WALTZ OPENING STATEMENT AT FY24 NDAA FULL COMMITTEE MARKUP

Hearing

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

I would like to commend our Members for their efforts and support in putting together this subcommittee markup package in a bipartisan fashion.

A special thank you to my friend, Ranking Member Garamendi, for his partnership.

There are many things to be proud of in the Readiness subcommittee mark package.

This package requires reports from the Navy on maintenance and sustainment efforts of the amphibious warship and attack submarine fleets to help us better understand lagging availabilities.

In light of Putin's illegal aggression in Ukraine, it mandates the Department of Defense eliminate reliance on Russian energy for all installations within European Command.

It prohibits the Department of Defense from funding energy programs from foreign adversaries.

It directs the Under Secretary of Defense for Acquisition and Sustainment to report on foreign control and influence over the supply chain for critical minerals and metals used for defense technologies.

I remain concerned about our ability to project power and sustain operations across the globe, particularly within INDOPACOM. As such, we have multiple provisions to get after that, by directing reports on fuel supplies, refueling capabilities, pre-positioning of supplies, and ship sustainment.

I would also like to use this opportunity to urge a timely defense appropriation. An on-time budget is critical when dealing with a pacing threat like China.

Lastly, I would like to thank the efforts of our great support staff. Today's markup would not be possible without the help from our committee staff -- Patrick Nevins, Kyle Noyes, Whitney Verett, Drew Kennedy, Dane Hughes, Jeanine Womble, Sapna Sharma, and Ethan Pelissier; and my personal office staff -- Thomas Boodry, Hector Arguello, and Bruce Kimbrell.

Thank you to our Members and staff for their diligent work thus far and I look forward to continuing to work together to ensure Readiness equities are represented throughout the NDAA process.

Mr. Chairman, I yield back.

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