shall not exceed five minutes and then only when the member has been recognized by the Chairman or subcommittee chairman, as appropriate, except that this time limit may be exceeded by unanimous consent.  Any member, upon request, shall be recognized for not to exceed five minutes to address the Committee or subcommittee on behalf of an amendment which the member has offered to any pending bill or resolution.  The five-minute limitation shall not apply to the Chairman and ranking minority member of the Committee or subcommittee.

(b) Members present at a hearing of the Committee or subcommittee when a hearing is originally convened shall be recognized by the Chairman or subcommittee chairman, as appropriate, in order of seniority.  Those members arriving subsequently shall be recognized in order of their arrival. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Chairman and the ranking minority member will take precedence upon their arrival.  In recognizing members to question witnesses in this fashion, the Chairman shall take into consideration the ratio of the majority to minority members present and shall establish the order of recognition for questioning in such a manner as not to disadvantage the members of either party.

(c) No person other than a Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner of Congress and committee staff may be seated in or behind the dais area during Committee, subcommittee, or panel hearings and meetings.

RULE 12. POWER TO SIT AND ACT; SUBPOENA POWER

(a) For the purpose of carrying out any of its functions and duties under rules X and XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the Committee and any subcommittee is authorized (subject to subparagraph (b)(1) of this paragraph):

(1) to sit and act at such times and places within the United States, whether the House is in session, has recessed, or has adjourned, and to hold hearings, and

(2) to require by subpoena, or otherwise, the attendance and testimony of such witnesses and the production of such books, records, correspondence, memorandums, papers and documents, including, but not limited to, those in electronic form, as it considers necessary.

(b)(1) A subpoena may be authorized and issued by the Committee, or any subcommittee with the concurrence of the full Committee Chairman, under subparagraph (a)(2) in the conduct of any investigation, or series of investigations or activities, only when authorized by a majority of the members voting, a majority of the Committee or subcommittee being present. Authorized subpoenas shall be signed only by the Chairman, or by any member designated by the Chairman.

(2) Pursuant to clause 2(m) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, compliance with any subpoena issued by the Committee or any subcommittee under subparagraph (a)(2) may be enforced only as authorized or directed by the House.

RULE 13. WITNESS STATEMENTS

(a) Any prepared statement to be presented by a witness to the Committee or a subcommittee shall be submitted to the Committee or subcommittee at least 48 hours in advance of presentation and shall be distributed to all members of the Committee or subcommittee at least 24 hours in advance of presentation.  A copy of any such prepared statement shall also be submitted to the Committee in electronic form.  If a prepared statement contains national security information bearing a classification of secret or higher, the statement shall be made available in the Committee rooms to all members of the Committee or subcommittee at least 24 hours in advance of presentation; however, no such statement shall be removed from the Committee offices. The requirement of this rule may be waived by a majority vote of the Committee or subcommittee, a quorum being present.

(b) The Committee and each subcommittee shall require each witness who is to appear before it to file with the Committee in advance of his or her appearance a written statement of the proposed testimony and to limit the oral presentation at such appearance to a brief summary of his or her argument.

RULE 14. ADMINISTERING OATHS TO WITNESSES

(a) The Chairman, or any member designated by the Chairman, may administer oaths to any witness.

(b) Witnesses, when sworn, shall subscribe to the following oath:

"Do you solemnly swear (or affirm) that the testimony you will give before this Committee (or subcommittee) in the matters now under consideration will be the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, so help you God?"

RULE 15. QUESTIONING OF WITNESSES

(a) When a witness is before the Committee or a subcommittee, members of the Committee or subcommittee may put questions to the witness only when recognized by the Chairman or subcommittee chairman, as appropriate, for that purpose.

(b) Members of the Committee or subcommittee who so desire shall have not to exceed five minutes to interrogate each witness or panel of witnesses until such time as each member has had an opportunity to interrogate each witness or panel of witnesses; thereafter, additional rounds for questioning witnesses by members are discretionary with the Chairman or subcommittee chairman, as appropriate.

(c) Questions put to witnesses before the Committee or subcommittee shall be pertinent to the measure or matter that may be before the Committee or subcommittee for consideration.

RULE 16. PUBLICATION OF COMMITTEE HEARINGS AND MARKUPS

The transcripts of those hearings and mark-ups conducted by the Committee or a subcommittee that are decided by the Chairman to be officially published will be published in verbatim form, with the material requested for the record inserted at that place requested, or at the end of the record, as appropriate.  Any requests to correct any errors, other than those in transcription, or disputed errors in transcription, will be appended to the record, and the appropriate place where the change is requested will be footnoted.

RULE 17. VOTING AND ROLLCALLS

(a) Voting on a measure or matter may be by record vote, division vote, voice vote, or unanimous consent.

(b) A record vote shall be ordered upon the request of one-fifth of those members present. 

(c) No vote by any member of the Committee or a subcommittee with respect to any measure or matter shall be cast by proxy.

(d) In the event of a vote or votes, when a member is in attendance at any other committee, subcommittee, or conference committee meeting during that time, the necessary absence of that member shall be so noted in the record vote record, upon timely notification to the Chairman by that member.

RULE 18. COMMITTEE REPORTS

(a) If, at the time of approval of any measure or matter by the Committee, any member of the Committee gives timely notice of intention to file supplemental, minority, additional or dissenting views, that member shall be entitled to not less than two calendar days (excluding Saturdays, Sundays, and legal holidays except when the House is in session on such days) in which to file such views, in writing and signed by that member, with the staff director of the Committee. All such views so filed by one or more members of the Committee shall be included within, and shall be a part of, the report filed by the Committee with respect to that measure or matter.

(b) With respect to each record vote on a motion to report any measure or matter, and on any amendment offered to the measure or matter, the total number of votes cast for and against, the names of those voting for and against, and a brief description of the question, shall be included in the committee report on the measure or matter.

RULE 19. POINTS OF ORDER

No point of order shall lie with respect to any measure reported by the Committee or any subcommittee on the ground that hearings on such measure were not conducted in accordance with the provisions of the rules of the Committee; except that a point of order on that ground may be made by any member of the Committee or subcommittee which reported the measure if, in the Committee or subcommittee, such point of order was (a) timely made and (b) improperly overruled or not properly considered.

RULE 20. PUBLIC INSPECTION OF COMMITTEE ROLLCALLS

The result of each record vote in any meeting of the Committee shall be made available by the Committee for inspection by the public at reasonable times in the offices of the Committee. Information so available for public inspection shall include a description of the amendment, motion, order, or other proposition and the name of each member voting for and each member voting against such amendment, motion, order, or proposition and the names of those members present but not voting.

RULE 21. PROTECTION OF NATIONAL SECURITY INFORMATION

(a) Except as provided in clause 2(g) of Rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives, all national security information bearing a classification of secret or higher which has been received by the Committee or a subcommittee shall be deemed to have been received in executive session and shall be given appropriate safekeeping.

(b) The Chairman of the Committee shall, with the approval of a majority of the Committee, establish such procedures as in his judgment may be necessary to prevent the unauthorized disclosure of any national security information received classified as secret or higher. Such procedures shall, however, ensure access to this information by any member of the Committee or any other Member, Delegate, or Resident Commissioner of the House of Representatives who has requested the opportunity to review such material.

RULE 22. COMMITTEE STAFFING

The staffing of the Committee, the standing subcommittees, and any panel designated by the Chairman shall be subject to the rules of the House of Representatives.

RULE 23. COMMITTEE RECORDS

The records of the Committee at the National Archives and Records Administration shall be made available for public use in accordance with rule VII of the Rules of the House of Representatives. The Chairman shall notify the ranking minority member of any decision, pursuant to clause 3(b)(3) or clause 4(b) of rule VII, to withhold a record otherwise available, and the matter shall be presented to the Committee for a determination on the written request of any member of the Committee.

RULE 24.  HEARING PROCEDURES

Clause 2(k) of rule XI of the Rules of the House of Representatives shall apply to the Committee.




    Mr. RANGEL. Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

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    Mr. Chairman, as you mentioned, the rules package was provided to all committee members on Friday. I would summarize it in the following fashion.

    It is essentially an extension of the same working rules of the Committee on Armed Services that have been in effect for the 107th Congress with modifications in two categories, the first category being those changes essentially in Rule 4 that are necessary to reflect the changed organization of the subcommittees.

    As the chairman mentioned, the committee will be operated with an additional number of—with one additional subcommittee, six instead of the previous five, and with a fundamentally different approach in terms of how the subcommittee jurisdiction is structured. The committee rules reflect this new structure, and thus, the necessity for the changes to conform.

    The second category is largely stylistic and conforming changes to House Rules. These are nonsubstantive changes, but necessary based on some adjustments that were made in the House Rules, and we need to parallel those in the Committee Rules.

    As Mr. Skelton mentioned, there was an active discussion on how the committee would treat the one change in the House Rules that permitted the option for committees to change their rules to make available the procedure to delay or roll votes during proceedings. After a lot of discussion, the consensus was, that was something that was not necessary or desirable in the manner in which the committee operates; so the rules package in front of the members does not contain any changes to that effect. And the same basic procedures that have been in effect for quite some time now will continue to govern committee process.
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    The CHAIRMAN. Thank you, Mr. Rangel.

    At this time is there any discussion or any question on the Committee Rules?

    If there is no further discussion, are there any amendments to the Committee Rules?

    If there are no amendments, the Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania Mr. Weldon for the purpose of offering a motion regarding Committee Resolution No. 1 concerning Committee Rules for the 108th Congress.

    Mr. WELDON. Mr. Chairman, I move the adoption of the Committee Resolution No. 1.

    The CHAIRMAN. The staff director will read the resolution.

    Mr. RANGEL. Resolved, that the Committee on Armed Services, U.S. House of Representatives, adopt the Committee Rules for the 108th Congress, which are stated in the copy before each member.

    The CHAIRMAN. The question now occurs on the motion of the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Weldon. So many as are in favor will say aye.

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    So many as are opposed will say no.

    The ayes have it. Committee Resolution No. 1 is agreed to, and without objection a motion to reconsider is laid upon the table. That was the first key vote I am informed.

    The next order of business is adoption of the committee oversight plan. House Rules require all House committees to adopt an oversight plan no later than February 15. The members should all have before them a copy of the proposed oversight plan for the 108th Congress. And as was the case with the rules package, the oversight plan was provided to all members' offices last Friday, and Mr. Skelton and the minority were consulted on its contents.

    [The following information was submitted for the record.]

COMMITTEE RESOLUTION NO. 2

    Resolved, That the Committee on Armed Services, U.S. House of Representatives, adopt the committee oversight plan for the 108th Congress, a copy of which is before each Member.

Committee on Armed Services
Oversight Plan
108th Congress

This oversight plan is filed pursuant to clause 2(d) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives which requires that, not later than February 15 of the first session of a Co

Introduction

The oversight responsibilities of the Committee on Armed Services will be conducted primarily within the context of the committee's consideration of the annual defense authorization bill.  This legislation covers the breadth of the operations of the Department of Defense as well as a significant portion of the annual operating budget of the Department of Energy.  The annual national defense function budget of approximately $393 billion involves millions of military and civilian personnel, thousands of facilities, and hundreds of agencies, departments, and commands located throughout the world.  The committee will continue to perform general oversight of the structure and management of the Department of Defense and related topics.

The committee conducts continuous oversight of laws, programs, and agencies under permanent authority in Titles 10 (Armed Forces), 32 (National Guard), 37 (Pay and Allowances), 42 (Atomic Energy), and 50 (War and National Defense), United States Code, which are within its jurisdiction.

The jurisdiction of the committee, pursuant to clause 2(c) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives is as follows:

(1) Ammunition depots; forts; arsenals; Army, Navy, and Air Force reservations and establishments.

(2) Common defense generally.

(3) Conservation, development, and use of naval petroleum and oil shale reserves.

(4) The Department of Defense generally, including the Departments of the Army, Navy, and Air Force generally.

(5) Interoceanic canals generally, including measures relating to the maintenance, operation, and administration of interoceanic canals.

(6) Merchant Marine Academy, and State Merchant Marine Academies.

(7) Military applications of nuclear energy.

(8) Tactical intelligence and intelligence related activities (TIARA) of the Department of Defense.

(9) National Security aspects of merchant marine, including financial assistance for the construction and operation of vessels, the maintenance of the U.S. shipbuilding and ship repair industrial base, cabotage, cargo preference and merchant marine officers and seamen as these matters relate to national security.

(10) Pay, promotion, retirement, and other benefits and privileges of members of the armed services.

(11) Scientific research and development in support of the armed services.

(12) Selective service.

(13) Size and composition of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and Air Force.

(14) Soldiers' and sailors' homes.

(15) Strategic and critical materials necessary for the common defense.

In addition to its legislative jurisdiction and general oversight function, the committee has special oversight functions with respect to international arms control and disarmament and the education of military dependents in schools pursuant to clause 3(g) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives.

Oversight Agenda

The committee will continue its oversight and assessment of threats to U.S. national security.  The committee will regularly assess national security threats and challenges as it begins consideration of the fiscal year 2004 and fiscal year 2005 defense budget requests.  This effort will involve appropriate oversight hearings with the Secretary of Defense, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the individual service secretaries and chiefs of staff, combatant commanders, other officials of the Department of Defense and the military departments, officials of the Central Intelligence Agency and other defense-related intelligence agencies, and the Secretary of Energy, the Under Secretary for Nuclear Security and other officials of the Department of Energy.  In addition, the committee will invite the views and perspectives of outside experts in academia, industry, associations, and those in private life on these matters.

The oversight agenda below, unless otherwise noted, is designed to support the consideration by the committee and, ultimately, the House of  Representatives of the annual defense authorization bill as well as the committee’s broader oversight responsibilities.  The issues identified below are expected to be on-going areas of oversight activity throughout the 108th Congress.  In addition, the committee will continue to pay particular attention to the mandates placed on executive departments and agencies by Public Law 103-62, the Government Performance and Results Act of 1993.  The committee will examine closely the progress of the Department of Defense, the military departments, and the Department of Energy in implementing Public Law 103-62, to include the use of performance-based budgeting techniques and five-year strategic planning documents, for programs within its jurisdiction.  In this context, pursuant to clause 2(d)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives, the committee will also examine relevant rules, regulations, statutes, and court decisions affecting the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy for their effects on efficiency and good management practices.

Given the unique nature of national security issues and related oversight of the armed forces, the committee reiterates that the oversight agenda is subject to the emergence of unforeseen events that may displace previously planned activities.  Such events significantly complicate the ability to prescribe with great accuracy or specificity the entire oversight agenda of the committee.  For instance, the oversight of defense activities by the committee has historically involved in-depth assessments of military operations and other major events that are generally difficult to predict in advance.  Most recently, the committee conducted extensive oversight into the aftermath of the events of September 11, 2001, paying particular attention to the conduct of the war on terrorism, force protection of military personnel, equipment and installations.  Additionally, the committee has examined the United States’ increasingly uneasy relations with Iraq and is concerned with the disturbing and evolving situation in North Korea, especially with regard to its nuclear weapons and missile programs.  Other examples of past, unanticipated oversight include the terrorist bombing attack on the U.S.S. Cole in Aden, Yemen and the deployment of U.S. ground forces to Bosnia.  The breadth and demands of these reviews are such that they can dominate committee and staff resources, sometimes at the expense of other planned activities.  The continuing unsettled nature of the post-September 11 world is such that the committee fully expects that this type of event-driven oversight will continue to be required and will inevitably have an impact upon other planned oversight activities.

In addition, the committee has a long tradition of translating oversight activities into prescriptive legislative action as reflected in past comprehensive efforts to provide for concurrent receipt of retirement and disability benefits for veterans with qualifying combat related disabilities, to reform the military retirement system, the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act, the Federal Acquisition Workforce Improvement Act, the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994, the Federal Acquisition Reform Act of 1996, the establishment of the National Nuclear Security Administration and related reform of the management of the national security programs of the Department of Energy, and reform of the military health care system.  Additionally, the committee has taken an active role in the reauthorization of the Export Administration Act and expects to continue that effort in the 108th Congress.  The committee will continue to maintain a strong linkage between formal oversight efforts and legislative initiatives.

In addition to the above, the following specific areas and subjects are identified for special attention during the 108th Congress:

National Military Strategy and Other Defense Policy Issues

Particular attention will be given, but not limited, to the following: the adequacy of active and reserve component force structure and end strength to carry out the national military strategy of the United States; Department of Defense efforts to convert lower priority military personnel spaces to higher priority requirements; an examination of initiatives to enhance guard and reserve forces and the integration of active and reserve components; a continuing assessment of the role of contingency operations in the execution of the national military strategy and the force structure required to sustain such operations; implementation of the National Military Strategy delineated in the Quadrennial Defense Review; an examination of the technological, doctrinal, and other factors affecting the long-term transformation of the conduct of military operations; a review of active and reserve general officer authorizations and distributions; review of the roles and responsibilities of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff and of the combatant commands military requirements; examination of roles and missions of the armed services, and their implications for modernization requirements and the development of major weapons systems; assessment of the new Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense and its implications for the organizational structure of the Office of the Secretary of Defense; and oversight of the realignment of major combatant commands, including the merger of Strategic and Space Commands, and the establishment of the Northern Command to complement the missions of the Department of Homeland Security.

Intelligence

The committee will continue to coordinate with the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on tactical intelligence matters and intelligence-related activities of the Department of Defense, and intelligence and counterintelligence activities of the Department of Energy in the course of its annual oversight of the intelligence community and the authorization of appropriations for intelligence activities shared by the two committees.  In addition, the committee will assess whether the creation of the new Under Secretary for Intelligence position within the Department of Defense, as authorized by the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003, has resulted in greater integration and coordination within the DOD intelligence community.

Missile Defense Programs

The committee will continue to review the Department of Defense’s plans to accelerate fielding of initial capability of several missile defense programs.  This acceleration, which signals a level of confidence in the growing body of missile defense program flight test results, will likely entail increases in missile defense funding and the combination of both accelerated flight testing and simultaneous fielding of emerging capabilities of elements of the missile defense system-of-system architecture.

Organization and Management of the Department of Defense

The committee will continue its review of the Department of Defense infrastructure and organization.  In particular, the committee will evaluate expected defense reform proposals recommended by the administration.  In addition, the committee will assess the success of the Goldwater-Nichols Department of Defense Reorganization Act of 1986 and evaluate appropriate modifications to that legislation, including associated requirements for professional military education.

Threats Posed by Unconventional Warfare

The committee will continue its oversight of unconventional threats to national security and U.S. military forces.  Particular attention will be given, but not limited, to the response of the Department of Defense to the events of September 11, 2001, the establishment and initial operations of the Northern Command, an assessment of the adequacy of force protection measures, including the adequacy of intelligence, operational, and tactical doctrine; the equipment modernization necessary to conduct the global war on terrorism; progress in establishing a national collaborative environment for intelligence information; related organizational matters; and the design of installations and facilities to address threats posed by terrorism utilizing either conventional weapons or weapons of mass destruction.  Due to its increased role and involvement in the war on terrorism, the Special Operations Command is likely to see a significant increase in its procurement budget for fiscal year 2004.  In the conduct of its oversight, the committee will coordinate with the Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence on tactical intelligence matters and intelligence-related activities of the Department of Defense. 

Military Applications of Nuclear Energy

Particular attention will be given, but not limited, to the following:
continuing modernization and maintenance of U.S. defense nuclear force structure in support of military and national security requirements; assessment of possible effects of a nuclear test ban, in whole or in part, on the safety and reliability of the U.S. nuclear deterrent; the security of defense nuclear sites, and the safe and secure transport of nuclear weapons, components, and materials;  the adequacy of the Department of Energy’s science based stockpile stewardship program to guarantee the safety, reliability and performance of the stockpile in the absence of testing; examination of the restructuring of the nuclear facility workforce; assessment of options concerning the disposition of plutonium and highly enriched uranium.  Additionally, the committee will pursue an examination of future national stockpile requirements for tritium; continuing oversight of the implementation of the reform of the management of the national security programs of the Department of Energy and the National Nuclear Security Administration enacted by the 106th Congress; implementation of the recommendations of the Nuclear Posture Review undertaken pursuant to sections 1041 and 1042 of the Floyd D. Spence National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2001; and the national security implications of the Moscow Treaty requiring a reduction in active, deployed strategic weapons to 3,800 in fiscal year 2007, and a level of 1,700-2,200 weapons by 2012.

Nuclear Non-Proliferation and Threat Reduction

The committee will continue its oversight of the Cooperative Threat Reduction program and nuclear non-proliferation issues.  In particular, the committee will focus on ensuring increased transparency and high standards of conduct from participating parties and ensuring complete access and accountability for these programs.  The committee will also assess the appropriate conditions to be placed on non-proliferation assistance given to the states of the former Soviet Union. 

Technology Transfers and Export Controls

The committee will continue to conduct a careful examination of the current U.S. export control regime and its effectiveness in preventing the transfer of sensitive military-related technologies to potential adversaries.  In particular, the committee will focus on the implementation of legislative requirements related to the export of high performance computers (so-called “supercomputers”); assessing the effect of globalization, including industrial mergers and acquisitions, on the ability of the United States to prevent the flow of militarily sophisticated dual-use technologies to potential adversaries; and evaluating various proposals to modify existing domestic and multilateral export control regimes.  In these and other export control-related areas, the committee will continue to coordinate with the Committee on International Relations, especially in the consideration of the likely reauthorization of the Export Administration Act.

Transformation

The Secretary of Defense has made transformation of U.S. military forces to meet the challenges of the 21st Century one of his highest priorities.  The 2001 Quadrennial Defense Review outlined six transformational goals for the Department of Defense and the military services.  The committee expects that funding for transformational programs and initiatives will be an important aspect of the FY 2004 budget submission.  The committee will hold oversight hearings on a number of aspects regarding transformation including funding for the Department’s transformation investment accounts, and on various transformation initiatives such as anti-access capabilities, enhanced space operations, leveraging information technology and information operations.

Homeland Defense

The National Defense Authorization Act for FY 2003 (P.L. 107-107) created an Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense to oversee Department of Defense activities related to homeland security.  In October 2002, the Department issued the Unified Command Plan 2002 (UCP-02) that established a new combatant command, U.S. Northern Command, to provide unity of command for the land, sea and air defense of the United States. The committee will hold oversight hearings into the progress the Department has made in the various aspects of homeland defense and receive updates in the implementation of P.L. 107-107 and UCP-02.

Military Modernization and Acquisition Policy

The committee will continue to monitor closely the ongoing implementation of the Federal Acquisition Streamlining Act of 1994, the Federal Acquisition Reform Act of 1996, and other recent reforms of the federal acquisition system as they affect the procurement practices of the Department of Defense.  The Department of Defense has chosen to eliminate the current 5000 series acquisition regulations that established modernization program milestones and decision criteria, and intends to replace these regulations with more streamlined guidance designed to support shorter acquisition timelines.  The committee will reexamine the traditional oversight tools such as multiple program milestone reviews at various stages of development and traditionally sequenced test, evaluation, and procurement reviews prior to first fielding and deployment.  The committee will continue to coordinate with the Committee on Government Reform in these matters of shared jurisdiction and interest. 

Base Realignment and Closure

The committee will continue to examine the costs and savings associated with base realignment and closure actions taken in 1988, 1991, 1993, and 1995.  In addition, the committee will closely monitor Department of Defense preparations for conduct of the base realignment and closure round in 2005, authorized in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002.  The committee will continue to examine the impact of base realignment and closure actions on affected local communities, particularly the effects of regulations and statutes governing base reuse, the disposal of real and personal property, and community adjustment assistance, including the continuing implementation of conveyances of base closure property for economic development authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2000.  The committee will also continue to assess the effect of previous base realignment and closure actions on readiness and future force modernization.

Fiscal Management and Oversight of Weapons Programs

Several programs have experienced cost overruns within the past year or in the previous two years.  The committee will assess the need for legislative action by examining potential causes for these overruns including, but not limited to, optimistic previous cost estimates, labor and material increases, production and development schedule slips, performance problems, requirements creep, and increased industrial overhead costs. 

National Security Aspects of the Merchant Marine

The committee will continue to examine programs designed to maintain the U.S. flag commercial merchant fleet and its role in strategic and sustainment sealift, transparency of vessel ownership, and the control and security of vessels operating under the U.S. flag.  Specifically, the committee will continue its oversight of the implementation of the Maritime Security Act of 1996, and will address the issue of reauthorization of this program in the 108th Congress.  The committee will also continue to assess the condition of the National Defense Reserve Fleet and the ability of U.S. shipyards to transition to a combination of defense and non-defense ship construction.

Force Readiness

A continuing principal focus of the committee during the 108th Congress will be to assess the readiness of the armed services and the adequacy of planned expenditures for national defense to support sustained readiness of U.S. military forces.  Particular attention will also be given, but not limited, to the following: an examination of the impact of the high pace of deployments and the level of compensation during deployment on service personnel and their families; reevaluation of current policy supporting officer and enlisted recruiting, accessions, training, promotions, separations, and retirements; assessment of pay, compensation, and other benefits of military service, including the implementation by the Department of Defense of assignment incentive pay as adopted in the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 and health and disability benefits for people participating in pre-accession education and training programs; and a continuing assessment of recruitment and retention policies and programs of the military services.

Concurrent Receipt of Military Retired Pay and VA Disability Compensation

The Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 provided a compromise measure on concurrent receipt: a new special compensation for retirees with combat related disabilities.  Not later than May 31, 2003, the Secretary of Defense is required to provide to retirees with combat related disabilities monthly payments to offset the amount of retired pay forfeited due to the prohibition against concurrent receipt.  The implementation of the new program will require the Department of Defense to make a number of policy determinations that will require close oversight by the committee in the 108th Congress in order to ensure the program is promptly and equitably implemented.

Compensation and Benefits Parity Between Reserve and Active Duty Members

Because of the increased level of reserve component participation and responsibility in military operations during the last decade — and the likelihood that the reserves will continue to play an important role in the war on terrorism — reservists, National Guardsmen, and their supporters have initiated a number of measures to equalize the current level of reserve compensation and benefits in comparison with those received by their active duty counterparts.  Given the desire for a comprehensive look at all the issues, the committee directed the Comptroller General in the Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2003 to review the terms and elements of reserve compensation, benefit, and personnel support programs to determine if these programs need to be improved and whether they are fair and equitable when compared to similar programs conducted for the benefit of active duty personnel.  The review, due to Congress by March 31, 2003, will require the immediate attention of the committee.

Deployment Health and Force Health Protection

The committee’s efforts to advance force health surveillance and protection will include consideration of the findings of an ongoing General Accounting Office review — itself a follow-up to a 1997 GAO report — of the Department of Defense’s Deployment Health Surveillance policy implementation.  The current review is also examining compliance with the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1998 that required specific deployment health surveillance activities.  Further, the committee will assess the execution of the new smallpox vaccination program to ensure that lessons learned in implementing the Anthrax Vaccine Immunization Program contribute to better management of vaccine administration, immunization record keeping, education of service members and their families, and monitoring/reporting adverse reactions.

Domestic Violence in the Military

The committee anticipates that the final report of the Department of Defense Task Force on Domestic Violence will provide a number of actionable proposals that merit adoption and implementation.  The committee will be interested in the earliest possible adoption of appropriate recommendations and progress regarding other proposals that the Department of Defense has taken under study.  The committee’s principal interest will be to expedite implementation of appropriate policies, programs and resources necessary to address this important quality of life, good order and discipline issue.

Military Absentee Voting Procedures

The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2002 and the Help America Vote Act of 2002 both included new initiatives to assist military members to vote by absentee ballot and to improve the effectiveness of the Federal Voting Assistance Program operated by the Secretary of Defense and the process within the Department of Defense for moving voting materials by mail.  In addition to closely monitoring the effectiveness of defense voting programs, the committee will also be interested in giving oversight to the Department of Defense effort to prepare for and execute a broad demonstration of electronic absentee voting during the 2004 Federal election. 

Military and Military Retiree Health Care

The committee will continue its efforts to assess the cost, accessibility, and quality of peacetime military health care, including the transition to new TRICARE contracts and changes to the TRICARE regional governance structure.  In particular, the Committee will focus on the planning, execution and effects of the transition from the current twelve TRICARE regions and four Managed Care Support Contractors to a new three-region, three MCSC structure. The committee will investigate the recent theft of personal data on 500,000 service members from a DOD health care contractor, the largest single identity theft in the nation’s history.  The committee will also be interested in the implementation of the new national retail pharmacy contract, and the establishment of new local support and resource sharing contracts.  The committee’s principal interest will be that the Department of Defense effort to transition to new contracts does not negatively affect beneficiaries, and that it improves optimization of military medical treatment facilities while preserving high quality, accessible health care.   The committee is especially interested in TRICARE beneficiary access to providers and reports of provider shortages in some areas.  Additionally, the committee will continue to monitor the delivery of health care benefits for members of the National Guard and reservists called to active duty, and their family members.  The committee will also closely monitor efforts by the Department of Defense to improve information security as it relates to beneficiary data used in health care venues.  Finally, the committee will continue to work with the Committee on Veterans’ Affairs in the oversight of inter-agency arrangements related to the sharing of health care resources available to the Department of Defense and the Department of Veterans Affairs.

Morale, Welfare, and Recreation Programs 

Particular attention will be given, but not limited, to the following: oversight of morale, welfare, and recreation programs; examination of military exchanges and commissaries; and oversight of non-appropriated fund construction programs and other non-appropriated fund instrumentalities.

People and Quality of Life

The committee will continue to address critical issues and programs supporting the quality of life for military personnel and their families and the effect of those programs ultimately on military readiness.  Particular attention will be given, but not limited to, the following: examination of research and health care issues related to the care of veterans of the Persian Gulf War; assessment of improvements in the basic allowance for housing and the reduction of out-of-pocket housing costs for military members; oversight of the implementation of the reform in the basic allowance for subsistence; review of the current quality and adequacy of the military family housing supply; review of the current quality and adequacy of barracks, bachelor enlisted quarters, and dormitories; oversight of the implementation of the Military Housing Privatization Initiative authorized by the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996; and examination of the backlog in the repair and maintenance of military housing.

Restructuring of Service Career Management Personnel Programs  

Recruiting and retention problems and the desire to create a more cost efficient force have prompted new emphasis on alternative strategies for managing military personnel.  The Secretary of Defense has raised fundamental questions about the value of maintaining the current “up or out” military personnel system.  The U.S. Commission on National Security/21st Century, the Defense Science Board, and other government oversight agencies and private sector think tanks are contemplating alternative personnel and compensation systems that would require numerous legislative changes to implement.  Department of Defense officials are known to be analyzing possible major changes in military personnel management systems that, when announced, will require extensive oversight by the committee.

Chemical-Biological Defense Program

The preparedness of U.S. armed forces to fight effectively under the threat of the use of chemical or biological weapons by an adversary has been an area of continuing interest and oversight by the committee since before the 1990 Persian Gulf War against Iraq.  Significant advances have been made in chemical-biological defense capabilities of U.S. forces since the end of that conflict as a result of increased funding and emphasis within the Department of Defense and among U.S. military commanders. However, shortages of the newest protective equipment in some units and uncertainties with respect to the biological threat raise concerns about the current readiness of U.S. forces to fight in a chemical-biological warfare environment.  A major reorganization of chemical-biological defense program management within the Department of Defense is being considered that should result in a program that is more responsive to the needs of the forces in the field (and to homeland defense requirements).  The committee will review the current state of preparedness among U.S. armed forces and assess the effectiveness of the new program management and the adequacy of program funding during hearings on the fiscal year 2004 budget request.

Chemical Demilitarization Program

Under the Chemical Warfare Convention Treaty the United States is required to complete the destruction of its stockpile of lethal chemical warfare agents and munitions by September 2007.  Although approximately 25 percent of the U.S. chemical weapons stockpile has been destroyed, technical issues and political and environmental controversies involving the preferred method of destruction chosen by the Army have resulted in significant program delays, which put at risk the ability of the United States to fulfill its obligations under the treaty, and significantly increased program costs (to approximately $24 billion by program completion). The Department of Defense is reorganizing program management for the second time within the past year to address many of these concerns.  The committee will address the current state of the program and measures that might be taken to accelerate the destruction of the stockpile during hearings on the fiscal year 2004 budget request.

Environmental Programs

Particular attention will be given, but not limited, to the following: assessment of current federal, state, and local environmental compliance, remediation, and restoration requirements imposed on the Department of Defense, the military services, and the Department of Energy; examination of current and planned funding requirements for environmental programs of the Department of Defense and the Department of Energy, including an assessment of the cost effectiveness of such programs; and examination of  encroachment and the diversion of military training and operations and maintenance funds to meet environmental requirements and the impact such diversion may have on training and military readiness.  Identified for special emphasis is the effectiveness of the Department of Energy’s Environmental Management Clean-Up Reform Program, in refocusing environment remediation efforts at Cold War legacy nuclear sites from risk management to real risk reduction.  Finally, an examination of the environmental cleanup of unexploded ordnance at current and former military bases will be conducted.

Industrial and Technological Base

Particular attention will be given, but not limited, to the following: assessment of current budget and policy priorities on the maintenance of the defense industrial and technology base; assessment of the ramifications of mergers and acquisitions in the defense industry on the development of future weapons systems; assessment of dual-use technology programs; examination of the current defense laboratory and testing system; assessment of the role of defense funding for university research in the maintenance of the technology base; and the adequacy of the science and technology base to support force transformation.

Information Technology

Particular attention will be given, but not limited to the following:  implementation by the Department of Defense of the information security reforms authorized by the E-Government Act of 2002, the Clinger-Cohen Act of 1996, as well as numerous provisions in various National Defense Authorization Acts; assessment of the measures being taken by the Department of Defense to reduce the number of legacy systems and to improve the security of information technology networks; establishment and implementation of a standard architecture for all information technology applications; and reduction of the vulnerability of information technology systems to unauthorized access and use, the theft of information, and new forms of information warfare and terrorism.  In these areas, the committee will continue to coordinate with the Committee on Government Reform.  Additionally, the committee will review the management of radio frequency spectrum to ensure that national security requirements are adequately addressed.  In that review, the committee will continue to coordinate with the Committee on Energy and Commerce in this matter of shared jurisdiction and interest.




    The CHAIRMAN. And I might add, if you look through that plan, you basically see the entire array of Armed Services jurisdiction, which is very broad and has many issues, some of which are issues that are on the—are being focused on today in the immediate situation with American military operation, some of which are long-term issues, all of which are very interesting. And you will get a chance, when you make your selection on subcommittees, to decide which areas you want to focus on.

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    But if you take a look at the oversight plan, in fact it includes—it is a pretty good discussion of the fairly vast jurisdiction of this committee.

    Is there any discussion of the committee oversight plan?

    If there is no further discussion, any amendments?

    Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Chairman.

    The CHAIRMAN. The gentleman from Hawaii is recognized.

    Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Thank you very much.

     Just in the area of page 6 on homeland defense, reference is made to the Assistant Secretary of Defense for Homeland Defense to oversee Department of Defense activities related to homeland security.

    Where will that element be taken up in the committee structure? Subcommittee structure?

    The CHAIRMAN. Mr. Rangel?

    Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Abercrombie, under the new structure, the homeland defense function will be the responsibility of the Terrorism, Unconventional Threats, and Capabilities Subcommittee.
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    Mr. ABERCROMBIE. So the combatant command there, the Northern Command will be under that assistant secretary, right, and in that subcommittee?

    Mr. RANGEL. That's correct, sir.

    Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Thank you.

    The CHAIRMAN. And, Neil, let me add to, you know, we had a—we have already had an internal discussion, a discussion in the administration as they were putting their homeland security apparatus together, and the intrusion into Armed Services and the facilities that we oversee was really extremely slight. A few laboratories were involved and some, a few cats and dogs.

    But generally speaking, they understood in the administration and drew a pretty bright line between the conventional and classic role of the armed services, that is, with respect to things that we saw after 9/11, things like the air cover that was provided, the fact that you have a—if you had military people responding to an emergency in the United States, those military folks will respond best through a chain of command that is essentially extant right now, which is down from the commander in chief, President of the United States, down through his force commanders.

    So we are going to be able to work, I think effectively, with the Homeland Security Committee and with all, with this large array of domestic agencies which are now being melded to respond in a much more singular fashion, but I think with retaining the vast majority of our jurisdiction and a pretty bright line between what we do and what they do.
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    Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Mr. Chairman, I appreciate that, and I thank you for it. My hope, of course, is that this Homeland Security Committee will work well with us.

    I have one other question on page 7, the National Security Aspects of the Merchant Marine. It is not clear to me from that description again what—which subcommittee will be handling questions there, which I find—I have interest, and I am sure other members do, because I see them, the Merchant Marine harbor protection and so on, as being fundamental and crucial in this whole question of homeland security and the ability to project overseas in those instances where that is required.

    The CHAIRMAN. Okay. With respect to many of the aspects of the maritime jurisdiction, a great deal of that is going to be done at the full committee level. If you are talking about the Title XI in—with respect to maritime construction and the reserve fleet, that will be done at the full committee level.

    Mr. ABERCROMBIE. Okay, thanks.

    The CHAIRMAN. Yes, Mr. Evans.

    Mr. EVANS. Just to alert everybody that a former colleague of this committee, Paul McHale, has been selected for one of the assistant under secretary positions, and he has been a good friend and I think we can draw on his experience. He is in the confirmation process.

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    The CHAIRMAN. Very good point to make that Paul McHale, who has a great background on this committee, will be—now has a major leadership role in homeland security. So I think we will work well together, and this will be a—this is going to be a good area where Democrats and Republicans and a number of our new standing committees, I think, can mesh well with folks that have the jurisdictional responsibility in these domestic lines.

    So thank you very much. Is there any further discussion?

    Are there any amendments?

    If there are no amendments, the Chair recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Weldon, for the purpose of offering a motion regarding Committee Resolution No. 2.

    Mr. WELDON. Mr. Chairman, I move the adoption of Committee Resolution No. 2 concerning our committee oversight plan for the 108th Congress.

    The CHAIRMAN. The staff director will read the resolution.

    Mr. RANGEL. Resolved, that the Committee on Armed Services, U.S. House of Representatives, adopt the committee oversight plan for the 108th Congress, a copy of which is before each member.

    The CHAIRMAN. The question now occurs on the motion of the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Weldon. So many that are in favor will say aye.
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    So many as are opposed will say no.

    The ayes have it. The committee oversight plan is agreed to, and without objection, a motion to reconsider is laid upon the table.

    The final item of business for today is the committee staffing resolution, something all the staff members are looking forward to, I hope. The members should all have before them Committee Resolution No. 3, which is a resolution appointing the committee staff for the 108th Congress, as well as a copy of the list of committee staff.

    [The following information was submitted for the record.]

COMMITTEE RESOLUTION NO. 3

    Resolved, That the persons listed on the sheet before the Members, and such other personnel as may be required by the committee within the limits authorized under the Rules of the House of Representatives, and pursuant to the committee spending resolution, are hereby appointed to the staff of the Committee on Armed Services, U.S. House of Representatives, for the 108th Congress, it being understood that according to the provisions of law, the Chairman will fix the basic salary per annum:


Robert S. Rangel, Staff Director
Carl D. Commenator, Deputy Staff Director/Counsel
Hugh N. Johnston, General Counsel
Rita D. Thompson, Professional Staff Member
Brenda J. Wright, Professional Staff Member
Frank A. Barnes, Staff Assistant
Betty B. Gray, Staff Assistant
Ernest B. Warrington, Jr. Staff Assistant
Diane W. Bowman, Staff Assistant
Michael R. Higgins, Professional Staff Member
Jean D. Reed, Professional Staff Member
Dudley L. Tademy, Professional Staff Member
John D. Chapla, Professional Staff Member
Stephen P. Ansley, Professional Staff Member
Roger M. Smith, Professional Staff Member
B. Ryan Vaart, Professional Staff Member
Robert W. Lautrup, Professional Staff Member
John F. Sullivan, Professional Staff Member
Nancy M. Warner, Professional Staff Member
Thomas E. Hawley, Professional Staff Member
William H. Natter, Professional Staff Member
John J. Pollard III, Professional Staff Member
James M. Lariviere, Professional Staff Member
Jesse D. Tolleson, Jr., Research Assistant
Mary Ellen Fraser, Counsel
Debra S. Wada, Professional Staff Member
Henry J. Schweiter, Counsel
J.J. Gertler, Professional Staff Member
Daniel T. Hilton, Staff Assistant
Laura R. Hass, Executive Assistant
Christopher A. Kim, Staff Assistant
Katherine K. Gordon, Staff Assistant
Harry E. Cartland, Professional Staff Member
Erin C. Conaton, Professional Staff Member
Meghan L. Wedd, Deputy Press Secretary
Douglas C. Roach, Professional Staff Member
Virginia H. Johnson, Counsel
Alexis R. Lasselle, Legislative Operations Clerk
Danleigh S. Halfast, Staff Assistant
Angela M. Sowa, Staff Assistant
Justin P. Bernier, Research Assistant
Richard I. Stark, Jr., Professional Staff Member
David B. Heaton, Staff Assistant
Lori Shaffer, Staff Assistant
Linda M. Burnette, Printing Clerk
Curtis B. Flood, Staff Assistant
Mary E. Petrella, Research Assistant
Hugh P. Brady, Professional Staff Member
Harald O. Stavenas, Communications Director



    The CHAIRMAN. And I just want to say to our members that we have an enormous responsibility before us, and we have to work toward that responsibility in serving this great cause of national security.
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    We have a really fine staff, and Mr. Rangel, who sits at the table, our staff director, has put in—puts in an inordinate amount of hours, as do all of our staff members, and I know a lot of you have great relationships with them and know them well.

    For the new members coming in, I want to urge everyone to maybe—and especially, talk to them before you make your decision if you have specific issues and you want to know—you want to know important information about some of the subcommittees before you make your selections, Republican and Democrat. We have a staff which on a bipartisan—in a bipartisan way, on a bipartisan basis, serves our country very well. So please engage with them and talk with them and—they are here to serve national security, and any time you have a question, you have a real reservoir of information available with this staff.

    So to all of our staff members, thanks for coming back, and we look forward to having a great tour of duty with you, and it is going to be a lot of hard work. We are going to have, I think, an extraordinarily extensive first several months, because we have a lot of work to do.

    Mr. SKELTON. Mr. Chairman.

    The CHAIRMAN. Yes. I will be happy to recognize the gentleman from Missouri.

    Mr. SKELTON. May I reiterate what you said about the high quality of the staff members that we have? They are experts. So many, many of them have walked in the shoes of the military or gained expertise in other routes.
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    Feel free to use them. They are here to work with you and make your contributions all the better.

    So thank you, Mr. Chairman.

    The CHAIRMAN. I thank the gentleman.

    If there is no further discussion the Chair now recognizes the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Weldon, the vice chairman of the committee for the purpose of offering a motion regarding Committee Resolution No. 3.

    Mr. WELDON. Mr. Chairman, I move adoption of Committee Resolution No. 3, the committee staff resolution recognizing and reemploying the most capable professional staff inside the Beltway.

    The CHAIRMAN. And the staff director will read the resolution.

    Mr. RANGEL. Resolved, that the persons listed on the sheet before the members and such other personnel as may be required by the committee within the limits authorized under the Rules of the House of Representatives and pursuant to the committee spending resolution are hereby appointed to the staff of the Committee on Armed Services, U.S. House of Representatives, for the 108th Congress, it being understood that according to the provisions of law, the chairman will fix the basic salary per annum.

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    The CHAIRMAN. The question now occurs on the motion of the gentleman from Pennsylvania, Mr. Weldon. So many as are in favor will say aye.

    So many as are opposed will say no.

    The ayes have it. Committee Resolution No. 3 is agreed to, and without objection, a motion to reconsider is laid upon the table.

    And I would like to say at this time, although not technically part of the Armed Services staff, we would like to recognize at this time the legislative counsels that assist this committee in its effort to produce a defense authorization bill each year. And they are, of course, nonpartisan staff assigned to the House Office of Legislative Counsel. We couldn't function without this group of very talented lawyers.

    So I would like to ask them to stand if they would, Greg Koska, Sherry Chriss, Toby Dorsey and Bob Cover. And, folks, thank you very much for what you do for us.

    Let me touch—before we adjourn, let me just raise a couple of administrative matters. First, let me briefly touch on the remaining organizational schedule and likely hearing schedule. The committee Republican members are reminded that we will meet as a caucus later today, following the last vote, in room 2212 to review subcommittee selection procedures. The meeting is going to be followed by a second session tomorrow morning at 10:00, again in room 2212, where we formally finalize subcommittee selections and we do this walk-through so that we can kind of—you can kind of figure out where the priorities are and you can work your priorities and make a dry run before you have to commit and put your—and put your marker down for particular subcommittees.
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    And for Democrat members, Ike, you have informed me that you plan to schedule a meeting to conduct the subcommittee selection process next Wednesday, February 12, so I know you will have more details for your folks soon on that.

    Also, members are reminded that we are going to reconvene at 2:00 this afternoon for the committee's first formal hearing of the Congress where we will receive testimony from Secretary of Defense Don Rumsfeld on the President's fiscal year 2004 defense budget proposal; and I would urge everyone to attend this very important meeting. I think especially coming on the heels of Colin Powell's presentation to the United Nations, it is very timely, and you are going to have a chance to ask the Secretary about the big picture. That is, I think, very important.

    Finally, a few words on the longer schedules, a longer-term schedule. With the committee now formally organized, subcommittees scheduled to be created within the next week or so, I think we are going to have to move very quickly and engage in this very broad range of national security issues that the country faces right now. So in this vein, you can expect for the committee to stay very busy, starting next week and following through the Easter break in April.

    And the precise, longer-range schedule is being developed in consultation with House leadership and Mr. Skelton, but every indication is, we will once again face a strong desire for the House to move quickly on defense-related legislation of which our annual defense authorization bill has always been the lead bill.

    So, folks, we are going to have a busy schedule. We may have to have some earlier hearings than we have had in the past and have times when we have to put several hearings into a day. And the one thing that I am going to urge our subcommittee chairmen, our very able subcommittee chairmen—and you have got some great ones here and some great ranking members—I am going to urge them also to take advantage of something we did quite a bit of last year, which is to—when you have issues which are important, it is important to engage with administration officials, important to find out information; while you may not be able to jam that into the committee schedule if it is tight, to have early morning briefings here in one of our committee rooms where you can sit down and just talk face to face with somebody, get quick answers, understand the issues and have input on issues.
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    And we have a little light breakfast, and we are able to get a lot more work done by doing that. So I think that is something that we should take advantage of. And as long as it is only bagels—Mr. Weldon wants to know if I am buying. Absolutely, Curt, I am buying.

    So I want everyone to make sure they attend those. And that is a great way to get a lot of work done.

    So that is it. We have organized. We have a lot of work ahead of us. We have a very important duty to this country and we are going to start fulfilling that.

    Mr. Skelton, any closing words?

    Mr. SKELTON. Yes. I think, Mr. Chairman, we are off to an excellent start. I have just a couple of items.

    I would urge the members to be here before the gavel comes down because the way we reach the opportunity to ask questions is based upon whether someone is here when the gavel comes down or not. If not, you go to, really, the end of the line.

    Second, I jokingly told the chairman a little while ago, we should have a rule that if someone exceeds the 5-minute rule, a trapdoor opens under your seat and you disappear for the rest of the hearing. But I refrained from offering that as an amendment to the rules.

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    For the folks on our side of the aisle, we will meet for the subcommittee choosing in 2212, February the 12th at 1:30 p.m., and we hope you can be there. If not, a representative should be there for you.

    Thank you.

    The CHAIRMAN. Thank you very much, Mr. Skelton. Once again, for Republican members who haven't got a—if you don't think you have a total understanding of the subcommittee and their jurisdictions and Democrat members, I would recommend you engage with the staff here at first opportunity and try to get that worked out and figured out.

    So if there is no further business, thank you for being here and the committee stands adjourned .

    [Whereupon, at 1:25 p.m., the committee was adjourned.]