SPEAKERS CONTENTS INSERTS
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Page 2 PREV PAGE TOP OF DOCCURT WELDON, Pennsylvania
Page 3 PREV PAGE TOP OF DOCROB BISHOP, Utah
Page 4 PREV PAGE TOP OF DOCJOHN B. LARSON, Connecticut
Page 5 PREV PAGE TOP OF DOCLet 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.
Page 6 PREV PAGE TOP OF DOCI 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.
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Page 11 PREV PAGE TOP OF DOCTom Cole, ladies and gentlemen.
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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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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 committees 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 Defenses
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
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 Energys
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 Departments transformation investment accounts, and on various transformation initiatives such as anti-access capabilities, enhanced space operations, leveraging information technology and information operations.
Homeland Defense
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 committees 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 Defenses 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.
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 committees 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 nations 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 committees 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.
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 Energys 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.
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.
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 theare 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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Page 23 PREV PAGE TOP OF DOCThe CHAIRMAN. Very good point to make that Paul McHale, who has a great background on this committee, will benow has a major leadership role in homeland security. So I think we will work well together, and this will be athis 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.
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Page 27 PREV PAGE TOP OF DOCThe 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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Page 30 PREV PAGE TOP OF DOCFor 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.