[Congressional Record Volume 160, Number 78 (Thursday, May 22, 2014)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E811]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




HOWARD P. ``BUCK'' McKEON NATIONAL DEFENSE AUTHORIZATION ACT FOR FISCAL 
                               YEAR 2015

                                 ______
                                 

                               speech of

                         HON. NICK J. RAHALL II

                            of west virginia

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 21, 2014

       The House in Committee of the Whole House on the state of 
     the Union had under consideration the bill (H.R. 4435) to 
     authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2015 for military 
     activities of the Department of Defense and for military 
     construction, to prescribe military personnel strengths for 
     such fiscal year, and for other purposes:

  Mr. RAHALL. Madam Chair, I strongly support the passage of the Graves 
amendment, of which I am a cosponsor, to establish a National 
Commission on the Future of the Army.
  Last December, I joined with 142 of my colleagues in expressing to 
Defense Secretary Hagel my deep concerns about Army cost-saving 
proposals that would impose draconian cuts on the Army National Guard. 
Congress rightly rejected similar proposals that would have reduced end 
strength and force structure for the Air National Guard, and I am 
pleased that the Armed Services Committee chose to reject such 
proposals for the Army National Guard too.
  I question the wisdom of making such cuts, considering the cost-
effectiveness of the Army National Guard as a dual use force, and cost-
savings that could be achieved in the Total Army by better leveraging 
the Operational Reserve. Blending Active and Reserve Component Army 
units, as the Air Force is doing, could ensure long-term budgetary 
savings to maintain a robust Total Army. As the Reserve Forces Policy 
Board (RFPB) has noted, a blended Total Army composition means more 
combat capability at about one-third the cost.
  I believe we need to take a harder look at the future force structure 
of the Army, which is why a Commission is absolutely necessary. The 
House should fully consider and be fully informed about how the Army's 
proposed cuts fit into a long-term national security strategy.
  With the operational reserve being rebuilt since September 11, 2001, 
this generation of Army National Guardsmen and Reservists has proven 
every bit as effective, committed, and capable as their active 
counterparts. These men and women have served with distinction and 
honor overseas, and our Nation cannot afford to lose their service. We 
must not go blindly down a path that would inhibit our Army's ability 
to respond to world events and domestic emergencies.

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