Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz Holds a Hearing On the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget for the Army and Air Force Reserves and National Guard

Political Transcript Wire › August 26, 2009

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Rep. Solomon P. Ortiz Holds a Hearing On the Fiscal Year 2009 Budget for the Army and Air Force Reserves and National Guard

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES, SUBCOMMITTEE ON READINESS HOLDS A HEARING ON THE FISCAL YEAR 2009 BUDGET FOR READINESS OF THE ARMY AND AIR FORCE RESERVES AND NATIONAL GUARD

APRIL 1, 2008

SPEAKERS: REP. SOLOMON P. ORTIZ, D-TEXAS CHAIRMAN REP. GENE TAYLOR, D-MISS. REP. SILVESTRE REYES, D-TEXAS REP. LORETTA SANCHEZ, D-CALIF. REP. ROBERT A. BRADY, D-PA. REP. JIM MARSHALL, D-GA. DEL. MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO, D-GUAM REP. MARK UDALL, D-COLO. REP. DAN BOREN, D-OKLA. REP. NANCY BOYDA, D-KAN. REP. CAROL SHEA-PORTER, D-N.H. REP. JOE COURTNEY, D-CONN. REP. DAVE LOEBSACK, D-IOWA REP. GABRIELLE GIFFORDS, D-ARIZ. REP. ELIJAH E. CUMMINGS, D-MD. REP. IKE SKELTON, D-MO. EX OFFICIO

REP. J. RANDY FORBES, R-VA. RANKING MEMBER REP. WALTER B. JONES, R-N.C. REP. MIKE D. ROGERS, R-ALA. REP. JOHN M. MCHUGH, R-N.Y. REP. HOWARD P. "BUCK" MCKEON, R-CALIF. REP. ROBIN HAYES, R-N.C. REP. FRANK A. LOBIONDO, R-N.J. REP. TOM COLE, R-OKLA. REP. ROB BISHOP, R-UTAH REP. TRENT FRANKS, R-ARIZ. REP. CATHY MCMORRIS RODGERS, R-WASH. REP. DOUG LAMBORN, R-COLO. REP. ROB WITTMAN, R-VA. REP. DUNCAN HUNTER, R-CALIF. EX OFFICIO

WITNESSES: LIEUTENANT GENERAL JACK STULTZ (USA), CHIEF OF THE ARMY RESERVE

LIEUTENANT GENERAL JOHN BRADLEY (USAF), CHIEF OF THE AIR FORCE RESERVE

LIEUTENANT GENERAL STEVEN BLUM (USA), CHIEF OF THE NATIONAL GUARD BUREAU

LIEUTENANT GENERAL CLYDE VAUGHN (USA), DIRECTOR OF THE ARMY NATIONAL GUARD

LIEUTENANT GENERAL CRAIG MCKINLEY (USAF), DIRECTOR OF THE AIR NATIONAL GUARD

[*] ORTIZ: Good morning. This hearing will come to order. I want to thank our distinguished panel of witnesses for appearing before the subcommittee today. And it is a pleasure to see you again and to work with you.

Today the Readiness Subcommittee will receive testimony on the readiness posture of our Army and Air National Guard, Army Reserve, and the Air Force Reserve. The readiness of our Reserves and National Guard is a vital concern for this committee and the nation. This is especially the case now given the heavy reliance upon reservists and guardsmen, both at home and in combat in Iraq and Afghanistan.

My friends, it's no secret that all of the services are experiencing readiness shortfalls. This subcommittee has heard in briefings and testimony the many difficulties our ground and air forces are experiencing as they try to maintain combat readiness. These reports cause great concern about the ability to sustain ongoing operations as well as potential future missions.

These significant readiness shortfalls also extend to the National Guard and Reserves. And in many cases, they are more pronounced than the active component.

Training and equipment shortfalls hinder the support that the Reserves provide to the active forces. In the case of the National Guard, these shortfalls also limit our ability to respond to emergencies at home.

For example, the Army National Guard currently has an average of 61 percent of the equipment needed to support their state governors and their requirements. Believe it or not, this is a significant improvement over the 40 percent equipment average of prior years. And I applaud that progress.

But 61 percent is just not sufficient preparation for emergencies at home. In my view, a 39 percent equipment shortage creates an unacceptable level of risk for an emergency response force.

We certainly wouldn't want our fire or police service to be equipped with 61 percent of the equipment. And I understand that. I used to be a sheriff. And I hate to respond to emergencies of all kinds with only 61 percent, you know, of the equipment that I have.

In addition to equipment shortfalls, I am also concerned about the Defense Department's plan to shift the Guard from a strategic Reserve force to an operational force. This is an historic change, and it raises serious questions about how the department will resource the Guard to train, man, and equip to the level required of an operational force.

I am also concerned about how the Guard will balance this operational role with its existing state missions. These equipping and training challenges are troubling. Today I hope you gentlemen will help us better understand the readiness difficulties that you face as you support ongoing operations and prepare for other missions at home and abroad.

We understand how important your mission is, and we, the ...

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