[House Report 108-807]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
Union Calendar No. 492
108th Congress, 2d Session - - - - - - - - - - - - - - House Report 108-
807
REPORT OF THE ACTIVITIES
of the
COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES
for the
ONE HUNDRED EIGHTH CONGRESS
January 3, 2005.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES
One Hundred Eighth Congress
DUNCAN HUNTER, California, Chairman
CURT WELDON, Pennsylvania IKE SKELTON, Missouri
JOEL HEFLEY, Colorado JOHN SPRATT, South Carolina
JIM SAXTON, New Jersey SOLOMON P. ORTIZ, Texas
JOHN M. McHUGH, New York LANE EVANS, Illinois
TERRY EVERETT, Alabama GENE TAYLOR, Mississippi
ROSCOE G. BARTLETT, Maryland NEIL ABERCROMBIE, Hawaii
HOWARD P. ``BUCK'' McKEON, MARTY MEEHAN, Massachusetts
California SILVESTRE REYES, Texas
MAC THORNBERRY, Texas VIC SNYDER, Arkansas
JOHN N. HOSTETTLER, Indiana JIM TURNER, Texas
WALTER B. JONES, North Carolina ADAM SMITH, Washington
JIM RYUN, Kansas LORETTA SANCHEZ, California
JIM GIBBONS, Nevada MIKE McINTYRE, North Carolina
ROBIN HAYES, North Carolina CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ, Texas
HEATHER WILSON, New Mexico ELLEN O. TAUSCHER, California
KEN CALVERT, California ROBERT A. BRADY, Pennsylvania
ROB SIMMONS, Connecticut BARON P. HILL, Indiana
JO ANN DAVIS, Virginia JOHN B. LARSON, Connecticut
ED SCHROCK, Virginia SUSAN A. DAVIS, California
W. TODD AKIN, Missouri JAMES R. LANGEVIN, Rhode Island
J. RANDY FORBES, Virginia STEVE ISRAEL, New York
JEFF MILLER, Florida RICK LARSEN, Washington
JOE WILSON, South Carolina JIM COOPER, Tennessee
FRANK A. LoBIONDO, New Jersey JIM MARSHALL, Georgia
TOM COLE, Oklahoma KENDRICK B. MEEK, Florida
JEB BRADLEY, New Hampshire MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO, Guam
ROB BISHOP, Utah RODNEY ALEXANDER, Louisiana\1\
MICHAEL TURNER, Ohio TIM RYAN, Ohio
JOHN KLINE, Minnesota CHARLES W. STENHOLM, Texas \2\
CANDICE S. MILLER, Michigan
PHIL GINGREY, Georgia
MIKE ROGERS, Alabama
TRENT FRANKS, Arizona
Robert S. Rangel, Staff Director
Alexis R. Lasselle, Legislative Operations Clerk
----------
\1\ Mr. Alexander left the committee on August 9, 2004.
\2\ Mr. Stenholm was assigned to the committee on Sept. 8, 2004.
LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL
----------
House of Representatives,
Committee on Armed Services,
Washington, DC, January 3, 2005.
Hon. Jeff Trandahl,
Clerk of the House of Representatives, Washington, DC.
Dear Mr. Trandahl: Pursuant to House Rule XI 1(d), there is
transmitted herewith the report of activities of the Committee
on Armed Services for the 108th Congress.
Sincerely,
Duncan Hunter, Chairman.
C O N T E N T S
----------
Page
Powers and Duties, Committee on Armed Services--108th Congress... 1
Background................................................... 1
Constitutional Powers and Duties............................. 2
House Rules on Jurisdiction.................................. 3
Investigative Authority and Legislative Oversight............ 3
Committee Rules.................................................. 4
Rules Governing Procedure.................................... 4
Composition of the Committee on Armed Services--108th Congress... 13
Subcommittees of the Committee on Armed Services--108th Congress. 14
Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee.................... 14
Readiness Subcommittee....................................... 15
Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities
Subcommittee............................................... 16
Total Force Subcommittee..................................... 17
Strategic Forces Subcommittee................................ 17
Projection Forces Subcommittee............................... 18
Committee Staff.................................................. 19
Committee Meetings............................................... 21
Legislative Actions.............................................. 21
Legislation Enacted Into Law................................. 21
Public Law 108-13 (H.R. 672)............................. 21
Public Law 108-121 (H.R. 3365)........................... 21
Public Law 108-136 (H.R. 1588)........................... 22
Public Law 108-220 (S. 2057)............................. 24
Public Law 108-234 (H.R. 3104)........................... 25
Public Law 108-236 (S.J. Res. 28)........................ 25
Public Law 108-268 (H.R. 4322)........................... 25
Public Law 108-375 (H.R. 4200)........................... 26
Public Law 108-458 (S. 2845)............................. 29
Legislation Reported but Not Enacted......................... 30
H.R. 1950................................................ 30
H. Res. 364.............................................. 30
H. Con. Res. 374......................................... 31
H.R. 3966................................................ 31
H.R. 4323................................................ 31
H. Res. 499.............................................. 32
H. Res. 640.............................................. 32
H. Res. 689.............................................. 33
Oversight Activities............................................. 35
Summary of Oversight Plan.................................... 35
Actions and Recommendations.................................. 35
Additional Oversight Activities.............................. 46
Other Activities of the Full Committee........................... 49
Budget Activity.............................................. 49
Full Committee Hearings...................................... 50
Other Activities of Subcommittees................................ 61
Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee.................... 61
Readiness Subcommittee....................................... 61
Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities
Subcommittee............................................... 63
Total Force Subcommittee..................................... 64
Strategic Forces Subcommittee................................ 64
Projection Forces Subcommittee............................... 65
Publications..................................................... 67
Committee Prints of Laws Relating to National Defense........ 67
Committee Prints............................................. 67
Published Proceedings........................................ 67
House Reports................................................ 71
Public Laws.................................................. 74
Press Releases................................................... 77
Union Calendar No. 492
108th Congress Report
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
2d Session 108-807
======================================================================
REPORT OF THE ACTIVITIES OF THE COMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES FOR THE
108TH CONGRESS
_______
January 3, 2005.--Committed to the Committee of the Whole House on the
State of the Union and ordered to be printed
_______
Mr. Hunter, from the Committee on Armed Services, submitted the
following
R E P O R T
ON
POWERS AND DUTIES, COMMITTEE ON ARMED
SERVICES--108TH CONGRESS
Background
The House Committee on Armed Services, a standing committee
of Congress, was established on January 2, 1947, as a part of
the Legislative Reorganization Act of 1946 (60 Stat. 812), by
merging the Committees on Military Affairs and Naval Affairs.
The Committees on Military Affairs and Naval Affairs were
established in 1882. In 1885, jurisdiction over military and
naval appropriations was taken from the Committee on
Appropriations and given to the Committees on Military Affairs
and Naval Affairs, respectively. This practice continued until
July 1, 1920, when jurisdiction over all appropriations was
again placed in the Committee on Appropriations.
In the 93rd Congress, following a study by the House Select
Committee on Committees, the House passed H. Res. 988, the
Committee Reform Amendments of 1974, to be effective January 3,
1975. As a result of those amendments, the jurisdictional areas
of the Committee on Armed Services remained essentially
unchanged. However, oversight functions were amended to require
each standing committee to review and study on a continuing
basis all laws, programs, and government activities dealing
with or involving international arms control and disarmament
and the education of military dependents in school.
The rules changes adopted by the House (H. Res. 5) on
January 4, 1977, placed new responsibilities in the field of
atomic energy in the Committee on Armed Services. Those
responsibilities involved the national security aspects of
atomic energy previously within the jurisdiction of the Joint
Committee on Atomic Energy. Public Law 95-110, effective
September 20, 1977, abolished the Joint Committee on Atomic
Energy.
With the adoption of H. Res. 658 on July 14, 1977, which
established the House Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence, the jurisdiction of the Committee on Armed
Services over intelligence matters was diminished.
That resolution gave the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence oversight responsibilities for intelligence and
intelligence-related activities and programs of the U.S.
Government. Specifically, the Permanent Select Committee on
Intelligence has exclusive legislative jurisdiction regarding
the Central Intelligence Agency and the director of Central
Intelligence, including authorizations. Also, legislative
jurisdiction over all intelligence and intelligence-related
activities and programs was vested in the permanent select
committee except that other committees with a jurisdictional
interest may request consideration of any such matters.
Accordingly, as a matter of practice, the Committee on Armed
Services shared jurisdiction over the authorization process
involving intelligence-related activities.
The committee continues to have shared jurisdiction over
military intelligence activities as set forth in Rule X of the
Rules of the House of Representatives.
With the adoption of House rules (H. Res. 5) on January 4,
1995, the Committee on National Security was established as the
successor committee to the Committee on Armed Services, and was
granted additional legislative and oversight authority over
merchant marine academies, national security aspects of
merchant marine policy and programs, and interoceanic canals.
Rules for the 104th Congress also codified the existing
jurisdiction of the committee over tactical intelligence
matters and the intelligence related activities of the
Department of Defense.
On January 6, 1999, the House adopted H. Res. 5, rules for
the 106th Congress, in which the Committee on National Security
was redesignated as the Committee on Armed Services.
Constitutional Powers and Duties
The powers and duties of Congress in relation to national
defense matters stem from Article I, section 8, of the
Constitution, which provides, among other things, that the
Congress shall have power to:
Raise and support armies;
Provide and maintain a navy;
Make rules for the government and regulation of the
land and naval forces;
Provide for calling forth the militia;
Provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the
militia, and for governing such part of them as may be
employed in the service of the United States;
Exercise exclusive legislation . . . over all places
purchased . . . for the erection of forts, magazines,
arsenals, dockyards, and other needful buildings; and
Make all laws which shall be necessary and proper for
carrying into execution the foregoing powers.
House Rules on Jurisdiction
Rule X of the Rules of the House of Representatives
established the jurisdiction and related functions for each
standing committee. Under that rule, all bills, resolutions,
and other matters relating to subjects within the jurisdiction
of any standing committee shall be referred to such committee.
The jurisdiction of the House Committee on Armed Services,
pursuant to clause 1(c) of rule X 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 Maritime
Academies.
(7) Military applications of nuclear energy.
(8) Tactical intelligence and intelligence-related
activities of the Department of the Defense.
(9) National security aspects of merchant marine,
including financial assistance for the construction and
operation of vessels, 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 the national
security.
(10) Pay, promotion, retirement, and other benefits
and privileges of members of the armed forces.
(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 on Armed Services has special
oversight functions with respect to international arms control
and disarmament and military dependents' education.
Investigative Authority and Legislative Oversight
H. Res. 988 of the 93rd Congress, the Committee Reform
Amendments of 1974, amended clause 1(b) of rule XI of the Rules
of the House of Representatives, to provide general authority
for each committee to investigate matters within its
jurisdiction. That amendment established a permanent
investigative authority and relieved the committee of the
former requirement of obtaining a renewal of the investigative
authority by a House resolution at the beginning of each
Congress. H. Res. 988 also amended rule X of the Rules of the
House of Representatives by requiring, as previously indicated,
that standing committees are to conduct legislative oversight
in the area of their respective jurisdiction, and by
establishing specific oversight functions for the Committee on
Armed Services.
H. Res. 148, approved by the House on May 8, 2003, provided
funds for, among other things, committee oversight
responsibilities to be conducted in the 108th Congress,
pursuant to clause 2(b)(1) of rule X of the Rules of the House
of Representatives (relating to general oversight
responsibilities), clause 3(g) of rule X (relating to special
oversight functions), and clause 1(b) of rule XI (relating to
investigations and studies).
Committee Rules
The Committee held its organizational meeting on February
5, 2003, and adopted the following rules governing procedure
and rules for investigative hearings conducted by
subcommittees.
(H.A.S.C. No. 108-1)
Rules Governing Procedure
RULE 1. APPLICATION OF HOUSE RULES
The Rules of the House of Representatives are the rules of
the Committee on Armed Services (hereinafter referred to in
these rules as the ``Committee'') and its subcommittees so far
as applicable.
RULE 2. FULL COMMITTEE MEETING DATE
(a) The Committee shall meet every Wednesday at 10 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, 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.
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 are
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 of
Representatives.
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.
COMPOSITION OF THE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES--
108TH CONGRESS
Pursuant to H. Res. 24, election of the Chairman (adopted
January 8, 2003), H. Res. 33, election of majority members
(adopted January 28, 2003), and election of minority members H.
Res. 22 election of the Ranking Member (adopted January 8,
2003), H. Res. 35 (adopted January 38, 2003), and H. Res. 52
(adopted February 5, 2003), the following members served on the
Committee on Armed Services in the 108th Congress.
DUNCAN HUNTER, California,
Chairman
IKE SKELTON, Missouri, Ranking MemberCURT WELDON, Pennsylvania, Vice
JOHN SPRATT, South Carolina Chairman
SOLOMON P. ORTIZ, Texas JOEL HEFLEY, Colorado
LANE EVANS, Illinois JIM SAXTON, New Jersey
GENE TAYLOR, Mississippi JOHN M. McHUGH, New York
NEIL ABERCROMBIE, Hawaii TERRY EVERETT, Alabama
MARTY MEEHAN, Massachusetts ROSCOE G. BARTLETT, Maryland
SILVESTRE REYES, Texas HOWARD P. ``BUCK'' McKEON,
VIC SNYDER, Arkansas California
JIM TURNER, Texas MAC THORNBERRY, Texas
ADAM SMITH, Washington JOHN N. HOSTETTLER, Indiana
LORETTA SANCHEZ, California WALTER B. JONES, North Carolina
MIKE McINTYRE, North Carolina JIM RYUN, Kansas
CIRO D. RODRIGUEZ, Texas JIM GIBBONS, Nevada
ELLEN O. TAUSCHER, California ROBIN HAYES, North Carolina
ROBERT A. BRADY, Pennsylvania HEATHER WILSON, New Mexico
BARON P. HILL, Indiana KEN CALVERT, California
JOHN B. LARSON, Connecticut ROB SIMMONS, Connecticut
SUSAN A. DAVIS, California JO ANN DAVIS, Virginia
JAMES R. LANGEVIN, Rhode Island ED SCHROCK, Virginia
STEVE ISRAEL, New York W. TODD AKIN, Missouri
RICK LARSEN, Washington J. RANDY FORBES, Virginia
JIM COOPER, Tennessee JEFF MILLER, Florida
JIM MARSHALL, Georgia JOE WILSON, South Carolina
KENDRICK B. MEEK, Florida FRANK A. LoBIONDO, New Jersey
MADELEINE Z. BORDALLO, Guam TOM COLE, Oklahoma
RODNEY ALEXANDER, Louisiana \1\ JEB BRADLEY, New Hampshire
TIM RYAN, Ohio ROB BISHOP, Utah
CHARLES W. STENHOLM,\2\ Texas MICHAEL TURNER, Ohio
JOHN KLINE, Minnesota
CANDICE S. MILLER, Michigan
PHIL GINGREY, Georgia
MIKE ROGERS, Alabama
TRENT FRANKS, Arizona
----------
\1\ Mr. Alexander left the committee on August 9, 2004.
\2\ Mr. Stenholm was assigned to the Tactical Air and Land Forces
Subcommittee on September 15, 2004.
SUBCOMMITTEES OF THE COMMITTEE ON ARMED SERVICES 108TH CONGRESS
The following subcommittees were established at the
committee's organizational meeting on February 5, 2003.
Tactical Air and Land Forces
Jurisdiction pursuant to Committee Rule 4--All Army and Air
Force acquisition programs (except strategic weapons and lift
programs, special operations and information and 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.
Mr. WELDON, Chairman
Mr. ABERCROMBIE, Ranking Member Mr. GIBBONS
Mr. SKELTON Mr. AKIN
Mr. SPRATT Mr. BRADLEY
Mr. ORTIZ Mr. TURNER (OH)
Mr. EVANS Dr. GINGREY, Vice Chairman
Mr. TURNER (TX) Mr. EVERETT
Mr. SMITH Mr. McKEON
Mr. McINTYRE Mr. JONES
Mr. BRADY Mr. RYUN (KS)
Mr. LARSON (CT) Mr. SIMMONS
Mr. ISRAEL Mr. SCHROCK
Mr. COOPER Mr. FORBES
Mr. MEEK Mr. HEFLEY
Mr. ALEXANDER \1\ Mr. WILSON (SC)
Mr. STENHOLM \2\ Mr. LoBIONDO
----------
\1\ Mr. Alexander left the committee on August 9, 2004.
\2\ Mr. Stenholm was assigned to the Tactical Air and Land Forces
Subcomittee on September 15, 2004.
Readiness
Jurisdiction pursuant to Committee Rule 4--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.
Mr. HEFLEY, Chairman
Mr. ORTIZ, Ranking Member Mr. McKEON
Mr. EVANS Mr. HOSTETTLER
Mr. TAYLOR Mr. JONES
Mr. ABERCROMBIE Mr. RYUN (KS)
Mr. REYES Mr. HAYES
Dr. SNYDER Mrs. WILSON (NM)
Mr. RODRIGUEZ Mr. CALVERT
Mr. BRADY Mr. FORBES
Mr. HILL Mr. MILLER (FL)
Mr. LARSON (CT) Mr. COLE
Ms. S. DAVIS (CA) Mr. BISHOP
Mr. LARSEN (WA) Mrs. MILLER (MI)
Mr. MARSHALL Mr. ROGERS, Vice Chairman
Ms. BORDALLO Mr. FRANKS
Mr. McHUGH
Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities
Jurisdiction pursuant to Committee Rule 4--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.
Mr. SAXTON, Chairman
Mr. MEEHAN, Ranking Member Mr. WILSON (SC)
Mr. TURNER (TX) Mr. LoBIONDO
Mr. SMITH Mr. KLINE
Mr. McINTYRE Mr. MILLER (FL)
Mr. RODRIGUEZ Mr. BARTLETT
Mr. HILL Mr. THORNBERRY
Ms. S. DAVIS (CA) Mr. GIBBONS
Mr. LANGEVIN Mr. HAYES, Vice Chairman
Mr. LARSEN (WA) Mrs. J. DAVIS (VA)
Mr. COOPER Mr. AKIN
Mr. HEFLEY
Total Force
Jurisdiction pursuant to Committee Rule 4--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.
Mr. McHUGH, Chairman
Dr. SNYDER, Ranking Member Mr. COLE, Vice Chairman
Mr. MEEHAN Mrs. MILLER (MI)
Ms. SANCHEZ Dr. GINGREY
Ms. TAUSCHER Mr. SAXTON
Mr. COOPER Mr. RYUN (KS)
Ms. BORDALLO Mr. SCHROCK
Mr. HAYES
Strategic Forces
Jurisdiction pursuant to Committee Rule 4--Strategic Forces
(except deep strike systems), space programs, ballistic missile
defense and Department of Energy national security programs
(except non-proliferation programs).
Mr. EVERETT, Chairman
Mr. REYES, Ranking Member Mr. THORNBERRY
Mr. SPRATT Mr. WELDON
Ms. SANCHEZ Mrs. WILSON (NM), Vice Chairman
Ms. TAUSCHER Mr. BISHOP
Mr. MEEK Mr. TURNER (OH)
Mr. RYAN (OH) Mr. ROGERS
Mr. FRANKS
Projection Forces
Jurisdiction pursuant to Committee Rule 4--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.
Mr. BARTLETT, Chairman
Mr. TAYLOR Ranking Member Mr. SIMMONS, Vice Chairman
Mr. ABERCROMBIE Mrs. J. DAVIS (VA)
Ms. TAUSCHER Mr. SCHROCK
Mr. LANGEVIN Mr. SAXTON
Mr. ISRAEL Mr. HOSTETTLER
Mr. MARSHALL Mr. CALVERT
Mr. ALEXANDER \1\ Mr. BRADLEY
Mr. STENHOLM \2\ Mr. KLINE
----------
\1\ Mr. Alexander left the committee on August 9, 2004.
\2\ Mr. Stenholm was assigned to the Projection Forces Subcommittee on
September 15, 2004.
COMMITTEE STAFF
By committee resolution adopted at the organizational
meeting on February 5, 2003, or by authority of the Chairman,
the following persons were appointed to the staff of the
committee during the 108th Congress:
Robert S. Rangel, Staff Director
Carl D. Commenator, Deputy Staff
Director/Counsel (resigned May 4,
2003)
Hugh N. Johnston, Jr., Deputy
Staff Director
Rita D. Thompson, Professional
Staff Member
Brenda J. Wright, Professional
Staff Member
Frank A. Barnes, Staff Assistant
Betty B. Gray, Staff Assistant
Ernest B. Warrington, Jr., Staff
Assistant
Diane W. Bowman, Staff Assistant
Michael R. Higgins, Professional
Staff Member
Jean D. Reed, Professional Staff
Member
Dudley L. Tademy, Professional
Staff Member (resigned February
29, 2004)
John D. Chapla, Professional Staff
Member
Stephen P. Ansley, Professional
Staff Member (resigned March 2,
2003)
Roger M. Smith, Professional Staff
Member (resigned June 28, 2003)
B. Ryan Vaart, Professional Staff
Member
Robert W. Lautrup, Professional
Staff Member
John F. Sullivan, Professional
Staff Member
Nancy M. Warner, Professional
Staff Member
Thomas E. Hawley, Professional
Staff Member
William H. Natter, Professional
Staff Member
John J. Pollard III, Counsel
(resigned August 30, 2003)
James M. Lariviere, Professional
Staff Member (resigned November
14, 2003)
Jesse D. Tolleson, Jr., Research
Assistant
Mary Ellen Fraser, Counsel
Debra S. Wada, Professional Staff
Member
Henry J. Schweiter, Counsel
J. J. Gertler, Professional Staff
Member (resigned December 5, 2004)
Daniel T. Hilton, Staff Assistant
(resigned February 17, 2004)
Laura R. Haas, Executive Assistant
(resigned November 24, 2003)
Christopher A. Kim, Staff
Assistant (resigned March 20,
2003)
Katherine K. Gordon, Staff
Assistant (resigned February 20,
2004)
Harry E. Cartland, Professional
Staff Member (resigned June 30,
2004)
Erin C. Conaton, Professional
Staff Member
Meghan L. Wedd, Deputy Press
Secretary (resigned June 13, 2003)
Douglas C. Roach, Professional
Staff Member
Virginia H. Johnson, Counsel
(resigned October 24, 2004)
Alexis R. Lasselle, Analyst
Danleigh S. Kaplan, Staff
Assistant
Angela M. Sowa, Staff Assistant
(resigned May 19, 2004)
Justin P. Bernier, Research
Assistant
Richard I. Stark, Jr.,
Professional Staff Member
(resigned April 2, 2004)
David B. Heaton, Staff Assistant
(resigned June 13, 2003)
Lori Shaffer, Staff Assistant
(resigned January 16, 2004)
Linda M. Burnette, Printing Clerk
Curtis B. Flood, Staff Assistant
Mary E. Petrella, Communications
Coordinator (resigned December 5,
2004)
Hugh P. Brady, Professional Staff
Member
Harald O. Stavenas, Communications
Director
Joseph V. Fengler, Professional
Staff Member (appointed February
24, 2003)
William R. Marck, Jr.,
Professional Staff Member
(appointed February 26, 2003)
Kenneth A. Steadman, Professional
Staff Member (appointed March 3,
2003; resigned September 30, 2003)
Eric J. Massa, Professional Staff
Member (appointed March 5, 2003;
resigned November 1, 2003)
Preston J. Johnson, Staff
Assistant (appointed March 17,
2003; resigned July 2, 2004)
Uyen T. Dinh, Counsel (appointed
March 24, 2003)
Eric R. Sterner, Professional
Staff Member (appointed April 7,
2003)
Elizabeth L. McAlpine, Staff
Assistant (appointed April 14,
2003; resigned August 25, 2004)
Lynn W. Henselman, Professional
Staff Member (appointed April 21,
2003; resigned June 4, 2004)
Robert L. Simmons, Professional
Staff Member (appointed May 19,
2003)
W. Holly Neal, Executive Assistant
(appointed June 2, 2003)
Ronald S. Phillips, Professional
Staff Member (appointed July 1,
2003; resigned December 22, 2004)
William C. Ostendorff, Counsel
(appointed August 25, 2003)
Claire E. Dunne, Staff Assistant
(appointed October 14, 2003)
James William Godwin, Jr.,
Professional Staff Member
(appointed October 27, 2003)
Lindsay D. Young, Staff Assistant
(appointed December 8, 2003)
Jennifer E. Giglio, Staff
Assistant (appointed January 14,
2004)
Mark R. Lewis, Professional Staff
Member (appointed February 9,
2004)
Katherine A. Croft, Staff
Assistant (appointed March 1,
2004)
E. Hayes Arendall, Staff Assistant
(appointed March 1, 2004)
Loren L. Dealy, Communications
Assistant (appointed March 29,
2004)
Joshua T. Hartman, Professional
Staff Member (appointed April 5,
2004)
Heather L. Messera, Staff
Assistant (appointed July 6, 2004)
Paul Arcangeli, Professional Staff
Member (appointed August 1, 2004)
Carrie M. Sloan, Press Secretary
(appointed August 9, 2004)
Jeffery A. Green, Counsel
(appointed September 1, 2004)
Jeanette S. James, Professional
Staff Member (appointed September
7, 2004)
Chandler T. Lockhart, Staff
Assistant (appointed September 24,
2004)
COMMITTEE MEETINGS
A total of 219 meetings were held by the Committee on Armed
Services and its subcommittees during the 108th Congress. The
committee held one joint hearing. A breakdown of the meetings
follows:
Full Committee.................................................... 115
Subcommittees:
Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee..................... 13
Readiness Subcommittee........................................ 18
Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities
Subcommittee................................................ 30
Total Force Subcommittee...................................... 18
Strategic Forces Subcommittee................................. 15
Projection Forces Subcommittee................................ 10
Legislative actions
Legislation Enacted Into Law
PUBLIC LAW 108-13 (H.R. 672)
To rename the Guam South Elementary/Middle School of the Department of
Defense Domestic Dependents Elementary and Secondary Schools System in
honor of Navy Commander William ``Willie'' McCool, who was the pilot of
the Space Shuttle Columbia when it was tragically lost on February 1,
2003
Public Law 108-13 designates the Guam South Elementary/
Middle School of the Department of Defense Domestic Dependents
Elementary and Secondary Schools System in Apra Heights, Guam,
as the ``Commander William C. McCool Elementary/Middle
School.'' This designation is made in honor of William C.
McCool, who was a commander in the U.S. Navy and pilot of the
Space Shuttle Columbia when it was tragically lost on February
1, 2003. H.R. 672 was introduced and referred to the Committee
on Armed Services on February 11, 2003. On February 26, 2003,
the bill passed the House under suspension of the rules. The
measure was passed in the Senate without amendment by unanimous
consent on April 7, 2003. The measure was signed by the
President and became law on April 22, 2003.
PUBLIC LAW 108-121 (H.R. 3365)
To amend title 10, United States Code, and the Internal Revenue Code of
1986 to increase the death gratuity payable with respect to deceased
members of the Armed Forces and to exclude such gratuity from gross
income, to provide additional tax relief for members of the Armed
Forces and their families, and for other purposes
Public Law 108-121, the Military Family Tax Relief Act of
2003, provides various types of tax relief to members of the
Armed Forces. Additionally, the Act suspends the tax-exempt
status of organizations involved in terrorist activities,
offers tax relief to astronauts who die in the line of duty,
and extends the authorization for certain customs user fees. On
October 21, 2003, H.R. 3365 was introduced and referred to the
Committees on Ways and Means and Armed Services. The measure
was considered under suspension of the rules and passed the
House on October 29, 2003. On November 3, 2003, the Senate
passed the measure with amendment, and it was signed by the
President and became law on November 11, 2003.
PUBLIC LAW 108-136 (H.R. 1588)
To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2004 for military
activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and
for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe
personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for
other purposes
Public Law 108-136, the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2004, authorizes funds totaling
$397,499,259,000 for national defense functions for fiscal year
2004 and provides a budget authority level of $401,297,477,000.
Division A
Division A of Public Law 108-136 authorizes funds for
fiscal year 2004 for the Department of Defense.
Subtitle A of title I authorizes $74,203,511,000 for
procurement of aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat
vehicles, ammunition, and other procurement for the armed
forces, defense agencies, and reserve components of the armed
forces.
Subtitles B through E of title I establish additional
program requirements, restrictions, limitations, transfers of,
or funds for specified programs for the armed forces,
including: the restrictions on the Stryker combat vehicle
program; multiyear procurement authority for the F/A 18
aircraft, the Tactical Tomahawk cruise missile, the Virginia-
class submarine, the E-2C aircraft, and the Phalanx Close-in
Weapons System; and limitations on funds for the F/A 22
aircraft.
Subtitle A of title II authorizes $63,384,721,000 for
research, development, test and evaluation for the armed forces
and the defense agencies, including amounts for basic research
and development-related matters.
Subtitle B of title II establishes certain program
requirements, restrictions, and limitations on six separate
research and development-related matters, including the Army's
Future Combat Systems, the Navy's Fleet Platform Architectures,
and limitations on the development of the Joint Tactical Radio
System.
Subtitles C and D of title II address ballistic missile
defense programs and miscellaneous other matters, including the
Department of Defense program to expand bandwidth capabilities
for network-centric operations.
Subtitle A of title III authorizes $114,353,337,000 for
operation and maintenance, $17,911,590,000 for other programs,
and $2,849,548,000 for working capital funds for the armed
forces and defense agencies.
Subtitle B through D of title III addresses environmental
provisions, workplace and depot issues, as well as other
miscellaneous matters.
Title IV provides military personnel authorizations for the
active and reserve forces for fiscal year 2004 and authorizes
appropriations of $98,908,400,000 for military personnel for
fiscal year 2004. The end strengths for active duty personnel
for fiscal year 2004 are as follows:
Army, 482,400
Navy, 373,800
Marine Corps, 175,000
Air Force, 359,300
The Selected Reserve end strengths for fiscal year 2004 are
as follows:
Army National Guard, 350,000
Army Reserve, 205,000
Naval Reserve, 85,900
Marine Corps Reserve, 39,600
Air National Guard, 107,030
Air Force Reserve, 75,800
Coast Guard Reserve, 10,000
The end strengths for reserves on active duty in support of
the reserve components for fiscal year 2004 are as follows:
Army National Guard, 25,599
Army Reserve, 14,374
Naval Reserve, 14,384
Marine Corps Reserve, 2,261
Air National Guard, 12,191
Air Force Reserve, 1,660
Title V sets military personnel policy, including
provisions that address officer personnel policy; the reserve
components; ROTC and military service academies; education and
training; administrative matters; military justice matters;
benefits; domestic violence; and other matters.
Title VI addresses compensation and other personnel
benefits, including pay and allowances; bonuses and special and
incentive pays; travel and transportation allowances; retiree
and survivor benefits; commissary and nonappropriated fund
instrumentality benefits; and other matters.
Title VII contains military health care provisions, such as
enhanced benefits for reservists including TRICARE program
improvements.
Title VIII addresses acquisition policy, acquisition
management and related matters, including United States defense
industrial base matters, and defense acquisition workforce
matters.
Title IX contains Department of Defense organization and
management provisions, including duties and functions of
officers; space activities; reports; and other related matters.
Title X addresses general provisions relating to financial
matters; naval vessels and shipyards; counter-drug activities;
reports; extension of expiring authorities; and other matters.
Title XI addresses Department of Defense civilian personnel
matters, including the National Security Personnel System, and
other federal government civilian personnel matters.
Title XII concerns matters relating to other nations,
including matters relating to Iraq; matters relating to export
protections; administrative requirements and authorities; and
related reports.
Title XIII addresses Cooperative Threat Reduction with
states of the Former Soviet Union.
Title XIV, also referred to as the ``Services Acquisition
Reform Act,'' addresses federal government contracting for
services.
Title XV establishes the Veterans' Disability Benefits
Commission.
Title XVI addresses defense biomedical countermeasures.
Division B
Division B of Public Law 108-136 authorizes appropriations
in the amount of $9,685,700,000 for military construction and
military family housing in support of the active forces, the
reserve components, and the NATO security investment program
for fiscal year 2004. In addition, Division B contains military
construction and family housing program changes; increased
authority for emergency construction and one-year authority for
the use of operations and maintenance funds for contingency
construction; expanded leasing authorities for facilities in
Korea; and land conveyance authorizations.
Division C
Division C of Public Law 108-136 authorizes appropriations
in the amount of $16,698,752,000 for Department of Energy
national security programs for fiscal year 2004. Division C
also includes authorization for and/or addresses the Defense
Nuclear Facilities Safety Board; National Defense Stockpile;
Naval Petroleum Reserves; the Maritime Administration; and the
Nuclear Security Initiative.
The Committee on Armed Services reported H.R. 1588, as
amended, to the House on May 16, 2003. The measure passed the
House, as amended, on May 22, 2003. The Senate passed by voice
vote H.R. 1588, as amended, on June 4, 2003, subsequent to
striking all after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu
thereof the provisions of a similar measure, S. 1050. The
conference report was agreed to in the House on November 7,
2003, and in the Senate on November 12, 2003. H.R. 1588 was
signed by the President and became law on November 24, 2003.
(H. Rept. 108-106; H. Rept. 108-106, Part II; S. Rept. 108-
46; H. Rept. 108-354; H.A.S.C. 107-2; H.A.S.C. 107-3; H.A.S.C.
107-4; H.A.S.C. 107-5; H.A.S.C. 107-6; H.A.S.C. 107-7; H.A.S.C.
107-8)
PUBLIC LAW 108-220 (S. 2057)
To require the Secretary of Defense to reimburse members of the United
States Armed Forces for certain transportation expenses incurred by the
members in connection with leave under the Central Command Rest and
Recuperation Leave Program before the program was expanded to include
domestic travel
Public Law 108-220 directs the Secretary of Defense to
reimburse a member of the armed forces for transportation
expenses incurred in connection with the Rest and Recuperation
Leave Program. It provides retroactive payments to service
members for the period beginning on September 25, 2003, and
ending on December 18, 2003. S. 2057 was introduced and
referred to the Senate Committee on Armed Services on February
9, 2004. On March 3, 2004, the bill was discharged by the
Senate Committee on Armed Services, passed by the Senate
without amendment by unanimous consent, and referred to the
House Committee on Armed Services. On March 17, 2004, the
committee held a markup session to consider S. 2057. The
committee ordered the bill to be reported by a voice vote. The
measure was considered under suspension of the rules and passed
by the House on March 30, 2004. The President signed the bill
into law on April 22, 2004.
PUBLIC LAW 108-234 (H.R. 3104)
To provide for the establishment of separate campaign medals to be
awarded to members of the uniformed services who participate in
Operation Enduring Freedom and to members of the uniformed services who
participate in Operation Iraqi Freedom
Public Law 108-234 establishes two distinct campaign medals
to recognize specifically service by members of the armed
forces in the two separate campaigns of the global war on
terrorism: Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi
Freedom. H.R. 3104 was introduced and referred to the House
Committee on Armed Services on September 16, 2003. After being
ordered reported by the committee by a voice vote, the measure
was considered and passed under suspension of the rules on
March 30, 2004. On May 18, 2004, the Senate passed the measure
without amendment. It was signed by the President and became
public law on May 20, 2004.
PUBLIC LAW 108-236 (S.J. RES. 28)
Recognizing the 60th anniversary of the Allied landing at Normandy
during World War II
Public Law 108-220 recognizes the 60th anniversary of the
Allied landing at Normandy, and requests the President to issue
a proclamation calling on the people of the United States to
observe the anniversary with appropriate ceremonies and
programs to honor the sacrifices of their fellow countrymen who
liberated Europe. The measure commends the American, British,
and Canadian troops who conducted the most extensive amphibious
military operation ever to occur, an act which helped to end
Nazi tyranny in Europe and restore freedom and human dignity to
millions of people. After passing the Senate by unanimous
consent on April 1, 2004, S.J. Res. 28 was referred to the
Committee on Armed Services on April 2, 2004. The joint
resolution was considered under suspension of the rules on June
1, 2004, and passed the House on June 2, 2004. On June 15,
2004, the President signed S.J. Res. 28 into law.
PUBLIC LAW 108-268 (H.R. 4322)
To provide for the transfer of the Nebraska Avenue Naval Complex in the
District of Columbia to facilitate the establishment of the
headquarters for the Department of Homeland Security, to provide for
the acquisition by the Department of the Navy of suitable replacement
facilities, and for other purposes
Public Law 108-268 requires the Secretary of the Navy to
transfer the majority of the Nebraska Avenue Complex to the
Administrator of General Services, in order to accommodate the
headquarters of the Department of Homeland Security. The bill
requires the Department of Homeland Security to be responsible
for the initial costs of relocation of Navy functions located
at the complex, and expresses the Sense of Congress that the
Secretary of the Navy should receive funds from other federal
agencies to meet long-term relocation costs. Finally, the bill
includes authority for the Secretary of the Navy to reclaim and
then sell the complex should costs incurred by the Navy to
relocate from the complex exceed amounts received from the
Department of Homeland Security and other agencies.
H.R. 4322 was introduced and referred to the Committee on
Armed Services on May 11, 2004, where it was considered and
ordered reported by voice vote on May 13, 2004. The measure was
considered and passed under suspension of the rules on May 14,
2004. On June 21, 2004, the Senate passed the measure without
amendment by unanimous consent, and the President signed it
into law on July 2, 2004.
PUBLIC LAW 108-375 (H.R. 4200)
To authorize appropriations for fiscal year 2005 for military
activities of the Department of Defense, for military construction, and
for defense activities of the Department of Energy, to prescribe
personnel strengths for such fiscal year for the Armed Forces, and for
other purposes
Public Law 108-375 authorizes funds totaling
$418,841,315,000 for national defense functions for fiscal year
2005 and provides a budget authority level of $420,610,620,000.
Division A
Division A of Public Law 108-375 authorizes funds for
fiscal year 2005 for the Department of Defense.
Subtitle A of title I authorizes $74,182,957,000 for
procurement of aircraft, missiles, weapons and tracked combat
vehicles, ammunition, and other procurement for the armed
forces, defense agencies, and reserve components of the armed
forces.
Subtitles B through E of title I establish additional
program requirements, restrictions, limitations, transfers of,
or funds for specified programs for the armed forces,
including: multiyear procurement authority for the Army and
Marine Corps lightweight 155-millimeter howitzer program;
acceleration of the Navy DDG-51 modernization program; the
development of deployable systems to include consideration of
force protection operating in asymmetric threat environments,
and the requirement that those operational units that are
deployed to, or preparing to deploy to, Operation Iraqi Freedom
or Operation Enduring Freedom, regardless of the status of
those units as active, guard, or reserve component units, will
receive priority for equipment allocation.
Subtitle A of title II authorizes $66,497,758,000 for
research, development, test and evaluation for the armed forces
and the defense agencies, including amounts for basic research
and development-related matters.
Subtitle B of title II establishes certain program
requirements, restrictions, and limitations on seven separate
research and development-related matters, such as restrictions
on the Army's Future Combat Systems program strategy.
Subtitles C and D of title II address ballistic missile
defense programs and miscellaneous other matters.
Subtitle A of title III authorizes $121,520,189,000 for
operation and maintenance, $20,086,885,000 for other programs,
and $2,896,138,000 for working capital funds for the armed
forces and defense agencies.
Subtitle B through F of title III address environmental
provisions, workplace and depot issues, information technology,
as well as other miscellaneous matters.
Title IV provides military personnel authorizations for the
active and reserve forces for fiscal year 2005 and authorizes
appropriations of $106,542,982,000 for military personnel for
fiscal year 2005. The end strengths for active duty personnel
for fiscal year 2005 are as follows:
Army, 502,400
Navy, 365,900
Marine Corps, 178,000
Air Force, 359,700
The Selected Reserve end strengths for fiscal year 2005 are
as follows:
Army National Guard, 350,000
Army Reserve, 205,000
Naval Reserve, 83,400
Marine Corps Reserve, 39,600
Air National Guard, 106,800
Air Force Reserve, 76,100
Coast Guard Reserve, 10,000
The end strengths for reserves on active duty in support of
the reserve components for fiscal year 2005 are as follows:
Army National Guard, 26,602
Army Reserve, 14,970
Naval Reserve, 14,152
Marine Corps Reserve, 2,261
Air National Guard, 12,263
Air Force Reserve, 1,900
Title V sets military personnel policy, including
provisions that address officer personnel policy; the reserve
components; joint officer management and joint professional
military education; military services academies; education and
training; defense dependents education; medals, decorations,
and special promotions and appointments; military voting;
military justice matters; sexual assault in the armed forces;
management and administrative matters; and other matters.
Title VI addresses compensation and other personnel
benefits, including pay and allowances, bonuses and special and
incentive pays, travel and transportation allowances, retired
pay and survivor benefits, commissary and nonappropriated fund
instrumentality benefits, and other related matters.
Title VII contains military health care provisions,
including enhanced benefits for reserves; other health care
program improvements; health care planning, programming, and
management; and Medical Readiness Tracking and Health
Surveillance.
Title VIII addressed acquisition policy, acquisition
management and related matters, including United States defense
industrial base matters.
Title IX contains Department of Defense organization and
management provisions, including duties and functions of
Department of Defense; space activities; intelligence-related
matters; and other related matters.
Title X addresses general provisions relating to financial
matters; naval vessels and shipyards; counterdrug matters;
matters relating to museums and commemorations; miscellaneous
report requirements; defense against terrorism and other
domestic security matters; personnel security matters;
transportation-related matters; and other matters such as
energy savings performance contracts and actions to prevent the
abuse of detainees.
Title XI addressed Department of Defense civilian personnel
matters.
Title XII concerns matters relating to other nations
including matters relating to Iraq, Afghanistan, and the global
war on terrorism; counterproliferation matters; and other
matters.
Title XIII addresses Cooperative Threat Reduction with
states of the Former Soviet Union.
Title XIV addresses sunken military craft.
Title XV authorizes $25,000,000,000 for increased costs due
to Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom, to
include such things as vehicle and body armor; munitions; and
improvised explosive device countermeasures equipment.
Division B
Division B of Public Law 108-375 authorizes appropriations
in the amount of $9,930,100,000 for military construction and
military family housing in support of the active forces, the
reserve components, and the NATO security investment program
for fiscal year 2005. In addition, Division B contains military
construction and family housing program changes; increased
oversight requirements for operations, maintenance, and repair
of general and flag officer quarters; new requirements to
ensure regular assessments of the vulnerability of military
installations to terrorist attacks; repeal of statutory
limitations on the Military Housing Privatization Initiative;
continuation of the temporary authority for the use of
operation and maintenance funds for contingency construction;
several modifications to base realignment and closure
authorities; and land conveyance authorizations.
Division C
Division C of Public Law 108-375 authorizes appropriations
in the amount of $16,816,911,000 for Department of Energy
national security programs for fiscal year 2005. Title XXXI
pertaining to Department of Energy national security programs
also includes program restrictions and limitations;
proliferation matters; the Energy Employee Occupational Illness
Compensation Program; and other matters. Division C also
includes authorization for and/or addresses the Defense Nuclear
Facilities Safety Board; National Defense Stockpile; Naval
Petroleum Reserves; the Maritime Administration; and assistance
to firefighters.
The Committee on Armed Services reported H.R. 4200, as
amended, to the House on May 14, 2004. The measure passed the
House, as amended, on May 20, 2004. The Senate passed H.R.
4200, as amended, on June 23, 2004, subsequent to striking all
after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu thereof the
provisions of a similar measure, S. 2400. On October 9, 2004,
the conference report was agreed to in both the House and the
Senate, the latter by unanimous consent. H.R. 4200 was signed
by the President and became law on October 28, 2004.
(H. Rept. 108-491; H. Rept. 108-491, Part II; S. Rept. 108-
260; H. Rept. 108-767; H.A.S.C. 108-21; H.A.S.C. 108-22;
H.A.S.C. 108-23; H.A.S.C. 108-24; H.A.S.C. 108-25; H.A.S.C.
108-26; H.A.S.C. 108-27)
PUBLIC LAW 108-458 (S. 2845)
To reform the intelligence community and the intelligence and
intelligence-related activities of the United States Government, and
for other purposes
Public Law 108-458, the Intelligence Reform and Terrorism
Prevention Act of 2004, creates a Director of National
Intelligence to lead the intelligence community, serve as the
principal intelligence adviser to the President, and oversee
and direct the implementation of the National Intelligence
Program; establishes a National Counterterrorism Center to
coordinate across departmental lines and serve as the primary
executive branch organization for counterterrorism intelligence
and strategic operational planning; addresses specific efforts
designed to tighten border control and increase transportation
security against terrorist activities.
After being introduced in the Senate on September 23, 2004,
and laid before the Senate by unanimous consent on September
27, 2004, S. 2845 passed the Senate with amendments on October
6, 2004. A House bill pertaining to the same subject matter,
H.R. 10, was introduced in the House and referred to the
Committee on Intelligence (Permanent Select), as well as the
Committees on Armed Services, Education and the Workforce,
Energy and Commerce, Financial Services, Government Reform,
International Relations, the Judiciary, Rules, Science,
Transportation and Infrastructure, Ways and Means, and Homeland
Security (Select) on September 24, 2004. On September 29, 2004,
the Committee on Armed Services met to consider H.R. 10 and
ordered the bill reported to the House with amendments. The
measure passed the House on October 8, 2004. The House passed
S. 2845, as amended, on October 16, 2004, subsequent to
striking all after the enacting clause and inserting in lieu
thereof the provisions of the similar measure, H.R. 10.
Conferees filed a conference report on December 7, 2004, which
was agreed to in the House and the Senate on December 7, 2004,
and December 8, 2004, respectively. S. 2845 was presented to
the President on December 15, 2004, and was signed into law on
December 17, 2004.
(H. Rept. 108-724, Part II; H. Rept. 108-796; H.A.S.C. 108-
36)
LEGISLATION REPORTED BUT NOT ENACTED
H.R. 1950
To establish the Millennium Challenge Account to provide increased
support for certain developing countries; to authorize the expansion of
the Peace Corps; to authorize appropriations for the Department of
State for fiscal years 2004 and 2005; and to authorize appropriations
under the Arms Export Control Act and the Foreign Assistance Act of
1961 for security assistance for fiscal years 2004 and 2005
H.R. 1950, the Department of State Authorization Act for
Fiscal Years 2004 and 2005, would have authorized activities of
the Department of State in pursuit of U.S. foreign policy and
national interests in fiscal years 2004 and 2005. As amended by
the House Armed Services Committee, the bill would have
preserved existing national security controls on communication
satellite exports, and provided for limited transfer of the
financial costs of the Department of State airlift requirements
to the Department of Defense. H.R. 1950 was introduced and
referred to the Committee on International Relations on May 5,
2003. On May 16, 2003, after being amended and reported by the
Committee on International Relations, H.R. 1950 was referred
jointly and sequentially to the Committees on Armed Services,
Energy and Commerce, and the Judiciary. On June 26, 2003, the
Committee on Armed Services ordered reported the measure, as
amended, to the House. The measure passed the House on July 16,
2003. No further action was taken.
(H. Rept. 108-105, Part III)
H. RES. 364
Resolution of inquiry requesting the President to transmit to the House
of Representatives not later than 14 days after the date of adoption of
this resolution the report prepared for the Joint Chiefs of Staff
entitled ``Operation Iraqi Freedom Strategic Lessons Learned'' and
documents in his possession on the reconstruction and security of post-
war Iraq
H. Res. 364 is a resolution of inquiry designed to request
specific factual information from the President of the United
States or the head of one of the executive departments. The
Rules of the House of Representatives provide for a committee
to report on a qualifying resolution of inquiry, such as H.
Res. 364, within 14 legislative days or a privileged motion to
discharge the committee is in order. H. Res. 364 would have
requested the President to transmit to the House of
Representatives the report prepared for the Joint Chiefs of
Staff entitled, ``Operation Iraqi Freedom Strategic Lessons
Learned,'' and any other documents in his possession on the
reconstruction and security of post-war Iraq. H. Res. 364 was
referred to the Committees onArmed Services and International
Relations on September 9, 2003. On September 30, 2003, the Committee on
Armed Services ordered the resolution of inquiry to be reported
adversely. No further action was taken.
(H. Rept. 108-289, Part II)
H. CON. RES. 374
Expressing the sense of Congress that the Secretary of Defense, Federal
banking agencies, the National Credit Union Administration, and the
Federal Trade Commission should work to mitigate the financial
hardships experienced by members of the reserve component as a result
of being called to active duty
H. Con. Res. 374 would have expressed the sense of Congress
that the Secretary of Defense, the Federal banking agencies,
the National Credit Union Administration, and the Federal Trade
Commission should work to mitigate the financial hardships
experienced by mobilized reserve members. This would have
included issuing guidance to allow deferral of home loans by
financial institutions. H. Con. Res. 374 was referred to the
Committees on Armed Services and Financial Services on February
26, 2004. On March 17, 2004, the committee held a markup
session to consider the measure. The committee ordered the bill
to be reported, as amended, by a voice vote. No further action
was taken.
H.R. 3966
To amend title 10, United States Code, to improve the ability of the
Department of Defense to establish and maintain Senior Reserve Officer
Training Corps units at institutions of higher education, to improve
the ability of students to participate in Senior ROTC programs, and to
ensure that institutions of higher education provide military
recruiters entry to campuses and access to students that is at least
equal in quality and scope to that provided to any other employer
H.R. 3966, the ROTC and Military Recruiter Equal Access to
Campus Act of 2004, would have improved the ability of the
Department of Defense to establish and maintain Senior Reserve
Officer Training Corps (ROTC) units at institutions of higher
education, improved the ability of students to participate in
Senior ROTC programs, and ensured that institutions of higher
education provide military recruiters entry to campuses and
access to students that is at least equal in quality and scope
to that provided to any other employer. H.R. 3966 was referred
to the Committees on Armed Services and Education and Workforce
on March 12, 2004. The Committee on Armed Services ordered the
bill to be reported, as amended, on March 17, 2004. The measure
passed the House on March 30, 2004. The text of H.R. 3966, as
modified, was incorporated into H.R. 4200, the Ronald W. Reagan
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005.
H.R. Rept. 108-443)
H.R. 4323
To amend title 10, United States Code, to provide rapid acquisition
authority to the Secretary of Defense to respond to combat emergencies
H.R. 4323 would have authorized the Secretary of Defense to
rapidly acquire equipment needed by a combatant commander to
eliminate a combat capability deficiency that has resulted in
combat fatalities. Additionally, the measure would have
required the Secretary to develop a process for such rapid
acquisition authority and submit to Congress a detailed
explanation of the process, including procedures to be followed
in carrying out the process. H.R. 4323 was referred to the
Committee on Armed Services on May 11, 2004. On May 12, 2004,
the committee held a markup session to consider H.R. 4323 and
ordered the bill reported by a voice vote. The bill passed the
House under suspension of the rules on June 14, 2004. The text
of H.R. 4323 was incorporated into H.R. 4200, the Ronald W.
Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005.
H. RES. 499
Resolution of inquiry requesting the President and directing the
Secretary of State, the Secretary of Defense, and the Attorney General
to transmit to the House of Representatives not later than 14 days
after the date of the adoption of this resolution documents in the
possession of the President and those officials relating to the
disclosure of the identity and employment of Ms. Valerie Plame
H. Res. 499 is a resolution of inquiry designed to request
specific factual information from the President of the United
States or the head of one of the executive departments. The
Rules of the House of Representatives provide for a committee
to report on a qualifying resolution of inquiry within 14
legislative days or a privileged motion to discharge the
committee is in order. H. Res. 499 would have requested the
President and directed the Secretary of State, the Secretary of
Defense, and the Attorney General to transmit to the House of
Representatives not later than 14 days after the date of the
adoption of the resolution all documents including telephone
and electronic mail records, logs and calendars, personnel
records, and records of internal discussions in the possession
of the President and those officials relating to the disclosure
of the identity of Ms. Valerie Plame as an employee of the
Central Intelligence Agency during the period beginning on May
6, 2003, and ending on July 31, 2003.
H. Res. 499 was introduced and referred to Committee on
Intelligence (Permanent Select), as well as the Committees on
Armed Services, International Relations, and the Judiciary on
January 21, 2004. On February 25, 2004, the Committee on Armed
Services ordered the resolution of inquiry to be reported
adversely. No further action was taken.
(H. Rept. 108-413, Part IV)
H. RES. 640
Resolution of inquiry requesting that the Secretary of Defense transmit
to the House of Representatives before the expiration of the 14-day
period beginning on the date of the adoption of this resolution any
picture, photograph, video, communication, or report produced in
conjunction with any completed Department of Defense investigation
conducted by Major General Antonio M. Taguba relating to allegations of
torture or allegations of violations of the Geneva Conventions of 1949
at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq or any completed Department of Defense
investigation relating to the abuse or alleged abuse of a prisoner of
war or detainee by any civilian contractor working in Iraq who is
employed on behalf of the Department of Defense
H. Res. 640 is a resolution of inquiry designed to request
specific factual information from the President of the United
States or the head of one of the executive departments. The
Rules of the House of Representatives provide for a committee
to report on a qualifying resolution of inquiry within 14
legislative days or a privileged motion to discharge the
committee is in order. H. Res. 640 would have requested the
Secretary of Defense to transmit to the House of
Representatives within 14 days any picture, photograph, video,
communication, or report produced in conjunction with the
investigation conducted by Major General Antonio Taguba
relating to allegations of violations of the Geneva Conventions
at Abu Ghraib prison in Iraq or any completed investigation
relating to the abuse of detainees by civilian contractors
working in Iraq on behalf of the Department of Defense. H. Res.
640 was referred to the Committee on Armed Services on May 12,
2004. On June 14, 2004, the Committee on Armed Services ordered
the resolution of inquiry to be reported adversely. No further
action was taken.
(H. Rept. 108-547)
H. RES. 689
Resolution of inquiry requesting the President and directing certain
other Federal officials to transmit to the House of Representatives not
later than 14 days after the date of the adoption of this resolution
documents in the possession of the President and those officials
relating to the treatment of prisoners or detainees in Iraq,
Afghanistan, or Guantanamo Bay.
H. Res. 689 is a resolution of inquiry designed to request
specific factual information from the President of the United
States or the head of one of the executive departments. The
Rules of the House of Representatives provide for a committee
to report on a qualifying resolution of inquiry within 14
legislative days or a privileged motion to discharge the
committee is in order. H. Res. 689 would have called for the
transmission of documents in the possession of the President,
the Secretary of Defense, the Secretary of State, and the
Attorney General, which relate to the treatment of prisoners
and detainees in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Guantanamo Bay. The
resolution also would have directed these cabinet members to
provide documentation of work completed and planned in over 20
comprehensive categories. These categories encompass a broad
range of information including reports, memorandums,
complaints, chain-of-command charts, contracting receipts,
interrogation doctrine, and translation data produced by
sources such as the International Committee of the Red Cross,
local sub-contractors, and individual military units.
H. Res. 689 was referred to the Committee on Armed Services
on June 23, 2004. On July 15, 2004, the committee held a markup
session to consider this resolution of inquiry. The committee
ordered the resolution to be reported adversely to the House.
No further action was taken.
(H. Rept. 108-632)
OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES
The oversight responsibilities of the Committee on Armed
Services were conducted primarily within the context of the
committee's consideration of the annual defense authorization
bills, which cover 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 budget of approximately $411.0 billion
involves millions of military and civilian personnel, thousands
of facilities, and hundreds of agencies, departments, and
commands located throughout the world.
SUMMARY OF OVERSIGHT PLAN
In response to the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on
the United States and U.S. military operations in Iraq and
Afghanistan, the committee conducted extensive oversight
activities during the 108th Congress, paying particular
attention to intelligence, the conduct of the war on terrorism,
force protection of military personnel, equipment and
installations. The committee regularly received briefings on
national security threats, and conducted a series of hearings
and briefings on the status of U.S Forces in Iraq. In addition,
prior to consideration of the fiscal year 2004 and 2005 defense
budgets, the committee conducted 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. The committee also received testimony from outside
experts in academia, industry, associations, and those in
private life on these matters.
While the majority of the committee's oversight was planned
to support the annual defense authorization bill, the committee
also conducted oversight activities as demanded by critical
current events.
ACTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
The following specific areas and subjects were designated
for special attention during the 108th Congress:
DEFENSE BUDGET
The committee dedicated annual budget oversight to ensure
continued increases in budget authorization for national
security programs for a nation at war. The committee focused on
the troops that are defending our freedom. More than 200,000
soldiers, sailors, airmen and Marines have served in the global
war on terrorism. The committee worked to ensure that our
troops on the battlefield were protected while supporting their
needs at home. As a result, the 108th Congress adopted:
(1) Funding for an additional $1.5 billion for
critical procurement and research, development, test
and evaluation programs over the President's last two
budget requests.
(2) An additional $25.0 billion of emergency
authorizations for the ongoing operations in Iraq and
Afghanistan in the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005.
(3) Full concurrent receipt of benefits for military
retirees for the most severely disabled veterans.
(4) Pay raises for military personnel and their
families to include special pay and bonuses for active
duty personnel, increases in the family separation
allowance for service members with dependents, and
increases in the rate of special pay for those subject
to hostile fire and imminent danger.
(5) Civilian personnel system reforms that allow the
Department of Defense to develop a merit-based system
of management for civilian employees that will support
emerging national security objectives.
(6) Increased end strengths for the Army and Marine
Corps to provide the needed flexibility to execute the
global war on terrorism.
(7) Enhancements to TRICARE benefits for reservists
and family members to include providing health care
benefits up to 90 days before the date on which the
member's period of active duty begins, waiving
deductible payments required by the TRICARE program for
dependents of reservists who are called to active duty
for more than 30 days, and providing transitional
medical assistance program benefits to service members
and their dependents for up to 180 days following
separation from active duty.
(8) Changes in survivor benefits plan annuities that
eliminate social security offsets to protect the
financial security of the survivors of military
retirees.
(9) Increases in authority for the military housing
privatization initiative for continued improvement and
revitalization of military housing on domestic military
bases.
(10) Rapid acquisition authorities and force
protection initiatives to protect our military
personnel in combat.
(11) Improvements to tuition assistance for reserve
officers on active duty by waiving the two-year active
duty service obligation required as a condition for
receiving tuition assistance.
(12) The repeal of the requirement for wounded
service personnel to pay subsistence charges while they
recuperate in military hospitals.
IRAQ
In March 2003, the United States led a coalition of nations
in a series of military operations to: (1) depose the regime of
Saddam Hussein, a recognized state sponsor of international
terrorism and source of instability in the international
security environment; (2) bring Iraq into compliance with a
series of United Nations Security Council Resolutions; and, (3)
establish a representative government in Iraq.
By May 1, 2003, major combat operations were concluded and
the United States--together with its allies--assumed
provisional control of the country. Most reviews of military
operations in Iraq concluded that it was an extraordinary
military campaign, in which a limited number of U.S. military
forces soundly defeated a numerically superior adversary. From
that standpoint, Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) was a major test
of past efforts to transform the military for its 21st century
missions. Operation Iraqi Freedom demonstrated successful
implementation of and pointed the way towards future
operational concepts and capabilities designed to maximize the
utility of new technologies for the United States military.
Early lessons, including the importance of force protection and
command and control systems, such as Blue Force Tracker, which
improved the situational awareness of U.S. commanders, were
incorporated into the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136).
Additionally, in order to review long-term lessons, the
committee conducted a series of briefings and hearings with
representatives from the Department of Defense and analytical
community to review the conduct of military operations and
their implications for the future force. On July 10, 2003, the
Combatant Commander for U.S. Central Command, General Tommy
Franks, USA, testified before the committee on both Operations
Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan.
General Franks stressed the value of speed and surprise in
achieving U.S. military objectives, noting that even though
U.S. forces had been deploying to his command's area of
operations for several months, they were still able to achieve
operational surprise by initiating combat operations before
completing the deployment of all military forces. In General
Franks' view, that surprise reduced coalition casualties and
enabled them to secure Iraqi infrastructure intact for use in
rebuilding the country.
On October 2, 2003, the committee conducted an open hearing
and a classified briefing with a special team created by the
Department of Defense specifically to review and identify
lessons learned from OIF. The study, led by Admiral E.P.
Giambastiani, USN, Commander of U.S. Joint Forces Command,
confirmed the importance of speed and surprise in the Defense
Department's estimation of its successes in OIF. Following this
hearing, on October 21, 2003, the committee invited several
outside experts to offer their thoughts on lessons learned.
Major General Robert Scales, USA (ret.), former commandant of
the Army War College, Dr. Andrew Krepinevich, Executive
Director of the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments
and author of ``The Army in Vietnam,'' and Dr. Stephen Biddle,
Associate Research Professor at the Army War College, reviewed
the analytical community's general thoughts, the Department's
assessments, and their own interpretations of OIF. The outside
experts had a variety of explanations for the speed with which
the United States achieved its military goals in Iraq. Dr.
Biddle, for example, led an Army War College team that
concluded speed and flexibility were less important factors
than professionalism and the overmatching capabilities of U.S.
forces. According to Dr. Biddle, OIF was successful due to a
unique combination of U.S. capabilities, which lined up in
synchronicity with specific Iraqi weaknesses. General Scales
took a slightly different--but not incompatible--perspective,
noting that advanced technology, the speed of its advance, and
the professionalism of its troops gave the United States
military a significant advantage. However, General Scales also
argued for improved intelligence and awareness of foreign
political and cultural issues, noting that U.S. technical
advantages could be offset by an inadequate understanding of
its enemies. In particular, General Scales recommended
additional training in foreign languages and cultures at more
junior levels. Dr. Krepinevich stressed the value of speed,
precision, improved command, control, intelligence,
surveillance, and reconnaissance in achieving the coalition
victory, but also highlighted the need to recognize that the
United States military was now in the ``regime change
business'' and would have to incorporate that mission into its
force structure and procurement programs.
As decisive as the major combat operations were in deposing
the Hussein regime, Iraq's transition to a secure and sovereign
country with a representative government was quickly
complicated by the rise of an ad hoc insurgency, which grew
more organized and lethal over time. As a result, U.S. military
forces need to remain in the country at numbers higher than
initially expected. The extended deployments place
unanticipated pressure on the military, particularly the Army
and Marine Corps, to rotate units through Iraq in order to
continue fighting the insurgency. Normally, roughly one-third
of the existing military is available for deployment at any
given time. Units not deployed are either preparing to deploy
or conducting reconstitution and training activities. Thus, the
need to maintain large formations in Iraq increases the stress
on the total size of the force. At the same time, U.S. military
forces took on a large share of initial reconstruction
activities, a mission for which they often had little
experience or formal training, and became increasingly involved
in the process of preparing Iraqi society for the return of its
sovereignty. To review these issues, the committee conducted
regular briefings with representatives from the Departments of
Defense and State, as well as outside experts. Additionally, it
held ten formal hearings, including five on reconstruction and
stability operations, four on the plans for, and implications
of, returning sovereignty to Iraq, and one focusing on the
long-term impact of higher operational tempos on military force
structure. The last hearing specifically addressed a topic that
figured prominently in authorization and posture hearings
throughout 2004, as well as hearings regarding Army
transformation.
The committee came to several conclusions from these
activities. First, it determined that the overall size of the
military was insufficient for the tasks put before it. As a
result, the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375) authorized an
additional 30,000 active personnel for the Army and 9,000
personnel for the Marine Corps over five years. Second, the
committee determined that existing laws regarding
reconstruction and stability operations were inadequate.
However, the committee was also concerned that neither the
Department of Defense nor Congress possessed enough information
about the long term impact of reconstruction and stability
operations on the military to consider long-term changes to
existing law. Therefore, the committee recommended provisions
in its fiscal year 2005 defense bill that would temporarily
address the issue while collecting additional information. For
instance, the enacted law (Public Law 108-375) authorizes the
use of appropriated funds for the Commander's Emergency
Response Program, under which local commanders have access to
funds for use in local rehabilitation projects intended to
improve their relationships with local Iraqis. Additionally,
the law permits the Department of Defense to use funds--with
certain restrictions--to train and equip Iraqi and Afghan
security forces and to assist Special Operations Forces in
their work with indigenous forces in the global war on
terrorism. Because these authorities are limited, the law
further directs the Secretary of Defense to survey existing
legal authorities and make recommendations for improvements.
Finally, the committee determined that reconstruction and
stability operations would require an integrated strategy and
increased guidance on the role of contractors in a combat zone.
Therefore, it recommended provisions adopted in the fiscal year
2005 defense bill that directed the President to develop a
strategy, and report on its implementation, for the
stabilization of Iraq. Additional provisions in the law require
the Secretary of Defense to issue guidance on the use and roles
of contractors in support of deployed combat forces.
DETAINEE POLICY
In January of 2004, spokesmen for U.S. Central Command
announced that the Commander of Combined Joint Task Force 7
(CJTF-7), Lieutenant General Ricardo Sanchez, USA, had
orderedan investigation into allegations that U.S. military personnel
had abused Iraqi detainees at the Abu Ghraib prison outside Baghdad. In
April of that year, media coverage of the issue included the release of
pictures of the alleged abuse. Because the detainee treatment issue
crossed into sensitive matters associated with criminal investigations
and prosecutions and into classified matters associated with
intelligence collection techniques, much of the committee's oversight
of detainee matters was conducted in classified forums. Thus, in
addition to the three public hearings specifically on detainee
treatment and three hearings on operations in Iraq, during which
detainee issues were discussed at length, the committee conducted four
member briefings, fourteen staff briefings, and hosted several
opportunities for members to review photographic evidence and specific
reports by the International Committee of the Red Cross. Additionally,
several members and staff made separate trips to review detainee
operations at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. The committee also sought and
received over 15,000 pages of classified internal documents from the
Department of Defense, provided every member of the committee with an
opportunity to review the classified material, and reported out two
bills concerning detainee matters.
As a result of these oversight activities, the committee
recommended the statutory adoption of several provisions
designed to ensure that detainees are treated humanely and in
accordance with the Constitution, laws, international
obligations, and policies of the United States; and that
individuals who fail to comply with these requirements are held
accountable for their actions. These provisions, contained in
the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375), require the Secretary of
Defense to issue new guidance, rules, regulations, and orders
concerning detainee treatment. The actions further require
improvements in training and detention practices and contain
extensive reporting requirements so that Congress can ensure
its direction is being carried out. Finally, the Ronald W.
Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005
clarified the applicability of the Military Extraterritorial
Jurisdiction Act (Public Law 106-523) to contractors supporting
military forces in regard to the treatment of detainees.
FORCE PROTECTION
Ensuring that our men and women in uniform have the
necessary systems and equipment to be successful in
accomplishing their mission in the global war on terrorism has
been a primary focus for the committee during the 108th
Congress. The difficult environments in Iraq and Afghanistan
and an enemy that employs rapidly changing asymmetric tactics
require that our military personnel are provided in an
expeditious manner with essential force protection equipment to
meet the changes in tactics.
Committee delegations visited the theater of operations to
assess the state of force protection of our military forces.
Further, the committee conducted oversight of the industrial
base and military depots responsible for providing force
protection equipment and systems to the warfighter.
In addition, the committee conducted a hearing and received
compelling testimony that the current defense acquisition
system is not responding in a timely manner to the battlefield
commanders' needs.
As a result of these oversight efforts, section 806 of the
Bob Stump National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2003 (Public Law 107-314) was amended to require the Secretary
of Defense to use a streamlined acquisition process when combat
casualties have occurred, the combatant commander has an urgent
need of equipment, and delay would cause a continuation of
combat fatalities. The committee also added in the Ronald W.
Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005
(Public Law 108-375) more than $2.0 billion for force
protection measures, including vehicle and body armor,
munitions, communications and surveillance equipment, and
improvised explosive device (IED) countermeasures equipment.
The committee also took an active role in mobilizing the
industrial base, solving production capacity constraints, and
increasing funding levels to more rapidly provide vehicle armor
and IED countermeasures equipment. Improving force protection
will be subject to continued committee oversight during the
109th Congress.
INTELLIGENCE REFORM
Following the release of the report of the National
Commission on Terrorist Attacks upon the United States on July
22, 2004, the committee held four hearings on August 10 and 11,
2004, to review commission recommendations that affected the
Department of Defense (DOD) elements of the intelligence
community. The hearings focused on the relationship between
military intelligence and national intelligence and whether DOD
intelligence agencies had a role in the intelligence failures
leading to the events of September 11, 2001. Testimony by the
chairman and vice chairman of the commission confirmed that the
commission found no link between the intelligence operation and
structure of DOD and the events of September 11. Additionally,
testimony demonstrated that the relationship between national
intelligence and military intelligence had been built to
support both national and military intelligence missions and
had provided an unprecedented level of support to recent
military operations in Afghanistan and Iraq.
On September 24, 2004, the Speaker introduced H.R. 10, the
9/11 Recommendations Implementation Act, which was referred to
the committee and 12 other House committees. On September 29,
the committee marked up H.R. 10, which subsequently passed the
House. The differences between H.R. 10 and S. 2845, the
Senate's version of this legislation, were resolved in a
conference committee and resulted in the enactment of the
Intelligence Reform and Terrorism Prevention Act of 2004
(Public Law 108-458). The committee's participation in
developing this legislation focused on maintaining the
Secretary of Defense's authority to direct the national
intelligence agencies of DOD to support combatant commanders,
defining the respective budget authorities of the Secretary and
the newly created Director of National Intelligence; and
maintaining the classification of the overall intelligence
budget. The committee will monitor and provide oversight during
the 109th Congress as this legislation is implemented.
ADEQUACY OF MILITARY MANPOWER
The committee has been concerned for a number of years that
the active components of the military services are inadequately
sized to sustain the range of missions required by the national
military strategy. Reflecting that concern, the committee in
the second session of the 107th Congress, in the fiscal year
2003 defense bill, authorized an increase of 12,652 in active
end strength over the fiscal year 2002 levels. While that
increase was not sustained in the enacted version of the bill,
increases in active component end strength were enacted in both
sessions of the 108th: 2,400 for the Army and 300 for the Air
Force in fiscal year 2004; and 20,000 for the Army, 3,000 for
the Marine Corps, and 400 for the Air Force in fiscal year
2005. In addition, the committee authorized future growth of
10,000 for the Army and 6,000 for the Marine Corps in the
Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375).
RECRUITING AND RETENTION
Continuing its oversight of the all-volunteer military, the
committee moved in the 108th Congress to address the numerous
recruiting and retention challenges facing both the active and
reserve components of the military services. Those challenges,
reasonably difficult to achieve in peacetime, were complicated
by the simultaneous challenges of fighting the global war on
terrorism and transforming of the military personnel systems in
each of the services. Such transformation included the
conversion of military positions to civilian positions. To
assist that transformation the committee authorized a new skill
conversion incentive bonus of up to $4,000 for enlisted members
who agree to serve in a critically short occupational
specialty. The committee monitored recruiting and retention
trends closely throughout the 108th Congress and noted the
increasing threats to recruiting and retention of a reemerging
private sector job market, increasing college attendance by
America's youth, and the growing awareness of the hardships and
risks of war. The committee recognized the growing stress on
recruiting and retention in the reserve components and moved
aggressively to anticipate recruiting and retention challenges
faced by the National Guard and the other reserve components.
To that end, the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375)
included measures that substantially increased the amounts of
bonuses payable to reserve component members upon enlistment or
reenlistment, and broadened the flexibility of the secretaries
of the military services in the payment of those bonuses. These
reforms reflect the committee's belief that sustaining future
reserve component manpower, especially in light of the demands
placed on the reserve components by the global war on
terrorism, will require close attention in the 109th Congress.
For the last several years, a growing number of colleges
and universities have treated military recruiters in ways
significantly different from the recruiters of other employers.
As a result, military recruiters and the persons they seek to
interview have been subjected to various degrees of harassment
or ill treatment designed to make military recruiting
difficult, or to frustrate its objectives. To remedy this
situation, the committee, as part of the Ronald W. Reagan
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public
Law 108-375), required colleges and universities to give
military recruiters access to campuses and students that is at
least equal in quality and scope as that provided to any other
employer.
RESERVE COMPONENTS
The committee devoted substantial attention during the
108th Congress to assessing and resolving issues arising from
the increasingly heavy reliance that is being placed on the
reserve components as a result of the global war on terrorism.
As a result, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136) and the Ronald W. Reagan
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public
Law 108-375) included a number of substantial reforms. For
example, to reduce the need for some involuntary mobilizations
by permitting volunteers to provide support during normal
peacetime operations, as well as during times of national
emergency, the committee eliminated the 180-day end strength
accounting standard that required reservists on active duty
beyond that limit to countagainst active component end
strengths. In its place, the committee authorized up to 37,000
reservists to serve voluntarily on active duty for up to three years,
or a cumulative three years over a four-year period, before counting
against active end strengths.
Legislative initiatives in the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136) and
the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375) also supported
substantial reforms in reserve component health care.
Specifically, the committee provided permanent eligibility for
reservists and their dependents to obtain TRICARE health care
benefits up to 90 days before the date on which the member's
period of active duty is to begin. To mitigate financial
hardships on activated reservists, the committee authorized
waiving deductible payments required by TRICARE programs for
dependents of reservists who are called to active duty for more
than 30 days, and shielded dependents of reservists who are
ordered to active duty for more than 30 days from paying a
health care provider any amount above the TRICARE maximum
allowable cost. Furthermore, the committee made permanent the
authority to provide Transitional Assistance Medical Program
benefits to service members and their dependents for up to 180
days following separation from active duty and directed the
Secretary of Defense to provide physical examinations to all
active duty service members prior to separation. In addition,
the committee authorized federal employees, who serve in the
military reserves and are ordered into active duty and placed
on leave without pay, to continue to receive coverage under the
Federal Employee Health Benefit Program for two years, and to
authorize both the employee's and agency's share of the
premiums to be covered for up to two years.
Finally, the committee authorized certain reservists when
not on active duty and their families to obtain health care
through TRICARE Standard if those reservists commit to
continued service in the Selected Reserve.
WARTIME NEEDS OF SERVICE MEMBERS AND FAMILIES
During the 108th Congress, the committee recognized that
wartime conditions had created new requirements that had not
been anticipated and revealed inadequacies within some existing
programs. The committee responded to these emerging issues with
legislation in the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136) and the Ronald W. Reagan
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public
Law 108-375). The committee improved the Survivor Benefit
Program (SBP) by ensuring that equitable benefits are provided
to the survivors of active duty deaths regardless of the
circumstances of the death, and to extend SBP benefits to the
surviving spouses of reservists not eligible for retirement,
who die from an injury or illness incurred or aggravated in the
line of duty during inactive duty training. The committee
recognized that service members subjected to the high
operations tempo of war are not afforded the opportunity to
take leave. Accordingly the committee acted to increase the
number of days leave that a member may accumulate after serving
in an imminent danger area from 90 to 120. Recognizing the
importance of non-citizen service members and the many
sacrifices and contributions they have made to our military,
the committee included several provisions to ease and expedite
the naturalization process for members and their families.
When the authority used for family members to visit
seriously injured service members proved inadequate, the
committee acted to expand the number of family members that
were authorized to travel and increased the compensation those
families were entitled to receive. Similarly, the committee
included legislation that clarified that family members were
authorized to travel at government expense to the burial site
of a member who dies while on duty and that the member's
parents are always eligible to travel at government expense to
attend the burial ceremony. In a further effort to assist
surviving family members after the death of a service member,
the committee authorized annual increases in the amount of the
death gratuity payable to survivors of deceased service
members. The increase in the gratuity will be the same as the
average percentage of the increase in rates of basic pay taking
effect each year.
The committee also took action to expand to all
hospitalized service members an exemption from paying for their
meals while they recuperate in military hospitals that had
previously been limited to service members injured on the
battlefield. When the committee observed situations where
seriously wounded and ill military personnel involved in
Operations Iraqi Freedom and Enduring Freedom have been
medically evacuated from the battlefield without civilian
clothes, the committee acted to remedy this situation by
authorizing the purchase of civilian clothing, at a cost not to
exceed $250.
In an effort to help reunite deployed military members and
their families in times of need, the conferees authorized
giving the Secretary of Defense the authority to accept the
donation of frequent flyer miles, credits and tickets and
distribute those benefits to service members and their
families.
When the committee observed that service members would not
be awarded separate medals for service in Operation Enduring
Freedom (OEF) and Operation Iraqi Freedom (OIF) for separate
periods of service in Afghanistan and Iraq, respectively, the
committee created separate campaign medals for OEF and OIF
service. Those medals were authorized in a bill adopted in
Public Law 108-234, outside the defense authorization act
process.
RETIREMENT BENEFITS
During the 108th Congress, the committee continued reforms
related to the concurrent receipt of military retired pay and
disability payments from the Department of Veterans Affairs and
addressed new issues related to survivors' benefits.
Specifically with regard to concurrent receipt, the
committee, as part of the National Defense Authorization Act
for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136), made all 20-year
military retirees with a Purple Heart or combat-related
disability, including national guardsmen and reservists,
eligible for concurrent receipt, effective January 1, 2004; and
also authorized full concurrent receipt, to be phased in over
10 years, for the remaining military retirees who are the most
severely disabled (50% disabled and above). As part of the
Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375), the committee removed 100
percent disabled retirees from the 10-year phase-in period by
making them eligible for full concurrent receipt effective
January 2005.
With the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375), the committee
eliminated the Social Security offset under the Survivor
Benefit Plan by increasing the annuities paid to survivors of
military retirees who are 62 or older from 35 percent of
retired pay to 55 percent of retired pay. The phased increase
in annuities will be completed in March 2008.
MILITARY COMPENSATION
The committee examined a wide range of compensation issues
during the 108th Congress. As a result of hearings with
military personnel, association representatives and defense
officials, as well as from meetings with military personnel
deployed overseas and here at home in order to ascertain their
``lessons learned,'' the committee pursued concerns about
military pay levels, the role of special and incentive pays,
and the adequacy of pay during deployments. These reviews
resulted in legislation in the National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136) and the Ronald W.
Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005
(Public Law 108-375) that, in fiscal year 2004, provided an
increase in basic pay for members of the armed forces averaging
4.1 percent, as well as targeted increases for mid-grade and
senior noncommissioned officers and select warrant officers;
and, in fiscal year 2005, provided a 3.5 percent across-the-
board pay raise for our men and women in uniform. These raises
continued the committee's commitment to reduce the gap between
average military and private sector pay and represented the
fifth and sixth consecutive years the committee has recommended
a pay raise larger than the level of private sector pay raises.
With the 3.5 percent pay raise expected in fiscal year 2005,
the average military pay raises over the last six years have
totaled 33 percent. The gap between military and private sector
pay increases has been reduced from 13.5 percent during fiscal
year 1999 to an anticipated 5.1 percent in fiscal year 2005.
During the same period the targeting of pay increases to mid-
grade and senior noncommissioned officers resulted in increases
in basic pay exceeding 40 percent in some grades.
In addition, the committee eliminated the average out of
pocket housing expenses by increasing the basic allowance for
housing, supplemented the allowance for subsistence expenses of
service members based at high-cost or unique duty locations,
and made permanent the increased rates for imminent danger pay
from $150 per month to $225 per month and family separation
allowance from $100 per month to $250 per month.
HEALTH CARE
In the first session of the 108th Congress, the committee
focused attention on the specific problems experienced by
Department of Defense beneficiaries in using the TRICARE
Standard fee-for-service option of the Defense Health Program.
As a result, the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136) directed the Secretary of
Defense to develop a plan and implementation schedule for an
information outreach program designed to assist beneficiaries
and their families understand their health care coverage,
obtain health care provider information, and gain assistance
resolving any difficulties with the program that they may
encounter.
In both sessions of the 108th Congress the committee
devoted special oversight attention to the transition of the
TRICARE system to new contracting requirements and regional
structure. The new contracts consolidated the TRICARE regions
12 to three and sought to improve portability of benefits and
reduce the administrative costs of negotiating change orders
and providing government oversight. The initial implementation
of the new contracts was completed in the second session of the
108th Congress without major disruption of services to
beneficiaries. The committee will continue close oversight of
the TRICARE program in the 109th Congress.
In an effort to preclude problems with the continuity of
health care that were experienced by beneficiaries following
previous rounds of base closure, the committee, in National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-
136), required the establishment of a working group to advise
the Secretary of Defense and the Defense Base Realignment
andClosure (BRAC) Commission on the impact of base closures on health
care delivery. The working group was directed to provide a plan for
continuing health care for individuals relying on health care
facilities affected by the planned 2005 BRAC round.
ADDITIONAL OVERSIGHT ACTIVITIES
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
During the 108th Congress the committee conducted a special
investigation into domestic violence among military families
and oversaw the Department of Defense's implementation of
recommendations for corrective action. The committee continued
that oversight during the 108th Congress. In the first session,
following a three-year effort, the Defense Task Force on
Domestic Violence, which had been established by committee
action, made significant recommendations, including proposed
changes to law, to improve Department efforts to prevent and
respond to domestic violence in the military. In support of
these proposals, the committee included the following
authorities in the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136): travel and
transportation allowances for dependents who are victims of
domestic violence for the purpose of relocating for personal
safety; transitional compensation to victims for no less than
12 months and no more than 36 months, to begin upon the
sentencing of a domestic violence offender. In addition, the
committee directed the Secretary of Defense to conduct
multidisciplinary fatality reviews for each domestic violence
or child abuse fatality.
MILITARY ABSENTEE VOTING
The committee remained vigilant on military absentee voter
issues during the 108th Congress. When the committee noted that
operational requirements and the mobility of military personnel
were preventing military voters from receiving state-provided
absentee ballots by mail in time for an election, the committee
included a provision in the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (P.L. 108-375) that
would remedy these problems and ensure that military voters are
able to participate in the electoral process. The committee
authorized military voters and their dependents, who are
stationed in the U.S., but absent from their home states, to
use federal write-in absentee ballots.
In an effort to monitor the absentee voting of military
members during election 2004 and ensure that military voters
were not disenfranchised, the fiscal year 2005 act also
included a provision that required the Secretary of Defense to
submit reports to Congress on:
(1) The actions that the Secretary has taken to
ensure that the Federal Voting Assistance Program
functions effectively to support absentee voting.
(2) The actions that the Secretary has taken to
ensure that the military postal system functions
effectively to support the morale of military members
and their ability to vote by absentee ballot.
(3) The actions taken to implement the
recommendations of the Military Postal Service Agency
Task Force of August 28, 2000.
MILITARY EXCHANGES AND COMMISSARIES
The committee acted throughout the 108th Congress to
improve the effectiveness and quality of military exchanges and
commissaries and to protect these critical programs for future
generations of service members.
The committee included provisions in the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136)
that would:
(1) Clarify that exchanges and commissaries must be
operated as separate systems.
(2) Limit the contracting of commissary functions.
(3) Mandate the use of appropriated funding to
support commissary operations.
(4) Expand the eligibility for reserve members and
their families to access exchanges and commissaries on
an unlimited basis.
(5) Authorize exchanges and commissaries to recoup
the value of investments in facilities at military
installations that were closed or realigned.
The committee included provisions in the Ronald W. Reagan
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public
Law 108-375) that would:
(1) Define commissary and exchange systems and
clarify that the systems' purposes are to enhance the
quality of life of the military, military retirees and
their dependents and to support military readiness,
recruitment and retention.
(2) Require the designation of a senior official to
oversee both systems and an executive governing body,
including military members, to ensure complimentary
operations of both systems.
(3) Authorize the Secretary of Defense to consider
the quality of life of reservists whenever assessing
whether to close a commissary store.
(4) Require the Secretary of Defense to submit to
Congress written notice of the reasons supporting the
closure of a commissary and wait 90 days before
undertaking a closure.
(5) Authorize the Secretary of Defense to conduct a
test program on the sale of telephone cards, film and
one-time use cameras.
(6) Require the Government Accountability Office to
evaluate the impact of the expansion of categories of
merchandise sold in commissary stores and its impact on
the exchange dividend.
(7) Require the Secretary of Defense to maintain the
decor, format and product selection in military
commissaries consistent with modern grocery store
norms.
SPECIAL INVESTIGATION: SUBSTANDARD TREATMENT OF PERSONNEL IN MEDICAL
HOLDOVER (MHO) STATUS
During the 108th Congress the committee spent considerable
time examining reports of substandard treatment of military
personnel in Army and Navy medical holdover detachments.
Committee staff visited six Army installations serving as power
projection platforms or power support platforms for
mobilization and demobilization of Army personnel. The
committee also requested that the Navy examine the
effectiveness of its two MHO operations. The committee's
objective was to review the extent of and reasons for MHO
backlogs, substandard living conditions, and whether any
disparities existed with regard to access to medical existed
between RC and active component soldiers. The investigation led
to a Force Subcommittee hearing in January 2004, a request for
the General Accounting Office (GAO) to review the adequacy of
MHO resources and procedures and medical readiness issues for
all the military services, and legislative initiatives in the
Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375) to improve reserve component
medical and dental screening and care.
OTHER ACTIVITIES OF THE FULL COMMITTEE
BUDGET ACTIVITY
On February 28, 2003, the committee forwarded its views and
estimates regarding the budget for National Defense (function
050) for fiscal year 2004 to the Committee on the Budget. The
committee noted that the United States finds itself not only in
a global war on terrorism, but also conducting a military
buildup in the Persian Gulf in preparation for a possible
conflict in Iraq. The committee recognized the President's
commitment to reverse the decade-long decline in defense
spending from the previous Administration. The committee
observed that the increase for fiscal year 2003 over fiscal
year 2002 was 13 percent. However, despite this recent
increase, the proposed defense spending budget still amounts to
a far lower percentage of the nation's gross domestic product
than it did twenty years ago--a projected 3.4 percent in 2004
compared to 6 percent in 1983. Specifically, the committee
noted that the budget request of $72.7 billion for procurement
of military equipment falls significantly short of what has
been broadly identified as the level of investment necessary to
merely sustain the current force. Accordingly, the committee
requested an additional $31.3 billion over the President's
budget request of $399.7 billion for National Defense. This
level of funding would ensure that we continue to make the
necessary progress in addressing the military's pressing
modernization, force structure, infrastructure and operational
and quality of life requirements. Beyond the discretionary
funding level request, the committee also sought additional
entitlement authority to expand the concurrent receipt offset
on military retirement for the most deserving military
retirees. Section 636 of the Bob Stump National Defense
Authorization Act for fiscal year 2003 eliminated the
concurrent receipt offset for those military retirees that
received a military disability rating due to combat injuries
that resulted in the award of the Purple Heart medal or those
that received a disability rating of 60 percent or higher due
to injuries received as a direct result of combat, training for
combat, hazardous service, or an instrumentality of war. The
committee noted that while this represents a good initial start
on this issue, it does not provide the necessary total solution
to the inequities that result from the existing concurrent
receipt policy. Therefore, the committee requested additional
mandatory budget authority to the national defense budget to
build on the policy established in the Bob Stump National
Defense Authorization Act in order to eliminate the concurrent
receipt offset.
On February 26, 2004, the committee forwarded its views and
estimates regarding the budget for National Defense (function
050) for fiscal year 2005 to the Committee on the Budget. The
committee noted that the military is dramatically smaller than
it was a decade ago despite the fact that we are a nation at
war. The committee was troubled that our military forces are
meeting the challenge by sustaining a rate of deployment and
operations not experienced in over three decades with aging
equipment. The committee observed that against this backdrop,
the President submitted a defense budget that requested an
increase of $19.6 billion over the amount appropriated for
fiscal year 2004. The committee was concerned that even with
the proposed increase, defense spending would amount to a far
lower percentage of the nation's gross domestic product (GDP)
than it did twenty years ago--a projected 3.6 percent increase
in 2004 compared to 5.9 percent in 1985. The committee also
noted that in addition to fighting the global war on terror,
the Army was undertaking the most fundamental reform of its
organization since World War II. While the Department estimated
that this effort required an additional 30,000 troops, the
President did not include the costs of this effort in the
budget request. Consequently, the committee sought additional
resources for both the additional end strength and the
requirements associated with the equipment modernization
funding. Beyond the discretionary funding level request, the
committee also sought additional entitlement authority to
address the two critical issues for our men and women who have
served and those that continue to serve. The committee noted
that under the current survivor benefit program, a survivor's
annuity is decreased from 55 percent to 35 percent upon
reaching the age of 62 as a result of social security payments.
This social security offset penalizes the families who have
made the greatest sacrifice to our nation. In addition, the
committee recognized that the Department would exhaust
statutory budget authority limitation on military housing
privatization initiative projects during the first quarter of
fiscal year 2005. This program leverages private sector
expertise to construct, improve and maintain housing that may
be rented by military families at little or no cost to the
government. For that reason, the committee requested additional
entitlement budget authority to eliminate the social security
offset to the survivor benefit program over a 10-year phased
implementation period as well as provide the required funding
to fully implement the military housing privatization
initiative.
Full Committee Hearings
During the 108th Congress, the Committee on Armed Services
held numerous hearings in accordance with its legislative and
oversight roles. These hearings focused on areas including the
budget of the Department of Defense and the posture of the
armed services, the global war on terrorism, military activity
in Iraq, the treatment of individuals detained as a result of
U.S. military operations, military transformation, the
recommendations of the National Commission on Terrorist Attacks
upon the United States (9/11 Commission), global posture
review, emerging threats to U.S. national security, and the
U.S. industrial base. A full account of these hearings is
below.
(H.A.S.C. 108-1; H.A.S.C. 108-2; H.A.S.C. 108-9; H.A.S.C.
108-14; H.A.S.C. 108-15; H.A.S.C. 108-19; H.A.S.C. 108-21;
H.A.S.C. 108-28; H.A.S.C. 108-29; H.A.S.C. 108-31; H.A.S.C.
108-32; H.A.S.C. 108-33; H.A.S.C. 108-36; H.A.S.C. 108-37;
H.A.S.C. 108-38; H.A.S.C. 108-39; H.A.S.C. 108-43; H.A.S.C.
108-44)
POSTURE AND BUDGET
During the 108th Congress, the Committee on Armed Services
held multiple hearings on the posture, financial requirements,
and status of the U.S. Armed Forces as they continue to wage
the Global War on Terrorism in defense of the United States,
its people, its interests, and its overseas friends and allies.
These hearings, combined with its responsibility for assembling
the annual defense authorization bill, are the primary means by
which the committee leads Congress in the latter's discharge of
its Constitutional duties.
On February 5, 2003, the committee convened a hearing with
the Secretary of Defense, Donald H. Rumsfeld, and the Chairman
of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Richard Myers, USAF,
accompanied by Undersecretary of Defense Dov Zakheim, to review
the President's request for funding and authorities during
fiscal year 2004. Following this hearing, the committee sought
and received testimony from each of the services and several
unified combatant commanders. On February 12, 2003, the
Secretary of the Army, Thomas E. White, and the Army Chief of
Staff, General Eric Shinseki, USA, appeared before the
committee to discuss their service's portion of the President's
fiscal year 2004 budget request. They were followed on February
26th by Hansford T. Johnson, Acting Secretary of the Navy,
Admiral Vern Clark, Chief of Naval Operations, and General
Michael Hagee, Commandant of the Marine Corps, who discussed
the budget request as it related to the United States Navy and
Marine Corps. The following day, James G. Roche, Secretary of
the Air Force, and General John P. Jumper, Chief of Staff of
the Air Force, appeared before the committee to discuss the
United States Air Force's portion of the fiscal year 2004
budget request.
In addition to the uniformed services, which are primarily
responsible for training and equipping their respective forces,
commanders of the unified combatant commands, who are in the
chain of command, appeared before the committee to discuss the
security situation in their respective areas of responsibility.
These included General Charles Holland, USAF, Commander of U.S.
Special Operations Command, General James Hill, USA, Commander
of U.S. Southern Command, and Admiral E.P. Giambastiani,
Commander of U.S. Joint Forces Command on March 12, 2003. They
were followed the same day by a separate hearing with Admiral
Thomas Fargo, USN, Commander of U.S. Pacific Command, and
General Leon Laporte, Commander of U.S. Forces Korea to discuss
the security situation in the Pacific. On March 13, the
committee held its third hearing with combatant commanders when
General Ralph Eberhart, USAF, Commander of U.S. Northern
Command and Admiral James Ellis, USN, Commander of U.S.
Strategic Command, appeared before it.
The committee concluded its series of hearings on the
fiscal year 2004 budget request by delving more deeply into
specific programs, policies, and activities. These hearings
began with a review of the Department of Defense's Cooperative
Threat Reduction program and the Department of Energy's
nonproliferation programs on March 4th, when J.D. Crouch, the
Assistant Secretary of Defense for International Security
Policy, Ambassador Linton Brooks, Acting Administrator of the
National Nuclear Security Administration, Paula DeSutter,
Assistant Secretary of State at the Bureau of Verification and
Compliance, David Steentsma, Deputy Inspector General at the
Department of Defense, and Joseph Christoff of the U.S. General
Accounting Office appeared before the committee. On March 20,
2003, the committee examined the Department's ballistic missile
defense programs more closely when it invited E.C. ``Pete''
Aldridge, Undersecretary of Defense for Acquisition,
Technology, and Logistics, J.D. Crouch, Assistant Secretary of
Defense for International Security Policy, Lieutenant General
Ronald Kadish, Director of the Missile Defense Agency, and
Thomas Christie, Director of Operational Test and Evaluation at
the Department of Defense to testify on the status and plans of
missile defense programs contained in the fiscal year 2004
budget request. The committee broadened its scope somewhat to
consider the issue of acquisition reform on April 1, 2003, when
Undersecretary Aldridge returned to testify about all major
Department of Defense acquisition programs, and review the
Department's plans for acquisition reform and future
acquisition programs. The committee addressed many of the
issues discussed during this hearing a part of the National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004. The committee
also delved deeply into the problems of replacing the United
States Air Force's aging fleet of aerial refueling aircraft, a
controversial issue since the Department first proposed
replacing its tankers through a lease with the Boeing
Corporation. On July 23rd, Michael Wynne, Acting Undersecretary
of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics appeared
with Dr. Marvin Sambur, Assistant Secretary of the Air Force
for Acquisition, and Major General Paul Essex, Director of
Plans and Programs at the Headquarters for Air Mobility Command
to discuss the issue. Neal Curtin of the GeneralAccounting
Office and John Plueger, President and Chief Operating officer of the
International Lease Finance Corporation appeared on a second panel to
round out the hearing.
During the second session of the 108th Congress in 2004,
the committee renewed its history of conducting thorough
hearings in preparation of the Defense authorization bill for
fiscal year 2005. On February 4th, 2004, the committee received
testimony from Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense and
General Peter Pace, USMC, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff, to review the President's budget request for fiscal year
2005. The committee continued its hearings on the fiscal year
2005 budget by inviting the senior leaders of the Department of
the Navy to appear before it on February 12th, when Gordon R.
England, Secretary of the Navy, Admiral Vern Clark, USN, Chief
of Naval Operations, and General Michael Hagee, USMC,
Commandant of the Marine Corps, presented testimony. On
February 25th, Les Brownlee, Acting Secretary of the Army, and
General Peter Schoomaker, Army Chief of Staff, testified
further on the fiscal year 2005 defense budget request. They
were followed on February 26th by James Roche, Secretary of the
Air Force, and General John Jumper, USAF, Chief of Staff of the
Air Force.
After completing its hearings with the leadership of the
uniformed services, the committee turned its attention to the
combatant commands, seeking information from them to help
formulate the fiscal year 2005 defense authorization bill. On
March 3rd, General John Abizaid, USA, Commander of U.S. Central
Command, and Peter Rodman, Assistant Secretary of Defense for
International Security Affairs, appeared before the committee
to discuss issues in Central Command's Area of Responsibility.
They were followed on March 24th by General James Jones, USMC,
Commander of U.S. European Command, and General James Hill,
USA, Commander of U.S. Southern Command. On March 31st, the
committee completed its review with testimony from Admiral
Thomas Fargo, USN, Commander of U.S. Pacific Command, and
General Leon Laporte, USA, Commander of U.S. Forces Korea.
The committee also continued its efforts to focus more
closely on specific programmatic and organizational issues
within the Department of Defense as part of its consideration
of the President's budget request for fiscal year 2005. On
February 11th, the committee received testimony on aviation
safety in the Department of Defense from Major General Kenneth
Hess, USAF, Chief of Safety and Commander of the United States
Air Force Safety Center, Brigadier General Joseph Smith, USA,
Commanding General of the United States Army Safety Center,
Rear Admiral Richard Brooks, USN, Commander of the United
States Naval Center, Brigadier General Samuel Helland, USMC,
Assistant Deputy Commandant for Aviation, and Christopher
Bolkcom, Congressional Research Service. On March 18, the
committee met to review a proposal to change the name of the
Secretary of the Navy to the Secretary of the Navy and Marine
Corps. The witnesses were William Dudley, Director of Naval
History at the Naval Historical Center, Admiral Stansfield
Turner, USN (ret.), former Director of Central Intelligence,
General Carl Mundy, Jr., USMC (ret.), former Commandant of the
Marine Corps, and Donald Howard, former Undersecretary of the
Navy.
(H.A.S.C. 108-2; H.A.S.C. 108-14; H.A.S.C. 108-21; H.A.S.C.
108-29)
GLOBAL WAR ON TERRORISM
Much of the committee's work related to the Global War on
Terrorism involved classified briefings and discussions.
Nevertheless, the committee continued to publicly review
developments associated with the Global War on Terrorism. On
April 29th, 2004 the committee received testimony regarding
reconstruction and stability operations in Afghanistan from
Peter Rodman, Assistant Secretary of Defense for International
Security Affairs, Lieutenant General Walter Sharp, USA,
Director for Strategic Plans and Policy on the Joint Staff,
Ambassador William Taylor, Coordinator for Afghanistan in the
Department of State. On September 8th, 2004, the committee met
to receive testimony on the performance of individual soldiers
and Marines in Afghanistan and Iraq in their efforts to defeat
insurgents there. The witnesses included, Colonel Michael
Linnington, USA, former Brigade Commander with the 101st Air
Assault Division, Captain Patrick Costello, USA, former
Commander of an Air Defense Artillery unit with the 101st Air
Assault Division, Lieutenant Colonel Bryan McCoy, USMC, former
Commander of the 3rd Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, Captain
Morgan Savage, USMC, former Company Commander with the 3rd
Battalion, 4th Marine Regiment, and Lieutenant Colonel Jeffery
Springman, USA, former Commander of an artillery unit attached
to the 4th Infantry Division. The committee concluded its
hearings for the 108th Congress on November 17, 2004 by
inviting the chiefs of the military services to appear before
the committee to provide a status report on their forces
engaged in the Global War on Terrorism. The witnesses were
General Peter Schoomaker, USA, Chief of Staff of the United
States Army, Admiral Vernon Clark, USN, Chief of Naval
Operations, General John Jumper, USAF, Chief of Staff of the
Air Force, and General Michael Hagee, USMC, Commandant of the
Marine Corps.
(H.A.S.C. 108-28; H.A.S.C. 108-33; H.A.S.C. 108-44)
IRAQ
The war in Iraq consumed a significant amount of the
committee's time as members sought perspectives on lessons
learned from Operation Iraqi Freedom that could apply to the
future of the military and on the tasks of securing Iraq and
enabling it to re-enter the international system as a stable
and secure state that represents the interests of its citizens
and respects the security of its neighbors. Hearings on the
subject in the 108th Congress began shortly after military
operations commenced, when the Hussein regime immediately began
violating the laws of war. On April 4, 2003, W. Hays Parks,
Special Assistant for Law of War Matters in the Office of the
Judge Advocate General, U.S. Army, appeared before the
Committee to discuss specific Iraqi actions in the context of
internationally recognized laws of war. On July 10, 2003, after
leaving the position of Combatant Commander, U.S. Central
Command, General Tommy Franks, USA, who had led American and
coalition forces in military operations in Afghanistan, Iraq,
and elsewhere, appeared before the committee to discuss his
views on Operation Iraqi Freedom and lessons the military
should take from it. He was followed on September 25, 2003, by
Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz, Ambassador L. Paul
Bremer, III, Administrator of the Coalition Provisional
Authority, and General John Abizaid, USA, Combatant Commander
of U.S. Central Command, who reviewed the status of stability
and reconstruction operations, as well as the state of initial
planning to transition Iraq toward its sovereignty. On October
2, 2003, the committee's efforts to further document lessons
learned from Operation Iraqi Freedom resulted in a hearing with
Admiral E.P. Giambastiani, USN, Commander of U.S. Joint Forces
Command, which the Secretary of Defense had tasked with
undertaking a major study of lessons learned from Operation
Iraqi Freedom. Later that month, on October 8, 2003, Assistant
Secretary of Defense for International Security Affairs Peter
Rodman and John Hamre, President of the Center for Security and
International Studies (CSIS) appeared before the committee to
discuss a study of reconstruction activities that CSIS had
undertaken at the request of the Department of Defense. On
October 21, 2003, the committee received testimony from a panel
of outside witnesses discussing the military lessons they took
from Operation Iraqi Freedom. The witnesses were: Major General
Robert Scales, USA (ret.), former Commandant of the Army War
College, Dr. Andrew Krepinevich, Executive Director of the
Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments, and Dr. Stephen
Biddle, Associate Research Professor at the Army War College.
On October 29, 2003, the committee convened a panel of outside
witnesses to review Iraq's political future and the military's
role in reconstruction and stability operations. The witnesses
were: Dr. Michael O'Hanlon, Senior Fellow, Brookings
Institution, Karl Zinsmeister, J.B. Fuqua Fellow, American
Enterprise Institute, and Dr. Marina S. Ottaway, Senior
Associate, Carnegie Endowment for International Peace.
U.S. military operations in Iraq figured no less
prominently in the committee's agenda during the second session
of the 108th Congress. On January 28, 2004, the committee met
to receive testimony from General Peter Schoomaker, USA, Chief
of Staff of the United States Army, General Michael Hagee,
USMC, Commandant of the Marine Corps, Lieutenant General Norton
Schwartz, USAF, Director for Operations on the Joint Staff, and
Lieutenant General James Cartwright, USMC, Director for Force
Structure, Resources, and Assessment on the Joint Staff to
discuss the Operation Iraqi Freedom force rotation plan. On
April 21, 2004, the committee met to review plans and issues
associated with Iraq's transition to sovereignty at the end of
June. The witnesses included Paul Wolfowitz, Deputy Secretary
of Defense, General Richard Myers, USAF, Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, and Marc Grossman, Undersecretary of State for
Political Affairs. A second panel of outside experts included,
Dr. Judith Yaphe, Senior Fellow at the National Defense
University, Dr. Amatzia Baram, Senior Fellow at the United
States Institute of Peace, and General John Keane, USA (ret.),
former Vice Chief of Staff of the United States Army. On May
21, 2004, the committee continued its review of Operation Iraqi
Freedom with a hearing on the conduct and support of operations
with testimony from General Richard Myers, USAF, Chairman of
the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Schoomaker, USA, Chief
of Staff of the United States Army, and General Michael Hagee,
USMC, Commandant of the Marine Corps. On June 16, 2004, the
committee held a hearing to review the status of U.S. military
forces in Iraq after the restoration of Iraq's sovereignty. The
witnesses included: Peter Rodman, Assistant Secretary of
Defense for International Security Affairs, Lieutenant General
Walter Sharp, USA, Director of Strategic Plans and Policy on
the Joint Staff, and Ambassador Francis Ricciardone,
Coordinator for Iraq Transition at the Department of State. The
following day, June 17, 2004, the committee received testimony
on the status of programs training Iraqi security forces and
received testimony from Lieutenant General David Petraeus, USA,
Chief of the Office of Security Transition in the Coalition
Provisional Authority, and Brigadier General Kevin Bergner,
USA, Deputy Director for Strategic Plans on the Joint Staff. On
June 22, 2004, the committee met again to review progress in
performing stability and reconstruction operations in Iraq with
Paul Wolfowitz, Deputy Secretary of Defense, and General Peter
Pace, USMC, Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. On July
7, 2004, following Iraq's transition to sovereignty, the
committee refocused its attention on the demands that Operation
Iraqi Freedom continued to make on U.S. military forces with a
hearing on troop rotations in Iraq and Afghanistan. Witnesses
included David S.C. Chu, Undersecretary of Defense for
Personnel and Readiness, Lieutenant General Norton Schwartz,
USAF, Director of Operations on the Joint Staff, General
Richard Cody, USA, Vice Chief of Staff of the Army, and
Lieutenant General Jan Huly, USMC, Deputy Commandant of the
Marine Corps for Plans, Policies, and Operations.
(H.A.S.C. 108-15; H.A.S.C. 108-28)
DETAINEE POLICY
In addition to its general work to incorporate the lessons
of Operation Iraqi Freedom, the committee has focused intently
on the treatment of individuals detained as a result of U.S.
military operations. Because much of the information associated
with detention policy is classified, the committee has
conducted most of its activities through a series of classified
briefings. However, on occasion, it has been able to examine
the issue in an unclassified setting. On May 7, 2004, it
convened a hearing to review the treatment of detainees in U.S.
Central Command's Area of Responsibility. The witnesses
included Donald Rumsfeld, Secretary of Defense, General Richard
Myers, USAF, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Les
Brownlee, Acting Secretary of the Army, General Peter
Schoomaker, USA, Chief of Staff of the Army, and Lieutenant
General Lance Smith, Deputy Commander, U.S. Central Command. On
September 9th, the committee met twice in open session to
review two major investigations of detention policies and
practices. The first hearing focused on the report of an
independent panel established by the Department of Defense and
led by distinguished former policymakers. The committee heard
from the Panel's Chairman, James R. Schlesinger, former
Secretary of Defense, and Harold Brown, a panel member who also
had served as a Secretary of Defense. The second hearing
concerned the investigation by General Paul Kern, USA, of the
intelligence aspects of detention activities. The witnesses
included General Kern, Lieutenant General Anthony Jones, USA,
the lead investigator, and Major General George Fay, USA, who
served as investigating officer.
(H.A.S.C. 108-28)
TRANSFORMATION
The administration of President George W. Bush has made
military transformation a cornerstone of its long-term strategy
to provide for the national security of the United States and
prepare the Department of Defense for its missions in the 21st
century. Much of the committee's transformation related work is
reflected in the annual defense authorization bills it
develops. However, on several occasions, the committee has held
hearings dedicated to specific aspects of transformation in
order to explore the issue more fully. A two-part hearing was
conducted regarding proposals to reform personnel policies
associated with civilian employees of the Department of Defense
in a proposed bill entitled, ``The Defense Transformation for
the 21st Century Act.'' On May 1, 2003, the committee met to
receive testimony from Paul D. Wolfowitz, Deputy Secretary of
Defense, General Richard B. Myers, USAF, Chairman of the Joint
Chiefs of Staff, David S.C. Chu, Undersecretary of Defense for
Personnel and Readiness, E.C. ``Pete'' Aldridge, Undersecretary
of Defense for Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, David
Walker, Comptroller General of the United States, and Bobby
Harnage, National President of the American Federation of
Government Employees, AFL-CIO. The second part of the two-part
hearing was conducted on May 2, 2003, and included testimony
from David S.C. Chu, Undersecretary of Defense for Personnel
and Readiness, Admiral Vernon E. Clark, USN, Chief of Naval
Operations, Lawrence J. Korb, Director of National Security
Studies, Council on Foreign Relations, and Lieutenant General
Theodore G. Stroup, Jr., USA (ret.), Vice President of
Education, Association of the United States Army. On July 15,
2004, the committee held a hearing of outside witnesses to
consider the Army's transformation plan. The witnesses
included, General John Keane, USA (ret.), former Vice Chief of
Staff of the United States Army, Major General Robert Scales,
USA (ret.), former Commandant of the Army War College, Colonel
Douglas Macgregor, USA (ret.), and Patrick Towell, Visiting
Fellow at the Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments.
The committee conducted its review of the Army's transformation
plan in two parts and convened a second hearing on July 21,
2004. The witnesses included, General Peter Schoomaker, USA,
Chief of Staff of the Army, Lieutenant General Benjamin
Griffin, USA, Deputy Chief of Staff for Program Analysis and
Evaluation, and Lieutenant General John Curran, USA, Deputy
Commanding General, Futures, in the U.S. Army Training and
Doctrine Command.
(H.A.S.C. 108-2; H.A.S.C. 108-38)
9/11 COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS
On July 22, 2004, The National Commission on Terrorist
Attacks upon the United States released its final report. The
report reviewed the series of events precipitating the
September 11th attacks on the United States and made a series
of recommendations. On August 10th, during a congressional
recess, the committee reconvened for a series of hearings to
review the findings and recommendations of the commission
report. The hearings began on August 10th with testimony from
the Chairman of the Commission, Thomas Kean, and the Vice-
Chairman, Lee Hamilton. Both witnesses summarized the
commission findings and recommendations. Later that day, the
committee held a second hearing to focus attention more closely
on the commission recommendation to deny terrorists sanctuary.
The Deputy Secretary of Defense, Paul Wolfowitz, the Vice
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter Pace,
USMC, and General Bryan Brown, USA, Commander of U.S. Special
Operations Command presented testimony. The committee held two
additional hearings on August 11th to scrutinize specific
commission recommendations in greater detail. In the morning,
Stephen Cambone, Undersecretary of Defense for Intelligence,
Vice Admiral Lowell Jacoby, USN, Director of the Defense
Intelligence Agency, and Major General Raymond Odierno, USA,
former Commander of the 4th Infantry Division, discussed the
vital role intelligence plays in supporting the planning and
conduct of military operations. In the afternoon, the committee
invited outside experts with significant government experience
to review their conclusions about the role of intelligence in
warfighting. The witnesses included John Hamre, President of
the Center for Strategic and International Studies and former
Deputy Secretary of Defense, Lieutenant General William Odom,
USA (ret.), Senior Fellow at The Hudson Institute and a former
Director of the National Security Agency, and Lowell Wood,
Senior Scientist at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory.
(H.A.S.C. 108-36)
GLOBAL POSTURE REVIEW
Early in his tenure, the Secretary of Defense initiated a
review of the overseas deployments of all U.S. military forces
with an eye towards adjusting those deployments in order to
bring them into accord with the security environment of the
21st century. This review, subsequently known as the Global
Posture Review, involved major shifts in U.S. troop
deployments, complex negotiations with foreign governments, the
dismantling of overseas bases, and the development of new
deployments concepts for all three services. The Committee on
Armed Services undertook a lengthy series of hearings on this
process in order to ensure that it reflected the best interests
of the American people and to assess the Global Posture Review
for its implications for U.S. force structure. On February 26,
2003, the committee began its review with a hearing on the
historical strategy of forward-deploying U.S. military forces
in Europe. Witnesses included General Montgomery Meigs, USA
(ret.), former Commanding General U.S. Army Europe and U.S. 7th
Army, Dr. Fred Kagan, Associate Professor of Military History
at the United States Military Academy, and Mr. Tom Donnelly of
the American Enterprise Institute. The committee followed that
hearing on June 18th with a hearing on worldwide U.S. military
commitments with Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz and
the Vice Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Peter
Pace, USMC. The committee delved into further detail with a
November 5th hearing on the implications for U.S. military
forces of sustaining U.S. global commitments. The witnesses
included David S.C. Chu, Undersecretary of Defense for
Personnel and Readiness, General Peter Pace, USMC, Vice
Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Dr. Douglas Holtz-Eakin,
Director of the Congressional Budget Office, and Lieutenant
General Theodore Stroup, Jr., USA, (ret.), Vice President for
Education of the Association of the United States Army.
On June 15th, 2004, the committee examined a particular
aspect of the Global Posture Review in conducting a hearing on
the review's implications for security on the Korean peninsula.
The witnesses were outside experts, including Peter Brookes,
Director of the Asian Studies Center at the Heritage
Foundation, and Michael O'Hanlon, Senior Fellow at the
Brookings Institution. On June 23rd, the committee again
broadened its view with a hearing on the global defense
footprint with Douglas Feith, Undersecretary of Defense for
Policy, Lieutenant General James Cartwright, USMC, Director of
Force Structure, Resources, and Assessment on the Joint Staff,
Lincoln Bloomfield, Assistant Secretary of State in the Bureau
of Political Military Affairs, and Ray Dubois, Deputy
Undersecretary of Defense for Installations and the
Environment.
(H.A.S.C. 108-9; H.A.S.C. 108-31)
EMERGING THREATS TO U.S. NATIONAL SECURITY
Members of the committee have paid close attention to
international trends that may present new or evolutionary
threats to U.S. national security. On November 19, 2003, it met
to conduct a hearing reviewing the overall national security
strategy of the United States to deal with these threats. The
witnesses included Jeane Kirkpatrick, Senior Fellow and
Director of Foreign and Defense Policy Studies at the American
Enterprise Institute, and Samuel ``Sandy'' Berger, Chairman of
Stonebridge International.
When possible, the committee held hearings to examine
specific trends in greater detail. On March 17th, 2004, the
committee met to consider comprehensive strategies for
combating the spread of weapons of mass destruction and the
means of delivering them. The witnesses were Larry Wortzel,
Vice President of the Heritage Foundation, Gary Milhollin,
Director of the Wisconsin Project on Nuclear Arms Control, and
Ashton Carter, Co-Director of the Preventive Defense Project at
Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. On June 16,
2004, the committee held a hearing to review the latest report
of the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission and
received testimony from the commission's chairman, Roger
Robinson, Jr., and another commissioner, Carolyn Bartholomew.
The committee has a long-standing concern that potential
adversaries might utilize asymmetric means to attack the United
States. Working with the Senate, it helped create the
Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from
Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack. On July 22nd, the committee
convened to receive testimony from the commission's chairman,
Dr. William Graham, who was accompanied by a majority of the
commissioners.
(H.A.S.C. 108-9; H.A.S.C. 108-19; H.A.S.C. 108-37)
INDUSTRIAL BASE
During the 108th Congress, the committee took a particular
interest in the health and capabilities of the U.S. defense
industrial base. The demands of the Global War on Terrorism
have made it clear that the county's ability to prevail in the
long-term will be tied to the ability of its industrial base to
meet the needs of our uniformed services. On April 21, 2004,
the committee received testimony on the performance of the
Department of Defense acquisition process in meeting the force
protection needs of our deployed military forces. The witnesses
were led by Michael Wynne, Acting Undersecretary of Defense for
Acquisition, Technology, and Logistics, Lieutenant General
Joseph Yakovac, Jr., USA, Director of the Army Acquisition
Corps, Major General Buford Blunt, III, USA, Assistant Deputy
Chief of Staff for the U.S. Army, Lieutenant General Edward
Hanlon, Jr., USMC, Deputy Commandant for Combat Development,
and Brigadier General William Catto, USMC, Commanding General
of Marine Corps Systems Command.
On June 17th, the committee convened a hearing to focus on
the impact of defense trade offsets, in which foreign customers
for U.S. military goods require U.S. firms to invest in their
countries as a pre-condition for buying those goods. The
witnesses included Owen Herrnstadt, Director for Trade and
Globalization at the International Association of Machinists
and Aerospace Workers, Roland Doktor, Manager for New Programs
at Warren Pumps, Inc., and Rick Edgar, President and Chief
Executive Officer of Jered Industries, Inc. On July 8th, the
committee convened its second hearing on offsets, with a focus
on the implications for economic, technological, and vocational
skill sets. The witnesses included Katherine Schinasi, Managing
Director of the Acquisition and Sourcing Management Team in the
General Accounting Office, Charles Wessner, Director of the
Program on Technology and Innovation at the National Academy of
Sciences, and Stanley Sorscher, the Labor Representative of the
Society of Professional Engineering Employees in America.
(H.A.S.C. 108-39; H.A.S.C. 108-43)
OTHER ACTIVITIES OF SUBCOMMITTEES
Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee
The Subcommittee on Tactical Air and Land Forces addressed
all Army and Air Force acquisition programs (except strategic
weapons and lift programs, special operations and information
technology accounts); Navy and Marine Corps aviation programs;
National Guard, Army, and Air Force reserve modernization
programs; and ammunition programs by conducting numerous
oversight hearings during its consideration of the fiscal year
2004 and fiscal year 2005 Department of Defense (DOD) budget
requests, including: March 12, 2003, Army and Navy rotorcraft
programs and the associated industrial base; March 20, 2003,
Army and Marine Corps ground forces requirements and the
current and future industrial base; March 26, 2003, DOD
unmanned combat air vehicle (UCAV) and unmanned aerial vehicle
(UAV) programs; April 2, 2003, Air Force and Navy tactical
weapon system acquisition programs and future technology
initiatives; March 4, 2004, aviation industrial base and DOD
rotorcraft investment programs; March 17, 2004, DOD UCAV and
UAV Programs; March 25, 2004, Navy and Air Force tactical
weapon acquisition programs; April 1, 2004, Army future combat
systems and DOD land component programs. In addition to its
traditional oversight responsibilities regarding DOD budget
requests, the subcommittee conducted oversight hearings on the
following: July 19, 2003, Air Force science and technology
programs; June 24, 2004, DOD small-caliber ammunition programs
and the associated industrial base; July 21, 2004, DOD small
business innovation research programs and the development of
innovative technology.
(H.A.S.C. 108-3; H.A.S.C. 108-13; H.A.S.C. 108-22; H.A.S.C.
108-41; H.A.S.C. 108-42)
Readiness Subcommittee
The subcommittee reviewed the readiness programs within the
operations and maintenance accounts for fiscal years 2004 and
2005 to evaluate the budget request and ensure appropriate
funds were available to maintain a high level of readiness.
These hearings included: March 18, 2003, state of military
readiness and review of President's Budget; and March 11, 2004,
adequacy of the fiscal year 2005 budget to meet readiness
needs.
The subcommittee also held several hearings on Operation
Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Most focused on
the military services plans to reset and reconstitute troops
and prepositioned assets involved with Operation Enduring
Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. These hearings included:
October 21, 2003, resetting and reconstituting the forces;
March 24, 2004, prepositioned equipment programs of the United
States Army and United States Marine Corps; March 30, 2004,
logistics and lessons learned from Operation Iraqi Freedom and
logistics transformation; and July 20, 2004, depot
maintenance--capacity and resources for future work. The
committee also heard testimony on how the Department of Defense
is utilizing and overseeing contractors in the field during
combat: June 24, 2004, contractor support in the Department of
Defense.
The subcommittee's detailed and extensive examination of
encroachment on military training ranges resulted in
legislation in the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136) that restored a balance
between readiness and compliance with environmental statutes. A
hearing on environmental legislative proposals was held on
March 13, 2003.
The subcommittee also undertook an extensive evaluation of
rules and regulations affecting civilian personnel within the
Department of Defense and enacted a new human resources
management system for Department of Defense civilian personnel
in the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004
(108-136).
During the 108th Congress, the subcommittee also evaluated
the legislation, regulation, and administration policy
affecting the process of outsourcing commercial activities
within the Department of Defense. A hearing was held on March
25, 2003, outsourcing and the Office of Management and Budget
Circular A-76 process. The evaluation resulted in major
legislation in the National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136) that impacted federal
government civilian personnel's standing to appeal the process
to the General Accountability Office.
The subcommittee also examined training and the
requirements of joint training at a joint hearing with the
Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities
Subcommittee: March 18, 2004, training transformation and
examination of the Joint National Training Capability.
Finally, the subcommittee examined and evaluated the
military construction and military family housing accounts
within the Department of Defense. It conducted numerous
hearings during its consideration of the fiscal year 2004 and
fiscal year 2005 military construction budget requests,
including: March 18, 2003, fiscal year 2004 military
construction budget request for programs of the Office of the
Secretary of Defense, the defense agencies, and the active and
reserve components of the Department of the Army; March 20,
2003, fiscal year 2004 military construction budget request for
programs of the active and reserve components of the
Departments of the Navy and the Air Force; February 26, 2004,
fiscal year 2005 military construction budget request for
programs of the Office of the Secretary of Defense, the defense
agencies, and the active and reserve components of the
Department of the Air Force; and March 4, 2004, fiscal year
2005 military construction budget request for programs of the
active and reserve components of the Departments of the Army
and Navy.
The subcommittee also met to hear testimony on the
progression of the upcoming base realignment and closure round:
March 25, 2004, oversight hearing on the 2005 base realignment
and closure process. Subsequently, the subcommittee passed
legislation impacting the Base Realignment and Closure Act.
(H.A.S.C. 108-4; H.A.S.C. 108-17; H.A.S.C. 108-23; H.A.S.C.
108-30, H.A.S.C. 108-34; H.A.S.C. 108-35)
Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and Capabilities Subcommittee
The Subcommittee on Unconventional Threats and Capabilities
held several hearings in support of its consideration of the
fiscal year 2004 and 2005 budget requests for counter
proliferation and counter terrorism programs and initiatives,
special operations forces, the Defense Advanced Research
Projects Agency, information technology policy and programs,
force protection policy, and related programs in the military
services.
The subcommittee conducted the following oversight hearings
on the budget requests for fiscal years 2004 and 2005: March
13, 2003, force protection policy: the role of the Department
of Defense and the national guard in homeland security; March
19, 2003, Department of Defense efforts to address the chemical
and biological threat; March 27, 2003, defense science and
technology policy and programs; April 1, 2003, United States
Special Operations Command budget request; April 3, 2003, the
Department of Defense's information technology programs and
policies; March 4, 2004, Department of Defense responsibilities
in homeland defense and homeland security missions; March 11,
2004, Special Operations Command budget request; March 25,
2004, Department of Defense science and technology policy and
programs; March 31, 2004, Department of Defense's business
transformation efforts; and April 1, 2004, Destruction of the
U.S. chemical weapons stockpile--program status and issues.
In addition, the subcommittee conducted numerous oversight
hearings and briefings during the 108th Congress on the nature
of the global terrorism threat and various policy and
technological means by which the threat could be addressed. The
following oversight hearings were conducted: July 24, 2003,
cyber terrorism: the new asymmetric threat; October 21, 2003,
C4I interoperability: new challenges in 21st century warfare;
October 30, 2003, destruction of the U.S. chemical weapons
stockpile--program status and issues; February 11, 2004, DOD
information systems architecture and net centricity; February
26, 2004, Department of Defense transformation; March 18, 2004,
training transformation: examination of the joint national
training capability (joint hearing with the Subcommittee on
Readiness); and July 20, 2004, Special Operations Command
personnel issues.
The subcommittee considered and reported legislation on May
9, 2003, that was included in the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004 (Public Law 108-136) and
met to consider and report legislation on May 5, 2004, that was
included in the Ronald W. Reagan National Defense Authorization
Act for Fiscal Year 2005 (Public Law 108-375). The legislation
covered a range of issues, including measures to enhance the
authority of the Special Operations Command to conduct counter
terror operations and the authority of Department of Defense
and the newly created Northern Command to conduct homeland
defense missions. Legislation initiated by the subcommittee
also made substantial improvements to Department counter
chemical, biological, and nuclear programs, and to the
management of information technology programs of the Department
and the military services.
(H.A.S.C. 108-5; H.A.S.C. 108-10; H.A.S.C. 108-12; H.A.S.C.
108-24; H.A.S.C. 108-45; H.A.S.C. 108-46; H.A.S.C. 108-47)
Total Force Subcommittee
The Total Force Subcommittee held a series of hearings to
review the manpower portion of the fiscal years 2004 and 2005
defense budget requests: March 12, 2003, patron and industry
perspectives on military exchanges, commissaries and morale,
welfare and recreation programs; March 13, 2003, Department of
Defense total force transformation initiatives and overview of
the fiscal year 2004 military personnel budget request; March
19, 2003, domestic violence, joint officer management and
education reform, employer support of the guard and reserve,
reserve pay and benefits and Department of Defense active and
reserve components force mix study; March 27, 2003, defense
health program and the next generation of TRICARE contracts and
the TRICARE retail pharmacy contracts; April 1, 2003, U.S. Air
Force report on sexual assault issues at the academy; April 2,
2003, military resale and morale, welfare and recreation
program activities; April 3, 2003, views from the field--
perspectives of mobilized reservists; January 21, 2004, reserve
component healthcare, medical holdovers in current and future
deployments; February 25, 2004, force health protection and
surveillance in the global war on terrorism; March 3, 2004,
military resale and morale, recreation and welfare programs;
March 10, 2004, the adequacy of the total force; March 18,
2004, defense health programs--current and future issues; March
24, 2004, military personnel policy, benefits and compensation
overview; March 31, 2004, reserve component transformation and
relieving the stress in the reserve component. In addition the
subcommittee met to conduct oversight hearings: September 24,
2003, final report of the panel to review sexual misconduct
allegations at the U.S. Air Force Academy; June 3, 2004, sexual
assault prevention and response in the armed forces.
(H.A.S.C. 108-6, H.A.S.C. 108-16, H.A.S.C. 108-20, H.A.S.C.
108-25)
Strategic Subcommittee
The Subcommittee on Strategic Forces addressed the
Department of Energy's atomic energy defense activities, and
well as the missile defense and space programs of the
Department of Defense, by conducting hearings during its
consideration of the fiscal year 2004 and fiscal year 2005
budget requests, including: March 6, 2003, Department of
Energy's budget request for atomic energy defense activities;
March 19, 2003, the status of military space activities;
February 25, 2004, the budget request for space activities;
March 18, 2004, the Department of Energy's budget request for
atomic energy defense activities; and on March 25, 2004, the
budget request for missile defense programs. Separate from the
traditional budget oversight reviews, the subcommittee held a
hearing on July 22, 2004, to address the need for and
development of a cadre of space professionals. In addition to
formal hearings, the subcommittee conducted briefings on the
following: nuclear weapons laboratory security, an update to
the Department of Defense's Nuclear Posture Review, and the Air
Force's Space-Based Radar program.
(H.A.S.C. 108-7; H.A.S.C. 108-18; H.A.S.C. 108-26; H.A.S.C.
108-40)
Projection Forces Subcommittee
The Subcommittee on Projection Forces conducted a series of
hearings to review programs included in the Department of
Defense (DOD) acquisition budget requests for fiscal years 2004
and 2005 during the 108th Congress, including: March 27, 2003,
Navy's projection forces program; April 3, 2003, Navy
transformation and future Navy capabilities; March 3, 2004, DOD
conventional long-range strike capabilities; March 11, 2004,
Navy research and development, transformation and future Navy
capabilities; March 17, 2004, United States Transportation
Command's airlift and sealift programs; March 30, 2004, Navy
force structure and ship construction. In addition to
traditional review of the budget requests, the subcommittee
held an oversight hearing to address the Air Force's air
refueling tanker requirements: June 24, 2003, the U.S. Air
Force's air refueling tanker requirements and readiness.
(H.A.S.C. 108-8, H.A.S.C. 108-11, H.A.S.C. 108-27)
PUBLICATIONS
Committee Prints of Laws Relating to National Defense
To assist individuals in referencing statutes that are
frequently under consideration by the Committee on Armed
Services and the Department of Defense and others in looking
for statutory guidance, the committee printed six volumes
pertaining to current law in the 108th Congress:
Title 10, United States Code, Armed Forces, Subtitle
A, General Military Law, amended December 31, 2003,
March 2004.
Title 10, United States Code, Armed Forces, Subtitle
B, Army; Subtitle C, Navy and Marine Corps; Subtitle D,
Air Force, and Subtitle E, Reserve Components, amended
December 31, 2003, March 2004.
Selected Defense-Related Laws, amended through
December 31, 2003, Volume II, February 2004.
Laws Relating to Federal Procurement, amended
December 31, 2002, April 2003.
Defense-Related Health Laws, amended through Jan. 23,
2004, Volume III, April 2004.
Defense-Related Nuclear Laws, amended through
December 31, 2003, Defense-Related Laws, Volume IV,
April 2004.
(Committee Prints 2A, 2B, 3, 4, 5, and 6).
Committee Prints
1. Committee rules of the Committee on Armed Services,
House of Representatives, adopted February 20, 2003.
2A. Title 10, United States Code, Armed Forces, Subtitle A,
General Military Law, amended December 31, 2003, March 2004.
2B. Title 10, United States Code, Armed Forces, Subtitle B,
Army; Subtitle C, Navy and Marine Corps; Subtitle D, Air Force,
and Subtitle E, Reserve Components, amended December 31, 2003,
March 2004.
3. Selected Defense-Related Laws, amended through December
31, 2003, Volume II, February 2004.
4. Laws Relating to Federal Procurement, amended through
December 31, 2002, April 2003.
5. Defense-Related Health Laws, amended through Jan. 23,
2004, Volume III, April 2004.
6. Defense-Related Nuclear Laws, amended through December
31, 2003, Defense-Related Laws, Volume IV, April 2004.
Published Proceedings
H.A.S.C. 108-1--Full committee hearing on committee
organization. February 5, 2003.
H.A.S.C. 108-2--Full Committee hearings on National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004--H.R. 1588 and Oversight
of Previously Authorized Programs. February 5, 12, 26, 27,
March 4, 12, 12, 13, 20, April 1, May 1 and 2, 2003.
H.A.S.C. 108-3--Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee
hearings on National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2004--H.R. 1588 and Oversight of Previously Authorized
Programs, Title I--Procurement and Title II--Research,
Development, Test and Evaluation. March 12, 20, 26 and April 2,
2003.
H.A.S.C. 108-4--Readiness Subcommittee hearings on the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004--H.R.
1588 and Oversight of Previously Authorized Programs, Title
III--Operations and Maintenance and Division B--Military
Construction Authorizations. March 13, 18, 18, 20 and 25, 2003.
H.A.S.C. 108-5--Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and
Capabilities Subcommittee hearings on National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004--H.R. 1588 and Oversight
of Previously Authorized Programs, Title I--Procurement, Title
II--Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, and Title
III--Operation and Maintenance. March 13, 19 and 27, April 1
and 3, 2003.
H.A.S.C. 108-6--Total Force Subcommittee hearings on the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004--H.R.
1588 and Oversight of Previously Authorized Programs, Title
IV--Personnel Authorizations, Title V--Military Personnel
Policy, Title VI--Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits,
and Title VII--Health Care Provisions. March 12, 13, 19, 27,
April 1, 2, and 3, 2003.
H.A.S.C. 108-7--Strategic Forces Subcommittee hearing on
the Department of Energy's National Security Programs Budget
Request for Fiscal Year 2004. May 6, 2003.
H.A.S.C. 108-8--Projection Forces Subcommittee hearings on
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004--
H.R. 1588 and Oversight of Previously Authorized Programs,
Title I--Procurement, Title II--Research, Development, Test and
Evaluation. March 27, and April 3, 2003.
H.A.S.C. 108-9--Full Committee hearings on United States
Global Defense Posture. February 26, June 18, November 5, and
19, 2003.
H.A.S.C. 108-10--Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and
Capabilities Subcommittee hearing on Destruction of the U.S.
Chemical Weapons Stockpile--Program Status and Issues. October
30, 2003.
H.A.S.C. 108-11--Projection Forces Subcommittee hearing on
the U.S. Air Force's Air Refueling Tanker Requirements and
Readiness. June 24, 2003.
H.A.S.C. 108-12--Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and
Capabilities Subcommittee hearings on Information Technology in
21st Century Battlespace. July 24 and October 21, 2003.
H.A.S.C. 108-13--Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee
hearing on Air Force Science and Technology Programs. July 19,
2003.
H.A.S.C. 108-14--Full Committee hearing on the Air Force
Tanker Lease Proposal. July 23, 2003.
H.A.S.C. 108-15--Full Committee hearings on Operation Iraqi
Freedom: Operations and Reconstruction. April 4, July 10,
September 25, October 2, 8, 21, and 29, 2003.
H.A.S.C. 108-16--Total Force Subcommittee hearing on the
Final Report of the Panel to Review Sexual Misconduct
Allegations at the U.S. Air Force Academy. September 24, 2003
H.A.S.C. 108-17--Readiness Subcommittee hearing on
Resetting and Reconstituting the Forces. October 21, 2003.
H.A.S.C. 108-18--Strategic Forces Subcommittee hearing on
the Status of Military Space Activities. March 19, 2003.
H.A.S.C. 108-19--Full Committee hearing on Combating the
Proliferation of Weapons of Mass Destruction. March 17, 2004.
H.A.S.C. 108-20--Total Force Subcommittee hearing on Sexual
Assault Prevention and Response in the Armed Forces. June 3,
2004.
H.A.S.C. 108-21--Full Committee hearings on National
Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005--H.R. 4200 and
Oversight of Previously Authorized Programs. February 4, 12,
25, 26, March 3, 18, 24, and 31, 2004.
H.A.S.C. 108-22--Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee
hearings on National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year
2005--H.R. 4200 and Oversight of Previously Authorized
Programs, Title I--Procurement and Title II--Research,
Development, Test and Evaluation. March 4, 17, 25 and April 1,
2004.
H.A.S.C. 108-23--Readiness Subcommittee hearings on the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005--H.R.
4200 and Oversight of Previously Authorized Programs, Title
III--Operations and Maintenance and Division B--Military
Construction Authorizations. February 26, March 4, 11, 18, 24,
and 30, 2004.
H.A.S.C. 108-24--Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and
Capabilities Subcommittee hearings on the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005--H.R. 4200 and Oversight
of Previously Authorized Programs, Title I--Procurement, Title
II--Research, Development, Test, and Evaluation, and Title
III--Operation and Maintenance. March 4, 11, 25, 31, and April
1, 2004.
H.A.S.C. 108-25--Total Force Subcommittee hearings on the
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005--H.R.
4200 and Oversight of Previously Authorized Programs, Title
IV--Personnel Authorizations, Title V--Military Personnel
Policy, Title VI--Compensation and Other Personnel Benefits,
and Title VII--Health Care Provisions. January 21, February 25,
March 3, 10, 18, 24, and 31, 2004.
H.A.S.C. 108-26--Strategic Forces Subcommittee hearings on
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005--
H.R. 4200 and Oversight of Previously Authorized Programs.
February 25, March 18, and 25, 2004.
H.A.S.C. 108-27--Projection Forces Subcommittee hearings on
the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005--
H.R. 4200 and Oversight of Previously Authorized Programs,
Title I--Procurement, Title II--Research, Development, Test and
Evaluation hearings. March 3, 11, 17, 30, 2004.
H.A.S.C. 108-28--Full Committee hearings on Operations and
Reconstruction Efforts in Iraq. January 28, April 21, May 7,
21, June 16, 17, 22, July 7, September 8, 9, and 9, 2004.
H.A.S.C. 108-29--Full Committee hearing on Department of
Defense Aviation Safety Initiatives. February 11, 2004.
H.A.S.C. 108-30--Readiness Subcommittee hearing on the 2005
Base Realignment and Closure Process. March 25, 2004.
H.A.S.C. 108-31--Full Committee hearings on the Revisions
to the U.S. Global Defense Footprint. June 15 and 23, 2004.
H.A.S.C. 108-32--Full Committee hearing on the Report of
the U.S.--China Economic and Security Commission. June 16,
2004.
H.A.S.C. 108-33--Full Committee hearing on Afghanistan:
Security and Reconstruction. April 29, 2004.
H.A.S.C. 108-34--Readiness Subcommittee hearing on
Contractor Support in the Department of Defense. June 24, 2004.
H.A.S.C. 108-35--Readiness Subcommittee hearing on Depot
Maintenance--Capacity and Resources for Future Work. July 20,
2004.
H.A.S.C. 108-36--Full Committee hearings on United States
Intelligence Reform. August 10, 10, 11, and 11, 2004.
H.A.S.C. 108-37--Full Committee hearing on the Report of
the Commission to Assess the Threat to the United States from
Electromagnetic Pulse (EMP) Attack. July 22, 2004.
H.A.S.C. 108-38--Full Committee hearings on Army
Transformation. July 15 and 21, 2004.
H.A.S.C. 108-39--Full Committee hearings on Department of
Defense Trade Offsets. June 17 and July 8, 2004.
H.A.S.C. 108-40--Strategic Forces Subcommittee hearing on
the Space Cadre/Space Professionals. July 22, 2004.
H.A.S.C. 108-41--Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee
hearing on Small Business Innovation Research Program and the
Development of Innovative Technology. July 21, 2004.
H.A.S.C. 108-42--Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee
hearing on Department of Defense Small-Caliber Ammunition
Programs and the Associated Industrial Base. June 24, 2004.
H.A.S.C. 108-43--Full Committee hearing on the Performance
of the Department of Defense Acquisition Process in Support of
Force Protection for Combat Forces. April 21, 2004.
H.A.S.C. 108-44--Full Committee hearing on the Status of
U.S. Forces. November 17, 2004.
H.A.S.C. 108-45--Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and
Capabilities Subcommittee hearing on Special Operations Command
Personnel Issues. July 20, 2004.
H.A.S.C. 108-46--Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and
Capabilities Subcommittee hearing on the Department of Defense
Information Systems Architecture: Are We on the Right Path to
Achieving Net-Centricity and Ensuring Interoperability?
February 11, 2004.
H.A.S.C. 108-47--Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and
Capabilities Subcommittee hearing on Department of Defense
Transformation. February 26, 2004.
HOUSE REPORTS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Report number Date filed Bill number Title
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
108-105, Part III.................. June 30, 2003......... H.R. 1950............. To authorize appropriations
for the Department of
State for the fiscal years
2004 and 2005; to
authorize appropriations
under the Arms Export
Control Act and the
Foreign Assistance Act for
1961 for security
assistance for fiscal
years 2004 and 2005, and
for other purposes.
108-106............................ May 16, 2003.......... H.R. 1588............. To authorize appropriations
for fiscal year 2004 for
military activities of the
Department of Defense, to
prescribe military
personnel strengths for
fiscal year 2004, and for
other purposes.
108-106, Part II................... May 21, 2003.......... H.R. 1588............. To authorize appropriations
for fiscal year 2004 for
military activities of the
Department of Defense, to
prescribe military
personnel strengths for
fiscal year 2004, and for
other purposes.
108-289, Part II................... Oct. 2, 2003.......... H. Res. 364........... Of inquiry requesting the
President to transmit to
the House of
Representatives not later
than 14 days after the
date of adoption of this
resolution the report
prepared for the Joint
Chiefs of Staff entitled
``Operation Iraqi Freedom
Strategic Lessons
Learned'' and documents in
his possession on the
reconstruction and
security of post-war Iraq.
108-354............................ Nov. 7, 2003.......... H.R. 1588 Conf. Rept.. To authorize appropriations
for fiscal year 2004 for
military activities of the
Department of Defense, to
prescribe military
personnel strengths for
fiscal year 2004, and for
other purposes.
108-413, Part IV................... Feb. 27, 2004......... H. Res. 499........... Requesting the President
and directing the
Secretary of State, the
Secretary of Defense, and
the Attorney General to
transmit to the House of
Representatives not later
than 14 days after the
date of the adoption of
this resolution documents
in the possession of the
President and those
officials relating to the
disclosure of the identity
and employment of Ms.
Valerie Plame.
108-443, Part I.................... Mar. 23, 2004......... H.R. 3966............. To amend title 10, United
States Code, and the
Homeland Security Act of
2002, to improve the
ability of the Department
of Defense to establish
and maintain Senior
Reserve Officer Training
Corps units at
institutions of higher
education, to improve the
ability of students to
participate in Senior ROTC
programs, and to ensure
that institutions of
higher education provide
military recruiters entry
to campuses and access to
students that is at least
equal in quality and scope
to that provided to any
other employer.
108-491............................ May 14, 2004.......... H.R. 4200............. To authorize appropriations
for fiscal year 2005 for
military activities of the
Department of Defense, to
prescribe military
personnel strengths for
fiscal year 2005, and for
other purposes.
108-491, Part II................... May 20, 2004.......... H.R. 4200............. To authorize appropriations
for fiscal year 2005 for
military activities of the
Department of Defense, to
prescribe military
personnel strengths for
fiscal year 2005, and for
other purposes.
108-547............................ June 16, 2004......... H. Res. 640........... Of inquiry requesting that
the Secretary of Defense
transmit to the House of
Representatives before the
expiration of the 14-day
period beginning on the
date of the adoption of
this resolution any
picture, photograph,
video, communication, or
report produced in
conjunction with the any
completed Department of
Defense investigation
conducted by Major General
Antonio M. Taguba relating
to allegations of torture
or allegations of
violations of the Geneva
Conventions of 1949 at Abu
Ghraib prison in Iraq or
any completed Department
of Defense investigation
relating to the abuse or
alleged abuse of a
prisoner or war or
detainee by any civilian
contractor working in Iraq
who is employed on behalf
of the Department of
Defense.
108-632............................ July 22, 2004......... H. Res. 689........... Of inquiry requesting the
President and directing
certain other Federal
officials to transmit to
the House of
Representatives not later
than 14 days after the
date of this resolution
documents in the
possession of the
President and those
officials relating to the
treatment of prisoners or
detainees in Iraq,
Afghanistan, or Guantanamo
Bay.
108-724, Part II................... Oct. 4, 2004.......... H.R. 10............... To provide for reform of
the intelligence
community, terrorism
prevention and
prosecution, border
security, and
international cooperation
and coordination, and for
other purposes.
108-767............................ Oct. 9, 2004.......... H.R. 4200 Conf. Rept.. To authorize appropriations
for fiscal year 2005 for
military activities of the
Department of Defense, to
prescribe military
personnel strengths for
fiscal year 2005, and for
other purposes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PUBLIC LAWS
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Law number Date approved Bill number Title
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
108-13............................. Apr. 22, 2003......... H.R. 672.............. To rename the Guam South
Elementary/Middle School
of the Department of
Defense Domestic
Dependents elementary and
Secondary Schools System
in honor of Navy Commander
William ``Willie'' McCool,
who was the pilot of the
Space Shuttle Columbia
when it was tragically
lost on February 1, 2003.
108-121............................ Nov. 11, 2003......... H.R. 3365............. To amend title 10, United
States Code, and the
Internal Revenue Code of
1986 to increase the death
gratuity payable with
respect to deceased
members of the Armed
Forces, and to exclude
such gratuity from gross
income.
108-136............................ Nov. 24, 2003......... H.R. 1588 (S. 1050)... To authorize appropriations
for fiscal year 2004 for
military activities of the
Department of Defense, to
prescribe military
personnel strengths for
fiscal year 2004, and for
other purposes.
108-212............................ Apr. 1, 2004.......... H.R. 1977............. To amend title 18, United
States Code, and the
Uniform Code of Military
Justice to protect unborn
children from assault and
murder and for other
purposes.
108-220............................ Apr. 22, 2004......... S. 2057............... To require the Secretary of
Defense to reimburse
members of the United
States Armed Forces for
certain transportation
expenses incurred by the
members on connection with
leave under the Central
Command Rest and
Recuperation Leave program
before the program was
expanded to include
domestic travel.
108-234............................ May 28, 2004.......... H.R. 3104............. To provide for the
establishment of campaign
medals to be awarded to
members of the Armed
Forces who participate in
Operation Enduring Freedom
or Operation Iraqi
Freedom.
108-236............................ June 15, 2004......... S.J. Res. 28.......... Recognizing the 60th
anniversary of the Allied
landing at Normandy during
World War II.
108-268............................ July 2, 2004.......... H.R. 4322............. To provide for the
establishment of the
headquarters for the
Department of Homeland
Security in the District
of Columbia, to require
the transfer of
administrative
jurisdiction over the
Nebraska Avenue Naval
Complex in the District of
Columbia to serve as the
location for the
headquarters, to
facilitate the acquisition
by the Department of the
Navy of suitable
replacement facilities,
and for other purposes.
108-375............................ Oct. 28, 2004......... H.R. 4200 (S. 2400)... To authorize appropriations
for fiscal year 2005 for
military activities of the
Department of Defense, to
prescribe military
personnel strengths for
fiscal year 2005, and for
other purposes.
108-458............................ Dec. 17, 2004......... S. 2845............... To provide for reform of
the intelligence
community, terrorism
prevention and
prosecution, border
security, and
international cooperation
and coordination, and for
other purposes.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
PRESS RELEASES
First Session
January 9, 2003--Congressman Duncan Hunter Elected to Chair
the House Committee on Armed Services
January 9, 2003--Chairman Hunter Announces Reorganization
of House Armed Services Committee
January 28, 2003--Chairman Hunter's Statement on the State
of the Union Address
February 2, 2003--House Armed Services Committee Chairman
Statement on the Release of the FY04 Defense Budget
January 5, 2003--Chairman Hunter's Opening Statement at
Full Committee Hearing on the FY 2004 National Defense
Authorization Budget Request
February 11, 2003--Chairman Hunter Announces Hearings
Regarding the Realignment of U.S. Forces in Europe
February 12, 2003--Chairman Hunter's Statement at Full
Committee Hearing on the Army's FY 2004 Budget Request
February 14, 2003--Chairman Hunter's Statement on the
Latest U.N. Report
February 19, 2003--Hunter and Skelton Announce New
Committee Assignments
February 26, 2003--Chairman Hunter's Opening Statement at
Full Committee Hearing on U.S. forward-deployed strategy in the
European Theater
February 26, 2003--Chairman Hunter's Opening Statement at
Full Committee Hearing on the Navy's FY 2004 Budget Request
February 27, 2003--Chairman Hunter's Opening Statement at
Full Committee Hearing on the Air Forces' FY 2004 Budget
Request
March 4, 2003--Chairman Hunter's Opening Statement at Full
Committee Hearing on the U.S. Cooperative Threat Reduction and
Non-Proliferation Programs
March 12, 2003--Chairman Hunter's Opening Statement at Full
Committee Hearing on U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Forces Korea
March 12, 2003--Chairman Hunter's Opening Statement at Full
Committee Hearing on U.S. Special Operations Command, U.S.
Southern Command and U.S. Joint Forces Command
March 18, 2003--Chairman Hunter Statement on the Evolving
Situation in Iraq
March 19, 2003--Chairman Hunter Statement on the Iraq
Conflict
March 20, 2003--Chairman Hunter's Opening Statement at Full
Committee Hearing on Ballistic Missile Defense
April 1, 2003--Chairman Hunter's Opening Statement at Full
Committee Hearing on DOD FY04 Acquisition Program and Policy
April 4, 2003--Chairman Duncan Hunter's Opening Statement
at Full Committee Hearing on Iraq's Violations of the Law of
Armed Conflict
April 8, 2003--Chairman Duncan Hunter and Ranking Member
Skelton Suggest Framework for Iraqi War Crimes Trials
May 1, 2003--Chairman Duncan Hunter's Opening Statement at
Full Committee Hearing on The Defense Transformation for the
21st Century Act
May 1, 2003--Chairman Duncan Hunter's Statement on
Appointing Rep. Gingrey to Board
May 13, 2003--Chairman Duncan Hunter's Opening Statement at
Full Committee Mark up on H.R. 1588 the National Defense
Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2004
May 14, 2003--HASC Approves FY 2004 Defense Authorization
Act--Summary of Committee Mark-up
May 22, 2003--Chairman Duncan Hunter's Statement at Passage
of H.R. 1588, National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal
Year 2004
May 23, 2003--Chairman Duncan Hunter's Statement on Air
Force Tanker Decision
May 27, 2003--House Congressional Delegation Returns from
Iraqi Theater of Operations
June 4, 2003--House Approves Resolution Commending All
Involved in Operations Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and
Iraqi Freedom
June 12, 2003--Chairman Duncan Hunter's Statement at Full
Committee Hearing on Reconstruction and Stabilization
Operations in Iraq
June 18, 2003--Chairman Duncan Hunter's Statement at Full
Committee Hearing on Worldwide U.S. Military Commitments
June 21, 2003--Chairman Duncan Hunter's Statement on the
Death of Former HASC Chairman Bob Stump
June 26, 2003--Chairman Hunter's Statement at Full
Committee Mark Up of H.R. 1590
July 10, 2003--Chairman Duncan Hunter's Statement at Full
Committee Hearing on Operation Iraqi Freedom
July 10, 2003--Press Advisory--Tactical Air and Land Forces
Subcommittee field hearing on Air Force Science & Technology
(S&T) Programs at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Dayton,
Ohio
July 23, 2003--Chairman Duncan Hunter's Statement on the
Air Force Tanker Lease Proposal
July 25, 2003--Chairman Hunter Announces Approval of Air
Force Tanker Lease
September 8, 2003--Statement Regarding War on Terrorism
Funding Request
November 7, 2003--Summary of the Conference Report to
Accompany H.R. 1588, National Defense Authorization Act for
Fiscal Year 2004
Second Session
February 25, 2004--Chairman Hunter Comments on GAO Report
Identifying needed Improvements in Export Controls
March 3, 2004--Chairman Hunter Statement Before the House
Committee on Budget
March 18, 2004--HASC Approves Legislation
March 30, 2004--House Passes Rogers ROTC Equal Access
Legislation
April 6, 2004--Hunter Statement on Transfer of Power in
Iraq
April 7, 2004--Hunter Says U.S. Has Overwhelming Firepower
in Iraq
April 27, 2004--GAO Finds Russia Lacks Plan for Destruction
of Poison Gas Stockpile
May 4, 2004--Hunter Statement on Treatment of Iraqi
Prisoners
May 5, 2004--Statement on New Defense Funding Request
May 6, 2004--Hunter statement on Iraq Resolution
May 7, 2004--Hunter statement on Secretary of Defense
Donald Rumsfeld
May 13, 2004--Committee Approves Fiscal Year 2005 Defense
Authorization Bill: ``Year of the Troops'' Legislation Focuses
on Force Protection and Personnel Benefits
May 19, 2004--Hunter letter to General Sanchez on Iraqi
prisoner hearings
May 20, 2004--House Approves Fiscal Year 2005 National
Defense Authorization Act
May 21, 2004--Full Committee Hearing on the Conduct and
Support of Operation Iraqi Freedom--Opening Remarks of Chairman
Hunter
May 26, 2004--Statement Regarding Status of Air Force
Tankers
June 3, 2004-Statement Regarding Shortfalls in
International Export Control System
June 14, 2004--Full Committee Mark-up of H. Res. 640,
Resolution of Inquiry Concerning Abu Ghraib Prison--Opening
Remarks of Chairman Hunter
June 15, 2004--Full Committee Hearing on the Strategic
Implications of U.S. Troop Withdrawals from Korea--Opening
Remarks of Chairman Hunter
June 16, 2004--Full Committee Hearing on the Status of
Forces in Iraq After June 30--Opening Remarks of Chairman
Hunter
June 16, 2004--Full Committee Hearing on the Report of the
United States--China Economic and Security Review Commission--
Opening Remarks of Chairman Hunter
June 17, 2004--Full Committee Hearing on the Training of
Iraqi Security Forces--Opening Remarks of Chairman Hunter
June 17, 2004--Full Committee Hearing on the Impacts of
Defense Trade Offsets--Opening Remarks of Chairman Hunter
June 22, 2004--Full Committee Hearing on Iraq Transition to
Sovereignty--Opening Statement of Chairman Hunter
June 23, 2004--Full Committee Hearing on the U.S. Global
Defense Posture--Opening Statement of Chairman Hunter
June 28, 2004--Statement by Chairman Hunter and Committee
Members Reyes and Calvert on Iraqi Sovereignty
July 7, 2004--Full Committee Hearing on the Iraq/
Afghanistan Troop Rotation Plan--Opening Statement of Chairman
Hunter
July 8, 2004--Full Committee Hearing on the Impacts of
Defense Offsets--Opening Statement of Chairman Hunter
July 20, 2004--Terrorism, Unconventional Threats and
Capabilities Subcommittee Hearing on the Personnel Status of
the U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM)--Opening Statement
of Chairman Saxton
July 20, 2004--Readiness Subcommittee Hearing on Depot
Maintenance--Capacity and Resources for Future Work--Opening
Statement of Chairman Hefley
July 21, 2004--Full Committee Hearing on Army
Transformation--Part Two--Opening Statement of Chairman Hunter
July 21, 2004--Tactical Air and Land Forces Subcommittee
Hearing on Small Business Innovation and Technology--Opening
Statement of Chairman Weldon
July 22, 2004--Full Committee Hearing on the Report of the
Commission to Assess the Threat to the U.S. from
Electromagnetic Pulse Attack--Opening Statement of Chairman
Hunter
July 22, 2004--Strategic Forces Subcommittee Hearing on the
Development of a Space Cadre--Opening Statement of Chairman
Everett
July 22, 2004--Strategic Forces Subcommittee Chairman
Everett and Ranking Member Reyes Urge Quick Resolution of
Recurring Security Breaches at Los Alamos National Laboratory
July 30, 2004--Strategic Forces Subcommittee Chairman
Everett Reviews Key Missile Defense Programs
September 1, 2004--Chairman Hunter on Allegations of a
Secret Military Reserve Troop Call-Up After the November
Election
September 30, 2004--Committee Unanimously Approves 9/11
Recommendations Implementation Act
October 5, 2004--Statement on the Rejection of the Military
Draft Bill
October 8, 2004--Conferees Approve 2005 Defense
Authorization Act
October 8, 2004--Statement on Passage of H.R. 10, The 9/11
Recommendations Implementation Act
October 9, 2004--Statement on Passage of H.R. 4200, The
National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2005
October 12, 2004--Hunter Named Conferee on Intelligence
Reform Legislation
November 17, 2004--Hunter Statement on Status of U.S.
Forces
December 7, 2004--Hunter Statement on Final Passage of the
Intelligence Reform Bill
December 10, 2004--Saxton: Humvee Armoring Programs Not Yet
Complete