[House Hearing, 119 Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H.A.S.C. No. 119-26]
MEMBER DAY
__________
COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
ONE HUNDRED NINETEENTH CONGRESS
FIRST SESSION
__________
HEARING HELD
MAY 20, 2025
[GRAPHIC NOT AVAILABLE IN TIFF FORMAT]
__________
U.S. GOVERNMENT PUBLISHING OFFICE
61-488 WASHINGTON : 2026
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COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES
One Hundred Nineteenth Congress
MIKE ROGERS, Alabama, Chairman
JOE WILSON, South Carolina ADAM SMITH, Washington
MICHAEL R. TURNER, Ohio JOE COURTNEY, Connecticut
ROBERT J. WITTMAN, Virginia, Vice JOHN GARAMENDI, California
Chair DONALD NORCROSS, New Jersey
AUSTIN SCOTT, Georgia SETH MOULTON, Massachusetts
SAM GRAVES, Missouri SALUD O. CARBAJAL, California
ELISE M. STEFANIK, New York RO KHANNA, California
SCOTT DesJARLAIS, Tennessee WILLIAM R. KEATING, Massachusetts
TRENT KELLY, Mississippi CHRISSY HOULAHAN, Pennsylvania
DON BACON, Nebraska JASON CROW, Colorado
JACK BERGMAN, Michigan MIKIE SHERRILL, New Jersey
RONNY JACKSON, Texas JARED F. GOLDEN, Maine
PAT FALLON, Texas SARA JACOBS, California
CARLOS A. GIMENEZ, Florida MARILYN STRICKLAND, Washington
NANCY MACE, South Carolina PATRICK RYAN, New York
BRAD FINSTAD, Minnesota GABE VASQUEZ, New Mexico
MORGAN LUTTRELL, Texas CHRISTOPHER R. DELUZIO,
JENNIFER A. KIGGANS, Virginia Pennsylvania
JAMES C. MOYLAN, Guam JILL N. TOKUDA, Hawaii
CORY MILLS, Florida DONALD G. DAVIS, North Carolina
RICHARD McCORMICK, Georgia GILBERT RAY CISNEROS JR.,
LANCE GOODEN, Texas California
CLAY HIGGINS, Louisiana ERIC SORENSEN, Illinois
DERRICK VAN ORDEN, Wisconsin MAGGIE GOODLANDER, New Hampshire
JOHN J. McGUIRE III, Virginia SARAH ELFRETH, Maryland
PAT HARRIGAN, North Carolina GEORGE WHITESIDES, California
MARK B. MESSMER, Indiana DEREK TRAN, California
DEREK SCHMIDT, Kansas EUGENE SIMON VINDMAN, Virginia
JEFF CRANK, Colorado WESLEY BELL, Missouri
ABRAHAM J. HAMADEH, Arizona
Chris Vieson, Staff Director
Taryn Woody, Professional Staff Member
Reed Kessler, Research Assistant
C O N T E N T S
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Page
STATEMENTS PRESENTED BY MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
Rogers, Hon. Mike, a Representative from Alabama, Chairman,
Committee on Armed Services.................................... 1
Smith, Hon. Adam, a Representative from Washington, Ranking
Member, Committee on Armed Services............................ 1
WITNESSES
Kaptur, Marcy, a Representative from Ohio........................ 2
Randall, Emily, a Representative from Washington................. 3
Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp, a Representative from Washington....... 5
Schrier, Kim, a Representative from Washington................... 5
Stansbury, Melanie A., a Representative from New Mexico.......... 7
Budzinski, Nikki, a Representative from Illinois................. 9
Escobar, Veronica, a Representative from Texas................... 10
Gonzalez, Vicente, a Representative from Texas................... 11
Yakym III, Rudy, a Representative from Indiana................... 12
Stauber, Pete, a Representative from Minnesota................... 13
Feenstra, Randy, a Representative from Iowa...................... 14
APPENDIX
Prepared Statements:
Kaptur, Marcy................................................ 21
Randall, Emily............................................... 30
Perez, Marie Gluesenkamp..................................... 34
Schrier, Kim................................................. 35
Stansbury, Melanie A......................................... 36
Budzinski, Nikki............................................. 38
Escobar, Veronica............................................ 40
Gonzalez, Vicente............................................ 42
Yakym III, Rudy.............................................. 46
Stauber, Pete................................................ 47
Feenstra, Randy.............................................. 49
Documents Submitted for the Record:
Soto, Darren, a Representative from Florida.................. 53
Neguse, Joe, a Representative from Colorado.................. 56
Landsman, Greg, a Representative from Ohio................... 59
Case, Ed, a Representative from Hawaii....................... 61
King-Hinds, Kimberlyn a Delegate from the Northern Mariana
Islands.................................................... 65
Leger Fernandez, Teresa, a Representative from New Mexico.... 68
Mullin, Kevin a Representative from California............... 72
Lee, Susie a Representative from Nevada...................... 75
Witness Responses to Questions Asked During the Hearing:
[There were no Questions submitted during the hearing.]
Questions Submitted by Members Post Hearing:
[There were no Questions submitted after the hearing.]
.
MEMBER DAY
----------
House of Representatives,
Committee on Armed Services,
Washington, DC, Tuesday, May 20, 2025.
The committee met, pursuant to call, at 10:18 a.m., in room
2118, Rayburn House Office Building, Hon. Mike Rogers [Chairman
of the Committee] presiding.
STATEMENT OF HON. MIKE ROGERS, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM ARKANSAS,
CHAIRMAN, COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES
The Chairman. Pursuant to Rule 7A and with the concurrence
of the ranking member, the committee will come to order.
I want to welcome our colleagues to the HASC [House Armed
Services Committee] Member Day. Thank you for taking time to be
here with us today. We look forward to hearing from you all on
our priorities for Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense
Authorization Act.
In addition to the testimony provided today several members
have submitted statements for the record. I ask unanimous
consent that all members' written statements be made part of
the record.
[The prepared statements of the witnesses can be found in
the Appendix on page 21.]
The Chairman. Without objection, so ordered.
The committee will recognize members to give statements one
at a time in the order of which they arrived. We will limit
testimony to 4 minutes today, but we will enter your full
remarks into the record. Thank you for being here and I want to
yield to the ranking member for any opening statement he may
have.
OPENING STATEMENT OF HON. ADAM SMITH, A REPRESENTATIVE FROM
WASHINGTON, RANKING MEMBER, COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES
Mr. Smith. Just quickly. It is great to have members from
outside the committee here. As the chairman and I always do--it
is a big bill; lot of policy in it--we want to make sure we
reflect the entire Congress, not just on the Armed Services
Committee. So I appreciate you being here and look forward to
hearing your testimony I yield back.
The Chairman. I thank the ranking member.
Our first witness today is Ms. Kaptur from Ohio. You are
recognized. The floor is yours.
STATEMENT OF HON. MARCY KAPTUR, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
FROM THE STATE OF OHIO
Ms. Kaptur. Thank you, Chairman Rogers, Ranking Member
Smith, and distinguished members of the committee. Thank you
for the opportunity to testify before your committee today.
I wish to address three issues for which I seek inclusion
as your committee develops the 2026--fiscal year 2026 defense
authorizing bill: First of all, to expand congressional
engagement in maintaining our transatlantic relationships and
security commitments to NATO [North Atlantic Treaty
Organization], Central Europe, and Ukraine. Second, to improve
the health benefits provided to Gold Star spouses and children.
Third, to afford proper and equal VA [Veterans Affairs] and DOD
[Department of Defense] health benefits to Guard and Reserve
members who were wounded in combat, but are treated differently
for long-term eligibility for injury and illness treatments
such as PTSD [Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder. And fourthly, to
strike a new service medal entitled "Last Service Member
Standing."
Let me briefly describe each. First, for at least 76 years,
the nation's represented by NATO have worked together in mutual
self-interest for liberty and security under the umbrella of
the strongest alliance for liberty in history: NATO. However,
as we speak the ever-expanding spiderweb of tyranny, including
Vladimir Putin's Russian dictatorship with North Korea, Iran,
prey again on the people of Ukraine and encroach on other
adjacent nations that seek to be free.
The fight for liberty is a global effort and it requires a
global response. For our part, Ohioans like other parts of our
country care deeply about liberty. We know liberty's cost. We
know its worth. And just like you we stand in unwavering
support of freedom's cause. And that is why I call upon this
committee to consider requiring through legislation early
notice mandates to Congress should any administration seek to
withdraw U.S. troops below the levels necessary to deter
Russian aggression against our allies.
And two, consider making clear that in negotiating a
ceasefire with Ukraine we will not cede to Russian demands.
Putin must be held accountable for the crimes of aggression and
theft of thousands of children he has committed against the
people of Ukraine. The kidnapping of tens of thousands of
Ukrainian children already has been deemed a war crime by the
International Criminal Court. In addition, Ukraine, through our
NATO alliance, must continue to provide the weapons and
materiel needed to push Russia back inside its own borders.
Number two, a second request I place before your committee
involves my legislation, the Gold Star Spouse Healthcare
Enhancement Act. This bill will allow surviving spouses and
minor children who meet the criteria for a Gold Star lapel
button to maintain TRICARE Prime or TRICARE Select coverage as
Active Duty family members for as long as they retain
eligibility for TRICARE coverage. The debt our nation owes to
the brave men and women who make the ultimate sacrifice while
serving overseas is not a debt that can be paid within 3 years.
It is our sacred responsibility to honor their sacrifice by
caring for their surviving spouses and minor-age children.
My third request involves a gap in current long-term
military health system coverage related to surviving combat
veterans who served in the Reserve or Guard. I met with such a
group again just 2 weeks ago and it is my understanding that
eligibility for longer-term healthcare services can expire
despite a veteran's having endured major combat wounds and a
life-long need, for example, for serious PTSD intervention that
remains raging and debilitating.
My fourth and final request involves a new medal. I seek
your committee's authorization through the Department of
Defense to perform necessary research and criteria including
character, circumstance, nature of the battle, war wounds, and
medical records to define, strike, and administer the award of
a new category or service medal acknowledging the heroism and
exceptional valor of our last servicemember standing.
One more paragraph. Presently the Department of Defense
only processes medals for soldiers who have served in battle if
there are two living witnesses that can verify their service.
For soldiers who served in horrific battle with all unit
soldiers dead but one, remaining alive and critically wounded
yet standing ground the current regulations simply make no
sense.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman and Ranking Smith, for the
opportunity to speak today to your committee and present these
vital suggestions. I look forward to working with you and your
staff to develop these proposals and move them across the
finish line. Thank you so very much.
The Chairman. Thank you, Ms. Kaptur. Those are very
thoughtful suggestions. Ms. Randall, you are recognized.
STATEMENT OF HON. EMILY RANDALL, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
FROM THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
Ms. Randall. Chairman Rogers, Ranking Member Smith, thank
you for the opportunity to share my priorities for the Fiscal
Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.
My district is home to Puget Sound Naval Shipyard and
Intermediate Maintenance Facility Army Reserve Center in Tacoma
as well as Naval Base Kitsap and Naval Hospital Bremerton. More
the 15,000 Active Duty servicemembers, reservists and their
families call Washington Sixth District home.
In the Washington State Legislature I had the opportunity
to lead the creation of a law to strengthen transition support
for military-connected students ensuring they could more easily
enroll, transfer credits, and access services after a PCS
[Permanent Change of Station] move. I will soon be introducing
the bipartisan Assuring Navigation of Compact Help for Ongoing
Relocations, or ANCHOR for Military Families Act, and urge you
to include the bill in the NDAA [National Defense Authorization
Act].
Military families, especially those with children in
special ed. or the Exceptional Family Members Program, face
significant challenges during permanent change of station
moves. Although all 50 states and Washington, D.C. have adopted
the Military Interstate Children's Compact Commission, many
families still don't know their rights.
My bill would require that the Department of Defense to
provide standardized accessible relocation guidance using
existing platforms at least 45 days before a PCS. And we have
gotten good feedback from DOD on this policy. This will ensure
that families are better prepared and supported before arriving
at their new duty stations.
I also urge this committee to increase authorization for
the Defense Community Infrastructure Program, or DCIP. As you
know, this program supports off-base infrastructure that is
vital to readiness and quality of life such as water systems,
schools, and emergency services. Demand remains really high. In
fiscal year 2024 only 14 DCIP [Defense Community Infrastructure
Program] projects were funded with a currently authorized $100
million underscoring the urgent need for expanded support to
meet growing infrastructure needs.
In my community there is a particular need for increased
support for multi-modal projects so that students can get to
school alongside the workers headed to base. Those two things
don't have to be in contrast with each other. We can ensure
that our infrastructure works for all families around our
bases. Increasing the authorization for DCIP would strengthen
the connection between military installations and the
communities that support them.
My district is also home to companies like Safe Boats
International who exemplify how employee ownership drives
workforce stability and delivers exceptional value to the DOD.
I appreciate the committee's fiscal year 2022 NDAA language to
support contracting with companies that are wholly owned by
employee stock ownership plans, or ESOPs, and I would like to
work with the committee on ways to further strengthen this
language to support businesses like Safe Boats.
Lastly, I want to express my concerns about the continued
reductions in services at military treatment facilities and
hospitals. In my district obstetric care and inpatient mental
health services have been removed from our local Naval Hospital
forcing families to travel for routine and specialized care.
And while a map might say that we are only 14 miles from
another facility, in my district that means taking a ferry to
Seattle, which is not always easy for families.
They have already had to make the difficult decision at
Naval Base--or the Naval Hospital to close their ER [emergency
room] and labor and delivery unit and will soon lose their last
remaining OB/GYN [obsetrician/gynecologist]. This shift places
additional strain on civilian providers and delays access for
military families who already face complex health challenges.
We just reverse this trend and restore core services at
military treatment facilities, especially in regions with large
military populations.
Thank you again for the opportunity to share these
priorities. I appreciate the committee's effort and the staff
who make this work possible. My team and I are ready to assist
in any way we can. Thank you.
The Chairman. Thank you, Ms. Randall. Did you put in there
a recommended authorization level for DCIP? You said you want
it to be raised. Did you say how much?
Ms. Randall. Congresswoman Strickland has the recommended
for that level.
The Chairman. Okay. All right. Thank you. Ms. Gluesenkamp
Perez, you are recognized.
STATEMENT OF HON. MARIE GLUESENKAMP PEREZ, A REPRESENTATIVE IN
CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
Ms. Perez. Chairman Rogers, Ranking Member Smith, it is
good to be with you today. Thank you for making time to hear
from us about our communities and our interests here.
One thing I would like to rise today--raise today is
military right to repair legislation. When our service members
are required to be on hold with a manufacturer ship parts
overseas for simple repairs, when they have to fly an
authorized contractor out to work on their equipment, it is not
just costly and demoralizing, candidly, to the technician, it
also deprives them of the skill to go out into the workforce
and build that asset nationally. This is a long-term cost not
just to our military readiness, but also to our embodied skill
set in this nation.
And so I would love to have your support in the Service
Member Right to Repair Act that requires manufacturers to
provide the Defense Department with fair and reasonable access
to repair materials.
Last month the Trump administration announced that the Army
would be prioritizing right to repair provisions in its
contract. This is very welcome news and I hope that other
branches of the Armed Services follow suit.
There was actually a report recently in the Public--the
PRIG about a military right to repair. In a statistical study
seven out of eight Americans support military right to repair.
I don't know what is up with the other one person, but this is
a broadly-held sentiment that this is something that we should
be doing as a nation.
It is my hope that my committee can build on this
bipartisan momentum in this year's National Defense
Authorization Act by including my Service Member Right to
Repair Act in base text. By prioritizing repair in defense
contracts, we can save our tax dollars that we work so hard to
build.
Thank you so much for your leadership on this committee.
Thank you for you continued support for Ukraine. Our community
has suffered greatly. They have suffered bitterly as a nation
advancing the values that we share in this nation. So thank you
so much for your work. Look forward to working with you.
The Chairman. Thank you. And I fully not only support
Ukraine, but I fully support the right to repair legislation
and I am hopeful that it will be done this year.
The Chairman. All right. Ms. Stansbury, you are recognized.
Ms. Stansbury. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. With your
permission, I know Representative Schrier is under a time
crunch. Can I punt to her first? Thank you.
STATEMENT OF HON. KIM SCHRIER, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
FROM THE STATE OF WASHINGTON
Ms. Schrier. Thank you, Representative Stansbury.
I cherish the opportunity to be able to testify before you
here today. Passing the National Defense Authorization Act each
year is some of the most important work we do in Congress. The
bill authorizes funding for the Department of Defense to
enhance our national security and provide for our service
members and their families. I am honored to represent many of
those service members and their families who are stationed at
Joint Base Lewis-McChord.
Washington State has a very high cost of living, and that
is especially true for our service members. They and their
families already make so many sacrifices to serve their country
and it is only right that we take care of them.
I was proud to vote for the Fiscal Year 2025 NDAA which
included a significant pay raise for junior enlisted members,
expanded child care fee assistance, and recognized the
importance of child care workers on base, but there is still so
much work to be done.
Housing and child care continue to be particularly
difficult expenses for many military families. Outside military
bases like JBLM [Joint Base Lewis-McChord] raising the basic
allowance on housing actually leads to landlords increasing
their rents by the exact same amount leaving service members
really with no benefit. Service members based out of Seattle
were previously eligible for a cost-of-living adjustment, but
this was reversed in the most recent announcement of COLA-
eligible locations for 2025.
COLA [Cost-of-Living Adjustment] gives service members more
power than a simple housing allowance increase, whether in
Seattle or elsewhere in Washington State. Service members
deserve fair compensation. Many of their civilian defense
colleagues receive locality pay to address rising costs in the
area, and this should be no different for our service members.
They also desperately need more affordable and accessible
child care options. In Washington pay for child care workers on
base is not close to on par with the pay they can receive
elsewhere. And so when a child care worker has to decide where
to work, it is probably not going to be the military pay. So
increasing pay for child care workers at military-operated
child care centers is a critical step to ensuring child care is
provided.
Continued investments in child care fee assistance are also
incredibly important for those who don't utilize or can't
utilize military-operated child care centers. Some families
live up to an hour away from base and so it is not feasible to
travel that distance back and forth for child care. And this is
especially true for military spouses who already face other
challenges. They should have the ability to choose which child
care services support their family the best, whether that be on
base or closer to home.
We also need to ensure states have the information
available to fully understand the extent of child care needs.
Demographic and child care fee assistance utilization data is
currently offered only at the state level. We need that at the
ZIP Code level to reflect what is going on with our military.
Lastly, and I am speaking as a physician here, I was
extremely disappointed to see significant cuts to the
Congressionally-directed Medical Research Program in the full-
year continuing resolution. CDMRP [Congressionally-directed
Medical Research Program] is a catalyst for groundbreaking
innovations in healthcare, but the program was only funded at
$650 million in fiscal year 2025. That is a 57 percent cut.
This resulted in more than 20 programs being cut, included
research for spinal cord injuries, cancer, HIV-AIDS, and
epilepsy. And we need to do better here in the United States of
America. Research here impacts people around the globe. We need
to remain the leader in research around the world and I hope
that you will reverse these cuts and enhance research in the
2026 NDAA. Thank you. I yield back.
The Chairman. Did the authorizers cut that or did the
appropriators cut it? Do you know?
Ms. Schrier. I believe that was just in the CR [Continuing
Resolution].
The Chairman. So it was the appropriators? I just don't
remember us cutting that in the authorization bill. We may
have. But if you can have your staff let me know. And I also
wanted to say I appreciate your continued focus on child care,
not only the wage for the workers, but the reimbursements. As
you know, that was the big thrust of last year's bill. And I
don't know that those changes have had time to make their way,
but I appreciate the fact you are staying on top of that. I
hope you will continue to give us feedback about what you are
hearing about any shortcomings that may still exist after the
new relief that we just funded and authorized percolates into
those systems.
Ms. Schrier. Thank you. I really appreciate it, and they
do, too.
The Chairman. Thank you.
Ms. Schrier. Thank you.
The Chairman. Now, Ms. Stansbury, you ready?
Ms. Stansbury. Yes.
The Chairman. You are up.
STATEMENT OF HON. MELANIE A. STANSBURY, A REPRESENTATIVE IN
CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO
Ms. Stansbury. All right. Well good morning. Thank you,
Chairman Rogers. Thank you to our Ranking Member Smith. I am
delighted and honored to be here today in front of the
Committee on Armed Services to testify on the Fiscal Year 2026
National Defense Authorization Act.
I represent New Mexico's first congressional district and
that includes Kirtland Air Force Base and Sandia National Labs.
And as you know, this is integral to our national nuclear
security apparatus.
I want to start by saying thank you, Mr. Chairman and
ranking member, for your tremendous leadership this last NDAA
for the pay raise for our Active Duty servicemembers,
especially in a base that is expanding and a population in
Albuquerque that is heavily servicemember families. It was long
overdue, so thank you for your leadership.
I am here today to testify on two main priorities for
Albuquerque and for Kirtland Air Force Base and our communities
and--which your staff have been a tremendous support in the
last NDAA in helping us to get report language to help hold the
Department of Defense accountable and continuing to work with
our communities.
The first has to do with unexploded ordnance and de-mining
at Sandia National Labs and the Kirtland Air Force Base and the
adjacent Tribal lands. Dating back to the Manhattan Project and
World War II, there has been years and years of testing of both
nuclear and other materials on the base and adjacent lands. And
unfortunately the tribe who is directly south of the base lands
for many years was subjected to having their lands utilized for
testing of munitions.
Increasingly, especially as weather events have exposed
those munitions, they do pose a direct risk to our tribal
community. And so our ask is to include language once again to
ask the Department of Defense to coordinate with the Department
of Energy, because it also falls under the National Nuclear
Security Administration, and with our tribes to coordinate the
removal of those materials.
We are also looking for continued funding for NALEMP
[Native American Lands Environmental Mitigation Program], which
is the program the Army Corps uses to contract and work with
tribes to remove those materials. So we look forward to
hopefully having the opportunity to work with you on that.
The second is that for the last 26 years, we have had a jet
fuel leak on Kirtland Air Force Base and unfortunately, due to
the slow pace with which the cleanup is happening, it is
threatening the groundwater aquifer which is the drinking water
for the City of Albuquerque. We have been asked by the state
and our city and county, as well as our utility to try to get
an accelerated timeline working with Department of Defense and
the Air Force to get that jet plume cleaned up because it is
directly threatening the water supply for our city, which of
course affects a million people. But it also affects the
readiness of the base itself because our families live in town
and drink that water as well.
So I very much appreciate the opportunity to be able to
testify here today and really truly do thank you for your
leadership. And with that, I yield back.
The Chairman. Have you made a direct inquiry of the service
about that remediation and its speed, and have they replied to
you?
Ms. Stansbury. Absolutely. We are in constant contact with
the command--with the commander of the base, but there had been
ongoing challenges, shall we say, with the cleanup. And I can
get into more details, but I know we don't have sufficient time
here. The mission of Kirtland Air Force Base is primarily a
nuclear mission and so our commanders necessarily are often
focused on the mission of national security. And so other
important activities that need to happen are not happening
oftentimes at the pace they need to.
The Chairman. Okay. Thank you for bringing that to our
attention.
Ms. Stansbury. Thank you.
The Chairman. All right. Now Budzinski?
Ms. Budzinski. You got it, chairman.
The Chairman. All right. You are up.
STATEMENT OF HON. NIKKI BUDZINSKI, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
FROM THE STATE OF ILLINOIS
Ms. Budzinski. Thank you, Chairman Rogers and Ranking
Member Smith. I appreciate this opportunity to provide
testimony before the House Armed Services Committee as a part
of the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense Authorization Act
Member Day.
I am here before you again this year to advocate for the
inclusion of a policy that would stimulate domestic
manufacturing, create new jobs, and protect the health and
safety of our military service members.
The bipartisan BOOTS Act would ensure that all optional
combat boots available to our military personnel are Berry
Amendment-compliant, meaning that are made in the United States
and sourced with American materials.
Right now the DOD regulations permit soldiers to purchase
foreign-made boots that mimic the appearance of regulation
boots but fall far short in quality and durability. Not only
does this leave our troops vulnerable to injury, it also
undermines our defense supply chain.
These concerns are underscored in the 2024 Camoland
Clothing and Textile Industrial Base Wargame Report
commissioned by the DOD's Defense Logistics Agency. The report
warns that in the event of an major conflict the current
clothing and textile supply chain would be too fragile to meet
demand. Among its recommendations is that military exchanges
stock only Berry-compliant uniform items including boots citing
a troubling increase in reliance on foreign-made footwear, a
critical vulnerability in our supply chain.
The BOOTS Act addressing this issue passed the House in
last year's NDAA but was ultimately stripped in conference
negotiations. However, the final bill did include language
directing DOD to report to Congress on the feasibility of
requiring Berry Amendment-compliant boots.
In its response DOD acknowledged that continued reliance on
foreign-made boots risks further weakening of our domestic
footwear industrial base and job market. The report also raised
repeated concerns about quality as foreign-made boots may not
meet the same quality standards as domestic-made boots,
potentially compromising again the safety and well-being of our
service members.
Lastly, select branches noted that requiring Berry
Amendment boots could support domestic job creation and
stimulate investments in U.S. footwear manufacturing
infrastructure. That is why we must include the BOOTS Act again
in the NDAA this year.
This bipartisan policy aligns with President Trump's stated
commitment to revitalizing American manufacturing and bringing
jobs back home. By including this provision in the NDAA we can
protect our troops with higher-quality equipment, strengthen
our industrial base, and reduce dependence on foreign supply
chains.
I thank Congressman Bost for his partnership on this
important provision and I ask that the committee support
inclusion and passage again of the BOOTS Act in this year's
National Defense Authorization Act.
I want to thank you again for this opportunity to testify
and I look forward to working together on this important issue.
Thank you and I yield back.
The Chairman. Thank you and I appreciate you staying after
it.
Ms. Budzinski. Thank you.
The Chairman. All right. Ms. Escobar, you are up.
STATEMENT OF HON. VERONICA ESCOBAR, A REPRESENTATIVE IN
CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS
Ms. Escobar. Good morning, Chairman Rogers and Ranking
Member Smith. I miss serving on the House Armed Services
Committee so much that I am here today to testify before you on
Member Day. I want to thank you both for your leadership. I so
appreciate the bipartisan process in crafting the NDAA every
year and I am here to offer my own recommendations since I
cannot do it as a member of the Armed Services Committee.
As you both know, I have the incredible privilege of
representing Fort Bliss. And as the representative for Fort
Bliss I would like to highlight some of the concerns that I
have, which I have shared with you all before. So none of this
is new.
One of my primary concerns is regarding this
administration's unprecedented use of DOD assets for operations
that traditionally fall under the jurisdiction of the
Department of Homeland Security. In recent months we have seen
this administration use military airlift to deport migrants out
of Fort Bliss, an absurdly expensive operation; to set up a
migrant detention camp at Guantanamo Bay; and a plan to
establish migrant detention camps on military installations
around the country.
DHS [U.S. Department of Homeland Security] has requested
these DOD support operations be provided on a non-reimbursable
basis, which is egregious as funds appropriated to DOD should
be used to provide for our service members and focus on global
threats, not misuse assets and resources when more cost-
effective alternatives are available. As we near the start of
construction of a migrant detention facility on Fort Bliss, the
first installation subjected to such plans far, I would like to
iterate my opposition to this misuse of our military bases.
The last time Fort Bliss was required to build and support
a holding facility it was part of Operation Allies Welcome when
a large facility was built to hold over 10,000 Afghan refugees
that the U.S. evacuated and processed in coordination with DHS.
That mission alone set Fort Bliss back on readiness levels by
approximately 2 years.
I remain deeply worried that allowing migrant detention
facilities onto our military bases and directing surges of
troops along the border will have similar effects on our
readiness at a time when we cannot afford to do so.
I would also like to add that such operations also
jeopardize civil-military relations in communities like my
hometown of El Paso where we are so proud of Fort Bliss, our
soldiers, and their families.
At a time when border crossings are at historic lows
constituents in my district have few answers as to why
Strykers, armored fighting vehicles are patrolling our
community carrying DHS personnel who have patrol vehicles of
their own. I think it is important to note that in President
Trump's first term his own Secretaries of Defense opposed using
the military for federal law enforcement matters as they
revered our military as an institution and understood that
involvement of our Armed Forces in domestic political matters
set a dangerous precedent, both for our military and our
communities at home.
I have another--a number of other requests, but as I am
running of time I will make sure to submit those to you all. I
also look forward to working closely with you as I serve on the
MilConVA Subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee and would
like to ensure that the work we did last Congress under the
Quality of Life Panel--that we fulfill that promise through our
appropriations as well as through the authorization process.
Thank you, Mr. Chairman, Mr. Ranking Member. I yield back.
The Chairman. Great. Glad to have you back here where you
belong, but I am also glad to have you as an appropriator to
make sure the things that we authorize get funded. So, welcome.
Ms. Escobar. Thank you.
The Chairman. All right. Next we have Mr. Gonzalez of
Texas.
STATEMENT OF HON. VICENTE GONZALEZ, A REPRESENTATIVE IN
CONGRESS FROM THE STATE OF TEXAS
Mr. Gonzalez. Thank you, Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member
Smith, for holding today's Member hearing. As you prepare the
National Defense Authorization Act for fiscal 2026 we
appreciate the opportunity to speak before this committee.
I have a couple of pressing infrastructure issues on NAS
[Naval Air Station] Kingsville in my district in Texas, 34, a
new pass and tag facility and a fire station training facility
located in the 34th Congressional District in South Texas. NAS
Kingsville plays a critical role in training the next
generation of Navy and Marine Corps aviators. It has been doing
so since it has opened its door in 1942. Today NAS Kingsville
is home to training Air Wing Two and trains nearly 50 percent
of Navy and Marine Corps tactical jet pilots every year. Last
year I was incredibly excited to bring Former Secretary of the
Navy Carlos Del Toro to tour NAS Kingsville and discuss ongoing
efforts to improve the well-being of the base and its
personnel.
NAS Kingsville is not only a premier location for jet and
strike aviation training, but also plays a vital role in the
region's local economy. The installation is economically
important as it employs over 4,000 employees including over
1,800 Active Duty military personnel. It also contributes at
least a thousand--a billion dollars to the Texas economy.
As you can see, NAS Kingsville plays a crucial role not
only to my district, but to the nation. And that is why we must
act quickly to address these long overdue infrastructure
issues.
The installation's current pass and tag facility is located
1.3 miles beyond the south entry control point which requires
gate security personnel to escort visitors and contractors over
a mile into the installation before they can obtain their
credentials. This poses a significant security risk for NAS
Kingsville. It delays vehicle entry into the base and places an
additional burden on base security personnel.
Then there is the issue of NAS Kingsville's fire station
which was built in 1956, almost what, 75 years ago, almost 80
years ago, and it is in desperate need of renovation or
replacement. The facility is too small to accommodate modern
firefighting equipment and is plagued by a variety of issues
including leaky roofs, mold, ineffective climate control. In
case I need to remind you, it is really hot in South Texas and
we can really use some help there.
NAS Kingsville is requesting funding to renovate and expand
the fire station to both accommodate modern firefighting
equipment apparatus, train NASK firefighters, and increase
quality of life for on-duty fire--first responders. For years
now NAS Kingsville Command has requested funding to complete
the new pass and tag facility and fire station training
facility, however they have been unsuccessful as DOD requires
projects to be included in Future Years Defense Programs or
Unfunded Priority List to be eligible for funding.
Last year we introduced two amendments for fiscal year 2025
NDAA highlighting the importance of these two projects for NAS
Kingsville, but they were not made in order. I urge you and
your colleagues to consider including similar language in this
year's NDAA. Thank you and I yield back.
The Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Gonzalez. Mr. Yakym, you are
recognized.
STATEMENT OF HON. RUDY YAKYM III, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
FROM THE STATE OF INDIANA
Mr. Yakym. Thank you, Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member
Smith, for holding this hearing today. I am grateful for the
opportunity to be before this committee and share some really
important things to the Hoosier State.
My district is the proud home of AM General which has been
manufacturing Humvees for our military for the past 40 years.
They have strived to consistently innovate and make Humvees
safer, effective, and more reliable for our war fighters. As a
result, the Humvee has served on countless missions at home and
abroad. Currently the National Guard is deploying Humvees in
their mission to secure the southern border.
In addition to Humvees AM General also committed to
investing over $380 million in a new facility to manufacturer
Joint Light Tactical Vehicles A2 variant, or JLTV A2. The JLTV
A2 [Joint Light Tactical Vehicles A2 variant] has a greater
payload, blast protection, and army capability due to its
weight and size relative to the Humvee. The JLTV A2 is now in
production in a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility that
features more than 250 enhancements to the original JLTV which
provides greater mobility, reliability, and technological
capabilities.
In April Army Secretary Dan Driscoll announced a new
modernization plan for the Army which included eliminating the
Humvee and JLTV. I fully understand and support the need to
evaluate defense spending in order to adequately prepare for
the future warfare, however this announcement was disappointing
news for Indiana.
AM General alone proudly employs more than 1,100
hardworking Americans across their Midwest facilities. The
broader Light Tactical Vehicle, or LTV, industrial base
stretches across 43 states and over 1,100 supplier businesses.
My staff and I have been actively engaging with Secretary
Driscoll, the administration, state and local officials, and AM
General to understand the modernization strategy and the
implementation process.
Mr. Chairman and Ranking Member Smith, I ask that you--as
you engage with the Department of Defense you work to gain more
information on the implementation and timeline of the Army's
modernization plans. I am happy to partner with you throughout
this process and provide you with any information as you--that
you may need as these discussions continue.
I know AM General can play a strong role in equipping our
war fighters for decades to come. So I ask that you keep them
at the table as discussions around the future of the Humvee and
JLTV continue.
Thank you again for this opportunity to testify. And with
that, Mr. Chairman, I yield back.
The Chairman. I thank you, Mr. Yakym, and we will do just
that.
Mr. Yakym. Thank you, sir.
The Chairman. Mr. Stauber, you are recognized.
STATEMENT OF HON. PETE STAUBER, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
FROM THE STATE OF MINNESOTA
Mr. Stauber. Thank you, Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member
Smith, for this opportunity to testify before you this morning.
As you finalize the Fiscal Year 2026 National Defense
Authorization Act I urge you to prioritize authorizing the
procurement of the next generation man fighters and the
recapitalization of Active Duty, Reserve, and Air National
Guard units by including the Fighting--the Fighter Force
Preservation and Recapitalization Act in this year's bill.
Unfortunately, these are dangerous times. War is waging in
Europe and the Middle East while Communist China continues to
threaten stability and peace in the--Indonesia and the Pacific.
Thus, we must do all we can to deter the expansion of conflict
and if necessary meet these threats with overwhelming force.
However, the Air Force has decreased fighter capacity at a two
to one divestment procurement ratio since 2022.
This accounts for 303 fighters divested and 155 new
fighters procured in that same time frame. Since 1991 total Air
Force fighter squadrons have been reduced by 58 percent while
the average age of the fighter inventory has increased 200
percent. 51 percent of the Air Force's service routine fighting
force is in the Air National Guard. Most of the Air National
Guard's fighter wings do not have recapitalization plans and
this trend must be reversed.
The Air National Guard protects our nation from foreign
threats both at home and abroad. They are simultaneously out
front line and the last line of our defense. These brave men
and women are dedicated patriots and the best of the best. I
would know. My wife was the first female command chief of
Duluth's 148th Fighter Wing in Duluth, Minnesota, the most
deserving home for the next generation of man fighters in the
Air National Guard. The 148th Fighter Wing was the only fighter
wing that kept on flying during COVID. They never stopped.
Without the procurement of the new aircraft fighter wings
will lose their mission and our nation will be less safe
without them. In the case of the 148th Fighter Wing we will
lose the closest fighter wing to Russia in the Lower 48 and the
best airspace in the United States of America. North Dakota,
South Dakota, Minnesota, Wisconsin, the Upper Peninsula of
Michigan is the airspace that they train in. The best in our
nation.
Most concerningly we will lose the healthiest, most
prepared, and most effective Air National Guard fighter wing in
this nation and many others like it. We would be most without--
we would be without significant defense assets and more
vulnerable than ever, but this is avoidable. By authorizing the
procurement of new aircraft we will extend the light of these
crucial installations and their paramount missions of our
national and state defense. Further, we will be ready in the
event of a crisis should one arise.
Given the age of our fleet and the geopolitical landscape
of today the time to act is now. We are asking our fighter
units, our Air National Guard units to do more than they ever
have. We should give them the best of the best.
In closing, I would like to thank both of you again for
allowing me to testify before your committee today and I am
confident that you will deliver the best product possible to
equip our war fighters with the tools necessary to make them
the most lethal fighting force in the world. My staff and I are
available to answer any questions you may have. And again thank
you and I believe.
The Chairman. Thank you very much. Mr. Feenstra, you are
recognized.
STATEMENT OF HON. RANDY FEENSTRA, A REPRESENTATIVE IN CONGRESS
FROM THE STATE OF IOWA
Mr. Feenstra. Thank you, Chairman Rogers and Ranking Member
Smith and the members of the subcommittee. Thank you for the
opportunity for me to testify on behalf of my priority
involving the 185th Air Refueling Wing in Sioux City, Iowa,
known as the ARW [Air Refueling Wing].
The 185th ARW and its frequently evolving mission over the
years has served our nation with distinction since 1946.
Originally a fighter wing, the unit transitioned in 2003 to
take on the KC-135 Stratotanker air refueling mission. This
shift significantly increased the operational wear and tear on
the base and the runways.
The KC-135 is roughly 250,000 pounds heavier than an F-16
Fighter Falcon it replaced. It requires infrastructure that can
accommodate its size and mission scope. Unfortunately, in the
two decades since the transition the 185th is still operating
from the same runways designed for the lightweight jet
aircraft.
The Department of Defense initially pledged to replace the
runway as part of its mission conversion when it was planned in
the 1990s, but those plans were understandably put on hold
after the aftermath of the 9/11 and the demands of the War on
Terror. However, the promise has not yet materialized. It is
why my staff and I are working to find funding in the fiscal
year 2026 for the long-overdue replacement of this runway, 13-
31.
I led a letter joined by the full Iowa Delegation and from
U.S. Senators and Representatives from South Dakota and
Nebraska to Secretary Pete--Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth
asking it for the inclusion in the FYDP [Future Years Defense
Program]. This project is a promise that should have been
fulfilled two decades ago. I respectfully urge this
subcommittee to prioritize funding for the 185th runway to be
replaced in the fiscal year 2026 budget.
Thank you for your time on--and on this commitment to our
nation's defense. Thank you.
The Chairman. Thank you, Mr. Feenstra.
And with that, I don't have any closing comments. Do you?
Mr. Smith. No.
The Chairman. Okay. We want to thank our colleagues for
appearing before us today and the committee stands adjourned.
[Whereupon, at 11:00 a.m., the committee was adjourned.]
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